Before we begin, I think it’s important to emphasize that I’m not necessarily saying only Mage decks are in a bad spot right now and if you want to talk about other classes, just open another thread instead of arguing with me. That said, let’s get started.
The mage core set:
I think it’s important to touch on other topics besides power level because these topics give us clues about some current problems that go to the level of design, such as a core set that doesn’t align with the class’s current identity, for example.
Since the introduction of the spell schools mechanic Mage decks have had absolutely nothing in the core set that suggests this despite it becoming an important part of the class’s mechanics in many cases.
Another thing I notice with Mage but not with other classes is that Blizzard feels an incredible need to make cards that are practically reprints of cards that could easily be part of the core set for a year instead of having a new version like Puzzle Box of Yogg-Saron. Or they make generic cards that could easily be replaced by existing cards like Unchained Gladiator which wouldn’t have needed to be released if Blizzard had just put Book of Specters in the core set.
I’m not necessarily asking for better cards in this case but rather that the choices for the core set be at least somewhat coherent. Currently there are very few cards that truly have a reason to be there beyond being a legacy from the classic set.
As a last mention about the core set and probably least important. The year Blizzard decided to make temporary cards a core expansion mechanic Evocation wasn’t included in the core set. It’s really frustrating not to have access to a mechanic that started in the class you enjoy playing, especially in the same year Blizzard decided to distribute it to several other classes.
These are the reasons why i think the Mage core set should have a real revamp in the coming years.
Last year cards:
Regarding this, I want to make it clear that there is a very small portion of cards from the last year whose existence actually makes a difference and it is mostly the rainbow package with very feel exceptions like void scripture ,reverberations ,cosmic keyboard and cards that don’t have home in mage decks nowadays like costumed singer.
This year:
People really don’t understand how Whizbang’s Workshop was bad for mage decks in terms of design. The set was practically entirely dedicated to spell mage and it also had card slots taken up by cards like Yogg in the Box, which, as i mentioned before could have simply brought the original version of the card instead of taking up a slot in the expansion with that. And to make up for it they made Khadgar, which, honestly, is a card that borders on ridiculous in how strong it is almost as a reward for those who refuse to play that trash.
And about Perils in Paradise the only thing i have to say is that people were so fed up with playing spell mage that they decided to play a deck with literally just one new card, which, despite being strong, wouldn’t have received any attention in a different situation.
What could be done for the class in the short term is that despite my believe of the set being on the right track by trying to make mage boards punish the opponent more it’s just weak.
Sunscreen could grant 2 attack instead of 1 and Service Ace could be activated by any targeted spells instead of specifically by increasing its own attack. The deck isn’t bad, it just doesn’t reward the player for taking the board as any other similar deck would and these buffs would be meant to address that.
Just as a last mention. I understand some people like other decks like spell mage but we need to be honest about the deck. Not only spell mage is non-interactive to the point where it can’t be encouraged to become a recurring deck without the risk of a nerf if that happens but big spell mage won’t become popular while Death Knight of Plague exists even if it was broken. That’s why i’m not even suggesting changes to these decks.
If you took the time to read all of this, thank you. I really put in effort to express some points this time.