Archived Analysis

Legacy is currently in a state of high tension, defined by booming engagement but significant internal metagame pressure. While the Final Health Index of 79.8 suggests overall stability, the format’s robust Player Growth (95.9) is currently masking major structural changes in deck distribution. Participation is stellar, with Paper player counts surging to over 4000 in the last recorded month, confirming that player enthusiasm remains incredibly high despite the cost of entry.

The data confirms the community's suspicions regarding the metagame’s focus. The Combo super-archetype now claims 54.2% of the field, an extreme divergence from the historical 5-year average of 40.1%. This tectonic shift has relegated Control to a mere 10.4%. While Archetype Distribution (89.1) remains high, the Metagame Diversity Score sits at a slightly concerning 73.0, reflecting the centralization of winning strategies. Crucially, the B&R Health Score, the lowest metric, clocks in at 65.0, reflecting the intense community anxiety about the current power balance.

Looking at the Top 10, UR Aggro commands the largest slice of the pie at 8% of the field, serving as the clear deck to beat. It is followed by Artifacts Blue and Dimir Tempo, both sharing the 4% marker, showcasing the efficiency of blue-based tempo strategies. Even with Combo dominating the super-archetype breakdown, fast, non-blue decks like Eldrazi Aggro and Dragon Stompy maintain a steady presence in the 3% range.

Despite the recent B&R announcement maintaining the status quo, community focus remains squarely on rapid power creep. The most disruptive new threat is the explosive Nadu, Winged Wisdom combo deck, which has quickly established itself as a legitimate challenge that forces adaptation. Ongoing frustration centers on the perceived dominance of blue decks, powered by undercosted threats like Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer and Murktide Regent, and the power of zero-mana interaction, specifically Flare of Denial. Adding to the friction, Wrenn and Six remains a consistent source of complaint, cementing its status as a foundational card that severely punishes non-basic land reliance.