Arne Fricke (Runner-Up last Highlander GP) displays his point of view on the highlander metagame in some articles on magicuniverse.de.
http://www.magicuniverse.de/html/kolumnen.php?id=1257 (introduction, deck-building)
http://www.magicuniverse.de/html/kolumnen.php?id=1263&tempid=13.85.657.223.681 (aggro decks)
http://www.magicuniverse.de/html/kolumnen.php?id=1271 (midrange and aggrocontrol)
http://www.magicuniverse.de/html/kolumnen.php?id=1278 (combo & lock + banned list)
Interesting also for foreign players could be his top 10 hl cards and his opinion about banning that card or not. Here's the short form:
10. Mishras Workshop / Grim Monolith -> no ban
9. Life from the Loam -> no ban
8. Armageddon / Ravages of War -> no ban
7. Price of Progress / Back to Basics -> no ban
6. Goblin recruiter -> no ban
5. Survival of the Fittest -> ban (slightly recommended)
4. Oath of Druids -> no ban
3. Gifts Ungiven -> ban (strongly recommended)
2. Library of Alexandria -> ban (strongly recommended)
1. Mana Drain -> ban (strongly recommended)
Too bad, they are in german... :P guess i'll have to use google..
1. Mana Drain -> ban (strongly recommended) -> really? does he give a reason? I really don't see this as a format warping card..
I sure have to read those, when i have the time... Ohhh, and no article on pure control? Too bad...
Quote from: Mythrandir on 07-06-2009, 12:27:15 PM
Too bad, they are in german... :P guess i'll have to use google..
1. Mana Drain -> ban (strongly recommended) -> really? does he give a reason? I really don't see this as a format warping card..
I sure have to read those, when i have the time... Ohhh, and no article on pure control? Too bad...
He says Counterspell is too strong for Standard, Extended. Mana Drain is too strong for Legacy.
MDs powerlevel = Counterspells powerlevel x-times. Counter Spell with CC4(+) with MD and afterwards Decree, Upheaval, Mindslaver or something like that is often just grotesque. That kind of tempo-swing shouldn't be allowed in highlander.
Quote from: Vazdru on 07-06-2009, 12:48:59 PM
Quote from: Mythrandir on 07-06-2009, 12:27:15 PM
Too bad, they are in german... :P guess i'll have to use google..
1. Mana Drain -> ban (strongly recommended) -> really? does he give a reason? I really don't see this as a format warping card..
I sure have to read those, when i have the time... Ohhh, and no article on pure control? Too bad...
He says Counterspell is too strong for Standard, Extended. Mana Drain is too strong for Legacy.
MDs powerlevel = Counterspells powerlevel x-times. Counter Spell with CC4(+) with MD and afterwards Decree, Upheaval, Mindslaver or something like that is often just grotesque. That kind of tempo-swing shouldn't be allowed in highlander.
hmmm... well, i´ve mana drained for decree (both soldiers and angels) and i've been mana drained and yes, it's a big hit in the face, but nothing one can't handle. I understand mana drain being too powerful for legacy, because 60 card decks, 4x mana drain, legacy decks tend to have huge mana available on early turns, so yes a mana drain can be a very hard tempo-swing..
But anyway, i'm a control player, so i might be a bit bias.. let's see if any aggro players out there post something here, regarding mana drain..