Hold onto your mana rocks, Commander players—there's been a seismic shift in Magic: The Gathering's most popular format. On September 23, 2024, the Commander Rules Committee dropped a banhammer that sent shockwaves through the Multiverse, outlawing Dockside Extortionist and Mana Crypt alongside Jeweled Lotus and Nadu, Winged Wisdom. Six months later, as of March 11, 2025, the dust still hasn't fully settled. Let's unpack why these powerhouse cards got the boot and what it means for the frontier of Commander.
The Ban Announcement: A Controversial Call
The banning of Dockside Extortionist and Mana Crypt wasn't just a quiet rule tweak—it was a full-blown showdown. These cards, long-time staples in high-powered Commander decks, were axed to slow down the format's accelerating pace, but the decision sparked a firestorm of debate, backlash, and even threats against the Rules Committee. By October 2024, Wizards of the Coast stepped in to take over Commander's management, signaling a new era for the format.
Dockside Extortionist: The Goblin That Stole Too Much
Dockside Extortionist, a two-mana Goblin from Commander 2019, turned treasure into terror. This little pirate could generate absurd amounts of mana by cashing in on opponents' artifacts and enchantments—especially in multiplayer games where the board fills up fast.
Why It's Gone: The Rules Committee cited its ability to create explosive, game-ending turns too easily. Flicker it, copy it, or recur it, and you'd drown in Treasure tokens. It warped games around its presence, making it a must-kill threat—or a must-have in every red deck. The ban aimed to curb this runaway greed, though some argue it was overdue given years of discussion.
Mana Crypt: The Zero-Cost King
Mana Crypt, a zero-mana artifact dating back to the game's early days, offered two colorless mana per turn at the low, low cost of a coin flip's worth of life. For years, it sat alongside Sol Ring as a cornerstone of fast starts in Commander.
Why It's Gone: Its ban caught many by surprise—why now, after decades of legality? The Committee argued it turbocharged early games too reliably, especially paired with other fast mana like Sol Ring. A turn-one Mana Crypt could mean unbeatable leads, skewing casual and competitive tables alike. Critics, though, say it's no worse than Sol Ring, which dodged the banlist yet again.
The Aftermath: Prices, Protests, and Possibilities
The bans didn't just change decklists—they rocked the market and the community. Here's where things stand as of March 11, 2025:
Market Madness
Post-ban, Dockside Extortionist and Mana Crypt prices cratered—Dockside fell from $85 to $20, and Mana Crypt from $165 to $51 on Cardmarket. But hope isn't lost for speculators. By early October 2024, prices started creeping up—Dockside to $30 and Mana Crypt to $92—fueled by rumors of Wizards potentially reversing the bans. Recent February 2025 chatter about "Commander Brackets" and unbannings sent Dockside spiking 400%, hitting $50 on TCGPlayer at times.
Community Chaos
The bans split the player base. Some hailed the move as a return to Commander's slower, casual roots—less turn-two blowouts, more room for creativity. Others raged over lost investments and the suddenness of the decision, with Mana Crypt's long tenure making its ban feel like a betrayal. The backlash was so fierce it pushed the Rules Committee to hand the reins to Wizards, who've hinted at reevaluating the banlist as they settle into their new role.
What's Next for Commander?
With Wizards at the helm, the future's a wild card. Will Dockside Extortionist and Mana Crypt ride back into the format? February 2025's "Commander Brackets" announcement—a beta system for tiered play—has fans speculating about unbannings to balance power levels. For now, players are adapting, digging into budget replacements like Dark Ritual or Brass's Bounty for mana ramps. One thing's clear: Commander's frontier just got a lot wilder.
