of course modern would seem stale if you continue to netdeck the same thing every tournament you go to. there are plenty of decks and ideas that can win against the tier 1 decks. also, many people (even pros, who obviously are the end all be all of opinions on modern /sarcasm) have admitted, sideboard cards are very powerful in modern and can swing games, so what is to say that a rogue deck can't do well with a properly constructed sideboard? take shouta's tezzeret deck for example. way out of left field and its a good deck that can do well in a large tournament setting. innovative decks are arguably better imo since the opponent has no idea what you're playing game 1 or how to play against you optimally, whereas if you're playing jund or pod most people know exactly what you're doing after your first 2 land drops.
TLDR if you think modern is stale i think you are incredibly lazy and uncreative and you should take a chance and design something new and exciting.
on topic, i think they could unbar some things in modern, but NOT JTMS or BBE as was alluded to on a recent episode of magic TV on the CFB youtube channel. unban grave troll, there is so much hate that everyone has in their sideboard anyways, i don't think a graveyard strategy could be that oppressive given what people already commonly use.
PV had a very similar attitude when he talked about PT Born of the Gods:
This tournament was the epitome of all I hate, and have always hated, about Modern. It doesn’t matter how tuned your deck is or how much better you play, if you are playing Affinity and they draw turn two Stony Silence you are going to lose, and the same is true for a number of other decks.
Basically, the same kind of "I can't run a overtly powerful deck and mow down the field because I can afford to spend weeks testing" attitude that LSV and Efro gave off. An arrogance of "the format sucks because it doesn't allow our skill to be shown." And saddens me because I respect them, but the format sucks because it's balanced? That's how formats should be.
I wouldn't say they all failed. A few of the mechanics have worked out well.
Battalion is probably the most successful. It's not a deck type per se but it fit well into the Naya Blitz deck with Boros Elite and Firefist Striker. Also it plays a part in the White Weenie decks with Boros Elite and Daring Skyjek.
Unleashed has been a part of Red aggressive decks with Rakdos Cackler and Gore House Chainwalker. Again, it wasn't the defining part but it fit into a deck mold.
Bloodrush had an impact, Populate had an impact. It's not like they were non-existent in the format.
I'm worried about this myself. I mean, I live in Alaska. There's no way we'll have a regional qualifier to ourselves here. So I win a PTQQ and now I have to travel to Seattle or Portland (most likely), on my own dime? On a months notice? I mean, airfare isn't cheap flying from up here and a months notice makes that worse! All for just another qualifier? I can't even imagine the costs for people in Mexico/Central/South America or the APAC region!
This works, in theory, in the Lower 48 and Canada (to an extent) and Europe. But everywhere else this is just a mess!
This is my first thought as well, it won't be good for rural or international regions. I'm guessing they saw this coming (it's pretty obvious) and had a plan to makes sure it ends up not being too bad for those groups. Time will tell though
I have a little faith but, like I said, I'm worried. I mean, it's super expensive and somewhat unreasonable for them to cover travel costs for PTQQ winners on top of the travel costs for PT qualifiers. But it's also unreasonable to ask somebody from places like Alaska or Hawai'i to pay their own way to a tournament they had to qualify for.
I'm thinking of emailing Wizards about this tomorrow...
I'm worried about this myself. I mean, I live in Alaska. There's no way we'll have a regional qualifier to ourselves here. So I win a PTQQ and now I have to travel to Seattle or Portland (most likely), on my own dime? On a months notice? I mean, airfare isn't cheap flying from up here and a months notice makes that worse! All for just another qualifier? I can't even imagine the costs for people in Mexico/Central/South America or the APAC region!
This works, in theory, in the Lower 48 and Canada (to an extent) and Europe. But everywhere else this is just a mess!
I don't know what to think of the list. It's ok but I see it as leaving some of the more powerful humans out and you're very very weak to removal AND boardwipes with no lategame except Hero. Here's my list that I use at my Modern FNM's here:
So I'll explain my choices. COTP because obviously it's the human deck. Student of Warfare is the second best one drop human, he can get powerful very quick. Soldier of the Pantheon is third best because he is 2/1 for one and he has a somewhat relevant protection (there are a lot of multicolor removal spells used). Thalia is an absolute necessity, she slows down decks and, more importantly, acts as a lightning rod for removal. Knight of the White Orchid I use because it can fix mana and does something when it comes into play, as opposed to other 2 drops that are good but don't do things right away. Silverblade Paladin because being able to give two creatures double strike, especially a 4/4 or 5/5 COTP, is very powerful and can end games quick. Mirran Crusader because he has relevant protection and double strike, a very powerful combo. And Ranger of Eos because being able to reload your hand with a creature is very very good for this deck. Path because it's the best removal in white. Honor because it's really what makes the deck go and be capable of winning. Lightning Bolt because it's good removal and gives you reach. Lightning Helix is the same as Bolt but with a nice lifegain that can swing games. 20 land because you really don't need that many for this deck. My land choices of Slayers' Stronghold because it can turn late game one drops into instant threats and Ghost Quarter because of pesky manlands.
Champion of the BarracksW
Creature - Human Soldier
Whenever a soldier enters the battlefield under your control, put a +1/+1 counter on ~.
2nd Champion of the Parish for Humans. Doesn't trigger off of Crusader and Hero, but it does off of Hero and Precinct's tokens.
I'd still fit a number of Student of Warfare, though. They give you some good options.
So using this to continue on a human theme, here's my wishes for human tribal:
Champion of HanweirR
Creature -Human Soldier
Whenever another human creature enters the battlefield under your control, put a +1/+1 counter on ~.
1/1
Basically it's Champion of the Parish, but in red so forces into two colors but into two that work well together. I'd like to have it in W but it's ok in R.
Guardian of the Parish1WW
Creature - Human Soldier
As ~ enters the battlefield choose a color, human creatures you control have protection from chosen color.
Other Human creatures you control get +1/+1.
2/2
So that is my take on the Human lord. Gives a great effect allowing them get damage thru and protection from Pyroclasm and spot removal, but still vulnerable to -X/-X and sweepers.
That Hero is what heroic needed. OMG that's good. Mana Dork turn 1, Him and Alpha Authority turn 2, ethereal Armour and Unflinching Courage turn 3... 10/10 lifelink trampler....
Whoa.....
YES! Even just in G/W that could be nasty. So many good one drops to pump up with enchantments. Plus we're getting the G/W and U/W scrylands.
other notable mentions fall to sphinx's rev, angel of serenity, garruk primal hunter, huntmaster of the fells, deathrite shaman, acidic slime, terminus, tamiyo.
it was a fun format with popular decks, high attendance tournaments, and no dominate deck for too long with the light exception being junk rites for a few weeks.
uh why would devotion be afraid of Huntmaster or Delver, when they can play their own bombs Master of Waves or Gray Merchant? huntmaster dosen't even look good in this format. this season's aggro is much stronger than last season's. heck probably best aggro has ever been. the format already has stuff like Polukranos, Skylasher, Mistcutter Hydra, Supreme Verdict, etc. that can hose (blue) devotion. yet, devotion decks keep on trucking. how much better do you want the answers to be?
some RG decks are pretty much is Goodstuffs.dec, but they still don't perform as well the devotion decks that play mediocre cards.
Did you play Naya Blitz last season at all? Nothing this season comes close to the speed of that one. Heck even the WG Humans decks from pre-GTC Standard are faster.
My question is how many red sources do you have to play to cast this guy reliably on turn 2? Half of the red sources come into play tapped, and you'd preferably want to drop him than.
While Akroan Hoplite pushes out more damage constantly, I think Daring Skyjek is better simply because of the way he synergizes with the deck. For example my favorite play with him is T1 Solider of the Pantheon, T2 Drop Mutavault + Daring Skyjek, T3 swing 7.
I run 8 red sources for 4 Akroan Hoplite and 4 Boros Charm, 4 Sacred Foundry, 2 Temples, and 2 basic Mountains. I also have Burning Earth in my sideboard. I haven't had much trouble hitting red mana by turn 3.
I actually prefer to drop him turn 3 or 4 as a pseudo - finisher as I run 12 one drops (Soldier, Boros Elite, Dryad Militant) and Precinct Captain.
How often would Akroan Hoplite be better than a Wojek Halberdiers, or a Daring Skyjek?
Often in my experience, the biggest key is the greater available power in Hoplite than the other two. White Weenie is a deck that seeks to attack with multiple creatures and Hoplite uses that to your advantage by generating greater power for shorter clocks and forcing bad blocks. It also is beneficial for game ending alpha swings by allowing them to happen one or two turns early.
Chained to the rocks with 4 mountains I think not. I personally like mortars as a SB card. A 1 of assemble and I will be trying legion loyalist but the jump horse could be just better in this spot.
One of the cards that has won me countless games is akroan Hoplite. It just does so much damage and with Boros charm or ajani it is broken. I digest you guys try it.
also what do you guys think of Heliod?
I second on Akroan Hoplite, the card is just great in most match ups I've had and, like stated, is nuts with Ajani.
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PV had a very similar attitude when he talked about PT Born of the Gods:
http://www.channelfireball.com/home/pvs-playhouse-pro-tour-born-of-the-gods/
Basically, the same kind of "I can't run a overtly powerful deck and mow down the field because I can afford to spend weeks testing" attitude that LSV and Efro gave off. An arrogance of "the format sucks because it doesn't allow our skill to be shown." And saddens me because I respect them, but the format sucks because it's balanced? That's how formats should be.
Battalion is probably the most successful. It's not a deck type per se but it fit well into the Naya Blitz deck with Boros Elite and Firefist Striker. Also it plays a part in the White Weenie decks with Boros Elite and Daring Skyjek.
Unleashed has been a part of Red aggressive decks with Rakdos Cackler and Gore House Chainwalker. Again, it wasn't the defining part but it fit into a deck mold.
Bloodrush had an impact, Populate had an impact. It's not like they were non-existent in the format.
I have a little faith but, like I said, I'm worried. I mean, it's super expensive and somewhat unreasonable for them to cover travel costs for PTQQ winners on top of the travel costs for PT qualifiers. But it's also unreasonable to ask somebody from places like Alaska or Hawai'i to pay their own way to a tournament they had to qualify for.
I'm thinking of emailing Wizards about this tomorrow...
This works, in theory, in the Lower 48 and Canada (to an extent) and Europe. But everywhere else this is just a mess!
4 Champion of the Parish
4 Student of Warfare
4 Soldier of the Pantheon
3 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
4 Knight of the White Orchid
4 Silverblade Paladin
3 Mirran Crusader
2 Ranger of Eos
4 Path to Exile
4 Honor of the Pure
2 Lightning Bolt
2 Lightning Helix
Lands
4 Sacred Foundry
2 Clifftop Retreat
2 Slayers' Stronghold
2 Ghost Quarter
9 Plains
1 Mountain
So I'll explain my choices. COTP because obviously it's the human deck. Student of Warfare is the second best one drop human, he can get powerful very quick. Soldier of the Pantheon is third best because he is 2/1 for one and he has a somewhat relevant protection (there are a lot of multicolor removal spells used). Thalia is an absolute necessity, she slows down decks and, more importantly, acts as a lightning rod for removal. Knight of the White Orchid I use because it can fix mana and does something when it comes into play, as opposed to other 2 drops that are good but don't do things right away. Silverblade Paladin because being able to give two creatures double strike, especially a 4/4 or 5/5 COTP, is very powerful and can end games quick. Mirran Crusader because he has relevant protection and double strike, a very powerful combo. And Ranger of Eos because being able to reload your hand with a creature is very very good for this deck. Path because it's the best removal in white. Honor because it's really what makes the deck go and be capable of winning. Lightning Bolt because it's good removal and gives you reach. Lightning Helix is the same as Bolt but with a nice lifegain that can swing games. 20 land because you really don't need that many for this deck. My land choices of Slayers' Stronghold because it can turn late game one drops into instant threats and Ghost Quarter because of pesky manlands.
So using this to continue on a human theme, here's my wishes for human tribal:
Champion of Hanweir R
Creature -Human Soldier
Whenever another human creature enters the battlefield under your control, put a +1/+1 counter on ~.
1/1
Basically it's Champion of the Parish, but in red so forces into two colors but into two that work well together. I'd like to have it in W but it's ok in R.
Guardian of the Parish 1WW
Creature - Human Soldier
As ~ enters the battlefield choose a color, human creatures you control have protection from chosen color.
Other Human creatures you control get +1/+1.
2/2
So that is my take on the Human lord. Gives a great effect allowing them get damage thru and protection from Pyroclasm and spot removal, but still vulnerable to -X/-X and sweepers.
YES! Even just in G/W that could be nasty. So many good one drops to pump up with enchantments. Plus we're getting the G/W and U/W scrylands.
Burning-Tree Emissary + Champion of the Parish (+ Lightning Mauler or Mayor of Avabruck or...)
Did you play Naya Blitz last season at all? Nothing this season comes close to the speed of that one. Heck even the WG Humans decks from pre-GTC Standard are faster.
That would be correct.
I run 8 red sources for 4 Akroan Hoplite and 4 Boros Charm, 4 Sacred Foundry, 2 Temples, and 2 basic Mountains. I also have Burning Earth in my sideboard. I haven't had much trouble hitting red mana by turn 3.
I actually prefer to drop him turn 3 or 4 as a pseudo - finisher as I run 12 one drops (Soldier, Boros Elite, Dryad Militant) and Precinct Captain.
Often in my experience, the biggest key is the greater available power in Hoplite than the other two. White Weenie is a deck that seeks to attack with multiple creatures and Hoplite uses that to your advantage by generating greater power for shorter clocks and forcing bad blocks. It also is beneficial for game ending alpha swings by allowing them to happen one or two turns early.
tl;dr I find it has better synergy with the deck.
I second on Akroan Hoplite, the card is just great in most match ups I've had and, like stated, is nuts with Ajani.