Expensive Standard!!
Economics forum
Posted on Oct. 12, 2015, 5:48 p.m. by Jimmy_Chinchila
One thing I've noticed is how expensive the tier 1 Standard decks are this block. G/W Manifest runs 4 Deathmist Raptor, 4 Den Protector and 4 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar. The Bant version also has Dragonlord Ojutai. Jeskai Black runs a ton of fetchlands, 4 Jace, Vryn's Prodigy Flip, 4 Soulfire Grand Master, 2 Monastery Mentor and Ojutai. Temur Midrange also features a variety of pricey cards such as Undergrowth Champion, Dragonlord Atarka, Shaman of Forgotten Ways and Kiora, Master of the Depths.
So is it just me or is this Standard block waaayy more expensive than past blocks? Obviously fetches drive up the price but things like Jace, Vryn's Prodigy Flip and Gideon, Ally of Zendikar, even Hangarback Walker, are pretty much required in their respective decks and often are ran as playsets.
Is it possible to make a highly competitive deck without relying on these power cards, or are you pretty much stuck having to drain your wallet to have a competitive deck?
I think it's safe to assume the power cards won't go down much in price as long as playsets keep showing up in tournament Top 8's.
Well, Standard hasn't really been this expensive since Innistrad/Ravnica where 4c midrange was a big thing. Ravnica control decks were also very expensive. Even so, there are loads of deck archetypes that can be built under $200 in standard. T1 is hella expensive, but shop metas can still exist in a relatively healthy state. I don't think this is all that terrible, tbh. It might force some people into creative deck building for the first time.
@shuflw. Demars' list is well over $400. I don't think that most players would consider that budget.
October 12, 2015 6:07 p.m. Edited.
Avg price of a top 8 deck @ SCGINDY was $640
Honestly, Its pricey, but im OK with this. Less Bant Megamorph at my Locals, the better and my wallet can currently afford $400-$700 build as I played the first week of BfZ right and opened a tonne of product and built a very respectable trade binder. But yeah, this Standard is on the pricey side, for now at least.
October 12, 2015 7 p.m. Edited.
notamardybum says... #5
If you want to keep the price down, don't play 4 colors...
October 12, 2015 7:02 p.m.
No Truth in that statement lol
I'm running a $600 Gruul Landfall build. That said, I have pimped it, but still would be a $400 build without the foils....
October 12, 2015 7:05 p.m.
gnarlicide says... #7
Naya Beatdown deck from RTR/INN standard cost around 1125 dollars. the Jund deck of the time was around 1100 as well. This is still a pretty low "barrier to entry" for standard compared to past standard environments. But then again, I play modern and legacy on the regular, so I have no reason to complain.
October 12, 2015 7:19 p.m.
Jimmy_Chinchila says... #8
It's just weird to see a Standard card like Jace VP being more than a modern staple like Snapcaster Mage. But I suppose the power level might allow some standard cards to make their way into modern builds so it's like a 2 for 1.
shuflw says... #2
cards that win tournaments are desired by more players and thus will cost more. it's not a new thing, and i don't see this standard being waaayy more expensive than other blocks.
2008 had u/b faeries with 3-4 Thoughtseize, Cryptic Command, Mutavault, Bitterblossom, Mistbind Clique.
2011 had caw-blade with 3-4 Stoneforge Mystic, Gideon Jura, Jace, the Mind Sculptor, Arid Mesa, Scalding Tarn as well as a handful of Sword of Body and Mind, Sword of Feast and Famine, Batterskull and various titans.
the last scg event was won by a deck playing Temur Battle Rages and Wild Slashs. the best way to play a cheap deck in standard is to design your own, buy it, and win with it. then once you win with it, all the cards will become expensive because others will want to play it.
October 12, 2015 6:07 p.m.