Locations
In an unexpected announcement Director of Research and Development Aaron Forsythe revealed today that effective immediately Standard will return to one rotation per year. This effectively undoes the change in rotation that was associated with the advent of the Two-Block Paradigm.
The change, Forsythe notes, is in response to player feedback that returning to Standard can often be overwhelming given the rate at which sets enter and leave the format. Kaladesh, for example, will be legal for 24 months instead of 18. Under the new schedule the release of Amonkhet will not trigger a rotation and instead the next large set (the September 2017 release) will cause Battle for Zendikar and Shadows over Innistrad blocks to rotate out of Standard.
Reactions to the change were largely positive. One question that came up almost instantly on Twitter was how this would effect the recently announced changes to redemption on Magic Online.
Not everything we try works out. Reversion to Standard rotation model incoming! #wotcstaff https://t.co/i3hwFIqDdt
— Aaron Forsythe (@mtgaaron) October 19, 2016
Nothing but pure kudos and applause to Wizards of the Coast for this change. Good job. Bravo. Well done. https://t.co/HFL1MQd6Xz
— Tolarian Community (@TolarianCollege) October 19, 2016
Unintended(?) consequence of rotation changes: new, shorter #MTGO redemption schedule even more impactful.
— Saffron Olive (@SaffronOlive) October 19, 2016
@SaffronOlive Willing to walk back TCs if they do not work but not enough time yet to succeed or fail. Plus trade change coming. #WotCStaff
— Lee Sharpe (@mtg_lee) October 19, 2016
The change indicates that Wizards will listen to players regarding elements of the play experience. Standard is about to revert to its old structure - will this make you more likely to play the format?
