Archived Analysis

Vintage is struggling, no sugarcoating it. The format feels stagnant, with a couple of decks dominating and a worrying decline in both player and event numbers. The B&R announcement's inaction speaks volumes: Wizards is watching, but not happy.

The raw numbers paint a clear picture. The Diversity score is a low 40.1, while player and event growth are negative. Combo is king at 45.6% of the meta, leaving Aggro (33.2%) and Control (21.2%) fighting for scraps. This is a significant shift from the 5-year average, where Aggro had a much stronger foothold. The overall health index of 55.8 reflects the lack of diversity and player engagement.

Right now, you better be prepared for Hatebear and MUD. These two decks make up a quarter of the meta. Dimir Control and Esper Control are also significant players, while BUG Midrange is a distant third. The rest of the top 10 are a smattering of Aggro variants that struggle to break through.

The community's focused on Orcish Bowmasters. They're testing it everywhere, and it's undeniably powerful in Vintage, disrupting draw-heavy strategies. Mental Misstep is, as always, being debated. While recognized as a necessary evil, some fear it's homogenizing the meta. No one card is screaming for a ban, but the overall sentiment is cautious, bordering on anxious. Vintage's complexity is appreciated, but its accessibility is a constant concern.