Wizards of the Coast has announced its final Banned and Restricted list for 2025, featuring an extensive ban on over ten cards across various formats including Standard, Pioneer, Pauper, and Legacy. This decision aims to address the dominance of certain archetypes and enhance the overall gameplay experience for players.
In the Standard format, three key cards—Vivi Ornitier, Screaming Nemesis, and Proft’s Eidetic Memory—have been banned. The Izzet Cauldron combo-control deck, heavily reliant on Proft’s Eidetic Memory and Agatha’s Soul Cauldron with Vivi Ornitier as a pivotal card, has proven to be overwhelmingly powerful, prompting this action. The design team expressed concerns that Vivi Ornitier created a strategy with minimal counterplay, while Proft’s Eidetic Memory operated as a highly efficient card advantage tool with little interaction. The ban of Screaming Nemesis was also critical, as it effectively countered life-gain strategies and large blockers that would typically combat Mono-Red Aggro, another powerhouse deck in Standard.
Wizards also acknowledged a slower ban cadence this year which led to decreased player interest and confirmed that future bans would occur more frequently. Players can expect the next ban announcement on February 9, 2026.
For Pioneer, the ban of Heartfire Hero comes as a surprise, especially since this format has not recently seen a lot of competitive action. Despite its limited exposure, Mono-Red Aggro’s success, particularly in Best-of-One matches on MTG Arena, warranted this adjustment to maintain balance.
Modern remains unchanged following the Pro Tour Edge of Eternities and the initial phase of Regional Championships, with Wizards deeming it healthy and self-correcting. Popular decks like Tameshi Belcher and Amulet Titan continue to thrive, although the situation surrounding Amulet Titan’s new card interactions is being watched closely.
In Legacy, three significant cards—Entomb, Nadu, Winged Wisdom—have been banned. The long-standing card Entomb, known for enabling quick and consistent reanimation plays, was finally deemed too powerful to remain in the format. Additionally, Nadu, Winged Wisdom was banned to maintain gameplay integrity and balance. Wizards described these actions as both “aggressive but necessary” to ensure Legacy remains enjoyable for players.
Vintage boasts no changes, as it continues to exhibit diversity with eight distinct archetypes during the North American Eternal Weekend Top 8. Key elements like Lurrus of the Dream-Den and new additions like Tezzeret, Cruel Captain are keeping the format lively.
Lastly, in Pauper, the unban of High Tide has come to an end due to the negative play experiences associated with its lengthy combo turns.
As players look forward to the upcoming Avatar set, the card bans demonstrate Wizards’ commitment to refining all formats for a more engaging experience. The community is invited to share their thoughts on these changes as Magic: The Gathering continues to evolve.