I believe the argument they made was that BBE was banned instead of Deathrite (and should not have been put on the list in the first place), where as Sword has never really been available to play in Modern. Therefore, they classified BBE as the bigger mistake. They also compared it to Wild Nacatl, with Wild Nacatl being unbanned now after it was thought to be a mistake.
When on the stack, spells that have a cmc with an X in the casting cost have a cmc that includes the value of X. In the situation you are describing, your Secure the Wastes has a cmc of 4, so it is a legal target for the Disdainful Stroke.
Not sure if anyone here has noticed, but there has been a massive buyout of Bloodbraid Elf. Went to buy a few to finish my FNM promo playset and found them sold out everywhere.
If JTMS was unbanned (don't bet on it), what blue deck wouldn't be packing multiples of them?
Merfolk is a thing.... Admittedly, a tier 2 thing.
In all honesty though, a JTMS unban is exactly what the format doesn't need right now. At the moment, modern is unstable/in flux like no other time I have data on. Their are currently two decks that are struggling to become the new monster. We don't need to introduce a card like JTMS to the format as it could result in a complete reshuffling of the format. When this happens, we see things like delver skyrocket to 25% or burn to 15%. Formats that change rapidly, seem to have low diversity. What we need is patience and careful/safe bans and unbans to preserve diversity in modern. JTMS is in no way safe.
We also need control to be a part of the modern meta. Jace is card that can give a boost to an archetype that is EXTREMELY hurting right now. Also, why is he not safe? He is cmc 4, and a walker. Currently, no walker at that cmc is seeing serious Modern play. Second, he's not a turn 4 windmill slam if he's in your hand due to the nature of combo in the format. He is an engine for control in the late game, sure. But that is something control needs currently.
As mentioned above by skyfalcon5, AF isn't the best source on what will stay banned either as he was adamant about Bitterblossom not being a Modern card up until it was taken off of the ban list. I believe he wrote an article around a month or two before the DRS ban/Nacatl and BB unban specifically stating that Bitterblossom would not be unbanned in the near future as it was "too powerful" for Modern. We saw how that turned out. So I wouldn't take his word on what has "a grave" in Modern. However, that is obviously my opinion on the matter, nothing more.
Hey guys, I have a few signed Flooded Strands (originals) that I'd like to get verified. I'm 99% sure that they are real, I'd just like to be 100% certain, if that makes sense. Is anyone here familiar with that signature?
I'm not sure if you're serious? Or was that trolling/sarcasm? I'll assume serious. Wizards themselves said that the format isn't healthy, it's one of the reasons they were removing it from the rotation. Control and Aggro are far too weak for Modern to be considered healthy currently. I believe people are confusing the term "stable" for "healthy". Also, it's important to note, while most healthy formats are stable, not all stable formats are healthy. And I expected them to do SOMETHING, as they themselves stated that the format is also stale. Even just throwing out a bone to the players and unbanning GGT would have been something. Like @FoodChainGoblins said above, it would have at least made a few people happy.
@Pizzap
I can understand this reasoning. I just hope the new standard is varied enough at the top levels to allow for a continued interest in the format. And whenever a new set is released, drafts fire constantly for a month. It's the time after, when the "new set is out" feeling goes away that I am worried about.
Incredibly, almost soul crushingly, disappointing. As a TO and as a player, I was really hoping they were going to do something after stating they thought the format is stale. Which it is. Hopefully Khans Drafts/Sealed and Standard can pull people in for a few months. Hopefully they actually update the ban list in January, but I won't hold my breath.
If unbanning P & P lead to a more diverse format, I'm guessing the majority of players would be for it. Also, I don't think saying that "the majority of players don't want them" is accurate. Look at what other 1 mana spells can do in the format: Thoughtseize, IoK, Path, and Bolt to name a few. Ponder and Preordain are on the power level of these cards. Unbanning a few things in the colors that aren't that strong right now (Red/White/Blue) would go a long way in the format as far as color balance and archetype balance.
And while I'm glad Aaron Forscythe gave his opinion, I'm also glad he doesn't alone decide what is best for the format because 3 of the cards he named could help out the format. I'll also say, let's not forget that the last time Aaron Forscythe named a card that would never be unbanned (Bitterblossom) and the discussion that caused. And then less then 3 months later it was unbanned and...nothing happened in the format. No big shake up. No crazy Tier 0 deck. It was not slotted into B/G/x as many thought it might be. So not discussing cards simply because A.F. has deemed them unsafe would be a mistake, at least in my view.
Finally, on the topic of B/G/x, ktkenshinx is right. More bans would be a mistake for the format, even if B/G/x is once again over represented in the format. That would make 3 bans, trying to depower what amounts to a goodstuff.deck. If other colors had stronger cards, the format would even itself out color wise and B/G/x wouldn't be so played (theoretically). Also, can we please stop arguing over whether card X is not a good idea to unban because it can be slotted into B/G/x? Please? Because here's a news flash: every card in U, W, and R can be slotted in. It's not helping to create a productive discussion.
Edit: Also, Sheepz, they are actively watching B/G cards. The card based around Persephone that was supposed to be in BNG or JIN (I forget offhand) was B/G and was removed due to possible Modern implications. Also, Pharika was changed last second as she was seen as too strong, though if it was in Modern or Standard I don't know.
@Kaiyla Han: Just say that Pod should be banned if you believe that Pod is too strong in the format. As previously mentioned, any other ban wouldn't do much to hurt the deck (especially Melira).
@TheDasuri: I'm on the opposite side of that opinion. I don't think that the format is balanced at all, and am hoping Khans may have something for Aggro decks and AT LEAST one relevant unban. However, I'd agree that nothing currently needs banned.
I believe the argument they made was that BBE was banned instead of Deathrite (and should not have been put on the list in the first place), where as Sword has never really been available to play in Modern. Therefore, they classified BBE as the bigger mistake. They also compared it to Wild Nacatl, with Wild Nacatl being unbanned now after it was thought to be a mistake.
We also need control to be a part of the modern meta. Jace is card that can give a boost to an archetype that is EXTREMELY hurting right now. Also, why is he not safe? He is cmc 4, and a walker. Currently, no walker at that cmc is seeing serious Modern play. Second, he's not a turn 4 windmill slam if he's in your hand due to the nature of combo in the format. He is an engine for control in the late game, sure. But that is something control needs currently.
I'll see if I can find it for you. Are the old articles archived on the new site, or do I need to go digging in the old one?
I'm not sure if you're serious? Or was that trolling/sarcasm? I'll assume serious. Wizards themselves said that the format isn't healthy, it's one of the reasons they were removing it from the rotation. Control and Aggro are far too weak for Modern to be considered healthy currently. I believe people are confusing the term "stable" for "healthy". Also, it's important to note, while most healthy formats are stable, not all stable formats are healthy. And I expected them to do SOMETHING, as they themselves stated that the format is also stale. Even just throwing out a bone to the players and unbanning GGT would have been something. Like @FoodChainGoblins said above, it would have at least made a few people happy.
@Pizzap
I can understand this reasoning. I just hope the new standard is varied enough at the top levels to allow for a continued interest in the format. And whenever a new set is released, drafts fire constantly for a month. It's the time after, when the "new set is out" feeling goes away that I am worried about.
And while I'm glad Aaron Forscythe gave his opinion, I'm also glad he doesn't alone decide what is best for the format because 3 of the cards he named could help out the format. I'll also say, let's not forget that the last time Aaron Forscythe named a card that would never be unbanned (Bitterblossom) and the discussion that caused. And then less then 3 months later it was unbanned and...nothing happened in the format. No big shake up. No crazy Tier 0 deck. It was not slotted into B/G/x as many thought it might be. So not discussing cards simply because A.F. has deemed them unsafe would be a mistake, at least in my view.
Finally, on the topic of B/G/x, ktkenshinx is right. More bans would be a mistake for the format, even if B/G/x is once again over represented in the format. That would make 3 bans, trying to depower what amounts to a goodstuff.deck. If other colors had stronger cards, the format would even itself out color wise and B/G/x wouldn't be so played (theoretically). Also, can we please stop arguing over whether card X is not a good idea to unban because it can be slotted into B/G/x? Please? Because here's a news flash: every card in U, W, and R can be slotted in. It's not helping to create a productive discussion.
Edit: Also, Sheepz, they are actively watching B/G cards. The card based around Persephone that was supposed to be in BNG or JIN (I forget offhand) was B/G and was removed due to possible Modern implications. Also, Pharika was changed last second as she was seen as too strong, though if it was in Modern or Standard I don't know.
@TheDasuri: I'm on the opposite side of that opinion. I don't think that the format is balanced at all, and am hoping Khans may have something for Aggro decks and AT LEAST one relevant unban. However, I'd agree that nothing currently needs banned.