The only reason that's true is because Eternal formats are pretty much the only formats where competitive combo decks are even possible. When you have the powerful creatures of recent sets, and powerful spells of older sets, they come together to make some great decks. And with all those aforementioned checks and balances of the Legacy format, it' prevents any one deck type from taking over.NameIsRobertPaulson said:
I meant the unconditional two mana counter spell. And Mana Leak isn't what is powerful. Turn 1 or 2 flying Wild Nacatl and Mr. Snappy are the powerful cards. Most Delver lists nowadays haven gone down to 2 or fewer Mana Leaks. It isn't even used that much anymore (in the competitive scene. FNMs see plenty of them). And that second scenario doesn't happen often either. Looping Phantasmal Image with the Titan is their number one play and bringing back Dead Weight in combat is usually their combat trick. This would be different if Mana Leak was a 4 of in most decks and was all over the place. It isn't. It sees play in limited numbers in decks that run Blue. No one not running Blue splashes just to be able to play it. I don't see how it is oppressing the game in any manner.NameIsRobertPaulson said:
My mistake. I could have sworn standard was simply the last three blocks.Paragon Fury said:
I think there are a lot more powerful cards today then there are back in the good old days. Preyseizer Dragon, Thundermaw Dragon, Yeva, Planeswalkers in general... Plus, no one can say with a straight face that Infect was not a broken, stupidly overpowered mechanic that almost broke the game. And I don't mean in the "it gave poison counters" sense, Marsh Viper was doing that long before Infect; I mean that it gave stupid amounts of poison counters and there are no way to deal with them. Finally, by definition, powercreep cannot "go both ways" since the older sets are not progressing. WoTC may be making weaker and weaker commons and uncommons, but the rares are mythic keep getting stronger and going almost unchecked.NameIsRobertPaulson said:
OK, I'm not even going to go into the rarity of the situation where you actually draw the exact removal spells you need to deal with the exact threats that the other opponent plays, on top of drawing the specter at a relevant time (before the hand has been played out) AND getting him in for damage.vxicepickxv said:
Ahem - Caltrops, Cathodion, Chimeric Staff, Citanul Flute, Crawlspace, Crystal Chimes, Defense Grid, Iron Maiden, Jhoira's Toolbox, Junk Diver, Karn, Lifeline, Lotus Blossom, Metalworker, Mishra's Helix, Quicksilver Amulet, Thran Dynamo, Thran Golen, Thran Lens, Thran Turbine, Urza's Incubator, Voltaic Key, Wheel of Torture, Whetstone, and Worn Powerstone.Souplex said:
Back in the ol' days when Wizards either didn't know what they where doing or only had a tenuous grasp of designing things and they severely over valued creatures and under valued spells which lead to broken spells and poor creature quality. Now as time has gone on they've toned down the power of spells and made creatures better it's not power creep just a paradigm shift in the game.jimbob123432 said:
Could you kindly explain how Grafted Exoskeleton didn't break the game? Or Skithryx, the Blight Dragon? How about the fact that there is no way to get rid of poison counters except by using a card from Homelands ? Infect makes the game unplayable because it's just not fun unless you're running a specific counter-Infect deck, and as a casual player, I don't want to be forced into a position where I can't play more than 3 turns because someone else is playing Infect.fanklok said:
Because Grafted Exoskeleton is a four cost equipment with a severe drawback that doesn't immediately affect the board when it's played, it's just an expensive two for one. Skithiryx didn't pass the [mtg_card=Dismember] test and at that point in the game the infect creatures are going to be easily out classed by the noninfect that Skythiryx has to win the game the turn it's played or run as defense. Leeches is bad for the same reason Pulse of the Fields is bad, they don't actually do anything. If you look at competitive decks across any format you'll notice a lack of life gain unless it comes attached to cards that actually win like Batterskull or Scavenging Ooze.jimbob123432 said:
I resent the fact that you think I have terrible decks because they get killed in 3 turns by Infect decks. My decks can hold their own against other Standard tournament decks. I'm not saying it's because I lose that I'm pissed off about Infect, it's how I lose. It's so infuriating to not be able to even attempt to recover after you've been knocked down. With Leeches at least, it is possible to get back up (my best friend's lifegain deck produces around 40 life a turn when it gets going, so 9 life is nothing). Poison counters were designed to be a very rare alternate win condition, not the main one. Rather than just repeat myself ad nauseum, I invite you to read my more fully-explained opinion here [http://magiccardaday.blogspot.ca/2012/07/infect.html]. That's not a shameless plug for my site either; I just don't want to repeat myself if I don't need to.fanklok said:
You do realize the problem with this, don't you? The rules of the game limit you to four of any card in your deck with the exception of basic lands. If you give these hypotheical dual lands the "Basic" type, not only can you fetch them with a number of effects, but you could build an entire landbase of nothing but duals. Not only would this be grossly overpowered, but it would also multiply the demand for those lands so much that the price would skyrocket. The conseuqences are many and varied; and none of them good.Draconalis said:
I didn't until my friend pointed it out to me last night. I was thinking the old school no downside dual lands were considered basic swamp/mountain, rather than non basic swamp/mountain. I only found out last night I was wrong.Blackbird71 said:
Who the fuck uses Grafted Exoskeleton?jimbob123432 said:
