It’s no secret that Standard is in dire need of bans. MTG players have been calling for this since the rise of Vivi Cauldron three months ago. Even Wizards of the Coast has admitted that Vivi Ornitier is in their crosshairs for the next ban announcement. Despite this, there’s a surprisingly large number of questions about what will actually be banned.
As much as getting rid of Vivi seems like the safest option, banning a recently released Universes Beyond card isn’t a great look. Maybe Square Enix will love having a notoriously banned card, but we kind of doubt that. Due to this, Agatha’s Soul Cauldron could easily get the axe instead, or we could get the classic no changes, depending on the meta.
For better or worse, there are tons of ways the upcoming November bans could go, but one solution has already been thrown out. After being pitched to MTG’s Head Designer, Mark Rosewater, recently, it seems “choice bans” aren’t the answer. Despite this, this unique ban idea could actually be the perfect solution.
A Choice Choice Ban
“Su92: Let’s say two cards together are unhealthy for the game and you want to ban that, but both cards individually enable healthy fun decks. Do you think Magic could adopt a “choice ban” system where you can play either card but not both in the same deck?”
Mark Rosewater: I don’t believe it’s worth the complexity of the message and monitoring.”
Via: Blogatog
As Su92 pitches, a choice ban seems like the perfect solution to the Vivi Cauldron problem in Standard. Once implemented, this deck would be outright unplayable, but the individual pieces wouldn’t be outlawed. Considering that both Vivi Ornitier and Agatha’s Soul Caldron are interesting cards, this seems like a great idea.
While Vivi has kind of always been a problem in Standard, he’s never had a chance to shine on his own. Sure, the fact that he’s been part of two ban-worthy decks isn’t a great look, but maybe the third time’s the charm. Presumably, Wizards let this card through Play Design balance testing for a reason, and it’s a shame we haven’t seen that.
Agatha’s Soul Cauldron, meanwhile, has long been an interesting but far from broken MTG card. Used primarily in Golgari Roots decks, this card isn’t a problem outside of its current combo with Vivi. Much like Vivi, in fact, this card’s unique abilities should be very exciting for brewers in a more open metagame.
With the interesting elements of these cards in mind, it’s a shame we have to lose either one of them this November. In theory, choice bans could solve this problem, even if they come with added complexity. Beyond just dealing with Vivi Cauldron, this unique solution could deal with all combo decks going forward.
Looking back to the June 30th bans, a choice ban system could have saved Abuelo’s Awakening. On its own, this card was definitely strong, but when paired with Omniscience, it was too much. Once again, a “choice ban” could have allowed both these cards to be playable without wrecking the metagame.
Fun but Flawed
While a “choice ban” system does allow for increased creativity and less restrictive bans, it’s definitely not perfect. As Rosewater notes in their response, this ban system requires a considerable increase in complexity. This would be especially punishing for new players, who don’t need extra barriers to entry for a format like Standard.
Beyond just being an extra hurdle for new players, policing a “choice ban” system is much more difficult than regular bans. If it gets banned outright, seeing Vivi Ornitier across the table will instantly let you know your opponent’s deck is illegal. Should a choice ban be used, however, your opponent’s deck would have to be searched after the match.
In theory, registering deck lists would solve this problem and entirely mitigate this issue at competitive events. Similarly, digital formats like Magic Online and MTG Arena can police this through code. While these might seem like sensible solutions, the extra legwork required is another major hurdle in playing Magic.
On top of this, Rosewater rightfully notes that communicating conditional choice bans would be troublesome. Having cards like Vivi Ornitier be technically banned, but only sometimes, certainly doesn’t make things simple. Even if this makes sense in an article, this problem could easily get out of hand if multiple-choice bans come into effect.
Despite this, established MTG players have shown that they’re able to handle complexity fairly well. Missing set symbols from bonus sheet cards haven’t caused pandemonium, and banned cards aren’t being accidentally played everywhere. Even with that in mind, however, it’s sensible that Wizards is hesitant when it comes to increasing complexity.
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