And sure, I’ll admit commander is still bigger. Standard isn’t what it used to be, but it’s infinitely bigger and better than it was 2 or 5 years ago, because to answer your question:
Why play standard? Because wizards needs them to - standard players buy new standard cards (and EDH players don’t!)

We were starting to see this in 2019-20 where product just didn’t move, then Covid froze things, but it became glaringly apparent in late 21-22. WotC had to either throw major support into 60 card constructed events, or relegate their releases to only quarterly precons. They chose the former. [2/3]

The simple answer is that the overwhelming majority commander players, by & large, buy a precon, maybe change 2-3 cards and they’re done. They don’t buy packs or boxes of the new set, maybe one or two singles. This means the LGS has less reason to break boxes, and revenue enters a death spiral [1/3]

This was the list I won with, decklist in alt text.

Biomass Mutation won me three games, two where I cast it for X=8 and once where it was pitched to force of will, protecting Bow of Nylea which won me the game in the end.

Indiana if the tagger is to be believed - which was a surprise to me and I live here!

I’m not going to say these promos are good.

I am going to say there’s a pretty narrow band between “promos aren’t worth enough to attract players” and “promos are worth so much stores pocket them to flip for profit”

And WotC has to aim almost a year in advance.
What more can we expect?

Ultra Pro’s eclipse sleeves are mid and dent easily. APEX sleeves are very good but overpriced. ($25/100 🤑) Gamegenic Prime are a good workhorse on a budget, my cube is in them but the shuffle feel can rub some the wrong way.

Currently trying KMC Hyper Phoenix, unsure how I feel on them yet.

If WotC didn’t care about standard, they would abandon itand just spit out commander decks/SLD drops a few times a year

We know they care, because they’re experimenting. Giving them feedback helps them experiment better. But we have to acknowledge that they’re trying

Eventually something will work

I know that it’s easy to say “just go back to how it was” but we have to understand that isn’t doable. Hasbro lives and dies by WotC’s (and more directly Magic’s) success so they have to do all these things to make Number Go Up.

Wizards is trying to make it work while bounded by those limits [2/3]

Okay, I’ll bite. Why do you think Wizards doesn’t want standard to be back?
I’ll grant you that the past 5 months have been not great, but if they didn’t care about the format they wouldn’t be trying all the new things to make it better! Most of them didn’t work but trying means something. [1/3]

It's been great at keeping my back lighter than a bulky bookbag!

But I'm also in the market for a new deckbox, was using Boulders but want to divest from that company after their decisions WRT trans rights & the UP Tower is bulky, if only you guys had a comparable product with WUBRG color options 🙂

Steal His Fit!
Carrying case: @quivertime.com Quiver
Deck box: @ultraprointl.bsky.social Satin Tower
Sleeves: @kmcsleevesusa.bsky.social Hypermat Phoenix with @dragonshield.bsky.social resealable inner sleeves
SB Guide: @heavyplayllc.bsky.social Trifolds
Not sponsored-DM if you want to change that!

Results:
R1 vs. 4 Color Cornucopia Control 🐲🗡️🗡️
R2 vs. Mono Black Midrange 🐲🗡️🐲
R3 vs. Jeskai Control 🐲🗡️🐲
R4 vs. Izzet Prowess (ft. Vivi) 🐲🗡️🐲
R5 vs. Temur Floodcaller Combo 🐲🐲

Top 4 split two invites 💰💰🎟️🎟️

Venusaur gets Sludge
Dragonite gets Thunder Punch

And that's all we've got! Let's see how it shakes things out next month.

Pachirisu gets Hyper Fang
Kingdra gets Swift
Dodrio gets Trailblaze
Kommo-o gets Upper Hand
Raikou, Celebi, Latias, Latios, Jirachi get Aura Sphere
Slowbro, Galarian Slowbro, Gengar, Quagsire, Sableye, Toxicroak, Mienfoo, Mienshoa, Incineroar, Passimian get Drain Punch
[7/8]

Dodrio, Xatu, Togekiss get Peck
Charizard gets Air Cutter
Alolan Raichu, Xatu, Galarian Slowking, Victini, Delphox, Aromatisse get Psyshock
Druddigon, Tyrunt, Tyrantrum, Hakamo-o, get Rock Tomb
Crustle gets Rock Wrecker
Flygon, Krookodile get Sand Tomb
Nidoqueen, Torterra get Mud Slap
[6/8]