Due to real-life obligations, I am taking a long break from Magic which may include missing the local Legacy GP. Apologies for not being able to keep my threads updated.
Legacy, hands down. EDH is a distant second, and Modern is a far off third. Vintage doesn't have enough variety for me, and Standard is insanely boring far too often, but when Standard's fun it's nice to have such a widely played format. Still, there's plenty of Legacy in SoCal, so I never feel like I'm without The Best Format.
My vote goes to legacy.
A bunch of friends and I started it last year and anytime we go back to standard we find it far more dull and un-diversified.
Once you get deep into it you see how deep your decisions impact the game. You put down the wrong card back with brainstorm and end up paying for it 5 turns later because you were too focused on whats happening on the board right now instead of how you should make a path to win the game, etc
Its unfortunate that the format is expensive to get into
A lot of it is down to the group you can arrange. In my fantasies, it would be Star with a card pool of everything not on the reserved list, but that's not likely to happen anytime soon.
As it stands, Modern is my favorite format. My main reason for choosing Modern is simple: it has the largest card-pool of any format that doesn't used reserved-list cards. I'm not going to argue about the goods and bads of the reserved list, but simply: I wasn't playing Magic in the '90s. I wasn't even playing Magic last decade. This means that I didn't have the opportunity to collect those cards when they were cheap, and unlike Modern, where there is always the possibility of a reprint, I never will, and neither will people joining the format after me.
In terms of game-play I have relatively limited Legacy experience versus Modern, but it seems about as fun, but, the reserved list and the inevitable price increases mean it's slowly, gradually becoming a game of the rich - or one that requires proxies.
Standard is always a temporary beast. Last Standard was lots of fun, this one? A little dull.
I play standard but strictly on budget cause I don't want to spend cash on a ton of cards that wont be usable for next rotation. I always try to build fun standard decks for casual play. Kitchen Table all the way! Modern is awesome! Recently made myself a modern Merfolk deck and its super fun to play aggro. I love limited: Always new ways to play and forces you to make do with what you got. But by far, my favorite is most definitely EDH! What other format allows a group of mates to play socially with each and have fun? Its awesome for my play-group!
However I don't think I will ever get into Legacy or Vintage - So out of my price range lol.
EDH can get crazy long sometimes, but it's really fun to play. Modern is right up there with it for my competitive side. I love Standard, but it's damned expensive to keep pace.
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Hooked on Magic since The Dark.
Blue Rules. Berserk, Fork, Fork, Fork, Fork
"Does trample go around the table?"
============================
So do most people in this thread not know that basically every vintage event allows proxies and expense does not become a factor in playing it? So many people are saying that Vintage is too expensive, but proxy vintage cheaper than Modern.
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"An immense river of oblivion is sweeping us away into a nameless abyss." —Ernest Renan, Souvenirs d'Enfance et de Jeunesse
My big love is Legacy. I like the fast pace (even slow, grindy decks need to make relevant plays and assessments very early on), the large cardpool, and the diverse range of startegies and playstyles. Plus I have nostalgic feelings for a lot of the older charming cards - cards which will never be replicated in Modern because they are too powerful, at odds with the current colour pie, or out of line with WotC's vision for the game.
For Multiplayer (and therefore less competetive) games I find EDH by far the best variant I've ever tried - It features most of the qualities I like in Legacy, but has a slower pace which is perfect for group games.
I do like drafts, but prefer older sets which encourage single card evaluation and goodstuff decks rather than set specific knowledge and drafting theme decks.
I'm also pleased how friendly thisd thread has been. The above formats are my favourites - the best for me. It's good that different people enjoy different things.
So do most people in this thread not know that basically every vintage event allows proxies and expense does not become a factor in playing it? So many people are saying that Vintage is too expensive, but proxy vintage cheaper than Modern.
This is patently untrue.
If you live in an area (as I do) that only allows 10 or 15 proxy, you're still on the hook for dual lands, fetches, and Force of Wills.
If someone can't afford a Legacy collection, odds are they can't afford Vintage either unless they really like playing Dredge.
Limited is probably where Magic's strengths are most apparent. I'm particularly fond of Alara Reborn and Innistrad drafts.
It's a bit silly to try to rank constructed formats, since they're usually in a state of flux. Sometimes Standard is nice and sometimes it's very boring. Legacy and Modern and all the rest change over time as well.
Just based from my opinions. I think Legacy is the highest level of skill for entry. Competitive EDH is one of the most interesting formats to watch for entertainment value. Standard is usually one of the most interesting formats to build and test for simply because how ever-changing it is. Modern is potentially the fastest format, the least time consuming to watch.
How's that?
Oh and Vintage and Yugioh are the same game.
So do most people in this thread not know that basically every vintage event allows proxies and expense does not become a factor in playing it? So many people are saying that Vintage is too expensive, but proxy vintage cheaper than Modern.
A lot of people don't enjoying playing with proxies. Since most Vintage is li ited proxies, you're looking at peopole with real FoWs, Duals, etc, and it may seem distasteful to mix those cards with proxie compared to playing those cards in Legacy with no proxies.
Even poeple who don't mind proxies won't have interest if there is not a vibrant scene where they live (especially if there is a vibrant Legacy scene). The scene is kept down by people who refuse to use proxies, but also by players who have the cards but don't want to "slum it" with proxie players. MTG '94 was invented precisely to keep the riff-raff out.
Just based from my opinions. I think Legacy is the highest level of skill for entry. Competitive EDH is one of the most interesting formats to watch for entertainment value. Standard is usually one of the most interesting formats to build and test for simply because how ever-changing it is. Modern is potentially the fastest format, the least time consuming to watch.
How's that?
Oh and Vintage and Yugioh are the same game.
STATISTICS.
All of these "Let's eliminate bad cards" crusades are simply ignorant. And when they start to devolve into "WotC is conspiring to give us crappy cards," they just become embarrassing. MATH is conspiring to give you crappy cards.
but also by players who have the cards but don't want to "slum it" with proxie players.
Ok, yea, no... This is by far the most inane view on things I've ever heard in a long time, because to be honest I've heard many players claim they don't like playing with proxies themselves, but I've never heard people say they didn't want to play with those who have proxies. Sure, maybe in other formats, but in Vintage this doesn't happen, the community isn't big enough and the guy with the fully foiled japanese deck, or the 10k+ insurance policy on the fully miscut+beta deck, is just as willing to play with the guy who has things scribbled on the back of 10-15 cards.
Hell, the 100 dollar buy in event with power to the top 8 and pseudo power to the top 12 had no issue whatsoever with allowing proxies. In fact, it had a prize for the best looking proxies.
So we get the enemy colored painlands and not the allied color ones? Well that's reverse of the norm, but I thought Wizards was planning to do full 10 land cycles from now on.
Enemy pains could indicate allied Fetches in the next set, to offset the colour imbalance. It would also make sense since it would allow Modern to have access to all 10 Fetches as opposed to only 5.
Or you could read the article, and now that's not true.
My order as far as my opinion/preference:
1.) Vintage, it's by far the most fun and interesting to experiment with.
2.) EDH, The only format I regularly play and enjoy.
3.) Legacy, It's a rewarding format if you study it and learn the decks enough to read opening plays. All about interactions and interactivity.
4.) Draft, In a good set it's great.
5.) Highlander, It's not really my thing but can be fun.
6.) Pauper/Peasant, very low cost and VERY fun but gets stale after a while.
7.) Prismatic/5-color, Expensive, physically awkward in paper magic but awesome fun.
8.) Standard, 99% of the time I have NO interest at all, on the odd occasion I do I investigate the format and often find that it's too creature oriented for my taste.
9.) Block, like draft it depends on the set(s). Some Block formats are AMAZING others are like playing Homelands sealed.
10.) Sealed, I hate sealed more than anything else as far as formats go.
Keep in mind this is all my opinion, not fact.
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For Lists, Click Here EDH: GW: Selvala, Let us help YOU. UB: Mirko Vosk, when outmatched cheat BW: Vish Kal, The Arbiter of Reanimation UG: Prime Speaker Zegana, the science of sorcery RB: Malfegor, Traitor's Haven UW: Daxos, Control-Fort-Tron BG: Pharika, Goddess of Stax RW: Gisela, Boros Control RG: Ruric Thar, a Primal Surge deck RU: Niv-Mizzet the Firemind, Spellslinger?!?! B:(Pauper) Mikaeus the Unhallowed R: Kurkesh, Onakke Ancient: The Power of Engineering
Ok, yea, no... This is by far the most inane view on things I've ever heard in a long time, because to be honest I've heard many players claim they don't like playing with proxies themselves, but I've never heard people say they didn't want to play with those who have proxies.
Yet we have Magic '94 - a format invented by menbers of the community (with power nine) which not only prohibits proxies, but doesn't even allow reprints from revised or chronicles! This is easilly the most elitist and exclusive format ever conceived, invented by a splinter group from the Vintage community.
Commander is meant to played with people, not against them.
What are you trying to say here? Yes, you play with your opponents in the sense that you are particpating in an activity together. But you are still opponents! Commander is not a cooperative game like The Hobbit or Castle Ravenloft. You have opponents, and by definition you are playing against them. 'Opponent' comes from 'oppose', meaning 'against'.
Yet we have Magic '94 - a format invented by menbers of the community (with power nine) which not only prohibits proxies, but doesn't even allow reprints from revised or chronicles! This is easilly the most elitist and exclusive format ever conceived, invented by a splinter group from the Vintage community.
Ok, you guys who think '94 is the exclusive format, have you not heard of "The Art League"? Oh, you haven't? Well here's the first rule, when you play it, you have to wear white cotton gloves like you do while handling art. Not too bad, but here's the second unique rule, the only cards you can play are those to which you own the original art for that is printed on that card, including basic lands. I saw two guys playing it when I was at a Vintage tournament a month or so ago.
Here's the thing though, these formats aren't elitist, they're not about excluding people from playing, they're about being quirky and specialized. Vintage is the format for everyone, and none of those people will scoff at your proxies, in fact they play in more proxy tournaments than most people, while having fully altered and miss-cut foil decks... They're also usually some of the nicest people, but like every community a couple can be abrasive.
I'll put it in a very simple manner, let's say you go to your local reasonably scaled liquor store. You know how they always have that one case with the bottles of aged liquor that are thousands of dollars? That's what what things like '94 and Art League are, they're specialty consumer products made for those willing to invest in them, they're not viewed as a basic level format, because they're there to create a certain feel (Not elitism but rather nostalgia or common interest)and no one is going to look down on you for not being able to buy those bottles or play those formats. However, Vintage is the basic 15-100 dollar bottle, you can enjoy a bottle of Jack or Johny Walker, and no one will judge you for picking one over the other, you can even have your Seagrams, but what matters is everyone enjoys scotch and can share that common interest...
Fun fact though, if you go to some of these proxy events, you'll see people running these stupidly expensive decks, and proxying a 10 cent card quite often simply because they didn't own one. A friend of mine plays 4C humans, and runs Judge foil Nobles, Foil Deathrites, Foil Fetches, Judge Confidants, Foil Decays, and pretty much anything else you can imagine being foiled, but then proxies the power.
So we get the enemy colored painlands and not the allied color ones? Well that's reverse of the norm, but I thought Wizards was planning to do full 10 land cycles from now on.
Enemy pains could indicate allied Fetches in the next set, to offset the colour imbalance. It would also make sense since it would allow Modern to have access to all 10 Fetches as opposed to only 5.
Or you could read the article, and now that's not true.
Commander is meant to played with people, not against them.
What are you trying to say here? Yes, you play with your opponents in the sense that you are particpating in an activity together. But you are still opponents! Commander is not a cooperative game like The Hobbit or Castle Ravenloft. You have opponents, and by definition you are playing against them. 'Opponent' comes from 'oppose', meaning 'against'.
What he's saying is a platitude, so give it some leeway, it essentially means that in a purely competitive and sanctioned format, the decks that are played are determined by their ability to compete against other players. Essentially, that the format is truly about playing against people. In EDH, the type of decks that get played are determined largely by the community, and thus the meta is entirely determined by who one plays with, it is therefore more about playing with people, than against them, as quite often, people don't build decks for their competitiveness alone.
STATISTICS.
All of these "Let's eliminate bad cards" crusades are simply ignorant. And when they start to devolve into "WotC is conspiring to give us crappy cards," they just become embarrassing. MATH is conspiring to give you crappy cards.
Vintage: Best because you get to play with Power 9
Legacy: Best because it's roughly as powerful as Vintage, and I get to play with/against a lot of nostalgic cards
Modern: Best because cards don't rotate out and has a different feel from Legacy
Standard: Best because at least once a year the game completely changes
Limited: Best because it requires skills that aren't usually involved in other formats.
EDH/Commander: Best because you can cast those big creatures and cool effects that you might not be able to get away with in other formats. Also, politics!
Casual/Kitchen Table: Best because you're hanging out with friends playin' around. Sometimes beer is involved.
Ok, yea, no... This is by far the most inane view on things I've ever heard in a long time, because to be honest I've heard many players claim they don't like playing with proxies themselves, but I've never heard people say they didn't want to play with those who have proxies.
Yet we have Magic '94 - a format invented by menbers of the community (with power nine) which not only prohibits proxies, but doesn't even allow reprints from revised or chronicles! This is easilly the most elitist and exclusive format ever conceived, invented by a splinter group from the Vintage community.
1. That is not the most exclusive format out there. I have a friend who plays this and it's simply to experience the "old school" feeling. It has nothing to do with elitism.
2. This has no relevance to the majority of the Vintage community.
Seems to me you had maybe one negative experience somewhere and are projecting it on the entire community? I started playing magic a year ago and owned no cards. I tried to play legacy and was forced to play with shocks or play burn or some other boring/monocolor/budget deck. When I got into Vintage I was lent cards so that I could hit the proxy limit and play any deck I wanted and now I own 4 pieces of power. Please note that I was lent very expensive cards like dual lands and fetches just so I could participate. In fact, I still don't own a single dual land and focused on getting power first because power is harder to borrow. In my experience I have found vintage players the most welcoming group of players for anybody new, and I tried every format except standard when I started playing a year ago.
In my opinion, Modern is the best format. It isn't boring, made for new players, standard which focuses on creature based decks. Modern has combo, fun and classic degenerate combo! It also has fair decks, control decks and something for everyone. Also you don't have to worry about your spells resolving or not due to Force of Will but you also don't have to just play a pile of creatures and land and hope it beats the other guys' pile.
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Active Modern Decks
U Tron GW Bogles RG Loam UR Blue Breach RBU Grixis Goryo BRU Grixis Delver GBR Jund GBW Junk
EDH: Fun. Lots of variety. Cheap and immersive.
Standard: The flagship format. At times good, at times terrible (like now). Have to pay inflated prices for many cards.
Modern: Much more complex and satisfying than Standard, but costs twice as much.
Legacy: More complex than Modern but costs twice as much.
Limited: Heavily dependent on set balance, more luck based than other formats. Fairly accessible.
This man knows what he's talking about and you should listen to him.
Do you want to play with SOME of the cards or ALL of the cards?
Legacy
UWR Miracles UWR
GWB Maverick GWB
GB Elves GB
UBR ANT UBR
RG Combo Lands RG
Vintage
BUG BUG Fish BUG
Modern
GBW
Junk PodMagic: the BuylistingKrark Clan Eggs
Affinity
Legacy
BUG Delver
Miracles
Sneak'n'Show
Elves
Mono-Red Burn
EDH
Thraximundar
A bunch of friends and I started it last year and anytime we go back to standard we find it far more dull and un-diversified.
Once you get deep into it you see how deep your decisions impact the game. You put down the wrong card back with brainstorm and end up paying for it 5 turns later because you were too focused on whats happening on the board right now instead of how you should make a path to win the game, etc
Its unfortunate that the format is expensive to get into
RUGTarmo Twin Modern Combo deck
A lot of it is down to the group you can arrange. In my fantasies, it would be Star with a card pool of everything not on the reserved list, but that's not likely to happen anytime soon.
As it stands, Modern is my favorite format. My main reason for choosing Modern is simple: it has the largest card-pool of any format that doesn't used reserved-list cards. I'm not going to argue about the goods and bads of the reserved list, but simply: I wasn't playing Magic in the '90s. I wasn't even playing Magic last decade. This means that I didn't have the opportunity to collect those cards when they were cheap, and unlike Modern, where there is always the possibility of a reprint, I never will, and neither will people joining the format after me.
In terms of game-play I have relatively limited Legacy experience versus Modern, but it seems about as fun, but, the reserved list and the inevitable price increases mean it's slowly, gradually becoming a game of the rich - or one that requires proxies.
Standard is always a temporary beast. Last Standard was lots of fun, this one? A little dull.
UTeferi, Temporal ArchmageU's prison: blue is the new orange is the new black.
Mizzix Of The Izmagnus : wheels on fire... rolling down the road...
BSidisi, Undead VizierB: Bis zum Erbrechen
GTitiania, Protector Of ArgothG: Protecting Argoth, by blowing it up!
GYisan, The Wanderer BardG: Gradus Ad Elfball.
Duel EDH: Yisan & Titania.
In Progress: Grand Arbiter Augustin IV duel; Grenzo, Dungeon Warden Doomsday.
I play standard but strictly on budget cause I don't want to spend cash on a ton of cards that wont be usable for next rotation. I always try to build fun standard decks for casual play. Kitchen Table all the way! Modern is awesome! Recently made myself a modern Merfolk deck and its super fun to play aggro. I love limited: Always new ways to play and forces you to make do with what you got. But by far, my favorite is most definitely EDH! What other format allows a group of mates to play socially with each and have fun? Its awesome for my play-group!
However I don't think I will ever get into Legacy or Vintage - So out of my price range lol.
EDH
Roon of the Hidden Realms UGW
Modern
UW TronUW
Blocks Constructed
KamigawaU|Return to RavnicaUW|TherosUWG
EDH multiplayer, Modern
EDH can get crazy long sometimes, but it's really fun to play. Modern is right up there with it for my competitive side. I love Standard, but it's damned expensive to keep pace.
Hooked on Magic since The Dark.
Blue Rules.
Berserk, Fork, Fork, Fork, Fork
"Does trample go around the table?"
============================
For Multiplayer (and therefore less competetive) games I find EDH by far the best variant I've ever tried - It features most of the qualities I like in Legacy, but has a slower pace which is perfect for group games.
I do like drafts, but prefer older sets which encourage single card evaluation and goodstuff decks rather than set specific knowledge and drafting theme decks.
I'm also pleased how friendly thisd thread has been. The above formats are my favourites - the best for me. It's good that different people enjoy different things.
https://fieldmarshalshandbook.wordpress.com/
RUGLegacy Lands.dec
RUGBLegacy Lands.dec
RGLegacy Lands.dec
WUBRG EDH Lands.dec
UBR EDH Artificer Prodigy
B EDH Relentless Rats
This is patently untrue.
If you live in an area (as I do) that only allows 10 or 15 proxy, you're still on the hook for dual lands, fetches, and Force of Wills.
If someone can't afford a Legacy collection, odds are they can't afford Vintage either unless they really like playing Dredge.
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Nowadays I'd say Commander.
Legacy is too fast and expensive, modern lacks a lot of nice but not broken cards (like Counterspell).
I'd say the best format would be something like 5th Edition onwards.
Plus it's pretty different each pool
It's a bit silly to try to rank constructed formats, since they're usually in a state of flux. Sometimes Standard is nice and sometimes it's very boring. Legacy and Modern and all the rest change over time as well.
How's that?
Oh and Vintage and Yugioh are the same game.
A lot of people don't enjoying playing with proxies. Since most Vintage is li ited proxies, you're looking at peopole with real FoWs, Duals, etc, and it may seem distasteful to mix those cards with proxie compared to playing those cards in Legacy with no proxies.
Even poeple who don't mind proxies won't have interest if there is not a vibrant scene where they live (especially if there is a vibrant Legacy scene). The scene is kept down by people who refuse to use proxies, but also by players who have the cards but don't want to "slum it" with proxie players. MTG '94 was invented precisely to keep the riff-raff out.
https://fieldmarshalshandbook.wordpress.com/
RUGLegacy Lands.dec
RUGBLegacy Lands.dec
RGLegacy Lands.dec
WUBRG EDH Lands.dec
UBR EDH Artificer Prodigy
B EDH Relentless Rats
You were so close!
Hell, the 100 dollar buy in event with power to the top 8 and pseudo power to the top 12 had no issue whatsoever with allowing proxies. In fact, it had a prize for the best looking proxies.
Oh... Ok... Clearly.
1.) Vintage, it's by far the most fun and interesting to experiment with.
2.) EDH, The only format I regularly play and enjoy.
3.) Legacy, It's a rewarding format if you study it and learn the decks enough to read opening plays. All about interactions and interactivity.
4.) Draft, In a good set it's great.
5.) Highlander, It's not really my thing but can be fun.
6.) Pauper/Peasant, very low cost and VERY fun but gets stale after a while.
7.) Prismatic/5-color, Expensive, physically awkward in paper magic but awesome fun.
8.) Standard, 99% of the time I have NO interest at all, on the odd occasion I do I investigate the format and often find that it's too creature oriented for my taste.
9.) Block, like draft it depends on the set(s). Some Block formats are AMAZING others are like playing Homelands sealed.
10.) Sealed, I hate sealed more than anything else as far as formats go.
Keep in mind this is all my opinion, not fact.
For Lists, Click Here
EDH:
GW: Selvala, Let us help YOU.
UB: Mirko Vosk, when outmatched cheat
BW: Vish Kal, The Arbiter of Reanimation
UG: Prime Speaker Zegana, the science of sorcery
RB: Malfegor, Traitor's Haven
UW: Daxos, Control-Fort-Tron
BG: Pharika, Goddess of Stax
RW: Gisela, Boros Control
RG: Ruric Thar, a Primal Surge deck
RU: Niv-Mizzet the Firemind, Spellslinger?!?!
B:(Pauper) Mikaeus the Unhallowed
R: Kurkesh, Onakke Ancient: The Power of Engineering
Yet we have Magic '94 - a format invented by menbers of the community (with power nine) which not only prohibits proxies, but doesn't even allow reprints from revised or chronicles! This is easilly the most elitist and exclusive format ever conceived, invented by a splinter group from the Vintage community.
What are you trying to say here? Yes, you play with your opponents in the sense that you are particpating in an activity together. But you are still opponents! Commander is not a cooperative game like The Hobbit or Castle Ravenloft. You have opponents, and by definition you are playing against them. 'Opponent' comes from 'oppose', meaning 'against'.
https://fieldmarshalshandbook.wordpress.com/
RUGLegacy Lands.dec
RUGBLegacy Lands.dec
RGLegacy Lands.dec
WUBRG EDH Lands.dec
UBR EDH Artificer Prodigy
B EDH Relentless Rats
Ok, you guys who think '94 is the exclusive format, have you not heard of "The Art League"? Oh, you haven't? Well here's the first rule, when you play it, you have to wear white cotton gloves like you do while handling art. Not too bad, but here's the second unique rule, the only cards you can play are those to which you own the original art for that is printed on that card, including basic lands. I saw two guys playing it when I was at a Vintage tournament a month or so ago.
Here's the thing though, these formats aren't elitist, they're not about excluding people from playing, they're about being quirky and specialized. Vintage is the format for everyone, and none of those people will scoff at your proxies, in fact they play in more proxy tournaments than most people, while having fully altered and miss-cut foil decks... They're also usually some of the nicest people, but like every community a couple can be abrasive.
I'll put it in a very simple manner, let's say you go to your local reasonably scaled liquor store. You know how they always have that one case with the bottles of aged liquor that are thousands of dollars? That's what what things like '94 and Art League are, they're specialty consumer products made for those willing to invest in them, they're not viewed as a basic level format, because they're there to create a certain feel (Not elitism but rather nostalgia or common interest)and no one is going to look down on you for not being able to buy those bottles or play those formats. However, Vintage is the basic 15-100 dollar bottle, you can enjoy a bottle of Jack or Johny Walker, and no one will judge you for picking one over the other, you can even have your Seagrams, but what matters is everyone enjoys scotch and can share that common interest...
Fun fact though, if you go to some of these proxy events, you'll see people running these stupidly expensive decks, and proxying a 10 cent card quite often simply because they didn't own one. A friend of mine plays 4C humans, and runs Judge foil Nobles, Foil Deathrites, Foil Fetches, Judge Confidants, Foil Decays, and pretty much anything else you can imagine being foiled, but then proxies the power.
Oh... Ok... Clearly.
What he's saying is a platitude, so give it some leeway, it essentially means that in a purely competitive and sanctioned format, the decks that are played are determined by their ability to compete against other players. Essentially, that the format is truly about playing against people. In EDH, the type of decks that get played are determined largely by the community, and thus the meta is entirely determined by who one plays with, it is therefore more about playing with people, than against them, as quite often, people don't build decks for their competitiveness alone.
Best format:
Vintage: Best because you get to play with Power 9
Legacy: Best because it's roughly as powerful as Vintage, and I get to play with/against a lot of nostalgic cards
Modern: Best because cards don't rotate out and has a different feel from Legacy
Standard: Best because at least once a year the game completely changes
Limited: Best because it requires skills that aren't usually involved in other formats.
EDH/Commander: Best because you can cast those big creatures and cool effects that you might not be able to get away with in other formats. Also, politics!
Casual/Kitchen Table: Best because you're hanging out with friends playin' around. Sometimes beer is involved.
1. That is not the most exclusive format out there. I have a friend who plays this and it's simply to experience the "old school" feeling. It has nothing to do with elitism.
2. This has no relevance to the majority of the Vintage community.
Seems to me you had maybe one negative experience somewhere and are projecting it on the entire community? I started playing magic a year ago and owned no cards. I tried to play legacy and was forced to play with shocks or play burn or some other boring/monocolor/budget deck. When I got into Vintage I was lent cards so that I could hit the proxy limit and play any deck I wanted and now I own 4 pieces of power. Please note that I was lent very expensive cards like dual lands and fetches just so I could participate. In fact, I still don't own a single dual land and focused on getting power first because power is harder to borrow. In my experience I have found vintage players the most welcoming group of players for anybody new, and I tried every format except standard when I started playing a year ago.
U Tron
GW Bogles
RG Loam
UR Blue Breach
RBU Grixis Goryo
BRU Grixis Delver
GBR Jund
GBW Junk
Active Legacy Decks
BR Reanimator
Standard: The flagship format. At times good, at times terrible (like now). Have to pay inflated prices for many cards.
Modern: Much more complex and satisfying than Standard, but costs twice as much.
Legacy: More complex than Modern but costs twice as much.
Limited: Heavily dependent on set balance, more luck based than other formats. Fairly accessible.