You're still mixing up the concepts of a fair card and a fair deck. Words mean things, and the phrase "fair deck" means what the community that uses it says it means. There are plenty of fair decks in Legacy, and several are among the best decks in the format. Your definition of "fair deck" is simply incorrect.
The reason Burn can beat fair blue (and non-blue) decks is because they're playing for a grindy long game while durdling around with stuff like Ponder, while Burn is faster, punishes their manabase to the tune of 8 damage, and blanks some of their key pieces such as Wasteland and other kinds of removal because we are so creature light. Force of Will is a necessary evil to protect against combo, but it's quite bad when it's costing you 2 cards and 1 life to counter a Lightning Bolt.
Someone has published an article investigating the London Mulligan and Burn is one of the decks they looked at. According to their results, Burn gains about 1% more keepable hands with the London Mulligan, which is consistent with Burn being a "critical mass deck" rather than a "key card deck".
I really hope that WotC has some internal data similar to this from MTGO and they don't institute the London Mulligan. I don't like how disproportionately it affects decks, and I especially don't want existing decks banned that are reasonable under the current rules solely because they are unreasonable under the new rules.
Burn is still a viable deck in Legacy because of its matchups against aforementioned fair decks. Specifically: the more Force of Will is being played in your field, the better off Burn probably is.
This is a very accurate statement. Burn's viability depends on both dodging combo and having blue decks around it fighting the combo decks. Burn is a good deck, but I've found that when a local meta is full of people playing stuff like Oops All Spells, Belcher, and Reanimator and there are no fair blue decks to serve as a check on that, you're just donating your entry fee by playing Burn. You'll never cast 7 or 8 mana of Burn spells before Oops All Spells flips their deck over.
"if they waste removal on it then they have less removal" isn't where Burn wants to be, though. You want that removal to either be dead in their hands or too late because you've already dealt damage with your creature. I think it's just too slow to matter, and it requires you to go through the red-zone against potentially larger creatures in order to do anything (Grim Lavamancer doesn't). I think it would be in the Grim Lavamancer slot if Grim Lavamancer didn't exist, but Grim does. If it were a 1/2 that cost R, it might be ok, but 2CMC is too much for a card that does nothing the turn it comes down.
I don't think that would be a good idea. Burn can't mulligan aggressively, because you run out of threat density in your hand and you have no good way to recover by drawing cards.
I thought I clearly expressed precisely why FoW doesn't make a deck "unfair". FoW isn't a win condition. Tarmogoyf is a win condition. "Fair" doesn't mean that a deck pays exactly the cost in the top left of a bunch of copies of Gray Ogre and turns them sideways to win. I've explained this, and I encourage you to try reading it again before being unnecessarily sarcastic.
Pretty much everyone else who plays the format recognizes that there are fair decks and that there's even an entire class of decks called "fair blue decks". You can claim everyone else is wrong if you wish, but that's not reality.
You're definitely incorrect that there are zero fair decks in Legacy.
Brian Braun-Duin clearly took crazy pills when he wrote this article and says things like this (as well as the phrase "fair blue decks"):
The power of Grixis Delver, as was the case previously, lies entirely in its threat base. Grixis can be a real pain for other fair decks to compete with, because the combination of Delver, Young Pyromancer, Bitterblossom, True-Name Nemesis, and Gurmag Angler represent cards that are all potent threats on their own and also require greatly different cards to answer them.
Not only is Grixis Delver a "fair deck", but that statement quite clearly implies that others also exist.
The people in this Reddit thread must be out of their minds, too. What mad-man would say that Maverick, Dead Guy Ale, Jund, Junk, Bant, BUG, Shardless (loved playing against that one, bummer it's gone), Goblins, and Grixis are "fair decks"? Answer: someone who knows what they're talking about.
"Fair" means that the deck wins by turning creatures sideways after more-or-less paying a normal rate for them (Gurmag Angler doesn't invalidate this), though Burn directly converting mana to damage in Burn spells makes Burn a fair deck as well (and Fireblast doesn't invalidate that). That means the deck doesn't win through comboing off and they don't do things like cheat in a 15/15 with Sneak/Show or reanimate a fatty on turn 1. Playing Force of Will doesn't make a deck unfair. Last I checked, the only situation in which Force of Will "wins" a game is when you cast it with it's alternate cost at 1 life and lose the game for it.
When someone talks about a "fair deck", they're characterizing the win condition in the deck. I think the issue is that I'm defining "fair deck" the way everyone else defines "fair deck" and you're using some definition that no one else uses. That more or less means that you're arguing from an incorrect position and are just flat out wrong. There are fair decks in Legacy, quite a few, in fact. When you claim there are none, it's correct to question your experience with the format because no one who has any experience with Legacy could say "Fair decks are not played in Legacy." with a straight face.
A fair deck is one that generally wins by paying mana for (rather than cheating with something like Sneak Attack) and then turning creatures sideways. There are a number of those decks. Many of them play blue, and thus play Force of Will, because they have to protect themselves from getting trucked on turn 1 by a fast combo deck.
"Fair blue decks" are a thing, they play Force, and that's the kind of deck Burn wants to play against. "Tarmogoyf decks" are what you want to play against, though it's been supplanted by Gurmag Angler.
Maybe you haven't played enough Legacy to recognize that there are a number of fair decks? That's the only reasonable explanation I can think of for the claim you're making right now. If you genuinely believe that Legacy has zero fair decks and that it's therefore completely built of fast combo decks, what are you doing playing Burn? You're just donating your entry fee. Burn cannot do well without the fair decks to prey on.
So D&T, Grixis Control, Grixis Delver, Miracles, Maverick, UB Shadow, BUG, etc. don't exist? Weird. I wonder why they're listed as Legacy decks on mtggoldfish, then.
Legacy Burn folds pretty hard to combo. Burn can't win without paying quite a bit of mana or getting a lot of help from self damage. It's just not possible to cast 7 or 8 mana worth of cards to win on turn 2 in Burn. Storm could combo off well before that. Reanimator could put something into play well before that. Dredge could have lethal in play. That's just reality. What Burn can beat are the fair decks that are spending their time playing Ponder and Preordain and Baleful Strix. You want to play against a Force of Will deck that has 4 non-basics in play.
Sideboarding Karakas to bounce Iona isn't unheard of, but Reanimator could also go for Tidespout Tyrant and wreck you anyway. It's a bad matchup. Sometimes you just have to accept it, and in Burn's case that means accepting that fast combo wrecks you. Burn preys on fair decks.
My apologies for assuming you were on Boros. Adding Bump doesn't change much of anything for this card. I'd genuinely prefer Exquisite Firecraft, but in reality you'd have to shave some good cards in order to make room for it and there's nothing in a RB or RW Burn list that I'd want to cut in order to play this.
The problem is that we don't have a good ratio of sorceries and instants. We play exactly 1 instant and exactly 1 sorcery that satisfy this for x=1. At x=2, we open up the instants but we still only have 1 sorcery, but I don't want to be casting jack for 4 mana. Only at x=3 do you open up more sorceries, and I definitely don't want to be casting it for 5. Frankly, I think this is on par with (and equally as unplayable as) Thunderous Wrath.
Before someone brings up Shard Volley, you can't play this on T3 after playing a Shard Volley and therefore need 4 lands. You're also going to lose one of them when you re-cast Shard Volley because you have to pay mandatory additional costs even when you cast something "without paying its mana cost".
It's extremely situational and looks unplayable. Unless you have at least 1 Bolt and at least 1 Spike in your graveyard, it's a 3 mana Lightning Bolt and you'd be better off with Exquisite Firecraft. We like to say we have "16 Bolts", but we don't. Skewer and Rift would take 5 mana here. Skullcrack+Spike would take 4. The T3 win aspect isn't that exciting. If your opponent hasn't played a blocker or killed Swiftspear by T3, you probably aren't going to lose the game anyway. Burn already has a way to get 6 damage for 3 mana out of spent Burn spells: Grim Lavamancer.
It's a cool card and it might have a home in Modern casting things like Living End, but it's not a Burn card.
March 2019 opposing hate analysis
The following is a lot of data that's tough to digest, but it might be helpful to you to know what kind of lifegain to expect at various times, what counterspells people are playing, and what discard spells people are playing. This analysis comes from MTGGoldfish data with some cleaning procedure applied to it to try to clean up any bad deck names. I then go through these deck lists and find instances of "counter target", "lifelink", and "gain N life"/"gains N life" in the card text. On top of that, I search for Leyline of Sanctity, Oketra's Last Mercy, Chalice of the Void, Phyrexian Unlife, and Spellskite. The deck population is 1170 decks. Cards that show up less than 0.5% of the time are not printed, and I've also removed some cards that don't affect us like Disdainful Stroke and Ceremonious Rejection. Per card splits: Go here if you want to find a list of what decks play specific cards.
1.000 0.319 0.04017 WU Control
1.250 0.003 0.00427 Other
1.000 0.064 0.04017 WU Control
4.000 0.003 0.00342 Other
3.421 1.000 0.04872 Humans
2.500 0.400 0.00855 Azorius Spirits
2.000 0.045 0.01880 Eldrazi and Taxes
1.000 0.077 0.01111 Vizier Company
2.000 0.043 0.01966 Goodstuff 3c
1.500 0.002 0.00171 Other
1.000 0.660 0.04017 WU Control
1.000 0.600 0.00855 WUR Control
1.000 0.571 0.00598 Jeskai
1.333 0.003 0.00427 Other
1.000 0.500 0.00513 Eldrazi Tron
1.000 0.048 0.01795 Eldrazi Aggro
1.000 0.333 0.00513 Eldrazi Tron
1.000 0.043 0.01966 Hardened Scales
1.000 0.043 0.04017 WU Control
1.333 0.003 0.00256 Other
1.333 0.130 0.01966 Goodstuff 3c
2.000 0.091 0.01880 Eldrazi and Taxes
1.000 0.200 0.00855 Azorius Spirits
1.000 0.286 0.00598 Jeskai
2.000 0.048 0.01795 Eldrazi Aggro
1.000 0.021 0.04017 WU Control
1.333 0.005 0.00684 Other
1.000 0.002 0.00171 Other
1.600 0.227 0.01880 Eldrazi and Taxes
1.333 0.231 0.01111 Vizier Company
1.923 0.011 0.01538 Other
4.000 0.667 0.01795 Eldrazi Aggro
4.000 1.000 0.01197 Four-Color Prison
4.000 0.545 0.01880 Eldrazi and Taxes
4.000 0.571 0.01197 Whir Prison
1.875 0.800 0.00855 Mono U Tron
3.667 1.000 0.00513 Eldrazi Tron
4.000 1.000 0.00513 Free-Win Red
1.000 0.190 0.01795 Living End
4.000 0.231 0.01111 Vizier Company
4.000 0.059 0.01453 Merfolk
4.000 0.027 0.03162 Affinity
4.000 0.013 0.01368 Other
2.000 0.800 0.00855 Mono U Tron
2.250 0.140 0.04872 Humans
2.429 0.333 0.01795 Living End
1.000 0.273 0.01880 RG Titanshift
3.600 0.294 0.01453 Merfolk
2.800 0.500 0.00855 Azorius Spirits
2.500 0.571 0.00598 Grishoalbrand
1.000 0.286 0.01197 Whir Prison
1.000 0.333 0.00513 Eldrazi Tron
2.000 0.020 0.04188 G Tron
1.000 0.143 0.00598 UBG Control
1.000 0.027 0.03162 Affinity
1.857 0.006 0.01026 Other
1.542 0.615 0.03333 BGx Midrange
1.571 0.700 0.00855 Mardu Pyromancer
1.500 0.429 0.01197 Whir Prison
1.400 0.714 0.00598 Grishoalbrand
1.600 0.625 0.00684 Abzan
1.750 0.571 0.00598 Lantern Control
2.000 0.667 0.00513 Mill
2.000 0.043 0.03932 Izzet Phoenix
1.000 0.048 0.01795 Eldrazi Aggro
1.000 0.048 0.01795 Jund
1.000 0.067 0.01282 Hollow One
1.889 0.015 0.02479 Other
1.789 0.974 0.03333 BGx Midrange
1.722 0.837 0.03675 UBR Death's Shadow
2.000 0.857 0.01795 Jund
2.188 0.941 0.01453 WBRG Death's Shadow
1.000 0.200 0.05556 Dredge
1.400 0.333 0.01282 Hollow One
1.500 0.571 0.00598 Grishoalbrand
1.250 0.667 0.00513 Mill
3.000 0.190 0.01795 Living End
1.250 0.500 0.00684 Abzan
2.000 0.058 0.04444 Burn
1.000 0.143 0.01795 Eldrazi Aggro
1.963 0.023 0.03419 Other
4.000 1.000 0.00855 Mono U Tron
1.000 0.001 0.00342 Other
2.000 0.023 0.03675 UBR Death's Shadow
1.375 0.007 0.01111 Other
1.900 0.455 0.01880 RG Titanshift
1.000 0.154 0.01111 Vizier Company
2.000 0.027 0.03162 Amulet Titan
1.429 0.006 0.00940 Other
1.000 0.027 0.03162 Amulet Titan
1.000 0.003 0.00684 Other
4.000 0.985 0.05556 Dredge
1.600 0.833 0.00513 Mill
1.000 1.000 0.00513 Mill
1.000 0.143 0.00598 UBG Control
3.170 1.000 0.04017 WU Control
4.000 1.000 0.00940 UR Control
3.400 1.000 0.00855 WUR Control
3.111 0.429 0.01795 Living End
3.571 1.000 0.00598 Jeskai
4.000 0.857 0.00598 UBG Control
2.333 0.176 0.01453 Merfolk
3.435 0.020 0.02137 Other
4.000 1.000 0.00940 Bogles
4.000 0.706 0.01453 Merfolk
1.250 0.093 0.03675 UBR Death's Shadow
4.000 0.059 0.01453 Merfolk
1.000 0.001 0.00427 Other
1.596 1.000 0.04017 WU Control
1.571 0.857 0.04188 UR Ascension
1.273 0.717 0.03932 Izzet Phoenix
1.500 0.947 0.01624 URG Ascension
2.000 1.000 0.00940 UR Control
1.600 1.000 0.00855 WUR Control
2.500 0.800 0.00855 Restore Balance
1.333 0.857 0.00598 UBG Control
2.000 0.857 0.00598 Jeskai
1.000 0.625 0.00684 UG Infect
1.000 0.231 0.01111 UR Gifts Storm
1.000 0.300 0.00855 Mono U Tron
1.500 0.333 0.00513 Mill
1.000 0.054 0.03162 Amulet Titan
1.000 0.059 0.01453 Merfolk
1.000 0.048 0.01795 Living End
1.500 0.027 0.03761 Other
1.871 0.633 0.04188 UR Ascension
2.080 0.543 0.03932 Izzet Phoenix
2.917 0.667 0.01538 Mono-Red Phoenix
1.714 0.368 0.01624 URG Ascension
2.500 0.190 0.01795 Living End
2.000 0.058 0.04444 Burn
2.000 0.182 0.00940 UR Control
3.000 0.167 0.00513 Free-Win Red
1.000 0.167 0.00513 Mill
2.917 0.010 0.01197 Other
2.000 0.167 0.00513 Mill
1.067 0.882 0.01453 WBRG Death's Shadow
1.000 0.128 0.03333 BGx Midrange
1.000 0.047 0.03675 UBR Death's Shadow
2.125 0.007 0.01453 Other
4.000 1.000 0.00598 Grishoalbrand
4.000 0.048 0.01795 Living End
4.000 0.003 0.00256 Other
1.000 0.003 0.00342 Other
1.000 0.238 0.01795 Jund
1.000 0.001 0.00085 Other
2.000 1.000 0.03675 UBR Death's Shadow
3.692 1.000 0.03333 BGx Midrange
3.714 1.000 0.01795 Jund
3.600 1.000 0.00855 Mardu Pyromancer
3.375 1.000 0.00684 Abzan
3.000 1.000 0.00598 Lantern Control
3.667 0.143 0.01795 Eldrazi Aggro
2.667 0.500 0.00513 Mill
3.000 0.143 0.00598 UBG Control
3.273 0.028 0.03077 Other
1.125 0.941 0.01453 WBRG Death's Shadow
2.000 0.015 0.05556 Dredge
2.000 0.048 0.01795 Living End
1.667 0.003 0.00427 Other
1.000 1.000 0.01197 Whir Prison
1.000 1.000 0.01197 Four-Color Prison
2.000 1.000 0.00598 Lantern Control
1.600 0.004 0.00427 Other
1.000 0.326 0.03932 Izzet Phoenix
2.333 0.429 0.01795 Living End
1.000 0.184 0.04188 UR Ascension
1.000 0.211 0.01624 URG Ascension
1.000 0.182 0.00940 UR Control
1.500 0.005 0.00769 Other
1.059 0.919 0.03162 Amulet Titan
1.000 0.001 0.00085 Other
1.000 0.054 0.03162 Amulet Titan
1.657 0.897 0.03333 BGx Midrange
1.000 0.333 0.01795 Jund
1.667 0.375 0.00684 Abzan
1.000 0.143 0.00598 UBG Control
1.600 0.009 0.01624 Other
1.000 0.205 0.03333 BGx Midrange
2.000 0.095 0.01795 Eldrazi Aggro
1.000 0.250 0.00684 Abzan
1.000 0.048 0.01795 Jund
1.400 0.004 0.00769 Other
1.208 0.421 0.04872 Humans
1.750 0.364 0.01880 Eldrazi and Taxes
2.125 0.800 0.00855 Mardu Pyromancer
1.000 0.077 0.01111 Vizier Company
1.000 0.125 0.00684 Abzan
2.000 0.071 0.01197 Whir Prison
1.600 0.009 0.00940 Other
1.833 0.273 0.01880 Eldrazi and Taxes
1.500 0.500 0.00684 Abzan
1.000 0.429 0.00598 Lantern Control
1.000 0.100 0.00855 Mardu Pyromancer
1.714 0.006 0.01282 Other
1.000 0.286 0.00598 Lantern Control
1.000 0.045 0.01880 Eldrazi and Taxes
2.000 0.100 0.00855 Mardu Pyromancer
2.000 0.059 0.01453 WBRG Death's Shadow
1.000 0.125 0.00684 Abzan
1.000 0.003 0.00684 Other
3.667 0.692 0.01111 Vizier Company
2.000 0.045 0.01880 Eldrazi and Taxes
1.800 0.004 0.00427 Other
1.222 0.462 0.03333 BGx Midrange
1.375 0.381 0.01795 Jund
1.250 0.500 0.00684 Abzan
2.000 0.167 0.00513 Elves
1.400 0.004 0.00769 Other
3.386 1.000 0.04872 Humans
1.000 0.018 0.04872 Humans
1.000 0.154 0.01111 Vizier Company
1.571 0.012 0.01368 Other
2.044 0.789 0.04872 Humans
2.130 1.000 0.01966 Goodstuff 3c
2.182 0.846 0.01111 Vizier Company
1.667 0.375 0.00684 Abzan
2.500 0.095 0.01795 Eldrazi Aggro
2.000 0.045 0.01880 Eldrazi and Taxes
1.900 0.017 0.02051 Other
1.000 0.002 0.00171 Other
2.250 0.308 0.04444 Burn
2.000 0.045 0.01880 Eldrazi and Taxes
1.000 0.077 0.01111 Vizier Company
3.000 0.100 0.00855 Azorius Spirits
2.000 0.143 0.00598 Jeskai
1.429 0.006 0.01368 Other
4.000 0.364 0.00940 Bogles
3.000 0.001 0.00085 Other
4.000 0.917 0.02051 Ad Nauseam
3.429 1.000 0.00598 Lantern Control
4.000 0.636 0.00940 Bogles
3.600 0.714 0.00598 Grishoalbrand
3.400 0.556 0.00769 Martyr Proc
2.667 0.064 0.04017 WU Control
1.000 0.065 0.03932 Izzet Phoenix
3.000 0.167 0.01538 Mono-Red Phoenix
4.000 0.020 0.04188 G Tron
2.000 0.045 0.01880 Eldrazi and Taxes
1.000 0.077 0.01111 Vizier Company
1.000 0.053 0.01624 URG Ascension
4.000 0.048 0.01795 Living End
4.000 0.100 0.00855 Restore Balance
3.556 0.008 0.01111 Other
1.500 0.857 0.00598 UBG Control
3.000 0.087 0.03932 Izzet Phoenix
2.000 0.158 0.01624 URG Ascension
2.000 0.143 0.01795 Jund
1.000 0.045 0.01880 RG Titanshift
2.000 0.026 0.03333 BGx Midrange
2.000 0.002 0.00598 Other
3.255 0.904 0.04444 Burn
3.900 1.000 0.00855 WUR Control
3.143 1.000 0.00598 Jeskai
1.833 0.600 0.00855 Mardu Pyromancer
1.000 0.100 0.00855 Restore Balance
3.500 0.007 0.00684 Other
1.000 0.038 0.04444 Burn
1.000 0.001 0.00171 Other
1.457 0.745 0.04017 WU Control
2.889 0.900 0.00855 WUR Control
1.000 0.727 0.00940 UR Control
2.286 1.000 0.00598 Jeskai
1.000 0.286 0.00598 UBG Control
1.818 0.009 0.01197 Other
1.028 0.766 0.04017 WU Control
1.000 0.600 0.00855 WUR Control
1.000 0.714 0.00598 Jeskai
1.000 0.091 0.01880 Eldrazi and Taxes
1.200 0.004 0.00513 Other
1.241 0.617 0.04017 WU Control
1.667 0.300 0.00855 WUR Control
1.000 0.429 0.00598 Jeskai
2.000 0.059 0.01453 Merfolk
2.167 0.005 0.00598 Other
2.000 0.059 0.01453 Merfolk
4.000 1.000 0.01966 Goodstuff 3c
4.000 1.000 0.00855 Azorius Spirits
4.000 0.003 0.00427 Other
4.000 0.015 0.05556 Dredge
3.873 0.969 0.05556 Dredge
3.286 1.000 0.04188 G Tron
3.826 1.000 0.01966 Hardened Scales
2.857 1.000 0.01197 WG Tron
3.778 0.243 0.03162 Affinity
1.750 1.000 0.00684 UG Infect
1.750 0.182 0.01880 RG Titanshift
1.000 0.081 0.03162 Amulet Titan
1.000 0.286 0.00598 Lantern Control
2.000 0.143 0.00598 UBG Control
2.500 0.010 0.01111 Other
1.553 1.000 0.04017 WU Control
1.000 0.714 0.00598 Jeskai
1.000 0.400 0.00855 WUR Control
1.000 0.286 0.00598 UBG Control
1.000 0.091 0.00940 UR Control
1.000 0.003 0.00256 Other
1.306 0.766 0.04017 WU Control
2.152 0.892 0.03162 Amulet Titan
2.000 0.381 0.01795 Living End
1.625 0.727 0.00940 UR Control
1.286 0.700 0.00855 WUR Control
1.500 0.857 0.00598 Jeskai
1.200 0.109 0.03932 Izzet Phoenix
1.600 0.217 0.01966 Goodstuff 3c
1.000 0.429 0.00598 UBG Control
1.000 0.300 0.00855 Mono U Tron
1.000 0.154 0.01111 UR Gifts Storm
1.000 0.143 0.01197 Whir Prison
1.000 0.167 0.00513 Mill
2.000 0.059 0.01453 Merfolk
2.000 0.100 0.00855 Restore Balance
1.000 0.020 0.04188 UR Ascension
2.000 0.100 0.00855 Azorius Spirits
1.581 0.026 0.03932 Other
1.000 0.190 0.01795 Living End
2.000 0.100 0.00855 Mono U Tron
2.000 0.001 0.00171 Other
1.000 0.143 0.00598 UBG Control
1.000 0.100 0.00855 Mono U Tron
2.000 0.045 0.01880 RG Titanshift
2.000 0.001 0.00085 Other
2.409 1.000 0.01880 RG Titanshift
1.000 0.270 0.03162 Amulet Titan
2.000 0.048 0.01795 Living End
2.000 0.009 0.01197 Other
1.143 0.298 0.04017 WU Control
2.000 0.045 0.01880 Eldrazi and Taxes
1.000 0.021 0.04017 WU Control
1.054 1.000 0.03162 Amulet Titan
2.792 1.000 0.02051 Ad Nauseam
1.000 0.001 0.00085 Other
1.150 0.833 0.02051 Ad Nauseam
2.286 1.000 0.00598 Grishoalbrand
1.000 0.108 0.03162 Amulet Titan
1.000 0.652 0.01966 Hardened Scales
1.000 0.108 0.03162 Affinity
1.000 0.002 0.00256 Other
3.917 1.000 0.02051 Ad Nauseam
1.000 0.162 0.03162 Amulet Titan
3.500 0.007 0.00684 Other
1.500 0.054 0.03162 Amulet Titan
1.000 0.857 0.00598 UBG Control
1.000 0.143 0.00598 UBG Control
1.000 0.001 0.00085 Other
1.000 0.108 0.03162 Amulet Titan
3.000 0.167 0.00513 Free-Win Red
1.000 0.054 0.03162 Amulet Titan
1.000 0.001 0.00085 Other
3.455 1.000 0.00940 UR Control
3.200 1.000 0.00855 Mono U Tron
1.778 0.692 0.01111 UR Gifts Storm
3.000 0.900 0.00855 Restore Balance
3.429 0.333 0.01795 Living End
3.500 0.857 0.00598 UBG Control
1.500 0.085 0.04017 WU Control
1.000 0.100 0.00855 WUR Control
3.000 0.053 0.01624 URG Ascension
3.000 0.059 0.01453 Merfolk
1.000 0.022 0.03932 Izzet Phoenix
2.000 0.020 0.04188 UR Ascension
2.900 0.017 0.01966 Other
1.000 0.700 0.00855 Restore Balance
2.000 0.020 0.04188 UR Ascension
3.128 1.000 0.03333 BGx Midrange
2.762 1.000 0.01795 Jund
1.000 0.692 0.01111 Vizier Company
2.250 1.000 0.00684 Abzan
2.000 0.667 0.00513 Elves
3.000 0.095 0.01795 Eldrazi Aggro
1.000 0.167 0.00513 Eldrazi Tron
2.355 0.026 0.03077 Other
1.500 0.769 0.01111 Vizier Company
4.000 0.167 0.00513 Elves
1.667 0.010 0.01197 Other
4.000 1.000 0.00769 Martyr Proc
1.000 0.001 0.00085 Other
1.250 0.615 0.01111 Vizier Company
1.000 0.045 0.01880 Eldrazi and Taxes
1.000 0.003 0.00427 Other
1.000 0.045 0.01880 Eldrazi and Taxes
1.000 0.003 0.00513 Other
2.750 0.364 0.01880 Eldrazi and Taxes
2.375 1.000 0.00684 Abzan
3.000 0.048 0.01795 Eldrazi Aggro
2.357 0.012 0.01538 Other
1.733 0.526 0.04872 Humans
2.111 0.692 0.01111 Vizier Company
2.667 0.005 0.00513 Other
1.000 0.100 0.00855 Mardu Pyromancer
1.000 0.125 0.00684 Abzan
2.000 0.412 0.01453 Merfolk
2.000 0.087 0.03932 Izzet Phoenix
1.667 0.375 0.00684 UG Infect
1.000 0.043 0.04017 WU Control
1.000 0.100 0.00855 Restore Balance
2.000 0.143 0.00598 Jeskai
1.875 0.007 0.01026 Other
1.792 0.980 0.04188 UR Ascension
1.737 0.826 0.03932 Izzet Phoenix
2.000 0.947 0.01624 URG Ascension
2.000 0.405 0.03162 Affinity
1.333 0.405 0.03162 Amulet Titan
1.857 0.875 0.00684 UG Infect
1.000 0.128 0.04017 WU Control
1.000 0.385 0.01111 UR Gifts Storm
1.000 0.333 0.00513 Mill
1.000 0.118 0.01453 Merfolk
1.000 0.200 0.00855 Mono U Tron
1.500 0.200 0.00855 Restore Balance
3.000 0.100 0.00855 Azorius Spirits
1.667 0.008 0.01282 Other
1.030 0.702 0.04017 WU Control
1.818 1.000 0.00940 UR Control
2.200 0.500 0.00855 WUR Control
1.000 0.286 0.00598 UBG Control
1.000 0.286 0.00598 Jeskai
1.533 0.013 0.01624 Other
2.000 0.053 0.01624 URG Ascension
1.000 0.100 0.00855 Mono U Tron
1.000 0.091 0.00940 UR Control
1.000 0.002 0.00427 Other
1.143 0.875 0.00684 UG Infect
1.000 0.500 0.01197 Whir Prison
1.000 0.108 0.03162 Affinity
1.000 0.130 0.01966 Hardened Scales
1.000 0.077 0.01111 Vizier Company
1.250 0.007 0.00855 Other
1.556 0.783 0.01966 Hardened Scales
4.000 1.000 0.01197 Four-Color Prison
2.667 0.857 0.01197 Whir Prison
1.400 0.270 0.03162 Affinity
1.167 0.750 0.00684 UG Infect
1.000 0.714 0.00598 Lantern Control
1.000 0.041 0.04188 G Tron
1.000 0.333 0.00513 Free-Win Red
1.000 0.143 0.01197 WG Tron
1.000 0.167 0.00513 Eldrazi Tron
2.000 0.045 0.01880 RG Titanshift
1.000 0.077 0.01111 Vizier Company
1.000 0.111 0.00769 Martyr Proc
1.000 0.009 0.01368 Other
3.571 0.006 0.00598 Other
3.690 0.977 0.03675 UBR Death's Shadow
3.200 0.004 0.00427 Other
1.083 0.279 0.03675 UBR Death's Shadow
2.000 0.135 0.03162 Affinity
4.000 0.095 0.01795 Eldrazi Aggro
1.000 0.003 0.00342 Other
1.000 0.003 0.00342 Other
1.000 0.286 0.01197 Whir Prison
1.000 0.083 0.02051 Ad Nauseam
1.500 0.054 0.03162 Amulet Titan
1.000 0.143 0.00598 UBG Control
2.000 0.048 0.01795 Living End
2.000 0.100 0.00855 Restore Balance
1.167 0.005 0.00513 Other
3.857 0.500 0.01197 Whir Prison
1.000 0.143 0.01197 Four-Color Prison
1.000 0.143 0.00598 UBG Control
4.000 0.003 0.00342 Other
3.909 1.000 0.01880 Eldrazi and Taxes
4.000 1.000 0.01795 Eldrazi Aggro
4.000 1.000 0.00513 Eldrazi Tron
2.000 0.100 0.00855 Mono U Tron
3.000 0.071 0.01197 WG Tron
4.000 0.004 0.00427 Other
2.733 0.918 0.04188 G Tron
2.700 0.714 0.01197 WG Tron
1.000 0.100 0.00855 Mono U Tron
3.000 0.002 0.00256 Other
4.000 1.000 0.03675 UBR Death's Shadow
2.487 1.000 0.03333 BGx Midrange
2.286 1.000 0.01795 Jund
3.941 1.000 0.01453 WBRG Death's Shadow
3.000 1.000 0.00855 Mardu Pyromancer
2.625 1.000 0.00684 Abzan
2.286 1.000 0.00598 Lantern Control
2.333 0.143 0.01795 Eldrazi Aggro
1.000 0.500 0.00513 Mill
2.903 0.026 0.03162 Other
2.000 0.917 0.02051 Ad Nauseam
2.857 0.933 0.01282 Hollow One
1.833 0.162 0.03162 Affinity
2.500 0.062 0.05556 Dredge
1.750 0.190 0.01795 Jund
1.000 0.300 0.00855 Mardu Pyromancer
1.000 0.250 0.00684 Abzan
4.000 0.019 0.04444 Burn
2.000 0.143 0.00598 UBG Control
2.000 0.027 0.03162 Amulet Titan
1.900 0.009 0.01282 Other
1.000 0.061 0.04188 G Tron
1.667 0.214 0.01197 WG Tron
1.500 0.002 0.00256 Other
3.065 0.939 0.04188 G Tron
2.692 0.929 0.01197 WG Tron
1.000 0.135 0.03162 Amulet Titan
2.333 0.143 0.01795 Living End
1.000 0.051 0.03333 BGx Midrange
2.000 0.045 0.01880 RG Titanshift
1.800 0.004 0.00427 Other
4.000 0.364 0.01880 Eldrazi and Taxes
4.000 0.143 0.01795 Eldrazi Aggro
4.000 0.006 0.00855 Other
1.500 0.154 0.01111 Vizier Company
1.103 0.830 0.04017 WU Control
1.000 0.400 0.00855 WUR Control
1.000 0.002 0.00256 Other
1.200 0.745 0.04017 WU Control
1.000 0.286 0.00598 Jeskai
1.000 0.100 0.00855 WUR Control
1.000 0.100 0.00855 Restore Balance
1.000 0.027 0.03162 Amulet Titan
2.000 0.071 0.01197 WG Tron
1.571 0.006 0.00684 Other
2.000 1.000 0.04188 G Tron
2.000 1.000 0.01197 WG Tron
1.400 1.000 0.00855 Mono U Tron
1.000 0.500 0.00513 Eldrazi Tron
1.333 0.003 0.00256 Other
1.000 0.500 0.00513 Eldrazi Tron
1.684 0.826 0.01966 Goodstuff 3c
3.000 0.200 0.00855 Azorius Spirits
2.250 0.003 0.00427 Other
3.893 0.757 0.03162 Affinity
1.000 0.048 0.01795 Eldrazi Aggro
1.000 0.045 0.01880 Eldrazi and Taxes
1.000 0.077 0.01111 Vizier Company
1.000 0.125 0.00684 Abzan
1.000 0.006 0.00598 Other
1.333 0.273 0.01880 Eldrazi and Taxes
1.333 0.143 0.01795 Eldrazi Aggro
2.000 0.167 0.00513 Eldrazi Tron
1.000 0.100 0.00855 Mono U Tron
1.000 0.001 0.00085 Other
1.467 0.306 0.04188 G Tron
2.167 1.000 0.00513 Eldrazi Tron
1.667 0.286 0.01795 Eldrazi Aggro
1.200 0.227 0.01880 Eldrazi and Taxes
1.400 0.357 0.01197 WG Tron
1.000 0.001 0.00085 Other
4.000 0.059 0.01453 Merfolk
2.125 0.471 0.01453 Merfolk
3.388 1.000 0.04188 G Tron
3.214 1.000 0.01197 WG Tron
2.000 1.000 0.00855 Mono U Tron
1.333 0.500 0.00513 Eldrazi Tron
2.500 0.003 0.00342 Other
1.500 0.333 0.00513 Eldrazi Tron
1.000 0.003 0.00427 Other
1.000 0.162 0.03162 Amulet Titan
1.000 0.001 0.00085 Other
Card fractions: This is averaged over the whole meta and is the fraction of decks that play the card in the maindeck/sideboard without taking into account how many copies they play. These give a general idea of what cards to expect from a randomly chosen deck. Maindeck: The top cards are Thoughtseize (15.56%), Inquisition of Kozilek (14.36%), Cryptic Command (9.91%), Scavenging Ooze (9.83%), Chalice of the Void (7.86%), Remand (6.92%), Wurmcoil Engine (6.84%).
Compare to the top cards from last month Thoughtseize (15.30%), Inquisition of Kozilek (14.59%), Scavenging Ooze (11.85%), Cryptic Command (10.70%), Chalice of the Void (8.93%), Lightning Helix (8.05%), Remand (7.96%).
Hate cards by meta decks: Go here if you want to see what kind of hate cards specific decks play.
The first column is the average copies per deck of this archetype if the deck plays this card, so that this number is not affected by a deck that doesn't play the card. The second column is the fraction of decks of this archetype playing this card, and this number is affected by decks that don't play the card.
Meta composition: This is just a core dump of the fraction of decks out of the total for this month with each name. Some of these deck names might be fuzzy, so the results are approximate.
This is just a core dump of the fraction of decks out of the total for this month with each name.
5.56% Dredge
4.87% Humans
4.44% Burn
4.19% G Tron
4.19% UR Ascension
4.02% WU Control
3.93% Izzet Phoenix
3.68% UBR Death's Shadow
3.33% BGx Midrange
3.16% Affinity
3.16% Amulet Titan
2.05% Ad Nauseam
1.97% Hardened Scales
1.97% Goodstuff 3c
1.88% RG Titanshift
1.88% Eldrazi and Taxes
1.79% Eldrazi Aggro
1.79% Living End
1.79% Jund
1.62% URG Ascension
1.54% Mono-Red Phoenix
1.45% WBRG Death's Shadow
1.45% Merfolk
1.28% Hollow One
1.20% Whir Prison
1.20% Four-Color Prison
1.20% WG Tron
1.11% Vizier Company
1.11% UR Gifts Storm
0.94% UR Control
0.94% Bogles
0.85% WUR Control
0.85% Mardu Pyromancer
0.85% Mono U Tron
0.85% Restore Balance
0.85% Azorius Spirits
0.77% Martyr Proc
0.68% UG Infect
0.68% Abzan
0.60% Grishoalbrand
0.60% Lantern Control
0.60% UBG Control
0.60% Jeskai
0.51% Eldrazi Tron
0.51% Elves
0.51% Free-Win Red
0.51% Mill
0.43% UB Control
0.43% Ur Phoenix
0.34% Temur Tooth and Nail
0.34% 8-Rack
0.34% WUR Storm
0.34% URG Gifts Storm
0.34% Junk Hatebears
0.34% UBR Control
0.34% Glittering Jeskai Ascendancy
0.34% BRG Death's Shadow
0.26% Death and Taxes
0.26% Orzhov Eldrazi
0.26% Jeskai Ascendancy
0.26% Mono-Green Midrange
0.26% Hardened Modular
0.26% Orzhov Tokens
0.26% UBRG Death's Shadow
0.26% Mono-Red Prison
0.26% Blue Moon
0.17% WUB Control
0.17% Rakdos Prison
0.17% WUBR Control
0.17% UR Delver
0.17% WURG Copycat
0.17% WUB
0.17% UBR Delver
0.17% Gruul Land Destruction
0.17% Wilted Abzan
0.17% 8-Whack
0.17% WUG Hatebears
0.17% Death Cloud
0.17% Goryo's Breach
0.17% WG Hatebears
0.17% Monored Phoenix
0.17% Sultai Midrange
0.17% URG Titanshift
0.17% Mono-r Phoenix
0.17% Boros Prison
0.17% Temur Eldritch Kiki
0.17% WURG Knightfall
0.17% R Storm
0.09% Blue-White Emeria Lock
0.09% Black-White Zombies
0.09% Dimir Whir
0.09% Titan Breach
0.09% Uw Spirits
0.09% Uw Miricles
0.09% BRG Titanshift
0.09% UBG Death's Shadow
0.09% Hollow Phoenix
0.09% Green-White Land Destruction
0.09% Abzan Midrange
0.09% UG Control
0.09% Gruul Stomping Rhythm
0.09% Nahiri Prison
0.09% Tokens
0.09% Artifact Charge Ramp
0.09% Control
0.09% Bw Token
0.09% WRG Titanshift
0.09% UB Death's Shadow
0.09% Untitled
0.09% WRG Hatebears
0.09% Goodstuff 4c
0.09% BG Tron
0.09% Blue-White Flicker
0.09% Colorless Prison
0.09% Ponza
0.09% Mono-Green Tron
0.09% UR Storm
0.09% Blue-White Blink
0.09% Mono-red Phoenix
0.09% Bant Company
0.09% Jeskai Midrange
0.09% Goryo's Phoenix
0.09% Jeskai Spirits
0.09% URG Scapeshift
0.09% Gruul Ponza
0.09% Bg Deathcloud
0.09% Cocowisp
0.09% Azorius Blink
0.09% Black-Red Pack
0.09% Abzan Superfriends
0.09% Grinding Station
0.09% Lanternless
0.09% Through the Breach
0.09% Rw Prison
0.09% URG Control
0.09% Naya Zoo
0.09% Sultai Artifact Prison
0.09% Orzhov Midrange
0.09% Mono-White Walkers
0.09% Orzhov Kaya
0.09% Kiki Chord
0.09% WURG Kiki-Resto
0.09% Naya Nahiri
0.09% Semblance Anvil
Enchantments:
1.000 0.003 0.00342 Other
1.667 0.143 0.01795 Eldrazi Aggro
1.333 0.273 0.00940 UR Control
2.000 0.095 0.01795 Jund
2.000 0.022 0.03932 Izzet Phoenix
1.000 0.023 0.03675 UBR Death's Shadow
2.000 0.020 0.04188 UR Ascension
1.750 0.003 0.00769 Other
1.000 0.001 0.00256 Other
3.900 0.476 0.01795 Living End
4.000 1.000 0.00855 Restore Balance
1.000 0.111 0.00769 Martyr Proc
3.000 0.143 0.00598 UBG Control
2.000 0.048 0.01795 Eldrazi Aggro
3.000 0.011 0.01197 Other
2.000 0.077 0.03333 BGx Midrange
1.000 0.054 0.03162 Affinity
1.000 0.015 0.05556 Dredge
1.000 0.001 0.00342 Other
1.875 0.800 0.00855 Mardu Pyromancer
1.750 0.727 0.00940 UR Control
4.000 1.000 0.00513 Free-Win Red
2.000 0.286 0.00598 Grishoalbrand
1.000 0.022 0.03932 Izzet Phoenix
1.000 0.100 0.00855 Restore Balance
3.000 0.027 0.03162 Affinity
3.278 0.015 0.01624 Other
2.000 0.959 0.04188 UR Ascension
2.000 0.935 0.03932 Izzet Phoenix
2.000 0.895 0.01624 URG Ascension
2.353 0.944 0.01538 Mono-Red Phoenix
1.250 0.800 0.00855 Restore Balance
1.000 0.636 0.00940 UR Control
2.000 0.286 0.01795 Living End
1.200 0.500 0.00855 Mardu Pyromancer
1.250 0.108 0.03162 Affinity
2.667 0.429 0.00598 Grishoalbrand
2.667 0.058 0.04444 Burn
4.000 0.048 0.01795 Eldrazi Aggro
2.000 0.059 0.01453 Merfolk
2.000 0.067 0.01282 Hollow One
2.071 0.024 0.02735 Other
4.000 0.015 0.05556 Dredge
2.000 0.556 0.00769 Martyr Proc
1.000 0.091 0.01880 Eldrazi and Taxes
2.000 0.003 0.00256 Other
1.000 0.273 0.01880 Eldrazi and Taxes
1.000 0.128 0.03333 BGx Midrange
1.333 0.143 0.01795 Jund
1.000 0.125 0.00684 Abzan
1.000 0.043 0.01966 Hardened Scales
1.000 0.023 0.03675 UBR Death's Shadow
2.500 0.002 0.00427 Other
1.000 0.038 0.04444 Burn
2.167 0.346 0.04444 Burn
2.500 0.118 0.01453 WBRG Death's Shadow
2.000 0.045 0.01880 RG Titanshift
2.000 0.003 0.00427 Other
1.222 0.191 0.04017 WU Control
1.000 0.100 0.00855 WUR Control
2.000 0.071 0.01197 WG Tron
1.000 0.001 0.00085 Other
1.000 0.162 0.03162 Amulet Titan
1.750 0.444 0.00769 Martyr Proc
1.000 0.087 0.01966 Hardened Scales
1.000 0.045 0.01880 Eldrazi and Taxes
1.000 0.091 0.00940 Bogles
1.900 0.455 0.01880 RG Titanshift
1.000 0.154 0.01111 Vizier Company
2.000 0.027 0.03162 Amulet Titan
1.429 0.006 0.00940 Other
1.000 0.027 0.03162 Amulet Titan
1.000 0.003 0.00684 Other
4.000 1.000 0.00940 Bogles
1.333 0.957 0.04017 WU Control
1.000 0.300 0.00855 WUR Control
1.000 0.286 0.00598 Jeskai
1.667 0.003 0.00256 Other
1.000 0.100 0.00855 WUR Control
1.000 0.021 0.04017 WU Control
1.333 0.003 0.00513 Other
1.000 0.043 0.01966 Goodstuff 3c
2.000 0.100 0.00855 Azorius Spirits
1.000 0.002 0.00171 Other
1.250 0.522 0.01966 Goodstuff 3c
1.000 0.615 0.01111 Vizier Company
1.000 0.136 0.01880 Eldrazi and Taxes
1.667 0.300 0.00855 Azorius Spirits
1.000 0.222 0.00769 Martyr Proc
2.000 0.143 0.00598 Jeskai
1.385 0.011 0.01538 Other
4.000 0.962 0.04444 Burn
3.333 0.500 0.00513 Free-Win Red
4.000 0.100 0.00855 Azorius Spirits
4.000 0.003 0.00427 Other
3.000 0.667 0.00513 Free-Win Red
2.000 0.167 0.01538 Mono-Red Phoenix
3.333 0.003 0.00342 Other
1.000 0.100 0.00855 Azorius Spirits
4.000 1.000 0.00940 Bogles
1.375 0.348 0.01966 Hardened Scales
1.000 0.081 0.03162 Affinity
1.000 0.001 0.00256 Other
1.000 0.174 0.01966 Hardened Scales
1.000 0.054 0.03162 Affinity
2.200 0.541 0.03162 Affinity
1.118 0.459 0.03162 Affinity
2.000 0.020 0.04188 UR Ascension
2.000 0.167 0.00513 Mill
1.808 0.703 0.03162 Affinity
1.000 0.714 0.01197 Four-Color Prison
1.167 0.429 0.01197 Whir Prison
1.000 0.714 0.00598 Lantern Control
1.200 0.004 0.00513 Other
3.714 0.778 0.00769 Martyr Proc
3.500 0.002 0.00171 Other
1.000 0.045 0.01880 RG Titanshift
1.909 1.000 0.00940 Bogles
4.000 1.000 0.01966 Hardened Scales
4.000 0.243 0.03162 Affinity
4.000 0.003 0.00256 Other
1.000 0.001 0.00085 Other
1.750 0.003 0.00342 Other
2.000 0.081 0.03162 Amulet Titan
2.000 0.081 0.03162 Amulet Titan
2.182 1.000 0.00940 Bogles
1.000 0.091 0.00940 Bogles
1.000 0.167 0.00513 Mill
4.000 0.004 0.00427 Other
3.429 0.006 0.00598 Other
1.000 0.003 0.00342 Other
2.500 0.002 0.00171 Other
1.000 0.182 0.00940 Bogles
1.000 0.102 0.04188 UR Ascension
1.000 0.065 0.03932 Izzet Phoenix
1.000 0.053 0.01624 URG Ascension
1.929 0.636 0.01880 RG Titanshift
4.000 0.364 0.00940 Bogles
3.000 0.001 0.00085 Other
4.000 0.917 0.02051 Ad Nauseam
3.429 1.000 0.00598 Lantern Control
4.000 0.636 0.00940 Bogles
3.600 0.714 0.00598 Grishoalbrand
3.400 0.556 0.00769 Martyr Proc
2.667 0.064 0.04017 WU Control
1.000 0.065 0.03932 Izzet Phoenix
3.000 0.167 0.01538 Mono-Red Phoenix
4.000 0.020 0.04188 G Tron
2.000 0.045 0.01880 Eldrazi and Taxes
1.000 0.077 0.01111 Vizier Company
1.000 0.053 0.01624 URG Ascension
4.000 0.048 0.01795 Living End
4.000 0.100 0.00855 Restore Balance
3.556 0.008 0.01111 Other
2.000 0.015 0.05556 Dredge
2.431 0.785 0.05556 Dredge
3.600 1.000 0.01282 Hollow One
3.556 0.429 0.01795 Eldrazi Aggro
4.000 0.600 0.00855 Mardu Pyromancer
3.667 0.140 0.03675 UBR Death's Shadow
1.000 0.087 0.03932 Izzet Phoenix
3.000 0.077 0.03333 BGx Midrange
3.667 0.143 0.01795 Living End
3.333 0.143 0.01795 Jund
4.000 0.333 0.00513 Free-Win Red
3.000 0.200 0.00855 Mono U Tron
4.000 0.167 0.00513 Eldrazi Tron
4.000 0.019 0.04444 Burn
1.000 0.077 0.01111 Vizier Company
1.000 0.053 0.01624 URG Ascension
4.000 0.125 0.00684 Abzan
4.000 0.056 0.01538 Mono-Red Phoenix
1.000 0.020 0.04188 UR Ascension
1.000 0.071 0.01197 WG Tron
3.643 0.012 0.02393 Other
4.000 0.001 0.00085 Other
1.000 0.091 0.00940 Bogles
2.000 0.001 0.00085 Other
1.000 0.286 0.00598 UBG Control
1.000 0.167 0.00513 Mill
1.000 0.001 0.00342 Other
1.000 0.045 0.01880 Eldrazi and Taxes
2.000 0.001 0.00085 Other
4.000 0.003 0.00342 Other
1.000 0.002 0.00171 Other
3.917 1.000 0.02051 Ad Nauseam
1.000 0.021 0.04017 WU Control
3.000 0.001 0.00085 Other
1.571 0.318 0.01880 RG Titanshift
1.000 0.001 0.00085 Other
2.000 0.167 0.00513 Free-Win Red
1.745 0.959 0.04188 UR Ascension
1.632 1.000 0.01624 URG Ascension
1.000 0.077 0.01111 UR Gifts Storm
1.200 0.102 0.04188 UR Ascension
1.000 0.077 0.01111 UR Gifts Storm
1.500 0.003 0.00513 Other
4.000 1.000 0.00940 Bogles
1.000 0.250 0.00684 UG Infect
1.000 0.043 0.01966 Hardened Scales
1.000 0.001 0.00085 Other
1.000 0.001 0.00085 Other
1.000 0.045 0.01880 Eldrazi and Taxes
3.000 0.002 0.00171 Other
3.047 0.827 0.04444 Burn
2.073 0.872 0.04017 WU Control
2.864 1.000 0.01880 Eldrazi and Taxes
2.545 0.957 0.01966 Goodstuff 3c
1.810 0.568 0.03162 Affinity
2.400 0.909 0.00940 Bogles
2.375 0.800 0.00855 Azorius Spirits
1.500 0.105 0.04872 Humans
1.600 0.714 0.00598 Jeskai
2.750 0.444 0.00769 Martyr Proc
2.667 0.143 0.01795 Eldrazi Aggro
2.000 0.200 0.00855 WUR Control
4.000 0.059 0.01453 Merfolk
1.000 0.043 0.01966 Hardened Scales
3.000 0.100 0.00855 Restore Balance
3.000 0.071 0.01197 WG Tron
2.357 0.024 0.02906 Other
2.500 0.002 0.00171 Other
4.000 0.001 0.00085 Other
2.000 0.001 0.00085 Other
1.000 0.333 0.00769 Martyr Proc
1.000 0.054 0.03162 Affinity
2.000 0.002 0.00171 Other
1.200 0.106 0.04017 WU Control
2.000 0.333 0.00769 Martyr Proc
3.500 0.002 0.00171 Other
1.000 0.213 0.04017 WU Control
1.000 0.300 0.00855 WUR Control
2.000 0.286 0.00598 Jeskai
2.000 0.111 0.00769 Martyr Proc
1.000 0.043 0.01966 Goodstuff 3c
1.375 0.007 0.00769 Other
2.167 0.545 0.00940 Bogles
1.000 0.045 0.01880 RG Titanshift
1.000 0.020 0.04188 G Tron
1.459 0.787 0.04017 WU Control
2.143 0.700 0.00855 WUR Control
1.000 0.400 0.00855 Restore Balance
1.333 0.500 0.00513 Mill
2.000 0.429 0.00598 Jeskai
1.000 0.143 0.01197 Whir Prison
2.000 0.143 0.00598 UBG Control
1.500 0.009 0.00940 Other
1.000 0.143 0.00598 Jeskai
2.000 0.750 0.00684 UG Infect
2.000 0.500 0.00513 Elves
1.000 0.043 0.01966 Hardened Scales
4.000 0.003 0.00342 Other
2.000 0.167 0.02051 Ad Nauseam
3.000 0.083 0.02051 Ad Nauseam
1.000 0.071 0.01197 WG Tron
3.364 1.000 0.00940 Bogles
1.000 0.091 0.00940 Bogles
1.100 0.909 0.00940 Bogles
1.000 0.091 0.00940 Bogles
2.091 1.000 0.00940 Bogles
2.000 0.100 0.00855 Azorius Spirits
4.000 0.941 0.01453 Merfolk
3.250 0.400 0.00855 Mono U Tron
1.000 0.001 0.00085 Other
1.906 0.681 0.04017 WU Control
2.130 1.000 0.01966 Goodstuff 3c
2.476 0.955 0.01880 Eldrazi and Taxes
2.300 0.909 0.00940 Bogles
2.875 0.889 0.00769 Martyr Proc
2.429 0.875 0.00684 Abzan
2.000 0.238 0.01795 Eldrazi Aggro
2.250 0.070 0.04872 Humans
1.667 0.300 0.00855 WUR Control
1.333 0.231 0.01111 Vizier Company
2.000 0.286 0.00598 Jeskai
2.000 0.100 0.00855 Mardu Pyromancer
3.000 0.059 0.01453 Merfolk
2.000 0.100 0.00855 Restore Balance
1.000 0.100 0.00855 Azorius Spirits
2.212 0.028 0.03162 Other
2.000 0.091 0.00940 Bogles
2.000 0.001 0.00085 Other
1.000 0.095 0.01795 Eldrazi Aggro
1.000 0.051 0.03333 BGx Midrange
1.000 0.184 0.04188 UR Ascension
1.000 0.130 0.03932 Izzet Phoenix
1.000 0.211 0.01624 URG Ascension
2.000 0.001 0.00427 Other
1.000 0.091 0.00940 Bogles
4.000 0.143 0.00598 UBG Control
4.000 0.013 0.01368 Other
1.000 0.001 0.00342 Other
1.667 0.375 0.00684 UG Infect
3.667 0.857 0.00598 UBG Control
1.000 0.002 0.00171 Other
1.000 0.478 0.01966 Goodstuff 3c
1.889 0.409 0.01880 Eldrazi and Taxes
1.500 0.308 0.01111 Vizier Company
1.000 0.100 0.00855 Azorius Spirits
1.667 0.005 0.00598 Other
1.000 0.003 0.00342 Other
Maindeck: The top cards are Pyromancer Ascension (5.73%), Search for Azcanta (5.73%), Eidolon of the Great Revel (4.87%), Detention Sphere (4.53%), Blood Moon (3.85%), Hardened Scales (2.99%), Phyrexian Unlife (2.05%).
Sideboard: The top cards are Rest in Peace (18.72%), Blood Moon (16.32%), Stony Silence (13.25%), Leyline of the Void (10.77%), Leyline of Sanctity (5.98%), Ghirapur Aether Grid (4.44%), Eidolon of Rhetoric (3.59%).
The first column is the average copies per deck of this archetype if the deck plays this card, so that this number is not affected by a deck that doesn't play the card. The second column is the fraction of decks of this archetype playing this card, and this number is affected by decks that don't play the card.
The reason Burn can beat fair blue (and non-blue) decks is because they're playing for a grindy long game while durdling around with stuff like Ponder, while Burn is faster, punishes their manabase to the tune of 8 damage, and blanks some of their key pieces such as Wasteland and other kinds of removal because we are so creature light. Force of Will is a necessary evil to protect against combo, but it's quite bad when it's costing you 2 cards and 1 life to counter a Lightning Bolt.
I really hope that WotC has some internal data similar to this from MTGO and they don't institute the London Mulligan. I don't like how disproportionately it affects decks, and I especially don't want existing decks banned that are reasonable under the current rules solely because they are unreasonable under the new rules.
This is a very accurate statement. Burn's viability depends on both dodging combo and having blue decks around it fighting the combo decks. Burn is a good deck, but I've found that when a local meta is full of people playing stuff like Oops All Spells, Belcher, and Reanimator and there are no fair blue decks to serve as a check on that, you're just donating your entry fee by playing Burn. You'll never cast 7 or 8 mana of Burn spells before Oops All Spells flips their deck over.
Pretty much everyone else who plays the format recognizes that there are fair decks and that there's even an entire class of decks called "fair blue decks". You can claim everyone else is wrong if you wish, but that's not reality.
Brian Braun-Duin clearly took crazy pills when he wrote this article and says things like this (as well as the phrase "fair blue decks"):
Not only is Grixis Delver a "fair deck", but that statement quite clearly implies that others also exist.
The people in this Reddit thread must be out of their minds, too. What mad-man would say that Maverick, Dead Guy Ale, Jund, Junk, Bant, BUG, Shardless (loved playing against that one, bummer it's gone), Goblins, and Grixis are "fair decks"? Answer: someone who knows what they're talking about.
"Fair" means that the deck wins by turning creatures sideways after more-or-less paying a normal rate for them (Gurmag Angler doesn't invalidate this), though Burn directly converting mana to damage in Burn spells makes Burn a fair deck as well (and Fireblast doesn't invalidate that). That means the deck doesn't win through comboing off and they don't do things like cheat in a 15/15 with Sneak/Show or reanimate a fatty on turn 1. Playing Force of Will doesn't make a deck unfair. Last I checked, the only situation in which Force of Will "wins" a game is when you cast it with it's alternate cost at 1 life and lose the game for it.
When someone talks about a "fair deck", they're characterizing the win condition in the deck. I think the issue is that I'm defining "fair deck" the way everyone else defines "fair deck" and you're using some definition that no one else uses. That more or less means that you're arguing from an incorrect position and are just flat out wrong. There are fair decks in Legacy, quite a few, in fact. When you claim there are none, it's correct to question your experience with the format because no one who has any experience with Legacy could say "Fair decks are not played in Legacy." with a straight face.
"Fair blue decks" are a thing, they play Force, and that's the kind of deck Burn wants to play against. "Tarmogoyf decks" are what you want to play against, though it's been supplanted by Gurmag Angler.
Maybe you haven't played enough Legacy to recognize that there are a number of fair decks? That's the only reasonable explanation I can think of for the claim you're making right now. If you genuinely believe that Legacy has zero fair decks and that it's therefore completely built of fast combo decks, what are you doing playing Burn? You're just donating your entry fee. Burn cannot do well without the fair decks to prey on.
Legacy Burn folds pretty hard to combo. Burn can't win without paying quite a bit of mana or getting a lot of help from self damage. It's just not possible to cast 7 or 8 mana worth of cards to win on turn 2 in Burn. Storm could combo off well before that. Reanimator could put something into play well before that. Dredge could have lethal in play. That's just reality. What Burn can beat are the fair decks that are spending their time playing Ponder and Preordain and Baleful Strix. You want to play against a Force of Will deck that has 4 non-basics in play.
Before someone brings up Shard Volley, you can't play this on T3 after playing a Shard Volley and therefore need 4 lands. You're also going to lose one of them when you re-cast Shard Volley because you have to pay mandatory additional costs even when you cast something "without paying its mana cost".
It's a cool card and it might have a home in Modern casting things like Living End, but it's not a Burn card.
The following is a lot of data that's tough to digest, but it might be helpful to you to know what kind of lifegain to expect at various times, what counterspells people are playing, and what discard spells people are playing. This analysis comes from MTGGoldfish data with some cleaning procedure applied to it to try to clean up any bad deck names. I then go through these deck lists and find instances of "counter target", "lifelink", and "gain N life"/"gains N life" in the card text. On top of that, I search for Leyline of Sanctity, Oketra's Last Mercy, Chalice of the Void, Phyrexian Unlife, and Spellskite. The deck population is 1170 decks. Cards that show up less than 0.5% of the time are not printed, and I've also removed some cards that don't affect us like Disdainful Stroke and Ceremonious Rejection.
Per card splits: Go here if you want to find a list of what decks play specific cards.
Maindeck: The top cards are Thoughtseize (15.56%), Inquisition of Kozilek (14.36%), Cryptic Command (9.91%), Scavenging Ooze (9.83%), Chalice of the Void (7.86%), Remand (6.92%), Wurmcoil Engine (6.84%).
Compare to the top cards from last month Thoughtseize (15.30%), Inquisition of Kozilek (14.59%), Scavenging Ooze (11.85%), Cryptic Command (10.70%), Chalice of the Void (8.93%), Lightning Helix (8.05%), Remand (7.96%).
Compare to the top cards from last month Collective Brutality (17.60%), Dispel (17.33%), Nature's Claim (15.83%), Negate (11.49%), Knight of Autumn (9.64%), Spell Pierce (9.64%), Dragon's Claw (8.40%).
The first column is the average copies per deck of this archetype if the deck plays this card, so that this number is not affected by a deck that doesn't play the card. The second column is the fraction of decks of this archetype playing this card, and this number is affected by decks that don't play the card.
This is just a core dump of the fraction of decks out of the total for this month with each name.
5.56% Dredge
4.87% Humans
4.44% Burn
4.19% G Tron
4.19% UR Ascension
4.02% WU Control
3.93% Izzet Phoenix
3.68% UBR Death's Shadow
3.33% BGx Midrange
3.16% Affinity
3.16% Amulet Titan
2.05% Ad Nauseam
1.97% Hardened Scales
1.97% Goodstuff 3c
1.88% RG Titanshift
1.88% Eldrazi and Taxes
1.79% Eldrazi Aggro
1.79% Living End
1.79% Jund
1.62% URG Ascension
1.54% Mono-Red Phoenix
1.45% WBRG Death's Shadow
1.45% Merfolk
1.28% Hollow One
1.20% Whir Prison
1.20% Four-Color Prison
1.20% WG Tron
1.11% Vizier Company
1.11% UR Gifts Storm
0.94% UR Control
0.94% Bogles
0.85% WUR Control
0.85% Mardu Pyromancer
0.85% Mono U Tron
0.85% Restore Balance
0.85% Azorius Spirits
0.77% Martyr Proc
0.68% UG Infect
0.68% Abzan
0.60% Grishoalbrand
0.60% Lantern Control
0.60% UBG Control
0.60% Jeskai
0.51% Eldrazi Tron
0.51% Elves
0.51% Free-Win Red
0.51% Mill
0.43% UB Control
0.43% Ur Phoenix
0.34% Temur Tooth and Nail
0.34% 8-Rack
0.34% WUR Storm
0.34% URG Gifts Storm
0.34% Junk Hatebears
0.34% UBR Control
0.34% Glittering Jeskai Ascendancy
0.34% BRG Death's Shadow
0.26% Death and Taxes
0.26% Orzhov Eldrazi
0.26% Jeskai Ascendancy
0.26% Mono-Green Midrange
0.26% Hardened Modular
0.26% Orzhov Tokens
0.26% UBRG Death's Shadow
0.26% Mono-Red Prison
0.26% Blue Moon
0.17% WUB Control
0.17% Rakdos Prison
0.17% WUBR Control
0.17% UR Delver
0.17% WURG Copycat
0.17% WUB
0.17% UBR Delver
0.17% Gruul Land Destruction
0.17% Wilted Abzan
0.17% 8-Whack
0.17% WUG Hatebears
0.17% Death Cloud
0.17% Goryo's Breach
0.17% WG Hatebears
0.17% Monored Phoenix
0.17% Sultai Midrange
0.17% URG Titanshift
0.17% Mono-r Phoenix
0.17% Boros Prison
0.17% Temur Eldritch Kiki
0.17% WURG Knightfall
0.17% R Storm
0.09% Blue-White Emeria Lock
0.09% Black-White Zombies
0.09% Dimir Whir
0.09% Titan Breach
0.09% Uw Spirits
0.09% Uw Miricles
0.09% BRG Titanshift
0.09% UBG Death's Shadow
0.09% Hollow Phoenix
0.09% Green-White Land Destruction
0.09% Abzan Midrange
0.09% UG Control
0.09% Gruul Stomping Rhythm
0.09% Nahiri Prison
0.09% Tokens
0.09% Artifact Charge Ramp
0.09% Control
0.09% Bw Token
0.09% WRG Titanshift
0.09% UB Death's Shadow
0.09% Untitled
0.09% WRG Hatebears
0.09% Goodstuff 4c
0.09% BG Tron
0.09% Blue-White Flicker
0.09% Colorless Prison
0.09% Ponza
0.09% Mono-Green Tron
0.09% UR Storm
0.09% Blue-White Blink
0.09% Mono-red Phoenix
0.09% Bant Company
0.09% Jeskai Midrange
0.09% Goryo's Phoenix
0.09% Jeskai Spirits
0.09% URG Scapeshift
0.09% Gruul Ponza
0.09% Bg Deathcloud
0.09% Cocowisp
0.09% Azorius Blink
0.09% Black-Red Pack
0.09% Abzan Superfriends
0.09% Grinding Station
0.09% Lanternless
0.09% Through the Breach
0.09% Rw Prison
0.09% URG Control
0.09% Naya Zoo
0.09% Sultai Artifact Prison
0.09% Orzhov Midrange
0.09% Mono-White Walkers
0.09% Orzhov Kaya
0.09% Kiki Chord
0.09% WURG Kiki-Resto
0.09% Naya Nahiri
0.09% Semblance Anvil
Enchantments:
The first column is the average copies per deck of this archetype if the deck plays this card, so that this number is not affected by a deck that doesn't play the card. The second column is the fraction of decks of this archetype playing this card, and this number is affected by decks that don't play the card.
Link to previous month: February (apologies if it goes to the wrong spot on the page, it's post 2165).