I’ve put “cycle” in quotes for ZNR and MH3 because the only thing cyclical about them were the fact that each set had the same number for each color, without a big mechanical shift. Granted, MH3’s hybrid cycle is arguable similar, and I’m only putting it in its own category because it feels weird to include it in the mono-color categories considering that it had never quite been done before. I understand it’s a stretch, I’m just here to make a nice-looking poll, don’t @ me about it.
There’s no “show results” button ‘cause I want everyone to have a design opinion here. If you can’t decide, just pick a favorite! Feel free to discuss rigorously in replies if you must. Respectfully, of course.
As I’m thinking this over, I realize I actually kinda hate the mh3 hybrid cycle. Sure they’re super well balanced, but they almost fit their niche too well. Multi colored decks are always looking for dual lands, and, especially in commander, dual land that enters tapped with upside is a thoroughly explored design space that most decks want. An overcosted but actually impactful spell is such a wildly good upside that these lands are basically an auto include in any commander that can run them, even, and this is why I don’t like them, if the actual effect of the spell is unrelated to the theme or gameplan of the deck.
In some ways I actually find this worse than other “auto includes”, like sol ring and the best in slot ramp, or rhystic and the best in slot draw, or path and swords and the best in slot removal. At least these make you do your gameplan faster/safer, instead of a completely unrelated thing that you only include because it’s better than just a tapped land if you draw it late. Everytime an esper deck casts glasswing grace or a bant deck casts Drowner of truth I know they weren’t included because they fit, but because they’re better than scry 1 and hope your next turn is better.
I have a similar problem with the Kamigawa untapped legendary lands and untapped legendary channel lands. These feel like just better lands, so any deck is improved by adding them, which brings some pay to win questions.
I guess in conclusion I understand that magic will always have best in slot options, and some slots are so universal, like mana, lands, and card draw, that any deck will want them. These auto includes are inevitable especially in timeless formats and I don’t really have a problem with that. I just wish their upsides were also universal, to avoid decks running cards completely unrelated to their theme.
Only two weeks left to get a Halloween Demily plush! We’ve sold 70 so far, and we gotta sell 200 to get them into production! Come get a spooky little friend.
