All B/R update speculation.

[Lormador]

Yeah, when they see that key answer card on top and sit back trying to play it cool, inwardly praying that you'll give it to them. That's the best time to durdle, then mill it at the last moment as an afterthought.

[CptHaddock]

It's important that we consider these to be a single deck. If we view Brainstorm penetration as being spread out over several decks, the meta would look healthy and diverse.

Aren't you the same guy complaining about DRS stifling diversity both here and on Reddit?

[Mr. Safety]

Does anybody truly believe that DRS is on the chopping block? Playing with DRS is why I enjoy legacy! I think we can all agree that he is in contention for the best creature of all time (certainly the best 1-drop) with a planeswalker power level. Top getting banned gives me an unsettling feeling; it was another card that made legacy worth playing.

Is DRS too good?

[CptHaddock]

Does anybody truly believe that DRS is on the chopping block? Playing with DRS is why I enjoy legacy! I think we can all agree that he is in contention for the best creature of all time (certainly the best 1-drop) with a planeswalker power level. Top getting banned gives me an unsettling feeling; it was another card that made legacy worth playing.

Is DRS too good?

DRS is way too good. Just like Lackey, Goyf, SFM, Delver or TNN.

[Zombie]

DRS is way too good. Just like Lackey, Goyf, SFM, Delver or TNN.

Wouldn't be sad to see TNN on the chopping block.

[Lord_Mcdonalds]

Who would've thought a birds of paradise you can cast off of underground sea would be good

[taconaut]

Is DRS too good?

I was playing in a Legacy four-rounder at a GP, and during my turn while I was resolving a Brainstorm (#Legacy), my Grixis Delver opponent, apropos of nothing, says, "Deathrite Shaman is a fucked up Magic card," and me and the two matches adjacent to us could only murmur and nod in agreement, for he spake the truth.

That being said, I don't think it's banworthy in Legacy. The modern ban made sense though.

[Purple Blood]

I was playing in a Legacy four-rounder at a GP, and during my turn while I was resolving a Brainstorm (#Legacy), my Grixis Delver opponent, apropos of nothing, says, "Deathrite Shaman is a fucked up Magic card," and me and the two matches adjacent to us could only murmur and nod in agreement, for he spake the truth.

That being said, I don't think it's banworthy in Legacy. The modern ban made sense though.

Isn't that was Legacy is as a format though? A collection of all the fucked up cards that never should have been printed.

[Dice_Box]

TNN is more fucked up than DRS from my point of view. Put me in a position to ban a creature out of Legacy, DRS is 4th on my list.

[Mr. Safety]

TNN is more fucked up than DRS from my point of view. Put me in a position to ban a creature out of Legacy, DRS is 4th on my list.

So TNN is what, #3? Curious what the other 2 are (Emmy and Griz?)

[Zombie]

I'd imagine so. If it was up to me, I'd love to ban the dumb win-in-a-can stuff you can S&T to play - we have more interesting bombs to play with, and I'd like to see if they can hold up.

[Dice_Box]

So TNN is what, #3? Curious what the other 2 are (Emmy and Griz?)

Yep.

[taconaut]

Isn't that was Legacy is as a format though? A collection of all the fucked up cards that never should have been printed.

Yup, absolutely, that's why it's awesome. We weren't complaining, just noting how bonkers that duder is.

I mean, I play Storm and used to play Miracles before the ban, I'm all about the dumb stuff (except, like, Griselbrand. I hate me some Griselbrand).

[rufus]

I'd imagine so. If it was up to me, I'd love to ban the dumb win-in-a-can stuff you can S&T to play - we have more interesting bombs to play with, and I'd like to see if they can hold up.

Sure, but how do we distinguish between "S&T is the problem" and "Griselderp is the problem?"

[supremePINEAPPLE]

The problem (if it is a problem) is show and tell. Not the payoffs.

[rufus]

The problem (if it is a problem) is show and tell. Not the payoffs.

S&T is in a class of its own, but we do have Sneak Attack / Through the Breach and Animate Dead / Exhume as alternative ways to cheat Grisselbrand into play.

[maharis]

I would be more inclined to think DRS is a problem if there was a single viable deck that plays 4 DRS and 0 Brainstorm besides Elves.

Stacking Vendilion Clique, Snapcaster Mage, Baleful Strix, Shardless Agent, TNN, and Leovold, as well as the refining of the cantrip/fetch engine, has removed any incentive to not play a UBGx midrange deck. I don't really see what decks are constrained by the presence of DRS like are constrained by the presence of TNN and Leovold or the insane value of Snap, Strix, Shardless or the consistency of the cantrip machine.

DRS is a 1/2 that does nothing when it comes into play and can easily be killed before its controller untaps. These other cards just give the "problem" decks (if they are really problems) such a huge lead. You can say that DRS is what makes these cards good because of the mana fixing and ramp, but if anything the decks just switch from UB base to a UG base with Noble Hierarch powering out the dumbshit.

Snap vs. Ewit
Strix vs. Bob
Shardless vs. BBE
TNN vs. Mirran Crusader/Thrun
Leovold vs.... I don't know... Spirit of the Lab?

Pretty sure the card on the left is better in mostly every situation. And these all pitch to Force.

The role of DRS' graveyard meddling in terms of stopping graveyard decks is overrated. There are still viable reanimator and dredge decks. If anything, DRS hurts cards like Past in Flames, Knight of the Reliquary, and Nimble Mongoose more than anything, but that's not the only reason all those cards are outclassed. You can bolt their DRS and play a Mongoose, but it's just stonewalled by Strix or TNN anyway.

I would rather see how a format without TNN looks than a format without DRS. Take away the UBx decks' free wins and let's see what happens.

[Zombie]

Sure, but how do we distinguish between "S&T is the problem" and "Griselderp is the problem?"

I'm not saying S&T is not a problem: the card is stupid. All I'm saying is that S&T for Sphinx or Prog or something seems less retarded than S&T -> Omnidrool. Hive Mind feels more like what combo in MTG is supposed to be about (IMO) than Omni or Griseltard winning the game more or less on the spot. S&T is a stupid card but S&T + stuff that puts you ahead and cares about gamestate has the potential to be interesting. I have a hard time figuring out anything sans Tin Fins where Griselbrand would feel remotely interesting because the card's effect is so binary and its overall operation so self-contained. Same reason why Storm is more fun than that, same why D&T gradually building an oppressive taxation and regulations bureau has never tilted me but T1 Chalice/Moon games routinely have a fun rating of zzzz. It's why Relic, Spellbomb, Bojuka Bog are interesting grave hate and RiP is zzz. Binary Magic is boring Magic.

[Lord_Mcdonalds]

Is this thread really more worried about a 3/1 for 3 and not the card that enables greedy manabases and casts that dreaded 3/1 for 3?

[Crimhead]

Aren't you the same guy complaining about DRS stifling diversity both here and on Reddit?

Not me! Nothing wrong with DRS and the format is rich and diverse IMO.
I've even defended the card, on Reddit and I believe here as well.

Edit - I have stated that I would personally prefer to see a little more synergy based decks (especially fair decks). However:

• This is a personal preference - not a criticism that the format lacks diversity.
• My lesser-than-average appreciation of "good stuff" decks has nothing to do with DRS. I don't single that card out.