I love that this series not only covers Lore, but all the history of the players, cards and tournaments surrounding the era. It's really like a page in a yearbook of Magic: The Gathering.
I'm still amazed this was such a good block - almost all the ideas were hits for either Constructed or Limited. I can't offhand think of anything else that remained strong set to set.
Actually, Flash lived on in Vintage for about another 9 months after it was banned in Legacy. in Vintage, it was Sliver Flash and played 4x Virulent Slivers and one Heart Sliver (to give them haste). It was easier to win with, and was more resilient because you could simply hard cast your slivers and beat down for poison. you could use the green Pact to find that 3rd or 4th virulent sliver, cast it and win with poison before having to pay for the pact. Normally it played the green Pact to go and find the Hulk or Elvish Spirit guide, but finding a sliver worked in a pinch. it wasn't until I think May of 2008 when Flash and Merchant Scroll were both restricted and thus killing the deck for good.
Azorius Dissension was my first deck back in school :) thanks for the whole background and showcasing of what was going on, when I was just learning how to tap and stuff.
As usual, a very comprehensive take, and all the major Constructed points got covered. A few notes about the Limited play, though... In my opinion, graft is one of the most dynamic, exciting Limited mechanics of all time, with incredible synergy for a fairly minimal opportunity cost. Combining graft with Gruul's bloodthirst was an absolute wrecking ball, and the guys were significantly ahead of the curve. It was rather scary drafting with only mono-colored cards in Ravnica, and trying to lock down the good Bloodthirst guys and Izzet sorceries in Guildpact, but the Simic payoff in pack 3 was huge. I had quite a few really solid payoffs with Boros/Orzhov/Rakdos, which may have been the most aggressive draft archetype. Hellbent wasn't that bad. As for forecast, though... yeah, it was the worst of the guild mechanics, aside from radiance. To its credit, Azorius did have a really nice tapper, Minister of Impediments, that didn't require any mana to activate. Master Decoy type cards almost always have a mana cost tacked onto them, making their use a tough call, but Minister of Impediments broke that norm. I'm finishing up original Mirrodin block with my history shows, and will be doing Kamigawa block after that, but I think I may take a break and jump back to something earlier before I tackle Ravnica. This series did cover a lot, though, so I will have to approach some of the angles differently. (Also, I think I'll probably hit the pronunciation a bit better, there were a few names that had issues. But I'm a linguist, of course I'll nitpick.)
I love this! I'm pretty new to Magic, but Ravnica absolutely fascinates me. It would be awesome if you did a follow-up trilogy about the Return to Ravnica Block too.
+Richard Rominger Both Ravnica blocks, the Innistrad Block, and The Lorwyn/Shadowmoor blocks (a pair of 2 set blocks that make up one larger than usual block), and the Zendikar block are in my opinion the best modern era blocks.
Jacob Davis I thought about that one as well, but I don't think it helped the limited format as much as the other two sets. Dissension and Future Sight made the drafts better. While New Phyrexia was not a bad set, like most 3rd sets are, I don't think it made the limited format better, but it also didn't make it worse. So, I'd probably concede that it should be up there, or at least put it up as number 3 on the list.
Plaxcaster Frogling saw competitive play, in what I think was called "Sea Stompy." That is a graft card. But yes, the guild mechanics were trash in this set.
Having missed the orig and return to ravnica, it seems according to you vids the original mechanics from the first block were mostly good, second set were ok, and third set were not that good. I do like the flavor of the set tho.
kinda glad i dont pay for this stuff, 3 months sense the last one, im sure there are people who pay quite a bit for this stuff only to wait 3 months. I know your a busy guy with a family(as you pointed out to me in the past) BUT 3 months
I love that this series not only covers Lore, but all the history of the players, cards and tournaments surrounding the era.
It's really like a page in a yearbook of Magic: The Gathering.
and now your content is very similar, I knew of your vids before I discovered this content
"Patron of the Kit-soon".....that shit killed me man.... :(
I'm still amazed this was such a good block - almost all the ideas were hits for either Constructed or Limited. I can't offhand think of anything else that remained strong set to set.
I love that you include both the lore and the constructed impact of the set. Keep up the good work, please and thank you.
I love your Forgotten Lore videos, seriously :)
Actually, Flash lived on in Vintage for about another 9 months after it was banned in Legacy. in Vintage, it was Sliver Flash and played 4x Virulent Slivers and one Heart Sliver (to give them haste). It was easier to win with, and was more resilient because you could simply hard cast your slivers and beat down for poison. you could use the green Pact to find that 3rd or 4th virulent sliver, cast it and win with poison before having to pay for the pact. Normally it played the green Pact to go and find the Hulk or Elvish Spirit guide, but finding a sliver worked in a pinch. it wasn't until I think May of 2008 when Flash and Merchant Scroll were both restricted and thus killing the deck for good.
Azorius Dissension was my first deck back in school :)
thanks for the whole background and showcasing of what was going on, when I was just learning how to tap and stuff.
Awesome, thank you Evin for covering this great piece of magic history!
Thanks for doing these, it is always great to know what is happening
Thanks for finishing this! I was waiting for this a long time.
Thank you for making a new video!!
I loved original Rav block. One of magics greatest blocks.
As usual, a very comprehensive take, and all the major Constructed points got covered. A few notes about the Limited play, though...
In my opinion, graft is one of the most dynamic, exciting Limited mechanics of all time, with incredible synergy for a fairly minimal opportunity cost. Combining graft with Gruul's bloodthirst was an absolute wrecking ball, and the guys were significantly ahead of the curve. It was rather scary drafting with only mono-colored cards in Ravnica, and trying to lock down the good Bloodthirst guys and Izzet sorceries in Guildpact, but the Simic payoff in pack 3 was huge.
I had quite a few really solid payoffs with Boros/Orzhov/Rakdos, which may have been the most aggressive draft archetype. Hellbent wasn't that bad.
As for forecast, though... yeah, it was the worst of the guild mechanics, aside from radiance. To its credit, Azorius did have a really nice tapper, Minister of Impediments, that didn't require any mana to activate. Master Decoy type cards almost always have a mana cost tacked onto them, making their use a tough call, but Minister of Impediments broke that norm.
I'm finishing up original Mirrodin block with my history shows, and will be doing Kamigawa block after that, but I think I may take a break and jump back to something earlier before I tackle Ravnica. This series did cover a lot, though, so I will have to approach some of the angles differently. (Also, I think I'll probably hit the pronunciation a bit better, there were a few names that had issues. But I'm a linguist, of course I'll nitpick.)
I love this! I'm pretty new to Magic, but Ravnica absolutely fascinates me.
It would be awesome if you did a follow-up trilogy about the Return to Ravnica Block too.
+Richard Rominger Both Ravnica blocks, the Innistrad Block, and The Lorwyn/Shadowmoor blocks (a pair of 2 set blocks that make up one larger than usual block), and the Zendikar block are in my opinion the best modern era blocks.
FINALLY!!!! Been on the edge of my seat waiting for this.
Love this series always very well done
It would be great to have one of these on the Invasion cycle.
Ive been waiting for this video for months
I LOVE the forgoten lores :) thanks man :)
Augustin, not Augustus!
great stuff again.
I forgot I was still subscribed.
Me Too Lol
upvoting for heropon
PhoenixBurningYT Why thank you.
so incredibly entertaining.
Lorwyn next !
8:50 Diablo, is that you?
I dont get why they don't have the cytoplasts in gatecrash, They are an excellent explanation of +1/+1 counters.
2:50 Thanks to the GP this weekend that's not that much
give us more of these videos plz
8:48 That's Diablo from Diablo 3, not Rakdos.
This and Future Sight were the only 3rd expansion sets that really worked
You forgot new phyrexia
Jacob Davis I thought about that one as well, but I don't think it helped the limited format as much as the other two sets. Dissension and Future Sight made the drafts better. While New Phyrexia was not a bad set, like most 3rd sets are, I don't think it made the limited format better, but it also didn't make it worse. So, I'd probably concede that it should be up there, or at least put it up as number 3 on the list.
what about dragons of tarkir?
Energy Core I don't think we can judge a set before we play with it, do you?
Zendikar through Rise of the Eldrazi was a solid block all around. I am glad we are revisiting that block.
sweet! thank you for this!
do kamigawa! :D
one of the worst blocks, but one of the coolest stories
Did I understand that right, you can get your likeness on a card by winning an invitational? Do they still do this?
They don't do invitationals anymore sadly.
Sad Panda is Sad
"Experimental Kraj"
Kitsune is pronounced kit-su-nay not kitsoon
I believe the Grand Arbiter's name is Augustin, not Augustus.
It's to bad I never got into magic back then during original ravnica. >.
the simic combine; where plastic surgery is not only socially accepted, it's socially required!
why did you add a picture of Diablo at 8:49 ?
Guys, can you please explain how spell snare counters tarmogoyf? I'm new so if you could go into detail that would be great.
Spell snare counters a spell with converted mana cost 2. Goyf's mana cost is 2
atticushenry318 I understand the converted mana bit, but tarmogoyf is a creature. Is there a rule or something i'm missing?
Kai1 everything not a land is counted as a 'spell' in magic
TheRoyalSlasher Thanks for that. It makes a lot of sense now.
Oh I remember not knowing this as well when I started - during old ravnica. Back then we thought Remove Soul made a creature vanilla :D
Do kamigawa next
Great videos, keep it up.
Plaxcaster Frogling saw competitive play, in what I think was called "Sea Stompy." That is a graft card. But yes, the guild mechanics were trash in this set.
Having missed the orig and return to ravnica, it seems according to you vids the original mechanics from the first block were mostly good, second set were ok, and third set were not that good. I do like the flavor of the set tho.
What's next?
oh my god yes! yes!
The lich lord is my dude
You forgot Plaxcaster frogling used to be good Evan........
GJ Evan ;)
DUDE SO LONG
8:49 Diablo III!!!!!!
kinda glad i dont pay for this stuff, 3 months sense the last one, im sure there are people who pay quite a bit for this stuff only to wait 3 months. I know your a busy guy with a family(as you pointed out to me in the past) BUT 3 months
At least get the character names right!