Count me among the players who have had enough with the cost of standard. The only reason I stick with the format is that it's the most supported locally. I watched the spoilers with disappointment as WOTC did maybe their worst job to date of concentrating playability at high rarity. Virtually all of the cards from SOI that get mentions in any articles are mythics and rares and the removal at common/uncommon particularly stinks this time.
That said, I'd be interested to see what commons/uncommons from SOI people here see as having a future in competitive standard, beyond maybe filler in some of the tribal vampire/werewolf lists that have floated around.
None are "stunners" but most are playable. Like other u/c in Standards past, their playability is dependent upon the powerful rares and mythics they surround.
you going to make us do all the work? At least post some of your thoughts first to create some discussion.
I guess I just don't think there's much there at the lower rarities. Of the ones others have mentioned above, I guess I only see Fiery Temper getting there, and it's pretty mediocre. I think Skin Invasion could be interesting.
For my own speculation, the one that jumps out at me as a sideboard card if there is a control deck to worry about is Autumnal Gloom because it's cheap and difficult to remove. Other than that, I wish there were a place for Aberrant Researcher because it's a sweet card, but I think I'll just draft him whenever I can.
Are you interested in common/uncommons in particular or rather in a budget deck?
As in every format SOI standard will support some kind of budget brew that can get into the ring against $400 decks, even though you might not rock your FNM every week. Most rares of the set will be at common/uncommon price levels a few weeks into the set. Try building around cards that are out of meta, because meta decks usually lack answers to those.
Are you interested in common/uncommons in particular or rather in a budget deck?
As in every format SOI standard will support some kind of budget brew that can get into the ring against $400 decks, even though you might not rock your FNM every week. Most rares of the set will be at common/uncommon price levels a few weeks into the set. Try building around cards that are out of meta, because meta decks usually lack answers to those.
What I am interested in are commons/uncommons that will be playable or even staples in competitive standard. I realize that you can brew cheap decks and every once in a while come up with something that does well, but I'm looking for instances where WOTC screwed up and accidentally gave us value at common/uncommon.
If Doom Blade were in this set, it would be a mythic.
I see other posters have listed a lot of commons/uncommons they feel have potential in competitive standard, but I suspect we will actually see very few of these cards. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to watch both days of an Open and not see a single copy of any of these played.
People, this is your run of the mill "this set sucks" guy. Don't bother feeding into it. He knows just as well as you do that this set probably has the most powerful commons and uncommons in a set since khans, with one exception, reflector Mage. Not only will you see a lot of cards from this set, but you will probably see more commons played than you have in a long time. Let's for instance take the RB vampires deck that will inevitably get played. The vast majority of the cards in that deck will be uncommon or common because of madness. And it will likely become tier 1 or 1.5 but likely not lower. This is too obvious to waste any more time on a devils advocate pretending to be serious.
People, this is your run of the mill "this set sucks" guy. Don't bother feeding into it. He knows just as well as you do that this set probably has the most powerful commons and uncommons in a set since khans, with one exception, reflector Mage. Not only will you see a lot of cards from this set, but you will probably see more commons played than you have in a long time. Let's for instance take the RB vampires deck that will inevitably get played. The vast majority of the cards in that deck will be uncommon or common because of madness. And it will likely become tier 1 or 1.5 but likely not lower. This is too obvious to waste any more time on a devils advocate pretending to be serious.
Sure. I guess we'll all see if you're right this weekend. My prediction is that the decks that top 8 SCG Baltimore will be chock full of SOI chase rares/mythics and feature very few of the commons/uncommons. I agree there are some cool cards at lower rarity in this set and I think its flavor is great, but I honestly don't believe the commons/uncommons in this set are good enough or supported enough to make up the backbone of anything other than fun decks that lose a lot. Believe me, I'll try building those decks and am working on zombie tribal right now, but I expect to lose frequently to chase mythics and rare/mythic format staples. Fact is, WOTC has been progressively sliding competitive constructed playables into higher rarity slots and using the common/uncommon slots for limited jank and flavor cards because it makes short-term business sense for them to do so.
And when during the last 2 years were the top standard decks not made out of the top chase mythics/rares?
By the way i highly doubt that the vampire madness deck will be any good.
You won't see pros run it this weekend, the U/W Humans deck with ojutai and archangel of tithes is simply stronger, so if you're gonna run an aggressive deck it might aswell be that one.
The reason why so many rares and mythics are played is because most of the rather special and flexible cards (planeswalkers, good removal) and the huge bombs (like the dragonlords) are rare and have always been rare.
Decks that run a lot of those (control decks, midrange decks) are also often very good for tournaments because they are flexible and can adjust towards any deck.
That is why they place high, that is why a lot of mythics and rares are played.
If you play a rather simple strategy like aggro or burn you don't need those fancy and flexible cards and will usually run a lot more commons and uncommons.
By the way the strongest common card in this set is in my oppinion clip wings.
it will be a (sideboard) staple in any green deck, since it can handle a transformed westvale abbey, dragonlord atarka and Dragonlord Ojutai. It is also a great example of what a really strong common looks like.
4c rally literally only had Jace in it, the bulk rare rally the ancestors, and collected company which was in a clash pack. Essentially everything else in the deck was common and uncommon and frankly, it didn't need the Jace. I agree that MOST of the time, standard is dominated by chase mythics and rares, but in this set I'm just not seeing it. I think the commons and uncommons will be played at a higher frequency than anyone is giving them credit for. There are some good rares and mythics, but this set supports it's commons and uncommons more than any other set in recent memory. I'm actually pretty shocked that's not obvious to more people.
Ravenous Bloodseeker seems extremely strong and versatile for an uncommon. It offers a free discard outlet every turn, and can be used potentially several times in one turn if you need to dump your hand. It plays defense with no effort and is a very good attacker as you can choose to use it's ability after it has gone unblocked. As 3 toughness is the magic number for 2-drops in Standard right now, I imagine I'll be seeing 4x Ravenous Bloodseeker in most R/X aggro/tempo/madness build for this standard season.
That said, I'd be interested to see what commons/uncommons from SOI people here see as having a future in competitive standard, beyond maybe filler in some of the tribal vampire/werewolf lists that have floated around.
None are "stunners" but most are playable. Like other u/c in Standards past, their playability is dependent upon the powerful rares and mythics they surround.
If he named everything in the first post there would be nothing to discuss.
Sinister Concoction will see play.
The green vessel isn't bad either. A little slow but a 2 of in a deck allows you to dig deep. Works well with deathmist raptor + den protector engine.
These are maybe, for niche designs
I guess I just don't think there's much there at the lower rarities. Of the ones others have mentioned above, I guess I only see Fiery Temper getting there, and it's pretty mediocre. I think Skin Invasion could be interesting.
For my own speculation, the one that jumps out at me as a sideboard card if there is a control deck to worry about is Autumnal Gloom because it's cheap and difficult to remove. Other than that, I wish there were a place for Aberrant Researcher because it's a sweet card, but I think I'll just draft him whenever I can.
As in every format SOI standard will support some kind of budget brew that can get into the ring against $400 decks, even though you might not rock your FNM every week. Most rares of the set will be at common/uncommon price levels a few weeks into the set. Try building around cards that are out of meta, because meta decks usually lack answers to those.
UR Mizzix of the Izmagnus ~~~ Build your own win-condition: Finite Spellslinging
UR Brudiclad, Telchor Engineer ~~~ We are the Borg. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own.
WUB Oloro, Ageless Ascetic ~~~ A Guide to dying slowly
UBR Marchesa, the Black Rose ~~~ Marchesa's undying Marionettes
RGW Mayael the Anima ~~~ All Hail the Big Chungus
GWU Chulane, Teller of Tales ~~~ Permanents Only ETB Shenanigans
BGU Sidisi, Brood Tyrant ~~~ Sidisi's Restless Servants
WUBRG The Ur-Dragon ~~~ Dragons eat your face
Moldgraf Scavenger
Murderous Compulsion
Survive the Night
Tormenting Voice
Watcher in the Web
Behind the Scenes
Call the Bloodline
Heir of Falkenrath
Mad Prophet
Neglected Heirloom
the enemy-colored taplands like Woodland Stream
What I am interested in are commons/uncommons that will be playable or even staples in competitive standard. I realize that you can brew cheap decks and every once in a while come up with something that does well, but I'm looking for instances where WOTC screwed up and accidentally gave us value at common/uncommon.
If Doom Blade were in this set, it would be a mythic.
I see other posters have listed a lot of commons/uncommons they feel have potential in competitive standard, but I suspect we will actually see very few of these cards. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to watch both days of an Open and not see a single copy of any of these played.
Very impressed by this card.
Skin Invasion is another card I'm interested in (haven't play with but seems good), not seeing either in a lot of BRx builds quite disappointing
Call the Bloodline gonna be in a lot of builds I suspect.
Sure. I guess we'll all see if you're right this weekend. My prediction is that the decks that top 8 SCG Baltimore will be chock full of SOI chase rares/mythics and feature very few of the commons/uncommons. I agree there are some cool cards at lower rarity in this set and I think its flavor is great, but I honestly don't believe the commons/uncommons in this set are good enough or supported enough to make up the backbone of anything other than fun decks that lose a lot. Believe me, I'll try building those decks and am working on zombie tribal right now, but I expect to lose frequently to chase mythics and rare/mythic format staples. Fact is, WOTC has been progressively sliding competitive constructed playables into higher rarity slots and using the common/uncommon slots for limited jank and flavor cards because it makes short-term business sense for them to do so.
4c rally literally only had Jace in it, the bulk rare rally the ancestors, and collected company which was in a clash pack. Essentially everything else in the deck was common and uncommon and frankly, it didn't need the Jace. I agree that MOST of the time, standard is dominated by chase mythics and rares, but in this set I'm just not seeing it. I think the commons and uncommons will be played at a higher frequency than anyone is giving them credit for. There are some good rares and mythics, but this set supports it's commons and uncommons more than any other set in recent memory. I'm actually pretty shocked that's not obvious to more people.
EDH: UBRJeleva | GURSurrak