(Magic) The State of Standard...in Magic!

Key Concepts

• Magic Standard format
• Metagame analysis
• Card banning considerations
• Monstrous Rage
• Up the Beanstalk
• Card advantage
• Power creep
• Format health
• Competitive Magic
• Universes Beyond

Magic Standard Metagame Analysis and Potential Card Bans

Importance of Standard

• Standard is crucial for competitive Magic and Magic broadly, even if Commander is more popular.
• It's the format where new cards matter, preventing endless power creep seen in Eternal formats like Modern.
• The Pro Tour and competitive events give Magic longevity by making the game feel meaningful.
• Standard's rotation ensures cards don't have to be increasingly powerful to be relevant.
• Wizards has revitalized Standard with events like the Spotlight Series and increased Pro Tour presence.

Concerns About Universes Beyond and Pricing

• The inclusion of Universes Beyond sets increases the card pool significantly (from four to six sets).
• Premium pricing on Universes Beyond products, similar to Modern Horizons, puts financial pressure on players.
• This could undo the progress made in revitalizing Standard, as players may be unwilling to buy more expensive sets.

Dominant Cards and Their Impact

• The current Standard metagame is dominated by two cards: Up the Beanstalk and Monstrous Rage.
• These cards define the format, with fast games revolving around Monstrous Rage and long games around Up the Beanstalk.

Monstrous Rage Analysis

• Problem: Monstrous Rage makes blocking ineffective, removing a key element of gameplay.
• Details: It gives trample to aggressive red decks, often combined with double strike from cards like Manifest Mouse, leading to quick, unexpected game endings.
• Impact: Players are forced to rely solely on removal, making decks vulnerable to other strategies.
• Example: The prevalence of "drew three Monstrous Rages" as a bad beat story highlights its impact.
• Argument: While the Bloomtender Mouse package could also be considered, Monstrous Rage is more problematic due to its impact on blocking.
• Quote: "The element that Monstrous Rage brings that I think is particularly problematic is not just power level it is that it is basically impossible to use creatures as a defensive tool against an aggressive red deck."
• Data: Red decks, including mono-red aggro, G/R Mice, and Boros Mice, are a significant portion of the metagame, often understated in breakdowns.

Up the Beanstalk Analysis

• Problem: Up the Beanstalk trivializes card advantage, a fundamental aspect of Magic.
• Details: It's a cheap card (two mana) that replaces itself upon being played and effectively makes every other card draw an additional card.
• Impact: It diminishes the value of traditional card advantage strategies, such as playing cards like Stockpile.
• Example: Matt Nass's domain deck featuring four copies of Up the Beanstalk won the Pro Tour.
• Argument: While alternate casting cost cards like Overlords and Layline Binding are powerful, Up the Beanstalk exacerbates their strength.
• Quote: "It's just an outrageously powerful tool that gives you one of the most powerful resources in the entire game incredibly cheaply."
• Examples: The Aether Drift deck in the Pro Tour top eight was a green-black Beanstalk deck that played delve creatures.

Proposed Bans and Potential Consequences

• Recommendation: Ban both Monstrous Rage and Up the Beanstalk to improve format diversity and fun.
• Consideration: Banning these cards could lead to the rise of another dominant deck, such as Esper Pixie.
• Alternative: If Monstrous Rage is banned, consider unbanning Cut Down, a black removal spell.
• Quote: "I do think that monster rage and beanock should be banned... I think they would make the format more fun."

Technical Terms

• Metagame: The prevailing strategies and deck archetypes in a particular format.
• Power Creep: The gradual increase in the power level of new cards over time.
• Eternal Formats: Non-rotating formats like Modern and Commander where older cards remain legal.
• Card Advantage: The ability to have more cards in hand or available to play than your opponent.
• Trample: An ability that allows excess damage from an attacking creature to be dealt to the defending player.
• Double Strike: An ability that allows a creature to deal damage twice in combat.
• Delve: A mechanic that allows you to exile cards from your graveyard to reduce the cost of a spell.
• Alternate Casting Cost: An alternative way to pay for a spell, often involving additional requirements or restrictions.

Logical Connections

• The video starts by establishing the importance of Standard and Wizards' efforts to revitalize it.
• It then raises concerns about Universes Beyond and pricing, which could undermine these efforts.
• The core argument focuses on the dominance of Monstrous Rage and Up the Beanstalk and their negative impact on gameplay.
• The video concludes with a call for these cards to be banned, with considerations for potential consequences and alternative actions.

Synthesis/Conclusion

The speaker argues that while Wizards has made positive strides in revitalizing Magic Standard, the format is currently constrained by the dominance of Monstrous Rage and Up the Beanstalk. These cards warp the metagame, limit strategic diversity, and reduce the overall fun of the format. Banning these cards, while potentially leading to new challenges, is presented as the best course of action to create a healthier and more engaging Standard environment.