The Fusion of Standard and Modern ...

#Introducing Current!

<p style="text-indent:20px;"> Current is a very easy format to understand. It is every non-supplementary product released from M15 and onward.</p>

<p style="text-indent:20px;"> This calls back to the origins of modern and how it was a non-rotating format that started when the new border came into being. Well, now that we have a new border, M15 is the perfect place to start this new modern/standard hybrid version. </p>

<p style="text-indent:20px;"> And while yes, I know some of you will say "I thought of this too, how dare she take my idea" or whatever, please let us not have the plague of "idea claim" that has befallen the new BFZ lands. Let's be honest here, no one knows who came up with the widespread name of Tango lands that has garnered likes and dislikes, so this shall be no different. It doesn't matter who came up with the idea, it matters that the idea gets spread throughout the world to make this format viable. </p>

<p style="text-indent:20px;"> In the event that it does become popular, WotC will take note. The best thing about Current is that it is using sets that are quite fresh in WotC's mind when they are doing, I would say, a very well done job at making these sets. In this, should WotC take note of this format when making new sets, it is MUCH MUCH MUCH easier to playtest for Current, than it is for Modern. Much of modern falls out of "New World Order", and thus contains a lot of cards that can come out of nowhere in terms of interactions, and therefore would be much harder to playtest an equal footing for. </p>

<p style="text-indent:20px;"> Now let's look at the benefits that behold this format. It first holds the benefits of being near Standard. In this, every Standard constructed deck will most likely be viable in Current for about 2 years. You will no longer have to worry about your deck rotating out, and instead just need to add a few pieces to the puzzle. This is one of the dominating reasons why WotC changed the block structure, was to make decks become more like a gradual transition between each block rather than having to build an entirely new deck. In this, I think this is a strong point in Current's favour. </p>

<p style="text-indent:20px;"> The other point is its budget. And yes, it is infinitely cheaper than modern, being anywhere (Jace, the Irritating Brat excluded) from 2 to 8 times cheaper. But it even has great potential to be cheaper than Standard. My reasoning is simply pointing to that when a Standard set rotates, the prices plummet. In this, the same deck that could be made for $400 in Standard could probably be made for $200 in Current. That is, if you are choosing cards that just recently rotated out. Choosing cards that are in Standard aren't going to net you good prices. </p>

<p style="text-indent:20px;"> And now yes, when the secondary market hears about this new format, card prices will start to rise. Just like people trying to do with Tiny Leaders. It's inevitable. However, the cards are much more saturated as KTK and BFZ are highly opened sets, as multi-format staples such as [[Siege Rhino]] tells us that supply definitely can and will overcome demand if WotC continues to do well in their set making. In this, the price mark-up for cards in Current are restricted to only very few cards in the smaller sets like FRF, M15, ORI, and not like a very potential and unfound card pool like Tiny Leaders. </p>

<p style="text-indent:20px;"> Let us look at now why a user should choose Current over Modern when transitioning from Standard. Modern was heralded as the format to move into when you realize that you can no longer afford the money nor the time nor the effort to constantly buy, participate and memorize new standard cards, events and metas every set release. Now, the two biggest factors against Modern are A) monetary barrier, and B) lack of certain archetypes at a T1 level. Please note that Barrier A is a definite problem and Barrier B is only a problem on an opinion basis. </p>

<p style="text-indent:20px;"> Modern cards are old. And are getting older. And are getting even more prone to speculators. The average price of cards continues to rise, and even though Modern Masters does decrease the price of certain Modern staples, it doesn't account for every other Modern staple increasing in price that still makes the average Modern deck cost more as time goes on. This gradual increase in price is solely due to the slow dollar to 5 dollar mark-ups of 1-10 dollar cards. Sure there are speculators, but people speculating on a card happens just as often as a card getting reprinted in modern masters. So you could in a sense say that those two counter each other out, and all that is left is this gradual mark-up. Current will contain much newer cards, and from sets that have been far more heavily opened than sets in which the numerous Modern legal cards heralded from. In this, the price mark-up that Current will no doubt eventually experience is going to take a LONG time to get to anywhere near the level of Modern, or even start for that matter. </p>

<p style="text-indent:20px;"> Barrier B, lack of archetypes is not a solution that will be solved with Current. If you want to play hard control Current will be the place to do so. If you want to play combo, Current will not. Combo will be much harder to achieve in Current as WotC seems to be actively trying to dissuade T1 combo decks due to their ability to result in non-interactive games and just a bitter feel of the game in general to numerous customers of MTG product. A combo deck at the competitive level in Standard has the potential to just be broken, and thus WotC doesn't want to try and make a deck that could very well warp the Standard format. They do succeed in making balanced combo decks from time to time, that is if they even notice they occur during their playtests. But nonetheless, combo decks are a bit hard to balance in Standard without giving the feel I mentioned above, and the feel that WotC is just spoon feeding you decks, which has always been a negative quality that individuals give to WotC's non-supplementary products. </p>

<p style="text-indent:20px;"> The final thing I have to mention about  (I may come up with more later on) is Current's advantage over Modern in the ease of transition from Standard. It no longer costs $400 to go from Standard to Modern. It is no longer a relative ease at looking at the meta and trying what works best. The transition is harsh and is a big barrier. But I already talked about the cost so lets look at the meta. Modern is heralded as a T4 format, but that isn't the turn you have to win, that is the turn in which you should be doing, or should have done, something significant. T4 is WotC minimum turn barrier for combo, unless it is very fragile like Storm, Ascendancy or Puresteel. The transition to the value creatures needing to be 2 drops and bombs needing to be 3 and 4 drops is a harsh contrast to Standard. And the requirements to have a perfect mana base and mana cost is even harsher. These things take time, a long time for many, to learn how to do. Nevermind learning all the decks, all the fringe decks, how they play, how to play against them and how to sideboard against them; just simply learning what goes into deck building for modern is complicated. </p>

<p style="text-indent:20px;"> Now let's contrast that with Current. Current is simple and easy to understand. At its point there is a limited card pool that can help Standard out. About 30-50 cards, which we have already played and seen with. We know these cards, we know what they do, we know where they go, and we know what decks we can build with them. A Standard player need not to learn a massive card pool and meta, but only a few cards that they already have experience in playing with. M15 is currently a positive boost to Standard and I don't see why anyone wouldn't want to play in a more diverse Standard. </p>

<p style="text-indent:20px;"> What does Current have for Modern players? Nothing really. If you play Modern then you are already at that point that these standards players, in which Current is designed for, cannot reach. The biggest things that Current has that Modern doesn't is A) Tier 1 control decks. B) Ability to change to new decks without such a hefty price tag. C) Lack of combo if you don't like combo decks and D) A rapidly changing meta as each new deck in Standard for the next 2 years will influence Current in some form or way. If you don't like combo, don't like the lack of control, don't like the inability to swap between decks and don't like the requirement for Modern's meta to change to be a broken or banned card; then Current is for you. </p>

<p style="text-indent:20px;"> Okay, enough of the analysis of the benefits of Current has over the other two formats that it is a hybrid of. Now let's discuss the real reason why you are still reading this article (or just scrolled through all that jazz at the top), that reason, is what does Current give that makes me want to play it? What does the cards in M15 give Standard right now? </p>

Answer: a lot.

Better answer: Fuck you Jace the Irritating Brat, I NOW HAVE LIGHTNING STRIKE BACK AGAIN! EAT THAT SHIT!

Anyways.

<p style="text-indent:20px;"> Yes, the best thing for Standard is the gaining back of a much easier, more widespread removal in [[Lightning Strike]]. A particular caveat Standard players will have of this meta right now is the lack of cheap efficient removal. And M15 gives us two of three top removal spells that were in Standard before BFZ. [[Lightning Strike]] and [[Stoke the Flames]]. </p>

<p style="text-indent:20px;"> There are some negative connotations with having these two cards. [[Butcher of the Horde]], [[Mantis Rider]], [[Smothering Abomination]] and [[Dust Stalker]] are all a lot less likely to be played. Hell, eldrazi in general seems to take quite a blow from this. Allies to. Remember that there are some pros and cons when introducing M15, I'll list the cons that I know of right now. The list will probably become repopulated as time goes by. </p>

- [[Jace, Vryn's Prodigy]] becomes a lot weaker.
- Mardu Aristocrats are a much less viable deck.
- Eldrazi cards are much less viable in general.
- Landfall and allies, BFZ's "iconic" mechanics also have taken a serious blow.
- Enchantment decks are less viable.

The pros? There are a lot more pros.

- [[Jace, Vryn's Prodigy]] becomes a lot weaker.
- Mardu tempo aggro is viable.
- RDW is viable.
- Tokens strategies are viable.
- UR artifacts is viable.
- Sultai self-mill gets a pivotal card in [[Satyr Wayfinder]] (whether it will still come back is a question as the loss of [[Whip of Erebos]] is huge).
- [[Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth]]
- Ramp becomes more viable.
- Superfriends in almost every colour combination available.

<p style="text-indent:20px;"> Yeah, Jace the Irritating Brat, you may want to play him because you foolishly bought him for way too much. Or you may not want to play against him because you don't have the money to foolishly buy him. Also important to note that we also get [[Phyrexian Revoker]], another hate card. </p>

<p style="text-indent:20px;"> Let's look at what M15 gives Mardu strategies. The top 5 cards are, in no order, [[Goblin Rabblemaster]], [[Raise the Alarm]], [[Lightning Strike]], [[Stoke the Flames]] and [[Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth]]. Ideally, all these cards are to be included in your average mardu build, but the other cards can fluctuate. This means M15 is guaranteed to see play in decks because they are much stronger and support decks much better than what currently exists. </p>

<script src="http://tappedout.net/tappedout.js"></script><div class="deck-list" >2x Battlefield Forge
4x Bloodstained Mire
4x Mountain
3x Nomad Outpost
3x Plains
4x Smoldering Marsh
1x Swamp
1x Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
3x Mardu Ascendancy
3x Lightning Strike
3x Raise the Alarm
3x Stoke the Flames
3x Valorous Stance
3x Drana, Liberator of Malakir
3x Goblin Piledriver
3x Goblin Rabblemaster
4x Seeker of the Way
3x Bone Splinters
4x Dragon Fodder
3x Hordeling Outburst
Sideboard
2x Blighted Fen
1x Blighted Steppe
3x Butcher of the Horde
4x Exquisite Firecraft
2x Kolaghan's Command
1x Mortuary Mire
2x Ruinous Path</div>

<br>

<p style="text-indent:20px;"> Another potential deck is the UR artifacts. Probably one of the more dominating decks of ORI, without the pivotal cards of [[Ensoul Artifact]], [[Shrapnel Blast]], [[Ornithopter]] and [[Darksteel Citadel]], it wouldn't be remotely viable. The only cards it really loses are [[Temple of Epiphany]] and [[Springleaf Drum]]. However, this is a really big blow to its mana base so expect a slower deck. Interesting to note that the sideboard is completely intact. [[Anticipate]] is the best card I think to replace [[Springleaf Drum]], though that's just me. Some may find [[Clutch of Currents]], [[Herald of Kozilek]], [[Vile Aggregate]], [[Outnumber]] or [[Brutal Expulsion]] are better options. </p>

<script src="http://tappedout.net/tappedout.js"></script><div class="deck-list" >7 Island
4 Darksteel Citadel
4 Shivan Reef
4 Mountain
2 Swiftwater Cliffs
1 Tomb of the Spirit Dragon
4 Ornithopter
4 Hangarback Walker
4 Chief of the Foundry
4 Phyrexian Revoker
4 Whirler Rogue
4 Shrapnel Blast
4 Stubborn Denial
4 Ghostfire Blade
3 Anticipate
4 Ensoul Artifact
Sideboard
2 Seismic Rupture
2 Negate
2 Disdainful Stroke
2 Smash to Smithereens
3 Thopter Spy Network
4 Roast</div>

<br>

<p style="text-indent:20px;"> [[Elvish Mystic]] makes green beasties strategies more viable. [[Hornet Queen]] and [[Hornet Nest]] are excellent inclusions. Thought the biggest two are probably [[Genesis Hydra]] and [[Nissa, Worldwaker]]. Now I'm not really that good at making rampy decks, so I shall try my best in making one. Though now that I made it ... [[Scuttling Doom Engine]]? And I absolutely love the transformational sideboard. </p>

<script src="http://tappedout.net/tappedout.js"></script><div class="deck-list" >4x Blisterpod
4x Elvish Mystic
3x Endless One
3x Gaea's Revenge
4x Rattleclaw Mystic
3x Scuttling Doom Engine
4x Crater's Claws
2x Nissa, Worldwaker
2x Blighted Woodland
4x Cinder Glade
2x Fertile Thicket
6x Forest
4x Mountain
4x Wooded Foothills
3x From Beyond
3x Nissa's Pilgrimage
1x Nissa's Revelation
4x Seek the Wilds
Sideboard
2x Hangarback Walker
3x Hornet Nest
3x Kozilek's Sentinel
3x Vestige of Emrakul
4x Vile Aggregate</div>

<br>

<p style="text-indent:20px;"> And of course, I cannot forget RDW. This is a very iconic deck in all of magic and many players were quite happy with it being T1, and many of course were not. Just like the Jace issue. While there are 3 three red cards I mentioned previously, RDW has returning to us [[Foundry Street Denizen]] and [[Frenzied Goblin]] to the team. Problem is, it is hard to find a deck that actually used both of these cards when ORI came out. Gruul deck wins as it once called used the [[Foundry Street Denizen]], but not the [[Frenzied Goblin]]. Nevertheless, [[Lightning Strike]] and [[Goblin Rabblemaster]] are certainly powerful. </p>

<script src="http://tappedout.net/tappedout.js"></script><div class="deck-list" >12 Mountain
4 Cinder Glade
4 Wooded Foothills
4 Abbot of Keral Keep
4 Foundry Street Denizen
4 Monastery Swiftspear
2 Zurgo Bellstriker
3 Goblin Rabblemaster
3 Dragon Fodder
3 Exquisite Firecraft
1 Become Immense
4 Lightning Strike
4 Stoke the Flames
4 Atarka's Command
4 Hordeling Outburst
Sideboard
3 Scab-Clan Berserker
2 Smash to Smithereens
2 Wild Slash
1 Chandra, Pyromaster
4 Roast
3 Frenzied Goblin</div>

<br>

<p style="text-indent:20px;"> And now finally, the superfriends decks! There are so many possible decks to choose from, there's just no end. [[Chandra, Pyromaster]], [[Nissa, Worldwaker]] and [[Garruk, Apex Predator]] are all powerful planeswalkers that could definitely see play. I do not have a specific list as there are so many colour combinations, and it is kinda meta dependent on what you run, just like a control deck. You choose how you want to run your superfriends deck, be it Jund, Abzan, Esper, Temur, Jeskai, Sultai or Mardu, and go out there and win games. </p>

<p style="text-indent:20px;"> I hope this article was of use to you, and I hope you go out there to promote this format. This format has the definite potential, and with you and your LGS supporting this format it becomes a much more viable addition to MTG's repertoire of formats. So please, spread the word, try it out, promote it, advertise it, and let it be a regular event at your FNM. </p>