Wizards of the Coast switched up Magic: The Gathering’s Banned and Restricted announcements for the 2023-2024 season. Here is a full breakdown of when to expect the next ban.
Is there an upcoming MTG Banned and Restricted announcement?
As confirmed by WotC, the next MTG Banned and Restricted announcement is scheduled for Dec. 16.
Big changes were applied to the MTG Modern and Pioneer formats in the Aug. 26 Banned & Restricted announcement. WotC also addressed scheduling concerns, as the Modern RCQ season began three weeks before banning cards like Nadu and Grief. Starting in December, MTG Banned & Restricted announcements will prioritize timing for organized play over set releases.
What is new about MTG Banned and Restricted announcements?
A set schedule was applied to MTG Banned and Restricted announcements at the same time that the legality of an MTG card in Standard was increased to three years. The purpose of the change was to provide players with one large annual Banned and Restricted announcement a year while having slots throughout the year where WotC could choose to ban a card or leave all formats as is. Starting in December, though, organized play will take priority over set releases.
A Banned and Restricted window slot doesn’t mean any bans or unbans will happen in December. The window is there in case a card slips through the design cracks and warps an MTG format or meta almost immediately. The window can also be used to ban or unban a card within a format once the Banned and Restricted team has had time to process data and community reactions from the previous Standard-legal set.
All MTG Banned and Restricted announcements in 2023-2024 season
The most recent Banned and Restricted announcement targeted the Modern and Pioneer formats, removing meta-warping cards like Nadu, Winged Wisdom, Grief, Sorin, Imperious Bloodlord, and Amalia Benavides Aguirre.
We’ve put together a list of all the Banned and Restricted announcements during the MTG 2023-2024 season to help you keep track. And if you’re looking for every MTG card that has ever been banned throughout the TCG history, we have that too.
August 2024 Banned and Restricted announcement
| MTG format | MTG cards banned or restricted |
|---|---|
| Modern | Nadu, Winged Wisdom banned Grief banned |
| Pioneer | Amalia Benavides Aguirre banned Sorin, Imperious Bloodlord banned |
| Legacy | Grief banned |
| Vintage | Urza’s Saga restricted Vexing Bauble restricted |
| Explorer | Amalia Benavides Aguirre banned Sorin, Imperious Bloodlord banned |
| Standard | No changes |
| Alchemy | No changes |
| Historic | No changes |
| Timeless | No changes |
| Brawl | No changes |
May 2024 Banned and Restricted announcement
- Pauper: All That Glitters
- Pauper, Vintage, and Legacy: All Sticker and Attraction cards were banned from competitive play
March 2024 Banned and Restricted announcement
- Standard: No changes
- Pioneer: No changes
- Modern: Violent Outburst
- Legacy: No changes
- Vintage: Ponder removed from restricted list
- Explorer: No changes
- Pauper: No changes
December 2023 Banned and Restricted announcement
All changes went into effect on Dec. 4 for tabletop and Dec. 5 for MTG Arena.
- Standard: No changes
- Pioneer: Karn, the Great Creator and Geological Appraiser banned
- Pioneer: Smuggler’s Copter unbanned
- Modern: Fury and Up the Beanstalk banned
- Legacy: No changes
- Vintage: No changes
- Explorer: Karnm the Great Creator and Geological Appraiser banned
- Pauper: Monastery Swiftspear banned
The next MTG Banned and Restricted announcement window is about one week after the launch of MH3. We’ll keep you posted with any new information from WotC.
