June 1, 2020 Banned and Restricted Update
Wizards has updated the Banlist today, so let's take a quick look at the announcement!
New Companion Rule:
Once per game, any time you could cast a sorcery (during your main phase when the stack is empty), you can pay 3 generic mana to put your companion from your sideboard into your hand. This is a special action, not an activated ability.
Standard:
Agent of Treachery
is banned.
Fires of Invention
is banned.
Historic:
Agent of Treachery is suspended.
Fires of Invention is suspended.
Tabletop Effective Date (Rules and B&R): June 1, 2020
MTG Arena B&R and Companion Rules Effective Date: June 4, 2020
Magic OnlineB&R Effective Date: June 1, 2020
Magic Online Companion Rules Update Effective Date: June 4, 2020
What Does This Mean?
It was already anticipated that Wizads was going to adjust the Companion mechanic so that it was not a free 8th card in your starting hand. The way most people thought it would be handled was that if you reveal a Companion at the beginning of the game, you would put an additional card from your hand to the bottom of your library or an extra London mulligan. Wizards instead slapped on a tax to the Companion and it'll be interesting to see how this shakes up Companions. Will they remain viable?
The Fires ban in understandable, but another card that should've been banned with it was Wilderness Reclamation
. Free mana was a big problem in Standard and Wilderness Reclamation is another major offender. I expect Reclamation decks to be on top when all this dust settles.
Personally, I'm surprised by the Agent ban. While it was cheated out a lot, Agent is indicative of a larger problem. Even if it's banned, there will be a new target for Lukka, Coppercoat Outcast
and Winota, Joiner of Forces
. I'm surprised those cards, Lukka in standard, and Winota in Historic were left untouched; Winota decks in Historic don't even play Agent and opt to use Angrath's Marauders
to win in one swing.
What are your thoughts on the Banlist update? Do you think Wizards should've gone further?
About Kagros:
Aether Hub News Team member. Writing thoughts on Magic news and fun gameplay!
