Magic: No Changes in Latest Banned and Restricted Announcement
Wizards of the Coast issued a Banned and Restricted update that left tabletop formats untouched. Only one change landed in Historic on MTG Arena. This marks the latest shift in Magic’s digital card pool.
Historic change
Food Chain was removed from Historic after a problematic interaction surfaced. The card entered Historic as a Special Guest from Magic: The Gathering | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Paired with Sigardian Evangel, the combo could create an endless series of 3/1 creatures by Turn 2. Games often finished by Turn 3 when the loop resolved. Arena developers said the play pattern had a very high Best-of-Three win rate. They also flagged the combo’s awkward digital execution. Those issues prompted the ban in Historic.
Tabletop formats unaffected
No bans or restrictions changed for tabletop Magic formats in this announcement. Play Design described Standard, Pioneer, Modern, and Legacy as generally healthy. The team emphasized ongoing evolution across those formats.
Standard and the metagame
Standard currently centers on swings caused by Badgermole Cub decks. A range of opposing archetypes continues to prey on that deck. That dynamic fuels continual rise-and-fall cycles.
Pioneer, Modern and Legacy
Pioneer and Modern both show steady innovation. New strategies and tech keep those formats fresh. Legacy has not reached a solved conclusion, according to Play Design.
Community briefing and schedule
Members of Play Design will discuss the update on Weekly MTG at 1 PM ET tomorrow. Filmogaz.com links readers to the original Wizards of the Coast announcement. The next scheduled Banned and Restricted update is set for May 18.
