Hi there! I was just wondering to myself why would one want to play Block Constructed over Standard Constructed or other constructed formats. I have thoughts on why I like to play Block, but I'd also like to know what the rest of you think.
As for myself, I think its fun to play around the theme of a given block and to adapt your decks as each of the sets are released and the story unfolds. I also like making decks around a specific mechanic and each block tends to have its new mechanics to build around.
I like Standard Constructed just fine, but I enjoy it most in the summer when there are two full blocks and two core sets to explore. Personally, I also like to have a constructed format where the card pool is a little smaller so the meta-game is a bit more focused. I also like that I can play all the fun new cards that I just drafted with out having the previous block to dilute the flavor of the new cards I'm currently geeking out on.
Okay, your turn. Thanks in advance for all your responses.
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Standard (KLD):UR Thermo-Thing Modern:UR Delver, URB Delver, URB Control, G Elves, WB Soul Sisters Legacy:UR Delver, URB Delver, G Elves EDH:GWTrostani, Selesnya's Voice, UBOona, Queen of the Fae
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I hate paying so much money to get into new sets, and never play block because you need all the new cards like every month :S its just a $$$ making format
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Standard: pft, i love to see my cards depreciate in value once they rotate :S
Mordern: Melira, UR Storm, RDW, Infect, W life/control, UW Tron
Legacy: RDW, Pox
Vintage: Dark Depths, R Grey Orge
For me it's because the amount of money it takes to build a deck is pretty low (Like RW Humans back in single set block) it also gives you a chance to play with cards you wouldn't dream of playing with in Standard.
I initially got into block for the cost. With few exceptions, a lot of the cards can be gotten cheaply. I stopped playing block and moved back to pauper with the release of AVR. I'm not a big fan of the miracle mechanic and I refuse to pay $40 for a card that's pretty much required to win.
I initially got into block for the cost. With few exceptions, a lot of the cards can be gotten cheaply. I stopped playing block and moved back to pauper with the release of AVR. I'm not a big fan of the miracle mechanic and I refuse to pay $40 for a card that's pretty much required to win.
I'll likely return with the new block, though.
Yep, I think that's the one big benefit to playing block: avoiding meta-game wreckers. The tyrrany of JTMS over Standard will not be soon forgotten. Once the first set of the new block is released we can all start over.
To tack on to that... If you want to play block and are willing to pony up for a $160 playset of BotD, once the new block starts up, those high-value rares and mythics will still have plenty of value to Standard players and you could still get most, if not all, of your money back. If you're lucky, you could even make a few tix profit. BotD was 30 for a long time, but I expect it to stay in the 38-40 tix range until it rotates. GoST spiked in value recently, as well.
Standard (KLD):UR Thermo-Thing Modern:UR Delver, URB Delver, URB Control, G Elves, WB Soul Sisters Legacy:UR Delver, URB Delver, G Elves EDH:GWTrostani, Selesnya's Voice, UBOona, Queen of the Fae
Find me on MTGO and Twitter with the same username
Yep, I think that's the one big benefit to playing block: avoiding meta-game wreckers. The tyrrany of JTMS over Standard will not be soon forgotten. Once the first set of the new block is released we can all start over.
To tack on to that... If you want to play block and are willing to pony up for a $160 playset of BotD, once the new block starts up, those high-value rares and mythics will still have plenty of value to Standard players and you could still get most, if not all, of your money back. If you're lucky, you could even make a few tix profit. BotD was 30 for a long time, but I expect it to stay in the 38-40 tix range until it rotates. GoST spiked in value recently, as well.
Block was initially a cost decision for me, (My block cards will hold their value 1 more year unless they are named Koth and Venser).
Once I got a feel for it, it feels a lot like limited because you have to make due with subpar cards but you get the "not so random" nature of constructed.
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Out of the blackness and stench of the engulfing swamp emerged a shimmering figure. Only the splattered armor and ichor-stained sword hinted at the unfathomable evil the knight had just laid waste.
Block was initially a cost decision for me, (My block cards will hold their value 1 more year unless they are named Koth and Venser).
Once I got a feel for it, it feels a lot like limited because you have to make due with subpar cards but you get the "not so random" nature of constructed.
Certainly, block has a lower cost barrier. You can have 4x of each block card for no more than half the price of having 4x of each standard card, and every year in the fall you can start fresh with one expansion set and graually grow in to the block with the winter and spring expansion set releases.
RTR block is going to be nuts. This is really driving me toward focusing on block constructed once RTR is released. Up until now, I've only bothered to collect 1 full copy of each new expansion set so that I can eventually redeem (MTGO) once it rotates out of standard. But, only having 1 copy of most cards leaves me wanting when it comes to constructing standard decks, even though I don't play competitve standard. Maybe sticking to block constructed for the next year will help me eventually break in to playing more standard constructed a year from now?
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Standard (KLD):UR Thermo-Thing Modern:UR Delver, URB Delver, URB Control, G Elves, WB Soul Sisters Legacy:UR Delver, URB Delver, G Elves EDH:GWTrostani, Selesnya's Voice, UBOona, Queen of the Fae
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I love block. It really appeals to the flavor-side of the game to me, unfortunately I can never find others that play it except on MTGO.
It's why I like limited too, it's so much more accurate to flavor that standard. Mixing Mirrodin with Innistrad? Having metal machines from one realm fight spirits from another realm? Gross...
About a third of RTR has now been spoiled. Multi-color heavy block with a great theme and flavor... How big do you think the Block Constructed bandwagon will be with this one?
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Standard (KLD):UR Thermo-Thing Modern:UR Delver, URB Delver, URB Control, G Elves, WB Soul Sisters Legacy:UR Delver, URB Delver, G Elves EDH:GWTrostani, Selesnya's Voice, UBOona, Queen of the Fae
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It really depends on how balanced it is. I'm sure we'll get an initial surge, but if there is only 1 deck like in IDA right now nobody will play unless they want to grind mirrors.
The problem with wizards new "Print Now Ban Later" philosophy is that banning 1-2 cards in block is a huge hit and doesn't really address the diversity all that much because there aren't always weaker cards to replace the banned ones like in other formats.
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Out of the blackness and stench of the engulfing swamp emerged a shimmering figure. Only the splattered armor and ichor-stained sword hinted at the unfathomable evil the knight had just laid waste.
It really depends on how balanced it is. I'm sure we'll get an initial surge, but if there is only 1 deck like in IDA right now nobody will play unless they want to grind mirrors.
The problem with wizards new "Print Now Ban Later" philosophy is that banning 1-2 cards in block is a huge hit and doesn't really address the diversity all that much because there aren't always weaker cards to replace the banned ones like in other formats.
I think we only encountered the "print now, ban later" with the combo of Lingering Souls and Intangible Virtue (which didn't get banned in standard, FWIW.) Those were the first block constructed bannings in years. The only other ISD block card to get banned in any format was Griselbrand, and that was only in Commander.
Does RTR block look to be on the same path of "print now, ban later"? It appears the be both powerful and balanced, based on the spoilers so far.
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Standard (KLD):UR Thermo-Thing Modern:UR Delver, URB Delver, URB Control, G Elves, WB Soul Sisters Legacy:UR Delver, URB Delver, G Elves EDH:GWTrostani, Selesnya's Voice, UBOona, Queen of the Fae
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I really like to get the feel for a plane and storyline... really get to know the native flora and fauna of a place, a sense of the important landmakrs, a familiarity with the important people. It's fun to play against other decks that take place in the same world. The sets are designed so flavorfully so that the plots play out. FOr example, a lot of things in ISD pump power, so that a human can killa werewolf or vmp, but usually dies int he process. This heroic martyrdom is not just a big part of Innistrad, but horror in general.
I loved Innistrad block so I played it as a block format. I enjoy the flavor and feel of it. Most of the time it is my personal thought that you cannot truely get a feel for HOW a card was meant to be played untill you play it in block constructed.
I started playing in Ravnica block and fell in love with the tightness of playing a block on it's own, there was no fear of other block mechanics (I'm looking at you, planeswalker cards) and I was able to savor the flavor with my friends. After doing it set after set playing any other way just feels unnatural.
I'm thinking of starting MTGO and I figured starting with RTR block and later transition to standard would be smart. I can concentrate on the RTR block staples for now and ignore the current standard's snapcaster, geist, restoration angel, thragrusk.
I started playing in Ravnica block and fell in love with the tightness of playing a block on it's own, there was no fear of other block mechanics (I'm looking at you, planeswalker cards) and I was able to savor the flavor with my friends. After doing it set after set playing any other way just feels unnatural.
This is exactly how I feel :). I started playing block only black in SOM block, but it was a lot more fun for me than Standard.
It's cheap to get into, and people catch onto the good cards a lot faster. I bought a bunch of hellrider when he was $2 and made a killing! Did the same thing with inkmoth nexus and consecrated sphinx the block before.
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Some facts of magic:
-Terror is an emotion which, when experienced, results in death.
-The pox was a disease notorious for having killed one-third, rounded up, of Europe’s population. Smallpox, on the other hand, killed only a single person.
-A person riding a horse cannot be stopped by foot soldiers, large animals, walls, archers, or even catapults.
As for myself, I think its fun to play around the theme of a given block and to adapt your decks as each of the sets are released and the story unfolds. I also like making decks around a specific mechanic and each block tends to have its new mechanics to build around.
I like Standard Constructed just fine, but I enjoy it most in the summer when there are two full blocks and two core sets to explore. Personally, I also like to have a constructed format where the card pool is a little smaller so the meta-game is a bit more focused. I also like that I can play all the fun new cards that I just drafted with out having the previous block to dilute the flavor of the new cards I'm currently geeking out on.
Okay, your turn. Thanks in advance for all your responses.
Modern: UR Delver, URB Delver, URB Control, G Elves, WB Soul Sisters
Legacy: UR Delver, URB Delver, G Elves
EDH: GWTrostani, Selesnya's Voice, UBOona, Queen of the Fae
Find me on MTGO and Twitter with the same username
Mordern: Melira, UR Storm, RDW, Infect, W life/control, UW Tron
Legacy: RDW, Pox
Vintage: Dark Depths, R Grey Orge
I'll likely return with the new block, though.
Yep, I think that's the one big benefit to playing block: avoiding meta-game wreckers. The tyrrany of JTMS over Standard will not be soon forgotten. Once the first set of the new block is released we can all start over.
To tack on to that... If you want to play block and are willing to pony up for a $160 playset of BotD, once the new block starts up, those high-value rares and mythics will still have plenty of value to Standard players and you could still get most, if not all, of your money back. If you're lucky, you could even make a few tix profit. BotD was 30 for a long time, but I expect it to stay in the 38-40 tix range until it rotates. GoST spiked in value recently, as well.
Modern: UR Delver, URB Delver, URB Control, G Elves, WB Soul Sisters
Legacy: UR Delver, URB Delver, G Elves
EDH: GWTrostani, Selesnya's Voice, UBOona, Queen of the Fae
Find me on MTGO and Twitter with the same username
Block was initially a cost decision for me, (My block cards will hold their value 1 more year unless they are named Koth and Venser).
Once I got a feel for it, it feels a lot like limited because you have to make due with subpar cards but you get the "not so random" nature of constructed.
Certainly, block has a lower cost barrier. You can have 4x of each block card for no more than half the price of having 4x of each standard card, and every year in the fall you can start fresh with one expansion set and graually grow in to the block with the winter and spring expansion set releases.
RTR block is going to be nuts. This is really driving me toward focusing on block constructed once RTR is released. Up until now, I've only bothered to collect 1 full copy of each new expansion set so that I can eventually redeem (MTGO) once it rotates out of standard. But, only having 1 copy of most cards leaves me wanting when it comes to constructing standard decks, even though I don't play competitve standard. Maybe sticking to block constructed for the next year will help me eventually break in to playing more standard constructed a year from now?
Modern: UR Delver, URB Delver, URB Control, G Elves, WB Soul Sisters
Legacy: UR Delver, URB Delver, G Elves
EDH: GWTrostani, Selesnya's Voice, UBOona, Queen of the Fae
Find me on MTGO and Twitter with the same username
It's why I like limited too, it's so much more accurate to flavor that standard. Mixing Mirrodin with Innistrad? Having metal machines from one realm fight spirits from another realm? Gross...
Modern: UR Delver, URB Delver, URB Control, G Elves, WB Soul Sisters
Legacy: UR Delver, URB Delver, G Elves
EDH: GWTrostani, Selesnya's Voice, UBOona, Queen of the Fae
Find me on MTGO and Twitter with the same username
The problem with wizards new "Print Now Ban Later" philosophy is that banning 1-2 cards in block is a huge hit and doesn't really address the diversity all that much because there aren't always weaker cards to replace the banned ones like in other formats.
I think we only encountered the "print now, ban later" with the combo of Lingering Souls and Intangible Virtue (which didn't get banned in standard, FWIW.) Those were the first block constructed bannings in years. The only other ISD block card to get banned in any format was Griselbrand, and that was only in Commander.
Does RTR block look to be on the same path of "print now, ban later"? It appears the be both powerful and balanced, based on the spoilers so far.
Modern: UR Delver, URB Delver, URB Control, G Elves, WB Soul Sisters
Legacy: UR Delver, URB Delver, G Elves
EDH: GWTrostani, Selesnya's Voice, UBOona, Queen of the Fae
Find me on MTGO and Twitter with the same username
[Clan Flamingo]
I started playing in Ravnica block and fell in love with the tightness of playing a block on it's own, there was no fear of other block mechanics (I'm looking at you, planeswalker cards) and I was able to savor the flavor with my friends. After doing it set after set playing any other way just feels unnatural.
This is exactly how I feel :). I started playing block only black in SOM block, but it was a lot more fun for me than Standard.
New to Commander? Read the Above article.
-Terror is an emotion which, when experienced, results in death.
-The pox was a disease notorious for having killed one-third, rounded up, of Europe’s population. Smallpox, on the other hand, killed only a single person.
-A person riding a horse cannot be stopped by foot soldiers, large animals, walls, archers, or even catapults.
More facts of magic