I need to understand what format and archetype this refers to. Based on the 15% figure and "stale meta" concern, let me check the current Modern metagame since that's typically where meta health discussions focus.
Now let me get sources for this period and check if there are recent format changes that might explain the meta state:
The 15% figure refers to Boros Energy in Modern. The meta shows healthy diversity - Boros Energy leads at 15.74%, but six other archetypes have 5-8% presence with competitive winrates. What's interesting is that Boros Energy itself isn't dominating performance-wise (49.19% winrate), suggesting the "stale" feeling isn't about one oppressive deck.
The data reveals the real issue: combo and fast linear strategies are thriving. Ruby Storm (52.28% winrate), Blue Belcher (55.47%), Izzet Cutter (56.19%), and Ramp Eldrazi (52.65%) are all outperforming fair midrange decks. This pushes players toward either playing these combo decks or Boros Energy as a tempo deck that can interact early. Traditional midrange archetypes like Yawgmoth (2.38% presence) and control strategies are squeezed out because they can't consistently beat turn 2-3 combo kills while also keeping pace with Energy's card advantage engines. The December Underworld Breach ban removed one combo deck but didn't slow down the format's speed, leaving a metagame where "play fast or play Energy" feels like the only viable choice.
Sources: Data from 112 Modern tournaments (79% MTGO, 21% Melee) between December 2025 and January 2026. Recent events include ReCQ at SCG CON Portland (January 25, 2026) and Modern Challenge 32 (January 25, 2026).
https://melee.gg/Decklist/View/44baea7f-12f0-4fce-a1c2-b3dd0143e968
https://www.mtgo.com/decklist/modern-challenge-32-2026-01-2512830659