Now if the sets are watered down, Khans was very powerful set, so I don't think it fits this description. Now BfZ was really neutered except for Eldrazi things being fueled by an older card. I think commons and uncommons aren't being as pushed like before. Lot of cards printed as rare could be uncommons, but for limited's sake (which is a poor excuse IMO, just design with a different limited mindset, they are neutering limited as well), they are rare. Some mythics could be rares, but would ruin limited with the current way of designing sets WotC is adopting.
While I agree that constructed is very rare-oriented (and has been for quite a while), I think you're missing the point on how limited influences set design. For practical purposes, the only differences between commons and uncommons are complexity and limited frequency (if Wizards doesn't test for Modern, they sure as heck don't care about pauper). You implied that Wild Slash should be a common, but the reason for why it's uncommon isn't "OMG Shock too stronk!" Khans block limited was notable for the presence of morphs/manifested cards, and testing must have revealed that a 1 mana common that fried face-down cards warped limited. Changing their limited mindset wouldn't change anything in this scenario because they had no intention of excising morph just to accommodate a common shock. Not every irregular rarity can be explained so neatly, but context has to be taken into consideration.
Of course, you could just join the players who argue that limited has a net-negative impact on the game, but Wizards is unlikely to drop the attention given to their most profitable format.
Well, I understand your point and I'm taking it into context, but you kinda missing my point with the Wild Slash example. They could make design a bit less watered down that would accommodate "power-houses" like Shock. Instead of using this lazy form of Morph, they could come up with a more elegant solution that could be stronger overall that could make other powerful uncommons (or even rares) be possible as common.
I understand why we don't have one mana elves and Rampant Growth for instance. We have too much Eldrazi and so on. I don't agree with that thou. Also, I didn't say anything about net-negative of Limited. What I'm saying is that Limited is used as a poor excuse to some bad choices in set design and assigning rarity. Still time to time, some cards go under their radar anyway even with these self-imposed design restrictions and we have cards that dominate the draft/sealed too much (like Pack Rat in RtR).
We could have a more powerful Limited if they put some change in their design philosophy instead. I also think your Wild Slash context isn't that great to defend WotC way of using Limited as an excuse, because in BfZ we still do not have a "OP Shock" at common. Not that I want Shock, but you get my grip in not having that many exciting commons and uncommons as of late. Not even stuff that could be used in pauper which is for my understanding a popular online format. Again even Limited feels very underwhelming at times.
Last best? RTR and Inistrad for me. Good powerful cards spread over an entire block. Not 2 busted cards that the designers did't bother to test + the rest of the set like Khans was.
New Phyrexia. WotC was on one hell of a roll from Ravnica through New Phyrexia. Conflux might have been the weakest set during that period. I cared to some degree about the setting, the story, design was great, new ideas were abundant. Post NPH it's like everything has been a rehashing, +1/+1 counter mechanics, some hackneyed crap culled from existing history or stories, or HAY PLEASE PAY ATTENSHUN ITS DARGONS. WotC trying to make Magic appeal to all the people is making it total *****.
WotC is at their best when they're pushing boundaries of design, not saying "Llanowar Elves are too strong for Standard".
Tie between the Rath Cycle, also known as Tempest block, and the Artifact Cycle, also known as Urza's block. I play Eternal formats, and those sets were arguably better for said formats than Mirrodin block.
I was greatly appreciative of Return to Ravnica and M14, but the last set I truly liked was Future Sight (and more specifically, the Time Spiral block as a whole). Mostly though, I miss the old style of design. I drafted 7th Ed this last weekend (yes, strange and randome, I know), and I was just amazed at how much the gameplay was different. 3/3s were considered big in that format, and spells were impactful. And I mean, this was a core set, what has traditionally been considered the blandest of the bland. Sets for years now haven't really appealed to what I enjoy about the game.
Just got to say, you've definitely earned distinction as an MTGS hero
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but no in all seriousness, the last set i genuinely enjoyed is probably rtr, khans is a close second, but nothing else has even come close to maintaining my interest
SOI is turning out to be a fun set. Before that I enjoyed Khans of Tarkir quite a bit. But it all depends on what you consider a fun set as mentioned above.
Khans is a contender for sure. Card wise it had a lot going on. It is rare that a set has cards fair in standard but absurd in older formats and this set had a few. Fetchies coming back was a hit and it opened up some new wedge card territory. But i think the flavor was forgettable and frankly it didn't really push any boundaries when it comes to new design space. So it was a "good" set but not a "great" set.
I would say Innistrad was the last great set. IT has Iconic cards that are staples across all formats (lilly, Snappy), pushed new boundaries with the popular flip mechanic (that i personally hated). Flavor wise it was a grand slam taking an established genre and running with it. But the biggest thing in my mind that makes it a great set is that it brought new people into the game. When it came out at least in my area there was a tidal wave of new players. I haven't seen that rush of new players before and haven't seen that since.
To be honest, SOI has created a pretty good limited environment for me at least. Before that KTK and Alara were great fun but for me the best drafts I ever had were Lorwyn/ Morningtide or original Ravnica. The sets were each well balanced so that multiple strategies were possible but at the same time the cards were amazingly flavourful and fun.
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EDH BRGKresh the BloodbraidedBRG, A box of lands and ideas.
Modern: RG Titanshift. A deck made of cards too stupid for EDH.
Retired: Lots. More than I feel you should suffer through or I should type out.
The last set that I thought was "good" in terms of fulfilling all the hype I had for it was the first Innistrad Block. Before that and we have to go all the way back to the first Ravnica block. Further back? ....probably Legions.
In terms of most fun, and interesting, I'm of the opinion that Timespiral/Coldsnap/Lorwyn was the last good set/standard.
Local meta was filled with reanimator, control, combo, aggro, weird midrange decks, burn, rdw.
When faeries became too strong, my friend and I made a spider deck with great success. That whole era was amazing.
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They call me Hank Hill because I bring the pro-pain.
I am enjoying all of the recent sets, back to M14 when I began playing MtG again after a long layoff of a dozen years or so. I play only limited and I would list all of the sets since then as successful.
The last good set never existed. There was something to like and something to hate about every single set that has ever been printed ever. Therefore, there is no "good" and there is no "bad".
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"I hope to have such a death... lying in triumph atop the broken bodies of those who slew me..."
You don't call "dying to removal" if the removal is more expensive in resources than the creature. If you have to spend BG (Abrupt Decay), or W + basic land (PtE) to remove a 1G, that is not "dying to removal". Strictly speaking Goyf dies to removal, but actually your removal is dying to Goyf.
The last good set never existed. There was something to like and something to hate about every single set that has ever been printed ever. Therefore, there is no "good" and there is no "bad".
I think this is a great post. Everyone will find something to like/hate about every set or find something to complain about
Having come back to MTG on Magic 2012, after a break that started when I was 12 and Antiquities was the most recent expansion (and also being too young to properly play the game), I feel that the INN/RTR block made for an amazing T2. Being an EDH player mainly, all sets that have something good are "good".
Well, I understand your point and I'm taking it into context, but you kinda missing my point with the Wild Slash example. They could make design a bit less watered down that would accommodate "power-houses" like Shock. Instead of using this lazy form of Morph, they could come up with a more elegant solution that could be stronger overall that could make other powerful uncommons (or even rares) be possible as common.
I understand why we don't have one mana elves and Rampant Growth for instance. We have too much Eldrazi and so on. I don't agree with that thou. Also, I didn't say anything about net-negative of Limited. What I'm saying is that Limited is used as a poor excuse to some bad choices in set design and assigning rarity. Still time to time, some cards go under their radar anyway even with these self-imposed design restrictions and we have cards that dominate the draft/sealed too much (like Pack Rat in RtR).
We could have a more powerful Limited if they put some change in their design philosophy instead. I also think your Wild Slash context isn't that great to defend WotC way of using Limited as an excuse, because in BfZ we still do not have a "OP Shock" at common. Not that I want Shock, but you get my grip in not having that many exciting commons and uncommons as of late. Not even stuff that could be used in pauper which is for my understanding a popular online format. Again even Limited feels very underwhelming at times.
WotC is at their best when they're pushing boundaries of design, not saying "Llanowar Elves are too strong for Standard".
August 5, 1993. It's been going downhill since then.
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but no in all seriousness, the last set i genuinely enjoyed is probably rtr, khans is a close second, but nothing else has even come close to maintaining my interest
My 720 Peasant Cube
I would say Innistrad was the last great set. IT has Iconic cards that are staples across all formats (lilly, Snappy), pushed new boundaries with the popular flip mechanic (that i personally hated). Flavor wise it was a grand slam taking an established genre and running with it. But the biggest thing in my mind that makes it a great set is that it brought new people into the game. When it came out at least in my area there was a tidal wave of new players. I haven't seen that rush of new players before and haven't seen that since.
In Progress
GBIshkanah, Grafwidow ~ BWGRTymna the Weaver & Tana, the Bloodsower ~ UGRashmi, Eternities Crafter ~ RGAtarka, World Render
Honestly though, just keep hammering sets like Khan out with occasional Innistrad and I'll be happy.
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BRGKresh the BloodbraidedBRG, A box of lands and ideas.
Modern:
RG Titanshift. A deck made of cards too stupid for EDH.
Retired: Lots. More than I feel you should suffer through or I should type out.
My current trade binder.
"People most likely to cry "troll" are those who can't fathom holding a position for reasons unrelated to how they want to be perceived"
Local meta was filled with reanimator, control, combo, aggro, weird midrange decks, burn, rdw.
When faeries became too strong, my friend and I made a spider deck with great success. That whole era was amazing.
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My 1570 card cube (no longer updated)
My 415 Peasant+ Artifact and Enchantment Cube
Ever-Expanding "Just throw it in" cube.
I've enjoyed most of the recent sets from the past few years.
The last bad set was OGW and BFZ.
But this is from a limited player. BFZ block was pretty un-fun.
yeah I didn't enjoy BFZ block limited either.
Shadows Limited is fun though
"I hope to have such a death... lying in triumph atop the broken bodies of those who slew me..."
I think this is a great post. Everyone will find something to like/hate about every set or find something to complain about