- - -Personally, I was happy with the Lurrus banning. Per Wizards, "Lurrus's play rate (31% in Magic Online League decks that started with four wins) points to a card that is contributing to the homogenization of the Modern play experience. Simply put, the meta lacked diversity with Lurrus being so prominent. Excluding the power level of the card, diversity in non-rotating formats contributes to a healthy meta environment and an objective increase in enjoyment in game-play.
- - - As far as the card I would like to be considered for an unbanning, I will not use my own words, but rather, SaffronOlive's take on the subject, as I couldn't articulate his reasoning more adequately.
"It might sound crazy to even consider unbanning Deathrite Shaman—one of the best one-drops of all time—but the more I think about the current state of Modern, the more I want to at least give it a try. The biggest reason I think Deathrite Shaman should be unbanned is that the overall power level of one-mana creatures has greatly increased since Deathrite Shaman was released back in 2014. Back then, the next best option was something like Noble Hierarch or maybe Grim Lavamancer, making Deathrite Shaman significantly above the curve. Today, Modern is littered with cards like Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer, Dragon's Rage Channeler, Esper Sentinel, Monastery Swiftspear, Ignoble Hierarch, and more. While Deathrite Shaman would still be good, rather than being the lone 10 out of 10 in a sea of five out of 10s, it would just be another strong one-drop (in a color combination that could use a strong one-drop).
While Deathrite Shaman offers a lot of flexibility, as a mana dork that can also gain life against aggro or drain to finish out the game, its non-mana-dork modes are pretty slow as compared to aggressive one-drops like Dragon's Rage Channeler and Monastery Swiftspear. Deathrite Shaman is great when the game goes long, but if a Modern game goes long, it's usually because Teferi, Hero of Dominaria or Jace, the Mind Sculptor is drawing tons of cards, or Elementals are playing through their deck, play patterns that Deathrite Shaman can't keep up with.
Another huge change in the seven years since Deathrite Shaman has been banned is the addition of a ton more removal to Modern across colors. Back in 2014, there were Lightning Bolt and Path to Exile. Now, cards like Unholy Heat, Prismatic Ending, Solitude, Fatal Push, and more have joined the mix. Back in 2014, decks like Jund were literally playing Putrefy in the main deck. Putrefy! Needing to spend three mana to kill a one-drop is a huge loss of tempo. But today, most decks have ways to kill a Deathrite Shaman for one or zero mana. It's hard to imagine it getting out of hand.
The other reason to unban Deathrite Shaman is that it might actually help fight some of the degenerate cards from the last few years. Having a mana dork that can also attack the graveyard seems like a good way to power down opposing Dragon's Rage Channelers and Lurrus of the Dream-Dens. In our current Modern format, I think it's more likely that Deathrite Shaman plays the role of the hero rather than the villain. I've gotten beaten down by enough Dragon's Rage Channelers and Ragavan, Nimble Pilferers lately that the idea of facing down a Deathrite Shaman almost sounds nice. Could Deathrite Shaman end up still being just too flexible and powerful? That is a possibility, but I really think the most likely outcome of unbanning Deathrite Shaman is that it just becomes another strong one-drop in a format overflowing with them."
What are your thoughts? What where you most relieved to see banned and what do you believe would be safe to un-ban and why?
If Standard is your jam, Arena might be better for you however, Arena is very pay to win. I would look into Mana Traders or Card Hoarder to rent you're desired cards. This is especially beneficial if your play style changes. Rental services allow you to swap cards in a matter of seconds.
- - - As far as the card I would like to be considered for an unbanning, I will not use my own words, but rather, SaffronOlive's take on the subject, as I couldn't articulate his reasoning more adequately.
"It might sound crazy to even consider unbanning Deathrite Shaman—one of the best one-drops of all time—but the more I think about the current state of Modern, the more I want to at least give it a try. The biggest reason I think Deathrite Shaman should be unbanned is that the overall power level of one-mana creatures has greatly increased since Deathrite Shaman was released back in 2014. Back then, the next best option was something like Noble Hierarch or maybe Grim Lavamancer, making Deathrite Shaman significantly above the curve. Today, Modern is littered with cards like Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer, Dragon's Rage Channeler, Esper Sentinel, Monastery Swiftspear, Ignoble Hierarch, and more. While Deathrite Shaman would still be good, rather than being the lone 10 out of 10 in a sea of five out of 10s, it would just be another strong one-drop (in a color combination that could use a strong one-drop).
While Deathrite Shaman offers a lot of flexibility, as a mana dork that can also gain life against aggro or drain to finish out the game, its non-mana-dork modes are pretty slow as compared to aggressive one-drops like Dragon's Rage Channeler and Monastery Swiftspear. Deathrite Shaman is great when the game goes long, but if a Modern game goes long, it's usually because Teferi, Hero of Dominaria or Jace, the Mind Sculptor is drawing tons of cards, or Elementals are playing through their deck, play patterns that Deathrite Shaman can't keep up with.
Another huge change in the seven years since Deathrite Shaman has been banned is the addition of a ton more removal to Modern across colors. Back in 2014, there were Lightning Bolt and Path to Exile. Now, cards like Unholy Heat, Prismatic Ending, Solitude, Fatal Push, and more have joined the mix. Back in 2014, decks like Jund were literally playing Putrefy in the main deck. Putrefy! Needing to spend three mana to kill a one-drop is a huge loss of tempo. But today, most decks have ways to kill a Deathrite Shaman for one or zero mana. It's hard to imagine it getting out of hand.
The other reason to unban Deathrite Shaman is that it might actually help fight some of the degenerate cards from the last few years. Having a mana dork that can also attack the graveyard seems like a good way to power down opposing Dragon's Rage Channelers and Lurrus of the Dream-Dens. In our current Modern format, I think it's more likely that Deathrite Shaman plays the role of the hero rather than the villain. I've gotten beaten down by enough Dragon's Rage Channelers and Ragavan, Nimble Pilferers lately that the idea of facing down a Deathrite Shaman almost sounds nice. Could Deathrite Shaman end up still being just too flexible and powerful? That is a possibility, but I really think the most likely outcome of unbanning Deathrite Shaman is that it just becomes another strong one-drop in a format overflowing with them."
What are your thoughts? What where you most relieved to see banned and what do you believe would be safe to un-ban and why?
Hope this helps!