Comments on: How the New Banlist Policy Could Ruin Larger Formats

By: Yamil Perez

Yamil Perez — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 11:24:52 +0000

In reply to David Ernenwein. It shouldn't be a full return to the block model. Those days are likely gone. A loose continuity between sets should be good enough. The next set wouldn't need to be about Phyrexia again, but it should at the very least work as a spinoff with events of March of the Machine taking place within that universe. It wouldn't affect themed set like Lords of the Rings as long as it always comes back to the main narrative.

By: David Ernenwein

David Ernenwein — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 05:40:49 +0000

In reply to Yamil Perez. It was buried in the rotation change announcement, but Wizards is apparently aware that ending the block model has had a lot of unintended negative consequences for their narratives and Standard cohesion. Wonder if changes to that are even being discussed.

By: Yamil Perez

Yamil Perez — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 02:00:51 +0000

Standard has always been about its storyline. There’s a reason why a set like Phyrexia: All Will Be One even exists today. That’s because phyrexians became Magic’s iconic villains during Invasion block. Many of those stories could go on for years. They were extremely effective in keeping players engaged because you could see the scenes from the stories being narrated in the cards. It was a huge component of the game. Standard right now has become mostly themed sets with no continuity. Themed sets like Lord of the Rings are fine, but Standard needs a real continuous storyline from one set to another in order to stay relevant. It’s what players are asking for.