Standard Metagame Discussion

[Bozo_Law]

What do you guys think of the metagame? I think that Aggro is really way too good, making aggro hosing cards a very big, important part of the metagame. I think that COntrol is also way too small of a portion of the metagame for the health of the metagame, being only 17% of it. Aggro, IMO, is what your decks should be focused on with Aggro variants representing a full half of the metagame, which I think is very unhealthy. Thoughts?

[Kaleo42]

A majority of players are not experienced enough to play anything other than aggro. This inadvertently causes excessive aggro play testing that then lends to more experienced players taking that collective knowledge and dominating with an aggro deck. I did this with Wolf Blitz a few weeks ago. However that experience taught me everything I needed to know to follow up that 1st place with another the following week using Esper control. Another factor to consider is budget. Control cards more often bridge formats and are usually at higher rarities (this is intentional at the design level) this means it is more expensive to begin playing and maintain a control deck.

To sum up, aggro isnt winning because it is OP, it's winning because of the sheer numbers. If another deck is going to place high it has to never stumble, where as if an aggro deck stumbles another will take it's place.

[Wsuryanjeska]

Also, Aggro is more inconsistent (generally) then any other type of deck aside from maybe some combo decks. If you have a good hand, you'll usually win without a problem. If not, you probably aren't getting anywhere. But like Kaleo here said, with the sheer numbers of people playing aggro there is generally going to be someone who sees almost all good hands on any given night.

[MisterJH]

I want to see a discussion more about card selection than anything, as i believe, and have seen many arguments agreeing, that aggro simply has more available resources to build a strong deck in standars. Any thoughts?

[Kaleo42]

That will always be the case. Like I said previously, card design puts control cards generally at a higher rarity. This is because fewer players will enjoy them or even understand them. A simple fact is that there are more commons and uncommons which means more options. Aggro has {reckless waif}, {burning tree emissary}, {lingering souls}, {boros charm}, {lightning mauler}, {diregraf ghoul}, {searing spear}, {centaur healer}, {avacyn's pilgrim}, {rancor}, the list goes on. Traditional control has things like {rewind}, {syncopate}, {think twice}, {detention sphere}, and not much else at lower rarities. Control in it's essence wants high value cards (playability wise) which usually lends to the card being high value (money wise).

[Wackaman9001]

If I was going to play FNM at a store I've never played in before, if you had to choose a dec to play, what would it be?

[Byerley121]

Esper control. It's what I play and it is really great in the current metagame.

[Wsuryanjeska]

That will always be the case. Like I said previously, card design puts control cards generally at a higher rarity. This is because fewer players will enjoy them or even understand them. A simple fact is that there are more commons and uncommons which means more options. Aggro has {reckless waif}, {burning tree emissary}, {lingering souls}, {boros charm}, {lightning mauler}, {diregraf ghoul}, {searing spear}, {centaur healer}, {avacyn's pilgrim}, {rancor}, the list goes on. Traditional control has things like {rewind}, {syncopate}, {think twice}, {detention sphere}, and not much else at lower rarities. Control in it's essence wants high value cards (playability wise) which usually lends to the card being high value (money wise).

Your definition of 'control' seems a bit narrow to me. There are quite a few more common/uncommon (usable) cards at the disposal of control. And you don't need blue and white to make a 'control' deck.

[Teysa karlov]

Aggro is the meta game at my lgs, but I play Orzhov that is neither aggro, control, or midrange, as it will change on how I play it

[Kaleo42]

Your definition of 'control' seems a bit narrow to me. There are quite a few more common/uncommon (usable) cards at the disposal of control. And you don't need blue and white to make a 'control' deck.

Haha, it would appear you dont follow my deck postings at all. I was careful to use the phrase "traditional control" when making that list. Other cards like {centaur healer} for example can be used very effectively in control, but that does not make it a control card. Control now days is usually a hybrid of aggro based cards being used in a control shell until a win con can be used. Check my 5 color control deck deck on the Rogue T3ch page to see how I really think about control.

Edit: i bumbed it in general discussion.

[Silent1236]

I'm just ready to see control decks that don't run {Nephalia Drownyard} and/or {Thragtusk}

[Teysa karlov]

I hate {Thragtusk}, it screws up my control of life totals

[Greg54js]

I can't wait for thragtusk to rotate... he's such a beast it's not even funny... I'd rather see control come back...
As for the meta I'm done with seeing aggro and reanimator running rampant.. I like to see games go past turn 5 that have lots of interactions with the other deck.. not just "I'm gonna run out fatties and turn them sideways till you're dead" but "hmm, that's an interesting card, I'm going to do x,y, or z to said card"

[Crapshooter]

I can't wait for thragtusk to rotate... he's such a beast it's not even funny... I'd rather see control come back...
As for the meta I'm done with seeing aggro and reanimator running rampant.. I like to see games go past turn 5 that have lots of interactions with the other deck.. not just "I'm gonna run out fatties and turn them sideways till you're dead" but "hmm, that's an interesting card, I'm going to do x,y, or z to said card"

Agreed

[Kaleo42]

All it takes is one or two people to show your local meta that strait aggro is not the best answer. Thanks to my team the entire shop tries to come up with new and exciting ideas because we dont let the basic aggro decks win.