The Mythic Invitational, being a special exhibition-level event not tied to the traditional Mythic Championship structure, is trying something new that we think has the potential to be really exciting for viewers.
With an MTG Arena-focused event, we wanted something that could add to that whole ecosystem of strategic depth rather than just replicate what was already known. Give the article a read when you get the chance!
Everyone is making fun of it already. Maybe call it "Twitch Invitational" because there is no way you can pretend this is "competetive" magic. Turns out Bo3 is important for the depth and variety in magic, who would've thought?
And this is certainly not adding "strategic depths". What is that even supposed to mean in this context?
Will the no-sideboarding metagame be different from the traditional one we're all used to? We certainly hope so! As I said before, MTG Arena is meant to be an additional way to play, and Magic is at its best when each experience is different in its own way with new puzzles to solve. I look forward to all the additional content that cracking the no-sideboarding metagame will add to the already robust traditional metagame content out there. I've seen some really cool lists pop up already, and we're just getting started!
Our desires for different decks and metagames has led the TCG Design Studio to start exploring how to support all forms of play with the cards we put in our sets. We think that more cards like Knight of Autumn, Ravager Wurm, and Bedevil should help lower the number of "unwinnable" matchups in Arena Standard; meanwhile, we'll continue to make traditional sideboard cards like Cindervines, Unmoored Ego, and Citywide Bust that can find homes in tabletop sideboards.
Design doesn't have the decades of iteration with Arena Standard as it does with tabletop's sideboarding version, so there will be some learnings as we go. Just in case something goes haywire, I'll mention here that we can maintain separate Banned Lists for the two versions of Standard, and MTG Arena will be able to enforce the proper list based on which mode you are enjoying. As always, we'll be carefully monitoring the metagame data to make sure the experience we're hoping for is actually the one you get.
To put it another way, this event will definitely be a different experience from competitive play that we've seen in the past, and Aaron's team is actively looking to be a steward of this format and make it all that it can be. Part of my job on the social/community team is to take feedback like yours and make sure that it gets into the hands of those who are working on these events and the formats competitors play. If it isn't satisfying for viewers and players, that's exactly what we circulate to others here at Wizards. So don't hesitate to let us know your thoughts!
The Mythic Invitational, being a special exhibition-level event not tied to the traditional Mythic Championship structure, is trying something new that we think has the potential to be really exciting for viewers.
With an MTG Arena-focused event, we wanted something that could add to that whole ecosystem of strategic depth rather than just replicate what was already known. Give the article a read when you get the chance!
Everyone is making fun of it already. Maybe call it "Twitch Invitational" because there is no way you can pretend this is "competetive" magic. Turns out Bo3 is important for the depth and variety in magic, who would've thought?
And this is certainly not adding "strategic depths". What is that even supposed to mean in this context?
Will the no-sideboarding metagame be different from the traditional one we're all used to? We certainly hope so! As I said before, MTG Arena is meant to be an additional way to play, and Magic is at its best when each experience is different in its own way with new puzzles to solve. I look forward to all the additional content that cracking the no-sideboarding metagame will add to the already robust traditional metagame content out there. I've seen some really cool lists pop up already, and we're just getting started!
Our desires for different decks and metagames has led the TCG Design Studio to start exploring how to support all forms of play with the cards we put in our sets. We think that more cards like Knight of Autumn, Ravager Wurm, and Bedevil should help lower the number of "unwinnable" matchups in Arena Standard; meanwhile, we'll continue to make traditional sideboard cards like Cindervines, Unmoored Ego, and Citywide Bust that can find homes in tabletop sideboards.
Design doesn't have the decades of iteration with Arena Standard as it does with tabletop's sideboarding version, so there will be some learnings as we go. Just in case something goes haywire, I'll mention here that we can maintain separate Banned Lists for the two versions of Standard, and MTG Arena will be able to enforce the proper list based on which mode you are enjoying. As always, we'll be carefully monitoring the metagame data to make sure the experience we're hoping for is actually the one you get.
To put it another way, this event will definitely be a different experience from competitive play that we've seen in the past, and Aaron's team is actively looking to be a steward of this format and make it all that it can be. Part of my job on the social/community team is to take feedback like yours and make sure that it gets into the hands of those who are working on these events and the formats competitors play. If it isn't satisfying for viewers and players, that's exactly what we circulate to others here at Wizards. So don't hesitate to let us know your thoughts!
I heavily disagree (sideboards allow Magic to be broad, removing sideboards incentivizes people to play hyper linear and hard to interact with deck, so pushing BO1 incentivizes R&D to restrict themselves to more narrow card designs) and I kind of want to argue further but I realize it’s pointless because whoever runs this account is just doing their job and isn’t in charge of the decisions.
Thanks for taking the time to write out a response (I honestly did not expect one.) Have a great day.
Of course! Everything you're saying is exactly the kind of feedback that our social/community team circulates to the relevant teams here at Wizards. You're right that we aren't in charge of making those decisions, but we help inform many different teams in their process.
Aaron gestures towards the fact that there will be learnings along the way when it comes to this kind of format, and they are going to work tirelessly to make it awesome for players and viewers. The Mythic Invitational is also a special exhibition event, and doesn't necessarily reflect how all of competitive Magic will be played in the future.
Chris Clay and Aaron Forsythe talked a bit about formats and MTG Arena play in their article that we published alongside the Mythic Invitational news. You can read about that here. The Mythic Invitational, being a special exhibition-level event not tied to the traditional Mythic Championship structure, is trying something new that we think has the potential to be really exciting for viewers.
As Aaron puts it in his article, traditional best-of-three games with sideboarding still have their place in the wider world of competitive play. With an MTG Arena-focused event, we wanted something that could add to that whole ecosystem of strategic depth rather than just replicate what was already known. Give the article a read when you get the chance!
I heavily disagree (sideboards allow Magic to be broad, removing sideboards incentivizes people to play hyper linear and hard to interact with deck, so pushing BO1 incentivizes R&D to restrict themselves to more narrow card designs) and I kind of want to argue further but I realize it’s pointless because whoever runs this account is just doing their job and isn’t in charge of the decisions.
Thanks for taking the time to write out a response (I honestly did not expect one.) Have a great day.
Of course! Everything you're saying is exactly the kind of feedback that our social/community team circulates to the relevant teams here at Wizards. You're right that we aren't in charge of making those decisions, but we help inform many different teams in their process.
Aaron gestures towards the fact that there will be learnings along the way when it comes to this kind of format, and they are going to work tirelessly to make it awesome for players and viewers. The Mythic Invitational is also a special exhibition event, and doesn't necessarily reflect how all of competitive Magic will be played in the future.
"Then, by Monday, March 4, we will email final, certified rankings to every player in the top 1,000. We’ll also contact the top 8 directly for more information. The top 8 will receive hotel and airfare accommodations for themselves and a four-day PAX East badge for themselves and one guest. For more details including additional rules and eligibility click here."
The link there re-links to the article, and not to a the rules/eligibility page. Would you mind checking if that link could be fixed? Thanks!
We'll forward that along to the right folks in the building and get it updated ASAP. Thank you very much!
Care to explain why you guys are choosing to push BO1 for such a high level event despite near-universal criticism of BO1 for Magic? Do you guys want to be known as the game where you'll lose a high level tournament because you mulliganed to 5 in a Best of 1 match?
This is a great question, and a topic that Aaron Forsythe and Chris Clay talk about a bit more in-depth in their article they published today. Please read that here when you get the chance. For this kind of special exhibition-style event, the teams wanted to try a new format that they thought would be exciting for viewers, showcase a different kind of strategic depth, and better match the kind of experience that many people have on MTG Arena today. Traditional best of three play with sideboarding has proven time and time again to have profound depth and nuance, and it will always have a place in the ecosystem of competitive Magic.
Chris Clay and Aaron Forsythe talked a bit about formats and MTG Arena play in their article that we published alongside the Mythic Invitational news. You can read about that here. The Mythic Invitational, being a special exhibition-level event not tied to the traditional Mythic Championship structure, is trying something new that we think has the potential to be really exciting for viewers.
As Aaron puts it in his article, traditional best-of-three games with sideboarding still have their place in the wider world of competitive play. With an MTG Arena-focused event, we wanted something that could add to that whole ecosystem of strategic depth rather than just replicate what was already known. Give the article a read when you get the chance!
So I've read and re-read the article, and had other people in-office re-read it as well. At no point in the article does Wizards definitively state that the tournament will be played on the MTG Arena Client.
I'm assuming it is, and it'd be fair to assume it is, but would love confirmation from Wizards if they have the chance!
The Mythic Invitational will be played on MTG Arena, yes!
Wizards Community Team
Here's the quote from Aaron Forsythe that I was thinking of when I wrote that:
To put it another way, this event will definitely be a different experience from competitive play that we've seen in the past, and Aaron's team is actively looking to be a steward of this format and make it all that it can be. Part of my job on the social/community team is to take feedback like yours and make sure that it gets into the hands of those who are working on these events and the formats competitors play. If it isn't satisfying for viewers and players, that's exactly what we circulate to others here at Wizards. So don't hesitate to let us know your thoughts!
Wizards Community Team
Here's the quote from Aaron Forsythe that I was thinking of when I wrote that:
To put it another way, this event will definitely be a different experience from competitive play that we've seen in the past, and Aaron's team is actively looking to be a steward of this format and make it all that it can be. Part of my job on the social/community team is to take feedback like yours and make sure that it gets into the hands of those who are working on these events and the formats competitors play. If it isn't satisfying for viewers and players, that's exactly what we circulate to others here at Wizards. So don't hesitate to let us know your thoughts!
Wizards Community Team
Of course! Everything you're saying is exactly the kind of feedback that our social/community team circulates to the relevant teams here at Wizards. You're right that we aren't in charge of making those decisions, but we help inform many different teams in their process.
Aaron gestures towards the fact that there will be learnings along the way when it comes to this kind of format, and they are going to work tirelessly to make it awesome for players and viewers. The Mythic Invitational is also a special exhibition event, and doesn't necessarily reflect how all of competitive Magic will be played in the future.
Again, thanks for your responses!
Wizards Community Team
Chris Clay and Aaron Forsythe talked a bit about formats and MTG Arena play in their article that we published alongside the Mythic Invitational news. You can read about that here. The Mythic Invitational, being a special exhibition-level event not tied to the traditional Mythic Championship structure, is trying something new that we think has the potential to be really exciting for viewers.
As Aaron puts it in his article, traditional best-of-three games with sideboarding still have their place in the wider world of competitive play. With an MTG Arena-focused event, we wanted something that could add to that whole ecosystem of strategic depth rather than just replicate what was already known. Give the article a read when you get the chance!
Wizards Community Team
Of course! Everything you're saying is exactly the kind of feedback that our social/community team circulates to the relevant teams here at Wizards. You're right that we aren't in charge of making those decisions, but we help inform many different teams in their process.
Aaron gestures towards the fact that there will be learnings along the way when it comes to this kind of format, and they are going to work tirelessly to make it awesome for players and viewers. The Mythic Invitational is also a special exhibition event, and doesn't necessarily reflect how all of competitive Magic will be played in the future.
Again, thanks for your responses!
Wizards Community Team
We'll forward that along to the right folks in the building and get it updated ASAP. Thank you very much!
Wizards Community Team
This is a great question, and a topic that Aaron Forsythe and Chris Clay talk about a bit more in-depth in their article they published today. Please read that here when you get the chance. For this kind of special exhibition-style event, the teams wanted to try a new format that they thought would be exciting for viewers, showcase a different kind of strategic depth, and better match the kind of experience that many people have on MTG Arena today. Traditional best of three play with sideboarding has proven time and time again to have profound depth and nuance, and it will always have a place in the ecosystem of competitive Magic.
Wizards Community Team
Chris Clay and Aaron Forsythe talked a bit about formats and MTG Arena play in their article that we published alongside the Mythic Invitational news. You can read about that here. The Mythic Invitational, being a special exhibition-level event not tied to the traditional Mythic Championship structure, is trying something new that we think has the potential to be really exciting for viewers.
As Aaron puts it in his article, traditional best-of-three games with sideboarding still have their place in the wider world of competitive play. With an MTG Arena-focused event, we wanted something that could add to that whole ecosystem of strategic depth rather than just replicate what was already known. Give the article a read when you get the chance!
Wizards Community Team
The Mythic Invitational will be played on MTG Arena, yes!