Rumors and whispers

Rumor is a June 20th banning of Stoneforge Mystic.
Regardless of what does happen (taking bets now that they won't), should they ban it?

It does seem like the format is worse than standard has been since Mirrodin, when it was in desperate need of mending. But banning Mystic would also put an axe to decks that have otherwise died because of the Caw-blade. They would never ban a Planeswalker, so banning a creature like Mystic seems to be the only available option, if only to move the format forward.

So, what do you guys think?

I hope they don't. I've given into the devil which is caw-blade and I've been doing well. UW finally dominates the meta and there's talk of banning. Where was the ban hammer when Faeries was running rampant? I see no problem with the meta. I enjoy it. Just let all the UW enthusiasts live the dream for a while. Rotation will happen soon enough.

My opinion on meta issues is typically don't ban, print cards in the new set that will shift the meta in a different direction. Besides, Vamps just won. Caw-blade's reign of terror has ended. Call off the dogs.

I just wish they could just ban Batterskull.

Knepps wrote:

I just wish they could just ban Batterskull.

see, i've thought about that but batterskull would hardly be the issue that it is if it weren't for stoneforge.
a five mana artifact, life linking and hard to kill to be sure, but not the end of the format. stoneforge isn't even entirely the problem child. however, it is central to the engine and i could see the dci performing the necessary mental gymnastics to justify its banning.

The DCI does have a hard time justifying banning creatures however. I'm actually not sure of the last time they did (Kird Ape?) but i honestly can't think of another candidate to ban. The issue here is: Has caw-blade really gotten so out of control that people can't deal with it? I'd say Torpor Orb and Phyrexian Revoker both offer solid "f-you's" to caw blade. M12 is also just around the corner, perhaps we see a reappearance of pithing needle or some such? Lets not forget that Inquisition of Kozilek and Despise paired with Surgical Extraction make for a pretty upsetting turn one versus a caw-blade deck with no mental misstep. Just food for thought.

Quote :

UW finally dominates the meta

...seriously? Wasn't u/w tapout on top awhile back, then straight up u/w control, and before that superfriends?

I agree batterskull wouldn't be an issue if it wasn't for the Mustic, along with reliably finding exactly what sword you need in each matchup. I've heard as a rule of thumb, don't ban the cards, just ban the tutors. I can see it justified.

Also, addressing the issue of not banning, rather printing cards that deal with problems that arise in the metagame. I think the lag-time between sets releasing and design is at least 2 years ahead of time, so it would be hard to predict exactly what the problems are going to be when designing cards and then printing answers. They can try to predict, but then you get Great Sable stag way too late to deal with stuff etc.

tapout was on top for a week. Jund was THE deck in that time. same goes for super friends. It was a Jund era.

I think I watched an interview with rosewater talking about set design and how they are years past the current meta. So very valid point Ryan

But....

fuck everyone, leave Mystic alone!

Haha

But, tell us how you REALLY feel Randy!

It would seem real silly to ban stone forge at this point...I agree with randy the run is over for caws and sticks...the deck will either have to change to beat vampires or loose to it thus making more people play vamps...either way the meta changes
I believe desciple of the vault or raverger were the last creatures banned