MTGPQ Sneak Peek: May - Week 5

Magic:PQ Support Team

(Important note: Anything listed below is subject to change before release. We will try to update any changes in a timely manner, but please keep in mind the info below is not guaranteed.)

PLANESWALKERS

The current list of Planeswalkers available in the Vault can be found HERE

CURRENT STANDARD FORMAT

Current Standard Format contains the following card sets:

• Origins
• Puzzle Masters
• Outlaws of Thunder Junction
• Murders at Karlov Manor
• The Lost Caverns of Ixalan
• Wilds of Eldraine
• March of the Machines
• Phyrexia: All Will Be One
• The Brothers' War
• Dominaria United
• Jumpstart
• Streets of New Capenna
• Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty
• Innistrad: Crimson Vow
• Innistrad: Midnight Hunt

*(Always in Standard Format)

EVENT SCHEDULE OVERVIEW

UPCOMING SINGLE-PLAYER EVENTS - PVP
For full event details, check the Event Details sub-forum

⬇️⬇️⬇️ Weekly Events ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Training Grounds - Standard (Everyday)

• Start Time: 00:01 UTC
• End Time: 22:01 UTC

Training Grounds - Legacy (Everyday)

• Start Time: 01:59 UTC
• End Time: 23:59 UTC

Trial of the Planes - Weekdays

• Cost: 60 Mana Crystals
• Color Order: White, Blue, Black, Red, Green
• Opt-In Time: 01:00 UTC
• Start Time: 07:00 UTC
• End Time: 05:00 UTC

Revolving Planeswalk - Weekdays

Order of the Blessed (White - Monday), Faculty of the Wise (Blue - Tuesday), Well of the Autocratic (Black - Wednesday), Battle Cry of the Furious (Red - Thursday), Nursery of the Consonant (Green - Friday)

• Version: DMU
• Opt-In Time: 22:00 UTC (previous day)
• Start Time: 04:00 UTC
• End Time: 02:00 UTC (next day)

Emergency Ordinances

• Deck Restriction: Legacy
• Opt-In Time: 28/05/2024 06:00
• Start Time: 28/05/2024 12:00
• End Time: 30/05/2024 10:00

Trial of Ambition

• Deck Restriction: Legacy
• Opt-In Time: 30/05/2024 06:00
• Start Time: 30/05/2024 12:00
• End Time: 01/06/2024 10:00

Seize the Day

• Deck Restriction: Block
• Opt-In Time: 01/06/2024 06:00
• Start Time: 01/06/2024 12:00
• End Time: 03/06/2024 10:00

UPCOMING SINGLE-PLAYER EVENTS - PVE

For full event details, check the Event Details sub-forum

Face the Hydra

• Deck Restriction: Legacy
• Opt-In Time: 27/05/2024 02:00
• Start Time: 27/05/2024 08:00
• End Time: 29/05/2024 06:00

Duets of Mana - Spite and Martyrdom

• Deck Restriction: Legacy
• Opt-In Time: 29/05/2024 02:00
• Start Time: 29/05/2024 08:00
• End Time: 31/05/2024 06:00

[Active] Revolt against the Consulate

• Deck Restriction: Legacy
• Opt-In Time: 31/05/2024 02:00
• Start Time: 31/05/2024 08:00
• End Time: 04/06/2024 08:00

Duets of Mana - Tears and Memories

• Deck Restriction: Legacy
• Opt-In Time: 02/06/2024 02:00
• Start Time: 02/06/2024 08:00
• End Time: 04/06/2024 06:00

OTHER EVENTS

For full event details, check the Event Details sub-forum

COALITION EVENT
A Timeless Voyage

• Deck Restriction: Legacy
• Opt-In Time: 31/05/2024 00:00
• Start Time: 01/06/2024 00:00
• End Time: 02/06/2024 22:00

Planechasing Fblthp

• Deck Restriction: Legacy
• Opt-In Time: -
• Start Time: 29/05/2024 14:00
• End Time: 30/05/2024 08:00

Locomotive Looters [Bonus Rewards]

• Deck Restriction: Standard
• Opt-In Time: 27/05/2024 06:00
• Start Time: 27/05/2024 12:00
• End Time: 29/05/2024 10:00

Machine

Looking forward to this week! Some cool events have been planned

Sorin81

We really bringing ATV back into rotation @Magic:PQ Support Team ? You know this is probably the most hated coalition ever run? So much so that our own @Julie71 referred to it as "A Timeless Piece of ****".

Unless you've seriously reworked and rebalanced the nodes, I would prefer ATV to be shelved permanently.

Opperstamper

@Sorin81 said:
We really bringing ATV back into rotation @Magic:PQ Support Team ? You know this is probably the most hated coalition ever run? So much so that our own @Julie71 referred to it as "A Timeless Piece of ****".

Unless you've seriously reworked and rebalanced the nodes, I would prefer ATV to be shelved permanently.

I concur. This event always leads to extreme frustration. Every run guarantees us to lose players from our Black Phoenix group.

Sarah

I know I’m the outlier here but I actually like the challenge of legacy ATV. I think it’s fun!

I personally hate AWR and I simply just don’t play that event. I don’t try and get the event cancelled just because I don’t want to play it.

I’m actually surprised to hear the Black Phoenix and TP9 are so against it, they had quite good results last time it ran: https://ftamtgpq.pythonanywhere.com/coalition/238/coalition

Opperstamper

@Sarah said:
I know I’m the outlier here but I actually like the challenge of legacy ATV. I think it’s fun!

I personally hate AWR and I simply just don’t play that event. I don’t try and get the event cancelled just because I don’t want to play it.

I’m actually surprised to hear the Black Phoenix and TP9 are so against it, they had quite good results last time it ran: https://ftamtgpq.pythonanywhere.com/coalition/238/coalition

The frustration that I always see during this event counts more to me. If this was just about me then you would be right, I could just opt out.

Machine

Where are the coalition PvE events? I would like to see a change of pace from time to time. I'm a bit fed up with continuously fighting Atraxa, Ghalta and Turtle every weekend.

Scydrex7

I support Sorin's and Opperstamper's concerns about running ATV for this weekend. As Machine pointed out, we could have a PVE event to get a reprieve from the repetitive standard PVP meta that we face every week. After dozens of conversations with players regarding this event, I have concluded that it has worn out its welcome and can only increase the risks of burnout for a dwindling player population.

TheHunter

I completely endorse the view that ATV is a terrible idea for a coalition event this weekend - or any weekend. It was a bad event when it was Standard, and even worse in Legacy.
I have to agree with @Machine it would be nice to get a weekend off from facing a torrent of GTA decks (of COURSE I play GTA too, I want to win the games for my coalition!!) ATV is an event that actively encourages and benefits GTA, as if it needed a leg up. Is ATV even fixed and fit for purpose? I can't remember why, but it went from a 140 max to a 200 max score back in November.

Janosik

Perhaps, if ATV is really reducing engagement in the game, and even making players quit, it's time to shift it from being a mandatory weekend coalition event to an optional weekday event.

@TheHunter said:
ATV is an event that actively encourages and benefits GTA, as if it needed a leg up.

It's really time to talk about nerfing Ghalta, I think. The latest card which people are breaking with GTA (Ghalta, Tortoise, Atraxa for any devs listening who might be unaware of the terminology) is Annie Joins Up, and while Ghalta exists in it's present form cards like that are just going to keep coming.

I might make a separate thread about Ghalta today, actually...

And here it is! (link)

Magic:PQ Support Team

Hey, folks!

We get that ATV is disliked by some players and also poses a higher challenge level, especially for newer players, as was mentioned in other conversations. But this is one event in a pool with many more. According to our current schedule, ATV should be offered 2 or 3 times per year.

Your comments on why some event or objective is nice or not are very useful for our team as we develop new content.

This week's schedule will remain the same. For those who like ATV, enjoy it. For those who don't, don't worry: it won't be back any time soon.

Lu

Janosik

@Magic:PQ Support Team said:
Hey, folks!

We get that ATV is disliked by some players and also poses a higher challenge level, especially for newer players, as was mentioned in other conversations. But this is one event in a pool with many more. According to our current schedule, ATV should be offered 2 or 3 times per year.

Your comments on why some event or objective is nice or not are very useful for our team as we develop new content.

This week's schedule will remain the same. For those who like ATV, enjoy it. For those who don't, don't worry: it won't be back any time soon.

Lu

It's good to know that the event that regularly makes long-term, money spending players leave the game permanently is only going to be run multiple times in a year!

Opperstamper

@Janosik said:

@Magic:PQ Support Team said:
Hey, folks!

We get that ATV is disliked by some players and also poses a higher challenge level, especially for newer players, as was mentioned in other conversations. But this is one event in a pool with many more. According to our current schedule, ATV should be offered 2 or 3 times per year.

Your comments on why some event or objective is nice or not are very useful for our team as we develop new content.

This week's schedule will remain the same. For those who like ATV, enjoy it. For those who don't, don't worry: it won't be back any time soon.

Lu

It's good to know that the event that regularly makes long-term, money spending players leave the game permanently is only going to be run multiple times in a year!

At least this saves us the trouble of digging up all the posts about ATV specifically. And 2 or 3 player attrition moments per year are perfectly acceptable, that's what I learned today.

Janosik

@Magic:PQ Support Team said:
Hey, folks!

We get that ATV is disliked by some players and also poses a higher challenge level

This is worth addressing, I think. I enjoy a challenging game, but Legacy ATV gives you a much, much bigger chance of having a game where Greg wins before you've played a single card than a chance of an exciting back-and-forth game where your gameplay choices really matter.

I'm sure the statistics reveal that less players get perfect scores in a Legacy ATV event than any other PvP event but you could achieve the same effect of reducing people's scores by flipping a coin to see who wins.

Janosik

And this is what you consider acceptable is it? I see.

TheHunter

@Magic:PQ Support Team said:
Hey, folks!

We get that ATV is disliked by some players...

I think the whole rest of your statement suggests you DON'T get this at all. There is so much wrong with this, and I'm looking past the total FU this weekend of having two coalition events, and the fact that ATV was a FU last time when it was run for three days. Here's my views:
1. ATV was totally unpopular when it launched in Standard, but at least there was a somewhat restricted card pool. In Legacy its a total **** shoot. Players would be better off cancelling their VIP and buying lottery tickets. I get that some people like it, so take it out of weekend rotation and play it during the week to allow those players to enjoy it together.
2. There's a reason Legacy and Standard are two different things. This new habit of running events designed for an old Standard as no holds barred Legacy is stressful and hateful. I've got to the point where I'm considering dropping out of competitive weekend events. Not because I don't have the cards or capability, but because I'm fed up dealing with the same bloody loop decks every week. This is a GAME. Games should be fun, recreational, joyful. I cancelled my VIP earlier tonight, I can't support this any more.
3. And then there's GTA. **** GTA. I can't remember such a grindingly dull and repetitive meta than we have right now. There are nearly 3000 cards in Standard, god alone knows why when you only see the same three in every deck. When you've got rid of ATV can you please get around to nerfing Ghalta.

I'm sure I'll be able to add more points to this, but its just made me very, very tired.

Quick edit: I'm saying all this from position of love and really caring for this game. Radical candour. I think in Webcore we have the first devs who I truly believe care about the player base. Please listen to the voices in this thread.

Sorin81

@Magic:PQ Support Team said:
Hey, folks!

We get that ATV is disliked by some players and also poses a higher challenge level, especially for newer players, as was mentioned in other conversations. But this is one event in a pool with many more. According to our current schedule, ATV should be offered 2 or 3 times per year.

May I ask why it "should" be offered?

It may be a good time to change your current schedule. I don't feel like that would be a difficult undertaking. As you mentioned, the pool of available events isn't a small one so you have options for alternate events. Retiring one, or revamping it to be an individual event shouldn't hurt your schedule all that much.

Janosik

@Sorin81 said:

@Magic:PQ Support Team said:
According to our current schedule, ATV should be offered 2 or 3 times per year.

May I ask why it "should" be offered?

It's important to remember that the devs and especially the publishers don't value the players at all. We are just content; our purpose is to make the game look popular when a whale shows up to spend money. When that does happen, the best way to get a whale to spend that money is to get them to lose games against powerful cards that they might like to spend money on.

ATV gives not only lets Greg play with the most powerful cards in the game, but also gives him a leg up in terms of power, without the devs having to bother with all that tedious 'improving the AI' nonsense.