Ok, let's start somewhere in the middle of the issue I'm going to talk about:

There have been some articles about the new environment of standard-tournaments, after the urza-block leaves us, to find his destiny in upcoming type1 and type1x competitions, but I'm going to talk about this topic once more:

The first time I thought about this problem, that is mentioned below, was a few days after I'd seen an almost complete spoiler of prophecy. I talked with a friend of mine about the high mana costs of almost all rares with good abilities. I don't have to write about the 8-mana-monsters, the avatars, everyone knows them…

I'm talking about the slowdown, which the wizards want to achieve:
There is no useful mana acceleration in the whole masques-block, except the dark ritual, because the Ramos-parts and the depletion lands aren't that helpful if you need so much mana for powerful spells.
Ok, I don't mind if it takes more turns to win a game, because it won't take more time than a replenish-mirror match…
I'm talking about a certain problem in the strategy of the wizards:
How will a slow deck be able to win against a Stompy?

Stompy has the following cards for a new deck:

Pigmy Razorback
Spore Frog
Marsh Boa
River Boa
Wild Might
Giant Growth
Seal of Strength
Invigorate
Vine Trellis
Vine Dryad
…

Ok, no more Cradles, no more Albinos, Wild Dogs, Rancors, but the deck doesn't have to kill in 4 turns, as it was before (because of Replenish, par example), but you don't need to: You can reduce your enemy's life very fast with the power ups, as it was before, and then use the mana you get from Llanowars (Vine Trellis and/or Birds to play that killing Vitalizing Wind. Or what about another possibility to kill: Block with Vine Trellis/River Boa and use your other creatures to attack and your Stampede Driver's ability….

The aim to make it possible, that more different types of decks are able to win a tournament, was a really good idea, but I fear, it may end in the opposite: A dominating Stompy, with no certain card that should be banned, but many commons and uncommons, that are together to strong for the environment.

A Massacre or Earthquake may help, but is this enough?

PLMK your opinion

additional comments:

Kevbob44: yes, exactly my opinion, Invasion seems to be the only possibility to destroy the domination of stompy. If you can create a deck, that beats stompy AND is not just an anti-deck, but also useful against other decks, plmk about it!

MoNkEyDnA17:

um, Ponza loses:
Avalanche Rider
Ghitu Encampment
Masticore
Lightning Dragon(if you played it,k but there is still the 2-Header)

ok, so there is still a big amount of good cards and there is a chance to beat stompy, if you play earthquake...
yes, ponza seems to be good as well.

But Stompy will always beat rebel, as I'm sure, that Lin Sivvi will be banned in Type2, if Invasion doesn't totally change the environment...

Eron the Relentless:

You're right, but never stopp creating fundecks, because one day, there will be former fundecks, that can beat the almighty stompy. Magic makes still a lot of fun, but it was better as almost everyone tried to make unique decks and not only copied popular ones....
I'm really interested if ponza can do the things MoNkEyDnA17 says....
__________________
Post by Christoph,
the trader in Germany with the most refs: www.magictraders/reflists/Christoph.html

__________________
On guard for larger dangers,we underestimated the power and speed of the Imp's muck-crusted claws.
-Bog Imp

As for Stompy, can you say Cave-In?

OK, I'm done for now.
P.S.- DO NOT Vendetta a Trenching Steed!!