Right after the release of the new Arena Anthologies, we already get another ban. This ban is bizarre, as the contents were hidden in the patch notes for the game instead of getting its own announcement. This is not standard for any MTG bans since they are considered to be significant events. While the format that saw the ban wasn’t prevalent, this ban should have seen more publicity regardless. Either way, a new Historic Anthology card has been banned after only being available for a week on the client!
Chalice of the Void is Banned in Historic Brawl
The recently added
Chalice of the Void
Chalice of the Void
This artifact enters with X charge counters on it.
Whenever a player casts a spell with mana value equal to the number of charge counters on this artifact, counter that spell.
has already been banned in Historic Brawl! This card was added to MTG Arena only a week before its ban. While Wizards did not explain Chalice of the Void’s ban due to its untraditional position, there’s enough of a pattern from past Historic Brawl bans that we can at least make an educated guess.
Chalice of the Void is a prison card that sees a lot of Modern and Legacy play. Basically, Chalice of the Void can counter all spells with a mana value you’ve predetermined in the XX cost. If you pay two mana, for example, you counter all spells with a mana value of one.
Prison cards see a lot of bans in Historic Brawl. Being the MTG Arena version of Commander, developers are not fond of play patterns that prevent players from casting their cards.
Drannith Magistrate
Drannith Magistrate
Your opponents can't cast spells from anywhere other than their hands.
was a recent(ish) ban that directly prevents the opponent from casting their Commander since it exists in an outside zone. Chalice of the Void can fulfill the same role for Commanders with lower mana value by having the appropriate amount of counters. If, for example, you’re playing against
Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy
Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy
Whenever you tap a nonland permanent for mana, add one mana of any type that permanent produced.
{5}{G}{U}: Look at the top five cards of your library. You may put a non-Human creature card from among them onto the battlefield. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order.
, and obtain two counters on the Chalice, your opponent will never be able to cast Kinnan.
Brawl has no Prison
Most of the Brawl ban list has to do with prison pieces.
Pithing Needle
Pithing Needle
As this artifact enters, choose a card name.
Activated abilities of sources with the chosen name can't be activated unless they're mana abilities.
,
Sorcerous Spyglass
Sorcerous Spyglass
As this artifact enters, look at an opponent's hand, then choose any card name.
Activated abilities of sources with the chosen name can't be activated unless they're mana abilities.
,
Oko, Thief of Crowns
Oko, Thief of Crowns
+2: Create a Food token. (It's an artifact with "{2}, {T}, Sacrifice this token: You gain 3 life.")
+1: Target artifact or creature loses all abilities and becomes a green Elk creature with base power and toughness 3/3.
−5: Exchange control of target artifact or creature you control and target creature an opponent controls with power 3 or less.
, and
Runed Halo
Runed Halo
As this enchantment enters, choose a card name.
You have protection from the chosen card name. (You can't be targeted, dealt damage, or enchanted by anything with that name.)
are all examples of cards with prison-like aspects that make a Commander’s life difficult. Multiples of these cards can stop a Commander’s abilities from being activated, while Runed Halo and Oko can out a Commander completely.
This was an untraditional way for a ban to make its way to players. This is probably due to the ban being in a less competitive digital-only format. Regardless,
Chalice of the Void
Chalice of the Void
This artifact enters with X charge counters on it.
Whenever a player casts a spell with mana value equal to the number of charge counters on this artifact, counter that spell.
seeing a ban only a week after its inclusion is intriguing. Given the history of Historic Brawl as a format, this ban is, however, not in the least surprising.
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