MTG Salvation

So there seems to be quite the debate going on here about the competitive viability of Theros block. I’ve found it a fun read. If possible, I’m going to agree with both sides. As it stands now, Theros has very few cards that are seeing competitive play outside of Standard. Personally I feel like Theros will be looked back on as very weak. With that being said, the last set of the block isn’t even out yet, and it seems to be the best of the block, so I wouldn’t be surprised if a few cards from the block start showing up in the near future. I don’t think we’ll see much right away though because I don’t see much that slots into already existing decks (except the Hatebears in sideboards) . The cards from Theros block will most likely need a new build around me deck to shine, if any end up doing so. Anyway, I posted a bunch of stats earlier in this thread about how many cards from each block see play in Modern according to MTGTOP8.com, I’ve gone ahead and added Legacy and EDH to the list. The list shows how many times a block has a card show up in the top 300, and top 100 most played cards in a particular format according to MTGTop8.com. FYI….cards only count for their original printing (eg. Shocks count for OG Rav but not RTR), except for the Modern count, which gives credit to the first Modern set it was printed in (eg. Terminate counts towards Shards for the Modern # but Planeshift for Legacy and EDH). Here are the results Top 300(Top 100):

Mirrodin: Modern: 23(9) Legacy: 22(2) EDH: 13(3) Total: 58(14)
Kamigawa: Modern: 8(3) Legacy: 7(3) EDH: 6(1) Total: 21(7)
Ravnica: Modern: 27(17) Legacy: 12(2) EDH: 19(6) Total: 58(25)
Time Spiral: Modern: 26(5) Legacy: 28(6) EDH: 20(6) Total: 74(17)
Lorwyn: Modern: 28(10) Legacy: 17(6) EDH: 16(6) Total: 61(22)
Shards: Modern: 17(6) Legacy: 9(3) EDH: 6(2) Total: 32(11)
Zendikar: Modern: 29(11) Legacy: 21(11) EDH: 26(13) Total: 76(35)
Scars: Modern: 28(16) Legacy: 20(6) EDH: 19(8) Total: 67(30)
Innistrad: Modern: 19(8) Legacy: 16(9) EDH: 20(4) Total: 55(21)
RTR: Modern: 15(3) Legacy: 10(3) EDH: 8(3) Total: 33(9)
Theros: Modern: 8(2) Legacy: 2(0) EDH: 5(0) Total: 15(2)

This list, while not perfect, clearly shows that, at the very least, Theros has its work cut out for it. I know the block is still new, but I can’t see Theros surpassing even Shards on this list, which shows as relatively weak. A few things I found interesting….cards printed during the Modern timeframe represented 164 of the top 300 for Legacy and 158 of 300 for EDH, this isn’t counting cards that were printed in Core Sets during the Modern timeframe such as the Titans, M10 Checklands, Fauna Shaman, etc, so “Modern” cards represent an even higher percentage of the total. Also, people (myself included) often talk about power level rising steadily since Kamigawa, then falling again starting with Dragon’s Maze, according to these numbers, it was fairly consistent from Ravnica to Scars (except for Shards) and then began to fall off from there. Again, this could be because the cards haven’t been around as long. Anyway, as if this post wasn’t long and dorky enough, I’ve included the graph below to show power level from block to block. The number assigned to each block in the graph is the block’s total top 300 number plus its total top 100 number. I’m calling this number the block’s awesomeness rating. Hopefully someone gets something out of this other than I’ve got too much time on my hands. Here’s the chart:


Edit: The formatting of the results didn't post as I hoped. I don't know how to fix it, hopefully they're discernible as is.
Edit 2: Formatting better?

Quote from DirkGently

Quote from Highlander

Now see you're the second person to say something along those lines and I have to ask...You guys do know that countermand is a word right? Like an actual word with a definition? I.E. "to give an order or instruction that a previous order or instruction should not be followed" or "to recall somebody or something sent somewhere by a previous order". Like, okay, yes, I get that remand and countermand both have 'mand' in them, but they are separate words with separate and unique meanings and are both completely valid names for cards. So if you have a problem with the card express your problem with the card, don't take it out on the poor creative team who probably have a hard enough time finding names for counterspells as it is.

Quote from Yeef

Countermand is actually a word, you know...

Quote from DirkGently

Then it's a stupid actual English word.

Also, how about "Deny"?

Gee, what a tough job. Took me like 3.4 seconds to come up with that one. Stop trying to teach me vocab, WoTC! It's bad enough I had to look up obstinacy.

I realize countermand is an actual English word that applies here, but I still think the name sounds like they jammed Counterspell and Remand together, and therefore I'm not a fan.


Edit: I can't wait until they spoil Countermand's sister spell, "Respell". It could be Redirect with mill 4 stapled on for 2 colorless more.

I'd say this is the best set of the block, but that's not saying much. This block hasn't really had much that's seen play outside of Standard as of yet(not including EDH/tabletop)., and I don't see this set really changing that. Mana Confluence is the only thing I can see that will definitely be played outside of Standard I recently went through the top 300 cards in Modern and counted up how many times a card from each block appears. I realize Modern does not represent all of Magic (or even much for that matter), but I think the results are a good indication of the power level of the block, not to mention interesting for their own sake (at least I think so ). FYI...Cards that have been reprinted multiple times within the Modern timeframe are credited to their block of origin only (ie. Shocklands count towards Ravnica but not RTR block), older cards that were reprinted during the Modern timeframe count towards the 1st Modern block they appeared in (ie. Terminate counts towards Shards). The results are from MTG Top8.com. Here's the top 300 with top 100 appearances in parentheses:
Top 300 (Top 100)
Core Set: 31 (10)
Mirrodin: 23 (9)
Kamigawa: 8 (3)
Ravnica: 27 (17)
Time Spiral: 26 (5)
Lorwyn: 28 (10)
Shards: 17 (6)
Zendikar: 29 (11)
Scars: 28 (16)
Innistrad: 19 (8)
RTR: 15 (3)
Theros: 8 (2)

I realize the last set of the block isn't even out yet, and cards from Theros may become more powerful years from now when the meta has changed, but so far it has numbers comparable to Kamigawa as far as Modern is concerned, and that's not even taking into consideration the fact that the most powerful cards in Kamigawa are all banned in Modern. I'm not trying to complain here, the block was fun and all, I'm just trying to look at it from a competitive power level perspective.

So no new Ajani yet, but I definitely sense his presence.

Quote from Bolas, the Mindsculptor

Having seen the absurd price increase, especially after PT BNG, Wizards would have to print the Zen fetches before the ONS ones. Also, keep in mind that fetchlands increase sets off a domino effect. Many other Modern staples are affected as well. Goyf, was a $100 card before MM. Now it's almost $200. The print run also has to increase. There're way too many hoarders than real Modern/Magic players.

I could see another epidemic in Magic if nothing is being done. And it has to be done really quickly and efficiently.

I agree with everything you're saying here. As someone that doesn't have the cards to play Legacy, and has decided Standard is a money sink that I want nothing to do with, I was extremely disappointed by Modern Masters. I would love to be able to get into competitive Modern, and was hoping MM would allow me to obtain some of the cards I need, but unfortunately it just ended up pushing many of them even farther out of reach, which in turn makes me even less likely to ever truly get into Modern. It would seem Wizard's doesn't really want more people getting into Modern, as I'm sure I'm not the only person that feels this way. I know Magic is more popular than ever right now, which is part of the reason for the soaring prices, but I know a lot of people that, like myself, got into Magic around the Shards/Zendikar timeframe and many of these people are now starting to realize Magic may be a little too rich for their blood. It's seems like Wizard's would want to do something to keep this recent burst of players from leaving the game. Personally, I think they should punish LGS for jacking up the prices on recently released sealed product like MM and Commander, although that would probably just lead to the stores opening all the product to sell as singles, which goes back to the astronomical prices of singles. The funny thing is, Wizard's doesn't even see any of the profits from singles or jacked up sealed product, so I just can't see why they wouldn't want cards like Goyf and Bob to be more accessible to the people that want them.

Tromokratis's flavor text should have been.... "YES! All creatures!"

Votes: Scarbo, Black Megatog

Peer Pressure 3RR
Instant
Convoke
Gain control of target creature until end of turn. Untap that creature and it gains haste until end of turn.
"Sure you don't wanna join? Everybodies doing it."

Pardic Everburner -- 4RR
Creature -- Dragon
Flying
If Pardic Everburner is in a graveyard, effects from spells named Flame Burst count it as three cards named Flame Burst.
3R, T: Search your library for a card named Flame Burst, reveal it, and put it in your hand, then shuffle your library.
5/5

Comment Hidden

I don't think I'll regret getting a playset of these for $20.

The decision to move the core set away from Dominaria and instead be a collection of cards that, from a flavor perspective are from several of the planes from our recent memory, is paying off bigtime for me. /thumbsup

Downpour.

Its too hard if I have to DL a Sporcle app first.

How do they get the meat in a ravioli?

This set makes my head hurt. I think I'll just buy the cool single cards.

I live about 10 minutes from 2 different Walmarts and on my way to work I stopped at one and they had tons of all except Mind Seize which is what I wanted. Most likely one guy bought them all I guess.

After work went to the other and they had plenty of all the decks so I picked up a Mind Seize and Jund at 30 each. Had to try pretty hard to resist the urge to buy out the Mind Seizes since it seems to easy to make money off them but I didnt want to be that guy who ruins it for someone who actually wants the deck.