I'm looking to get into Standard but with a new set about to change the format I don't want to commit to any deck quite yet. So how much will the new cards impact the format?
From the looks of it, not much. It probably just strengthens current archtypes and maybe make some of the tribals somewhat playable, but there's not going to be any new decks popping up.
I have a feeling that Rivals of Ixalan will be more relevant to the metagame once our next Banned and Restricted announcement comes out; methinks the Energy mechanic will have an unwelcome/welcome (depending on your perspective) neutering, and will lose several key cards from its arsenal. I would say 3 cards, probably with Attune with Aether and Aether Hub being the first 2 most likely candidates.
I have a feeling that Rivals of Ixalan will be more relevant to the metagame once our next Banned and Restricted announcement comes out; methinks the Energy mechanic will have an unwelcome/welcome (depending on your perspective) neutering, and will lose several key cards from its arsenal. I would say 3 cards, probably with Attune with Aether and Aether Hub being the first 2 most likely candidates.
This article has very interesting timing, and reads very...suspiciously in regards to whether we might see a ban of Energy, with all its comparisons to Affinity. Just sayin'
Merfolk might actually be a deck now. Kumena is a VERY powerful card and they have a lot of game with a wide variety of new powerful cards. I think it could actually stand up to the meta. Mono-red got no new tools, but hazoret is still largely unanswerable so it's probably good. Energy will probably still dominate the format. Chupacabra will probably be one of the hallmark best cards from the set.
The deck that might have gotten legs this season that we will potentially see out the gate is a red / white Path of Mettle deck. That card does everything that an aggressive rush deck wants and there's already a couple of variants that were trying to go wide with white.
Monument is likely getting a boost with the new vampire legendary as she can provide a way to recover from board wipes.
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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!
Now isn't the time to invest.
They should do the ban list right now before a set release so people can buy in with a plan but no... they do stupid timing.
If they don't ban some energy the format won't change much. A month of wannabe decks trying to break into the top then settling down into 1-2 deck top end with 2-3 tier 2 decks that don't shake much. After Kaladesh rotates is the time to get in with Dominaria.
If you don't have a standard deck to play I'd get into something cheap like Vampires or Merfolk that's almost good enough and do some reps at FNM if you can find one that fires.
If they do bans in standard (I really don't think they will, it's like pulling teeth even when an infinite combo is looming turn 4) then something pirate/vamp/merfolk flavored might rise into competitive. They certainly gave all the CREATURES enough tools.
Just buy what sounds like it's good to brew with. If someone is so caught up in this "just play energy because energy" stuff or "ramunap red is just too unbeatable" that they can't even get a moment to enjoy something from a new set than they picked the wrong game to play. Plus, even if they banned energy that is in no way going to guarantee the meta is suddenly burgeoning with life again.
Well, unless the idea is to wait for the set to get released, which is a legitimate way of handling things since getting stuff on pre-order usually just means you get it a week after release anyway.
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 wouldn't preorder anything until they announce the ban if you don't have any cards is what I mean. Wait and see.
Brew and have fun is optimal but you have to be realistic if what you put together has the right kind of game.
I wouldn't preorder anything until they announce the ban if you don't have any cards is what I mean. Wait and see.
Brew and have fun is optimal but you have to be realistic if what you put together has the right kind of game.
To be critically blunt, Ixalan and Rivals of Ixalan can not win against Amonkhet and Kaladesh even if they banned some energy cards. The strongest early drop for Merfolk is a conditional 2/2 and the lords strategy for merfolk is slow compared to the anthem strategy. Vampires are perplexingly weak pound for pound and it looks like the developers were trying to balance out the life manipulation / life matters theme by sacrificing efficiency.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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!
Have to agree. The mana is shockingly bad on 2 color decks but Energy can go 4 color and truck right on through with perfect mana to cast Glorybringer or just take your best creature.
Screw Kaladesh and screw energy. It's just not fun. All prelim tribals are too clunky with Kaladesh in the mix. You might manage some game against RR but Temur is too consistent.
Standard is dead, long live Modern I guess.
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Standard: BG Golgari Midrange
Modern: U Merfolk GWUBR 5 Color Humans UBW Esper Gifts GW Bogles
Edit: And fish people may be better, too.
C Long Live Eldrazi C
https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/play-design/block-monsters-and-how-we-avoid-them-2018-01-05
This article has very interesting timing, and reads very...suspiciously in regards to whether we might see a ban of Energy, with all its comparisons to Affinity. Just sayin'
I'm hoping for Merfolk to become good but I don't know if it will be
Monument is likely getting a boost with the new vampire legendary as she can provide a way to recover from board wipes.
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!
They should do the ban list right now before a set release so people can buy in with a plan but no... they do stupid timing.
If they don't ban some energy the format won't change much. A month of wannabe decks trying to break into the top then settling down into 1-2 deck top end with 2-3 tier 2 decks that don't shake much. After Kaladesh rotates is the time to get in with Dominaria.
If you don't have a standard deck to play I'd get into something cheap like Vampires or Merfolk that's almost good enough and do some reps at FNM if you can find one that fires.
If they do bans in standard (I really don't think they will, it's like pulling teeth even when an infinite combo is looming turn 4) then something pirate/vamp/merfolk flavored might rise into competitive. They certainly gave all the CREATURES enough tools.
The next announcement is next week I believe.
Standard: BG Golgari Midrange
Modern: U Merfolk GWUBR 5 Color Humans UBW Esper Gifts GW Bogles
Well, unless the idea is to wait for the set to get released, which is a legitimate way of handling things since getting stuff on pre-order usually just means you get it a week after release anyway.
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!
Brew and have fun is optimal but you have to be realistic if what you put together has the right kind of game.
To be critically blunt, Ixalan and Rivals of Ixalan can not win against Amonkhet and Kaladesh even if they banned some energy cards. The strongest early drop for Merfolk is a conditional 2/2 and the lords strategy for merfolk is slow compared to the anthem strategy. Vampires are perplexingly weak pound for pound and it looks like the developers were trying to balance out the life manipulation / life matters theme by sacrificing efficiency.
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!
Screw Kaladesh and screw energy. It's just not fun. All prelim tribals are too clunky with Kaladesh in the mix. You might manage some game against RR but Temur is too consistent.
Standard is dead, long live Modern I guess.