Is Frontier a legit thing?
The Kitchen Table forum
Posted on Nov. 2, 2016, 1:36 p.m. by Chandrian
I noticed a post on Reddit about this new format they call Frontier. Basically it's a new eternal format starting with M15 onwards (because there was a borderchange on the cards starting then). I know some people on this site also proposed to do such a format (I think the person here named it "Current").
So my question is, how legit is this new format? Do you think this will be like Tiny Leaders, get big fast and die even faster or do you think it will stick around?
I'm very curious about this since I started playing with M15 and thus most of my collection so far would be Frontier/Current/Postmodern legal. I would love this to become real, but I am not well-positioned to know if this might take off or not
Epochalyptik says... #3
This thread was moved to a more appropriate forum (auto-generated comment)
November 2, 2016 1:42 p.m.
GoldGhost012 says... #4
Frontier's generated a lot of hype for a couple reasons. Firstly, the store that stated it, Hareruya, is the biggest MTG store in Japan and boasts a lot of high-level players to play and regulate the format. Secondly, it's being marketed as a more budget way to play Modern, as the landbases and other powerful cards that are legal are a fraction of a Modern deck cost. There are still a lot of powerful cards legal (Collected Company, Jace, Vryn's Prodigy Flip, Treasure Cruise) even if they're not the staples we're used to.
November 2, 2016 2:04 p.m.
metalmagic says... #5
Ugh I'm still not really over playing around Rally the Ancestors and Collected Company with no legitimately good counterspells. Sounds more miserable than playing Modern.
November 2, 2016 4:32 p.m.
Tbh, I don't see a need for Frontier, and the cards in Frontier are mostly stuff that people hated for the entire time they were in Standard... looking at you Siege Rhino and Collected Company :P
November 2, 2016 4:34 p.m.
avrgeboy123 says... #7
Sounds like a repeat of the last 2 years of standard... Siege Rhino, Rally the Ancestors, Bant CoCo and Dark Jeskai. Really fun decks...
November 2, 2016 7:28 p.m. Edited.
pumpkinwavy says... #8
It's pretty fun. My lgs has had a couple frontier tournaments and discovering the completely new meta is really interesting. Its not really like modern at all... right now its like the previous two standard formats smashed together. Its cool to see how two cards that were format staples in separate standard formats compare with each other, to really give you insight into the actual power levels of the various standard formats. Frontier is pretty cheap, considering how much the price of standard staples fall after rotating out. I'm excited to see how the format shapes up, assuming that it catches on, and where it will go as it grows dramatically in size of the card pool, doubling over the next couple of years.
It definitely is a very distinct format, differing hugely from modern and a more eternal option for those who can't keep up with, or a bored of standard. I suggest trying it!
November 2, 2016 8:29 p.m.
MenacingBunny says... #9
In frontier, bant company is even more powerful now. With cards like Fleecemane Lion, Boon Satyr, Daxos of Meletis, Hushwing Gryff, and Phyrexian Revoker.
November 2, 2016 10:20 p.m.
Frontier sounds excellent for players. Not sure how a colour like would fare.
My Burn would miss out on Satyr Firedancer and Eidolon of the Great Revel.
November 3, 2016 2:24 a.m.
I like the idea of frontier tbh. I play a lot of standard mostly and the idea of playing with my favorite standard cards and have them be PLAYABLE again would be awesome. Besides I think once the card pool doubles people will really start to become attracted to it.
November 3, 2016 10:40 a.m.
I think Frontier will appeal to newer players a lot, they may even see it as a jumping point after having played Standard to enter Modern... altough I think lots of newer player may just stick to Frontier.
I myself will continue my focus on EDH, but I've decided to keep an eye on Frontier and try to build a couple of good decks in paper.
On a long-term basis though Frontier isn't an answer to the problem of eternal formats not being eternal enough. If we need a new "eternal" format every X years because powercreep/pricecreep has increased too much I think WotC (or any other tourney organiser) will need to make a policy about how to approach the future of the game (especially reprintwise)
November 3, 2016 1:11 p.m.
Dredge4life says... #15
What people are missing is that control is basically nonexistent in this format. It's just creature heavy linear decks with one or two suboptimal outliers. WoTC has been pushing creature combat since M15, so there is no way control players can keep up. The best hand attack spell we have is Duress, and after the inevitable ban of cruise and dig, the best cheap draw spell we get is Anticipate. Our removal is a little better, with Roast and Ultimate Price, but it is still lacking severely with all the amped up and pushed creatures running around. I don't think this format will die like TL did, but I can't see it growing to modern level popularity, either. It's too one-note.
November 6, 2016 12:47 a.m.
Well tbf Dredge4life, we also have:
- Harsh Scrutiny (since the meta will be heavily focused towards creatures),
- Unsubstantiate,
- Reality Shift,
- Jace's Ingenuity,
- AEtherspouts,
- Lightning Strike,
- Murderous Cut
- Treasure Cruise and Dig Through Time (pretty sure that these wouldn't have been banned yet in frontier)
- Spell Queller
It's not that the tools aren't there. It's just that they mostly cost too much to deal with the threats the format has.
November 6, 2016 4:15 a.m.
I can confirm that at the moment there is no banlist in Frontier, so Dig Through Time and Treasure Cruise are both allowed, so you can have fun playing them as 4-ofs!
November 6, 2016 6:14 a.m.
AwezomePozzum says... #18
This would be such a fun, inclusive format if it didn't have fetchlands. (In fact, if this becomes a sanctioned format, it'l drive up the price of the khans fetches substantially)
Also, it should have included Theros. Theros was one of the more fun sets to be released recently.
But seriously. Fetches.
I'd propose that they ban the khans fetches and make it Theros and onward. I'm not proposing to ban the entire khans block, just the fetches.
Why I suggest adding Theros is summed up in a few points:
Good set, with a large amount of powerful, fun cards. When it rotated out of standard I considered dropping. (I was already angry because FETCHES)
Devotion mechanic offers a large amount of cheaper monocolor decks. This mostly allows it to be more inclusive to newer/lower budget players. As of now, I believe the khans fetches will be the most prohibitive part of frontier.
HOWEVER, we may want to consider banning a couple cards from multiple sets that made it a bit boring or frustrating. (cough Thoughtseize cough)
If it were fixed somewhat, it'd honestly be the format I've been fantasizing about for years!
I want to get into this format. Let's go!
December 11, 2016 3:46 p.m.
Dredge4life says... #20
I retract my previous statement about control. We're still behind, but not as terribly as I'd originally thought. As of now I'm playing Grixis Dragons, and I think the format is a lot of fun. My LGS is starting to really get into it.
December 11, 2016 3:54 p.m.
AwezomePozzum says... #21
I just noticed something: I looked in the advanced card search under frontier-legal cards, and Theros cards were present. Is this intentional?
December 13, 2016 1:37 p.m.
Dredge4life says... #23
Aspect of Hydra is sadly illegal in Frontier at this time.
December 13, 2016 2:12 p.m.
Dredge4life says... #24
As far as I know, Theros is illegal for Frontier use. I could be wrong, though.
December 13, 2016 2:15 p.m.
The Theros set was the one before M15, so it's a no go for that card.
Otherwise it would be Gods ahoy!
December 13, 2016 3:35 p.m.
AwezomePozzum says... #26
Dang, the site's broken then. Theros is there when you look at the legal cards. I can just take out Nykthos, Aspect, and Nylea, but dang. RIP my dreams
December 13, 2016 4:20 p.m.
AwezomePozzum says... #27
I mean, if they included theros I would be so happy :D
But sad. They don't.
(Best fix is still start at Theros and ban the khans fetches)
December 13, 2016 4:21 p.m.
AwezomePozzum says... #28
Frontier ELFBALL
Frontier*
SCORE: 1 | 1 VIEW
Working on a multicolor deck next, but I'm not including fetches.
December 13, 2016 4:27 p.m.
Dredge4life says... #29
Honestly, I really want to play my set of Nighthowlers...
Alas.
December 13, 2016 6:48 p.m.
Dredge4life I hear ya.
Love a bit of Nighthowler action.
They chose M15 and onwards because there was a border change to the card frames at that time, as well as the addition of the holofoil stamp on Rares, Mythics, and promos.
December 14, 2016 1:56 a.m.
AwezomePozzum says... #31
I know that, but I think the slight visual barf would be a good tradeoff for a better and more inclusive frontier experience, no?
December 14, 2016 9:01 a.m.
liljramos88 says... #32
Theros should come back it really hits home as I began playing in theros. Add theros and remove fetch lands best way to start.
December 14, 2016 9:59 a.m.
"Theros should come back it really hits home as I began playing in theros."
This is perhaps not the best reason to argue for Theros block to be included.
December 14, 2016 10:11 a.m.
pumpkinwavy says... #35
Theros gives us Thoughtseize and not much else. Frontier is about the border change. M15 is the correct starting point for frontier. Also, control is one of the premier decks in the format. Jeskai black is very strong.
December 17, 2016 11:55 a.m.
"Theros gives us Thoughtseize and not much else." -pumpkinwavy
A card called Hero's Downfall would like to have a chat with you.
December 17, 2016 11:59 a.m.
pumpkinwavy says... #37
Argeaux Sure, you also get elspeth, Anger of the Gods, scrylands, Stormbreath Dragon, and nykthos, but that is all overshadowed by Thoughtseize, a decidedly overpowered card. Journey into nyx and born of the gods are hot garbage. Imo not enough fun cards are added to outweigh the nastiness of Thoughtseize.
December 17, 2016 12:09 p.m.
I admit that I did play Thoughtseize during Theros.
I was late to the party, started to play when Journey Into Nyx was just beginning, so those Thoughtseizes cost me a pretty penny.
December 17, 2016 2:44 p.m.
Dredge4life says... #39
Thoughtseize can't be THAT bad, in comparison to all of the awesomeness Theros allows. If it became a huge problem they could just ban it (yes, I know there's no banlist.) I think that Theros would be a welcome addition to Frontier.
December 17, 2016 3:38 p.m.
AwezomePozzum says... #40
Echoing Dredge4life. Sorry, multitasking right now and can't elaborate any more.
December 17, 2016 4:46 p.m.
My guess is that they had to cut the expansions off somewhere, so they chose the borders as a way to do that.
If they added the Theros block then there would be people who wanted the Return to Ravnica set in because of the mana fixing etc. etc.
smackjack says... #2
Whats wrong with Modern? I think it will die pretty soon, there is no need for such format.
November 2, 2016 1:40 p.m.