Comments on: Insider: Building Eldrazi After a Possible April Ban

By: Matt Kelly

Matt Kelly — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 00:27:06 +0000

Sorry, my intent was to post the most recent mtgo constructed league results from today. I’ll try again:

http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/mtgo…

By: Matt Kelly

Matt Kelly — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 00:20:54 +0000

Sheridan, thank you for the response. Now let’s spice it up a bit. I couldn’t help but notice that Eldrazi lists could very well become legitimate in Legacy:

http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/mtgo…

If eye were banned in modern, would the financial loss be as deep if it picks up legacy momentum? I wouldn’t expect an eye ban in legacy since it is accompanied by even more fast mana offenders in land slots than just temple.

By: Sheridan Lardner

Sheridan Lardner — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 07:19:57 +0000

In reply to Matt Kelly. Eye seems like an increasingly likely ban target, especially if the obscene metagame numbers hold through the GP weekend. If you got out of the Eyes at a profit, I'd stay there through the ban update. You can always snap-rebuy the expensive cards the morning of the announcement.

By: Matt Kelly

Matt Kelly — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 22:11:47 +0000

I own the colorless version in paper (minus the chalices), and was ready to to sell the deck with an impending ban. After reading your article I’m having a very difficult time deciding to keep the cards or buyback my investment. What what you do?

By: matt weinfeldt

matt weinfeldt — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 05:21:45 +0000

In reply to Mynnna. I dont believe cavern is likely to increase again. I could see it being dropped for more consistent cards.

By: Sheridan Lardner

Sheridan Lardner — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 22:01:21 +0000

In reply to Mike Lanigan. Better Standard decks than MOAR Eldrazi. So tired of seeing that word on my screen haha.

By: Sheridan Lardner

Sheridan Lardner — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 22:00:36 +0000

In reply to Lindsey. I can see Wizards going either way, either Temple to blow up Eldrazi alone, Eye to stop the explosive and unpredictable starts, or both in a throwback to the dual TC/DTT ban of 2015. We'll have to wait and see! I'm sure SOMETHING changes in April, and hopefully we get an unban as a kind of apology.

By: Mynnna

Mynnna — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 19:33:49 +0000

Banning Temple makes far more sense. Without Temple, Eye into Urborg is “five” mana on turn two, but not mana that can cast TKS or Reality Smasher. While it DOES still facilitate stuff like multiple mimics into a 5/5 Endless One, that is frankly less powerful than what the deck does now. Furthermore, maximizing that draw would require playing full sets of Eye (already happens) AND Urborg. The pros who piloted the deck at the PT noted that it did have a somewhat higher failure rate than many other decks because of the potentially awkward opening hands, but that the power level was worth it. If you’re playing eight legendary lands, those hands are even less good, and the payoff lower.

My gut says Guide would continue to be okay. It can pair with eye and a Colorless land for the turn two TKS, but that’s a one-shot deal, nowhere near as powerful as Eye into Temple as its not fueling subsequent turns as well.

Another possible beneficiary from a ban would be Gemstone Cavern. I know it was in one PT list (I believe Frank Lepore’s?) as a one of. In the wake of a ban, going up another copy or two as a colorless land with occasional upside for explosive starts might be a thing. It’s noteworthy, however, that even Cavern+Eye into Urborg STILL can’t cast TKS or Reality Smasher on turn two, as the bonus clause for Cavern also forces it to produce colored mana.

By: Mike Lanigan

Mike Lanigan — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 16:15:19 +0000

Great article too! It’s the one I was going to write, but that’s ok, now I can talk about some sweet Standard decks!

By: Mike Lanigan

Mike Lanigan — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 16:14:36 +0000

In reply to Lindsey. I actually think this is a good reason to ban Eye over Temple. I wouldn't mind any banning at this point though. Whether it's both lands or just one, that would be fine by me as a way to decrease the potency of the deck. Simian Spirit Guide may also see a ban as well though. That is another example of fast mana that can be played in any deck so I think it should probably go as well.

By: Lindsey

Lindsey — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 11:21:54 +0000

Good article, and I hope the ban is Temple, because all other things being equal, banning Eye nerfs 2 decks, which just doesn’t seem right.

Also I’ll point out that there’s no way to cast Smasher on turn 2 without Temple. You have no colorless source.