Every time new cards are introduced in the available card pool there is a process to discovering which combination of cards and strategies will yield the most consistent win results as one deck opposes the other decks that exist in a meta.
New metas get “solved” and the best performing decks emerge and become net-decks. It’s absurd to complain about players who play the decks which have proven to be the top decks in a competitive environment, just because such top tier decks typically have high win rates against poorer performing home brew decks.
If a meta lacks diversity that’s a design problem, but if a meta has a lot of diversity, but a home brew deck struggles to maintain a acceptable win rate—then that’s a player’s problem and a sign that they should be playing something different.
There are three common points when playing home brew or “snow flake” decks can be both a smart and a fun choice:
1). When the meta is new and completely unsolved, because an obscure deck idea might have the potential to be tweaked into becoming one the best decks, but if this proves true, then the home brew deck will inevitably become a net deck.
2). When the vast majority of players are playing the same 2-3 high tier decks, then creating a deck that is favored against at least of two of those most popular decks is an appropriate option, even if the deck is easily beaten by less commonly played decks on the ladder.
3). When any thing triggers a shift from what was the most popular and successful decks played on the ladder, which could be caused by things like:
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When a well followed streamer or tournament winner influences a rise in a deck’s popularity.
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When one or more top tier decks have suppressed or chased away decks that a particular home brew deck would normally be vulnerable too, but such a home brew deck is able to hold its own against several of the most popular top tier decks.
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When new nerfs or buffs are made, opening up an opportunity for some new home brew decks to now out perform some other good decks, but again if this happens, these new home brew decks will quickly become net decks.
In environment of 30 card decks, any deck that proves to be among the best decks in the meta will quickly become a net deck.