BalanceBalance | Art by Randy Gallegos

An important factor in every Magic format is BalanceBalance. The larger the format, the harder it is to find a good balance. The banned list often serves as the primary way formats are balanced. Putting cards on and taking cards off both have their own levels of effectiveness to "fix" a format. With the latest ban list update for Commander, we saw BiorhythmBiorhythm and Lutri, the SpellchaserLutri, the Spellchaser, get taken off the list.

The next logical question is: was that enough? Currently, there are 83 cards banned in Commander. Discounting cards that use the old Ante rules and cards with the Conspiracy type, the list gets cut down to 48. I took a close look at the list and asked myself "What else should be unbanned in Commander?"

If Money Were No Object

A number of the cards on the banned list are there, in no small part, because they are currently expensive. Cards such as Black LotusBlack Lotus and Time WalkTime Walk would be out of most players' price range if legal. Others are on there due to having a dexterity aspect to them: Falling StarFalling Star and Chaos OrbChaos Orb. One big issue with the cards on this list is that they're also on the Reserved List and not eligible for a reprint.

All of these factors aside, what if money were of no concern? For a moment, pretend that all cards cost a single dollar. In the world I have created, I believe that ShahrazadShahrazad could be set free.

While this card is extremely powerful, the main downside is that it would significantly lengthen the game. Playing a sub game in 60-card formats isn't the quickest, but in Commander, you could be looking at additional hours added to a game where the result is one or more players losing half their life. If the goal is to cut life totals in half, there exists a sufficient number of cards to do this at a much quicker clip.

In the defense of Shahrazad, the card is objectively hilarious, and if you've ever seen one in action, format permitting, then you know just how crazy it can make a game. Sadly this card is prohibitively expensive, but I can dream of a day when I'm trapped in a sub game after sub game by someone getting this card back and casting it over and over.

Good On Turn One

Again, imagine a world where the card price is removed from the equation. The other card that's restrictively expensive to the average player, but probably fine for the Commander format, is Library of AlexandriaLibrary of Alexandria.

Unlike Shahrazad, the Library is a legit powerhouse of a card: It comes in untapped, can give you mana when you need it, and most importantly, can draw a card. Well, it can sometimes draw a card. By that, I mean it can draw a card if a very specific condition is met: having exactly seven cards in hand.

When it comes to Library of AlexandriaLibrary of Alexandria, the Commander format only gives an extra card draw on the first turn of the game. So, unless you can always get the Library in your opening hand every game, you won't be activating this card as much as you think. When you have it, your game will be smooth as butter, and when you draw it on the tenth turn of the game, you can at least take solace in the fact that it comes into play untapped.

The Hot Take

KarakasKarakas. Yes, I'm serious. I think this card is ok to unban.

You don't have to believe me right away, but before you pass judgment, think for a moment. Take out the bad beats of Vintage Cube where your opponent is bouncing your Lurrus of the Dream-DenLurrus of the Dream-Den every turn. Don't think about them reusing a Phlage, Titan of Fire's FuryPhlage, Titan of Fire's Fury every turn with the sacrifice trigger on the stack. Instead, think about you resetting your Atraxa, Grand UnifierAtraxa, Grand Unifier or Plagon, Lord of the BeachPlagon, Lord of the Beach.

What about protecting your TiamatTiamat or Aragorn and Arwen, WedAragorn and Arwen, Wed? White might not be as bad as it used to be in the format, but every deck should be able to deal with one pesky land. Unban Krakas and add it to the Game Changers list, where it can hang around the likes of Gaea's CradleGaea's Cradle and Mishra's WorkshopMishra's Workshop. Karakas would be the Shivan GorgeShivan Gorge of the lands on that list.

The Real Answer

The more I looked over the banned list, the more one card kept catching my eye. The card is extremely strong and is no doubt groan-inducing when it hits the table. However, it isn't on the Reserved List and currently isn't prohibitively expensive. That card is Prophet of KruphixProphet of Kruphix.

Before you start raging in the comments or calling for my decks to be thrown off a cruise ship into the ocean, let me show my work.

First off, Prophet is a 2/3 with no inherent protection. It isn't indestructible, there's no ward or hexproof, and it doesn't have a body that stands up to combat or damage-based removal. And there are cards available now that can mimic Prophet's effects.

AwakeningAwakening has the same effect as the first part of Prophet of Kruphix for one less mana and in a single color . DrumbellowerDrumbellower might only do creatures, and Murkfiend LiegeMurkfiend Liege is creatures of a specific color, but the point is that options exist.

In fact, the second line of text on Prophet of Kruphix is worse than some cards that see common play today.

These are just the first three cards I thought of that can let you cast anything you want at instant speed. If you get lucky enough, you can even live the dream of a turn-zero Leyline of AnticipationLeyline of Anticipation. The key thing is that Prophet is the only card that has both of these effects on one card.

Does the Simic () color combination need this card? No, they have enough toys, and the color combination is Commander with training wheels.

Should it be on the banned list? As the days go on, I think it has served its time.

Wrap Up

There are more cards I want to see added to the banned list than removed. Most of the cards on here abuse the Commander format in ways that are just not cool—providing too much acceleration too early with cards such as the Moxen, asking for the game to become a king-making scenario with Trade SecretsTrade Secrets and just being far too oppressive to be worth having around, like Limited ResourcesLimited Resources.

Some cards just should not be seen when you start at 40 life.

I'm sure you, dear reader, have many opinions on the banned list. Believe it or not, I want to know what those opinions are. How much do you disagree with me? How little do you agree with me? What would you take off the banned list? Let me know in the comments here (be polite) or over on Bluesky @nicnax96.