Last time, I approached design for Vintage from the perspective of whole sets, trying to use general trends to show how a set could be aimed at Vintage without individual cards designed for Type 1, even if the sets that came out on top were overrepresented because of a couple of cards usable in a wide variety of decks. In the forum thread after the article, I got multiple requests to look at the individual card breakdown, so that’s my objective this time. (I sure hope Knutson doesn’t link every single card name in this article, because that would be…a lot. About 352 different cards, actually.) [The irony here is that I linked all the cards before reading the text of the article. Heh indeed. – Knut]
Alpha/Beta/Unlimited
161 Underground Sea
82 Dark Ritual
77 Volcanic Island
73 Red Elemental Blast
66 Tropical Island
64 Mox Sapphire
63 Ancestral Recall
63 Black Lotus
63 Sol Ring
61 Mox Jet
59 Mox Emerald
58 Mox Ruby
56 Demonic Tutor
56 Mox Pearl
55 Time Walk
43 Animate Dead
41 Swords to Plowshares
34 Blue Elemental Blast
30 Taiga
30 Tundra
27 Lightning Bolt
24 Juggernaut
23 Balance
20 Mana Vault
19 Bayou
19 Timetwister
18 Scrubland[/author]“][author name="Scrubland"]Scrubland[/author]
18 Wheel of Fortune
15 Disenchant
12 Nevinyrral’s Disk
12 Sinkhole
11 Hypnotic Specter
10 Circle of Protection: Red
10 Mind Twist
9 Counterspell
9 Savannah
8 Birds of Paradise
8 Illusionary Mask
8 Plateau
8 Regrowth
7 Badlands
7 Lord of Atlantis
5 Berserk
4 Llanowar Elves
4 Savannah Lions
3 Fastbond
3 Winter Orb
2 Fork
1 Braingeyser
1 Fireball
1 Howling Mine
1 Icy Manipulator
1 Psionic Blast
Arabian Nights
68 Bazaar of Baghdad
38 City of Brass
38 Strip Mine
25 Library of Alexandria
7 Kird Ape
6 Erhnam Djinn
4 Serendib Efreet
1 Juzam Djinn
Antiquities
52 Mishra’s Factory
48 Mishra’s Workshop
25 Energy Flux
25 Hurkyl’s Recall
18 Triskelion
16 Su-Chi
4 Yotian Soldier
1 Crumble
1 Meekstone
1 Power Artifact
The Dark
80 Tormod’s Crypt
21 Blood Moon
15 Maze of Ith
Legends
77 Mana Drain
15 Chain Lightning
11 Sylvan Library
3 Boomerang
3 Nether Void
2 Chains of Mephistopheles
2 The Abyss
1 Divine Offering
1 Moat
Fallen Empires
11 Hymn to Tourach
6 Goblin Grenade
Ice Age
139 Brainstorm
31 Dance of the Dead
27 Pyroblast
20 Underground River
16 Hydroblast
15 Necropotence
12 Incinerate
9 Illusions of Grandeur
7 Demonic Consultation
6 Jester’s Cap
6 Zuran Orb
3 Magus of the Unseen
Homelands
6 Merchant Scroll
Alliances
207 Force of Will
28 Gorilla Shaman
7 Lim-Dul’s Vault
6 Contagion
5 Primitive Justice
4 Pyrokinesis
2 Arcane Denial
2 Diminishing Returns
1 Lat-Nam’s Legacy
Mirage
35 Lion’s Eye Diamond
34 Mystical Tutor
8 Phyrexian Dreadnought
7 Enlightened Tutor
1 Ebony Charm
1 Spirit of the Night
Visions
47 Vampiric Tutor
37 Necromancy
7 Goblin Recruiter
7 Quirion Ranger
6 Impulse
3 Fireblast
3 Rainbow Efreet
3 Uktabi Orangutan
Weatherlight
62 Gemstone Mine
53 Null Rod
5 Gaea’s Blessing
4 Buried Alive
3 Ophidian
2 Phyrexian Furnace
1 Aura of Silence
1 Disrupt
1 Serenity
Tempest
86 Wasteland
45 Intuition
33 Verdant Force
17 Lotus Petal
13 Cursed Scroll
12 Meditate
12 Reanimate
11 Chill
11 Diabolic Edict
10 Mogg Fanatic
7 Manta Riders
5 Bottle Gnomes
4 Ancient Tomb
4 Jackal Pup
3 Whispers of the Muse
2 Capsize
2 Helm of Possession
2 Propaganda
2 Tradewind Rider
1 Lobotomy
Stronghold
6 Mox Diamond
5 Sacred Ground
5 Volrath’s Shapeshifter
1 Sliver Queen
1 Spike Feeder
Exodus
36 Sphere of Resistance
24 Survival of the Fittest
12 Curiosity
11 Oath of Druids
6 Price of Progress
4 Shattering Pulse
3 Forbid
2 City of Traitors
2 Plaguebearer
1 Reclaim
Urza’s Saga
151 Duress
30 Tolarian Academy
28 Yawgmoth’s Will
27 Smokestack
18 Arcane Laboratory
12 Goblin Lackey
12 Karn, Silver Golem
9 Morphling
9 Stroke of Genius
9 Windfall
8 Exhume
6 Hibernation
4 Phyrexian Colossus
4 Phyrexian Processor
3 Annul
3 Goblin Cadets
3 Goblin Matron
3 Scald
2 Back to Basics
2 Claws of Gix
2 Grafted Skullcap
2 Time Spiral
1 Elvish Lyrist
1 Gilded Drake
1 Meltdown
1 Planar Void
1 Shivan Gorge
Urza’s Legacy
49 Goblin Welder
41 Rack and Ruin
20 Memory Jar
19 Tinker
12 Cloud of Faeries
10 Faerie Conclave
9 Defense Grid
7 Grim Monolith
4 Frantic Search
3 Crop Rotation
3 Rebuild
3 Viashino Heretic
1 Engineered Plague
Urza’s Destiny
24 Academy Rector
24 Powder Keg
15 Phyrexian Negator
15 Yawgmoth’s Bargain
7 Masticore
7 Metalworker
6 Compost
6 Donate
1 Thran Dynamo
Mercadian Masques
65 Squee, Goblin Nabob
32 Misdirection
8 Gush
5 Dust Bowl
5 Pulverize
2 Renounce (Don’t ask me how two different people thought this card was good.)
2 Thwart
1 Devout Witness
1 Spiritual Focus
Nemesis
40 Seal of Cleansing
33 Accumulated Knowledge
27 Tangle Wire
11 Daze
8 Rootwater Thief
2 Submerge
1 Dominate
1 Reverent Silence
Prophecy
4 Foil
4 Spiketail Hatchling
1 Aura Fracture
1 Avatar of Woe
Invasion
17 Artifact Mutation
15 Fact or Fiction
14 Chromatic Sphere
10 Opt
2 Reya Dawnbringer
2 Teferi’s Response
1 Crosis, the Purger
1 Dismantling Blow
1 Heroes’ Reunion
1 Repulse
1 Tsabo’s Web
Planeshift
19 Quirion Dryad
12 Rushing River
8 Meddling Mage
6 Orim’s Chant
6 Phyrexian Scuta
4 Hull Breach
4 Silent Specter
2 Flametongue Kavu
Apocalypse
45 Fire / Ice
30 Pernicious Deed
4 Dodecapod
2 Vindicate
1 Goblin Ringleader
1 Spiritmonger
Odyssey
49 Coffin Purge
16 Careful Study
16 Standstill
12 Wild Mongrel
11 Psychatog
10 Barbarian Ring
10 Skeletal Scrying
9 Entomb
9 Roar of the Wurm
7 Mystic Enforcer
5 Divert
3 Zombie Infestation
2 Extract
1 Druid Lyrist
1 Genesis
1 Holistic Wisdom
1 Iridescent Angel
1 Krosan Reclamation
1 Petrified Field
1 Sphere of Law
1 Terravore
Torment
22 Compulsion
18 Deep Analysis
16 Grim Lavamancer
14 Ambassador Laquatus
12 Arrogant Wurm
12 Basking Rootwalla
10 Fiery Temper
7 Nantuko Shade
4 Circular Logic
3 Chainer’s Edict
3 Violent Eruption
1 Petradon
Judgment
56 Worldgorger Dragon
55 Cunning Wish
32 Cabal Therapy
30 Burning Wish
11 Anger
6 Phantom Nishoba
6 Ray of Revelation
4 Putrid Imp
4 Wonder
1 Envelop
1 Solitary Confinement
1 Sylvan Safekeeper
Onslaught
138 Polluted Delta
59 Flooded Strand
40 Wooded Foothills
25 Bloodstained Mire
24 Naturalize
18 Chain of Vapor
17 Windswept Heath
12 Goblin Piledriver
9 Future Sight
8 Smother
6 Skirk Prospector
4 Read the Runes
3 Voidmage Prodigy
2 True Believer
1 Goblin Sharpshooter
1 Ravenous Baloth
1 Visara the Dreadful
Legions
8 Goblin Goon
4 Akroma, Angel of Wrath
2 Phage the Untouchable
2 Voidmage Apprentice
1 Drinker of Sorrow
1 Nantuko Vigilante
1 Scion of Darkness
1 Withered Wretch
Scourge
52 Stifle
39 Xantid Swarm
27 Tendrils of Agony
24 Pyrostatic Pillar
10 Decree of Justice
10 Mind’s Desire
9 Goblin Warchief
3 Brain Freeze
3 Siege-Gang Commander
1 Form of the Dragon
Mirrodin
48 Chalice of the Void
20 Isochron Scepter
7 Solemn Simulacrum
4 Platinum Angel
4 Thirst for Knowledge
3 Mindslaver
2 Great Furnace
2 Mind’s Eye
2 Seat of the Synod
1 Lightning Greaves
1 Pentavus
1 Tree of Tales
Portal
4 Sleight of Hand
Promo
32 Mana Crypt
So after all of that, what percentage of each set’s cards showed up?
18.5% 53/287 Alpha/Beta/Unlimited
11.8% 10/85 Antiquities
10.3% 8/78 Arabian Nights
9.1% 13/143 Urza’s Legacy
8.4% 12/143 Torment
8.4% 12/143 Judgment
8.2% 27/330 Urza’s Saga
7.0% 10/143 Exodus
6.4% 21/330 Odyssey
6.3% 9/144 Alliances
6.3% 9/143 Urza’s Destiny
6.3% 9/143 Scourge
6.1% 20/330 Tempest
5.6% 8/143 Nemesis
5.6% 8/143 Planeshift
5.6% 8/143 Legions
5.4% 9/167 Weatherlight
5.2% 17/330 Onslaught
4.8% 8/167 Visions
4.6% 13/286 Mirrodin
4.2% 6/143 Apocalypse
3.5% 5/143 Stronghold
3.3% 12/363 Ice Age
3.3% 11/330 Invasion
2.9% 9/310 Legends
2.8% 4/143 Prophecy
2.7% 9/330 Mercadian Masques
2.5% 3/119 The Dark
2.0% 2/101 Fallen Empires
1.9% 6/330 Mirage
0.9% 1/115 Homelands
This gives us a different perspective, which totally ignores how many copies of each card appeared. This favors sets with several restricted cards and smaller sets, the combination of which explains Urza’s Legacy being so high. The greatest difference from the previous article, though, is for sets with cards which see play exclusively as one-ofs for tutoring utility. For instance, Legions turned out to be a great boon to the Vengeur Masque and Reanimator players of the world, putting it in the middle (above Mirrodin!), when it’s so horribly bad to most observers.
Luckily, this measure puts Homelands in a satisfying last place, and reveals the high proportion of chaff from the early sets after Antiquities, but before Alliances. One of the forum comments speculated that Alliances was heavily represented due to Force of Will, which is true, but this shows that its other cards found as many niches as very good sets like Odyssey and Urza’s Destiny.
Most-Played Unrestricted Cards
Here are the twenty most-played unrestricted cards:
207 Force of Will
161 Underground Sea
151 Duress
139 Brainstorm
138 Polluted Delta
86 Wasteland
82 Dark Ritual
80 Tormod’s Crypt
77 Mana Drain
77 Volcanic Island
73 Red Elemental Blast
68 Bazaar of Baghdad
66 Tropical Island
65 Squee, Goblin Nabob
62 Gemstone Mine
59 Flooded Strand
59 Stifle
56 Worldgorger Dragon
55 Cunning Wish
53 Null Rod
21st Place Honorable Mention:
52 Mishra’s Factory
In a shocking revelation to, uh, absolutely no one, the Blue-Black mana fixers were shown to be very good. Artifact hate, graveyard hate, card-drawing and versatile counterspells are also good. Blah, blah, blah, no surprises at all. The next batch down should be more interesting.
49 Coffin Purge
49 Goblin Welder
48 Chalice of the Void
48 Mishra’s Workshop
45 Fire/Ice
45 Intuition
43 Animate Dead
41 Rack and Ruin
41 Swords to Plowshares
40 Seal of Cleansing
40 Wooded Foothills
39 Xantid Swarm
38 City of Brass
37 Necromancy
36 Sphere of Resistance
35 Lion’s Eye Diamond
34 Blue Elemental Blast
33 Accumulated Knowledge
33 Verdant Force
32 Cabal Therapy
32 Misdirection
31 Dance of the Dead
30 Burning Wish
30 Pernicious Deed
30 Taiga
30 Tundra
There’s the next twenty-six cards, which, while an ugly number, includes every card that occurred thirty or more times.
Now we have a better picture of the major cards that players are metagaming against. All the Dragon-related cards appeared in force, giving us the irony of a Top 3 Red Cards that go REB, Squee, Worldgorger Dragon… none of which are really Red cards, but are instead Red cards played in Blue and Black decks. There’s more graveyard hate, more Blue drawing, and more of the best mana producers, but the second batch also shows the less publicly-known disruption cards and the removal suite that control decks wield.
Some disruption cards which have quietly been creeping up in the format are Xantid Swarm and Cabal Therapy. Xantid Swarm is rapidly making Green very important to any deck that needs an anti-control weapon, particularly combo decks. Ironically the best Green creature is a 0/1. Cabal Therapy appeared more often than Academy Rector, so it’s not exclusively useful as an ignition mechanism for that combo deck. The reason it doesn’t do as well in Type 1 is that decks have so many more card names that Therapy is significantly less likely to strike gold than in Extended.
Spot removal in Type 1, in order to be widely used, has to be splashable in any Blue deck, cost less than three, and must kill either creatures or artifacts. Most of the time in high-Powered metagames, the creature kill is included for the sake of killing utility guys like Welders and Xantid Swarm more than for eliminating massed creature attacks. This is part of what makes Fire / Ice so good: it can pull double-duty as mass removal, not to mention the benefits of being Blue (FoW and Merchant Scroll) and the”cycling” option. Swords to Plowshares still sees play, but much less prominently than after GenCon due to the recession of Mask decks, and the overall weakness of White in recent months. TnT doesn’t force the inclusion of more Plows, simply because artifact removal is better at killing Juggernauts and more useful in other matchups.
When it comes to mass removal, Rack and Ruin is usually on par with Shatterstorm for effect, and costs less. Its stock goes up for being Wishable and for being castable in response to Tangle Wire triggers. Pernicious Deed has been finding greatly increased use as well, both in Hulk and Dragon decks, serving to clear the way for the blowout wins both decks prefer.
This shows us that the most widely-used cards will be what we expect: good counters, Blue card drawing, certain types of hate cards, and the best mana-fixers available, but that other useful tools are removal spells and non-Blue disruption cards (where it’s much easier to compete for power level).
Philip Stanton
Dr. Sylvan on TMD, SCG, and The Source
prstanto at uiuc.edu
[I modified the title for this article, please don’t castigate Phil over the definition of the word”popular.” – Knut]