I really appreciate the discussion of the set itself rather than just, sticking to strategy. It’s a good combo and I also appreciate the honesty on who the set is for.
I have to say the statement "the good formats are where you win a lot and the bad formats are where you lose a lot" really speaks to me lmao. I've not had a good lot of luck with this format so far but I really want to like it!
Music to my ears hearing your opinion on the set compared to the common opinion you hear on reddit/social media. I've really enjoyed drafting this set. Your line about this set not being blistering fast is so true.
There's always dislike of a format. It's tough to adjust to a new set and a new style. Our job as limited grinders is to take every advantage we can--whether we like the set or not!
One thing that I haven't heard said yet that I think impacts the "speed of the format" discussion: The slower control decks like GU, RU, BU... They have a proliferate for the win option that ends up being faster than the traditional control archetypes. I believe this means that the overall average number of turns will be lowered, as the longest games are shorter. Btw, I'm LOVING this format. So many good interesting decision points.
Great analysis, thanks. I especially found the reevaluation of skull bombs and of the sphere lands useful. I noticed at the beginning of the Archetype section you listed RW aggro as one of the best archetypes but then you didn't talk about it in more detail. Is there a reason for that?
Honestly, i think RG being the best deck comes down to 3 things. 1) its actually a synergy deck, whereas RG is usually just a big stat beat down deck but now in one it has synergy 2) Everyone(Noobs included) can see the white cards, common and uncommon, looked ridiculously good. White was and is extremely contested since the start of the draft, meaning the power of white has generally been diluted and you can get a better RG deck since white is contested on average. 3) RG has alot of tools to specifically deal with white cards. It will almost certainly go down the more people know about how good RG is. Not sure i agree with the take on the format however. Winning is fun, and you're apparently doing a lot of it. But playing a set and enjoying it isn't the same as whether you enjoy winning. I'm 10+ drafts in, and blue being so bad, the format so fast and me losing when i'm on the draw more often than normal(I don't have the 17 lands but i've kept track how many w/l compared to on draw/play for this set) hasn't made for a great experience. Basically if i lose to a blue deck it comes down to me drawing poorly or some poorly written card that i never see being cast(Bomb) and me misreading it. Because the clock is so fast, you don't have time for RNG stumbles like missing a land drop early or flooding out. That happens, in a format so low to the ground where curving out matters most, and its generally just over in this format. Doesn't matter how good your deck is in those circumstances, and that scenario happens way more in this set than i can think of in any other. And when you add up all the "Luck" factors in this set, its higher than normal and at some point just stops being fun.
Re: evasive 1&2 drop creatures - I think there are additional creatures (specifically) at the 3 drop slot that create evasion for your 2 drops. The 2/2 flyer that gives flying when it ETBs and the 3 mana artifact 2/2 with oil counters that when you remove one it gives flying, deathtouch etc. Additionally, regarding the strength of toxic, I think you are down playing it a bit. Every proliferate card or the few cards that say "add a poison counter" may as well read deal 2 to face. However, the effect is actually stronger than this because unlike life you can not reduce the impact of toxic damage. I.e. lifegain mitigates damage, however there is no way to remove poison counters once added. So toxic damage of 1 is actually better than 2 normal damage. I think given proliferate and what I've mentioned above, toxic 1 probably is closer to 2.5 normal damage.
Agree! My list wasn't meant to be exhaustive, just representative. My point was just that it's not like every creature you face is exert-like. Blocking works about as much as it does in other sets.
I agree with not being able to follow your dreams. I was cooking with staff of completion + archfiend + scheming aspirant and wasn't really rewarded building around that.
I have beat both the bombs he showed, but I did not come close to a loss with Kaito (theme: evasion and draw deck lol). Also have not seen Evolved Spinoderm lose lol
Is play/draw win rate tracked by color combination? The play/draw disparity for WB decks has felt far and away the worst I can ever remember it being. The sample size may be too small, but in my drafts getting 2-6 wins (so ignored decks that were really good or really bad), the play/draw record of matches with or against WB is 14-2.
Valid points defending the set. Regardless, if a set requires 15+ drafts to start feeling good for a limited pro, so even longer for a more casual player, that is a colossal failure. Vast majority of the limited playerbase will not put enough games in to get to the feelgood state, especially if the first couple are awful, and will have an overall miserable experience with this format. Also, as you pointed out, with having to "play the right cards" or get dunked on in this format, that means a huge chunk of the set are traps. Eventually, this knowledge will be out there, and majority of the remaining players will act accordingly, which will lead to a big shortage of those right cards in most draft pods. In a league style play, this means your games will be decided by variables completely outside of your control, as no amount of drafting skill can overcome a shortage of actual playables in a pod. Similar situation to the dominance of Brokers in SNC.
Agree, after day 1 I decided I would t draft again until I saw Alex's opinion on the set and some more drafts from him and other players. Just not worth the energy to try to figure out the format on my own dime!
I find it ironic that all his examples of the good combat tricks and the good removals are both R and W. I think that’s the biggest disappointment of the set.
I don’t have problems with the pace or removal options. I lose every game to Eternal Wander, Troll, or White Sun’s Twilight. It’s just all bombs all the time.
Yup. The format is fast as hell. For some reason redditors think that correlation or data pointing a certain way means the opposite must be true. If the data is showing it’s fast, everyone anecdotally says it’s fast and you keep saying MUH SAMPLE SIZE you’re coping. Redditors are insufferable midwits. This is the fastest draft format ever. Screen cap this.
Alex still undefeated as the best limited content creator
I really appreciate the discussion of the set itself rather than just, sticking to strategy. It’s a good combo and I also appreciate the honesty on who the set is for.
First time Red-Green has been the "best deck" of any draft set for a very long time
I have to say the statement "the good formats are where you win a lot and the bad formats are where you lose a lot" really speaks to me lmao. I've not had a good lot of luck with this format so far but I really want to like it!
Alex you're the best! Haven't had a chance to draft yet but I already feel like I know the format thanks to your deep analysis
Music to my ears hearing your opinion on the set compared to the common opinion you hear on reddit/social media. I've really enjoyed drafting this set. Your line about this set not being blistering fast is so true.
There's always dislike of a format. It's tough to adjust to a new set and a new style. Our job as limited grinders is to take every advantage we can--whether we like the set or not!
One thing that I haven't heard said yet that I think impacts the "speed of the format" discussion: The slower control decks like GU, RU, BU... They have a proliferate for the win option that ends up being faster than the traditional control archetypes. I believe this means that the overall average number of turns will be lowered, as the longest games are shorter. Btw, I'm LOVING this format. So many good interesting decision points.
These are always awesome! Thanks Alex!
Great analysis, thanks. I especially found the reevaluation of skull bombs and of the sphere lands useful. I noticed at the beginning of the Archetype section you listed RW aggro as one of the best archetypes but then you didn't talk about it in more detail. Is there a reason for that?
Best out there man. Thank you so much
I lost my first 8 games and don't think it's a bad format. Looking forward to my first RCQ in ONE Sealed tomorrow!
love the nut sac pun. so smooth.
I’m loving this set! Weird how people don’t like it
You just gotta like playing the early game with 1s and 2s, which I do, my favorite part of MID was that every color had playable 1s and 2s at common.
Thanks a lot Alex!
The sac is nuts!
Honestly, i think RG being the best deck comes down to 3 things. 1) its actually a synergy deck, whereas RG is usually just a big stat beat down deck but now in one it has synergy 2) Everyone(Noobs included) can see the white cards, common and uncommon, looked ridiculously good. White was and is extremely contested since the start of the draft, meaning the power of white has generally been diluted and you can get a better RG deck since white is contested on average. 3) RG has alot of tools to specifically deal with white cards. It will almost certainly go down the more people know about how good RG is.
Not sure i agree with the take on the format however. Winning is fun, and you're apparently doing a lot of it. But playing a set and enjoying it isn't the same as whether you enjoy winning. I'm 10+ drafts in, and blue being so bad, the format so fast and me losing when i'm on the draw more often than normal(I don't have the 17 lands but i've kept track how many w/l compared to on draw/play for this set) hasn't made for a great experience. Basically if i lose to a blue deck it comes down to me drawing poorly or some poorly written card that i never see being cast(Bomb) and me misreading it.
Because the clock is so fast, you don't have time for RNG stumbles like missing a land drop early or flooding out. That happens, in a format so low to the ground where curving out matters most, and its generally just over in this format. Doesn't matter how good your deck is in those circumstances, and that scenario happens way more in this set than i can think of in any other. And when you add up all the "Luck" factors in this set, its higher than normal and at some point just stops being fun.
Re: evasive 1&2 drop creatures - I think there are additional creatures (specifically) at the 3 drop slot that create evasion for your 2 drops. The 2/2 flyer that gives flying when it ETBs and the 3 mana artifact 2/2 with oil counters that when you remove one it gives flying, deathtouch etc.
Additionally, regarding the strength of toxic, I think you are down playing it a bit. Every proliferate card or the few cards that say "add a poison counter" may as well read deal 2 to face. However, the effect is actually stronger than this because unlike life you can not reduce the impact of toxic damage. I.e. lifegain mitigates damage, however there is no way to remove poison counters once added. So toxic damage of 1 is actually better than 2 normal damage. I think given proliferate and what I've mentioned above, toxic 1 probably is closer to 2.5 normal damage.
Agree! My list wasn't meant to be exhaustive, just representative. My point was just that it's not like every creature you face is exert-like. Blocking works about as much as it does in other sets.
I agree with not being able to follow your dreams. I was cooking with staff of completion + archfiend + scheming aspirant and wasn't really rewarded building around that.
Wow, that sounds sick!
I have beat both the bombs he showed, but I did not come close to a loss with Kaito (theme: evasion and draw deck lol). Also have not seen Evolved Spinoderm lose lol
Saw this on my Google news feed! Do you pay Google for that? I miss all the podcast notifications
Very weird! I don't haha. I'm not sure what's up with that.
Is play/draw win rate tracked by color combination? The play/draw disparity for WB decks has felt far and away the worst I can ever remember it being. The sample size may be too small, but in my drafts getting 2-6 wins (so ignored decks that were really good or really bad), the play/draw record of matches with or against WB is 14-2.
Valid points defending the set. Regardless, if a set requires 15+ drafts to start feeling good for a limited pro, so even longer for a more casual player, that is a colossal failure. Vast majority of the limited playerbase will not put enough games in to get to the feelgood state, especially if the first couple are awful, and will have an overall miserable experience with this format.
Also, as you pointed out, with having to "play the right cards" or get dunked on in this format, that means a huge chunk of the set are traps. Eventually, this knowledge will be out there, and majority of the remaining players will act accordingly, which will lead to a big shortage of those right cards in most draft pods. In a league style play, this means your games will be decided by variables completely outside of your control, as no amount of drafting skill can overcome a shortage of actual playables in a pod. Similar situation to the dominance of Brokers in SNC.
Agree, after day 1 I decided I would t draft again until I saw Alex's opinion on the set and some more drafts from him and other players. Just not worth the energy to try to figure out the format on my own dime!
I thoroughly believe this is the worst format in years. It is god awful nonsense.
@@SommBuddy1 cant be worse then snc can it?
*pauses video half way through* drafts R/G oil deck and undefeated in it
My Eye of Malticors love to block!
The bad guys win in this set One is supposed to make us Sad.... #thanoswasright #empirestrikesback #infinitywarwasthelastgoodmarvelfilm
I find it ironic that all his examples of the good combat tricks and the good removals are both R and W. I think that’s the biggest disappointment of the set.
I don’t have problems with the pace or removal options. I lose every game to Eternal Wander, Troll, or White Sun’s Twilight. It’s just all bombs all the time.
Holy copium.
As If opinions can be different 😯
Yup. The format is fast as hell. For some reason redditors think that correlation or data pointing a certain way means the opposite must be true. If the data is showing it’s fast, everyone anecdotally says it’s fast and you keep saying MUH SAMPLE SIZE you’re coping. Redditors are insufferable midwits. This is the fastest draft format ever. Screen cap this.
I’ll save you all an hour of your life. Draft guide = open ridiculous bomb. If not, close program and go outside.