Updated
Updated · ICv2 · Aug 10
Wizards of the Coast Bans 4 MTG Cards as Izzet Decks Top 40% of Standard
Updated
Updated · ICv2 · Aug 10

Wizards of the Coast Bans 4 MTG Cards as Izzet Decks Top 40% of Standard

3 articles · Updated · ICv2 · Aug 10

Summary

  • August 10’s update bans Badgermole Cub, Gran Gran and Stormchaser’s Talent in Standard, bans The Fantasticar in Legacy, and restricts it in Vintage.
  • Wizards acted after those cards warped play: Gran Gran powered Lessons decks above 15% of the metagame, Stormchaser’s Talent fueled Izzet Prowess above 15%, and Izzet decks overall exceeded 40% of Standard.
  • Badgermole Cub was singled out for accelerating creature strategies too quickly, while the report says the three Standard bans came late enough to damage the format over the past six months.
  • The Fantasticar had drawn criticism since its June 2026 preview because free spells and zero-cost artifacts made it especially dangerous in Legacy and Vintage, prompting a short trial before Wizards moved.

Insights

Why did Wizards nuke three Standard cards instead of one, and which sleeper deck will dominate next?
Will banning The Fantasticar truly fix Vintage, or is the format's fast mana the real unbroken culprit?