Tomorow's June 1... we know what that means...

[Secret Squirrel]

Well tomorow as most of us know, or better know by now, the DCI is going to announce any changes that will be made to the Banned/Restricted list for the Constructed formats. What do you all think will get the axe in Standard?

Personally, I think that Skullclamp will get the axe. The whole Mirrodin block is focused on artifacts, so as a result, good abilities have to be given to artifacts. Affinity is pretty medicore on paper, but when combined with Clamp is overpowering. Once Clamp is axed, I think that Affinity will still be on top, especially with Sunburst coming in. Goblins will fall a little in power, but I think that the standings of the decks in standard will remain the same.

I also think that Retract will be restricted in Type I, not because it's broken, but because it can fule Academy very well.

Comments? Predictions?

[Will5869]

i think either the clamp will get axed, or the lil black neighbor (disciple), i think this because clamp is pretty balanced, but with disciple, raffinity doesnt have to lift a finger to win. correct me if im wrong, but raffinity is more vulnerable without disciple than without clamp

[the zealotpker]

Skulclamp overpowers ALL decks though, in ALL formats. And it makes everything too fast.

Heck, my crappy GW Aggro beats landstill when I run 4 skullclamps and they don't.

[Garthan]

Skullclamp is going. Everybody knows it. The draw power it provides is unreal. Why do you think Library of Alexandria is restricted in T1? The card advantage is just so great.

[Secret Squirrel]

That's the arguement that Andy van Zandt has put forward: Should you ban the big threats, or the accelerators? Skullclamp is a major accelerator and it's been Wizards recent philosophy that it's better to slow the game down then to ban the threats, probably because according to them, there are more threats then there are accelerators. (I do not really agree with this, but that's what's been going on.)

Skullclamp is an accelerator, it will get the axe. I don't see why Disiple would be axed. Normally, Disiple is not the only win condition in Ravager Affinity.

[Will5869]

I'm just saying, the only reason I've ever lost to ravager affinity, is because of disciple. If he wasn't there, I honestly think I would have won.

[x0x shadowspell x0x]

If they ban clamp, raffinity is still going to be tops.
Everything else will die out...If anything the banning of clamp is going to cement ravager's spot at the top of the heap.

Goblins are going to slow down.
BG Cemetery will lose their draw engine.
Elves will go back to being dead again
Any other aggro deck is basically going to dissappear...

But what does Ravager obtain from 5th Dawn? Krark-Clan Ironworks.
Single-handedly the worst card out of mirrodin block...this thing makes ravager look like a puppy.

If clamp goes, you're either ravager or control...
And when onslaught block cycles out, you're either ravager or you're dead...


Makes me want to stop playing until Kamigawa block is here...

[Lich123]

I agree, clamp does speed up the ravager deck, but the ravager deck can be beaten. If skullclamp is gone we essentially lose a ton of decks
gobbo bidding wouldnt stand a chance
elfclamp = dead, not a threat to raffinity anymore
it also stops potential rogue decks from being good, I like to run myr and without skullclamp it doesnt work as well. I think that clamp is needed as a balancing agent, it keeps other decks in the format. Without we would see

Ravager
Controll
Hate
Tooth and Nail

I cant really think of any others that would be competitive. HEres a silly little fix that will never happen but I think would be fair

skullclamp errattad to say: Only 2 copies of skullclamp may be run in your deck if you are running RAffinity. Honestly affinity with Broodstar was not so overwhelming as affinity with ravager. I dont like ravager, but its not the card that needs to be banned. Without destroying many innocent decks I dont see a way to slow down ravager. Maybe something in kawagima (spelled incorrectly) will set ravager straight, but removing skullclamp would only help it, not harm it.

Keep in mind affinity can run thoughtcast too so axing skullclamp wont be as limiting as one might think to their drawing power. I also feel that controll magic is very boring and that the new emphasis on creatures has been a good thing for magic.

[Tngl]

Maybe Arcbound Ravager??:confused:

[Garthan]

Raffinity will lose A LOT of power if Skullclamp goes. Without skullclamp they won't be able to draw 4 Shrapnel Blasts a game and they'll have less of a chance of drawing Arcbound Ravager and MULTIPLE Disciples which suck ass. I guess a lot of people don't realize just how influential Skullclamp is. Raffinity won't be anything without Skullclamp.

And they won't ban Arcbound Ravager. If he isn't in Ravager Affinity he sucks balls. SKullclamp on the other hand is in every aggro deck.

[atog1]

I doubt they'll ban Skullclamp... If everyone is using it whats the difference..

[Lich123]

lets see what happened last time we had this little problem. Psychatog didn't get the axe, in fact it wasn't slowed at all so I doubt they will do anything to ravager. Psychatog was much more dominant than ravager and they didnt do anything to really stop him (except with gush, but thats not type II).

[x0x shadowspell x0x]

Well...my deck's crippled. How about you guys?

I doubt I'll be playing any tournaments after the 20th...at least till 'Ravager Block' cycles out...

[x0xjarethx0x]

with ironworks, clamp just HAD to go. card AND mana advantage would just be too much....all tournaments would be: "play ironworks, clamp affinity based creature, sac, draw two cards, get mana, lather rinse repeat.....FIREBALL!" all in the same turn.

shadow: new deck for you "UBer control."

visara's, counters, o'stones, phage, leveler, you know what else (a certain 5th dawn card). looks pretty good to me.

[x0x shadowspell x0x]

If I can't find an alternative for skullclamp...I'll have to go control... You know I won't go ravager...

seems control or 12 post are my only options... *sigh*