Effective from April 15, 2009
Banned:
- No changes
Unbanned:
- Dust Bowl
- Mind Twist
Mox Sapphire(legal from April 15, 2009 to July 15, 2009 as an April Fool’s joke)- Timetwister
Watchlist:
- Ancestral Recall removed
- Back to Basics removed
- Hermit Druid removed
- Wheel of Fortune removed
Reasoning:
New Approach: Season of the Mox
The council has introduced a new policy to temporarily unban specific cards from the banned list for a three-month period, lasting until the next banning season. The first card selected for this initiative is Mox Sapphire, chosen to give control players a small boost in the current aggro-dominated format. Starting from July 15, 2009, the “Season of the Black Mox” will follow.
Library of Alexandria
The decision to keep Library of Alexandria in the format was based on several considerations.
First, the card is thematically iconic. As part of the Arabian Nights set, it is one of the most beloved early expansion cards, and many players see Highlander as a format where they can still use classic, nostalgic cards that have rotated out of other formats. While this alone is not sufficient to justify its inclusion, it reflects the community’s desire for the card to remain playable.
Second, while Library of Alexandria is undeniably powerful, it is not so broken that it dictates the format. It is not an automatic inclusion in all decks. Beatdown decks, for example, prioritize fast threats and cannot afford to delay their curve by a turn. Similarly, combo decks prioritize specific combo pieces, not random card draw. Even in control decks, the card does not single-handedly win the game. While it provides card advantage, opponents can still adjust their strategy accordingly.
Although the card can be strong in control mirrors, the statistical likelihood of one player drawing Library of Alexandria on their opening hand is small (about 14% with a 7-card hand). Even when the Library is in play, experienced opponents can counteract its effectiveness by avoiding early plays, forcing the control player to discard, and eventually forcing them to play multiple cards in one turn, making the Library inactive.
The council’s conclusion is that Library of Alexandria represents a small improvement for control decks, which is acceptable in the current aggro-dominated metagame. Wizards has been printing stronger creatures in recent years while only moderately improving control tools, so giving control a slight boost was deemed appropriate.
Dust Bowl
Dust Bowl was originally banned during a time when control decks had to run many colors, and mana/color-screw was much more common due to the absence of the Spoils Mulligan. In that era, a turn 2 or 3 Dust Bowl lock (with acceleration) could decide games by locking opponents at 2 lands while they were unable to develop their board.
Today, the situation is different. With the Spoils Mulligan, starting hands are more stable, and players can actively seek the right number of lands. Additionally, current decks run a larger number of cheap spells (1-3 mana), so being locked on 3 resources is no longer game-ending. Other card combinations like Life from the Loam + Wasteland or Smokestack + Crucible of Worlds provide a similar effect to Dust Bowl but are already permitted in the format. Therefore, Dust Bowl is being unbanned.
Timetwister
Timetwister has long been included as part of the Power 9, but this classification is outdated. While most of the Power 9 are still considered broken, Timetwister has seen significantly less play over the years.
Highlander already allows similar cards like Time Spiral and Diminishing Returns, neither of which have proven to be too strong. Without Tolarian Academy, which has long been banned, Timetwister is also less powerful in Stax-type decks. Additionally, since many decks in the current metagame rely on graveyard recursion, a card like Timetwister can act as graveyard disruption, shuffling cards like Life from the Loam and Reanimation targets back into their libraries.
As a card that fits the flavor of classic Magic, offers interaction with the graveyard, and adds variety to deckbuilding, Timetwister is being unbanned.
Mind Twist
Mind Twist has been banned for many years, but Wizards of the Coast’s release of Mind Shatter suggests that modern card design does not view it as problematic. Even in Highlander, Mind Shatter has not been a major factor, despite the potential for early mana acceleration to fuel it. This is because early acceleration is often better spent establishing board control rather than forcing the opponent to discard.
The most oppressive use of Mind Twist comes when it is cast for 5 or more mana, but at that point in the game, opponents with counterspells can respond with cards like Misdirection.
The council acknowledges that unbanning Dust Bowl, Timetwister, and Mind Twist could create a new Stax archetype. However, since very few players have actively tested Mind Twist while it was on the watchlist, the council has decided to subject it to a “real-life test” to determine if the format can handle it. For this reason, Mind Twist has been re-added to the watchlist.
Watchlist Changes
- Ancestral Recall and Wheel of Fortune have proven to be too powerful. Ancestral Recall is easy to abuse with recursion cards like Regrowth and Eternal Witness. The council acknowledges that placing Ancestral Recall on the watchlist during the previous banning season was a mistake, and they apologize for any confusion it caused.
- Wheel of Fortune is simply too strong in red decks, especially with the abundance of efficient 1- and 2-drops. Red decks can play out their hand early, then force control decks to discard and redraw, often leaving control with a worse hand.
- Hermit Druid has shown no signs of being problematic, so it is being removed from the watchlist.
- Back to Basics remains on the watchlist. While one council member considers it the most oppressive card in the format, the majority believe it has a positive impact on format balance.
Closing Remarks
The council hopes players enjoy the new possibilities these changes bring. Players are encouraged to share their thoughts in the forum or comments section.
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