Vintage: Control dominance narrows metagame diversity.

Vintage is hitting the middle ground this week, registering a Final Health Index of 51.0, but the real story is the metagame shift. We are now firmly planted in a Control-dominated environment, with the Super-Archetype breakdown showing Control claiming 41.8% of the field, leaving Aggro (29.3%) and Combo (28.9%) fighting for the remainder. This dynamic is a significant reversal from the historical five-year average, which saw Control represent only 25.3% of the format.

Looking at the metrics, the Metagame Diversity Score is weak at 40.8, suggesting narrowness at the top, despite the Archetype Distribution Score being high at 90.8. Crucially, format participation is highly skewed: Paper player growth is strong at 32.3% per month, but MTGO participation is completely cratered, declining at -100.0% per month. Event Growth is also soft, declining at an average rate of -8.0%. This environment has led to a major dip in overall stability; historical data shows the format’s diversity falling steadily from 68.0 in 2023 to 56.5 in 2025.

The metagame hierarchy is clearly defined by Control. Dimir Control leads the pack aggressively, claiming 18.7% of the Top 10 space. The closest competitors are the aggressive shells of Hatebear at 13% and artifact-based MUD at 9%. BUG Midrange follows at 5%. Overall, the format’s key participants continue to be split between Blue control strategies and the raw power of Mishra's Workshop decks.

Regarding governance, the B&R Health Score sits at a respectable 65.0, bolstered by the AI analysis noting the decision to hold off on banning Lurrus—suggesting a format in a “wait-and-see” pattern. The community remains passionate but frustrated, centered on the format’s speed and high-variance opening turns. Persistent complaints focus on the efficacy of restricted staples like Mental Misstep, often cited as the glue for Blue decks, versus the oppressive nature of Chalice of the Void when cast on zero or one. Financial concerns drive overwhelming community sentiment toward supporting proxy-friendly events, viewed as essential for maintaining a healthy competitive scene given the astronomical Power Nine prices.