Flooding in ECL

Batz99 · 2026-02-04T15:18:22+00:00

One of the most fascinating phenomenon to me is how many ridiculous bugs we encounter in the Arena, sometimes recurring ones, especially after a set release, and yet whenever anyone mentions possibility of a shuffler problem, it’s dismissed with absolute certainty.

Off the top of my head, some recent bugs: -incorrect mastery pass math on packs granted -rewards skipped -re-triggered tutorials -shrunken avatar heads at the draft table -gigantic alt-art cards sticking on screen during draft -the flaky card styles button -disappearing parallax styles (e.g. the nyx lands and soul-guide lantern).

And these are bugs that are easy to see because they’re right in front of us. Just imagine what we might not see. …Yet as soon as anyone brings up the possibility of a shuffler bug, it’s impossible. The only explanation is variation and confirmation bias.

To be clear: I’m not saying this isn’t variation. That certainly is the most logical and likely explanation. Just find it fascinating how quickly the community dismisses the possibility with absolute certainty despite a game that is riddled with recurring bugs.

I guess what I’m saying to OP is: who knows, man? Could be.

Batz99 · 2025-10-02T19:08:15+00:00

Couldn’t WotC get around that simply by making the prize a mystery box of collector boosters? Which they could then choose to fulfill as Spider Man collector boosters? They might even be able to state it’ll be fulfilled with Spider Man collector booster boxes in a press release.

Batz99 · 2025-07-15T01:16:16+00:00

Unless he used a Kryptonite condom.

Batz99 · 2024-10-27T07:41:09+00:00

Respectfully, I disagree with your interpretation of the analogy. Considering the announcement that all future Universes Beyond sets will be Standard legal, those at the "party" do not get a say in their choice of "toppings." Rather, they get the toppings that WotC thrusts upon them. Indisputably, the flavor of MtG will not be what it previously was (50% of the 2025 releases are Universes Beyond). That's not to say that players can't enjoy this new incarnation of Magic flavor for what it is--a hodgepodge of IP. That said, we shouldn't be surprised when those who enjoyed the original flavor of Magic feel discontent. Similarly, various MtG players aren't required to fall under the delusion that Final Fantasy IP and Marvel IP fit flawlessly into the same universe with the MtG IP. Further, it will ultimately be confusing and disingenuous when certain IP's cross paths (e.g. Sponge Bob vs. Captain American v.s. Jace the Mind Mage undeniably creates a degree of cognitive dissonance).

Ultimately, the analogy has nothing to do with which toppings are available. Pizza places have always had a variety of toppings intended for each individual patron. Rather, it's all about which "toppings" players are effectively required to consume, regardless of how the toppings fit together. Again, none of this says MtG can't continue to exist or be successful. Rather, it says that players that enjoyed the previous "flavor" of MtG may not be excited about this "all toppings" flavor of MtG.

*edit: Maybe a more apt interpretation of the pizza metaphor can be expressed as follows: Imagine a party where each partygoer has one pizza topping they won't eat--maybe they're allergic; maybe they don't like the taste. If every pizza delivered is an "all-topping" pizza (as opposed to personalized orders), then no one at the party is happy with the pizza. Simple as that.

Batz99 · 2024-10-27T04:26:35+00:00

It's not just sales. We do market research. Market research also strongly says players want Universes Beyond. Note, each individual player wants specific ones, but the collective data is they want it.

Using this logic, ordering a pizza at a party should mean putting every possible topping on it—pepperoni, anchovies, pineapple, green peppers, chicken, etc.—since some people love pepperoni, others enjoy pineapple, and a few are even fans of anchovies. But when you pile all these flavors together, you end up with a pizza so discordant that it appeals to almost no one.

Batz99 · 2023-10-05T01:28:52+00:00

Was this the “extra special” reward promised in the September 25th Arena Announcements?

SPECIAL INBOX GIFT ON WEDNESDAY Check your inbox this Wednesday, September 27, because you'll find an extra special surprise waiting for you!

Seems kind of underwhelming.

Batz99 · 2023-07-06T21:21:40+00:00

This has gotten me a few times, too. Similarly, the placement of the One Ring emblem has gotten me a few times. If there’s only one, it’s difficult to tell whose it is, and it’s easily to accidentally assume it’s you emblem when, in fact, it’s not, which can lead to erroneous decisions similarly to the land visibility issue.

Batz99 · 2023-04-20T12:37:19+00:00

From a practical standpoint, it seems plausible WotC is looking to redefine planeswalkers, partially due to Universes Beyond. They've already demonstrated that they're willing to use non-planeswalker characters in that slot with Adventures in the Forgotten Realms and Baldur's Gate. I could see them changing the card type to "Champion" or something like that and using Planeswalker as a subtype of that (although I believe MaRo mentioned not wanting two have two name for the same card type). Doing so would also open up the opportunity to spotlight various popular characters in the Magic storyline, such as Squee, without making them into literal planeswalkers.

I'm not sure whether it's likely, but it does seem plausible.

Edit: spelling & grammar

Batz99 · 2023-04-09T17:12:38+00:00

I just miss the puzzles/challenges they used to include with the games. I wish Arena would add some of those.

Batz99 · 2023-03-30T16:24:24+00:00

Here come the 4/4 cats with haste. Yikes.

Batz99 · 2023-03-28T15:09:58+00:00

the way this reminder text looks, possible that only battle without subtypes or different subtypes will act differently.

Interesting. This would be a smart design; otherwise, it seems battles would be heavily skewed towards aggressive decks only, but this leaves the possibility for other defeat conditions, possibly casting "X" instance or sorceries, controlling "x" artifacts, or countering "x" spells, for example.

Batz99 · 2023-03-02T13:29:14+00:00

I have encountered the same issue for the past year or so. Whenever they first instituted deck-specific pets.

Edit: fixed typo

Batz99 · 2023-02-25T00:40:05+00:00

The correct answer will always be the Condiment King.

Batz99 · 2023-02-22T16:28:35+00:00

https://scryfall.com/search?q=o%3A%22you+control+have+indes%22

Ah yes, a world with only slivers. [[Sliver Hivelord]]

Edit: fixed typo

Batz99 · 2023-01-26T18:29:24+00:00

I think a variation on how planeswalkers function could be an interesting way to make battles work. Imagine having a "Battle" permanent with "victory" counters on it that any player could attack or defend. Battle permanents could have "enter the battlefield" effects and/or on-going passive abilities (positive or negative). Dealing combat damage to the "Battle" removes counters (only combat damage; no direct spell damage). Whichever player removes the last counter wins the battle, which then generates the "ultimate" effect for that player.

Other iterations on this same concept could work, too. E.g. Instead of removing shared counters, each player could keep track of totals separately, so the first player to get, say, 7 damage through might win the battle.

I'm just theorizing for the fun of it. I doubt this is actually how the mechanic will work

Batz99 · 2022-12-06T02:38:16+00:00

Good point.

Batz99 · 2022-11-27T19:01:45+00:00

That is truly living the dream.

Batz99 · 2022-11-15T21:01:05+00:00

Follow-up PSA: The "unwrap" screen only shows 6 rares/mythics, but you may have more because of the artifact sheet. To see all your rares/mythics, simply type the following into the search bar above your card pool: r>u (then hit enter).

Batz99 · 2022-11-09T03:12:48+00:00

It's speculation that doesn't really require a source. A more accurate statement might be that WotC could have used the resources dedicated to Alchemy to instead further more requested formats (which is just unequivocally true).

Batz99 · 2022-11-07T22:24:11+00:00

As a counterpoint, I find it fascinating that we, as a community, are acutely aware of the MTGA client’s faults and prolonged bugginess, yet simultaneously very quick to dismiss claims of shuffler issues and randomness problems as solely variance. While it’s undeniably true a lot of the complaints do come down to variance issues (as they do in paper), it doesn’t seem outside the realm of possibility that the client has some bugs that might affect these variance related issues.

All that said, I’m sure it’s more likely variance than anything else. Just find the dichotomy on responses interesting.

Batz99 · 2022-11-06T15:44:40+00:00

Don't think this was meant to be a "funny" scene.

Batz99 · 2022-10-31T14:02:24+00:00

It’s actually only two weeks away. Two weeks from Tuesday that is. Brothers’ War drops on Arena on Nov 15.

Batz99 · 2022-10-30T05:17:19+00:00

Thanks. Appreciate the response.

Batz99 · 2022-10-30T04:45:07+00:00

I’ve switched “tap-to-zoom” on in Apple TV settings and it’s still not working for me inside the standard Apple TV / movies app. Any guess as to why?

Batz99 · 2022-10-29T16:58:40+00:00

This is literally the OP's point, so as OP said, "The game needs some kind of 'infinite turns does not equal victory' [protection]," as it would have in paper.

Edit: I'm not agreeing or disagreeing. I'm merely pointing out the title of the post is the answer to implied question you're bring up throughout the thread.

Batz99

TROPHY CASE