News

Wizards of the Coast has pulled its next Banned and Restricted announcement forward to November 10, a clear sign that Standard is headed for changes. After weeks of metagame data and community feedback pointing to one strategy towering over everything else, the company has hinted that at least one card is likely to be removed. Players and collectors are already planning for the shift.

In a healthy metagame, the top decks check and balance each other. Lately Standard has felt more like rock against scissors on repeat. The list at the center of the storm is Izzet Cauldron, a red and blue engine that strings together Vivi Ornitier with Agatha’s Soul Cauldron, creates bursts of mana well ahead of schedule, and buries the opponent under a flood of spells. Tournament results show the deck posting outsized play rates and top finishes, and testing groups have echoed how difficult it is to meaningfully interact once the engine starts.

Wizards has signaled that Vivi Ornitier is the primary concern. The card breaks several of the game’s usual guardrails by generating mana without tapping, growing itself with counters, and converting pressure directly into damage. That combination turns one card into an accelerator, a threat, and a closer. Agatha’s Soul Cauldron has been part of the conversation as well, yet Wizards has implied the real issue starts with Vivi. If the goal is to restore a diverse format quickly, removing the keystone makes the most sense.

If Vivi exits, the field opens up fast. Dimir Midrange has been waiting just under the surface. It packs efficient creatures, hand disruption, and removal that scales into the late game. In early post-ban testing pods, its share ticks up immediately because it can attack multiple angles without folding to a single hate card. To keep Dimir honest, aggressive strategies should surge. Mono Red Aggro was already posting strong numbers into Izzet Cauldron, and a smaller share of instant-speed combo means burn, haste, and clean curves gain ground. Mono White Tokens also lines up well, since going wide strains single target removal and forces control decks to have sweepers on time.

Collectors will feel the ripple. Vivi Ornitier is likely to dip on a ban, but the better play is to anticipate what rises. Dimir centerpieces like Kaito, Bane of Nightmares can catch a wave if the deck becomes tier one. Staples that pair naturally with aggro shells tend to rebound when the format sheds a combo predator. Historically, cards suppressed by a dominant archetype gain both play and price once that ceiling lifts. Savvy buyers scan sideboards, not just headline mythics, because role players that unlock matchups often move first.

Wizards accelerating the timeline signals a commitment to a healthier Standard that allows aggro, midrange, and control to coexist. A single change can reset incentives across dozens of card choices. For players that means a new gauntlet to learn. For collectors it is time to flip through binders and identify the pieces most likely to define the first few weeks after November 10.