Quote Originally Posted by Hopo View Post
What's so silly about that? There's a huge difference in playing Time walk when you have 2 lands on board comparing to having a Batterskull or Jace on board. That's where real Time Walk shines. You can use it when you really need it. What I tried to say is that casting Time Walk as soon as you have the chance is usually (if ever) not optimal.
Also, regarding statistics, by the time you have 2 lands in play there's basically a 50% chance (49,85% to be precise) that you have already naturally drawn a copy if you play it as a 4-of. On the draw it's even higher. Of course, for example in blade control 4 is most likely a wrong number.

I'm sure some Jace-oriented control deck will find a way to play a few copies, but that's quite different to falling of the sky or ruining the format or something like that. There could even be Turbofogish deck emerging, but the format has so many tools to handle these kind of cards that it's not even funny.
Why all the hate? I'm sure 3-4 would be a right number, depending on the deck. All it takes is 1 brainstorm or jace to put it back on top if in your opening hand. Or you can just pitch it to force. If naturally drawn, I'd gladly play it as there is no downside to casting it. The only issue I see with the card is its opportunity cost. What do you cut? Are you going to be threat light? Do you have to shift to a more aggressive plan to take advantage of it?

But if you naturally draw/set it up correctly in the midgane, it is absolutely bonkers. That itself should warrant playing it as a 3/4 of. Gut feel tells me 3 is a good number because having 2 in your opening hand is terrible ala mox diamond.