When you think things can't get worse in Standard...

[Guzu]

...they release cards that empower/enable new aggro decks while everyone else gets NOTHING to deal with that onslaught. This might not be an issue for Platinum and lower but Diamond and Mythic are infested with aggro in BO1 and BO3.

Izzet burn/prowess/flurry got Cori-Steel Cutter
Jeskai (convoke) got Windcraig Siege and Voice of Victory
All the Pixie decks got Sunpearl Kirin
Mice aggro also got Cori-Steel Cutter
Goblins got Stadium Headliner

This is one of the most depressing standard metas I have seen in a long time. 60-80% of the decks you face are some sort of aggro. I guess the "flourishing" and "diverse" only applies to the variety of decks that can kill you turn 3-4.

I honestly hope they change their mind soon and do something about it. At this point it's not just Monstrous Rage that's an issue.

[John-Silver]

I don't know why but I'm also not overly excited even about the card art, theirs a few neat things in this set sure, but ultimately the sets focus on dragons I find actually limit it's capabilities in standard as you can only really combo with a few things -dragon wise- outside the new set itself.

[nul]

yeah standard is pretty cooked right now. and i don't think rotation can save it.

[Guzu]

Originally posted by nul:

yeah standard is pretty cooked right now. and i don't think rotation can save it.

Indeed, and unless they are printing removal like crazy with the next sets, I'm afraid it will only get worse.

We will lose:
Cut Down
Anoint with Affliction
Temporal Lockdown
Zur (and with it Domain)
Sunfall (not that it matters anymore but the exile is still nice)

Many of these cards were integral in surviving the early turn vs aggro or stabilizing like in case of Zur. The aggro decks will almost lose nothing as most of their power-crept cards are from last year's sets.

[nul]

The problem with having a ton of removal though is that yes, it shuts down aggro
but it's even better against the more fair creature based decks. They're barely allowed to exist with how much removal people pack for aggro.

Not to say I think "fair creature based decks" should be at the top of the meta or anything. But if your creatures don't have haste and aren't killing on turn 4, then you've spent all your turns doing nothing.

And the sad part is, the stronger removal gets against aggro, the more the meta is pushed towards tokens. Overlord of the mistmoors, stormchaser's talent, etc.

[Zlehtnoba]

One-on-one removal is not the answer to this meta. We need Pryoclasm, or something similar, a two-mana sweeper for small things. Even Temporal Lockdown is often too slow.

That said, I don't expect to be playing Standard soon. Maybe a game or two of Pixies now and then.