In case you have been living under a rock, the Commander Rules Committee shocked MTG players today by banning Jeweled Lotus and Mana Crypt, as well as Dockside Extortionist in Commander.
This ban has caused an intense and severe reaction from the MTG community, with many players feeling upset at the abrupt news of the banning.
This is just one instance we are seeing of players devastated at the loss of their collection.
There are massive financial implications for players who spent time and money saving or trading for highly sought-after Commander cards.
Today’s ban, whether good or bad for the format, has had serious impacts on players’ wallets. It comes just a year after MTG marketed Jeweled Lotus as the premier chase rare of Commander Masters.
Not only that, Mana Crypt was a chase showcase rare of Ixalan only a year ago, with multiple versions and treatments that were highly collectible. Today, tens of thousands of MTG players and local game stores (LGS) woke up to find their chase rare cards have lost 50-75% of their value.
There was no warning that this banning was imminent. Players were buying Jeweled Lotus at full price only a week ago, without the chance to ever play them. Now, the card is virtually unplayable.
MTG players deserve more communication prior to bans of this level of financial impact. These bans should not come as a surprise. My recommendation to the Commander Rules Committee is as follows:
1 – Given that the Rules Committee has stated that these bans are not snap decisions, and are given ample time for consideration, players should be informed ahead of time when a card is subject to ban discussion. This would give players a chance to rethink their purchases of cards that could potentially be banned soon.
- This also notifies all players at the same time that a card is under ban consideration. The period between when a card is up for “ban discussion” and then “banned” shouldn’t be where the MTG community is in the dark, and potentially spending money on items like Commander Masters Collector boxes or Mana Crypts that could be banned within a week.
2 – During the above-mentioned period, players should have time to submit input on whether they support or oppose a potential card ban. The decision-making process shouldn’t be limited to a handful of select people. The MTG Commander community is wide and diverse, and more people should be given the chance to provide input. This is especially important considering the time and money players invest in cards that may get banned.
3 – We need a restated set of guidelines, or expectations, around what else could be banned. Are tutors, like Demonic Tutor or Vampiric Tutor, safe from bans? Are fast mana lands like Gaea’s Cradle or Ancient Tomb safe from bans? Why should a player today invest in an expensive, powerful card if it could be banned without warning?
Today’s decision to ban premier chase cards may have been discussed for years and was carefully thought out. However, from the perspective of players who are buying and playing with these cards, it appears rash and inconsiderate.
Could Gaea’s Cradle be banned tomorrow? Who knows? At least a more careful and transparent process can bring greater confidence to players. The reaction from the MTG community today clearly indicates that something more is needed.
Sincerely, A Fellow Commander Player
