I wouldn't say that. It is the full Standard constructed gameplay experience, and limited. Hit the control key and you have full control over timing and every action.
Honestly, I hate saying it, but I think having a ladder actually captures the original spirit of paper MTG a lot better than the paper game in its current form. You can play with whatever shitty deck you can throw together and get paired against similar players.
Having played MTG in paper or digital forms over 25 years, I was prepared to hate this release and I can't. I mean, it sucks that Standard cards are dumbed down so much that it allows for a game like this to exist, but the dumbing down of Standard started a long time before Arena was conceived.
I wouldn't say that. It is the full Standard constructed gameplay experience, and limited. Hit the control key and you have full control over timing and every action.
Honestly, I hate saying it, but I think having a ladder actually captures the original spirit of paper MTG a lot better than the paper game in its current form. You can play with whatever shitty deck you can throw together and get paired against similar players.
Having played MTG in paper or digital forms over 25 years, I was prepared to hate this release and I can't. I mean, it sucks that Standard cards are dumbed down so much that it allows for a game like this to exist, but the dumbing down of Standard started a long time before Arena was conceived.
Direct Challenge: Coming November
We're breaking our own rules a bit by announcing a feature before we've nailed down the exact release date. Why the change? Because playing with friends is one of the most asked-for feature requests, and we want to affirm that when we say it's our #1 priority, we mean it.
Currently, our goal is to include this as part of the November update. And yes, 'should' is the operative word right now, with our ultimate goal being 'sometime in November'. While the exact date for that update is "to be confirmed", this isn't something you should expect next year, or even by the end of the year. The ability to play against your friends is coming, and it's coming soon.
Custom Streamer Events Start Tomorrow
Each month, we hand select a few creators in the community and build a customized event around their personality and play style. We make the events available in-game for a weekend. This provides unique play experiences and an awesome way to find in-game creators and get to know them better.
When is this new initiative starting? Tomorrow, with Day[9]'s Insta-Ban and Gaby's Greedy Dominaria Draft.
How do we choose our Creators?
There is no application process to be considered for Streamer Events. Our goal is to select a mix of creators—from the most popular to the rising stars we see potential in. Every month we will work with more creators. So, if you don't see your favorite creator in our lineup yet, you may in the future.
See you in the game!
DAY[9]'S INSTA-BAN
We're giving Constructed new house rules with Day[9] (twitch.tv/day9tv). Day[9] has always had a burning displeasure for counters and tricks. So together we created INSTA-BAN, where you bring a 60-card deck with zero instant-speed spells in it. That's right, all instants and cards with flash are banned from this event!
GABY'S GREEDY DOMINARIA DRAFT
We're giving Draft new house rules with Gaby Spartz (twitch.tv/gabyspartz). Gaby loves drafting and building ambitious decks. So together we are running a GREEDY DOMINARIA DRAFT. Draft 3 packs of Dominaria around a few unique rules in this game of Magic.
PLAY TWO LANDS PER TURN
START WITH NINE CARDS
NO MAXIMUM HAND SIZE
If you enjoy draft, this game is great. I am getting to draft a couple times a week while building a collection completely f2p. If i have a bad draft or two, i can grind up enough gold in a few days with a fast red deck or dino deck with adding just a few wildcards. I am really happy with this so far, almost exactly what I wished was available while wasting a year playing hearthstone.
Its stop and go like hearthstone, hope they add a real time one sometime though. Because the draft AI needs some serious work.quick question, with the drafts is it like hearthstone where I can stop and go, or do I have to play through the whole "tourny" like traditional mtg?
This Dominaria format does seem super slow, most of my games are going like 20ish turns with huge boards of ground creatures that we cant attack each other with until some bomb can cut the stalemate.
I cant catch any draft signals with the AI. I swear its like drafting with 5 kids all trying to jam 5 color good stuff haha. Does anyone have any insight on how it picks?
This Dominaria format does seem super slow, most of my games are going like 20ish turns with huge boards of ground creatures that we cant attack each other with until some bomb can cut the stalemate.
Dunno I usually pay in gold.