The latest MTG banned restricted announcement dropped on November 10, 2025, and the impact is immediate — several major decks across formats are now forced to adapt. The update from Wizards of the Coast (WotC) addresses dominance issues in multiple formats and includes a series of bans effective immediately.
Bold Changes Across Formats
The announcement covers six formats and introduces sweeping changes, marking one of the most significant format resets in recent memory. The key highlights include:
- Standard: Vivi Ornitier, Screaming Nemesis, and Proft’s Eidetic Memory are banned.
- Pioneer: Heartfire Hero is banned.
- Legacy: Entomb and Nadu, Winged Wisdom are banned.
- Pauper: High Tide is banned.
- Historic: Several cards, such as Force of Negation, Frantic Search, Mystical Tutor, Entomb, and Dark Depths, are pre-banned.
- Brawl: Cards including Strip Mine, Mana Drain, Chrome Mox, and Ancient Tomb are banned.
WotC also confirmed the next update is scheduled for February 9, 2026.
Why These Moves?
The update in the MTG banned restricted announcement is rooted in hard data and sustained format issues. For Standard, WotC highlighted one deck in particular: the “Izzet Cauldron” strategy built around Vivi Ornitier, Proft’s Eidetic Memory, and Agatha’s Soul Cauldron. That deck demonstrated unacceptably high win and play rates across multiple events.
In Pauper, the High Tide deck proved problematic not just for win rate (creeping above 55%) but also for gameplay length and format experience—some turns lasting 10–15 minutes, which disrupted tournament logistics.
For Pioneer, mono-red aggro and decks tailored to prey on it dominated so significantly that WotC determined intervention was necessary.
Format-by-Format Breakdown
| Format | Cards Banned | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Vivi Ornitier, Screaming Nemesis, Proft’s Eidetic Memory | Dominant combo deck made other archetypes non-competitive |
| Pioneer | Heartfire Hero | Mono-red aggro dominance in Best-of-One & wider meta |
| Legacy | Entomb, Nadu, Winged Wisdom | Long-standing deck archetypes becoming too pervasive |
| Pauper | High Tide | Combo deck with excessive game length & format impact |
| Historic | Force of Negation, Frantic Search, Mystical Tutor, Entomb, Dark Depths | Preventing dominant strategies in digital ecosystem |
| Brawl | Strip Mine, Mana Drain, Chrome Mox, Ancient Tomb | Balancing casual commander-adjacent format |
What This Means for Players & Deckbuilders
- Competitive players in Standard must rebuild or retool decks that relied on the now-banned cards. The “Izzet Cauldron” core no longer exists in its current form.
- Casual and tournament players in Pauper should prepare for a shift away from High Tide’s slow combo style toward more interactive decks.
- Legacy and Pioneer players will face transitional months as archetypes adapt to the new banned list.
- Retailers and collectors may see some price movement: cards removed from play often drop, while alternate strategies could rise.
- Meta monitoring will be critical: WotC indicated they will increase the frequency of banned & restricted updates, so the landscape may change faster than before.
Community Reaction & Next Steps
Many players greeted the MTG banned restricted announcement with relief—particularly Standard players frustrated by the dominance of a single deck. Others, however, caution that bans alone won’t solve balance, and will be watching how new dominant decks emerge.
WotC’s commentary suggests the next announcement window (February 9, 2026) may feature more rapid updates, especially if formats head toward imbalance.
In short, the MTG banned restricted announcement of November 10, 2025 marks a pivotal moment for competitive play in multiple formats. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a casual gamer, adapt your decklists and strategies now—the meta has shifted.
Let us know in the comments how this update affects your favorite format or deck. Stay tuned for further changes!