There is a clear metagame warp in January's data. However, it appears to be driven less by actual metagame forces than Magic Online being Magic Online.

The post January ’24 Metagame Update: Convergent Consensus first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

With Fury and Up the Beanstalk banned, Modern is set to dramatically change. The data clearly shows how necessary the bans were, though the impact is uncertain.

The post November ’23 Metagame Update: A New World first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

The Pro Tour strongly reflects the impact of Tales of Middle Earth. Modern's metagame is warping around the set to an alarming degree. The data is quite clear.

The post July ’23 Metagame Update: The Pro Tour Effect first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

The One Ring is driving the metagame changes in Modern. However, the impact isn't particularly high, and the card's power remains unclear.

The post June ’23 Metagame Analysis: Ringing In first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

The One Ring is the most impactful Modern card in a long time. Mapson covers the best ways to both play and beat the shining newcomer.

The post The New RingPin of Modern 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.

Proactive decks are tougher to play and design than they look. David E. measures their proactivity and explores how pilots can fatally swerve out of lane.

The post Life in the Fast Lane: How to Get the Most Out Of Proactive Decks 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 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.

Modern's metagame has been shaken up repeatedly, but that's not obvious looking at winning decks. Modern is thus in a complicated place, as David E. explains.

The post State of Modern: 2022 Edition first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

October has proven to be both a volatile and a stable month for Modern. David E looks into the reason for the contradiction and what to expect in November.

The post October ’22 Metagame Analysis: Adaptation and Endurance first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

David E. expected 4-Color Omnath to bounce back quickly from Yorion, Sky Nomad being banned. That isn't happening, and there are surprising reasons why.

The post Post-Banning Check-in: Yorion Edition first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

Yorion, Sky Nomad has been banned in Modern. David E. breaks down the implications of this ban, which stands to change Modern without changing the metagame.

The post Big Decks Begone: Yorion’s Banned first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

Modern's metagame is shifting. Some of it is predictable, but some unforeseen developments are nonetheless returning Modern to a state of heavy flux.

The post September ’22 Metagame Analysis: Metagame Shift first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

Though Tier 1 remains stable, the September Metagame Update reflects a shaking of the lower tiers as Modern adapts to Leyline Binding. David E. shares the data.

The post September ’22 Metagame Update: An Old Threat Rises first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

When players build new decks, they often skip straight to playtesting. David E. explains why that's like skipping from concept design to full product release.

The post Fundamentals: When to Playtest vs Goldfish first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

David breaks down the cards to watch in DMU and how their arrival plays into the shifting metagame. Plus: is this the end for Izzet Murktide?

The post August ’22 Metagame Analysis: An Era Ending? first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

Modern's stability continues unabated. However, there are signs that, beneath the surface, change is occurring. David E. has the data to demonstrate the change.

The post August ’22 Metagame Update: Izzet Still Going? first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

David E. finally made an RCQ Top 8 after consistently underperforming. He discusses what it took to get there, his preparation, and some tricks of the trade.

The post Top 8 RCQ Finish: Modern Burn first appeared on Quiet Speculation.

Adam picks up his third RCQ Top 8, this time with 4c Omnath. He goes over which dials need adjusting, and his plans for future iterations on the archetype.

The post Top 2 RCQ Finish: Modern 4C Control first appeared on Quiet Speculation.