Archived Analysis

Pauper is holding steady this week, landing a Final Health Index score of 61.1. While this score suggests a moderately healthy environment, the underlying data tells a stark story of stability being offset by severe participation declines. The metagame itself is showing strong signs of resilience and varied distribution, keeping the Archetype Distribution Score exceptionally high at 91.9, but the format cannot ignore the red flags in the growth metrics.

Looking deeper into the numbers reveals exactly where the format is truly struggling. Despite boasting an excellent Metagame Diversity Score of 78.7, our Growth metrics are collapsing. The Event Growth Score scraped a dismal 2.2, and Player Growth hit only 6.8. Participation trend data confirms the concern: Paper play is declining monthly by -13.7%, and MTGO participation is dropping even faster, at -28.0% per month. This decline in participation is the largest headwind facing the format, despite the clear health and variety displayed within the metagame itself.

The battlefield is currently dominated by Aggro strategies, which represent 65.5% of the current Super-Archetype breakdown—a percentage remarkably close to the historical five-year average of 66.4%. Rakdos Aggro leads the pack this week, holding 9.2% of the Top 10 metagame. Right behind them, Affinity and Elves are knotted up at 8% each. A dense middle tier includes Red Deck Wins, Mono Blue Aggro, and Burn, all sitting closely at 6%. This solid distribution confirms that a wide variety of aggressive strategies are currently viable, keeping overall deck diversity high.

Recent B&R action successfully removed High Tide, which the analysis deemed a vital corrective measure that restores stability to the format by eliminating a polarizing combo archetype. This move contributed to the strong B&R Health Score of 80.0. However, persistent frustration remains visible in community discussions, which are heavily focused on the dominance of Affinity and its artifact land base, with ongoing calls to restrict lands like Great Furnace and Vault of Whispers. Other critical staples receiving community buzz include Tolarian Terror, seen as the benchmark threat, and Snuff Out, a free removal spell whose necessity is frequently debated by players seeking greater design space.