Pro Tour Hour of Devastation is partly Standard. It will take place 7/28-30 local time. Considering time zones, the Americas will be able to watch coverage starting on Thursday 7/27.
Might be a lack of discussion because people are just waking up and most of the matches happened in their sleep. If my baby wasn't sick, I would have slept right on through.
Regarding Pummeler, I watched the match where the monoB player basically never attacked despite having a superior board state. Huey drew into his combo and then rolled game two with a great sideboard. The deck didn't look terribly fantastic there only because his opp basically gave him game one.
For myself, I went to bed at the end of round 2 of standard (round 5) and haven't found anywhere that gives round-by-round descriptions of coverage--if there's no interesting matchups, i don't want to bother watching the rest of the day 1 stream.
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Yes, I am a local area mod. WELP. GOOD LIFE CHANGES ALL HAPPEN AT ONCE AND SOME ARE MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE
Primary Decks:
Modern: Esper Draw-Go
Legacy: RUG Lands
EDH: Sidisi turn-3 storm
For myself, I went to bed at the end of round 2 of standard (round 5) and haven't found anywhere that gives round-by-round descriptions of coverage--if there's no interesting matchups, i don't want to bother watching the rest of the day 1 stream.
both twitch and magic's coverage of the event is as poor as usual, twitch i keep getting ads for sour patch kids on repeat and wotc fires off their own commercials talking about the lore of the set, i'm not sure if they do any market research since casuals don't watch the pt anyway?
basically have to wait til some other 3rd party pumps out decklists before anyone will pay attention but from what i did notice it's 25% mono red which seems a lot more diverse than mtgo, good thing they restrict decklists so all these limited players didn't know what to play
Maybe its just how it is now a days but I couldn't sit through another PT where there were no new decks it seems. Its probably just how its going to be now a days, but I used to watch them to see a team break the format, that hasn't happened since eldrazi. The last time we saw a brand new deck top a PT was turbo emrakul if I recall correctly.
Maybe its just how it is now a days but I couldn't sit through another PT where there were no new decks it seems. Its probably just how its going to be now a days, but I used to watch them to see a team break the format, that hasn't happened since eldrazi. The last time we saw a brand new deck top a PT was turbo emrakul if I recall correctly.
I'm not sure having a super team break the format is always good for the format.
Turbo Emrakul was literally just last fall at PT Kaladesh. Not that long ago.
And, technically, Turbo Emrakul had a variety of MODO 5-0s, so it was a known entity going in.
I don't watch the pro tour until after I fast-forward through all the adds and other boring crap I don't care about. Not to mention it's in Japan so it's on really early. As it sits though, mono red putting up a good record isn't surprising. I see red all the time on magic online.
Maybe its just how it is now a days but I couldn't sit through another PT where there were no new decks it seems. Its probably just how its going to be now a days, but I used to watch them to see a team break the format, that hasn't happened since eldrazi. The last time we saw a brand new deck top a PT was turbo emrakul if I recall correctly.
I'm not sure having a super team break the format is always good for the format.
Turbo Emrakul was literally just last fall at PT Kaladesh. Not that long ago.
And, technically, Turbo Emrakul had a variety of MODO 5-0s, so it was a known entity going in.
They don't have to break it, there just isn't anything new at the PT anymore it seems. And if thats true then that just makes my point further(also it was EMN).
Im not seeing a 24+ constructed points decklists post from wotc. HOU top 16 had 36 points total at end of 16 rounds. Only 6 players showed 37-40 points.
If the best constructed deck record of HOU record is 8-2; and Im thinking it might be, what does that tell us?
Edit
Seems there is a single 9-1 constructed in the top 8, along with an 8-1-1. It would not suprise me if Ramunap red players did disproportionately well in draft. With Abrade being maindeckable artifact hate, and control in disarray, It looks like an Aggro centric format.
Thank God red aggro destroyed this PT. The last healthy Standard formats were Dragons of Tarkir and Magic Origins Standard and both had red aggro as PT champions. Red aggro is the fun police you need to keep people from the arms race into degeneracy that's plagued Standard for the last year. If there's no aggro to respect you just get to level people with more over the top stuff until only the most degenerate thing remains.
6/8 basically ramitupyour red decks again shows dumpsterfire design. All those pros chose red aggrieved because testing showed it vastly superior. I've been testing all week for the soon to be extinct game day and red aggro is crazy consistent and fast.
Just because the top 1 deck changed doesn't mean standard is suddenly healthy.
Just because the majority of pros choose red deck wins doesn't mean they aren't creative... look at these guys they've been holed up for weeks with their team testing decks. It's percentage wins. They wouldn't all play the same decks if there was a good spread!!
I watched twitches and saw some bad plays give red some wins but it's mostly speed and consistency. 6/8 is math not luck. We need aggro, midrange, and control.... and a change in the dev team leadership.
Mono Red/ aggro hasn't been in the format for a while, it's not dumpster fire design. Just because you don't like an aggro deck being tier 1, doesn't mean the format isn't healthy. Mono Red has been a deck for 2 weeks, is that not new enough for you? SCG open had 2 different decks take the top 2 slots. We have GP coming, and there are ways to fight back. G/B is an option and for all the down play on mono black zombies, that deck will still run you over G1 (it has a positive match up against mono red). There may be other decks that can tune to beat mono red or have decent to good match ups against it when tuned.
This is already infinitely better than the dumpster fires that were the marvel, and cat combo meta. It is much better than Mardu dominance, and better than CoCo. Sure certain decks are going to be pushed out but you can play:
Aggro : Mono Red
Midrange: Zombies/ GB fall into this category, Zombies is faster and can be an aggro deck but it's got the ability to grind in toe mid too late game. Temur Energy is also an option (Abrade is a huge game changer). U/W Monument is still a deck, although I can see it get pushed out now.
Control: This is tier 2-3, you will have to aim your spells at the meta and now that we know the meta you may be able to adjust. Wizards hates control, and we will probably never ever get another tier 1 control deck (much to my dismay, I love and will always love Esper Dragons).
Combo: GPG, New Perspectives, and a host of other decks can be playable. Ramp is very playable, R/G Pummeler seems GREAT in this meta.
This is a new meta, it's our turn to adjust to it. It at least it's not t4 Ulamog at instant speed. Talk about SKILL.
Mono-red crushing the PT isn't an indicator of something being broken. Mono-red nukes the untuned, slow, durdly decks like the early versions of UW God-Pharoah's Gift and the somewhat mopey midrange decks like Oketra's Monument that people expected would be big players this weekend, as well as UR Control. If this were a major Grand Prix and the Pro Tour were in 2 weeks, you could probably expect a lot of Zombies and BG Constrictor.
This is part of the cycle of a healthy metagame. Mono-red wasn't in the gauntlet as a major threat until after the Atlanta Open, so the pros didn't have enough time to test extensively against it -- just enough time to realize that their over-the-top decks they were planning on playing weren't gonna cut it and to audible to red themselves. The next two highest performers, Zombies and Constrictor, both beat red.
I have never ever understood the hate towards RDW style decks being tier 1. I will play this new iteration of red but there have always been ways to fight back against this arch type. There are safety valves but I don't even think we are near that point. Marvel was not okay, Cat Combo was not okay, CoCo was NOT okay, and Rally was super not okay, but RDW isn't? The recipe is simple, and this version isn't nearly as explosive as mono red origins or atarka red was ( Stoke the Flames. YEAH). Talk about getting burned out from 12? Yeah, some players forget how strong those 2 decks were, and even then became a solid choice/ not oppressive.
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Standard Arena: Eh? Gruul or Die
Modern: Decks I'm playing right now: G Mono Green Tron (34-10-3 paper record, only SCG/Regionals/PPTQ record) C Eldrazi Tron (9-5) UG Infect RW Burn
Oh my god that was one of the more dramatic T8s we've had in a long time, topped off by that heartbreaking misplay that cost Chun the victory against PV in the semi-finals game 5 (https://clips.twitch.tv/ClearSpikyLasagnaPraiseIt).
I went to bed upset that Wizards slow-played the first round into taking so long. I woke up even angrier that it took so long just to get 7 matches, best-of-5 matches in - mostly because I really wanted to watch them. But it's neat to see that a format with 6/8 people in the same deck could still produce some memorable drama.
The clear Tier 1 decks are Ramunap Red/RDW, Black/x Zombies, and GB constrictor/Delerium. Mardu Vehicles, Oketra Monument Blue-white Spell Queller and God-Pharoh-Gift decks are tier 2.
Control is dead. I also did not see a new deck with more than 7 PT wins in constructed.
The viable archetypes are all identified, but the presence or abrade in RDW is going to thin out a lot of the decks relying on artifacts main deck.
Zombies and GB have Midrange potential. RDW does not have viable card advantage strategies. Sideboards everywhere are sure to run RDW hate; even main deck.
Can I say that the reason that control is dead is because I haven't seen a control build with optimal cards in it. All I have seen are bungled messes like the list that won the SCG open when HoD released and ridiculous 10+ counterspell 24 land jokes that get steamrolled whenever an opponent resolves a one or two drop. Granted UR control may not be the best control build, but I haven't seen a constant skeleton of a control deck base other than Step One: Torrential Gearhulk, Step two Try to fit Nicol Bolas or Scarab God in some how for no reason. Control decks could be great in a mono red meta if players could build it properly.
Maindeck Sweltering Suns in UR Control goes a long way in the format now.
Actually, you really want to be main decking Kozilek's Return. The trouble is that some of the aggro builds that aren't being seen are running Warping Wail out the side and are running rakdos for the Scrapheap Scrounger and dread Wanderer. Against those decks it doesn't really matter if someone runs Sweltering Suns because they will likely recur the creatures that are lost or just counter it outright. I'm a big proponent of the Rakdos version of aggro since it can warp into a midrange deck to go over existing mono-red ramunap strategies and grind it out with the zombie decks fairly well. Zombies usually don't have any fliers, making something like Glorybringer even more relevant than it already is as well as Skysovereign, consul flagship. I kind of like the later more than the former, but it really depends on how many abrade the other fellow is running.
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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!
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Did Nicol Bolas give us the solution for standard? Will he want to be in control personally? Did Nicol (and WOTC) fix Standard?
Day 1 and 2 coverage will begin at 8pm ET with draft. Five rounds of Standard will start somewhere around midnight ET.
Day 3 coverage will begin with the top 8 playing Standard at 8pm ET.
Information for the event is here and here.
Coverage for the event is here.
You can discuss the event below. Please remain on topic. Off-topic posts will be marked as spam.
Thanks!
-- hoser2
RNA Standard: Grixis Midrange, Jund Deathwhirler, Sultai Vannifar
GRN Standard: Red Midrange, Mono-Blue Tempo, Wr Aggro, Gruul Experimental Dinosaurs, Sultai Midrange, Jeskai Midrange
Modern: Bant Spirits
Forcing a single archetype in all formats: too many colors, bad mana.
Yes, I am a local area mod.WELP. GOOD LIFE CHANGES ALL HAPPEN AT ONCE AND SOME ARE MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVEPrimary Decks:
Modern: Esper Draw-Go
Legacy: RUG Lands
EDH: Sidisi turn-3 storm
RNA Standard: Grixis Midrange, Jund Deathwhirler, Sultai Vannifar
GRN Standard: Red Midrange, Mono-Blue Tempo, Wr Aggro, Gruul Experimental Dinosaurs, Sultai Midrange, Jeskai Midrange
Modern: Bant Spirits
Forcing a single archetype in all formats: too many colors, bad mana.
basically have to wait til some other 3rd party pumps out decklists before anyone will pay attention but from what i did notice it's 25% mono red which seems a lot more diverse than mtgo, good thing they restrict decklists so all these limited players didn't know what to play
We will rebuild.
I'm not sure having a super team break the format is always good for the format.
Turbo Emrakul was literally just last fall at PT Kaladesh. Not that long ago.
And, technically, Turbo Emrakul had a variety of MODO 5-0s, so it was a known entity going in.
They don't have to break it, there just isn't anything new at the PT anymore it seems. And if thats true then that just makes my point further(also it was EMN).
We will rebuild.
Prepare your sideboards, folks!
(Admitedly, the top 8 players got there on the strength of their drafting, no just standard decks.)
If the best constructed deck record of HOU record is 8-2; and Im thinking it might be, what does that tell us?
Edit
Seems there is a single 9-1 constructed in the top 8, along with an 8-1-1. It would not suprise me if Ramunap red players did disproportionately well in draft. With Abrade being maindeckable artifact hate, and control in disarray, It looks like an Aggro centric format.
GW ~ Angels ~ WG
Modern:
RBW ~ Shadowmancer ~ WBR
Legacy:
BUG ~ Shadow Delver ~ GUB
Just because the top 1 deck changed doesn't mean standard is suddenly healthy.
Just because the majority of pros choose red deck wins doesn't mean they aren't creative... look at these guys they've been holed up for weeks with their team testing decks. It's percentage wins. They wouldn't all play the same decks if there was a good spread!!
I watched twitches and saw some bad plays give red some wins but it's mostly speed and consistency. 6/8 is math not luck. We need aggro, midrange, and control.... and a change in the dev team leadership.
This is already infinitely better than the dumpster fires that were the marvel, and cat combo meta. It is much better than Mardu dominance, and better than CoCo. Sure certain decks are going to be pushed out but you can play:
Aggro : Mono Red
Midrange: Zombies/ GB fall into this category, Zombies is faster and can be an aggro deck but it's got the ability to grind in toe mid too late game. Temur Energy is also an option (Abrade is a huge game changer). U/W Monument is still a deck, although I can see it get pushed out now.
Control: This is tier 2-3, you will have to aim your spells at the meta and now that we know the meta you may be able to adjust. Wizards hates control, and we will probably never ever get another tier 1 control deck (much to my dismay, I love and will always love Esper Dragons).
Combo: GPG, New Perspectives, and a host of other decks can be playable. Ramp is very playable, R/G Pummeler seems GREAT in this meta.
This is a new meta, it's our turn to adjust to it. It at least it's not t4 Ulamog at instant speed. Talk about SKILL.
Modern: Decks I'm playing right now:
G Mono Green Tron (34-10-3 paper record, only SCG/Regionals/PPTQ record)
C Eldrazi Tron (9-5)
UG Infect
RW Burn
This is part of the cycle of a healthy metagame. Mono-red wasn't in the gauntlet as a major threat until after the Atlanta Open, so the pros didn't have enough time to test extensively against it -- just enough time to realize that their over-the-top decks they were planning on playing weren't gonna cut it and to audible to red themselves. The next two highest performers, Zombies and Constrictor, both beat red.
Things are fine.
GW ~ Angels ~ WG
Modern:
RBW ~ Shadowmancer ~ WBR
Legacy:
BUG ~ Shadow Delver ~ GUB
Modern: Decks I'm playing right now:
G Mono Green Tron (34-10-3 paper record, only SCG/Regionals/PPTQ record)
C Eldrazi Tron (9-5)
UG Infect
RW Burn
I went to bed upset that Wizards slow-played the first round into taking so long. I woke up even angrier that it took so long just to get 7 matches, best-of-5 matches in - mostly because I really wanted to watch them. But it's neat to see that a format with 6/8 people in the same deck could still produce some memorable drama.
Control is dead. I also did not see a new deck with more than 7 PT wins in constructed.
The viable archetypes are all identified, but the presence or abrade in RDW is going to thin out a lot of the decks relying on artifacts main deck.
Zombies and GB have Midrange potential. RDW does not have viable card advantage strategies. Sideboards everywhere are sure to run RDW hate; even main deck.
Actually, you really want to be main decking Kozilek's Return. The trouble is that some of the aggro builds that aren't being seen are running Warping Wail out the side and are running rakdos for the Scrapheap Scrounger and dread Wanderer. Against those decks it doesn't really matter if someone runs Sweltering Suns because they will likely recur the creatures that are lost or just counter it outright. I'm a big proponent of the Rakdos version of aggro since it can warp into a midrange deck to go over existing mono-red ramunap strategies and grind it out with the zombie decks fairly well. Zombies usually don't have any fliers, making something like Glorybringer even more relevant than it already is as well as Skysovereign, consul flagship. I kind of like the later more than the former, but it really depends on how many abrade the other fellow is running.
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!