People have strong opinions about this draft format, and there seems to be a fair share of disagreement. With so many wildly different opinions floating around, I thought it would be interesting to see an aggregate. So, please add your opinion on the format.
And please: Posts in this thread should contain a proper explanation for exactly why you like or dislike the format, posts such as "it sucks" and "no, it's awesome" is covered by the poll. Also, please refrain from trying to convince other posters to change their opinion. We all know what kind of rabbit hole that leads us into.
10 hours later, I'm the only voter. I think that pretty much sums up exactly how popular the format is.
But seriously, it sucks. The format is a coin flip format with a dearth of removal and a bunch of idiotic nonsense cards like Jade Guardian and Captivating Crew that punish people for playing a normal game of Magic. The polite way to describe the format is it's a "racing format", but all that means is that trying to be interactive is going to get you punished, so don't try.
When the cleverest thing you can do to win games is stack your deck with lifelink creatures and equipment, of course the format's going to suck.
a bunch of idiotic nonsense cards like Jade Guardian and Captivating Crew that punish people for playing a normal game of Magic
Okay, I completely agree with you on Captivating Crew (seriously, why did they think a repeatable steal effect that has no limitations and doesn't even require tapping was fair?!), but what's wrong with Jade Guardian? It's basically a 3/3 hexproof creature for 4 (a la Primal Huntbeast) with a minor upside and no other abilities.
I have no opinion on drafting Ixalan; I've never done it.
New to drafting in general, but have taken at least a look at drafting theory (couple of years worth...) before diving in.
Have to say, more middle of the road. I enjoyed it, but it seems there are less aggro ways to draft, and more midrange vs midrange. Go big or go home. Haven't run into Captivating Crew but can see how that would be a bomb draft... Thankfully it is a rare.
Also, black or white don't seem as strong here. Not seeing many good 1 drops either.
After drafting for about a month and posting roughly 72% win percentage in paper draft, I have to say this is more of a mediocre format. I was a bit disappointed with how I thought the format would shape up to be. Ixalan draft has turned to a more "curve out" and "2 drop oriented" format which is never always a bad thing but is not a fantastic thing as it eliminates a lot of control concepts.
My opinion on the format has shifted as I played it more. At first I found it boring and almost like an old core set. But I started enjoying it a lot more once I realized that outside of Merfolk Ixalan is only a very weakly syngergized Tribal set and you aren't really rewarded for going tribal.
After I stopped caring so much about the tribes I found some strategies and archetypes I really enjoyed like 4-Color Treasure which just uses treasure to let you play good stuff in four colors, UW Favorable Winds since the format has a ton of flyers, and RB Makeshift Munitions Control with a bunch treasure makers.
Plus last night I played against a guy who had drafted a WGr Vance's Blasting Cannons deck with four Blossom Dryads. I was able to beat him before he could flip it to Spitfire Bastion in both games, but I watched a match latter and it was probably the most fun game of magic I'd ever watch, with him Spitfiring three times a turn.
The deck I really want to play but haven't gotten the chance to draft yet is BG Explore or BUG Explore. I watched someone at my FNM play the BG version a few weeks ago and it looked awesome and super strong. The problem is you need to get at least two Wildgrowth Walkers and one Lurking Chupacabra plus a bunch of explore creatures to make it work, so it takes more than a little luck to set up.
The other deck I want to try is a Navigator's Ruin with a bunch of evasive and/or high-toughness creatures to mill the opponent out. I always see them table late, but I've haven't been brave enough to try it yet. I am thinking it should go in a blue-white deck with Looming Altisaur or blue-green with Grazing Whiptail to be able to gum up the board.
Really I think the worst part of the format is that it is being billed as tribal when it really isn't which is causing people to force draft tribal decks when this format is only very weakly tribal. Once you let go of that the format is a fun format with a ton of deck building options and quite a few build around me uncommons.
And please: Posts in this thread should contain a proper explanation for exactly why you like or dislike the format, posts such as "it sucks" and "no, it's awesome" is covered by the poll. Also, please refrain from trying to convince other posters to change their opinion. We all know what kind of rabbit hole that leads us into.
Stay reasonable, be mindful of your expectations and don't feed the trolls.
Doomsdayin'
But seriously, it sucks. The format is a coin flip format with a dearth of removal and a bunch of idiotic nonsense cards like Jade Guardian and Captivating Crew that punish people for playing a normal game of Magic. The polite way to describe the format is it's a "racing format", but all that means is that trying to be interactive is going to get you punished, so don't try.
When the cleverest thing you can do to win games is stack your deck with lifelink creatures and equipment, of course the format's going to suck.
I have no opinion on drafting Ixalan; I've never done it.
Stay reasonable, be mindful of your expectations and don't feed the trolls.
Doomsdayin'
Have to say, more middle of the road. I enjoyed it, but it seems there are less aggro ways to draft, and more midrange vs midrange. Go big or go home. Haven't run into Captivating Crew but can see how that would be a bomb draft... Thankfully it is a rare.
Also, black or white don't seem as strong here. Not seeing many good 1 drops either.
Thanks to Heroes of the Plane Studios for the sigpic.
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After I stopped caring so much about the tribes I found some strategies and archetypes I really enjoyed like 4-Color Treasure which just uses treasure to let you play good stuff in four colors, UW Favorable Winds since the format has a ton of flyers, and RB Makeshift Munitions Control with a bunch treasure makers.
Plus last night I played against a guy who had drafted a WGr Vance's Blasting Cannons deck with four Blossom Dryads. I was able to beat him before he could flip it to Spitfire Bastion in both games, but I watched a match latter and it was probably the most fun game of magic I'd ever watch, with him Spitfiring three times a turn.
The deck I really want to play but haven't gotten the chance to draft yet is BG Explore or BUG Explore. I watched someone at my FNM play the BG version a few weeks ago and it looked awesome and super strong. The problem is you need to get at least two Wildgrowth Walkers and one Lurking Chupacabra plus a bunch of explore creatures to make it work, so it takes more than a little luck to set up.
The other deck I want to try is a Navigator's Ruin with a bunch of evasive and/or high-toughness creatures to mill the opponent out. I always see them table late, but I've haven't been brave enough to try it yet. I am thinking it should go in a blue-white deck with Looming Altisaur or blue-green with Grazing Whiptail to be able to gum up the board.
Really I think the worst part of the format is that it is being billed as tribal when it really isn't which is causing people to force draft tribal decks when this format is only very weakly tribal. Once you let go of that the format is a fun format with a ton of deck building options and quite a few build around me uncommons.