Since the release of Modern Horizons 2 on Magic Online, players are trying out new cards to see whether formats can be broken once again.
Like Modern Horizons 1 before it, there are a handful of cards that are warping eternal formats.
Urza’s Saga
Urza’s Saga
(As this Saga enters and after your draw step, add a lore counter. Sacrifice after III.)
I — This Saga gains "{T}: Add {C}."
II — This Saga gains "{2}, {T}: Create a 0/0 colorless Construct artifact creature token with 'This token gets +1/+1 for each artifact you control.'"
III — Search your library for an artifact card with mana cost {0} or {1}, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle.
is seeing extensive play in Modern and Vintage, but Pauper has its own issues.
It’s not the first time we’ve seen Modern Horizons have an effect,
Arcum’s Astrolabe
Arcum’s Astrolabe
({S} can be paid with one mana from a snow source.)
When this artifact enters, draw a card.
{1}, {T}: Add one mana of any color.
saw a ban in Pauper in late 2019. This time around, it includes a bunch of Squirrels wrapped in a Storm-payoff.
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What is Chatterstorm Doing in Pauper?
Chatterstorm
Chatterstorm
Create a 1/1 green Squirrel creature token.
Storm (When you cast this spell, copy it for each spell cast before it this turn.)
lends to the R/G Storm archetype in Modern Horizons 2 Limited but its impact in Pauper is already widespread. While it’s no
Empty the Warrens
Empty the Warrens
Create two 1/1 red Goblin creature tokens.
Storm (When you cast this spell, copy it for each spell cast before it this turn.)
(which is banned in Pauper), the Sorcery is already whipping up a storm in Pauper reshaping the Commons-only format in a big way.
What makes
Chatterstorm
Chatterstorm
Create a 1/1 green Squirrel creature token.
Storm (When you cast this spell, copy it for each spell cast before it this turn.)
so powerful is the ability to win on turn two, which is much quicker than other eternal formats such as Modern. By using cards such as
Lotus Petal
Lotus Petal
{T}, Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color.
,
First Day of Class
First Day of Class
Whenever a creature you control enters this turn, put a +1/+1 counter on it and it gains haste until end of turn.
Learn. (You may reveal a Lesson card you own from outside the game and put it into your hand, or discard a card to draw a card.)
, and
Dark Ritual
Dark Ritual
Add {B}{B}{B}.
, you can amass a swarm of Squirrels as early as turn two. For most Pauper decks, this is difficult to keep up. Often you’ll see Affinity have a decent chance against the all-spells strategy, but it’s a tough ask. Even then, decent board wipes are higher costed which puts Squirrel Storm in such a favorable position.
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As a result of the consistency and raw power, there is already discourse on whether the card will see a ban in the format. Gavin Verhey (Senior Designer at Wizards of the Coast) already admitted they’re keeping an eye on the card since they are concerned about its power level. Usually, you’ll see Pauper bans happen much later than required, as seen with
Fall From Favor
Fall From Favor
Enchant creature
When this Aura enters, tap enchanted creature and you become the monarch.
Enchanted creature doesn't untap during its controller's untap step unless that player is the monarch.
from Commander Legends as a recent example.
For those who may be familiar with Storm in Modern and Legacy, this may come as no surprise. But,
Chatterstorm
Chatterstorm
Create a 1/1 green Squirrel creature token.
Storm (When you cast this spell, copy it for each spell cast before it this turn.)
is causing issues in a format that is unable to handle it. Pauper may not be the most popular format out there, but it requires the same amount of attention as the rest. It’ll be interesting to see what happens in the upcoming months with Modern Horizons 2‘s release on June 18.
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