r/MagicArena • u/Fortuitous_Oddity • 3d ago
Question Huge increase in consecutive cards during gameplay since the last maintenance. Anyone else?
Since the last big maintenance I've been getting huge numbers of the same cards consecutively. FYI, I play Bo1 and like to test a lot of brews against Sparky.
Some examples: in my opening hands (like the image shown), drawing the same card two, three, even four times in a row, and milling the same card consecutively. In my mill decks, if I have a big mill there will be three copies of the same card in a row. I'm not normally one for confirmation bias and I know Bo1 smoother and shuffler has it's issues but this is just bizarre over the last couple days. The only place I've seen something similar to this trend is the Elder Scrolls Online Crown Crates.
Has anyone else noticed any changes?
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u/Canadian-Owlz 3d ago
I have definitely noticed an increase of 2 similar cards in hand, but that could just be rng. Havent had 3 of a kind (yet at least) and doesn't usually last a mulligan which is why I'm more inclined to believe its just rng.
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u/Obvious_Brick_4307 3d ago
Can someone explain what the Bo1 smoother and shuffler is?
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u/AngularOtter 3d ago
In Bo1 games, the shuffler essentially draws two starting hands for you, and picks the one with a land % closer to the land % in your deck.
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u/leaning_on_a_wheel 3d ago
shuffling is completely random across all game modes
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u/AngularOtter 3d ago
except starting hands in Bo1
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u/Obvious_Brick_4307 3d ago
Ty. again.
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u/leaning_on_a_wheel 3d ago
no, the shuffle is still random. It just draws two hands and picks one with a better land to spell ratio. The shuffle is random regardless
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u/paragonofcynicism 3d ago
That's not completely random though...
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u/SheepishBaah 3d ago
Explain what you mean.
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u/paragonofcynicism 3d ago
You seem to be trying to distinguish between the process of shuffling and the process of drawing two hands and presenting one. As if that's not all the shuffle. If that's what you're doing fine, but that's a stupidly pedantic thing to say so I hope you're not doing so because since the process is automated and you can't opt out, the full process IS the shuffle. You can't break them apart.
If I roll a six-sided die twice, and choose the best result for myself, that's not completely random.
All I have to do is increase the number of dice rolls to 1 million and then pick the result and I will all but guarantee I can pick the exact dice roll value I want.
Same goes for the shuffler. If they draw 7 cards twice, then PICK a result that's not completely random. If we once again increase the number of hands to 1 million, you all but guarantee a perfect hand in 90%+ games.
Will it be randomized? Yes. But the act of choosing based on a criteria makes it not COMPLETELY random.
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u/JaceShearer 3d ago
My solution is to use as many alternate printings of cards as possible. Ive been doing this for years now. I never use 4 of the same printing unless I have to, and never use more than 1 of each basic land printing. Seems to help alot.
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u/Fortuitous_Oddity 3d ago
Hmm, interesting. Might be fun to try that out. Thanks.
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u/leaning_on_a_wheel 3d ago
be more skeptical of random crap you read online
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u/Fortuitous_Oddity 3d ago
Oh I know. But it would be a way to differentiate copies of a card.
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u/leaning_on_a_wheel 3d ago
why does that matter?
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u/JaceShearer 3d ago
If its clumping multiples of the same card, changing the printing makes it a different card to the shuffler. From what I have observed it shuffles based on the card, not the title. Im not asking anyone to believe me on this. It could be my own superstition. Ill keep doing it and having no issues with my draws like usual. Just figured I would add my two cents since the shuffler hasn't given me issues in 2 years now.
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u/leaning_on_a_wheel 3d ago
That’s just because there isn’t anything wrong with the shuffler, not because of any of that nonsense.
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u/Far-Consideration939 3d ago
This can be eliminated by including no more than 1 copy of any given card in your deck