Originally Posted by
DukeDemonKn1ght
Axe? We don't need no stinkin' axe!
Um, seriously though? Bans are not the answer. More, better cards of other non-blue colors, and good anti-Island sideboard hate-- these are what we need. The problem is that from a standpoint of the current card design paradigm, I'm not entirely sure that R&D is on the same page. I see them continuing to print good, undercosted creatures across the color pie, but I don't know if non-blue colors will get the good spells they need. And I don't know if we'll see a return of good, color-based hate cards.
I seriously think it's just contrarian to argue that Brainstorm is unhealthy for the format. Yes, it's a yardstick of what a good cantrip looks like. Yes, this is the only constructed format where you can play four in a list, and yes, people tend to do this. It's because it's a fucking good spell, and people like to use it. Outside the context of Vintage, where Brainstorm gives you more consistency to find spells that, you know, really are broken, it's safe, and despite the shuffling that goes along with its use, I think it actually helps keep Legacy matches within time constraints (since it increases consistency), and potentially swingier and less predictable (since it can often help an unfavored deck find what they need to win a particular matchup, or at least be able to make a play that keeps them in the game.) It's not unbeatable, and it doesn't deserve to go away.
I don't know why I even read this thread anymore, because it just fills me with nerd-rage.