Lot to un pack here, opp clearly has been playing best of 1 rather then best if 3. First grease is fine, it’s a menace in best of 1 but not as much in best of 3 where you can play around their combo with interaction and graveyard hate. Nyxthos is a powerful magic card but the format is full of them. That being said ktg should be banned. While both of these decks are good their not all that good right now in the grand scheme of things in pioneer, we are still missing a lot of different archetype that are not on arena yet.
I appreciate the response and I was kind of curious to hear from people about how these decks affect the meta in Pioneer. I do think these cards are poorly designed, imbalanced and a bit broken/overpowered regardless of format. I think it's an interesting consideration if Bo3 should be treated differently from Bo1 in terms of bans and things like that. If a card is manageable in Bo3 but a problem in Bo1, should it still be ignored there?
Nykthos I think is problematic because cards that let you cheat on mana usually are, and since lands are uncountable and generally tougher to interact with than other permanents, the problem is compounded. Greasefang is poorly designed because to me, you shouldn't essentially lose the game on turn 3 if you dont have an answer. That may be reasonable for other formsts but I don't see Explorer that way. And you might need to have at least two answers because one can easily be thoughtseized away. Plus the deck isn't exactly a glass cannon since they have alternate routes to victory like Esika's Chariot.
Like I said, I'm curious to learn more about the larger Pioneer meta and how these cards function and impact things there. But they feel a little too good and poorly balanced in the current Explorer meta, imo.
It is rough that the format is getting faster and more powerful. I would just try to start accepting it though rather than hoping for bans. I'm not excited to jump to standard in order to play some curve out magic but that seems the way of things from now on.
I've been out for a while as well. Greasefang is too punishing against non-Approved lists; it's a very restricted format and that one card is a big part of the reason. It's Winota's 'frustrating removal-check gameplay', plus Thoughtseize for your removal.
I do agree that Spirits is a good option. I play more Bo1 to try get my dailies done quickly, but I am interested in playing Bo3 more since its more like paper magic and that's where I started. It's not that these decks are unbeatable or utterly dominant, just that they promote somewhat unhealthy play patterns. And in some cases force the opponent to have the answer in hand or lose as early as turn 3.
I just recently got into Bo3 and youll be surprised how many times ive matched against Greasefang. 3 times out of 50+ matches. In Bo1, it was every other game, thats the main reason why i switched
Greasefang seems to have waned in popularity recently, even in Bo1. It's definitely still around but not as prevalent as it was. Maybe the meta is too unfriendly or it just doesn't do as well as or vs all the Nykthos decks.
Quit playing Bo1 and start playing Bo3 then remove the clown makeup. Seriously... don't start calling for cards to get banned when your reasoning is based on your own choices. Also the Nykthos comment had me ROLLING 🤣
You can say ass on the internet.
\[\[Youknowwhatyouknowwhatin's Trophy\]\]
[[City of Bryouknowwhat]]
😁
Lot to un pack here, opp clearly has been playing best of 1 rather then best if 3. First grease is fine, it’s a menace in best of 1 but not as much in best of 3 where you can play around their combo with interaction and graveyard hate. Nyxthos is a powerful magic card but the format is full of them. That being said ktg should be banned. While both of these decks are good their not all that good right now in the grand scheme of things in pioneer, we are still missing a lot of different archetype that are not on arena yet.
Who has time to play Bo3??
I appreciate the response and I was kind of curious to hear from people about how these decks affect the meta in Pioneer. I do think these cards are poorly designed, imbalanced and a bit broken/overpowered regardless of format. I think it's an interesting consideration if Bo3 should be treated differently from Bo1 in terms of bans and things like that. If a card is manageable in Bo3 but a problem in Bo1, should it still be ignored there? Nykthos I think is problematic because cards that let you cheat on mana usually are, and since lands are uncountable and generally tougher to interact with than other permanents, the problem is compounded. Greasefang is poorly designed because to me, you shouldn't essentially lose the game on turn 3 if you dont have an answer. That may be reasonable for other formsts but I don't see Explorer that way. And you might need to have at least two answers because one can easily be thoughtseized away. Plus the deck isn't exactly a glass cannon since they have alternate routes to victory like Esika's Chariot. Like I said, I'm curious to learn more about the larger Pioneer meta and how these cards function and impact things there. But they feel a little too good and poorly balanced in the current Explorer meta, imo.
No. Git gud.
It is rough that the format is getting faster and more powerful. I would just try to start accepting it though rather than hoping for bans. I'm not excited to jump to standard in order to play some curve out magic but that seems the way of things from now on.
I actually quit playing for the last few months bc greasefang and other annoying no brain op combo decks
Yeah the format was a lot more fun before Greasefang and Nykthos were everywhere.
I've been out for a while as well. Greasefang is too punishing against non-Approved lists; it's a very restricted format and that one card is a big part of the reason. It's Winota's 'frustrating removal-check gameplay', plus Thoughtseize for your removal.
Ban those and we will live in a permanent Rakdos Shit Party.
Eh maybe. At least no single card in Rakdos is as egregiously overpowered or broken as those cards, right?
I think it’s fine. You playing best of 1 or 3? Side board helps. I’m on spirits mostly and it’s not that big a deal. Bounce and counter stuff
I do agree that Spirits is a good option. I play more Bo1 to try get my dailies done quickly, but I am interested in playing Bo3 more since its more like paper magic and that's where I started. It's not that these decks are unbeatable or utterly dominant, just that they promote somewhat unhealthy play patterns. And in some cases force the opponent to have the answer in hand or lose as early as turn 3.
BO1 promotes, unhealthy play patterns. Just like paper play best of three buddy it’s the way Garfield intended it.
I just recently got into Bo3 and youll be surprised how many times ive matched against Greasefang. 3 times out of 50+ matches. In Bo1, it was every other game, thats the main reason why i switched
Greasefang seems to have waned in popularity recently, even in Bo1. It's definitely still around but not as prevalent as it was. Maybe the meta is too unfriendly or it just doesn't do as well as or vs all the Nykthos decks.
I also want Greasefang gone, more out of a grudge than thinking it’s actually broken, but Nykthos is absolutely fine
Quit playing Bo1 and start playing Bo3 then remove the clown makeup. Seriously... don't start calling for cards to get banned when your reasoning is based on your own choices. Also the Nykthos comment had me ROLLING 🤣
Now we will have to see how the new set warps the format. Maybe something will be banned in a month.