What now? - A small analysis of apocalypse!

[zeus-online]

So, all the blue decks where just killed, and most combo decks where greatly weakened...so whats left?

Decks that are completely untouched by this:
Ichorid
Stax
Workshop aggro
WGDX
Belcher
Landstill (I think)
Goblins - Not that good, but might be playable now that decks are slower

Decks that are touched but not exactly killed:
Control slaver - Sure brainstorm was really good, but really? The main engine is untouched and it's got a good match-up against workshops which are probably on the rise now.
Hulk smash - Again, brainstorm is the only major loss, however...IntuAK is looking good again, so maybe it can come back in the light?
Sensei Sensei - Maybe this will be fast enough now, although resolving future sight is probably still pretty tough!
Long variants - Still got amazing turn 1 plays, but they aren't nearly as consistent.
TNT - Really should be in the above categori, but it hasn't been played for years...If oldschool control rises, this might work out.
Keeper - Do i dare say it? Yes i do! If no other control deck proves to be superior in all aspects this old horse might be back.
Angel oath - Can't rely on brainstorm to shuffle back the baddies, but still got a very powerfull early effect.
MSPaint - Well, might be dead, but really...it might be able to replace the draw engine...And while red blasts might be weaker, i think there'll be lots of blue spells.
Suicide - Highly doubtfull, depends upon how much the meta slows down.
Fish - Probably worse then before, as the decks fish preys on just got weakened and thus probably less played.
Bomberman - I don't think this deck was all that dependant on brainstorm, as there generally are no real dead draws.

Decks that are dead:
GAT
Flash
Tyrant oath (As far as i know!)

And i have probably missed alot of decks.

Don't despair vintage players, i think this is a great time! There's lots of decks and cards to play with, and now we actually have a choice in draw engines..

An example:
IntuAK - Probably the fastest non-bazaar engine now...
Thirst - Blue, works with artifacts.
Skeletal scrying - Slow, but does alot if it resolves
Dark confidant - Worked before, and now everything is slower and the average mana cost in decks probably just dropped since gush isn't there anymore.
Night's whisper - Might suplement any of the above engines...And possibly replace brainstorms in ways of getting mana.

What does everyone else think? I am overjoyed, i have been looking forward to alot of this, although i never expected them to take away brainstorm, and much less ponder.

I'll have to end now as my laptop is running out of power, a final word:
It's time to bring back old favorites and make new ones!

/Zeus

[Troy_Costisick]

My prediction: Black will be the new Blue.

Peace,

-Troy

[meadbert]

Night's Whisper replaces Scroll more than Brainstorm.  It could be really good now.

Thirst is actually better than Intuition/AK in that Thirst allows you to pitch cards you do not want in your hand such as Oath's Creatures, DSC, or Dragon.

That said, Thirst + Intuition/AK seems like the best possible engine and Drain Tendrils can run that.  I expect Drain Tendrils to become the top Drain based deck.  It was barely hit losing just 3 Brainstorms and it can replace those with Scroll, Ponder and Gush as Cody suggested in the DT thread.  Another option is to use a Sensei's Divining Top which can pitch to Thirst or act as a mini Brainstorm by filtering cards.

[Xyre]

Predictions:

Ichorid - already putting up decent numbers, but has been held back by both a steep proliferation of Leyline et al and fast blue decks that can race/draw disruption quickly. With most of the best blue engines dead, Ichorid is likely going to be the combo deck to beat, with the possible exception of old iterations of Long like Grim and Pitch.

Stax - maybe. The problem is that Stax does well in control formats, and this update is targeted primarily at control decks. Probably will lose out to Workshop Aggro.

Workshop aggro - better than Stax because it takes Stax's best component (the 9Spheres) and adds in powerful, cheap, disruptive (Magus) creatures. Will do well now that fast combo/control is dead.

WGDX - sucks. The deck requires Bazaar to function, plus it requires a 2-card combo (which is really a 3-card combo once you add Bazaar) that's fundamentally slower and less integrated than Ichorid, plus it suffers tremendous splash damage from Ichorid. Won't gain any ground.

Belcher - now that blue isn't faster, this deck will make progress. Of course, it still suffers from the fact that it's a glass cannon, so it could use some tuning and new technology, but otherwise, it will do better.

Landstill - keep guessing.

Goblins - Better than you think. Without fast blue, the deck can cut back on the need for a turn 2 Earwig Squad and can return to the disruptive build that was so good six months ago.

Control slaver - maybe. Depends on whether it can adapt to losing Brainstorm. Probably will return to Goth Slaver form and will try to out-draw most of the field. Status unknown.

Hulk smash - Not likely, as Togs are bad in this kind of format, and Brainstorm/Ponder is a pretty significant loss in a deck that needs its cheap draw spells. Plus, going for Berserk is just asking for a bounce spell/StP.

Sensei Sensei - Unlikely. I highly doubt the deck can beat Ichorid.

Long variants - Losing Gush et al will hurt, but not as much as for other decks. They'll be back, in previous iterations.

TNT - No.

Keeper - No.

Angel oath - Maybe? Considering Tyrant Oath no longer has enough cheap spells... fortunately, a slower format has always been good for Oath.

MSPaint - I'm going to say DOA. MSPaint was good because it took the blue engine and added a significantly disruptive base. We may see the Painter/Grindstone combo around, but the two-color combo/control deck is basically finished.

Suicide - Always been a dark horse. This won't change. Not dead, not gaining much.

Fish - Going to do better, as they have other card draw engines. Unfortunately, I don't know if there'll be enough control to prey on. The exception may be decks like DeezNaughts, which have the long-game plan to compete.

Bomberman - Like Fish, only comboriffic. Needs a new card draw engine, though.

GAT - DOA.

Flash - DOA.

Tyrant oath - DOA, basically.

[Demonic Attorney]

There is already a thread devoted to this subject.  In fact, at the time I make this post, it's the one immediately below this one.  Thread closed.