And if such powerful deck manipulation/scrying type of effects are going to be introduced to Modern I would really prefer it to be from a blue source. After dabbling a little bit in Frontier I've decided I really wouldn't mind trying dig through time out. To be honest I wish it was a little bit less powerful but considering this is modern and you can go a little bonkers I think it's worth trying.
So you have an issue with fetches but not Dig through time? Dig Through Time is broken, why do we have to keep repeating this? Dig 7 (or was it 8) cards deep, put two cards in your hand, instant speed, at the end of your turn
I'm 100% convinced that midrange decks without blue would die on the spot with that card, they simply cannot handle all of that CA, it's never a bad topdeck unlike AV. Midrange would have so many new 35/65 matchups introduced to them over night it would absolutely not be worth playing a deck with mostly 50/50,s a few 60/40's, and a bunch of 35/65s--having to contend with ramp and now every deck that splashes blue? No.
I'd literally rather see Jace, SFM, BBE and Preordained unbanned all at the same time than that cluster **** of a card return to modern
At this point it feels as though wizards wants to play it safe with the modern format and avoid making the situation any worse in standard, which is why they didn't do anything for the ban lists. "If it isn't broke, don't fix it" is probably the most fitting statement there is for the current situation with the formats. Even if Splinter Twin, Preordain, and possibly Jace the mind sculptor are safe unbans, it seems foolish to unban one of the them if the format is considered to be doing well.
even if the meta is considered healthy. I doubt making blue stronger would push the game into an unhealthy direction lol
DTT is not something that should be in Modern. Dear lord. Preordain would be far saner.
Dig through 17% of your deck and put 28% of the most relevant of those cards into your hand? At Instant speed? No thanks.
Oh, and those numbers get better as the game goes on.
I know there's very little talk about unbanning SDT, and even the occasional talk about banning it in Legacy, but that's a card I want to talk about for a bit.
The original justification for banning SDT was due to tournament logistics, but we have far fewer modern GP's now, and it's not a tournament format. While Modern is still popular it's mainly at smaller events where logistics aren't as big an issue and the format fights durdling well.
Would we finally get a real control deck in the format if we unbanned SDT, and probably swap banned Counterbalance? It would open up a Miracles deck into the format, albeit a Miracles deck that lacks the CB lock, Council's Judgment, or the best counterspells in the game. It seems to me like it could bring a few new decks in, and likely slow the format by a couple of turns. It would also help to fix the sideboard problem by letting players see more of their deck.
It's definitely a powerful card, but I think it could do good things potentially. What am I missing?
As long as paper MTG doesn't use a chess clock system, the logistical issues are too steep. Wizards unquestionably has data on this from old Extended and I sincerely doubt they want to revisit that data in Modern:
The constant activating of Sensei's Divining Top bogs games down, which ultimately leads to an increase in the number of matches that go to time and beyond, which in turn leads to tournaments running much longer than they have historically. Furthermore, the Top encourages players to maximize the number of shuffle effects they play in a deck and the constant shuffling, cutting, presenting to an opponent to repeat the process, and then continuation of a turn exacerbated the situation.
Even if Wizards swap-banned CB (which they've never done in any case, so this itself is kind of a moot point), Top would still cause these issues in Modern because selection is so bad. Top would be such a dramatic improvement over everything else that many decks would use it. And even if only a handful of decks used it, it only takes that small handful to break a tournament and cause rounds to go long.
I know there's very little talk about unbanning SDT, and even the occasional talk about banning it in Legacy, but that's a card I want to talk about for a bit.
The original justification for banning SDT was due to tournament logistics, but we have far fewer modern GP's now, and it's not a tournament format. While Modern is still popular it's mainly at smaller events where logistics aren't as big an issue and the format fights durdling well.
Would we finally get a real control deck in the format if we unbanned SDT, and probably swap banned Counterbalance? It would open up a Miracles deck into the format, albeit a Miracles deck that lacks the CB lock, Council's Judgment, or the best counterspells in the game. It seems to me like it could bring a few new decks in, and likely slow the format by a couple of turns. It would also help to fix the sideboard problem by letting players see more of their deck.
It's definitely a powerful card, but I think it could do good things potentially. What am I missing?
Its not the larger events that were really the logistic issues. It was the smaller qualifiers and local events. When you go to a larger event, you understand you are going to be there a long time and time really isnt an issue until the last day with peoples travel plans. Its much more magnified at the lower level events when a store is suppose to close at a certain time and you have only played 3 of the 5 rounds you had scheduled. DCI says they have to play 5 rounds and a top for the qualifier to stand .. but you know you have at least 3 or more hours of rounds to play and its closing time. You didnt expect to go till closing, let alone have to play hours past.
The second issue is there are some very good top players. They play game one at a pace they win game one and the time runs out for the round and they didnt slow play. They just topped every time they were allowed by the rules to top. Or they win game one and play at a pace that isnt slow, but drags out the second game to turns and time and they win. It nullifies sideboard tech for the deck.
I dont think SDT will ever come off the list for the reasons stated above. Wotc uses the logistics excuse for the banning, but there is more to it.
Would we finally get a real control deck in the format if we unbanned SDT, and probably swap banned Counterbalance? It would open up a Miracles deck into the format, albeit a Miracles deck that lacks the CB lock, Council's Judgment, or the best counterspells in the game. It seems to me like it could bring a few new decks in, and likely slow the format by a couple of turns. It would also help to fix the sideboard problem by letting players see more of their deck.
It's definitely a powerful card, but I think it could do good things potentially. What am I missing?
Every deck can play SDT... is that an argument for it? Because it sounds like an argument against it.
SDT seems like an obvious non-starter in a format that still bans preordain because WotC is concerned about too much card selection. Given that context, even discussing it seems strange. Not exactly Skullclamp, but more skullclamp than preordain.
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Modern Decks
KnightfallGWUR
Azorius Control UW
Burn RBG
Every deck can play SDT... is that an argument for it? Because it sounds like an argument against it.
Only an observation. Nothing that has come from wizards would indicate that sensei's divining top does anything for the format that aligns with their vision of Modern. It is in a very, very deep grave.
I have no desire to see Top or Second Sunrise ever unbanned, they are the only cards on my ideal banned list that aren't completely off the wall bonkers powerful. I'm not concerned about some control deck getting the CB lock, if that were the issue i would say unban. my issue is that every Timmy Johnny and Spike would run some number of it and time would just get out of hand. stick a couple in burn, never get flooded again, that would be the thought. in Legacy it's less of an issue because people know how to use it, and withing 2 years every established Modern player would be good with it and the format actually would be a lot better imho, but the two years in between would be hell. guys with no idea how to use it to play quickly, jamming it in almost every deck whether or not that deck wants it, topping every turn, several times. I tried it at NBL Modern once, as did most people, it was supposed to be a 4 hour event, it went nearly 10. that card needs to stay right where it is
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Project Booster Fun makes it less fun to open a booster.
At this point it feels as though wizards wants to play it safe with the modern format and avoid making the situation any worse in standard, which is why they didn't do anything for the ban lists. "If it isn't broke, don't fix it" is probably the most fitting statement there is for the current situation with the formats. Even if Splinter Twin, Preordain, and possibly Jace the mind sculptor are safe unbans, it seems foolish to unban one of the them if the format is considered to be doing well.
even if the meta is considered healthy. I doubt making blue stronger would push the game into an unhealthy direction lol
Maybe, but in general if most people aren't complaining they don't exactly have motivation. Calmly sailing the waters while dealing with more pressing issues feels like the name of the game.
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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!
I would say the majority of blue deck fans and players actually have been complaining, despite some people wanting to silence us. That might not be a majority among Modern players, but it's enough that they can't ignore it.
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Modern UBR Grixis Shadow UBR UR Izzet Phoenix UR UW UW Control UW GB GB Rock GB
Commander BG Meren of Clan Nel Toth BG BGUW Atraxa, Praetor's Voice BGUW
I'm a Blue player, but I'm a Jund player more. This is why I want blue decks in the metagame, it's simple really; I want decks that can stop these Russian Roulette decks in the format.
I don't like being Stormed out turn 3, after I discarded two of their spells. Not many people would as a Jund player, but what's even more bothersome, is the fact that BGx Midrange was the best chance at stopping that deck. That's the fundamental problem. That's the core reason why I miss Splinter Twin. Not that I liked playing against Twin, but the fact that those jerks who run roulette decks can finally get punished in big Tournaments. That's the problem with this entire banned list, Wizards has catered to feelings instead of logic, time and time again. In doing so, we have sacrificed something larger than Twin itself.
Continuing on, Roulette decks do have a purpose in Modern, like every other format, I just personally despise their existence in Modern because of how uncontrolled they are. Furthermore, when more Roulette or Hyper-Aggro become larger and larger parts of the metagame, it further and further deviates to a Zero-Skill format.
When people explain their notion of control and apply it's concepts to BGx Midrange, the truth is they have no concept of BGx Midrange, or the metagame they speak of.
I would say the majority of blue deck fans and players actually have been complaining, despite some people wanting to silence us. That might not be a majority among Modern players, but it's enough that they can't ignore it.
Well, if wizards is listening to people's complaints about a weak blue segment of the color pie they are doing a stirling job at pretending they aren't. Right now the are in defcon 1 with standard and the player base just running off into the hillocks, which is the only reason they are likely ignoring peoples complaints about the modern format right now.
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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!
I agree that Standard is in worse straits right now, but I don't think they are ignoring Modern. AF said there was information coming around the time of the next ban announcement.
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Modern UBR Grixis Shadow UBR UR Izzet Phoenix UR UW UW Control UW GB GB Rock GB
Commander BG Meren of Clan Nel Toth BG BGUW Atraxa, Praetor's Voice BGUW
I would say the majority of blue deck fans and players actually have been complaining, despite some people wanting to silence us. That might not be a majority among Modern players, but it's enough that they can't ignore it.
Well, if wizards is listening to people's complaints about a weak blue segment of the color pie they are doing a stirling job at pretending they aren't. Right now the are in defcon 1 with standard and the player base just running off into the hillocks, which is the only reason they are likely ignoring peoples complaints about the modern format right now.
They are not ignoring it though.
You had the post Eldrazi *****. OK let's see what shakes out.
OK its Dredge and hyper aggro, we tried to help blue, but since we don't test...let's try banning GGT and Probe.
OK..that worked but blue still not great. 'we will discuss jace'
Blue wins an SCG open...any decision has been made (see Temur tower decks comment.)
Standard continues to suck, Blue in Modern continues to suck.
Ban announcement made after another weekend of poor blue decks.
Aaron makes another comment regarding blue.
So let's not make more false claims. They are not ignoring anyone.
Feel free to move the goalposts though.
It's not ******* hard to do more than one thing at a time. Especially when it's 'bob, what do you think about preordain or Jace?'
At this point it feels as though wizards wants to play it safe with the modern format and avoid making the situation any worse in standard, which is why they didn't do anything for the ban lists. "If it isn't broke, don't fix it" is probably the most fitting statement there is for the current situation with the formats. Even if Splinter Twin, Preordain, and possibly Jace the mind sculptor are safe unbans, it seems foolish to unban one of the them if the format is considered to be doing well.
There no reason whatsoever to assume WOTC will ever do anything other than "play it safe." And this is not a bad thing.
I would say the majority of blue deck fans and players actually have been complaining, despite some people wanting to silence us. That might not be a majority among Modern players, but it's enough that they can't ignore it.
Well, if wizards is listening to people's complaints about a weak blue segment of the color pie they are doing a stirling job at pretending they aren't. Right now the are in defcon 1 with standard and the player base just running off into the hillocks, which is the only reason they are likely ignoring peoples complaints about the modern format right now.
They are not ignoring it though.
You had the post Eldrazi *****. OK let's see what shakes out.
OK its Dredge and hyper aggro, we tried to help blue, but since we don't test...let's try banning GGT and Probe.
OK..that worked but blue still not great. 'we will discuss jace'
Blue wins an SCG open...any decision has been made (see Temur tower decks comment.)
Standard continues to suck, Blue in Modern continues to suck.
Ban announcement made after another weekend of poor blue decks.
Aaron makes another comment regarding blue.
So let's not make more false claims. They are not ignoring anyone.
Feel free to move the goalposts though.
It's not ******* hard to do more than one thing at a time. Especially when it's 'bob, what do you think about preordain or Jace?'
The part that people miss, though, is that they may see people asking for something to get unbanned and then instead of unbanning it because they feel it is broken in some way, look towards making a new card that can fill the same spot that isn't quite as broken as the original card or even shotgun it and try to appease an entire segment. Kaladesh definitely felt like the designers to some degree wanted to give combo players things to work with and wanted to make a more balanced combo experience.
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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!
At this point it feels as though wizards wants to play it safe with the modern format and avoid making the situation any worse in standard, which is why they didn't do anything for the ban lists. "If it isn't broke, don't fix it" is probably the most fitting statement there is for the current situation with the formats. Even if Splinter Twin, Preordain, and possibly Jace the mind sculptor are safe unbans, it seems foolish to unban one of the them if the format is considered to be doing well.
There no reason whatsoever to assume WOTC will ever do anything other than "play it safe." And this is not a bad thing.
I don't know. They unbanned Sword and AV at the same time a year ago, despite common claims that either one of those would ruin the format. They even did it without having any real sense of what the post-Twin format would be like, since Eldrzi Winter happened around that time and warped everything to hell. Stoddard even called that move "a calculated risk," and said further that, "If you aren't doing anything that scares you a bit, you probably aren't taking enough risks."
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Playing UX Mana Denial until Modern gets the answers it needs.
WUBRG Humans BRW Mardu Pyromancer UW UW "Control" UR Blue Moon
I do not feel Reactive Blue can be helped via modern (not Modern) design principles. It lags too far behind the power curve (with White) and it is unlikely to get the tools it requires, which already exist on the banned list.
Look at the combo's that came out of Kaladesh block...oh wait, there are none. :]
Copy Cat, the only one even making a peep in Modern, was an admitted error on their parts. For all the effort they went to, to make Combo's happen, and they are all weak.
Even the banned cards of Standard, see no play in Modern. Collective Brutality is good, yes, where is the Blue escalate? Actually, I just looked, there isnt one, lol, and other than Brutality and Alliance, that cycle is hot garbage for Modern, because the format is so stupid fast (I say that in a good way, I'm rofling at my deck on MTGO) and even 3 mana is simply TOO MUCH.
So no, I'm not particularly convinced that what Wizards fears is 'broken' is accurate.
Sword made them pause. Seen many SotM decks rocking the world?
Bitterblossom? No, no fey ripping up the top tables?
Hmm...Valakut, well its at least a GOOD card, but hardly suppressing the world.
So nah. I dont really care what they think is broken, because (and this is really important) THEY DO NOT TEST MODERN.
Torrential Gearhulk, as Snaps 5, 6, 7, 8 is the best blue card out of this standard...before that we had Delve cards (known power mechanic that I am abusing hard in my RG deck) that are restricted alllllllll the way down to Vintage.
Are we getting Delve ever again? lol...I dont think so.
At this point it feels as though wizards wants to play it safe with the modern format and avoid making the situation any worse in standard, which is why they didn't do anything for the ban lists. "If it isn't broke, don't fix it" is probably the most fitting statement there is for the current situation with the formats. Even if Splinter Twin, Preordain, and possibly Jace the mind sculptor are safe unbans, it seems foolish to unban one of the them if the format is considered to be doing well.
There no reason whatsoever to assume WOTC will ever do anything other than "play it safe." And this is not a bad thing.
I don't know. They unbanned Sword and AV at the same time a year ago, despite common claims that either one of those would ruin the format. They even did it without having any real sense of what the post-Twin format would be like, since Eldrzi Winter happened around that time and warped everything to hell. Stoddard even called that move "a calculated risk," and said further that, "If you aren't doing anything that scares you a bit, you probably aren't taking enough risks."
If unbanning AV and SOTM scared them a bit, then nothing else is ever coming off.
At this point it feels as though wizards wants to play it safe with the modern format and avoid making the situation any worse in standard, which is why they didn't do anything for the ban lists. "If it isn't broke, don't fix it" is probably the most fitting statement there is for the current situation with the formats. Even if Splinter Twin, Preordain, and possibly Jace the mind sculptor are safe unbans, it seems foolish to unban one of the them if the format is considered to be doing well.
There no reason whatsoever to assume WOTC will ever do anything other than "play it safe." And this is not a bad thing.
I don't know. They unbanned Sword and AV at the same time a year ago, despite common claims that either one of those would ruin the format. They even did it without having any real sense of what the post-Twin format would be like, since Eldrzi Winter happened around that time and warped everything to hell. Stoddard even called that move "a calculated risk," and said further that, "If you aren't doing anything that scares you a bit, you probably aren't taking enough risks."
If unbanning AV and SOTM scared them a bit, then nothing else is ever coming off.
Easy to say in retrospect, eh? Don't forget that AV was going to invalidate non-Blue fair decks, and Sword was going to crush Aggro.
Also, Don't forget that Stoddard said a month or two back that there are cards he'd like to see come off the Modern banlist.
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Playing UX Mana Denial until Modern gets the answers it needs.
WUBRG Humans BRW Mardu Pyromancer UW UW "Control" UR Blue Moon
I think blues problem is that other colors have been usurping its powers and benefits too much. Green just got LifeCrafter's Bestiary, and even though it's not exactly the most playable modern card, it illustrates the issue well enough. At this rate Wizards may just have to reinvent blue to give it a new lease on life while still keeping it true to what the color is supposed to represent. It's sort of funny looking back at Time Spiral block and realizing that colorshifted cards never really left.
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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!
U Merfolk
UB Tezzerator
UB Mill
I'm 100% convinced that midrange decks without blue would die on the spot with that card, they simply cannot handle all of that CA, it's never a bad topdeck unlike AV. Midrange would have so many new 35/65 matchups introduced to them over night it would absolutely not be worth playing a deck with mostly 50/50,s a few 60/40's, and a bunch of 35/65s--having to contend with ramp and now every deck that splashes blue? No.
I'd literally rather see Jace, SFM, BBE and Preordained unbanned all at the same time than that cluster **** of a card return to modern
even if the meta is considered healthy. I doubt making blue stronger would push the game into an unhealthy direction lol
decks playing:
none
Dig through 17% of your deck and put 28% of the most relevant of those cards into your hand? At Instant speed? No thanks.
Oh, and those numbers get better as the game goes on.
RUG Temur Deprive Delver
BUG Sultai Deprive Delver
As long as paper MTG doesn't use a chess clock system, the logistical issues are too steep. Wizards unquestionably has data on this from old Extended and I sincerely doubt they want to revisit that data in Modern:
http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/latest-developments/behind-september-2008-br-changes-2008-09-05
Even if Wizards swap-banned CB (which they've never done in any case, so this itself is kind of a moot point), Top would still cause these issues in Modern because selection is so bad. Top would be such a dramatic improvement over everything else that many decks would use it. And even if only a handful of decks used it, it only takes that small handful to break a tournament and cause rounds to go long.
Its not the larger events that were really the logistic issues. It was the smaller qualifiers and local events. When you go to a larger event, you understand you are going to be there a long time and time really isnt an issue until the last day with peoples travel plans. Its much more magnified at the lower level events when a store is suppose to close at a certain time and you have only played 3 of the 5 rounds you had scheduled. DCI says they have to play 5 rounds and a top for the qualifier to stand .. but you know you have at least 3 or more hours of rounds to play and its closing time. You didnt expect to go till closing, let alone have to play hours past.
The second issue is there are some very good top players. They play game one at a pace they win game one and the time runs out for the round and they didnt slow play. They just topped every time they were allowed by the rules to top. Or they win game one and play at a pace that isnt slow, but drags out the second game to turns and time and they win. It nullifies sideboard tech for the deck.
I dont think SDT will ever come off the list for the reasons stated above. Wotc uses the logistics excuse for the banning, but there is more to it.
SDT just makes Lantern more obnoxious, no?
That's funny.
Imagine playing as lantern against SDT. Sure, pithing needle might come down, but till then you're just miserable, and EVERY deck can play SDT.
SDT seems like an obvious non-starter in a format that still bans preordain because WotC is concerned about too much card selection. Given that context, even discussing it seems strange. Not exactly Skullclamp, but more skullclamp than preordain.
KnightfallGWUR
Azorius Control UW
Burn RBG
Only an observation. Nothing that has come from wizards would indicate that sensei's divining top does anything for the format that aligns with their vision of Modern. It is in a very, very deep grave.
Maybe, but in general if most people aren't complaining they don't exactly have motivation. Calmly sailing the waters while dealing with more pressing issues feels like the name of the game.
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!
UBR Grixis Shadow UBR
UR Izzet Phoenix UR
UW UW Control UW
GB GB Rock GB
Commander
BG Meren of Clan Nel Toth BG
BGUW Atraxa, Praetor's Voice BGUW
I don't like being Stormed out turn 3, after I discarded two of their spells. Not many people would as a Jund player, but what's even more bothersome, is the fact that BGx Midrange was the best chance at stopping that deck. That's the fundamental problem. That's the core reason why I miss Splinter Twin. Not that I liked playing against Twin, but the fact that those jerks who run roulette decks can finally get punished in big Tournaments. That's the problem with this entire banned list, Wizards has catered to feelings instead of logic, time and time again. In doing so, we have sacrificed something larger than Twin itself.
Continuing on, Roulette decks do have a purpose in Modern, like every other format, I just personally despise their existence in Modern because of how uncontrolled they are. Furthermore, when more Roulette or Hyper-Aggro become larger and larger parts of the metagame, it further and further deviates to a Zero-Skill format.
When people explain their notion of control and apply it's concepts to BGx Midrange, the truth is they have no concept of BGx Midrange, or the metagame they speak of.
Well, if wizards is listening to people's complaints about a weak blue segment of the color pie they are doing a stirling job at pretending they aren't. Right now the are in defcon 1 with standard and the player base just running off into the hillocks, which is the only reason they are likely ignoring peoples complaints about the modern format right now.
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!
UBR Grixis Shadow UBR
UR Izzet Phoenix UR
UW UW Control UW
GB GB Rock GB
Commander
BG Meren of Clan Nel Toth BG
BGUW Atraxa, Praetor's Voice BGUW
They are not ignoring it though.
You had the post Eldrazi *****. OK let's see what shakes out.
OK its Dredge and hyper aggro, we tried to help blue, but since we don't test...let's try banning GGT and Probe.
OK..that worked but blue still not great. 'we will discuss jace'
Blue wins an SCG open...any decision has been made (see Temur tower decks comment.)
Standard continues to suck, Blue in Modern continues to suck.
Ban announcement made after another weekend of poor blue decks.
Aaron makes another comment regarding blue.
So let's not make more false claims. They are not ignoring anyone.
Feel free to move the goalposts though.
It's not ******* hard to do more than one thing at a time. Especially when it's 'bob, what do you think about preordain or Jace?'
Spirits
Standard: lol no
Modern: BG/x, UR/x, Burn, Merfolk, Zoo, Storm
Legacy: Shardless BUG, Delver (BUG, RUG, Grixis), Landstill, Depths Combo, Merfolk
Vintage: Dark Times, BUG Fish, Merfolk
EDH: Teysa, Orzhov Scion / Krenko, Mob Boss / Stonebrow, Krosan Hero
The part that people miss, though, is that they may see people asking for something to get unbanned and then instead of unbanning it because they feel it is broken in some way, look towards making a new card that can fill the same spot that isn't quite as broken as the original card or even shotgun it and try to appease an entire segment. Kaladesh definitely felt like the designers to some degree wanted to give combo players things to work with and wanted to make a more balanced combo experience.
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 don't know. They unbanned Sword and AV at the same time a year ago, despite common claims that either one of those would ruin the format. They even did it without having any real sense of what the post-Twin format would be like, since Eldrzi Winter happened around that time and warped everything to hell. Stoddard even called that move "a calculated risk," and said further that, "If you aren't doing anything that scares you a bit, you probably aren't taking enough risks."
WUBRG Humans
BRW Mardu Pyromancer
UW UW "Control"
UR Blue Moon
Look at the combo's that came out of Kaladesh block...oh wait, there are none. :]
Copy Cat, the only one even making a peep in Modern, was an admitted error on their parts. For all the effort they went to, to make Combo's happen, and they are all weak.
Even the banned cards of Standard, see no play in Modern. Collective Brutality is good, yes, where is the Blue escalate? Actually, I just looked, there isnt one, lol, and other than Brutality and Alliance, that cycle is hot garbage for Modern, because the format is so stupid fast (I say that in a good way, I'm rofling at my deck on MTGO) and even 3 mana is simply TOO MUCH.
So no, I'm not particularly convinced that what Wizards fears is 'broken' is accurate.
Sword made them pause. Seen many SotM decks rocking the world?
Bitterblossom? No, no fey ripping up the top tables?
Hmm...Valakut, well its at least a GOOD card, but hardly suppressing the world.
So nah. I dont really care what they think is broken, because (and this is really important) THEY DO NOT TEST MODERN.
Torrential Gearhulk, as Snaps 5, 6, 7, 8 is the best blue card out of this standard...before that we had Delve cards (known power mechanic that I am abusing hard in my RG deck) that are restricted alllllllll the way down to Vintage.
Are we getting Delve ever again? lol...I dont think so.
Spirits
Standard: lol no
Modern: BG/x, UR/x, Burn, Merfolk, Zoo, Storm
Legacy: Shardless BUG, Delver (BUG, RUG, Grixis), Landstill, Depths Combo, Merfolk
Vintage: Dark Times, BUG Fish, Merfolk
EDH: Teysa, Orzhov Scion / Krenko, Mob Boss / Stonebrow, Krosan Hero
Easy to say in retrospect, eh?
Also, Don't forget that Stoddard said a month or two back that there are cards he'd like to see come off the Modern banlist.
WUBRG Humans
BRW Mardu Pyromancer
UW UW "Control"
UR Blue Moon
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'm going to ask Maro, Sam and Forsythe about that...
Spirits