Banned List 2015
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| Yup... Surprised? |
Banned!
"Decks playing the powerful card drawers have been winning a lot, and pushing a lot of other decks down in competitive play. Blue-Red Delver decks, playing efficient creatures, card drawers, burn, and some permission spells have been the most successful. Also, decks focused on more burn, or combination decks using Jeskai Ascendancy, have done well. However, as these decks have occupied a large portion of the competitive metagame, the overall variety of successful decks has been suppressed. It is imbalanced enough that Wizards of the Coast has decided to act. In Modern, these cards are easy replacements for one another—while a Delver deck might use Treasure Cruise over Dig Through Time, banning one but not the other would do little to change the deck. Dig Through Time and Treasure Cruise are banned."
I think this one comes to no surprise? This has been in the talks for awhile and honestly, the power level of this card really wraps the format till a lot of decks are attempting splashing blue just for it. Admittedly, I didn't. (Reanimator decks.. dammit!) Treasure Cruise is just downright powerful. Even at the high mana cost, it's irrelevant. It's meant for a steam booster for aggro decks. Delving it into a single blue mana is really easy for most decks. Hence, it can be considered to be an Ancestral Recall for Modern and Legacy.
Still, it's somewhat unexpected by many. That said, I'm rather disappointed that Dig Through Time got banned. Yes, it's an unexpected move. Is it a good move? Maybe. Depends on which side of the story you are in. Within my short experience in playing UW Midrange/Control deck, Dig Through Time was THE card that control players would need to balance out the meta. In all honestly, that is the card that will push them to be more relevant in the current meta, which is dominated by aggro and combo decks. Yes, it is powerful in the late game, but that's what it is supposed to be! A powerful spell which ends the game. That's what I thought control games will be like. So whether if it was a good move to ban the card, if you are control player, you've lost a another good card in your arsenal. If otherwise, you narrowly missed a nightmare.
"Over the past year, Birthing Pod decks have won significantly more Grand Prix than any other Modern decks and compose the largest percentage of the field. Each year, new powerful options are printed, most recently Siege Rhino. Over time, this creates a growing gap between the strength of the Pod deck and other creature decks. Pod won five of the twelve Grand Prix over the past year, including winning the last two. The high percentage of the field playing Pod suppresses decks, especially other creature decks, that have an unfavorable matchup. In the interest of supporting a diverse format, Birthing Pod is banned."
No.. Just no. In the levels of expectation, this was at the high end of most people to not expect. It looms around after the game losses that how unfair the deck is and how we wish it to be banned. But in all honest opinion, is it a fair deck? Some would say yes, others, no. It was a fair deck in a sense that it tests the skill of the pilot rather than relying on just cheap combos to win flat out. It tests their decision skills and the ability to read synergy between cards and when to do what. In the right hands, it's broken, powerful and yes, it can be a little "cheating". The inclusion of Siege Rhino to the deck is quite overpowering as shown in the latest results. Hence, this card got the ban.
Axing Birthing Pod means there goes a specific deck type. There goes the infamous pod deck. Personally, I almost build the deck. Actually twice! But, it was the mana-base and some of the cards that got too expensive that I decided against it. So yay me? Now that Pod decks are gone, what's the next best in the Meta? Scapeshift? Twin? Affinity? Jeskai Ascendancy missed the bullet just that little bit thanks to Birthing Pod and UR Delver adapting. So with this deck gone and U/R Delver weakened, what's next?
Unbanned!
Okay boss... you're back, now let's see how dredge will fare in Modern. It all make sense that banning the prior 2, Treasure Cruise and Dig Through Time and making way for this card will not upset any form of balance (But heck! It's one hell of a fun deck to play...) So what new decks will see rise in the game? Golgari Delve-Dredge? The return of Dredgevines? We shall see. I'm not really attached to this card in any way cos I don't have any experience playing it. But I'm definitely interested to see the new decks coming up with this! (Bitterblossom was disappointing honestly)
In summary, this banned list was a surprise to many and for me, it's refreshing, but surprising to see something like this happen. It really shows that the Modern meta is still very volatile, but not for the reasons that every card has an equal opportunity. The ban-hammer, which Wizards controls, ultimately will control the meta. It's like this pool of cards that are being restricted from playing too overboard. I would agree that having an active update in the banned list will keep the meta fresh and prevent one archetype or deck from overpowering the format, but it's really surprising to see the changes for this time round.
For instance, the banning of Treasure Cruise this year was expected as that wrapped the format to most players shifting to blue just for that card. Last year we had Deathrite Shaman Banned due to its overpowered utility ability. But, I'm really surprised that axing out the key card in a top-contender deck like Birthing Pod is a really bold move. Yes, it will rejuvenate the meta; yes, it will bring back some balance in the deck variations.
But it's a move that will cost players thousands of dollars just to change their decks. What is the next best option for them? Jund or Junk, which requires them to purchase Tarmagoyfs which are incredibly expensive right now. Change the colour pie? Sure. Trade in all the Fetch/shocks and other irrelevant cards for another colour and that will cost just as much. In short, don't expect a tier 1 deck to stay there for too long and get ready for a back-up plan if you see your deck performing too well. It's great in the sense of accomplishment, but if the key component of the deck gets banned, be ready to switch.
Well, that's all I have for now. I'll update later with more content regarding the ban-list later next week or so.
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