Article at a Glance

• A Disappointing Downgrade
• Format Frustrations
• Not All Doom and Gloom

Recently, Wizards of the Coast has been attempting to incentivize MTG Arena players to participate in in-person events by offering free in-game rewards. Previously, these events provided enticing rewards, but the latest changes have significantly diminished their value.

A Disappointing Downgrade

In past events, players could earn cosmetics and a Draft Token by participating in in-person play, a fitting reward for attending Draft events. However, with the introduction of Bloomburrow, the reward structure has changed:

• Instead of cosmetics for the first few events, players now receive individual card rewards.
• The coveted Draft Token has been replaced by a Bloomburrow Booster and a Ral, Crackling Wit card style.
• A new fourth tier of rewards introduces a Bloomburrow Mythic Booster after attending four events in a month.

These changes represent a steep decline in value, as MTG Arena Boosters are smaller than Play Boosters used in Draft. Additionally, the potential rewards from performing well in Drafts, which could be quite lucrative, are no longer available.

Format Frustrations

Sheoldred, the Apocalypse | Dominaria United

The new reward structure requires players to attend more events to progress through four tiers. This means paying for and finding time to participate in these events. Moreover, the required event format has changed from Draft to Standard, introducing several issues:

Cost: Standard decks are more expensive to build, potentially costing several hundred dollars.

Availability: Standard events are less common in some areas, making it difficult for players to attend the necessary number of events.

Gameplay Experience: Players may resort to attending with suboptimal decks purely to collect rewards, detracting from the intended gameplay experience.

Not All Doom and Gloom

Doomed Artisan | Commander 2019

Despite the disappointing changes, there are some positive aspects:

• Players who were already planning to attend Standard events will still receive extra rewards.
• The recent rotation has reinvigorated the Standard and Alchemy formats, and Alchemy: Bloomburrow is set to release soon, bringing new excitement to MTG Arena.
• Future releases, such as Pioneer Masters and Duskmourn: House of Horror, promise exciting new content for players to look forward to.

While the downgrade in rewards is a letdown, the ongoing developments in MTG Arena offer some hope for players seeking new experiences and challenges.