Amalek0 wrote: ↑4 years ago
ktkenshinx I think it's probably important to point out that this ban isn't really actually slowing the format down by much. Hogaak on turn two was still generally killing on turn three through no interaction, and turn 4 otherwise.
Infect will still happily turn 2 you. Burn will still happily kill you on turn three in a large percentage of games. Gifts-storm is still pretty much 100% to kill you on turn three if you don't kill their turn 2 cost reducer.
Heck, even the devoted druid combo is still going to do its thing on turn three unless you interact.
What we've done is remove the necessity of interacting with specifically the graveyard before turn three. I would firmly expect that to be replaced with "interact with creatures before turn 3" or "interact with artifacts before turn 3", which admittedly have better general tools available.
Looting's ban slows down the format in a number of ways. It does so directly by weakening fast GY decks like Dredge, Mono R Prowess, H1, Izzet Phoenix, Grishoalbrand, any lingering Vine decks, etc. Those decks being weaker and slower necessarily slows down the entire format, even if fast non-FL decks still exist. More importantly, FL ban indirectly slows the format by giving police decks fewer axes to police. Jund and UW Control really struggled to regulate fast GY decks, fast non GY decks, and big mana decks without giving up percentage points elsewhere. Now that pressure is reduced and these decks can regulate the unaffected fast decks better.
Remember: Modern's speed distribution in 2018 was virtually identical to its 2015 speed distribution. An FL ban likely equalizes that difference, a net positive for Modern.
mikej wrote: ↑4 years ago
Simto wrote: ↑4 years ago
Banning Faithless Looting is a mistake and I don't even play looting decks.
I'm worried all the "BAN THIS CARD!!!" people will direct their gaze at Tron cards now.........
Ban Tron?
Are you threatening me with a good time?
1. Odds of a Tron ban would be very low. Odds of a Stirrings ban specifically, however, are much higher now than ever before. Expect the most ban mania we've ever seen directed at Stirrings in the wake of Looting's demise.
2. I can't caution people enough about this. Don't get too excited for cascading bans on alleged unfair decks. When those decks are gone and we're left with super dominant midrange/control strategies with no predators, the ban hammer will swing at those too. We do not want a race to the bottom effect which will hurt multiple decks and destroy format confidence.