Why does Standstill see no play?

[twndomn]

Standstill is a card that REQUIRES you to be Even at tempo, or Leading in tempo. It also renders Brainstorm dead if you have it in play.

Decks that can utilize Standstill:
1. Merfolk
2. Dread Still
3. BUG Still
4. Affinity

Notice how these decks are either Aggro or Combo, this is because they can take the tempo lead early, or be even with the opponent.

[Megadeus]

Never heard of it in Affinity, but it seems pretty sick.

[Aesir]

Standstill is a card that REQUIRES you to be Even at tempo, or Leading in tempo. It also renders Brainstorm dead if you have it in play.

Decks that can utilize Standstill:
1. Merfolk
2. Dread Still
3. BUG Still
4. Affinity

Notice how these decks are either Aggro or Combo, this is because they can take the tempo lead early, or be even with the opponent.

Is there any record of Standstill Affinity doing well? Sounds like a fun idea. Now I'm curious...

[Yan]

Tried it about a year a go. Also included Ninja of the Deep Hours (which is sick under Standstill too, Ornithopter into Standstill = sure). Ultimately it fell short of being amazing. It has some potential to be explosive but most of the time you are better of playing real cards in the place of Ornithopters and such. And anyway it was no where near as good as DreadStill :P I got the idea from some Affinity thread in here, might post a link later if I find it.

EDIT, found: http://www.mtgthesource.com/forums/s...light=affinity

[Rood]

Standstill is a busted card. The problem these days is there's only a limited number of decks that can abuse this beast to it's full extent...all of which are unpopular decks atm. But the card itself is really strong and can be well positioned in any metagame if you build around it.

[Lemnear]

Standstill is a busted card. The problem these days is there's only a limited number of decks that can abuse this beast to it's full extent...all of which are unpopular decks atm. But the card itself is really strong and can be well positioned in any metagame if you build around it.

Build around Standstill in a metagame defined by Delver, SFM, DRS, SCM and Clique will backfire too often, leaving you wishing the card actually does something for 2 mana. I don't even want to talk about how well-documented it is how to play around Standstill from the start

[Dark Ritual]

Build around Standstill in a metagame defined by Delver, SFM, DRS, SCM and Clique will backfire too often, leaving you wishing the card actually does something for 2 mana. I don't even want to talk about how well-documented it is how to play around Standstill from the start

People haven't played against it in quite a while so they have no clue how to play against it. They don't know whether to crack it immediately, play a waiting game, etc. etc.

Standstill is poorly positioned against tempo decks. Namely delver of secrets as public enemy number 1 against it. Hell deathrite shaman put quite a damper on the card as well.

Agree that it's a busted card though. Anything that draws 3 for 2 or less is pretty insane typically if utilized correctly.

[Lord Seth]

Standstill is a card that REQUIRES you to be Even at tempo, or Leading in tempo. It also renders Brainstorm dead if you have it in play.

Decks that can utilize Standstill:
1. Merfolk
2. Dread Still
3. BUG Still
4. Affinity

Notice how these decks are either Aggro or Combo, this is because they can take the tempo lead early, or be even with the opponent.

I wouldn't classify Dreadstill as aggro or combo; it's really more of a tempo deck that happens to have a combo in it.