With The One Ring banned and Energy nerfed, Modern is in an experimental phase. However, the data doesn't reflect this due to MTGO being the only data source.

The post December ’24 Metagame Update: A Sneak Peak first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

In September, Modern's metagame developed along the same lines as it did in August. This is not a good thing, and it is getting much worse. David has the data.

The post September ’23 Modern Metagame Update: Getting Cheated first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

The June Modern Metagame Update is here. New additions have stirred Modern's mostly stagnant metagame, but that might not be permanent. David has the details.

The post June ’23 Metagame Update: Churn Returns first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

Despite data indicating the recession of certain negative trends, Modern's metagame is moving in concerning directions... and towards becoming solved.

The post May ’23 Metagame Analysis: Trending Concerning first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

The Modern Metagame Update is out. Modern continues to be stable, despite efforts of rogue decks to make a mark. Some unexpected decks did well in May.

The post May ’23 Metagame Update: Continued Continuity first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

April's Modern metagame data is deceptive. The tale that the numbers suggest isn't the story that actually happened. David E has the explanation inside.

The post April ’23 Metagame Analysis: Not Neck and Neck first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

April's Modern Metagame Update shows the top decks settling in while innovation and change rock the lower tiers. And Murktide has a surprise for us, too!

The post April ’23 Metagame Update: Looking Familiar first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

What is the best deck in Modern? There are many possible answers, but David E. has the data-driven case for Murktide being the best deck in Modern today.

The post Caught Blue-Handed: Is Murktide Modern’s Best Deck? first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

While the data is clear, the reasons behind Modern's metagame trends remains elusive. David E. has a finger on the deck driving the changes, and how to respond.

The post March ’23 Metagame Analysis: A Fable of Outliers first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

The March Modern Metagame Update is ready. Modern is incredibly stable, and that is translating into highly polarized, and not ideal, data. David E. explains.

The post March ’23 Metagame Update: Overwhelming Outliers first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

How much of Modern's "diversity" is really just the same strategies masquerading as different decks? David E. asks whether the numbers really do lie.

The post Data Danger: Modern Is Not as Diverse as You Think first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

The February Modern Metagame Update is here, and its data seems deeply at odds with the claims Wizards made about format win rates. What's the real story?

The post February ’23 Metagame Update: Closed Circle first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

The Pioneer metagame isn't changing post-Pro Tour. David E. believes that physics has the answer to why players seem unwilling to innovate or change decks.

The post “New Decks Are Bad:” Overcoming Metagame Inertia first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

With Pro Tour Phyrexia in the books, David E. starts to wonder if he got Pioneer all wrong. Have Magic's best managed to crack the format's secret identity?

The post The Secret Identity of Pioneer: Pro Tour Weekend Lessons first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

Attention, insiders! Modern is entering a new period of churn. All Will Be One may even lead to bannings. David E. shows you how to get ahead of the risk.

The post January ’23 Metagame Analysis: Return of Churn first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

The January Modern Metagame Update is here. In this month, the top decks remain stable while the lower tiers show more innovation and experimentation.

The post January ’23 Metagame Update: Before the Storm first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

Adam's back with a Modern tournament report fresh from SCGCON NJ. Read on to see just how Indomitable his Creativity was this weekend!

The post Tournament Report: SCGCON NJ first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

Modern is moving in a decidedly red direction. Indomitable Creativity decks are diverging between paper and online play. David E. explains how and why.

The post December ’22 Metagame Analysis: A Warp Has Formed first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

New month, new Modern metagame update. While there have been shakeups within the Tiers, the last update of 2022 looks familiar... and that's alarming.

The post December ’22 Metagame Update: Concerning Continuity first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

The end of the year means an update to the Modern Ban Watchlist. The metagame has failed to deal with its outliers and so corrective bans may be incoming.

The post Modern Ban Watchlist: 2023 Edition first appeared on Quiet Speculation.