There is a clear difference between the Stale metas of Pioneer VS Pauper. The gameplay patterns found in pauper are actually fun and enjoyed by the community.
Very good video, thanks. One note: JUND broodscale strenght relies in being an hybrid of midrange and combo. The recent paupergeddon highlighted how strong the deck was, since it doesn't need to win by combo alone as Golgari Glee's only wincon, but can easily outvalues you and win with chrysalis. Paupergeddon's winner himself said he won most games without the combo during the swiss rounds. Having to keep up with Jund's midrange engine while also needing to respect their combo side that taxes your mana and resources indirectly fundamentally breaks the pyramid.
chrysalis ban would slow the meta down, effectively leaving kuldotha as a clock that would need to be nerfed with a ban as well if you want to see more variety
I would say banning Chrysalis could lead to a few things: 1) nerfing glee, since it would've lost it's midrange plan 2) nerfing gruul, but in that case we could see a comeback for the ponza lists, therefore we get more diversity 3) return of the midrange-value decks like boros synth, glint blade, familiars... which suffer a lot from a huge reach creature that makes the opponent mana, grows in stats and is hard to get rid of for glint blade, because of the Scion tokens
Grixis Affinity would dominate in turn, but would this still be good for Pauper? A lot of artifact hate is what somehow made Affinity "balanced" so far but it's also sad that most decks' sideboard would dedicate to artifact hate and I wouldn't say that's diverse. But at the same time, I'm getting sick of Red Kuldotha 😅
Grixis affinity is already checked with the introduction of initiative and serpents. It can't go back to pre-initiative era where it's simply the top dog. Midrange will still struggle vs affinity as is always the case, but at least midrange will exist now instead of just slamming dumb chrysalis every game
Refurbished familiar, glee and chrysalis need to be banned but that will open up for sneaky snacker total domination, frankly the entirety of mh3 needs to be banned.
a point I'd make about broodscale being the only thing holding the meta together is, it's the most powerful combo deck so of course it's heavily represented. broodscale makes other combo decks like walls, familiars, moggwarts and so on irrelevant because the combo can happen so quickly and is so powerful. not to mention jund broodscale also operates as a midrange deck that kills you with chrysalis as well as the combo. if glee or broodscale got banned, the meta would very likely see the return of older combo decks.
I would maybe argue, that if you ban glee, the other combo decks (except for maybe cycle storm) still haven't gotten any new cards, therefore would be power-creapt by the newly upgraded neta decks like affinity or kuldotha anyway.
@@sinistre4998my opinion is: the best option right now is banning chrysalis. This way it would be a fair nerf to glee combo and it makes all the decks that disappear because of chrysalis. The meta would way more diverse.
Great video! I really enjoyed it and appreciate the effort you put into analyzing the meta. That said, I wanted to share a few thoughts. At one point, you asked, "Where are the control combos?" but didn't quite address the question. Later, in your proposed solution, you suggested banning several cards to balance the meta. While I see where you're coming from, I feel that the Pauper meta has a strong tendency to adapt over time, and drastic measures like banning five cards might not be necessary. If we look back, before the ATG ban, the largest event, Paupergeddon, was won by Familiars, and before that, by Gardens. While Affinity was dominant, there were decks that could counter it effectively. Currently, the meta does seem a bit stagnant, and it’s true that some fan-favorite decks-like Ephemerate builds, Orzhov Blade, or even Dimir Control-are struggling. In my opinion, the main issue lies with Chrysalis. If decks like these were given more room to breathe, I think the remaining Broodscale combo would be much more manageable. More resilient to removal combo decks like Tron or Moggwarts could shine, encouraging the meta to evolve and adapt once again. I really enjoyed your insights, and I think your perspective on the state of the format is great. However, I believe there might be simpler solutions to encourage balance and diversity in the meta. Keep up the great work, and I look forward to more of your content!
amazing analysis! i would argue tho that the combo meta relies on broodscale because the deck first cannibalized the other combo decks, as they were slower and less consistent. it's like nadu times in modern, no other combos can be played. broodscale has a little bit less meta share than nadu but absurd conversion rate, as shown at the paupergeddon in Rome
Nice video, good analysis BUT It seems It only considers the metashare and NOT the RESULTS in important tournements (see Paupergeddon Rome 2024 few weeks ago in which Top 32 was dominating by lizards decks) Maybe a ban Is required Maybe the ban of DEADLY DISPUTE to nerf the value engine of lizards decks and affinity decks
I agree on what you say. Except that banning deadly dispute will really do something or those decks will just shift to a deadly dispute variation (e.g. fanatical offering) that for sure is less strong but is it enough for balancing them?
@arieleconforti6112 non lo so... bannare crisalide/lucertola/glee potrebbe essere controproducente per il formato. Andresti a toccare/eliminare archetipi che comunque danno varietà. Per questo il pensiero potrebbe essere bannare una carta che ne depotenzi il motore di vantaggio carte. Inoltre, bannando disputa andresti a beccare anche affinity. È vero quello che dici, che ci sono carte similari che possono rimpiazzare deadly dispute, ma fare una mappa (fanatical offering) o guadagnare vita (reckoners bargain) è molto meno forte di fare un tesoro secondo me. Poi boh, lunedì si vedrà
@@giampieropeotta5888 eh si concordo in pieno, sicuro deadly dispute é la più forte delle varianti però appunto non so se basta a smorzare i mazzi che la giocano. Come dici bene ban su crisalide glee lucertola andrebbe solo ad uccidere quei mazzi e impoverire il formato. Un bel grattacapo. Buona serara ;)
Cool video! I just wanted to say I appreciate this level of thought and discussion about pauper & where it currently lies. I don’t agree that brood scale is balancing out a fair meta-game. Rather, I believe brood scale is homogenizing an otherwise diverse array of combo decks. There are lots of combo decks in pauper that could fill out the lower right corner, such as goblin class combo and altar Tron, that aren’t worth playing with Broodscale in the format. Why play either when the Eldrazi is faster, more resilient & requires fewer moving parts? The only reason cycle Storm shows up at all is because it’s a very fast, fragile combo deck that targets metas without graveyard hate. If you want to play combo & don’t mind sacrificing consistency, cycle Storm is the way to go.
Wanted to add on your “it takes a design mistake to make a dent in the format” comment. I certainly think that’s true for less synergy oriented decks (see Writhing Chrysalis), but unorthodox decks like Dredge or Madness have a lot of design space for new cards. Maybe generic staples are currently too strong?
I enjoy that Pauper is a stable format that doesn't change a lot, and that it's a "smaller" format that sees some cards overlapping in different strategies. Pauper is one of the formats I like to use to teach new players with for precisely those reasons, it's easy to digest and isn't particularly volatile. It's comfortable and familiar to come back to, compared to other formats that get uprooted and look completely different from set to set (which are only getting more frequent).
Putting the illuminate eye in the triangle made me rewind to confirm my brain didnt just auto fill that it. Also how are there zero comments baout this.
I agree with most of the point you make here. However, I disagree with the point that you need equal representation of aggro, control, and combo. For example, standard basically never has combo decks, and there are plenty of people who like standard (maybe not so much anymore). I would argue the more important thing is that the most prominent decks use different "engines", even if most of the decks are in the same archetype. For example, even though Caw Gates and Izzet Skred are both control decks (with a bit of a midrange flare), but the only cards they share are counterspell and brainstorm. They feel very different to play with and against because they use almost entirely separate core sets of cards. A similar argument for Red Kuldotha and Rakdos Madness.
Great video! This is what I wish my analysis videos would look like. I've noticed that 'Broodscale Combo' still exists in your data, did you want me to sort them out into Jund and Golgari? Or is it fine as is?
I'm happy that there are few combo decks. Combo decks should always be against the odds in my opinion. It is a shame that so many decks share the same engines created by new, overpowered commons
I got some ideas that may help and my ban wish list: Pauper being an eternal format will have a natural tendency towards efficiency, same as modern, legacy, etc. The difference is that pauper is not supported as much as other eternal formats, and there will be unbalanced cards printed once in a while. On the other hand, some of the old cards have degenerate mechanisms that just kept getting better over the years, such as storm and affinity. With this in mind, and also accounting for the fact that pauper is considerably cheap as a format, i would think having a big ban every couple of years would be an amazing way to keep the format healthy (blue Monday is the perfect example for this). Also I would suggest the tendency to ban the older card first. Right now we could easily ban this list of cards without banning the decks that play them, and that would allow many strategies to come back: Myr enforcer: artifact lands and bridges are controversial, but for me the most frustrating thing about affinity is when they rebuild for free with two enforcers that where brought back eot. Also the can stand 3 points from shaman. Writhing chrysalis: totally weird card... Absolutely frustrating to play against a 4/5 that costs 2. Also has reach?? Wth... Deadly dispute: ancestral recall should stay in vintage Kuldotha rebirth + bushwhacker: 8 DMG out of nowhere after a board swipe? I have played this combo dozens of times and i hate to admit that it has to go Tolarian terror: control should not have a one mana threat that hits this hard I really believe this 4 bans would let the format thrive again without damaging any deck
Good Analysis, but you forgot to mention one factor of a healthy meta. 1st, I don't think that all 3 archetypes need to be re-presented equally to be enjoyable or balanced. One deciding factor is also if the meta is fun to play! It's not, that some decks just feel to unfair to be enjoyable by casual FNM players, but there are often decks (especially in Combo) where playing against is just tedious and dragging. Tron Eggs for example. In my experience, people are most happy, if there are many different viable Midrange strategies to choose from. And yes, I think Tolarian Terror, Kuldothas rebirth, deadly dispute and something from brood scales need to be banned. They are to dominating and oppressive for weaker decks and classic pauper strategies.
judging from paupergeddon statistics, chrysalis is played often, but not as often as dispute/wellspring. In the end the video is not about singular cards though.
broodscale is the best combo on the format. Previous metas had more combo decks like moggwarts or altar tron that now are not playable. broodscale does not "hold the meta together" it is just takong the place of older classic combo decks. Proof of this is that decks like altar tron still make 5-0 every now and then in the current meta even if it is a worst combo deck than broodscale
MH3 has been a disaster for pauper and caused a situation similar to what modern became post MH1. Though you need to look at the pre mh3 and pre glitters meta, a lot of t2 decks were very viable and competitive, now only the decks that can exploit mh3 are meta and playable, everything else is 3 spans below, mono blue delver is a particular case, it's ultra settled vs mono red online, usually running 6-8 hydroblast effects giving it a large edge online against tix grinders, in reality the deck performs poorly as seen through all the paupergeddons since terror existed and can only beat something like affiniy through sheer luck (eg deploying 2-3 serpents t3-4 and praying they don't have toxin-shaman).
Granted, pauper isn't as varied and diverse as 2015 modern. Thing is, how many times has that gold standard been reached throught all of TCG history? Not to mention a lot of people are moving to Pauper precisely because they are sick and tired of "format shakeups" in the form of massive design mistakes. There are a few things that are lacking that would be sorely welcome. A lot of tools never reach the common rarity, boardwipes chief among them. Hell, card advantage and 2 for 1s are something you have to work like a coal miner to achieve. You have very few options to advantage effects literally every other format takes for granted, save retail limited: even Cubes tend to fix this problem. That is the real problem with Pauper: overreliance on a few key cards that provide an engine needed to win games. Lorien Reveled is borderline banworthy but is a joke anywhere else.
I have to disagree with you on broodscale mainly because the jund version is not a pure combo deck but it's kind of a midrange combo deck instead, plus the online meta tends to overestimate fast decks like mono red and mono blue and it also makes every other combo deck unplayable, still this is a great video pauper is in fact stale although i find that fine since i find the gameplay patters of the format fun unlike every other big format (i find them all unaufferable) so i have to admit that since everything in magic is worse and worse in my opinion i am a bit obverse to changing pauper too much, banning crysalis could give other combo and midrange decks a chance but since most of theese decks don't counter the other big dogs they would dominate the format, i guess blade is really good against terror and dredge against mono red but i'm not sure if there is a deck that is being held back by crysalis that can hold back affinity so maybie it would be too strong EDIT: Unbans could be good i guess but i'm not sure what to unban maybie peregrine drake or chatterstorm??? Idk
the revilation that broodscale is the thing holding everything together suprised me at first but actually makes so much sense. Fantastic video!
Amazing video. Shared everywhere i could
It's important to notice that online play and paper play have different results when thinking about meta share
There is a clear difference between the Stale metas of Pioneer VS Pauper. The gameplay patterns found in pauper are actually fun and enjoyed by the community.
Very good video, thanks.
One note: JUND broodscale strenght relies in being an hybrid of midrange and combo. The recent paupergeddon highlighted how strong the deck was, since it doesn't need to win by combo alone as Golgari Glee's only wincon, but can easily outvalues you and win with chrysalis.
Paupergeddon's winner himself said he won most games without the combo during the swiss rounds.
Having to keep up with Jund's midrange engine while also needing to respect their combo side that taxes your mana and resources indirectly fundamentally breaks the pyramid.
chrysalis ban would slow the meta down, effectively leaving kuldotha as a clock that would need to be nerfed with a ban as well if you want to see more variety
I would say banning Chrysalis could lead to a few things:
1) nerfing glee, since it would've lost it's midrange plan
2) nerfing gruul, but in that case we could see a comeback for the ponza lists, therefore we get more diversity
3) return of the midrange-value decks like boros synth, glint blade, familiars... which suffer a lot from a huge reach creature that makes the opponent mana, grows in stats and is hard to get rid of for glint blade, because of the Scion tokens
agree, chrysalis really pushed out so many decks out of the meta
Grixis Affinity would dominate in turn, but would this still be good for Pauper? A lot of artifact hate is what somehow made Affinity "balanced" so far but it's also sad that most decks' sideboard would dedicate to artifact hate and I wouldn't say that's diverse.
But at the same time, I'm getting sick of Red Kuldotha 😅
Grixis affinity is already checked with the introduction of initiative and serpents. It can't go back to pre-initiative era where it's simply the top dog. Midrange will still struggle vs affinity as is always the case, but at least midrange will exist now instead of just slamming dumb chrysalis every game
Refurbished familiar, glee and chrysalis need to be banned but that will open up for sneaky snacker total domination, frankly the entirety of mh3 needs to be banned.
Hey that's my shorts thumbnail from so long ago, I made it!
Can't wait to watch this!
I did imagine this video would fit your reaction series quite well...
@@potestasnecis Might just have to!
a point I'd make about broodscale being the only thing holding the meta together is, it's the most powerful combo deck so of course it's heavily represented. broodscale makes other combo decks like walls, familiars, moggwarts and so on irrelevant because the combo can happen so quickly and is so powerful. not to mention jund broodscale also operates as a midrange deck that kills you with chrysalis as well as the combo. if glee or broodscale got banned, the meta would very likely see the return of older combo decks.
I would maybe argue, that if you ban glee, the other combo decks (except for maybe cycle storm) still haven't gotten any new cards, therefore would be power-creapt by the newly upgraded neta decks like affinity or kuldotha anyway.
@@sinistre4998my opinion is: the best option right now is banning chrysalis. This way it would be a fair nerf to glee combo and it makes all the decks that disappear because of chrysalis. The meta would way more diverse.
Excellent video. Great editing!
Great video! I really enjoyed it and appreciate the effort you put into analyzing the meta. That said, I wanted to share a few thoughts.
At one point, you asked, "Where are the control combos?" but didn't quite address the question. Later, in your proposed solution, you suggested banning several cards to balance the meta. While I see where you're coming from, I feel that the Pauper meta has a strong tendency to adapt over time, and drastic measures like banning five cards might not be necessary.
If we look back, before the ATG ban, the largest event, Paupergeddon, was won by Familiars, and before that, by Gardens. While Affinity was dominant, there were decks that could counter it effectively. Currently, the meta does seem a bit stagnant, and it’s true that some fan-favorite decks-like Ephemerate builds, Orzhov Blade, or even Dimir Control-are struggling. In my opinion, the main issue lies with Chrysalis.
If decks like these were given more room to breathe, I think the remaining Broodscale combo would be much more manageable. More resilient to removal combo decks like Tron or Moggwarts could shine, encouraging the meta to evolve and adapt once again.
I really enjoyed your insights, and I think your perspective on the state of the format is great. However, I believe there might be simpler solutions to encourage balance and diversity in the meta. Keep up the great work, and I look forward to more of your content!
amazing analysis! i would argue tho that the combo meta relies on broodscale because the deck first cannibalized the other combo decks, as they were slower and less consistent. it's like nadu times in modern, no other combos can be played. broodscale has a little bit less meta share than nadu but absurd conversion rate, as shown at the paupergeddon in Rome
Nice video, good analysis
BUT
It seems It only considers the metashare and NOT the RESULTS in important tournements (see Paupergeddon Rome 2024 few weeks ago in which Top 32 was dominating by lizards decks)
Maybe a ban Is required
Maybe the ban of DEADLY DISPUTE to nerf the value engine of lizards decks and affinity decks
I agree on what you say. Except that banning deadly dispute will really do something or those decks will just shift to a deadly dispute variation (e.g. fanatical offering) that for sure is less strong but is it enough for balancing them?
@arieleconforti6112 non lo so... bannare crisalide/lucertola/glee potrebbe essere controproducente per il formato. Andresti a toccare/eliminare archetipi che comunque danno varietà. Per questo il pensiero potrebbe essere bannare una carta che ne depotenzi il motore di vantaggio carte. Inoltre, bannando disputa andresti a beccare anche affinity. È vero quello che dici, che ci sono carte similari che possono rimpiazzare deadly dispute, ma fare una mappa (fanatical offering) o guadagnare vita (reckoners bargain) è molto meno forte di fare un tesoro secondo me.
Poi boh, lunedì si vedrà
@@giampieropeotta5888 eh si concordo in pieno, sicuro deadly dispute é la più forte delle varianti però appunto non so se basta a smorzare i mazzi che la giocano. Come dici bene ban su crisalide glee lucertola andrebbe solo ad uccidere quei mazzi e impoverire il formato. Un bel grattacapo. Buona serara ;)
Cool video! I just wanted to say I appreciate this level of thought and discussion about pauper & where it currently lies.
I don’t agree that brood scale is balancing out a fair meta-game. Rather, I believe brood scale is homogenizing an otherwise diverse array of combo decks. There are lots of combo decks in pauper that could fill out the lower right corner, such as goblin class combo and altar Tron, that aren’t worth playing with Broodscale in the format. Why play either when the Eldrazi is faster, more resilient & requires fewer moving parts?
The only reason cycle Storm shows up at all is because it’s a very fast, fragile combo deck that targets metas without graveyard hate. If you want to play combo & don’t mind sacrificing consistency, cycle Storm is the way to go.
Wanted to add on your “it takes a design mistake to make a dent in the format” comment. I certainly think that’s true for less synergy oriented decks (see Writhing Chrysalis), but unorthodox decks like Dredge or Madness have a lot of design space for new cards. Maybe generic staples are currently too strong?
I enjoy that Pauper is a stable format that doesn't change a lot, and that it's a "smaller" format that sees some cards overlapping in different strategies. Pauper is one of the formats I like to use to teach new players with for precisely those reasons, it's easy to digest and isn't particularly volatile. It's comfortable and familiar to come back to, compared to other formats that get uprooted and look completely different from set to set (which are only getting more frequent).
Putting the illuminate eye in the triangle made me rewind to confirm my brain didnt just auto fill that it. Also how are there zero comments baout this.
I agree with most of the point you make here. However, I disagree with the point that you need equal representation of aggro, control, and combo. For example, standard basically never has combo decks, and there are plenty of people who like standard (maybe not so much anymore). I would argue the more important thing is that the most prominent decks use different "engines", even if most of the decks are in the same archetype. For example, even though Caw Gates and Izzet Skred are both control decks (with a bit of a midrange flare), but the only cards they share are counterspell and brainstorm. They feel very different to play with and against because they use almost entirely separate core sets of cards. A similar argument for Red Kuldotha and Rakdos Madness.
Great video! This is what I wish my analysis videos would look like. I've noticed that 'Broodscale Combo' still exists in your data, did you want me to sort them out into Jund and Golgari? Or is it fine as is?
if you still can it would be good, since a few of those slipped through the cracks when mh3 started.
I'm happy that there are few combo decks. Combo decks should always be against the odds in my opinion.
It is a shame that so many decks share the same engines created by new, overpowered commons
Great video and great insights! Keep em up!
Also “lying men” was a classic. Shoulda been the thumbnail 😂
I got some ideas that may help and my ban wish list:
Pauper being an eternal format will have a natural tendency towards efficiency, same as modern, legacy, etc. The difference is that pauper is not supported as much as other eternal formats, and there will be unbalanced cards printed once in a while. On the other hand, some of the old cards have degenerate mechanisms that just kept getting better over the years, such as storm and affinity. With this in mind, and also accounting for the fact that pauper is considerably cheap as a format, i would think having a big ban every couple of years would be an amazing way to keep the format healthy (blue Monday is the perfect example for this). Also I would suggest the tendency to ban the older card first.
Right now we could easily ban this list of cards without banning the decks that play them, and that would allow many strategies to come back:
Myr enforcer: artifact lands and bridges are controversial, but for me the most frustrating thing about affinity is when they rebuild for free with two enforcers that where brought back eot. Also the can stand 3 points from shaman.
Writhing chrysalis: totally weird card... Absolutely frustrating to play against a 4/5 that costs 2. Also has reach?? Wth...
Deadly dispute: ancestral recall should stay in vintage
Kuldotha rebirth + bushwhacker: 8 DMG out of nowhere after a board swipe? I have played this combo dozens of times and i hate to admit that it has to go
Tolarian terror: control should not have a one mana threat that hits this hard
I really believe this 4 bans would let the format thrive again without damaging any deck
Excellent video. 🔥🔥
Awesome Video! My personal view would be = bann Chrysalis bring back jeskai ephemerate
Would you say the Familiars deck fits in the Combo / Control spectrum?
I guess it's not competitive these days, but I've always liked that archetype
At 7:00 you can see he has put Familiars down in that section of the triangle. He mentions that most Ephemerate decks would fit in that category.
@Kirblinxy oops I guess I missed that, glad it made the cut in this video at least
Good Analysis, but you forgot to mention one factor of a healthy meta.
1st, I don't think that all 3 archetypes need to be re-presented equally to be enjoyable or balanced.
One deciding factor is also if the meta is fun to play! It's not, that some decks just feel to unfair to be enjoyable by casual FNM players, but there are often decks (especially in Combo) where playing against is just tedious and dragging. Tron Eggs for example.
In my experience, people are most happy, if there are many different viable Midrange strategies to choose from.
And yes, I think Tolarian Terror, Kuldothas rebirth, deadly dispute and something from brood scales need to be banned. They are to dominating and oppressive for weaker decks and classic pauper strategies.
Can you make a video on what are the staples cards of Pauper format? Thank you in advance
Kalikaz sent me..very good video and excellent break down. Hope the pfp does ... Something? 🙈
This video is excellent !
Great video!
damn man this is a great video
Stopped following pauper after the eldrazy. But the problem came a couple of expansions before.
I love your triangle
Cool Video. ❤
But maybe I missed it, where you'd talk about the most popular in the format: writhing chrysalis.
judging from paupergeddon statistics, chrysalis is played often, but not as often as dispute/wellspring. In the end the video is not about singular cards though.
Mandou bem, cu de frango. Tamo junto mlk doido
10/10 Video. #FreeDrake and Prism !
Love this video
Does having more combos make the meta better? I would say no. Having Combo exist is what matters.
Very very nice
Agreed
10/10 video
broodscale is the best combo on the format. Previous metas had more combo decks like moggwarts or altar tron that now are not playable. broodscale does not "hold the meta together" it is just takong the place of older classic combo decks. Proof of this is that decks like altar tron still make 5-0 every now and then in the current meta even if it is a worst combo deck than broodscale
Thanks modern horizons 3 for ruining another format 😂
I think unbanning fall from favor is a nice option, either that or ban chrysalis.
Fall from Favor was absolutely heinous haha
Can't imagine seeing fall from favour ever again.
@AulaGeschrabbel agreed
MH3 has been a disaster for pauper and caused a situation similar to what modern became post MH1.
Though you need to look at the pre mh3 and pre glitters meta, a lot of t2 decks were very viable and competitive, now only the decks that can exploit mh3 are meta and playable, everything else is 3 spans below, mono blue delver is a particular case, it's ultra settled vs mono red online, usually running 6-8 hydroblast effects giving it a large edge online against tix grinders, in reality the deck performs poorly as seen through all the paupergeddons since terror existed and can only beat something like affiniy through sheer luck (eg deploying 2-3 serpents t3-4 and praying they don't have toxin-shaman).
Unban Bonder's ornament, prophetic prism and Hymn to Tourach
And neither of these cards are going to see any competitive play
Granted, pauper isn't as varied and diverse as 2015 modern. Thing is, how many times has that gold standard been reached throught all of TCG history? Not to mention a lot of people are moving to Pauper precisely because they are sick and tired of "format shakeups" in the form of massive design mistakes.
There are a few things that are lacking that would be sorely welcome. A lot of tools never reach the common rarity, boardwipes chief among them. Hell, card advantage and 2 for 1s are something you have to work like a coal miner to achieve. You have very few options to advantage effects literally every other format takes for granted, save retail limited: even Cubes tend to fix this problem. That is the real problem with Pauper: overreliance on a few key cards that provide an engine needed to win games. Lorien Reveled is borderline banworthy but is a joke anywhere else.
Great points, way too negative plot.
Ban chrysalis
No it isn't ban glee!
I have to disagree with you on broodscale mainly because the jund version is not a pure combo deck but it's kind of a midrange combo deck instead, plus the online meta tends to overestimate fast decks like mono red and mono blue and it also makes every other combo deck unplayable, still this is a great video pauper is in fact stale although i find that fine since i find the gameplay patters of the format fun unlike every other big format (i find them all unaufferable) so i have to admit that since everything in magic is worse and worse in my opinion i am a bit obverse to changing pauper too much, banning crysalis could give other combo and midrange decks a chance but since most of theese decks don't counter the other big dogs they would dominate the format, i guess blade is really good against terror and dredge against mono red but i'm not sure if there is a deck that is being held back by crysalis that can hold back affinity so maybie it would be too strong
EDIT: Unbans could be good i guess but i'm not sure what to unban maybie peregrine drake or chatterstorm??? Idk