This thread mentioned, in part, that Modern is too "linear". I've seen it bandied (only in Modern threads maybe?) about here and there but it's not clear to me what it means in that context.
Would someone care to enlighten me what "linear" means in this context? I'm guessing something to do with mana ramp but I'm not sure.
Basically, linnear is a type of deck. Specifically, one that has a single gameplan, and it either executes that gameplan, or it loses. Strong examples of this are combo decks like ad nauseam, aggro decks like burn/zooicide, and ramp decks like tron. There is varying degrees of linearity, it is certainly not black and white. In the modern threads, linnear is oftentimes meant to be a bad thing (too linnear, etc) but i urge you not to take it as such
Mhjames: mtgsalvation: I DON'T SEE HOW THIS CARD IS GOOD. I KNOW PATRICK CHAPIN USED IT AND WENT 8-0, BUT THAT WAS A SMALL TOURNAMENT. THE CARD IS TOO SLOW. YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THE OPPONENT HAS A SPELL IN THE GRAVEYARD
99% of the time "linear" is used as a synonym for aggro or combo.
I have never heard of a midrange or control deck being described as "linear", even if it literally had 21 counterspells in it. For reference, this Living End deck, which most people would consider "linear", has 18 cyclers.
The problem I have with the term "linear" is that it really doesn't say anything.
Back in Journey Into Nyx standard, I played a UR control deck that did almost nothing but react to my opponent. The only cards in the deck that weren't either draw spells, counters, or removal were a few copies of Keranos and Prognostic Sphinx. The deck was bad, but fun so I played it for most of that standard format, and I saw a ton of players tilt off against me. At the time I thought this was just because people didn't want to lose to a janky control deck that generally won through sending Keranos bolts to the face, but I realized that what they actually hated was the feeling that my deck only really had one way to win and they couldn't stop it.
Now this is the problem with the term "linear." My janky control deck was the antithesis of what a lot of "linear" decks are, because it almost exclusively interacts with the opponent, but is it really any less linear than a deck just trying to ramp into a big threat or zooicide or infect? Obviously no, so what does linear really mean? A deck that is only trying to do one thing to win? But then that means pretty much any deck aside from a select few is linear. So what's the point of even saying it?
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Would someone care to enlighten me what "linear" means in this context? I'm guessing something to do with mana ramp but I'm not sure.
UWRjeskai nahiri UWR
UBRgrixis titi UBR
UBRgrixis delverUBR
UR ur kikimite UR
EDH
RUG Riku of Two Reflections RUG
UBR Marchesa, the Black Rose UBR
UBRGYidris, Maelstrom Wielder UBRG
UBRJeleva, Nephalia's ScourgeUBR
By: ol MISAKA lo
Cockatrice: Infallible
I have never heard of a midrange or control deck being described as "linear", even if it literally had 21 counterspells in it. For reference, this Living End deck, which most people would consider "linear", has 18 cyclers.
| Ad Nauseam
| Infect
Big Johnny.
Sound likes it's describing decks that play like Rail Shooters.
Back in Journey Into Nyx standard, I played a UR control deck that did almost nothing but react to my opponent. The only cards in the deck that weren't either draw spells, counters, or removal were a few copies of Keranos and Prognostic Sphinx. The deck was bad, but fun so I played it for most of that standard format, and I saw a ton of players tilt off against me. At the time I thought this was just because people didn't want to lose to a janky control deck that generally won through sending Keranos bolts to the face, but I realized that what they actually hated was the feeling that my deck only really had one way to win and they couldn't stop it.
Now this is the problem with the term "linear." My janky control deck was the antithesis of what a lot of "linear" decks are, because it almost exclusively interacts with the opponent, but is it really any less linear than a deck just trying to ramp into a big threat or zooicide or infect? Obviously no, so what does linear really mean? A deck that is only trying to do one thing to win? But then that means pretty much any deck aside from a select few is linear. So what's the point of even saying it?