Magic Online Effective Date: January 21, 2019 (see below)
The list of all banned and restricted cards, by format, is here.
Next B&R Announcement: March 11, 2019
"Games with Krark-Clan Ironworks can often involve excessively arcane rules interactions using mana ability timing windows, the understanding of which are necessary for players to agree on the game state. This can create a barrier to entry to Modern for players playing against the deck and to those who would feel obligated to play with it because of its strong win rate. We're sensitive to community feedback that the combination of polarized matchups, complex interactions, and long turns can lead to unenjoyable gameplay and viewing experiences."
Also keeping an eye on Mox Opal and Ancient Stirrings, but not taking action yet:
"Ancient Stirrings and Mox Opal represent two categories of cards that R&D keeps a careful eye on: card selection and fast mana. One factor we consider is that Ancient Stirrings, unlike more general card selection spells like Ponder and Preordain, brings deckbuilding restrictions. When we examine the effect of powerful cards, we consider whether they are increasing or decreasing the number of viable decks in the environment. In the current state of the metagame, the build-around nature of Ancient Stirrings supports decks that look very different from a simple collection of the strongest rate cards, and that otherwise may not exist. The recent resurgence of a new generation of Amulet Titan decks is a good example of this. Mox Opal is a similar case. In addition to showing up in high-profile decks like Hardened Scales, we also see Mox Opal enabling a variety of more fringe artifact synergy decks. As a category, we think these are generally healthy provided they appear in small doses and have reasonable win rates. As Modern stands, our metagame data does not indicate a need to impact the other Ancient Stirrings or Mox Opal decks.
Bear in mind that this is based on the current state of the metagame, and that Ancient Stirrings and Mox Opal are not being given a free pass in perpetuity. While we have no current plans to take action against these two cards, we'll continue to monitor the health of the environment and the strength of decks that use them. If the metagame reaches a point where we determine these cards are doing more to suppress archetype diversity than enable it, we will certainly revisit this discussion. At this time, we're choosing the surgical ban against Krark-Clan Ironworks itself and avoiding "splash damage" against other archetypes.
A Note on Pauper
We've heard some recent discussion amongst the Pauper community about the potentially problematic interaction between Gush and Foil, the latter of which was recently added to the environment through Ultimate Masters. While our metagame data indicates that taking action at this time would be premature, we'll watch the format as decks adjust to play with and against this combination. We appreciate continued community feedback on this topic through discussion on forums, in articles, and on social media.
A Note on Magic Online
With today's announcement, Magic Online will debut a new system to handle card bans while the system is live. At 10 a.m. PT today, Krark-Clan Ironworks will be banned on Magic Online while the system is live. This neither requires a downtime where players are removed from Magic Online while we make a ban list change, nor a system where we need to prematurely end the League and create a new version.
Players who have the card in their decks will be automatically removed from any Leagues they are participating in and their entries will be reimbursed. Prizes earned at the point of removal will be granted manually, though the results of any active League matches at that time will not count.
Players who are waiting in a queue for a tournament to begin will be removed from that queue and will have their entry reimbursed. Players participating in a non-League tournament that is already underway will not be affected and may finish the event normally.
This new system lets us make changes as soon as possible while only impacting players who are using banned cards.
In addition to the announced ban, Hada Freeblade, Spatial Contortion, and Circle of Flame will be banned in Pauper to correct a format issue where they are currently legal in the format despite only appearing at common as promotional cards. These bans will use the same process outlined above.
(Whinge: Whence the UW changes since it's got more T8 finishes? Exeunt Cryptic Command and Settle the Wretckage sometime? :p)
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The "Crazy One", playing casual magic and occasionally dipping his toes into regular play since 1994.
Currently focusing on Pre-Modern (Mono-Black Discard Control) and Modern (Azorious Control, Temur Rhinos).
Find me at the Wizard's Tower in Ottawa every second Saturday afternoons.
I'm really disappointed that pauper isn't seeing any bans at this time. I was really hoping for at least Gush, and maybe even Augur of Bolas. Glad to see them at least acknowledge that the current state of the metagame is something to keep an eye on.
Glad that Krark-Clan Ironworks get banned, I hate all those Eggs-like decks that make you waste you so much time only to see how you gonna lose in stupid antisocial combos, now what I'm really hoping is that Storm decks will be dominant enough so that WotC will finally kill the horrible archetype for good once for all.
Not a chance, storm is not even close to the top of the power stack, and people should be able to play how they like, even if its 'antisocial'.
The real joke here, is they are afraid of UW/UWR to the point of keeping SFM banned. For anyone that actually plays Modern, thats hilarious.
I'm really disappointed that pauper isn't seeing any bans at this time. I was really hoping for at least Gush, and maybe even Augur of Bolas. Glad to see them at least acknowledge that the current state of the metagame is something to keep an eye on.
Agreed.
But then with that acknowledgement they go and ban 3 other "colored" cards.
Hada Freeblade, Spatial Contortion, and Circle of Flame will be banned in Pauper to correct a format issue
.
Blue needs to have the banhammer come down hard in Pauper.
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Playing since 1994: Currently MAGS (HomeBrew),Standard & Pauper (Pioneer and Modern are degenerate trash formats)
STOP using "dude/bro" as a pejorative or insult. Grow up.
Margaret Thatcher: “The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.”
Benjamin Franklin: "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
Martin Luther King Jr.: "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."
Not a chance, storm is not even close to the top of the power stack, and people should be able to play how they like, even if its 'antisocial'.
Second Sunrise was banned exactly for the Iron-Works reason and never unbanned since then. Sensei Divine Top was another card banned because it take too much time in tournaments. It even exist the "Storm Scale" to remember us that WotC hate herself so much Storm (it was an enormous mistake to bring it in existence in the first place) that promised herself to never bring again new supporting storm cards in Standard again.
No, players shouldn't be able to play how they like. If WotC make mistakes and create cards that leads to horrible or broken gameplay should be banned in tournaments, because allowing antisocial cards not only kill the fun but even damage the magic community as a whole.
Storm is a deterministic combo that takes like...6 cards to go off, and does so quickly, unless players in your area are playing the wrong/old/bad kind of Storm decks.
I assume we are talking Modern here, but Gifts Storm is not at all like the other decks you listed.
Not a chance, storm is not even close to the top of the power stack, and people should be able to play how they like, even if its 'antisocial'.
Second Sunrise was banned exactly for the Iron-Works reason and never unbanned since then. Sensei Divine Top was another card banned because it take too much time in tournaments. It even exist the "Storm Scale" to remember us that WotC hate herself so much Storm (it was an enormous mistake to bring it in existence in the first place) that promised herself to never bring again new supporting storm cards in Standard again.
No, players shouldn't be able to play how they like. If WotC make mistakes and create cards that leads to horrible or broken gameplay should be banned in tournaments, because allowing antisocial cards not only kill the fun but even damage the magic community as a whole.
So the only Magic that should be allowed is the kind you like?
I'd say that attitude damages the magic community as a whole.
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Level 1 Judge
"I hope to have such a death... lying in triumph atop the broken bodies of those who slew me..."
You don't call "dying to removal" if the removal is more expensive in resources than the creature. If you have to spend BG (Abrupt Decay), or W + basic land (PtE) to remove a 1G, that is not "dying to removal". Strictly speaking Goyf dies to removal, but actually your removal is dying to Goyf.
So the only Magic that should be allowed is the kind you like?
I'd say that attitude damages the magic community as a whole.
I'd say that attitude damages the magic community as a whole.
My opinion is alligned with WotC visions of healthy gameplay and metagame in Magic tournaments. So my attitude doesn't damage the magic community unless you are saying that WotC herself damage the magic community with her decisions which seems to be at this point your problem with WotC than anything else.
So the only Magic that should be allowed is the kind you like?
I'd say that attitude damages the magic community as a whole.
I'd say that attitude damages the magic community as a whole.
My opinion is alligned with WotC visions of healthy gameplay and metagame in Magic tournaments. So my attitude doesn't damage the magic community unless you are saying that WotC herself damage the magic community with her decisions which seems to be at this point your problem with WotC than anything else.
Wizards stated vision for the format is a healthy mixture of Aggro, Control, and Combo. Just because you don't like one of those three does not make it unhealthy.
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Level 1 Judge
"I hope to have such a death... lying in triumph atop the broken bodies of those who slew me..."
You don't call "dying to removal" if the removal is more expensive in resources than the creature. If you have to spend BG (Abrupt Decay), or W + basic land (PtE) to remove a 1G, that is not "dying to removal". Strictly speaking Goyf dies to removal, but actually your removal is dying to Goyf.
Wizards stated vision for the format is a healthy mixture of Aggro, Control, and Combo. Just because you don't like one of those three does not make it unhealthy.
False. I would allow even archetypes that I don't like (like combo decks),but that doesn't mean all combo decks are the same. Solitaire decks where a player draw, cast and trigger lots of stuff in a single turn are the cancer of the game and create unfun and misery in most of the players facing said decks.
So, if you think Storm is a "healthy" and "fair" and "legit" archetypes, can you please answer me why WotC hates it so much that in a scale of not-returning from 1 to 10 in Standard, storm is 10?
I'll give you a hint : because storm cards are not healthy, nor fair, not fun or good for magic.
Once again, the problem it's not that "I don't like it".
Yes I don't like it but I'm not alone. WotC as a whole and many, many players hate storm or eggs like decks.
If many players hates how it plays a mechanic, it surely hurt the magic community as a whole yes. Because people could even stop to play magic if forced to see such obnoxious decks so often.
Storm plays nothing like eggs and wasn't mentioned in the article even once.
Sounds to me like WotC disagrees with you on that it needs to be banned right now, otherwise it would be.
Not like there's a lack of other non-combo solitaire decks in the format anyway.
Once again, the problem it's not that "I don't like it".
And yet that is the only argument you put forth. Oh, and a claim that you're not alone.
Some people don't like affinity and think it's unfun and they're not alone.
Some people don't like KCI and think it's unfun and they're not alone.
Some people don't like humans and think it's unfun and they're not alone.
Some people don't like Boggle and think it's unfun and they're not alone.
Some people don't like UW control and think it's unfun and they're not alone.
The problem with the storm mechanic is not "unfun", is that it is too hard to balance. Also see this post by MaRo abpout the storm scale. Note that he talk about grain of salt.
Storm plays nothing like eggs and wasn't mentioned in the article even once.
Sounds to me like WotC disagrees with you on that it needs to be banned right now, otherwise it would be.
The fact isn't mentioned here, doesn't mean anything and I never said it should be banned right now because sadly I know it won't. I know that WotC needs that an unfun deck must be dominant enough before it get the banhammer, and that's why I wrote I hope it will show up enough in big tournaments instead of annoying me only in my local meta.
Both eggs and storm decks create solitaire games where a single player cast, draw and trigger a two-digit number of things in a single phase, so you can't tell me are nothing like each other. They both like to waste time in an obnoxious and un-interactive way.
Some people don't like affinity and think it's unfun and they're not alone.
Some people don't like KCI and think it's unfun and they're not alone.
Some people don't like humans and think it's unfun and they're not alone.
Some people don't like Boggle and think it's unfun and they're not alone.
Some people don't like UW control and think it's unfun and they're not alone.
Affinity got banned lot of cards. Storm itself get pretty much killed in Pauper Online. Banning cards is a thing and being unfun and un-interacive is part of the official reasons among the other critarias.
Once again cards in the ban list like Second Sunrise (or the Ironworks) just proves my point.
EDIT:
The problem with the storm mechanic is not "unfun", is that it is too hard to balance
False. that's only part of the reasons. Being "unfun" is completely part of the reasons of why storm is hated.
Wizards stated vision for the format is a healthy mixture of Aggro, Control, and Combo. Just because you don't like one of those three does not make it unhealthy.
False. I would allow even archetypes that I don't like (like combo decks),but that doesn't mean all combo decks are the same. Solitaire decks where a player draw, cast and trigger lots of stuff in a single turn are the cancer of the game and create unfun and misery in most of the players facing said decks.
So, if you think Storm is a "healthy" and "fair" and "legit" archetypes, can you please answer me why WotC hates it so much that in a scale of not-returning from 1 to 10 in Standard, storm is 10?
I'll give you a hint : because storm cards are not healthy, nor fair, not fun or good for magic.
Once again, the problem it's not that "I don't like it".
Yes I don't like it but I'm not alone. WotC as a whole and many, many players hate storm or eggs like decks.
If many players hates how it plays a mechanic, it surely hurt the magic community as a whole yes. Because people could even stop to play magic if forced to see such obnoxious decks so often.
And yet...here we are.
Storm, the deck, is clearly acceptable to Wizards at its current level, and it has not seen a targeted ban for years. Just because a MECHANIC is disliked, does not mean a DECK is going to be removed.
Dude, this is not a card created for be tournament viable in Storm, in fact no serious modern or legacy deck would ever play that card, because it's completely useless for the archetype, it costs too much and it does nothing on it's own. When I talk about supporting storm I'm talking about more aggressive and cheaper rituals, cantrips or the actually storm mechanics, not overcosted junk that could see real play only in casual games inside casual strategies.
I myself wouldn't mind if Grapeshot would cost 15 mana instead of 2. At least wouldn't be tournament viable.
Oh yeah about that : Seething Song another card banned exactly because it was played only in Storm and make it too good.
lol of course they are not going to promote fast/free mana and card draw. Those are relics of a different age.
I think everyone is agreeing with you that the issues inherent with those types of effects/mechanics are obvious, but its largely irrelevant to the DECK Storm.
Baral, is not that old however, and cost reduction effects are still being added Ref: Spectacle.
Baral, is not that old however, and cost reduction effects are still being added Ref: Spectacle.
That's not intentional to make storm viable in standard or willing to support storm in modern. When WotC created Dig Through Time and Treasure Cruise enabled the life, (among other issues) of that other solitaire cancer of Ascendancy Combo Deck. Just because WotC print things doesn't mean it doesn't make mistakes or unhealthy things for all the formats. They're human after all.
Dude, this is not a card created for be tournament viable in Storm, in fact no serious modern or legacy deck would ever play that card, because it's completely useless for the archetype, it costs too much and it does nothing on it's own. When I talk about supporting storm I'm talking about more aggressive and cheaper rituals, cantrips or the actually storm mechanics, not overcosted junk that could see real play only in casual games inside casual strategies.
I myself wouldn't mind if Grapeshot would cost 15 mana instead of 2. At least wouldn't be tournament viable.
Oh yeah about that : Seething Song another card banned exactly because it was played only in Storm and make it too good.
Counterpoint: they banned ~8 cards in modern mostly because of storm but made sure to never ban the actual storm cards.
Someone somewhere at WotC clearly thinks that it is a deck worth preserving.
Which imo speaks against your "WotC thinks storm is unhealty and unfun" narrative.
Counterpoint: they banned ~8 cards in modern mostly because of storm but made sure to never ban the actual storm cards.
Counter, counterpoint: they did it for Pauper. So storm is not a "sacred relic" of gamestyle that must be preserved at any cost.
I'm sure that if WotC could go back in time, it would never create the storm mechanic in the first place.
Or maybe it just means it's not broken enough to be banned as a whole. Which has nothing to do of what WotC like or not to preserve the archetype. (anyway, the fact that they don't like un-interactive deck is a fact. And is a fact also that a storm deck is an un-interactive deck, like eggs.)
I mean, Maro clearly said that about second sunrise that they don't like the fact that was un-interactive, and yet they still printed Faith's Reward which is what second rise did, but at higher cost. The deck still exist theoretically, it's just not tournament viable anymore. Which I hope it will the destiny reserved to storm in future.
Baral, is not that old however, and cost reduction effects are still being added Ref: Spectacle.
That's not intentional to make storm viable in standard or willing to support storm in modern. When WotC created Dig Through Time and Treasure Cruise enabled the life, (among other issues) of that other solitaire cancer of Ascendancy Combo Deck. Just because WotC print things doesn't mean it doesn't make mistakes or unhealthy things for all the formats. They're human after all.
They are not going to make a Standard version, of Modern Storm.
That's not really a matter of debate.
They have left Storm alone for years, and it's a turn 3 deck if you let it goldfish.
Wizards stated vision for the format is a healthy mixture of Aggro, Control, and Combo. Just because you don't like one of those three does not make it unhealthy.
False. I would allow even archetypes that I don't like (like combo decks),but that doesn't mean all combo decks are the same. Solitaire decks where a player draw, cast and trigger lots of stuff in a single turn are the cancer of the game and create unfun and misery in most of the players facing said decks.
So, if you think Storm is a "healthy" and "fair" and "legit" archetypes, can you please answer me why WotC hates it so much that in a scale of not-returning from 1 to 10 in Standard, storm is 10?
I'll give you a hint : because storm cards are not healthy, nor fair, not fun or good for magic.
Once again, the problem it's not that "I don't like it".
Yes I don't like it but I'm not alone. WotC as a whole and many, many players hate storm or eggs like decks.
If many players hates how it plays a mechanic, it surely hurt the magic community as a whole yes. Because people could even stop to play magic if forced to see such obnoxious decks so often.
The reason Storm is a 10 on the Storm Scale is because it is overpowered and has very small design space. In Modern, there are decks that can keep up with Storm.
Dude, this is not a card created for be tournament viable in Storm, in fact no serious modern or legacy deck would ever play that card, because it's completely useless for the archetype, it costs too much and it does nothing on it's own. When I talk about supporting storm I'm talking about more aggressive and cheaper rituals, cantrips or the actually storm mechanics, not overcosted junk that could see real play only in casual games inside casual strategies.
I myself wouldn't mind if Grapeshot would cost 15 mana instead of 2. At least wouldn't be tournament viable.
Oh yeah about that : Seething Song another card banned exactly because it was played only in Storm and make it too good.
I wouldn't mind if lands cost 78325473498578934758934 mana to play, it would make them unplayable! Yay! YOu know what enables all the broken things in Modern? LAND! BAN THE ISLAND!
Baral, is not that old however, and cost reduction effects are still being added Ref: Spectacle.
That's not intentional to make storm viable in standard or willing to support storm in modern. When WotC created Dig Through Time and Treasure Cruise enabled the life, (among other issues) of that other solitaire cancer of Ascendancy Combo Deck. Just because WotC print things doesn't mean it doesn't make mistakes or unhealthy things for all the formats. They're human after all.
Look, we get you don't like combo. But combo is part of Magic. I, for one, absolutely HATE aggro, and if all the aggro cards were banned I would be happy and durdle for hours. But other people like aggro, and it is important to the meta.
If you hate storm, do one of 3 things: Race storm, interact with the combo, or just don't play older formats.
The reason Storm is a 10 on the Storm Scale is because it is overpowered and has very small design space. In Modern, there are decks that can keep up with Storm.
Nope, not only that. MaRo clearly said that being unfun and uninteractive is definitely relevant and part of the ban's decision. Storm completely fall in this category.
Look, we get you don't like combo. But combo is part of Magic.
Combo decks are part of Magic but solitaire games are failures, mistakes, errors. Thing that WotC dislike and I do too. And most players do anyway.
If you hate storm, do one of 3 things: Race storm, interact with the combo, or just don't play older formats.
4th option. Hoping that WotC create for mistake a card that accidentally enable the archetype to be Tier zero and finally ban the original source of evil once and for all, exactly like they did for Pauper.
I mean, Maro clearly said that about second sunrise that they don't like the fact that was un-interactive, and yet they still printed Faith's Reward which is what second rise did, but at higher cost. The deck still exist theoretically, it's just not tournament viable anymore. Which I hope it will the destiny reserved to storm in future.
Faith's Reward was the enable for eggs to take the format. Second Sunrise only started to see play after the egg's win on pro tuor *by one of its creator* (actually just a pro) in that time no one knew the deck because it had just been created in RtR protuor
good times
Btw not counting on odisey extended list
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Modern:
Krark-Clan Ironworks is banned.
Effective Date: January 25, 2019
Magic Online Effective Date: January 21, 2019 (see below)
The list of all banned and restricted cards, by format, is here.
Next B&R Announcement: March 11, 2019
"Games with Krark-Clan Ironworks can often involve excessively arcane rules interactions using mana ability timing windows, the understanding of which are necessary for players to agree on the game state. This can create a barrier to entry to Modern for players playing against the deck and to those who would feel obligated to play with it because of its strong win rate. We're sensitive to community feedback that the combination of polarized matchups, complex interactions, and long turns can lead to unenjoyable gameplay and viewing experiences."
Also keeping an eye on Mox Opal and Ancient Stirrings, but not taking action yet:
"Ancient Stirrings and Mox Opal represent two categories of cards that R&D keeps a careful eye on: card selection and fast mana. One factor we consider is that Ancient Stirrings, unlike more general card selection spells like Ponder and Preordain, brings deckbuilding restrictions. When we examine the effect of powerful cards, we consider whether they are increasing or decreasing the number of viable decks in the environment. In the current state of the metagame, the build-around nature of Ancient Stirrings supports decks that look very different from a simple collection of the strongest rate cards, and that otherwise may not exist. The recent resurgence of a new generation of Amulet Titan decks is a good example of this. Mox Opal is a similar case. In addition to showing up in high-profile decks like Hardened Scales, we also see Mox Opal enabling a variety of more fringe artifact synergy decks. As a category, we think these are generally healthy provided they appear in small doses and have reasonable win rates. As Modern stands, our metagame data does not indicate a need to impact the other Ancient Stirrings or Mox Opal decks.
Bear in mind that this is based on the current state of the metagame, and that Ancient Stirrings and Mox Opal are not being given a free pass in perpetuity. While we have no current plans to take action against these two cards, we'll continue to monitor the health of the environment and the strength of decks that use them. If the metagame reaches a point where we determine these cards are doing more to suppress archetype diversity than enable it, we will certainly revisit this discussion. At this time, we're choosing the surgical ban against Krark-Clan Ironworks itself and avoiding "splash damage" against other archetypes.
A Note on Pauper
We've heard some recent discussion amongst the Pauper community about the potentially problematic interaction between Gush and Foil, the latter of which was recently added to the environment through Ultimate Masters. While our metagame data indicates that taking action at this time would be premature, we'll watch the format as decks adjust to play with and against this combination. We appreciate continued community feedback on this topic through discussion on forums, in articles, and on social media.
A Note on Magic Online
With today's announcement, Magic Online will debut a new system to handle card bans while the system is live. At 10 a.m. PT today, Krark-Clan Ironworks will be banned on Magic Online while the system is live. This neither requires a downtime where players are removed from Magic Online while we make a ban list change, nor a system where we need to prematurely end the League and create a new version.
Players who have the card in their decks will be automatically removed from any Leagues they are participating in and their entries will be reimbursed. Prizes earned at the point of removal will be granted manually, though the results of any active League matches at that time will not count.
Players who are waiting in a queue for a tournament to begin will be removed from that queue and will have their entry reimbursed. Players participating in a non-League tournament that is already underway will not be affected and may finish the event normally.
This new system lets us make changes as soon as possible while only impacting players who are using banned cards.
In addition to the announced ban, Hada Freeblade, Spatial Contortion, and Circle of Flame will be banned in Pauper to correct a format issue where they are currently legal in the format despite only appearing at common as promotional cards. These bans will use the same process outlined above.
(Whinge: Whence the UW changes since it's got more T8 finishes? Exeunt Cryptic Command and Settle the Wretckage sometime? :p)
Currently focusing on Pre-Modern (Mono-Black Discard Control) and Modern (Azorious Control, Temur Rhinos).
Find me at the Wizard's Tower in Ottawa every second Saturday afternoons.
“I once had an entire race killed just to listen to the rattling of their dried bones as I waded through them.”
—Volrath
Not a chance, storm is not even close to the top of the power stack, and people should be able to play how they like, even if its 'antisocial'.
The real joke here, is they are afraid of UW/UWR to the point of keeping SFM banned. For anyone that actually plays Modern, thats hilarious.
Spirits
Agreed.
But then with that acknowledgement they go and ban 3 other "colored" cards.
.
Blue needs to have the banhammer come down hard in Pauper.
STOP using "dude/bro" as a pejorative or insult. Grow up.
Margaret Thatcher: “The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.”
Benjamin Franklin: "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
Martin Luther King Jr.: "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."
Second Sunrise was banned exactly for the Iron-Works reason and never unbanned since then. Sensei Divine Top was another card banned because it take too much time in tournaments. It even exist the "Storm Scale" to remember us that WotC hate herself so much Storm (it was an enormous mistake to bring it in existence in the first place) that promised herself to never bring again new supporting storm cards in Standard again.
No, players shouldn't be able to play how they like. If WotC make mistakes and create cards that leads to horrible or broken gameplay should be banned in tournaments, because allowing antisocial cards not only kill the fun but even damage the magic community as a whole.
I assume we are talking Modern here, but Gifts Storm is not at all like the other decks you listed.
Spirits
So the only Magic that should be allowed is the kind you like?
I'd say that attitude damages the magic community as a whole.
"I hope to have such a death... lying in triumph atop the broken bodies of those who slew me..."
My opinion is alligned with WotC visions of healthy gameplay and metagame in Magic tournaments. So my attitude doesn't damage the magic community unless you are saying that WotC herself damage the magic community with her decisions which seems to be at this point your problem with WotC than anything else.
Wizards stated vision for the format is a healthy mixture of Aggro, Control, and Combo. Just because you don't like one of those three does not make it unhealthy.
"I hope to have such a death... lying in triumph atop the broken bodies of those who slew me..."
False. I would allow even archetypes that I don't like (like combo decks),but that doesn't mean all combo decks are the same. Solitaire decks where a player draw, cast and trigger lots of stuff in a single turn are the cancer of the game and create unfun and misery in most of the players facing said decks.
So, if you think Storm is a "healthy" and "fair" and "legit" archetypes, can you please answer me why WotC hates it so much that in a scale of not-returning from 1 to 10 in Standard, storm is 10?
I'll give you a hint : because storm cards are not healthy, nor fair, not fun or good for magic.
Once again, the problem it's not that "I don't like it".
Yes I don't like it but I'm not alone. WotC as a whole and many, many players hate storm or eggs like decks.
If many players hates how it plays a mechanic, it surely hurt the magic community as a whole yes. Because people could even stop to play magic if forced to see such obnoxious decks so often.
Sounds to me like WotC disagrees with you on that it needs to be banned right now, otherwise it would be.
Not like there's a lack of other non-combo solitaire decks in the format anyway.
WSram, UBaral, RPurphoros, GFreyalise
(G/W)Trostani, (B/G)Izoni, (B/R)Rakdos, (U/B)Yuriko, (U/R)Locust God
U(B/R)Marchesa, W(R/G)Zacama, G(W/B)Karador, B(R/W)Edgar, U(W/B)Silas/Tymna
G(U/R)Animar, W(G/U)Derevi, U(B/G)Muldrotha, G(B/R)Windgrace, G(R/W)(U/B)Jodah
And yet that is the only argument you put forth. Oh, and a claim that you're not alone.
Some people don't like affinity and think it's unfun and they're not alone.
Some people don't like KCI and think it's unfun and they're not alone.
Some people don't like humans and think it's unfun and they're not alone.
Some people don't like Boggle and think it's unfun and they're not alone.
Some people don't like UW control and think it's unfun and they're not alone.
The problem with the storm mechanic is not "unfun", is that it is too hard to balance. Also see this post by MaRo abpout the storm scale. Note that he talk about grain of salt.
The fact isn't mentioned here, doesn't mean anything and I never said it should be banned right now because sadly I know it won't. I know that WotC needs that an unfun deck must be dominant enough before it get the banhammer, and that's why I wrote I hope it will show up enough in big tournaments instead of annoying me only in my local meta.
Both eggs and storm decks create solitaire games where a single player cast, draw and trigger a two-digit number of things in a single phase, so you can't tell me are nothing like each other. They both like to waste time in an obnoxious and un-interactive way.
Affinity got banned lot of cards. Storm itself get pretty much killed in Pauper Online. Banning cards is a thing and being unfun and un-interacive is part of the official reasons among the other critarias.
Once again cards in the ban list like Second Sunrise (or the Ironworks) just proves my point.
EDIT:
False. that's only part of the reasons. Being "unfun" is completely part of the reasons of why storm is hated.
That's what MaRo said:
you overestimate how many players want to see storm return. Crazy overpowered mechanics are fun at first but quickly become unfun as they highjack Magic to play their game.
http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/32371790696/i-never-say-never-but-there-would-have-to-be-a
We don’t hate combo. We dislike non-interaction. Magic is more fun if two people get to actually play one another.
http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/48598679443/so-you-just-keep-banning-and-banning-every-combo
That's exactly what I'm saying all the time.
And yet...here we are.
Storm, the deck, is clearly acceptable to Wizards at its current level, and it has not seen a targeted ban for years. Just because a MECHANIC is disliked, does not mean a DECK is going to be removed.
Spirits
I myself wouldn't mind if Grapeshot would cost 15 mana instead of 2. At least wouldn't be tournament viable.
Oh yeah about that : Seething Song another card banned exactly because it was played only in Storm and make it too good.
I think everyone is agreeing with you that the issues inherent with those types of effects/mechanics are obvious, but its largely irrelevant to the DECK Storm.
Baral, is not that old however, and cost reduction effects are still being added Ref: Spectacle.
Spirits
That's not intentional to make storm viable in standard or willing to support storm in modern. When WotC created Dig Through Time and Treasure Cruise enabled the life, (among other issues) of that other solitaire cancer of Ascendancy Combo Deck. Just because WotC print things doesn't mean it doesn't make mistakes or unhealthy things for all the formats. They're human after all.
Counterpoint: they banned ~8 cards in modern mostly because of storm but made sure to never ban the actual storm cards.
Someone somewhere at WotC clearly thinks that it is a deck worth preserving.
Which imo speaks against your "WotC thinks storm is unhealty and unfun" narrative.
WSram, UBaral, RPurphoros, GFreyalise
(G/W)Trostani, (B/G)Izoni, (B/R)Rakdos, (U/B)Yuriko, (U/R)Locust God
U(B/R)Marchesa, W(R/G)Zacama, G(W/B)Karador, B(R/W)Edgar, U(W/B)Silas/Tymna
G(U/R)Animar, W(G/U)Derevi, U(B/G)Muldrotha, G(B/R)Windgrace, G(R/W)(U/B)Jodah
Counter, counterpoint: they did it for Pauper. So storm is not a "sacred relic" of gamestyle that must be preserved at any cost.
I'm sure that if WotC could go back in time, it would never create the storm mechanic in the first place.
Someone somewhere at WotC clearly thinks that it is a deck worth preserving.
Or maybe it just means it's not broken enough to be banned as a whole. Which has nothing to do of what WotC like or not to preserve the archetype. (anyway, the fact that they don't like un-interactive deck is a fact. And is a fact also that a storm deck is an un-interactive deck, like eggs.)
I mean, Maro clearly said that about second sunrise that they don't like the fact that was un-interactive, and yet they still printed Faith's Reward which is what second rise did, but at higher cost. The deck still exist theoretically, it's just not tournament viable anymore. Which I hope it will the destiny reserved to storm in future.
how a 1x3 is a nightmare and a "free" draw 2 (or 4) is ok?
if anything ban gush, period
They are not going to make a Standard version, of Modern Storm.
That's not really a matter of debate.
They have left Storm alone for years, and it's a turn 3 deck if you let it goldfish.
They are clearly fine with it right now.
Spirits
The reason Storm is a 10 on the Storm Scale is because it is overpowered and has very small design space. In Modern, there are decks that can keep up with Storm.
I wouldn't mind if lands cost 78325473498578934758934 mana to play, it would make them unplayable! Yay! YOu know what enables all the broken things in Modern? LAND! BAN THE ISLAND!
Look, we get you don't like combo. But combo is part of Magic. I, for one, absolutely HATE aggro, and if all the aggro cards were banned I would be happy and durdle for hours. But other people like aggro, and it is important to the meta.
If you hate storm, do one of 3 things: Race storm, interact with the combo, or just don't play older formats.
Deal with it.
Nope, not only that. MaRo clearly said that being unfun and uninteractive is definitely relevant and part of the ban's decision. Storm completely fall in this category.
Combo decks are part of Magic but solitaire games are failures, mistakes, errors. Thing that WotC dislike and I do too. And most players do anyway.
4th option. Hoping that WotC create for mistake a card that accidentally enable the archetype to be Tier zero and finally ban the original source of evil once and for all, exactly like they did for Pauper.
Faith's Reward was the enable for eggs to take the format. Second Sunrise only started to see play after the egg's win on pro tuor *by one of its creator* (actually just a pro) in that time no one knew the deck because it had just been created in RtR protuor
good times
Btw not counting on odisey extended list