In a surprising move, Wizards of the Coast recently announced a major shake-up to Commander with the banning of four powerful and widely used cards: Dockside Extortionist, Jeweled Lotus, Mana Crypt, and Nadu, Winged Wisdom. Each of these cards has been pivotal in shaping competitive Commander decks, and their absence will dramatically impact the format. Let’s break down why these cards were banned and what it means for Commander moving forward.

Since the bans were announced, the prices of Dockside Extortionist, Jeweled Lotus, Mana Crypt, and Nadu, Winged Wisdom have plummeted by over 50% as demand for these once-staple cards has sharply declined.

Dockside Extortionist

Dockside Extortionist has long been a staple in Commander, offering explosive mana generation from opposing artifacts and enchantments. The sheer power of this two-mana card made it a key enabler for infinite combos, creating a fast-paced environment that pressured games to end much earlier than intended. Wizards cited its ability to create disproportionate resource generation as a primary reason for its banning. Without Dockside, combo decks will be forced to seek alternative ways to generate massive amounts of mana.

Jeweled Lotus

Jeweled Lotus, often compared to the iconic Black Lotus, allowed for explosive early-game plays, especially in Commander, where casting your general as early as possible can be game-defining. Its banning aims to reduce the variance in early-game Commander experiences, giving other players a chance to build their board states before certain commanders hit the field. With Jeweled Lotus gone, the slower, more grindy games that many players enjoy may become more common.

Mana Crypt

Mana Crypt has long been a card that provides an overwhelming mana advantage at zero cost. Its drawback of dealing damage to its controller rarely outweighed its ability to fuel early-game dominance. By banning Mana Crypt, Wizards aims to slow down the pace of games and reduce the presence of hyper-aggressive strategies that lean heavily on mana rocks for acceleration. Players will now need to think more carefully about how they ramp up their mana bases.

Nadu, Winged Wisdom

Nadu, Winged Wisdom is a relatively newer card that rapidly gained popularity for its ability to draw cards and gain life at an unprecedented rate. This combination made it a must-have in blue decks, which often led to oppressive board states in the late game. The banning of Nadu helps balance blue’s card advantage, giving other colors more breathing room to keep up in terms of resource management.

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