Initial Review: Sanctum Surge -Why?
Disclaimer: I shouldn’t have to add this but I know this community. These are my thoughts only. I don’t need you to come in here and have an absolute fit. Take it elsewhere. I just want to have an actual discussion about it.
Been going through the new sanctum based mode since it released and feel like I’ve played enough games to have some thoughts. Though, as the title suggests, my initial thought is “why?”.
Sanctum as a format is supposed to be about prioritizing lanes. The challenge comes in only when you have the normal energy format. You have to be strategic with your placements and cards with low utilizations in regular modes get to shine because they’re uniquely strong when played in this format (think guardians but obviously there are a lot more). To me at least, having a distinctly different meta than ladder and conquest is the purpose of all LGMs, but especially sanctum.
Now with the new sanctum they’ve made two changes. One: you start with 4 energy on turn 1. Two: the lane point totals have been updated. Side lanes are worth more than previously and you get access to side lane points immediately on turn one.
In my observation this encourages two things: Playing only high power cards or playing wide with cards that gain power or give power over time. What it doesn’t encourage nearly as much is playing cards that benefit from your opponent’s card placement.
Here’s where my issue with the mode comes in. This has led to the sanctum meta being nearly identical to the regular ladder meta. I’m seeing nothing but the same suffocating decks I see in ladder because, once again, they have made a mode where they remove the only meaningful limiter that has been baked into cards released in recent history: energy requirements.
The mode is overrun with Fisk and the rest of his buddies. Which is very unfortunate.
To be clear, I understand this isn’t the end of the world. The mode isn’t objectively bad or anything like that. I just feel it has completely lost its identity. And it barely feels like a break from ladder at this point. I would have much preferred them to just do regular sanctum.
Thoughts? Any decks you’re seeing that aren’t ladder meta slop? What are we running to actually enjoy the new format?
Edit: I’m seeing the positive comments about the mode being mostly directed towards how short and easy the games are. Which makes me kind of sad. Basically the people enjoying it are enjoying that they don’t have to think and play the game and can grab their rewards with as little time and effort playing the game as possible and then dip out. Why do y’all even play if you don’t like actually playing the game…?