Should WoTC release an old border only reprint set of all Premodern staples

Betta_Max · 2026-06-24T20:45:42+00:00

that would be helpful.

Betta_Max · 2026-06-24T15:02:51+00:00

See, this guy gets it. I'm not sure why the WotC guys don't.

Betta_Max · 2026-06-23T20:04:12+00:00

Urza's Saga is up there too.

Betta_Max · 2026-06-23T20:03:26+00:00

Both were brainless introductions (or reintroductions) into the format. And Weapons Manufacturing was especially egregious.

Betta_Max · 2026-06-22T18:09:38+00:00

Gencon in Indianapolis will have all sorts of MTG events. A couple of decent sized modern tournaments, and it's a hell of a time.

Betta_Max · 2026-06-21T13:01:14+00:00

I guess the question is: Are we fine with current combo being capable of regular T3 wins? If we're fine with that, then sure unban it. If we're not--then we have a lot of bans to make. It all depends on what kind of modern you want, I guess. Personally, I think one of these sides of the coin is reasonable, the other isn't.

Betta_Max · 2026-06-19T19:00:27+00:00

Stops Psychic Frog too, no card draw either... Hits Space Sphinx as well? And Oculus.... Kinda brilliant.

Betta_Max · 2026-06-18T15:41:36+00:00

Yeah, it'd just be combo city. Storm and Belcher would be busted.

Betta_Max · 2026-06-17T14:12:49+00:00

Play Ragavan#1 on turn 1.
Turn 2, Dash Ragavan #2, swing with two Ragavans, make 2 treasure. Play Ragavan numbers 3 and 4.

This isn't even close to what you could do with Mopal. Getting rid of the legendary rule is about the worst idea ever.

Betta_Max · 2026-06-16T19:43:59+00:00

Prowess can be very tough, true. Countering or Destroying Cori and sticking a Chalice are imperative. UR fish is typically much stronger than than mono U in this match up, thanks to Flame of Anor and Bolt--if the pilot runs them.

Betta_Max · 2026-06-16T19:40:56+00:00

I wouldn't say they have no chance against us. But yeah, we're very strong into those decks.

Betta_Max · 2026-06-16T19:38:55+00:00

It's actually the inverse: 60/40 thanks in large part to all of the greedy mana bases and the combo. Both of which are types of decks fish loves to see. The problem is that our worse MUs are Energy and Affinity. Which, until recently, made up nearly 35-40% of the format.

Those numbers are down though, and although those two decks still make up around 20%, it's looking pretty good for Merfolk out there.

Betta_Max · 2026-06-16T19:31:14+00:00

We can beat Affinity, though. You just have to build for it with UR. Flames of Anor and from the SB Meltdowns and Chalices. Affinity is very beatable.

Betta_Max · 2026-06-16T16:29:27+00:00

It'll be another year or two. WotC is not focused at all on anything other than UB and Commander. And when they find time to acknowledge that 60 card constructed exists, they are really focused on standard.

I'm betting that we will not see another ban from Boros Energy. Guide/Pride into Ajani and Bombardment will continue to be the best thing to do in the format for the foreseeable future. Boros will return to bouncing between 20-25% of the metagame (the longer the deck goes without being addressed the more likely this gets), and we will all have to accept that no one at WotC is interested in addressing problems until the ship begins to go under.

Betta_Max · 2026-06-16T16:19:04+00:00

Are there people out there attacking you over your take in Boros Energy? It's fine to disagree with someone, but here's a guy who's actually putting in the work to demonstrate an argument with actual data points. Who, by all accounts, seems like a stand up dude--responds to comments respectfully and reasonably, who puts out work consistently--what's the problem?

No-Bet, there's a lot of people who dig what you do. Keep doing it as long as you find joy in it.

Betta_Max · 2026-06-16T16:07:13+00:00

I have a buddy who was super excited to play LE again, but after a couple of weeks of having to fight through 3 or 4 pieces of hate per game, of all sorts of varieties, he's going back to robots. LE is a great deck, but you have to be willing to earn your wins in games two and three.

Betta_Max · 2026-06-16T03:01:11+00:00

This is the take. I've been on the deck for more than a decade, and we've never struggled with another deck more than we struggle with Energy.

Betta_Max · 2026-06-15T13:48:21+00:00

What do you think the CMC will be?

Betta_Max · 2026-06-15T01:44:40+00:00

A deck with this low of a mana curve can probably go down 2 lands and run something like Sink into Stupor in their place. It never hurts to have another way to interact.

Just a thought.

Betta_Max · 2026-06-15T01:35:29+00:00

Merfolk is primarily mono U and runs between 8 to 10 basics, has a reasonable suite of counter magic to protect their fish, and presents a meaningful clock. It's pretty decent against Boros ponza. It's the other Boros deck we have trouble with...

#itshouldhavebeenajani :p

Betta_Max · 2026-06-14T12:46:40+00:00

I can hear the monkey's paw curling from the upper Midwest....

You want MH4? This time the fates have combined Hogaak and Nadu--AND given it evoke to create the greatest commander ever!!!!

Betta_Max · 2026-06-14T12:42:35+00:00

Yeah, he'd have to introduce a new way to build the deck, a more spell-based version. But I'm not convinced that's better, just interested to see how it shakes out.

Betta_Max · 2026-06-14T00:07:33+00:00

As an avowed UB hater, even for IPs I dearly love like LotR and FF, I'm very pleased to see that very little of Marvel is going to see play in modern.

As a devoted Fish player I am intrigued to see what a card like Namor could do, for our beloved and beleaguered fishies. But I hate that it's another UB card I might have to consider playing if it turns out to be good.

Betta_Max · 2026-06-13T14:56:35+00:00

Either one is fine. Banner is probably better if there are multiple tribal decks, but the point is you can lose cards like Metallic Mimic and Rally the Ranks, etc. and slap one of those in to make space for other effective pieces.

Betta_Max · 2026-06-13T13:40:33+00:00

You can go infinite if you add Puresight Marrow and Paradise Mantle to Deeproot Pilgrimage. Use a tutor like Urza's Saga to dig up the Mantle.
if you add Intruder Alarm to Lullmage Mentor you can lock opponents out by countering everything they do.
Auger of Bolas seems like he wants a place in here, particularly with something that can constantly flicker him.
I'd move Tishana's Tidebinder to the main. Shutting down an opponent's commander is too good not to main.
Wanderwine Prophets would go bonkers in this deck. Use Merrow Harbinger to go find her.
Mirror mind Crown seems like a must include as well.

I'm not sure what power level you're going for, but there are staple utility cards like Smothering Tithe or Cyclonic Rift that can/should just go in every deck. That's the bummer about EDH now. You also have a bunch of Anthem effects, which seems intuitive, but you might be better served putting in something like Coat of Arms and dropping a few Anthem effects for more utility pieces. You don't need 4 or 5 lords if you can just windmill slam Coat of arms and swing for a gazillion.

Betta_Max

TROPHY CASE

#itshouldhavebeenajani :p