Wizards of the Coast Is Stepping in After Magic’s Most Popular Format Is Rocked by Controversial Card Bans

It’s been a wild few days for Magic: The Gathering fans. Last week, the Commander Rules Committee announced that it was banning several major cards, throwing Magic’s most popular format into disarray. Now Wizards of the Coast is stepping in.

Acknowledging in an official statement that it’s been a “tumultuous” week for Commander fans, Wizards of the Coast said it plans to run the format in-house going forward after previously leaving it in the care of part-time volunteers. It’s a huge shakeup — one that figures to have far-reaching implications for the future of the game.

“This week has also demonstrated the truly monumental task that faced the Commander Rules Committee. The Commander RC is made up of five talented, caring individuals, all with other jobs and lives which they must balance with managing the most popular format in Magic,” Wizards of the Coast said. “It results in incredible amounts of work, time spent deliberating, and exposure to the public. Nobody deserves to feel unsafe for supporting the game they love. Unfortunately, the task of managing Commander has far outgrown the scope and safety of being attached to any five people.”

The decision was read in some corners as a rebuke of the rules committee in the wake of the ban decision, which has had a very mixed reception since it was first announced. But a statement by committee member Jim Lapage suggests that the committee instigated the change.

“What’s become clear to me is that fulfilling my commitment requires a level of global connectedness, proactive and reactive communication, research, and skill beyond what I am capable of providing. I don’t think it’s possible for a group of part-time volunteers to rise to this task,” Lapage wrote on X/Twitter.

Lapage said that he reached out to Wizards of the Coast last week and that the committee will be transitioning all management responsibilities, including its roadmap, contacts, and documentation.

“It’s extremely important to me that the format’s new leadership remains faithful to [format godfather Sheldon Menery’s] vision of a vibrant global community with a strong focus on the people who play it,” Lapage says.

https://t.co/8dko6fzn0t pic.twitter.com/YcgkP0SQoH

— Jim Lapage (@JimTSF) September 30, 2024

The rules committee also said on its official account, “As a result of the threats last week against RC members, it has become impossible for us to continue operating as an independent entity. Given that, we have asked WotC to assume responsibility for Commander and they will be making decisions and announcements going forward.”

As a result of the threats last week against RC members, it has become impossible for us to continue operating as an independent entity. Given that, we have asked WotC to assume responsibility for Commander and they will be making decisions and announcements going forward.

— Commander Rules Committee (@mtgcommander) September 30, 2024

Wizards of the Coast, for its part, says that the rules committee will “continue to be involved” and that there have been preliminary conversations about the path forward. They include a “more objective approach to deck power level” as well as “additional guidance and shared language for players to find games that match the type of game they’re trying to play.”

Wizards of the Coast went on to outline a potential vision for what this might look like, suggesting that there may be power brackets going forward to help better define play within the format.

One way or another, the changes are a major milestone in Commander history, which originally began as a community-driven format and has grown into arguably the biggest and most influential way to play Wizards of the Coast’s card game. It distinguishes itself from typical formats by letting players choose a creature as their “Commander,” with decks comprised of 100 unique cards. Instead of one-on-one, Commander is a free-for-all usually played with four players.

As Commander has grown, Wizards of the Coast has embraced the format, even introducing cards specifically tailored to its rules. However, until now, it has remained governed by the community. Last week, the rules committee banned four popular cards — Dockside Extortionist, Jeweled Lotus, Mana Crypt, and Nadu, Winged Wisdom. The ban, the first in three years, sparked massive backlash among fans. Now it appears they have changed the course of Commander — and Magic: The Gathering — history.

Kat Bailey is IGN’s News Director as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.