Introduction to Magic’s New Experiment

The new experiment, which affects the card game’s Pauper format, follows a series of changes to how Magic approaches powerful cards in other formats.

A New Approach to Powerful Cards

Over the years, many Magic cards have become invalid for use or been banned from official play. However, Wizards of the Coast is now trying a new approach in the Pauper format by unbanning cards for the first time in its history. Today, Wizards of the Coast announced two "trial unbans" for the Pauper format, Magic’s common-cards-only competitive format. The cards, High Tide and Prophetic Wisdom, will be legal until the next banning and restriction announcement, during which time developers will examine and take feedback to determine whether the cards should be re-banned or remain legal.

The Trial Period

The trials will allow High Tide and Prophetic Wisdom to become legal, and developers will assess the impact of these cards on the game. The feedback collected during this period will help determine the future of these cards in the Pauper format. It’s worth noting that future potential unbans may not face a similar trial period.

A New Approach for Pauper

According to Pauper Format Panel member and Magic principal game designer Gavin Verhey, "No other format has really tried this, and we think Pauper is a great place to experiment. You should not expect to see this in any other formats, and it’s something the PFP is specifically interested in and thinks Pauper can handle given the accessibility of building decks and the predominance of online play."

Background and Context

Although Wizards has not tried unbanning cards from any of its Magic formats before, the idea has been discussed for years. The move comes after significant changes to another popular format, Commander, where Wizards dissolved the community-led Rules Committee and introduced a new five-tier power system, Brackets, to encourage players to discuss deck competitiveness. The Game Changers list was also introduced, which allows powerful cards to be legal in the format but defines where they sit in the top three tiers of the Bracket system.

The Future of Magic

Verhey wrote, "[Game Changers] creates a nice half-step between the banned list and showing up everywhere. It also really helps ensure that you know what cards we have our eyes on so cards won’t feel like they’re banned out of nowhere in the future." This new approach may pave the way for future changes to the game, allowing for more flexibility and experimentation in the Pauper format.

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