If it was a set packed with playable modern cards and NOT built for drafting, it would be opened way more.
At that point why not just release pre-packaged lists, as in Duel Decks or From the Vaults? A random-pack release that exists solely so that people can gamble on getting value out of those packs doesn't really serve anyone. Modern Masters 2015 was a great draft environment, deep enough and replayable enough that it encouraged people to keep playing it, thereby getting those cards into circulation. Designing a draft environment also gives them an organizing principle as to which cards to put in the set; a release that was just a checklist of the 250 most expensive Modern cards would be silly.
While the sticker shock can be a problem for someone looking to sit down and draft one of these sets, I think that's largely a matter of perception: as long as payout's in packs, you're getting a proportionate value back, plus there are more money picks, so it's not really more expensive overall (for someone with a decent winrate) than your typical Standard set.
Has there ever been a downgrade from Mythic to Rare in a Masters set? I'm thinking they may have to do that at some point, since there are so many Mythics to be reprinted, so few slots for them and the large volume of prints that RTR and later sets have seen. For example, cards that are in the $10-$30 dollar range that would make fine pulls in the rare slots, but un-impressive ones in the Mythic slot, like Voice of Resurgence, Mikaeus, the Unhallowed, Avacyn, Angel of Hope, etc.
"The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again"
Has there ever been a downgrade from Mythic to Rare in a Masters set? I'm thinking they may have to do that at some point, since there are so many Mythics to be reprinted, so few slots for them and the large volume of prints that RTR and later sets have seen. For example, cards that are in the $10-$30 dollar range that would make fine pulls in the rare slots, but un-impressive ones in the Mythic slot, like Voice of Resurgence, Mikaeus, the Unhallowed, Avacyn, Angel of Hope, etc.
Those three examples are extremely unlikely to be downgraded.
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Along with many mods, I've moved shop over to MTGNexus. Come check us out!
Has there ever been a downgrade from Mythic to Rare in a Masters set? I'm thinking they may have to do that at some point, since there are so many Mythics to be reprinted, so few slots for them and the large volume of prints that RTR and later sets have seen. For example, cards that are in the $10-$30 dollar range that would make fine pulls in the rare slots, but un-impressive ones in the Mythic slot, like Voice of Resurgence, Mikaeus, the Unhallowed, Avacyn, Angel of Hope, etc.
Those three examples are extremely unlikely to be downgraded.
Agreed- cards don't get much more mythic than Avacyn or Mikaeus.
Voice *could* be a rare,
but it won't be.
Momir Vig, Simic Visionary
Melek, Izzet Paragon
Oona, Queen of the Fae
Bruna, Light of Alabaster
Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
Rhys the Redeemed
Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord
Sen Triplets
The Mimeoplasm WUBRGSliver OverlordGRBUW WUBRGSliver Hivelord(Superfriends)GRBUW
If Avacyn is printed, it will 100% be mythic. I actually see Voice at rare, it's not stunningly expensive or a huge effect, just efficient. 2 colors as well, multicolor tends to get fewer mythics and they would save that for something like the other Innistrad angels Bruna and Gisela
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Project Booster Fun makes it less fun to open a booster.
I don't know why, but I feel like I'm bracing for disappointment with this upcoming masters set the more we discuss what may actually get printed.
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1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
Has there ever been a downgrade from Mythic to Rare in a Masters set? I'm thinking they may have to do that at some point, since there are so many Mythics to be reprinted, so few slots for them and the large volume of prints that RTR and later sets have seen. For example, cards that are in the $10-$30 dollar range that would make fine pulls in the rare slots, but un-impressive ones in the Mythic slot, like Voice of Resurgence, Mikaeus, the Unhallowed, Avacyn, Angel of Hope, etc.
They have reduced a group of them in MM2, but those three are far more mythic than the ones they have downgraded previously. Maybe Voice could be rare, but I wouldn't be surprised, nor bummed, if it stayed mythic.
I don't know why, but I feel like I'm bracing for disappointment with this upcoming masters set the more we discuss what may actually get printed.
WoTC showed a bit of promise with Conspiracy 2, but they could easily keep being stubborn with the Masters line. Packs being $10 isn't a great sign they learned much so far. Just gotta wait another month to see.
On a side note I am hoping they reprint Helm of Kaldra just so we can have a Kaldra token, heck all three being reprinted would be nice.
Re: Downgrading: Do keep in mind that there wasn't a huge pool of mythics to pick from to downgrade yet. At least be happy they didn't upgrade post-Alara rares to mythics, and they're not likely to do so in MM3 either.
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My Commander decks:
Chandra, Torch of Defiance - Oops! All Chandras.
Prime Speaker Zegana - Draw for Power.
Pir & Toothy - Counterpalooza.
Arcades, the Strategist - Another Brick in the Wall.
Zacama, Primal Calamity - Calamity of Double Mana.
Edgar Markov - Vampires Don't Die.
Child of Alara - Dreamcrusher.
They will assuredly print Snapcaster with the new art. And, yes... Likely a mythic.
What do you base that on? All those high-end post-Alaran rares they bumped up to mythic in MM2/EMA? Oh, wait...
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My Commander decks:
Chandra, Torch of Defiance - Oops! All Chandras.
Prime Speaker Zegana - Draw for Power.
Pir & Toothy - Counterpalooza.
Arcades, the Strategist - Another Brick in the Wall.
Zacama, Primal Calamity - Calamity of Double Mana.
Edgar Markov - Vampires Don't Die.
Child of Alara - Dreamcrusher.
I'm SO SICK of the "too strong for Standard" argument. It's the new "Dies to removal". We can have a two mana 4/4 with a zillion abilities, but we can't just have Accumulated Knowledge. Makes sense.
Gods, I can't make up my mind which artwork for snap I actually want to see. Both are racial minorities in the US so that's mute. I like the techno look of the original version with the blue overtones, but damn that action pose just looks amazing on the promo. That and the dreadlocks.
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1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
Gods, I can't make up my mind which artwork for snap I actually want to see. Both are racial minorities in the US so that's mute. I like the techno look of the original version with the blue overtones, but damn that action pose just looks amazing on the promo. That and the dreadlocks.
I wouldn't mind if they did what they used to back in the day and art variations of the same card in the same set, because I also like both Snapcaster art pieces.
1) Tibalt, the Fiend-blooded My gods, if they reprint this it will be the greatest prank ever, but the fact it eats a mythic slot... oh the burn.
2) Anything involving guildgates or anything from dragons maze besides Voice of Resurgence.
3) Vorapede
4) Balefire Dragon (I love this card but it's really something that should be in a commander product)
5) Mikaeus, the Unhallowed (again, good card but probably better in commander)
Not sure what else to put on the "do not reprint this for the sake of humanity in the Modern Masters set" category...
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
1) Tibalt, the Fiend-blooded My gods, if they reprint this it will be the greatest prank ever, but the fact it eats a mythic slot... oh the burn.
They could reprint Tibalt at uncommon. That would be rather funny, although he might actually be strong then.
4) Balefire Dragon (I love this card but it's really something that should be in a commander product)
5) Mikaeus, the Unhallowed (again, good card but probably better in commander)
Not sure what else to put on the "do not reprint this for the sake of humanity in the Modern Masters set" category...
Do remember that MM1 had quite the fair amount of Commander reprints, so seeing things like these reprinted wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. Frankly, as long as we are getting wanted cards reprinted, no matter where they are played, I'll call it a win, as long as there are enough of them of course.
1) Tibalt, the Fiend-blooded My gods, if they reprint this it will be the greatest prank ever, but the fact it eats a mythic slot... oh the burn.
They could reprint Tibalt at uncommon. That would be rather funny, although he might actually be strong then.
4) Balefire Dragon (I love this card but it's really something that should be in a commander product)
5) Mikaeus, the Unhallowed (again, good card but probably better in commander)
Not sure what else to put on the "do not reprint this for the sake of humanity in the Modern Masters set" category...
Do remember that MM1 had quite the fair amount of Commander reprints, so seeing things like these reprinted wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. Frankly, as long as we are getting wanted cards reprinted, no matter where they are played, I'll call it a win, as long as there are enough of them of course.
I've got the feeling we may see balefire Dragon simply because red doesn't have a lot of great mythics to reprint, and if they go with a zombies vs humans subtheme in the draft / limited build we definitely will see Mikaeus, the Unhallowed. The catch is that casting cost is really deep black and if they are going with Return to Ravnica, it needs to have cards that are guild playable. It's going to be really hard to use Mikaeus otherwise.
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1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
1) Tibalt, the Fiend-blooded My gods, if they reprint this it will be the greatest prank ever, but the fact it eats a mythic slot... oh the burn.
They could reprint Tibalt at uncommon. That would be rather funny, although he might actually be strong then.
4) Balefire Dragon (I love this card but it's really something that should be in a commander product)
5) Mikaeus, the Unhallowed (again, good card but probably better in commander)
Not sure what else to put on the "do not reprint this for the sake of humanity in the Modern Masters set" category...
Do remember that MM1 had quite the fair amount of Commander reprints, so seeing things like these reprinted wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. Frankly, as long as we are getting wanted cards reprinted, no matter where they are played, I'll call it a win, as long as there are enough of them of course.
I've got the feeling we may see balefire Dragon simply because red doesn't have a lot of great mythics to reprint, and if they go with a zombies vs humans subtheme in the draft / limited build we definitely will see Mikaeus, the Unhallowed. The catch is that casting cost is really deep black and if they are going with Return to Ravnica, it needs to have cards that are guild playable. It's going to be really hard to use Mikaeus otherwise.
Red mythics actually do have a few interesting pieces this time around, most notably Past in Flames, but there's also Bonfire of the Damned and Thundermaw Hellkite that add the possible pool of mythics from the period that'll be added. Balefire Dragon looks to me like a prime candidate for a mythic -> rare downgrade. I'm not sure if it'd be too strong for a MM3 limited format, a few strong reach guys at uncommon/rare might hold it in check well enough. And if we go into multicolour...Olivia Voldaren, Ral Zarek and Domri Rade are all the kind of mythics I don't think many people will complain about, although none of them are particulary exciting. I don't expect Huntmaster of the Fells as that'd require DFC's, and I don't think we'll be getting those until we get a Modern Masters that spans until the SOI block.
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My Commander decks:
Chandra, Torch of Defiance - Oops! All Chandras.
Prime Speaker Zegana - Draw for Power.
Pir & Toothy - Counterpalooza.
Arcades, the Strategist - Another Brick in the Wall.
Zacama, Primal Calamity - Calamity of Double Mana.
Edgar Markov - Vampires Don't Die.
Child of Alara - Dreamcrusher.
Thundermaw Hellkite would be one of the best reprints for red they've had in a long time. It's probably one of the best dragons ever printed in magic now that I think on it outside of maybe the dragon lords.
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1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
Thundermaw Hellkite would be one of the best reprints for red they've had in a long time. It's probably one of the best dragons ever printed in magic now that I think on it outside of maybe the dragon lords.
I think the best reprints they can give red right now is Goblin Guide and Blood Moon. Completely forgot Thundermaw Hellkite existed, I'd personally like Balefire Dragon over Hellkite. A red mythic to get bumped down to rare would probably be Moonveil Dragon, the best firebreather of them all.
Anyone know when spoiler season is expected to start?
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If MTG is a part of your life, the formats are like relationships:
Standard/Block = The on-again, off-again holiday fling
Modern/Vintage/Legacy = Stable, homely. A ***** after absence/misreading
Limited/Sealed = Heart breaking free spirit
Commander/Cube = Agreeable, needy and expensive
Pauper/Peasant = Sweet, kind, practical, but shy and boring
Saffron olive made a calendar of expected releases etc....
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pucatrade
big receipts
alpha mox emerald
beta time walk
4 goyfs received
3 liliana of the veil
4 karn liberated
3 force of will
4 grove of the burnwillows
snapcaster mage
3 horizon canopy
2 full art damnation
At that point why not just release pre-packaged lists, as in Duel Decks or From the Vaults? A random-pack release that exists solely so that people can gamble on getting value out of those packs doesn't really serve anyone. Modern Masters 2015 was a great draft environment, deep enough and replayable enough that it encouraged people to keep playing it, thereby getting those cards into circulation. Designing a draft environment also gives them an organizing principle as to which cards to put in the set; a release that was just a checklist of the 250 most expensive Modern cards would be silly.
While the sticker shock can be a problem for someone looking to sit down and draft one of these sets, I think that's largely a matter of perception: as long as payout's in packs, you're getting a proportionate value back, plus there are more money picks, so it's not really more expensive overall (for someone with a decent winrate) than your typical Standard set.
WBC Eldrazi & Taxes CBW
UR Keep on Cantripin' (UR Phoenix) RU
WU Surprise! It's not UW Control! (UW Midrange) UW
BG The Rock, Straight BG
U Mono-Blue Fish U
RBW Mardu Pyromancer BWR
RG Rabble! Rabble! (GR Blood Moon Aggro) GR
Legacy
W Death & Taxes W
in MM2 there was:
This is not promising lol.
GWUBAtraxa, Praetor's Voice PrimerGWUB
GWURoon Bant Blink WhateverGWU
BRGLord Windgrace LandsBRG
Those three examples are extremely unlikely to be downgraded.
Agreed- cards don't get much more mythic than Avacyn or Mikaeus.
Voice *could* be a rare,
but it won't be.
Reprint Stasis!
Control needs more love.
EDH:
Momir Vig, Simic Visionary
Melek, Izzet Paragon
Oona, Queen of the Fae
Bruna, Light of Alabaster
Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
Rhys the Redeemed
Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord
Sen Triplets
The Mimeoplasm
WUBRGSliver OverlordGRBUW
WUBRGSliver Hivelord(Superfriends)GRBUW
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
They have reduced a group of them in MM2, but those three are far more mythic than the ones they have downgraded previously. Maybe Voice could be rare, but I wouldn't be surprised, nor bummed, if it stayed mythic.
WoTC showed a bit of promise with Conspiracy 2, but they could easily keep being stubborn with the Masters line. Packs being $10 isn't a great sign they learned much so far. Just gotta wait another month to see.
On a side note I am hoping they reprint Helm of Kaldra just so we can have a Kaldra token, heck all three being reprinted would be nice.
Chandra, Torch of Defiance - Oops! All Chandras.
Prime Speaker Zegana - Draw for Power.
Pir & Toothy - Counterpalooza.
Arcades, the Strategist - Another Brick in the Wall.
Zacama, Primal Calamity - Calamity of Double Mana.
Edgar Markov - Vampires Don't Die.
Child of Alara - Dreamcrusher.
What do you base that on? All those high-end post-Alaran rares they bumped up to mythic in MM2/EMA? Oh, wait...
Chandra, Torch of Defiance - Oops! All Chandras.
Prime Speaker Zegana - Draw for Power.
Pir & Toothy - Counterpalooza.
Arcades, the Strategist - Another Brick in the Wall.
Zacama, Primal Calamity - Calamity of Double Mana.
Edgar Markov - Vampires Don't Die.
Child of Alara - Dreamcrusher.
Linvala, keeper of silence?
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
I wouldn't mind if they did what they used to back in the day and art variations of the same card in the same set, because I also like both Snapcaster art pieces.
1) Lightning Helix (if they reprint Warleader's Helix I think there will be rioting)
2) Doubling Season
3) Abrupt Decay
4) All the charms, all the time. Seriously, they are underdogs.
5) Rest in Peace
6) Cavern of Souls
7) Craterhoof Behemoth
8) Sigarda, Host of Herons
9) Gavony Township
10) Invisible Stalker
11) Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
12) Lingering Souls
13) Tamiyo, the Moon Sage (omg please let this happen. She's worth it!)
14) blood artist
15) Vexing Devil
As for cards I don't want to see get reprinted...
1) Tibalt, the Fiend-blooded My gods, if they reprint this it will be the greatest prank ever, but the fact it eats a mythic slot... oh the burn.
2) Anything involving guildgates or anything from dragons maze besides Voice of Resurgence.
3) Vorapede
4) Balefire Dragon (I love this card but it's really something that should be in a commander product)
5) Mikaeus, the Unhallowed (again, good card but probably better in commander)
Not sure what else to put on the "do not reprint this for the sake of humanity in the Modern Masters set" category...
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
Spirits
They could reprint Tibalt at uncommon. That would be rather funny, although he might actually be strong then.
Do remember that MM1 had quite the fair amount of Commander reprints, so seeing things like these reprinted wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. Frankly, as long as we are getting wanted cards reprinted, no matter where they are played, I'll call it a win, as long as there are enough of them of course.
I've got the feeling we may see balefire Dragon simply because red doesn't have a lot of great mythics to reprint, and if they go with a zombies vs humans subtheme in the draft / limited build we definitely will see Mikaeus, the Unhallowed. The catch is that casting cost is really deep black and if they are going with Return to Ravnica, it needs to have cards that are guild playable. It's going to be really hard to use Mikaeus otherwise.
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
Red mythics actually do have a few interesting pieces this time around, most notably Past in Flames, but there's also Bonfire of the Damned and Thundermaw Hellkite that add the possible pool of mythics from the period that'll be added. Balefire Dragon looks to me like a prime candidate for a mythic -> rare downgrade. I'm not sure if it'd be too strong for a MM3 limited format, a few strong reach guys at uncommon/rare might hold it in check well enough. And if we go into multicolour...Olivia Voldaren, Ral Zarek and Domri Rade are all the kind of mythics I don't think many people will complain about, although none of them are particulary exciting. I don't expect Huntmaster of the Fells as that'd require DFC's, and I don't think we'll be getting those until we get a Modern Masters that spans until the SOI block.
Chandra, Torch of Defiance - Oops! All Chandras.
Prime Speaker Zegana - Draw for Power.
Pir & Toothy - Counterpalooza.
Arcades, the Strategist - Another Brick in the Wall.
Zacama, Primal Calamity - Calamity of Double Mana.
Edgar Markov - Vampires Don't Die.
Child of Alara - Dreamcrusher.
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
I think the best reprints they can give red right now is Goblin Guide and Blood Moon. Completely forgot Thundermaw Hellkite existed, I'd personally like Balefire Dragon over Hellkite. A red mythic to get bumped down to rare would probably be Moonveil Dragon, the best firebreather of them all.
Mythic wise reds only "real" choices are Bonfire of the Damned, Past in Flames, Balefire Dragon, Utvara Hellkite, Kiki-Jiki, Thundermaw Hellkite, Urabrask, and Warren Instigator. Those are the current mythics with any real value, for either Commander or Modern, but I think the two most likely are the first two, or it could be that red only gets one mythic to make room for more multicolored mythic cards, as there are a few more able to be printed in MM.
Standard/Block = The on-again, off-again holiday fling
Modern/Vintage/Legacy = Stable, homely. A ***** after absence/misreading
Limited/Sealed = Heart breaking free spirit
Commander/Cube = Agreeable, needy and expensive
Pauper/Peasant = Sweet, kind, practical, but shy and boring
According to past previews march 6th.
Saffron olive made a calendar of expected releases etc....
pucatrade
big receipts
alpha mox emerald
beta time walk
4 goyfs received
3 liliana of the veil
4 karn liberated
3 force of will
4 grove of the burnwillows
snapcaster mage
3 horizon canopy
2 full art damnation
If they do a variety of Slivers for the common/uncommon slots, I'd do cartwheels, and whirl my t-shirt around my head like a helicopter.