Today Aaron Forsythe reassured us that WotC is not planing on a new Format. Instead of offering a vaguely worded “No format called Eternal” he flat out said no new format.
I have to say I’m pretty bummed out. I’m like to see a new format, something that we could play at GPs or PPTQs instead of boring old Standard/Sealed/Modern.
It’s clear WotC isn’t really supporting Legacy in a meaningful way. Let me qualify that statement. Because I’m sure you are thinking, “What the heck is this Eternal Masters set?”
It’s a bandaid on an amputation. Sorry for the visual, but really all of these “Masters” sets are not cutting it with their super limited runs. Printing these sets are supposed to alleviate supply so that we can afford one (or in some cases a second) Legacy/Modern deck. But stores are getting twenty boxes, selling ten and saving ten for events. They are going to squeeze every last dime out of their limited stock. The variance so far for stores I’ve asked for product prices range from $200 a box (that’s good) to $400 a box (that’s bad).
Again it’s not really doing more than putting a few extra copies out into the secondary market while local game stores are incentivized to price gouge anyone that wants product.
That’s the fist problem, the price gouging. The second problem is something WotC never seems to keep in mind—secondary market buyouts. The reserved list dinosaur is getting really long in the tooth. As soon as this set is fully spoiled and we are still missing staples like Damnation and Tendrils of Agony (no I don’t think it’s gonna see print) those cards are gonna get bought out, and then the cards on the Reserved List are gonna get bought out and you won’t be able to find a dual land for less than double what those cards are going for now.
This set was supposed to lower the entry point for Legacy. Turns out you spent $400 for a box and two of your mythics were Argothian Enchantress and Worldgorger Dragon. Well great! Maybe you do get something great though, then you feel obliged to spent another $1000 to $2000 to play Legacy. God forbid you open a Vintage Mythic like Mana Crypt and you get that vile itch.
So, a new format with the support of an “unlimited” run set would have been a great boon for everyone.
Friends and I have developed a new format we are working on and I’m thinking of having a tourney for it. It’s called Masters Format. So it’s EMA, MMA, and MM2. Those are the legal sets. No banned list and no restricted list. I just got some podcast equipment so next week I’m hoping to air out more of my frustrations in audio. I’ll have a guest with me to talk about Legacy and Modern and Masters format.
If you were able to get your hands on EMA boxes without paying an arm and a leg, that’s awesome! If you haven’t good luck!
Zac Clark
Zac Clark is the Founder of Hipsters of the Coast. An avid gamer since his early teens, Zac can often be found in Brooklyn either playing games or taking photos. When he’s not drawing extra cards, wrathing boards and countering spells, he’s taking pictures of other peoples good times and listening to 90’s Music.