Tabletop GamingMTG Modern Horizons 3Wizards of the Coast admit MTG Modern Horizons 3’s Nadu was a “design mistake”When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Tabletop GamingMTG Modern Horizons 3Wizards of the Coast admit MTG Modern Horizons 3’s Nadu was a “design mistake”When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Wizards of the Coast)
Since its arrival in MTG Modern Horizons 3, Nadu, Winged Wisdom has loomed large over Modern, prompting significant concerns for the health of the format. Or at least that was the case until August 26, when Wizards of the Coast’s banhammer finally knocked Nadu out of the sky.Within weeks of its arrival, Nadu, Winged Wisdom established itself as a new Modern staple – albeit for all the wrong reasons. Almost immediately, the three-drop bird wizard dominated the format in a way that left those who played against it with little in the way of an answer. Even further evidence of the feathered fiend’s preeminence was delivered when 5 of the Top 8 decks at Pro Tour Modern Horizons in June sported a Nadu-centric build. So, the writing was on the wall – Nadu needed to be banned.
Balance is an essential element of any of thebest card games, and Magic: The Gathering is no exception.That’s why, in an attempt to maintain a consistent power level and to avoid too singular a meta, Wizards of the Coast maintains a list of cards that are banned or restricted from play in sanctioned events. Yet despite pressure from players, Nadu, Winged Wisdom managed to avoid induction into theMTG banlistfor over 2 months.
(Image credit: Wizards of the Coast)
All that said, the openness with which Wizards’ R&D team has addressed the failure of Nadu is commendable, and promises have been made to enact changes that will prevent Nadu-likes from spawning in the future. Assurances that time windows for future projects will be more sensible are always welcome. And, while the notion of being “more conservative” may sound like a recipe for boring game design, a little extra reservation goes a long way when crafting world-beating cards.
As Majors puts it, “the creation of this game is a labor of love […] and we are always looking to improve the way we make the game.” While it may seem overly optimistic to some, I’m inclined to believe that.
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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
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