Sad to see Entomb banned. It’s been a staple of the format for decades, but I’m not sure what else they could do. Was really hoping for a One Ring and Orcish Bowmasters ban so I don’t have to shell out $200 per playset of cards not on the reserve list, so I guess I’m in the reprint waiting room. It would be easier to get ahold of Revised duals and play other decks. Like I could trade $400 for getting both cards or just get a Tropical Island.

The Nadu ban was obvious. Power levels aside, it has the same problem as Sensei’s Divining Top of slowing games down and causing tournaments logistical issues. What a fuckup of a card.

What I’m really surprised on is no changes to Timeless. I’ve been enjoying playing decks with 4x Necropotence, 4x Memory Jar, or 4x Strip Mine, but to me it seems these cards should have been restricted from the get-go. I guess the data doesn’t support that, however.

Strip Mine is likely filling in where Wasteland would be similar to how it functions in '93/'94 format where there’s arguments for and against its restriction. But Jar and Necro? These are self-contained draw engines that will only grow stronger as more cards are added to Arena. All it takes is something like Hymn to Tourach or Snuff Out to really push Necropotence over the edge, for example, and there’s already turn 1 wins available for both.