The latest update to Magic: The Gathering‘s banned and restricted list, released on November 10th, removes several overpowered cards from five different formats. The announcement came earlier than expected – originally planned for late November – to help ensure fairer gameplay. Recent tournaments showed that certain cards were dominating and creating an unbalanced playing environment, so changes were necessary.
Wizards of the Coast avoids issuing quick bans during the year because frequently changing the rules disrupts major tournaments. This policy contributed to a long period of problems in the Standard format. The biggest issue was a card called Vivi Ornitier, released with a Final Fantasy promotion in June. Shortly after the usual period for bans, Vivi became a key part of a very strong deck called Izzet Cauldron. Now, Vivi and several other powerful cards have been banned, not just in Standard, but in other formats as well.
Say Goodbye to Vivi Ornitier in Magic: The Gathering
A total of 11 cards are now banned in several Magic: The Gathering formats – Standard, Pioneer, Legacy, Pauper, and Brawl. No cards were made legal again in this announcement. Additionally, 5 cards are currently pre-banned in the Historic format. Here’s the list of those cards:
- Standard
- Vivi Ornitier is banned.
- Screaming Nemesis is banned.
- Proft’s Eideitc Memory is banned.
- Pioneer
- Heartfire Hero is banned.
- Modern
- No changes.
- Legacy
- Entomb is banned.
- Nadu, Winged Wisdom is banned.
- Vintage
- No changes.
- Pauper
- High Tide is banned (again).
- Alchemy
- No changes.
- Historic
- Force of Negation is pre-banned.
- Frantic Search is pre-banned.
- Mystical Tutor is pre-banned.
- Entomb is pre-banned.
- Dark Depths is pre-banned.
- Timeless
- No changes.
- Brawl
- Strip Mine is banned.
- Mana Drain is banned.
- Chrome Mox is banned.
- Ancient Tomb is banned.
Wizards of the Coast has announced the next update to Magic: The Gathering’s banned and restricted list will be on February 9, 2026.
Most Magic: The Gathering fans likely anticipated today’s ban of Vivi Ornitier. Wizards of the Coast had previously indicated they were seriously considering this action. The decision was made because banning other cards, such as Agatha’s Soul Cauldron, would likely create even bigger imbalances in the game.
Vivi was made weaker in the digital versions of Magic: The Gathering, but because it’s more difficult to change physical cards, it was ultimately banned from paper play.
The decision to ban Screaming Nemesis in Magic: The Gathering might weaken Mono-Red decks, but considering how strong the deck already is, and with even more powerful cards coming in the Avatar set, the ban was likely necessary. Similarly, Proft’s Eidetic Memory created problems with deck balance, such as in Jeskai Oculus, before the Izzet Cauldron offered a countermeasure.
It’s noteworthy that the Magic: The Gathering card Hearthfire Hero was first banned in the Standard format in June, and now it’s also being banned in Pioneer for almost the same reasons. Similarly, the card Nadu, Winged Wisdom has been banned in several formats because it’s incredibly powerful and allows for endless combinations. Because of this, it’s now banned in Legacy, along with Entomb, a key card in Dimir Reanimator decks. These bans will force players to adapt in all these formats, and the upcoming set, Avatar, releasing on November 21st, might be the catalyst for that change.
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2025-11-10 20:04