This is not new news, but I wanted to write a quick post about it in case some of you haven’t heard. Cryptozoic has announced that when the next set, Throne of the Tides, is released, the core format will change to only include blocks instead of three.
What does this mean? Well for players new to this terminology, a block is a group of three sets of WoW cards with a common theme. For example, the Worldbreaker block includes the Worldbreaker set, the War of the Elements set, and the Twilight of the Dragons set. Blocks are generally named after the first set that comes out in that block (so the Worldbreaker block is called Worldbreaker). Holiday events, raid decks, crafting cards, badge cards, and other promotional cards are generally associated to the block that they are released with. So if a raid deck comes out during the Worldbreaker block, it would be tied to that block. That means all cards in these extra mini sets are legal if the block they are tied to is legal.
There are thee types of constructed formats: classic, core, and block. Format descriptions like this are used to limit the number of cards available to you when making decks. Classic format is all-encompassing and lets you include any card from any set. As long as it’s legal to play, you can include it in your card pool for deck building (Note: Some cards are just not legal to play, e.g. boss cards, events, and raid abilities from raid decks. Frostmourne, for example, is a weapon card from the Icecrown Citadel raid deck that is part of the Lich Kings raid deck. It is not a legal card to play unless you are playing in that specific raid). You’ll see this type of constructed format as part of the world championships and other large events where top players compete.
Block is a format that only includes a single block (three sets and associated mini sets). This September, for example, the Darkmoon Faire is coming to Pennsylvania and it’s main event is a block tournament, which means only cards associated with the Worldbreaker block will be allowed as part of deck construction.
Finally, and this is what the post is really about, there is Core. Core, up until this change, included the last three blocks (for a total of nine sets plus all the mini sets associated with those blocks). Currently, Core includes the Worldbreaker block, the Scourgewar block (which includes Scourgewar, Wrathgate, and Icecrown, as well as the Icecrown Citadel and Naxarramas raid and other cards associated to that block), and the Drums block (which includes Drums of War, Blood of the Gladiators, and Fields of Honor sets and associated mini sets).
This announcement means that when the new block, Throne of the Tides, has its first set released, both Drums and Scourgewar will be no longer legal in Core. Now this is a pretty hot topic among players. Some, like me, feel that this move is good. It allows those of us who haven’t played in a while to catching up in most of the constructed events. It also limits the card pool allowing different cards to see play that normally wouldn’t, opening the possibility to see different kinds of decks in tournaments.
Other players feel that this move is bad. For starters, the limited card pool might result in more of the same kind of deck being played and less room for customization and modification. Secondly, they also feel that it was a wasted investment since a lot of money went into the older sets to get the good cards and soon that investment will be lost. There is also the concern that lesser-skilled players will flood some of the tournaments, throwing off the balance of play.
In the end, it really doesn’t matter. The change is there and it’s a change we’ll have to adapt to and accept until they decide to change it again. I’m curious as to what you all think, so please post a comment below and share your insights.