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Watchlist changes Jan. 1st, 2016

Started by Vazdru, 01-01-2016, 09:53:28 PM

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Vazdru

Valid during January 1st, 2016 0:00 CET until April 14th, 2016 24:00 CET.

Watchlist:


  • Fastbond
  • Mystical Tutor
  • Oath of Druids
  • Natural Order
  • Mana Drain
  • Sensei's Divining Top
  • Demonic Tutor
  • Dig Through Time

Unban-Watchlist: none


Single card explanations:

Fastbond
Fastbond is found as a niche in Storm-decks and some Oath-builds where its performance is quite powerful. We will have a closer look at the tournament results during the next three month to value its impact to the meta and its function. If Fastbond is the key for combo decks to push those decks above the top, we will put it back to banned list in April.  

Mystical Tutor
Mystical Tutor stays on the watchlist for the reason already given. Besides the obvious mana efficiency (1-Drop + End of turn option and therefore no loss of mana in player's own turn) and timing (instant), Mystical Tutor is able to find direct answers (in form of removal, discard, counter) or indirect answers (other tutors), in contrast to his "siblings" Enlightened and Worldly Tutor. Like many other tutors too, Mystical Tutor gains more and more options with each new set (e.g. Dig Through Time, Treasure Cruise, Kolaghan's Command). Furthermore it enables Miracle-spells quite cheaply. The potential of this card is undeniable and therefore should be observed.

Oath of Druids
Oath of Druids has been mostly introduced to the watch list because of its enormous potential, especially in decks like Eggs, TPS and many other Oath Control lists.
Particularly its performance in the last big tournaments was remarkable. This card earns special attention and therefore stays on the watch list.

Natural Order
Natural Order stays under close observation. Although Natural Order doesn't appear in many winning lists of larger events recently (e.g. MGM, Slovakian Cup) its impact is noticeable. We will analyze its performance and occurence mainly based on the reported results at mtgpulse.

Mana Drain
This card is uncontested the strongest representative of its kind. Even if this card needs more elements to exploit its full potential, it is in the worst case still a Counterspell, i.e. a 2-drop that prevent the opponents spell and has no disadvantages. However in fact Mana Drain repeatedly leads to absurd situations, that not only threw the opponent one turn behind, but give his caster a clearly advantageous position. Therefore Mana Drain is often felt as frustrating by many members of the community. Hence the Council has decided to take a closer look on this card.

Sensei's Divining Top
Sensei's Diving Top is still a controversial matter which is discussed in many formats and forums.
https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/3mqt9n/duel_commander_banlist_update_senseis_divining/
https://www.reddit.com/r/TinyLeaders/comments/2vu60e/banning_senseis_divining_top/
initial reasons for the ban in modern: http://archive.wizards.com/Magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/ld/144
The reasons for its ban or unban are well-known. We decided to discuss this card with the community once again.

Demonic Tutor
No other card polarizes as much as Demonic Tutor. Supporters describe it as format defining and detractors as potentially strongest card in the format, because it increases the count of each yet so powerful card to two. In fact our statistical analysis have shown that each deck, which plays black, also plays Demonic Tutor. Many decks splash the color only for this card. Its presence is unusually high for a non-land card. Therefore we will discuss in the next months, whether Demonic Tutor is a problem.

Dig Through Time

With Khans of Tarkir, WotC released several Delve cards, which influence our format decisively. The "cost reduction" by the Delve ability let especially these cards appear problematic, which generate a substantial information advantage. The most information is gained by Dig Through Time. In other formats this card is already classified as alarming and even if we are also aware that the power level of DTT is much lower in Highlander than in a 60 card format, which allows every card 4 times, we have decided to give special attention to this card.


Other announcements:

Council

Whereas  only Germany and Finland had larger communities in the early days of our format the Slovakian has become a quite important one in the last few years. So we have been looking for a representative in the council for quite a while now. After a closer look and the feedback from the Slovakian community we are pretty sure we've found the right candidate with Dalibor. He is a quite active member in the local community and has proven his dedication to our format already for a long time. He even travels hundreds of miles to visit the larger Highlander tournaments in Germany whenever he has the chance to and motivates other to do the same. Furthermore he has proven this insight in Highlander and other formats like Legacy already in many tournaments. We welcome Dalibor as new council member.  

ChristophO - Christoph, Germany, Hamburg, * 1983
Dalibor - Dalibor, Slovakia, Senec, * 1979
Dr. Opossum - Stephanie, Germany, Berlin, * 1987
Maqi - Thomas, Germany, Mannheim, * 1982
Nastaboi - Juha, Finland, Espoo, * 1982
pyyhttu - Tuomas, Finland, Helsinki, * 1983
Tabris - Jonny, Germany, Berlin, * 1984
Vazdru - Gerry, Germany, Karlsruhe, * 1975

Reminder: Legality of World Champion- and IE-/CE-cards
If World Champion- or IE-/CE-cards, also known as gold-bordered cards, are allowed or disallowed for a given tournament, should be clearly communicated by the tournament organizer within the respective tournament announcement.
If the tournament organizer doesn't explicitly allow these cards for a tournament, players should assume the event to be sanctioned and only integrate DCI-legal cards in their deck.
In order to avoid misunderstandings, please approach your local T.O. beforehand and try to make sure that your community is well-informed on how this matter is usually handled.
Far below the earth
Where the demons hunt the souls of those that sleep
In the city of the Vazdru and the Drin
Where the black flame burns inside the palace fountain.