Magic: The Gathering’s highly popular format, Commander, faced shocking bans from the rules committee yesterday, resulting in significant real-world impacts on card collections. Many of the most sought-after cards experienced steep losses in value almost overnight.
In a recent update from the Commander Rules Committee, it was disclosed that powerful cards including Mana Crypt, Dockside Extortionist, and Jeweled Lotus (alongside Nadu, Winged Wisdom) have all been banned from play. These cards have long been considered must-haves in the format due to their unmatched power, which also contributed to their high market prices.
According to CardMarket, an auction house focused on the European market, these bans have drastically affected card prices. Just yesterday, the price of Mana Crypt was approximately €153 at its lowest. Now, the one-day average price has dropped to €47.69. Similarly, Jeweled Lotus, once valued at €109, now reflects a one-day average of €21.59. Dockside Extortionist, previously available for €79.99, is now fetching as low as €15. These prices appear to be continuing their downward trend.
Clearly, collectors are facing a significant loss of value. Recently prized cards are plummeting in worth, adding frustration considering Wizards of the Coast recently highlighted Mana Crypt in Lost Caverns of Ixalan and Jeweled Lotus in Commander Masters as chase cards. It’s essential to understand that the Commander Rules Committee operates independently from Wizards of the Coast. For retail shops that have multiple copies of these cards, the overnight value loss is particularly impactful.
Rationale Behind the Bans
Nonetheless, it cannot be denied that these cards are exceptionally powerful within the Commander format. All of them provide ‘fast mana,’ offering players access to abundant resources early in the game with minimal drawbacks. For instance, deploying a five-cost commander on turn two using Jeweled Lotus gives a substantial competitive edge.
Jeweled Lotus cannot be played in any other format.
These cards have significantly influenced the format over the years, fostering disparities between players who can afford cards that exceed $100, or even $200. From a gameplay standpoint, it’s easy to comprehend the rationale behind the rules committee’s decision (which is elaborated in their official ruling post). However, this might provide little comfort to collectors who viewed these cards as manageable investments.
The Commander Rules Committee has faced criticism for taking cautious approaches in recent years and not doing enough to refresh the format. This decisive move seems to be an effort to challenge that perception, and judging by the mixed reactions, the decision is sure to be a topic of discussion for quite some time.
Leave a Reply