Out of nowhere, today’s Weekly MTG announcement dropped a lot of bombs on the Commander format. Not only are 10 Game Changers disappearing from the list, but two more cards have been announced as contenders for serious ban consideration. It was already revealed earlier this year that no Commander banlist changes would be made for the rest of 2025, but it’s clear that some banlist changes are being considered for next year.
Rhystic Study
Rhystic Study is such a massive part of Commander that it has become an integral part of the format’s overall identity. Paying the 1 has become synonymous with playing Commander itself, and is one of the easiest questions to ask that could cause a friend to flip a table of cards.
Not only is Rhystic Study incredibly annoying, but it’s also ridiculously powerful. The card is quite weak in two-player formats, but the potential ceiling on this card’s draw capabilities in a four-player game can create insurmountable amounts of advantage.
From a gameplay and power level perspective, banning Rhystic Study honestly makes a lot of sense. The card is powerful enough that it gives blue a notable edge over other colors, even at the cEDH level, and rarely creates fun and interesting play patterns in casual games. The card can act as a band-aid for archetypes that struggle to draw cards, but blue as a color already offers numerous options for this purpose.
That said, banning Rhystic Study in Commander would ruin the financial value of the card, something that has caused player outrage from past Commander bannings. Since Commander is the only home for this card, a multiplayer ban would essentially render the card unplayable. At the time of writing, the cheapest copies of Rhystic Study retail for a little under $50, meaning Commander players with multiple Rhystic Studies in their collection could easily lose hundreds of dollars in value. This card has been cited as a design mistake by many MTG designers on a routine basis, however, so its banning may be inevitable.
Thassa’s Oracle
Thassa’s Oracle has been a card on the Commander watchlist for years. Part of all the most broken combos in Commander, it’s easy to win as early as turn one by combining Thassa’s Oracle with Diabolic Intent and some fast mana. Simply name a card that isn’t in your library in response to Oracle’s entry trigger, and you’ll win the game as soon as the trigger resolves.
Unlike its predecessor, Laboratory Maniac, Thassa’s Oracle is also much harder to stop. Players have an opportunity to remove the Maniac before a card is drawn to end the game, but Thassa’s Oracle is a triggered ability, allowing Commander players to build a ton of safety nets around the card to offset the potential downsides of running it.
Because of how powerful Thassa’s Oracle is, this is another card that rarely creates interesting play patterns. Winning a game out of the blue with this card is not only expected but also exceptionally boring for many. The card is so powerful that, according to Verhey, even the cEDH community is split on whether the card could be banned or not. Getting rid of the card also won’t stop any decks from outright functioning since other empty deck win options exist.
Thankfully, unlike Rhystic Study, Thassa’s Oracle should still see play outside of Commander in a variety of formats. Not only should this keep fans of the card happy, but it should keep the card’s price somewhat intact too. Notably, however, Thassa’s Oracle isn’t anywhere near as expensive right now, as copies cost around $15 on average.
Will These Bans Happen?
Whether or not Rhystic Study or Thassa’s Oracle will leave Commander is a complete mystery at the moment. The fate of these cards solely focuses on community feedback, provided via the official MTG Discord. That said, there are strong reasons for and against banning these cards in Commander.
The biggest defense against bannings from a negative play pattern perspective is the existence of Rule Zero. These discussions have now become a cornerstone in Commander etiquette, helping players curate the type of experience that they’re after in any given game. If players don’t want to play with these cards, they can simply request that the table not play them.
That leaves banning Commander cards from a power level perspective, and both these cards potentially fit that bill. Thassa’s Oracle, in particular, is so powerful that even the cEDH community is split on getting rid of the card. Looking at early commentary for the banning options, players seem much more enthusiastic about getting rid of Thassa’s Oracle than Rhystic Study.
Ultimately, we’ll just have to wait and see what Wizards of the Coast decides. Whatever happens, it seems we’ll be waiting until 2026 before changes are made, so we’ve got a while to wait yet.
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