Commander Banlist Update: Mana Crypt, Dockside Extortionist, and More Banned

Below are the Commander Ban list from September 2024!

September 2024 Banned Cards

Four significant cards are being removed from the Commander format as of this update:

• Dockside Extortionist
• Jeweled Lotus
• Mana Crypt
• Nadu, Winged Wisdom

These bans will take effect on Magic: The Gathering Online (MTGO) at noon Pacific Time.

Mana Crypt

A free mana source like Mana Crypt offers explosive starts that can snowball too quickly into overwhelming advantages. While the life-loss drawback becomes relevant in longer games, it’s often irrelevant when a player uses Mana Crypt to accelerate their board state and win by turn six or eight. This ban aims to slow down early-game ramp, creating a more balanced battlefield.

Jeweled Lotus

Jeweled Lotus allows a Commander deck to amass five mana on turn two, setting the stage for powerful Commanders to enter the game far earlier than intended. In combination with defensive abilities like Ward, it becomes nearly impossible to interact with these Commanders before they dominate the game. While it offers a one-shot mana boost, its potential to lead to unbalanced games has warranted its removal from the format.

Dockside Extortionist

Though Dockside Extortionist doesn’t always go off immediately, it can start generating substantial treasure tokens from turn two, often accelerating into an unstoppable advantage. The card has long been a topic of discussion in the community, and while it’s scaled well with various power levels, its frequent role in creating snowballing games has made it a prime candidate for banning.

Nadu, Winged Wisdom

A card with a problematic play pattern, Nadu, Winged Wisdom can monopolize time in Commander games by creating non-deterministic sequences that drag the game out, sometimes with no guaranteed win. Its interactions with casual staples like Lightning Greaves make it problematic even in non-combo decks, leading to its ban.

What About Sol Ring?

Sol Ring remains untouched despite being one of the most explosive early-game mana generators. While it fits the criteria for banning, Sol Ring’s identity is deeply tied to the Commander format, and banning it would fundamentally change the format’s essence. The aim of these updates isn’t to eliminate all explosive starts but to reduce the frequency of games dominated by early mana advantage. Sol Ring remains a hallmark of Commander, and the Committee has no current plans to ban it.

Silver Border Project and Future Initiatives

In the last update, the Commander Rules Committee discussed new initiatives, including a project focused on improving communication around silver-bordered cards. While this project is progressing well, it’s not quite ready for release. Expect more updates soon.

Additionally, the Committee is working with Wizards of the Coast on new tools for pregame discussions, helping players connect with like-minded opponents. While there’s no timeline for release, this initiative could further enhance the social aspects of Commander games.

Upcoming Event: Sheldon Menery Charity Stream

Before diving deeper into these updates, we’d like to highlight an important event in the Magic: The Gathering community. On September 28th and 29th, the Rules Committee and the Community of Cardboard will host the second annual Sheldon Menery Charity Stream. After Sheldon Menery’s passing in 2023, the community came together and raised over $50,000 for cancer research in his honor.

This year’s stream will begin at 8 AM (Eastern) and run until midnight each day. The event will feature games, memories, and special prizes for viewers. Items from Sheldon’s personal collection are among the many incredible donations available to help raise money for cancer research. We invite you to join the stream at twitch.tv/commanderrc to support this cause while enjoying a weekend of exciting Commander gameplay.

What’s Next?

After these bans, the Commander Rules Committee anticipates quieter updates in the near future. The next official update is expected on November 18th, after the Foundations Prerelease. Until then, stay tuned for the charity stream and keep on brewing your Commander decks!