For the last few sets, I've put together lists of "Standard Staples"- cards that will (likely) see play sometime before they rotate out. It's definitely started to impact my ability to assemble and play the top decks and improved my Magic experience and performance.
Here's my initial list of M14 Standard Staples (and the quantity I want):
Ajani, Caller of the Pride - 3
Archangel of Thune - 4
Banisher Priest - 4
Brave the Elements - 4
Chandra, Pyromaster - 4
Clone - 4
Devout Invocation - 4
Domestication - 4
Doom Blade - 4
Elite Arcanist - 4
Enlarge - 4
Fiendslayer Paladin - 4
Flames of the Firebrand - 4
Garruk, Caller of Beasts - 3
Glimpse the Future - 4
Grim Return - 4
Imposing Sovereign - 4
Jace, Memory Adept - 3
Kalonian Hydra - 4
Kalonian Tusker - 4
Lifebane Zombie - 4
Mindsparker - 4
Mutavault - 4
Ogre Battledriver - 4
Ratchet Bomb - 4
Sanguine Bond - 4
Spell Blast - 4
Wall of Frost - 4
Warden of Evos Isle - 4
Witchstalker - 4
Xathrid Necromancer - 4
Young Pyromancer - 4
As you can see, my initial list is quite extensive. I didn't expand it to include commons because I draft a bit and buy a box each set, which should get me playsets of all commons.
Enlarge? Really? A 5 CMC sorcery that basically says "2-for-1 me with Doom Blade"? You're aware Revenge of the Hunted is a better option that has seen fringe-play as a one-of, right?
For the last few sets, I've put together lists of "Standard Staples"- cards that will (likely) see play sometime before they rotate out. It's definitely started to impact my ability to assemble and play the top decks and improved my Magic experience and performance.
Here's my initial list of M14 Standard Staples (and the quantity I want):
Ajani, Caller of the Pride - 3
Archangel of Thune - 4
Banisher Priest - 4
Brave the Elements - 4
Chandra, Pyromaster - 4
Clone - 4
Devout Invocation - 4
Domestication - 4
Doom Blade - 4
Elite Arcanist - 4
Enlarge - 4
Fiendslayer Paladin - 4
Flames of the Firebrand - 4
Garruk, Caller of Beasts - 3
Glimpse the Future - 4
Grim Return - 4
Imposing Sovereign - 4
Jace, Memory Adept - 3
Kalonian Hydra - 4
Kalonian Tusker - 4
Lifebane Zombie - 4
Mindsparker - 4
Mutavault - 4
Ogre Battledriver - 4
Ratchet Bomb - 4
Sanguine Bond - 4
Spell Blast - 4
Wall of Frost - 4
Warden of Evos Isle - 4
Witchstalker - 4
Xathrid Necromancer - 4
Young Pyromancer - 4
As you can see, my initial list is quite extensive. I didn't expand it to include commons because I draft a bit and buy a box each set, which should get me playsets of all commons.
Any additions? Any cards I'm silly to include?
Wall of Frost is completely unplayable, Spell Blast the same, Sanguine Bond is a 5 mana enchantment that doesn't do anything alone or when it enters, Grim Return is too gimmicky, Forbidden Alchemy is strictly better than Glimpse the Future in a whole bunch of ways and doesn't see much play, Enlarge is just awful, Flames of the Firebrand is already in standard and sees only fringe play, same with Clone and Ajani.
Even ignoring those examples, a huge number of the cards you listed are unlikely to see tons of play, even if they aren't "terrible".
I skipped Scavenging Ooze and Chandra's Phoenix because I was typing off a list of cards I don't presently have. (I cracked some at prerelease.) My mistake!
I can see taking off Wall of Frost. I don't have experience w/Spell Burst, but if it stinks, that's what I'm feeling out.
Sanguine Bond is included because I've seen it with Vizkopa Guildmage in some of the WB lifegain decks. I can see removing it as well.
I don't mind paying $4 (or less, when we're talking about uncommons) to round out playsets of "fringe cards" that occasionally see play. The point of this list is to form a stable of staples, not to only get the 5-10 cards that will see heavy play.
Sanguine Bond is included because I've seen it with Vizkopa Guildmage in some of the WB lifegain decks. I can see removing it as well.
And how many of them were compeative decks? That is a combo that is pretty much only run in casual games, and not worthy of being called a staple. It is to expensive to set up and start.
Also, the staples are the card as that see heavy play. That is what makes them staples.
It's rather hard to judge what going to be a solidified staple in the upcoming meta since were missing a good chunk of data. However, if I were to pick up some card and concoct a list (which I wouldn't because everything is going to be largely inflated) it would look like this..
I dunno if I would put Young Pyromancer in the same league as Dark Confidant and the others. But I have not tested this, so YP could very well be that good after all.
I dunno if I would put Young Pyromancer in the same league as Dark Confidant and the others. But I have not tested this, so YP could very well be that good after all.
For Standard? Perhaps.
But I'd say red finally completes the cycle of broken two drops. In Vintage, it works too brilliantly with Skullclamp. In Legacy, you've got too many engines, like Loam, and Punishing Fire to ignore at least testing Pyromancer (even the idea of Grixis Delver seems feasible). And Modern will abuse the hell out of this guy with Storm, and Goblin Bushwacker.
Standard doesn't need to support him with too much. The effect is powerful on its own, and once Snapcaster rotates, the power level on spells won't be restricted as much (I believe Wizards is on record as saying Snapcaster is the reason they didn't reprint Flame Slash-?). I know these are just assumptions, but I'm drinking the koolaid, and it tastes delicious.
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Modern
Dredge, Evo-Chord, U/G Faeries, Living End, Something New
Ill just copy your list and tweak the numbers to what I feel they currently are at.
1=Very unlikely to be played
2=Could see fringe play in a very few decks.
3=Good enough card to see play in a few decks, and fits a niche.
4=Very good card that will see play in multiple decks.
5=Staple in almost every deck running that color.
Ajani, Caller of the Pride - 2
Archangel of Thune - 3
Banisher Priest - 2
Brave the Elements - 2
Chandra, Pyromaster - 3
Chandra's Phoenix - 3
Clone - 3
Devout Invocation - 1
Domestication - 1
Doom Blade - 4.5
Elite Arcanist - 2
Enlarge - 1
Fiendslayer Paladin - 2.5
Flames of the Firebrand - 3
Garruk, Caller of Beasts - 3
Glimpse the Future - 1
Grim Return - 1
Imposing Sovereign - 4
Jace, Memory Adept - 3
Kalonian Hydra - 4
Kalonian Tusker - 3
Lifebane Zombie - 3.5
Mindsparker - 3
Mutavault - 4
Ogre Battledriver - 3
Ratchet Bomb - 2
Sanguine Bond - 1
Scavenging Ooze - 5
Spell Blast - 1
Wall of Frost - 1
Warden of Evos Isle - 2
Witchstalker - 3
Xathrid Necromancer - 3
Young Pyromancer - 4
I agree with the list Skyrian posted for the most part. The only tweaks I would make are Clone at 2.5 (much more of a sideboard card), and Scavenging Ooze at 4.5 since G/X aggro doesn't have much use for him (and aggro is a pretty big slice of the meta at the moment). But, these are all arbitrary anyway. Regardless, his list is much closer to reality than OP's.
I'm no Standard expert, but I'm surprised to not see Doom Blade or Scavenging Ooze on your initial list. Though as you said, I guess you maybe have enough of them and didn't think to add them 'cause you own a playset or something, but... yeah, relevant oversight, I think. I'll be surprised if they don't see play.
Then again, roughly half of the "best" cards (IMO*) are reprints at this point, so it's also not a tough or fair consideration on my part, either.
I'm no Standard expert, but I'm surprised to not see Doom Blade or Scavenging Ooze on your initial list. Though as you said, I guess you maybe have enough of them and didn't think to add them 'cause you own a playset or something, but... yeah, relevant oversight, I think. I'll be surprised if they don't see play.
Then again, roughly half of the "best" cards (IMO*) are reprints at this point, so it's also not a tough or fair consideration on my part, either.
To be honest... doomblade may go to sideboard. RTR block has a lot of muticolored guys that are also black which blank this. As much as I was excited for Doomblades return, I'm still going to have problems with Olivias Obzedats, Exava [will see play now at least for Hydra interactions], Cartel Aristocrat and Falkernath Aristocrat
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To the people that say that a card needs to be a higher rarity because of Limited... I hate you guys so much. I present to you with this.
For the last few sets, I've put together lists of "Standard Staples"- cards that will (likely) see play sometime before they rotate out. It's definitely started to impact my ability to assemble and play the top decks and improved my Magic experience and performance.
Here's my initial list of M14 Standard Staples (and the quantity I want):
Ajani, Caller of the Pride - 3 - NO - may see fringe play in 1 or 2 decks, but isn't anything you need
Archangel of Thune - 4 - YES - card is legit
Banisher Priest - 4 - YES
Brave the Elements - 4 - YES
Chandra, Pyromaster - 4 - NO - I could be wrong on this one, but I'd rather save my money
Clone - 4 - YES
Devout Invocation - 4 - NO
Domestication - 4 - ??? - This one is really tough. I think they're cheap, so it doesn't hurt getting them.
Doom Blade - 4 - YES - Obviously
Elite Arcanist - 4 - NO - 1/1 for 4 cmc and no immediate impact is too frail no matter how powerful the effect.
Enlarge - 4 - NO
Fiendslayer Paladin - 4 - YES
Flames of the Firebrand - 4 - YES
Garruk, Caller of Beasts - 3 - YES
Glimpse the Future - 4 - ??? - Pretty sure it's a no, but it's borderline.
Grim Return - 4 - NO
Imposing Sovereign - 4 - YES
Jace, Memory Adept - 3 - YES
Kalonian Hydra - 4 - YES
Kalonian Tusker - 4 - YES
Lifebane Zombie - 4 - YES
Mindsparker - 4 - YES
Mutavault - 4 - YES
Ogre Battledriver - 4 - YES
Ratchet Bomb - 4 - YES
Sanguine Bond - 4 - NO
Spell Blast - 4 - NO - Syncopate is already infinitely better
Wall of Frost - 4 - NO - Maybe it'll see fringe play? I'm ok missing out on this one.
Warden of Evos Isle - 4 - ??? - Maybe???
Witchstalker - 4 - Not at $6 - mostly just a 3/3 for 3.
Xathrid Necromancer - 4 - YES
Young Pyromancer - 4 - YES
As you can see, my initial list is quite extensive. I didn't expand it to include commons because I draft a bit and buy a box each set, which should get me playsets of all commons.
Any additions? Any cards I'm silly to include?
Answers to ones you mentioned above. Additions below.
Thanks, all. Especially Fett2, Skyrian, mandelbrot! I think your lists/evaluations are extremely useful.
Just to be clear, my numbers were quantity of cards wanted, not a ranking. (I generally don't want/need playsets of legends.) I'm more generous than most, so getting your corrections are why I posted my list.
Here's my initial list of M14 Standard Staples (and the quantity I want):
Ajani, Caller of the Pride - 3
Archangel of Thune - 4
Banisher Priest - 4
Brave the Elements - 4
Chandra, Pyromaster - 4
Clone - 4
Devout Invocation - 4
Domestication - 4
Doom Blade - 4
Elite Arcanist - 4
Enlarge - 4
Fiendslayer Paladin - 4
Flames of the Firebrand - 4
Garruk, Caller of Beasts - 3
Glimpse the Future - 4
Grim Return - 4
Imposing Sovereign - 4
Jace, Memory Adept - 3
Kalonian Hydra - 4
Kalonian Tusker - 4
Lifebane Zombie - 4
Mindsparker - 4
Mutavault - 4
Ogre Battledriver - 4
Ratchet Bomb - 4
Sanguine Bond - 4
Spell Blast - 4
Wall of Frost - 4
Warden of Evos Isle - 4
Witchstalker - 4
Xathrid Necromancer - 4
Young Pyromancer - 4
As you can see, my initial list is quite extensive. I didn't expand it to include commons because I draft a bit and buy a box each set, which should get me playsets of all commons.
Any additions? Any cards I'm silly to include?
The world is on fire
and you are here to stay and burn with me.
Wall of Frost is completely unplayable, Spell Blast the same, Sanguine Bond is a 5 mana enchantment that doesn't do anything alone or when it enters, Grim Return is too gimmicky, Forbidden Alchemy is strictly better than Glimpse the Future in a whole bunch of ways and doesn't see much play, Enlarge is just awful, Flames of the Firebrand is already in standard and sees only fringe play, same with Clone and Ajani.
Even ignoring those examples, a huge number of the cards you listed are unlikely to see tons of play, even if they aren't "terrible".
I can see taking off Wall of Frost. I don't have experience w/Spell Burst, but if it stinks, that's what I'm feeling out.
Sanguine Bond is included because I've seen it with Vizkopa Guildmage in some of the WB lifegain decks. I can see removing it as well.
I don't mind paying $4 (or less, when we're talking about uncommons) to round out playsets of "fringe cards" that occasionally see play. The point of this list is to form a stable of staples, not to only get the 5-10 cards that will see heavy play.
And how many of them were compeative decks? That is a combo that is pretty much only run in casual games, and not worthy of being called a staple. It is to expensive to set up and start.
Also, the staples are the card as that see heavy play. That is what makes them staples.
Modern: Eldrazi Tron, UW Tron, GR Tron, BW Tokens, WU Death and Taxes
Doom Blade
For Standard? Perhaps.
But I'd say red finally completes the cycle of broken two drops. In Vintage, it works too brilliantly with Skullclamp. In Legacy, you've got too many engines, like Loam, and Punishing Fire to ignore at least testing Pyromancer (even the idea of Grixis Delver seems feasible). And Modern will abuse the hell out of this guy with Storm, and Goblin Bushwacker.
Standard doesn't need to support him with too much. The effect is powerful on its own, and once Snapcaster rotates, the power level on spells won't be restricted as much (I believe Wizards is on record as saying Snapcaster is the reason they didn't reprint Flame Slash-?). I know these are just assumptions, but I'm drinking the koolaid, and it tastes delicious.
Modern
Dredge, Evo-Chord, U/G Faeries, Living End, Something New
1=Very unlikely to be played
2=Could see fringe play in a very few decks.
3=Good enough card to see play in a few decks, and fits a niche.
4=Very good card that will see play in multiple decks.
5=Staple in almost every deck running that color.
Ajani, Caller of the Pride - 2
Archangel of Thune - 3
Banisher Priest - 2
Brave the Elements - 2
Chandra, Pyromaster - 3
Chandra's Phoenix - 3
Clone - 3
Devout Invocation - 1
Domestication - 1
Doom Blade - 4.5
Elite Arcanist - 2
Enlarge - 1
Fiendslayer Paladin - 2.5
Flames of the Firebrand - 3
Garruk, Caller of Beasts - 3
Glimpse the Future - 1
Grim Return - 1
Imposing Sovereign - 4
Jace, Memory Adept - 3
Kalonian Hydra - 4
Kalonian Tusker - 3
Lifebane Zombie - 3.5
Mindsparker - 3
Mutavault - 4
Ogre Battledriver - 3
Ratchet Bomb - 2
Sanguine Bond - 1
Scavenging Ooze - 5
Spell Blast - 1
Wall of Frost - 1
Warden of Evos Isle - 2
Witchstalker - 3
Xathrid Necromancer - 3
Young Pyromancer - 4
Devout Invocation
Elite Arcanist
Enlarge
Grim Return
Sanguine Bond
Spell Blast
Wall of Frost
Warden of Evos Isle
MtG Sales List
Then again, roughly half of the "best" cards (IMO*) are reprints at this point, so it's also not a tough or fair consideration on my part, either.
To be honest... doomblade may go to sideboard. RTR block has a lot of muticolored guys that are also black which blank this. As much as I was excited for Doomblades return, I'm still going to have problems with Olivias Obzedats, Exava [will see play now at least for Hydra interactions], Cartel Aristocrat and Falkernath Aristocrat
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SY8h2vp5Xis
Answers to ones you mentioned above. Additions below.
Add:
4x Scavenging Ooze
4x Tidebender Mage
4x Burning Earth
4x Celestial Flare
4x Chandra's Phoenix
3x Planar Cleansing
Maybe Quicken
Maybe Shadowborn Demon
Maybe Slivers
Maybe Trading Post
Duress, Elvish Mystic, Elixir of Immortality, Encroaching Wastes, Essence Scatter, Fog, Giant Growth, Gladecover Scout, maybe Advocate of the Beast, Negate, Shadowborn Apostle, Shock, Shrivel, Wring Flesh.
Trimming to actual staples:
Scavenging Ooze
Mutavault
Duress
Doom Blade
Ratchet Bomb
Archangel of Thune
Celestial Flare
Just to be clear, my numbers were quantity of cards wanted, not a ranking. (I generally don't want/need playsets of legends.) I'm more generous than most, so getting your corrections are why I posted my list.