Wizards policy on Modern Bannings

Hi Everyone!

I read in an article recently that talked about the history of bannings in Modern. I read an article that said Wizards states that every ban is in the interest of format diversity and that many cards like Wild Nacatl and Bitterblossom come back after a few years. Their conclusion is that because the format doesn't rotate Wizards needs to use the ban list to shake up the format.

I have to say I disagree with this sentiment. The purpose of the ban list was never to "shake up" formats. It is to protect the format from degenerative cards that hurt the format. Let's look at one ban that I read about being a "shake up" ban, Wild Nacatl. It was banned because the only viable aggro deck was Zoo (stated by Wizards). I don't know if this was the best ban (it was unbanned after all) because it was to hurt a specific deck. I don't agree with this kind of ban.

Twin is a ban that happened because if a deck had red and blue cards it was instantly better by adding twin. The combo didn't take a lot of cards to execute and didn't require a deck be built around it. It was like having Time Vault and Voltaic Key, it was an easy two card instant win, so no matter what your deck did it was a good option. 

Pod was banned for the same reason as Twin. If you're playing (creatures in Pods case) your deck gets instantly better by playing with Pod. I argued when Pod was banned that Twin was a better ban because of the way Pod at least required a deck be built in a manner to be able to utilize Pod. Twin just needs two combo pieces and that's it.

Anyway. It seems that Twin and Pod were banned for the same reason. Looking at earlier bans I think the policy was more along the lines of "this deck is too good". Hopefully we see cards like Deathrite Shaman, Bloodbraid Elf, Ancestral Visions, and maybe even Jace off the banned list someday if Wizards has changed their reason for bans in Modern.

Eldrazi in Modern?

Hi Everyone!

I play a lot of Magic Online. This week I noticed everyone seemed to play a deck that I liked so I whipped it up and played several games. It was a mono black Eldrazi deck. It used Eye of Ugin to reduce costs and Urborg to make Eye tap for another mana totaling 3.It also uses Eldrazi Temples to ramp mana.

Anyway, the more I played with the deck I realized that the next set has at least 3 cards I will certainly run in some quantity in this deck and another 2 as cards I want to try to see if they are good.

From the looks of it, it may be the "new tron" deck. Tron is a tough matchup because turn 3 Karn Liberated is always hard to beat but if it's possible to break up tron without the opponent having a huge board advantage, it's completely winnable.

It's just a neat deck that seems to be everywhere now. I had a video set I intended to post but the file became damaged and can't be used so I'll have to record and post another set this weekend.

I'm really excited because the deck is already competitive and could be great after Oath of the Gatewatch is released.

The year of flashback drafts!

Hi Everyone!

I just wanted to let everyone know that this year Wizards is doing a flashback draft for virtually every draft format starting from 8th edition on (only scheduled to 10th edition in May as of now but will continue all year).

This week is Mirrodin, Mirrodin, Mirrodin.

I am all excited because this set was my first step into playing competitive Magic.

I'm excited to replay all the old draft decks I made from way back and I recommend everyone check it out.

Not to mention there's a chance to pick up some money cards in pretty much every set.

Happy Drafting

Will Splinter Twin be banned in Modern?

Hi Everyone,
With the discussion of unbanning Stoneforge Mystic all over the place...Even i wrote about it....it got me thinking. Is Stoneforge better than Splinter Twin?

It's a very strong strategy starting as early as turn two and starts attacking with a 4/4 vigilance lifelinker on turn 4. What's Twin up to on turn 4? Winning the game that's what.

I'm sure Stoneforge would be a powerhouse but I don't think it would have an impact against Twin.

I've always been critical of Twin, I think it's the most unfun deck to play because sometimes they topdeck an auto-win, that's not what Magic should be. I also don't know a single banning that hurt Twin or at least was mentioned because it made twin too good. All the Modern cantrips made Storm (barely playable now) too good and WOTC had to do something about it.

What would happen to the format without twin? I think a lot of decks would not have to have solid answers to the turn 3 exarch and turn 4 twin, this could allow for diversity in sideboards.

I dislike twin as a deck, not that it's not good, it just isn't fun to worry about an instant win card...it just isn't fun. Just my opinion, I think it would be fine to ban and shake up the format.