Yet the most popular pauper deck according to mtgtop8 is Mono Green. Spouting off opinions is fine, but acting like yours are based on more facts than anyone elses is just ignorant. Typical though.
Having legacy level draw spells doesnt have the same effect when you cant draw into cards that end the game single handedly. Without having any experience with the format, how can you give an honest assesment?
Plenty of people show up with Skred Delver and Monarch and Green... and many people show up with brews. The most importanr thing is that the decks have enough air in them to allow players to outplay their opponents.
MTG modern and standard is becomming a lot more like Hearthstone. Rock Paper Scissors deck based games. When you remove ways to interact with people (ie cavern of souls) you take the air out of the game.
I realize most people dont care to have to plan things out, or sculpt a turn or prevent an opponent from executing their strategy. But if MTG keeps going the way of Tap and Slap then players are gonna keep flocking from format to format.
Modern got so popular because of this. Now Pauper will be the new Modern. Then WotC will F that up. Mr. Rosewater and the other kool-aid drinkers need to stop telling people how to play. Stop making the game so that mythic permanents can easily hit the board. Stop.
Just unban everything or Ban Cavern. I like the stirrings ban idea too. Anything to limit braindead decks slapping ***** out.
It is odd that you suggest that WOTC needs to stop telling people how to play, then you suggest a banlist change in order to stop people from playing a way you don't like.
Modern has been super popular for a while now, basically since aether revolt and fatal push being printed which coincided with the nerfs to infect and dredge. Now you're talking about a year and a half. During that time, the top deck has rotated between a variety of types.
And just because you don't have to debate at every turn whether to play a counterspell, does not mean a deck is braindead.
Your virtue signaling is falling deaf ears and heres why:
My style of magic is not an accepted play style by wotc. So i have two choices. Play their way (tap and slap) or play something else.
Take a look at the meta game. Decks running 20+ creatures are running rampant.
You say this very lovely thing about how modern is a format where you can play whatever you like... yet you leave out the most important part: NOT IF YOU WANT TO WIN.
When modern first came into existence this was true. There were tons of viable strategies and crazy unique stuff happening.
Then cavern happened. Then bannings happened. Now we get saddled with another format similar to standard. Wotc will determkne the meta for us. And we will abide. Because most of the mtg community has nothing else to do.
Id like add something else:
Im noy telling you you can stuff 40 creatures in your deck. Im not telling you you cant play that way. Im just telling you that i should be able to cancel your creature before it strips card out of my hand or does more powerful.things than my spells do.
You see you have no choice to make in deck construction. You dont have to find a balance of threats and interaction and draw. Hell, you dont even have to intelligently think about land! You just push creatures into your deck box and play.
Now thinking objectively about what constitutes a healthy competitive environment, woulnt you say thats a little... easy? Do you want to have your cake and eat it to.
Run your creatures. Run your aether vial or birthing pod. Knock yourself out. But you dont get a mama fixing land that makes your creatured uncounterable too.
Your virtue signaling is falling deaf ears and heres why:
My style of magic is not an accepted play style by wotc. So i have two choices. Play their way (tap and slap) or play something else.
Take a look at the meta game. Decks running 20+ creatures are running rampant.
You say this very lovely thing about how modern is a format where you can play whatever you like... yet you leave out the most important part: NOT IF YOU WANT TO WIN.
When modern first came into existence this was true. There were tons of viable strategies and crazy unique stuff happening.
Then cavern happened. Then bannings happened. Now we get saddled with another format similar to standard. Wotc will determkne the meta for us. And we will abide. Because most of the mtg community has nothing else to do.
Play Jeskai, Jund, Lantern, or Mardu if you want a competitive interactive option. GDS, UW Control, and Blue Moon are other viable, competitive options with less representation. If one is struggling to do well on such a deck, especially at the local/MTGO level, this suggests the player needs more practice and experience on the deck, not that the deck is bad and non-viable. Cavern has been around for a loooong time. That card came out in 2012 and interactive decks were totally viable for years thereafter. The only period they sucked qas 2016. Cavern is not a new obstacle for control, and does not even answer removal/discard. Proficient pilots will overcome these barriers with their deck of choice and enjoy consistent format success.
No.one here is struggling against jt. That isnt the point. The point is, why is it it needed? Its being abused. Creatures are so powerful now and in such great abundance that why do we allow mana fixing and uncounterability too?
Aggro is 50%+ of the format. Considering the plethora of archetypes available that is an overwhelming majority.
Ive been home sick for a week now just watching old PTs and GPs. Lets watch Patrick Chapin vs Shahar Shenhar. Delver vs Burn. Watch how incredible this matchup is. All the little choices and how they matter. Watch a pro make mistakes because... magic is tough.
Then lets watch (and ill leave the eldrazi winter out of it because its jist too easy) PT Ixalan. Duke on Abzan and Asian Guy on Hollow One. Just watch the inevitability of the games. There is minimal interaction and tons on random nonsense.
Now these are pT exampoes and typically top level players prefer interactive decks so the data is scewed (if we use this to understand what dexks are good). The reality is, at a regular GP or FNM you are bound to play every other match against some mindless aggro smash. Thats not fun. Thats not a good environment.
So, without inserting any comments into the wrong oriface (easy to do based on the nature and background of the common mtger) lets understand something.
Aggro has taken over our metagame. How do we stop it. How do we bring back some tempo and combo and midrangey stuff into the format (because tap out control is loving this... supreme/azcanta/teferi)? We take away a land that is not required for the archetype to succeed, but makes the archetype easy to play.
Thank you.
Once you are able to get over yourselves you will see my point.
Id like to also keep the Ancient Stirring discussion up here. I think thats definitely PE #2. As ive been watching these games it does become pretty sad seeing turn 3 Karn. Im no combo guy, but at least they have to work for it. The tron guys just... draw cards and play them... hmm
If you hate creatures that much, simply play UWR and delete them on sight. Yeah maybe they can cast off of Cavern and you have to side out your Logic Knots, I mean what are you trying to do, pure draw go Esper?
No.one here is struggling against jt. That isnt the point. The point is, why is it it needed? Its being abused. Creatures are so powerful now and in such great abundance that why do we allow mana fixing and uncounterability too?
Aggro is 50%+ of the format. Considering the plethora of archetypes available that is an overwhelming majority.
Ive been home sick for a week now just watching old PTs and GPs. Lets watch Patrick Chapin vs Shahar Shenhar. Delver vs Burn. Watch how incredible this matchup is. All the little choices and how they matter. Watch a pro make mistakes because... magic is tough.
Then lets watch (and ill leave the eldrazi winter out of it because its jist too easy) PT Ixalan. Duke on Abzan and Asian Guy on Hollow One. Just watch the inevitability of the games. There is minimal interaction and tons on random nonsense.
Now these are pT exampoes and typically top level players prefer interactive decks so the data is scewed (if we use this to understand what dexks are good). The reality is, at a regular GP or FNM you are bound to play every other match against some mindless aggro smash. Thats not fun. Thats not a good environment.
So, without inserting any comments into the wrong oriface (easy to do based on the nature and background of the common mtger) lets understand something.
Aggro has taken over our metagame. How do we stop it. How do we bring back some tempo and combo and midrangey stuff into the format (because tap out control is loving this... supreme/azcanta/teferi)? We take away a land that is not required for the archetype to succeed, but makes the archetype easy to play.
Thank you.
Once you are able to get over yourselves you will see my point.
I don't think your anti-Cavern argument is terrible. It's not really supported by current data, but it is arguable and one could make a case for it. The related arguments you've made, however, just don't hold water. This includes "unban it all," "ban Stirrings," and that you can't play interactive decks and win. These arguments come from a more biased, less supported, and overall unstable foundation of format understanding. The Cavern argument is more defensible on its own legs; why not just argue that?
Just because you claim my statementd arent based on meta data doesnt mean it isnt. Look at the data. Over 50% of decks are aggro.
You can make any claim youd like about data, but its all there and mostly supports my argument.
But facts dont win an argument. Especially when it comes down to a game that fills a lot of voids in people lives.
In my not so humble opinion. MTG needs to stop dumbing the game down and stop restricting playstyles.
The unban everything is an extremely valid argument. You have a format that is out of balance and has been for a long time. The "data" is misconstrued by Pro Tour events that make it seen that decision based decks are viable.
Why even discuss banning things that hinder a deck if we can just unban everything and have a wide open format again?
There is more than one argument to be had on the topic of the modern metagame and its complete lack of balance.
If you dojt want to play againat seething song or birthing pod or splinter twin, then why do have the right to whine about me not wanting to play against Cavern?
I argue thay thr other three currently banned cards i mentioned can at least be interacted with in a multitude of ways... cavern just 1 or 2 and they are slow.
Gimmie "data" (i know it sounds like a scientific thing to say and the way yout argument is percieved means a lot to you) as to why Pod and Twin were jusifiably banned.
Now, once we wade through the pseudo-scientific bull*****, we can have a serious discusion as to why you think a metagame where every other match vs aggro is good for mTG while i think its awful.
Public Mod Note
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Warning issued for trolling — Xaricore
Pod was justified due to its placement rates in top 8s, its match win percentages against the field, and the fact it would always (as you note, MTG is creature based now) improve.
Twin was banned for the Pro Tour, I will accept no other arguments, as its been done to death around here, and because it had no natural (based on MTGO data we had) predator. It had the same number of 50/50 match ups as several other decks, it simply had no weakness.
In the end though, data is not going to convince you, lets at least be honest with ourselves.
Guys please opinions on japanese cards. Lost a 3/3 creature against Japan celestial colonade. This guy played all creatures and spells in english cards, but some cards in his manabase was japanese. I dont registrated this really ( my brain say its all fine and all english to me lets attack his empty board)...and i am sure it is a Kind of legal cheating. It is not ok, but i know legal. I Hate such people. I never forget colonade normally, but with this Tricks it can happen one time in 3 years and such people take advantage of this
If I am a customer spending premium amount of dollars, I expect a premium service. Jund falls into the category of a premium deck costing more dollars than a majority of the rest of the format. I'm not getting the desired performance ratio per dollars spent out of the Jund deck because WOTC decided to make the format more diverse.
its either unban skullclamp or ban cavern guys. its the only way to fix things and get back to 'real' magic. /s
i can agree that wizards has messed some things up as of late, possibly by losing sight of the forest for the trees when it comes to some design philosophies. such as threats being too good and answers too bad, hand holding with obvious power cards or mechanics, etc. doesnt mean im gonna be over dramatic about it.
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Modern: UWGSnow-Bant Control BURGrixis Death's Shadow GWBCoCo Elves WCDeath and Taxes (sold)
Your virtue signaling is falling deaf ears and heres why:
Oh boy, we're off to quite a start...
According to data, UW Control is tied for the second highest played percentage in Modern at the moment. So unless you'd like to claim U/W Control is unga bunga Magic...
Private Mod Note
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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.
This is a reminder to keep it on the cards not the people. Flaming, trolling and other fourm misbehavior will not be tolerated. Keep it on topic and polite.
Your virtue signaling is falling deaf ears and heres why:
Oh boy, we're off to quite a start...
According to data, UW Control is tied for the second highest played percentage in Modern at the moment. So unless you'd like to claim U/W Control is unga bunga Magic...
How many Ws is getting though? its looked sure but I haven't quite seen it close a major event yet.
Can we unban Stoneforge Mystic. Modern is powercreeping the last year's. I mean Jace was fine, BBE was fine. I can't see how turn 3 batterskull is a problem. Then the other 3 SFMs are dead draws. However the only thing I am not sure about is that she will play alongside Jace. Idk though what do you think?
This has been discussed a million times already. SFM is sure to come off at some point.
Can we unban Stoneforge Mystic. Modern is powercreeping the last year's. I mean Jace was fine, BBE was fine. I can't see how turn 3 batterskull is a problem. Then the other 3 SFMs are dead draws. However the only thing I am not sure about is that she will play alongside Jace. Idk though what do you think?
There is near-universal agreement among players that SFM would be fine in Modern. It's just a matter of Wizards acting. And with regards to the B&R list, they do what they do when they want to do it, and usually with little to no actual testing.
While many of us seem to agree that SFM is likely to be unbanned at some point in time, is there a change for Treasure Cruise or DTT to come off the list? How about Ponder or Preordain?
While many of us seem to agree that SFM is likely to be unbanned at some point in time, is there a change for Treasure Cruise or DTT to come off the list? How about Ponder or Preordain?
Cruise is dead. Cruise is banned in basically every format it has touched. Even Pauper, which allows Gush, cannot handle Cruise. DTT maybe has a slightly better chance, but I wouldn't get your hopes up.
Ponder is dead. Ponder is a slightly different case than Cruise. It is indeed VERY powerful, but it will never come off of the list purely because if any cantrip comes off, it will be Preordain. It's a minor upgrade to Serum Visions/Sleight of Hand in some decks, and a sidegrade in others. WotC doesn't want to hit a critical mass of cantrip cards though, so if we get either of them back into the format, it will be Preordain.
I think it was Ryan Overturf talking at the preshow for SCG Invitational today that, the issue he has with Jeskai is that there are never hands that just win the game. You never look at your opening 7 and think "wow this is really going to win me the game!" It's always "I hope these cards line up and I can serum visions into something and draw the game out long enough to eventually grind a win." I thought that was an interesting take, especially considering the number of decks that can just win with their opening 7 much of the time (or at least get massively ahead).
And just as I'm typing this, Jim Davis gets wrecked 0-2 by Turtenwald on Hollow One. Yeesh that looked bad.
I think it was Ryan Overturf talking at the preshow for SCG Invitational today that, the issue he has with Jeskai is that there are never hands that just win the game. You never look at your opening 7 and think "wow this is really going to win me the game!" It's always "I hope these cards line up and I can serum visions into something and draw the game out long enough to eventually grind a win." I thought that was an interesting take, especially considering the number of decks that can just win with their opening 7 much of the time (or at least get massively ahead).
And just as I'm typing this, Jim Davis gets wrecked 0-2 by Turtenwald on Hollow One. Yeesh that looked bad.
It's weird that a deck built on the premise of grinding out small advantages before eventually landing a haymaker to win the game can't just win the game...
If they want to put a combo in their deck or add threats like Geist of Saint Traf they can, but it's not what the deck is designed to do.
I think it was Ryan Overturf talking at the preshow for SCG Invitational today that, the issue he has with Jeskai is that there are never hands that just win the game. You never look at your opening 7 and think "wow this is really going to win me the game!" It's always "I hope these cards line up and I can serum visions into something and draw the game out long enough to eventually grind a win." I thought that was an interesting take, especially considering the number of decks that can just win with their opening 7 much of the time (or at least get massively ahead).
I mean...of course there isnt. Considering we cannot 'win' until we are hitting 5, 6, 7+ mana, you need those lands drops, you need that removal, and you need that dig.
3 Lands, a Removal, a Serum, a Search, and a Counter (Knot or Cryptic) are about what I like to see game 1, but yeah your opening 7 literally cannot win you the game on UWR.
Nothing in that hand remotely CLOSE to winning the game. When you win with 2 or 3 man lands, 2 or 3 Walkers, and a handful of Bolts + Savage Snapcaster Beats (thx again tronix, I still laugh reading that) thats just what you signed up for.
I think it was Ryan Overturf talking at the preshow for SCG Invitational today that, the issue he has with Jeskai is that there are never hands that just win the game. You never look at your opening 7 and think "wow this is really going to win me the game!" It's always "I hope these cards line up and I can serum visions into something and draw the game out long enough to eventually grind a win." I thought that was an interesting take, especially considering the number of decks that can just win with their opening 7 much of the time (or at least get massively ahead).
And just as I'm typing this, Jim Davis gets wrecked 0-2 by Turtenwald on Hollow One. Yeesh that looked bad.
It's weird that a deck built on the premise of grinding out small advantages before eventually landing a haymaker to win the game can't just win the game...
If they want to put a combo in their deck or add threats like Geist of Saint Traf they can, but it's not what the deck is designed to do.
Well this is coming from someone like Overturf who, like me, would prefer to play a tempo game with a reasonable clock than a durdley draw-go, hope-answers-line-up kind of deck. As they said in the pre-game, Jeskai is good, but not great. I loved it with Geists and Quellers, but that version is really bad when the format is packing tons of spot removal and chump blockers. I loved playing Grixis Delver, but that deck hasn't been relevant since Probe was banned. I tolerated GDS, until eventually hating the play lines and also flailing against chump blockers and spot removal. Right now Jeskai Durdle is the best of the blue, and it's a deck that does nothing and hopes to not lose. I'm "solving" the problem now by playing Breach Moon, which is a worse control deck with a clunky combo. But at least it's fun to play and nearly all foil, so it brings a smile to my face when I look at my cards. Because that's where I'm at in Modern right now. I'm trying to enjoy myself and have fun. If I wanted to win more, I would just play Humans.
"Stoneforge mystic, too good for modern" off the heels of a turn 3 Storm kill. lol
Yeah I think it's really becoming comical. Stoneforge isn't even really good enough in Legacy anymore, getting cut everywhere. There're even D&T decks experimenting with cutting her.
It is odd that you suggest that WOTC needs to stop telling people how to play, then you suggest a banlist change in order to stop people from playing a way you don't like.
Modern has been super popular for a while now, basically since aether revolt and fatal push being printed which coincided with the nerfs to infect and dredge. Now you're talking about a year and a half. During that time, the top deck has rotated between a variety of types.
And just because you don't have to debate at every turn whether to play a counterspell, does not mean a deck is braindead.
My style of magic is not an accepted play style by wotc. So i have two choices. Play their way (tap and slap) or play something else.
Take a look at the meta game. Decks running 20+ creatures are running rampant.
You say this very lovely thing about how modern is a format where you can play whatever you like... yet you leave out the most important part: NOT IF YOU WANT TO WIN.
When modern first came into existence this was true. There were tons of viable strategies and crazy unique stuff happening.
Then cavern happened. Then bannings happened. Now we get saddled with another format similar to standard. Wotc will determkne the meta for us. And we will abide. Because most of the mtg community has nothing else to do.
Id like add something else:
Im noy telling you you can stuff 40 creatures in your deck. Im not telling you you cant play that way. Im just telling you that i should be able to cancel your creature before it strips card out of my hand or does more powerful.things than my spells do.
You see you have no choice to make in deck construction. You dont have to find a balance of threats and interaction and draw. Hell, you dont even have to intelligently think about land! You just push creatures into your deck box and play.
Now thinking objectively about what constitutes a healthy competitive environment, woulnt you say thats a little... easy? Do you want to have your cake and eat it to.
Run your creatures. Run your aether vial or birthing pod. Knock yourself out. But you dont get a mama fixing land that makes your creatured uncounterable too.
Rosewater is a tool.
Play Jeskai, Jund, Lantern, or Mardu if you want a competitive interactive option. GDS, UW Control, and Blue Moon are other viable, competitive options with less representation. If one is struggling to do well on such a deck, especially at the local/MTGO level, this suggests the player needs more practice and experience on the deck, not that the deck is bad and non-viable. Cavern has been around for a loooong time. That card came out in 2012 and interactive decks were totally viable for years thereafter. The only period they sucked qas 2016. Cavern is not a new obstacle for control, and does not even answer removal/discard. Proficient pilots will overcome these barriers with their deck of choice and enjoy consistent format success.
Aggro is 50%+ of the format. Considering the plethora of archetypes available that is an overwhelming majority.
Ive been home sick for a week now just watching old PTs and GPs. Lets watch Patrick Chapin vs Shahar Shenhar. Delver vs Burn. Watch how incredible this matchup is. All the little choices and how they matter. Watch a pro make mistakes because... magic is tough.
Then lets watch (and ill leave the eldrazi winter out of it because its jist too easy) PT Ixalan. Duke on Abzan and Asian Guy on Hollow One. Just watch the inevitability of the games. There is minimal interaction and tons on random nonsense.
Now these are pT exampoes and typically top level players prefer interactive decks so the data is scewed (if we use this to understand what dexks are good). The reality is, at a regular GP or FNM you are bound to play every other match against some mindless aggro smash. Thats not fun. Thats not a good environment.
So, without inserting any comments into the wrong oriface (easy to do based on the nature and background of the common mtger) lets understand something.
Aggro has taken over our metagame. How do we stop it. How do we bring back some tempo and combo and midrangey stuff into the format (because tap out control is loving this... supreme/azcanta/teferi)? We take away a land that is not required for the archetype to succeed, but makes the archetype easy to play.
Thank you.
Once you are able to get over yourselves you will see my point.
Spirits
I don't think your anti-Cavern argument is terrible. It's not really supported by current data, but it is arguable and one could make a case for it. The related arguments you've made, however, just don't hold water. This includes "unban it all," "ban Stirrings," and that you can't play interactive decks and win. These arguments come from a more biased, less supported, and overall unstable foundation of format understanding. The Cavern argument is more defensible on its own legs; why not just argue that?
You can make any claim youd like about data, but its all there and mostly supports my argument.
But facts dont win an argument. Especially when it comes down to a game that fills a lot of voids in people lives.
In my not so humble opinion. MTG needs to stop dumbing the game down and stop restricting playstyles.
The unban everything is an extremely valid argument. You have a format that is out of balance and has been for a long time. The "data" is misconstrued by Pro Tour events that make it seen that decision based decks are viable.
Why even discuss banning things that hinder a deck if we can just unban everything and have a wide open format again?
There is more than one argument to be had on the topic of the modern metagame and its complete lack of balance.
If you dojt want to play againat seething song or birthing pod or splinter twin, then why do have the right to whine about me not wanting to play against Cavern?
I argue thay thr other three currently banned cards i mentioned can at least be interacted with in a multitude of ways... cavern just 1 or 2 and they are slow.
Gimmie "data" (i know it sounds like a scientific thing to say and the way yout argument is percieved means a lot to you) as to why Pod and Twin were jusifiably banned.
Now, once we wade through the pseudo-scientific bull*****, we can have a serious discusion as to why you think a metagame where every other match vs aggro is good for mTG while i think its awful.
Twin was banned for the Pro Tour, I will accept no other arguments, as its been done to death around here, and because it had no natural (based on MTGO data we had) predator. It had the same number of 50/50 match ups as several other decks, it simply had no weakness.
In the end though, data is not going to convince you, lets at least be honest with ourselves.
Spirits
Pisses on old timers.
Torrential post rhythm.
Belittles those who disagree.
Can't stand criticisms.
Thinks all his "facts" are true and everyone else's are bull.
Oh boy. At least at this pace it should not last too long.
i can agree that wizards has messed some things up as of late, possibly by losing sight of the forest for the trees when it comes to some design philosophies. such as threats being too good and answers too bad, hand holding with obvious power cards or mechanics, etc. doesnt mean im gonna be over dramatic about it.
UWGSnow-Bant Control
BURGrixis Death's Shadow
GWBCoCo Elves
WCDeath and Taxes(sold)Oh boy, we're off to quite a start...
According to data, UW Control is tied for the second highest played percentage in Modern at the moment. So unless you'd like to claim U/W Control is unga bunga Magic...
"I hope to have such a death... lying in triumph atop the broken bodies of those who slew me..."
Thanks
Ulka
How many Ws is getting though? its looked sure but I haven't quite seen it close a major event yet.
Spirits
This has been discussed a million times already. SFM is sure to come off at some point.
Abzan Traverse / Traverse Shadow / UR Kiki
There is near-universal agreement among players that SFM would be fine in Modern. It's just a matter of Wizards acting. And with regards to the B&R list, they do what they do when they want to do it, and usually with little to no actual testing.
UR ....... WUBR ........... WB ............. RGW ........ UBR ....... WUB .... BGU
Spells / Blink & Combo / Token Grind / Dino Tribal / Draw Cards / Zombies / Reanimate
Cruise is dead. Cruise is banned in basically every format it has touched. Even Pauper, which allows Gush, cannot handle Cruise. DTT maybe has a slightly better chance, but I wouldn't get your hopes up.
Ponder is dead. Ponder is a slightly different case than Cruise. It is indeed VERY powerful, but it will never come off of the list purely because if any cantrip comes off, it will be Preordain. It's a minor upgrade to Serum Visions/Sleight of Hand in some decks, and a sidegrade in others. WotC doesn't want to hit a critical mass of cantrip cards though, so if we get either of them back into the format, it will be Preordain.
And just as I'm typing this, Jim Davis gets wrecked 0-2 by Turtenwald on Hollow One. Yeesh that looked bad.
UR ....... WUBR ........... WB ............. RGW ........ UBR ....... WUB .... BGU
Spells / Blink & Combo / Token Grind / Dino Tribal / Draw Cards / Zombies / Reanimate
It's weird that a deck built on the premise of grinding out small advantages before eventually landing a haymaker to win the game can't just win the game...
If they want to put a combo in their deck or add threats like Geist of Saint Traf they can, but it's not what the deck is designed to do.
I mean...of course there isnt. Considering we cannot 'win' until we are hitting 5, 6, 7+ mana, you need those lands drops, you need that removal, and you need that dig.
3 Lands, a Removal, a Serum, a Search, and a Counter (Knot or Cryptic) are about what I like to see game 1, but yeah your opening 7 literally cannot win you the game on UWR.
Nothing in that hand remotely CLOSE to winning the game. When you win with 2 or 3 man lands, 2 or 3 Walkers, and a handful of Bolts + Savage Snapcaster Beats (thx again tronix, I still laugh reading that) thats just what you signed up for.
Spirits
Well this is coming from someone like Overturf who, like me, would prefer to play a tempo game with a reasonable clock than a durdley draw-go, hope-answers-line-up kind of deck. As they said in the pre-game, Jeskai is good, but not great. I loved it with Geists and Quellers, but that version is really bad when the format is packing tons of spot removal and chump blockers. I loved playing Grixis Delver, but that deck hasn't been relevant since Probe was banned. I tolerated GDS, until eventually hating the play lines and also flailing against chump blockers and spot removal. Right now Jeskai Durdle is the best of the blue, and it's a deck that does nothing and hopes to not lose. I'm "solving" the problem now by playing Breach Moon, which is a worse control deck with a clunky combo. But at least it's fun to play and nearly all foil, so it brings a smile to my face when I look at my cards. Because that's where I'm at in Modern right now. I'm trying to enjoy myself and have fun. If I wanted to win more, I would just play Humans.
UR ....... WUBR ........... WB ............. RGW ........ UBR ....... WUB .... BGU
Spells / Blink & Combo / Token Grind / Dino Tribal / Draw Cards / Zombies / Reanimate
Yeah I think it's really becoming comical. Stoneforge isn't even really good enough in Legacy anymore, getting cut everywhere. There're even D&T decks experimenting with cutting her.
UW Ephara Hatebears [Primer], GB Gitrog Lands, BRU Inalla Combo-Control, URG Maelstrom Wanderer Landfall