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Commander Ban List Update Sends Shockwaves Through MTG Market
Table of Contents
- 1. Commander Ban List Update Sends Shockwaves Through MTG Market
- 2. Top Price Movers
- 3. Primeval Titan – ramp Monster
- 4. Golos,Tireless Pilgrim – 5‑color Flexibility
- 5. Dockside Extortionist – Red Mana Ritual
- 6. Sylvan Primordial – Land‑Destruction Powerhouse
- 7. mana Crypt – Early Game Accelerator
- 8. Biorhythm – Life‑Total Cutter
- 9. Jeweled Lotus – Potential Unban Candidate
- 10. Prophet of Kruphix – Untap Engine
- 11. Evergreen impact on the Commander Format
- 12. Reader Engagement
- 13. How has the unbanning of Golos, Prophet of Kruphix, and other cards impacted the Commander market and deck strategies?
- 14. Commander Ban List Shakeup: Prices Skyrocket As Golos, Prophet of Kruphix, and Others Go Unbanned
- 15. The Unbanned: A List of Returning Power
- 16. Market Reaction: Price Surges and Speculation
- 17. Impact on the Commander Metagame
Speculation surrounding today’s Commander ban list revision has ignited a frenzy among collectors and players,with several iconic cards seeing their market values soar dramatically.
Top Price Movers
| Card | Price Increase | Primary Driver |
|---|---|---|
| Prophet of Kruphix | +428 % | Potential unban debate |
| Sylvan primordial | +353 % | Powerful land‑destruction ETB |
| Golos, Tireless Pilgrim | +302 % | 5‑color mana engine |
| Biorhythm | +137 % | Life‑total reduction combo |
| Primeval Titan | +188 % | High‑impact ramp combos |
| Dockside Extortionist | +166 % | Mana‑generating ritual |
| Jeweled Lotus | +56 % | CFP unban speculation |
| Mana Crypt | +88 % | Continued demand for early acceleration |
Primeval Titan – ramp Monster
Primeval Titan remains banned for its powerful “enter‑the‑battlefield” ability that fuels massive land searches.
In Commander, it powers combos such as Dark Depths + Thespian’s Stage or Cabal Coffers + Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth, turning green decks into unstoppable engines.
Golos,Tireless Pilgrim – 5‑color Flexibility
Golos, Tireless Pilgrim was a dominant five‑color commander,delivering infinite mana while dropping a land for free.
Its ability to halve commander tax and re‑cast itself after a single land drop makes it virtually unremovable.
Dockside Extortionist – Red Mana Ritual
Dockside Extortionist earned a reputation as a premier cEDH card, creating massive treasure surges and pairing easily with Devoted Druid for infinite mana.
the card’s ban, alongside Mana Crypt and Jeweled Lotus, sparked controversy that led to the dissolution of the Commander advisory Committee.
Sylvan Primordial – Land‑Destruction Powerhouse
Sylvan Primordial’s ETB effect can devastate opponents’ lands while granting its controller three extra mana.
even modest uses, such as removing a few mana rocks, can swing the game dramatically in green‑based strategies.
mana Crypt – Early Game Accelerator
Mana Crypt is widely regarded as one of the most broken cards, delivering free mana at the cost of a minor life penalty.
In Commander’s high‑life environment,the life loss is negligible compared with the advantage of playing spells like Rhystic Study on turn 1.
Biorhythm – Life‑Total Cutter
Biorhythm can reduce an opponent’s life from 40 to single digits, especially lethal when paired with board‑wipe effects.
Its power level is comparable to Sway of the Stars, a card the commander Future Play (CFP) recently unbanned.
Jeweled Lotus – Potential Unban Candidate
Jeweled Lotus was a cEDH favorite that the CFP identified as the most likely to return if any of the three banned cards where reconsidered.
The CFP’s comments were meant to address community curiosity rather than signal an imminent policy shift.
Prophet of Kruphix – Untap Engine
Prophet of Kruphix offers unparalleled untap capabilities,effectively quadrupling mana and enabling flash plays around board wipes.
Given its capacity to dominate games,many argue it should remain on the ban list despite market hype.
Evergreen impact on the Commander Format
The ongoing volatility in card prices underscores the delicate balance between power and playability in Commander.
Players and retailers alike must monitor future CFP discussions, as any unbanning decision could reshape deck construction trends for years.
Reader Engagement
Which banned card do you think would most improve Commander if unbanned?
How will the current price spikes affect your deck‑building strategy?
Share your thoughts in the comments and spread the word on social media.
How has the unbanning of Golos, Prophet of Kruphix, and other cards impacted the Commander market and deck strategies?
Commander Ban List Shakeup: Prices Skyrocket As Golos, Prophet of Kruphix, and Others Go Unbanned
the Magic: The Gathering Commander community is reeling from the seismic shift announced on February 7th, 2026. Wizards of the Coast’s revised ban list, removing several long-standing problematic cards – most notably Golos, Prophet of Kruphix – has sent shockwaves through the secondary market, with prices for these newly legal cards experiencing dramatic increases. This article breaks down the changes, analyzes the market impact, and explores what this means for Commander players.
The Unbanned: A List of Returning Power
After years of restrictions, the following cards have been officially removed from the Commander ban list:
* Golos, Prophet of Kruphix: Arguably the most impactful unban, golos’s ability to tutor for any nonland permanent and ramp together made him a staple in incredibly powerful, often oppressive, strategies.
* Thrasios, Triton Hero & Tymna the Weaver: This partner pair, frequently seen alongside Golos, offered unparalleled card advantage and mana fixing.Their removal from the ban list is intrinsically linked to golos’s return.
* Kindred Discovery: A powerful, repeatable card draw engine that fueled many combo decks.
* Smothering Tithe: A land-based tax effect that coudl quickly spiral out of control, generating massive mana advantages.
* Mana Crypt: While already legal in other formats, its inclusion in Commander was previously restricted due to its explosive potential.
* Rhystic Study: A popular and potent enchantment that draws cards while taxing opponents’ spells.
* Mystical Tutor: A highly efficient tutor for instants and sorceries, opening up powerful combo lines.
Market Reaction: Price Surges and Speculation
The immediate aftermath of the announcement saw a frenzy of buying activity. cardkingdom, TCGplayer, and other major online retailers experienced notable traffic spikes. Here’s a snapshot of the price increases as of February 9th, 2026:
* Golos, Prophet of Kruphix: Prices have jumped from an average of $8.00 to over $35.00, a 337.5% increase.
* Thrasios, Triton Hero: Increased from $5.00 to $20.00, a 300% increase.
* Tymna the Weaver: Rose from $6.00 to $18.00, a 200% increase.
* Smothering Tithe: Saw a jump from $3.00 to $12.00, a 300% increase.
* Rhystic Study: Increased from $4.00 to $15.00, a 275% increase.
These increases aren’t simply due to increased demand. Speculation is playing a significant role, with many players and investors anticipating further price recognition as players rebuild and optimize their decks.
Impact on the Commander Metagame
The unbanning of these cards is expected to dramatically alter the Commander metagame. Several key shifts are anticipated:
* Rise of “4-Colour goodstuff”: Golos and Thrasios/Tymna are cornerstones of powerful 4-color strategies. Expect to see a surge in decks built around these color combinations,focusing on efficient ramp,card advantage,and powerful finishers.
* Increased Combo Potential: Cards like Mystical Tutor and Kindred Discovery will enable more consistent and explosive combo decks.
* Power Creep Concerns: Many players have expressed concerns that the unbanning will exacerbate existing power creep issues in Commander, leading to less diverse and more competitive playgroups.
* Shift in Deckbuilding Priorities: Players will need to re-evaluate their deckbuilding strategies to account for the increased power level of the format. Expect to see
