Almost every deck that had ever been stupidly degenerate, pointlessly uncounterable, and oppressively dominant has involved reducing mana costs to a point where the game breaks at a fundamental level.
We’ve learned this many times over the years. In many different decks: combo decks, aggro decks, everything in between.
It needs to stop.
Wake up from your nap all grumpy, Papa Bear?
It really depends. On a card like reconnaissance, it doesn’t feel too bad.
I think the issue is hand wide discounts. Mana cheating a whole hand(Tharussan, Warlock weapon, octobot), or ramping to 20 mana for that matter, it feels pretty busted. When you cheat mana on 1 card, especially when it costs a card to do so, like prep or mage “Fire or elemental” prep, it’s not nearly as problematic.
So I agree that any cheat is pretty busted at least when you get to discount a hand worth of stuff. Or a deck’s worth in the case of incantors flow or Luna’s pocket galaxy lol
Too much free in the game. Free keywords. Passive damage. Free draws, Summoned cards, charges, buffs, discounts, etc.
Just too much free stuff, period.
What sort of decks do you play ?
All of them, including the ones of the style that I complain about.
Since there is no interaction on opponents turn , i think mana cheating , be it ramp or discount should be made sure to never cost 0 , or less than 9 mana of its original cost( a 10 mana card discounted the eff out would cost 2 and not lower .
Would make 1-3 mana cost never cost lower than 1 , while preventing 10 cost card to cost 1 .
I feel like I’ve been saying this for years. Too many of the games problems stem from single turns where you can play 20+ mana worth of cards at once. Or in druids case, actually having 20 mana (though thankfully that ones less of an issue right now).
I would say the bigger issue is extremely cheap draw and consistency…
If you can find ton of cards in your deck to build several huge boards and find your key pieces, it just makes your game too consistent. Before you need to carefully think about your resources, because 1-2 mistakes and you simply cant win.
aggro/tempo decks had 2-3 boards and then they were done with 15 cards in their deck, because they just could not draw enough to build another one.
Now it feels like every class can just dump almost all their cards and give it a go turn or two later.
i think my main issue with the game is that the setups often are way too easy and the payoff too high. For sth like current Naga Mage i think basically unlimited mana with the right setup is ok, as that is really hard to set up and pull of and stlll nowhere near an OTK - while draw a mech and then reduce your hand to 0 is just mindnumbingly easy and yet much stronger most of the times.
tutoring with no restrictions is the worst imo
Mana cheat is not impossible to counter. it’s all about anticipating what your opponent is going to play. Generally speaking, if your running a deck that you know like the back of your hand, you will know what to play, when to hold, and what sacrifice to counter. Providing you have a solid understanding of your opponents deck.
Will you always win, no because always winning is unrealistic. There will always be decks that will flat out counter the deck you are running, that is the nature of the game. However, I can understand how it can be frustrating for someone who may not play often enough, or is still developing their skill to climb the ranks, if that is what a player is trying to do.
Its a mechanic that will always be in the game, just like aggro decks and control decks. Variety is good, keeps things challenging and sometimes frustrating, without all that, things would just be flat and boring.
Eh, mana cheat is like anything. It’s fine if it’s appropriately costed and can’t become excessive.
Thaurissan? Fine. Pre-nerf Enchanter’s Rod? Way too much discount that’s way too easy to get. I think there’s some cards in the new set that are potentially an issue, like Seaway but I think overall mana cheat is okay right now?
Valishj isn’t an issue, I don’t even think Siren is a problem per se. What mana cheat is actually a problem in the new set?
I still think it is simpler that this. Too much free in the game.
Free mana free draw free damage free healing etc.