Lurrus of the Dream-DenLurrus of the Dream-Den | Art by Steve Ellis

Many lessons can be learned playing Magic. One of those lessons is dealing with the fallout from a card ending up on the Banned and Restricted list. Having a card that you love, or a card that's a cornerstone of the current competitive deck you take to FNM every week, no longer being playable is almost a rite of passage.

Over the years, there have been many cards banned or restricted across all of the competitive formats. So what would happen if we slam all of them into a Commander deck? Why don't we find out?

Here's my attempt at making a Commander deck featuring only cards once or currently banned in non-Commander formats.

Context

A few bits of context are required before diving into this deck. Inside the list, there'll be no cards that fall into any of the following categories:

• Cards that require an ante.
• Cards on Commander's banned list.
• Conspiracy cards.
• Cards that have a dexterity aspect to them, e.g., Chaos OrbChaos Orb.

The list of cards available to this deck is from the following formats' banned and restricted lists:

• Modern
• Standard
• Legacy
• Vintage
• Pioneer
• Block Constructed

As it's my job to make this deck as functional as possible, I've added basic lands to this list. I want to be able to cast cards deemed too strong for various formats, after all.

Priority has been given to cards that were more surprising to hit a B&R list, or ones that stick in the minds of the players years later.

Enough talking about how the deck is made, let's get to making it.

Do We Have a Commander?

As I was going through the many, many cards banned across the formats, I started to wonder if I would have access to every color. Through a good majority of curating the list, my mind could only think of one prominent multi-colored banned legend: the four-color jelly bean of doom itself, Omnath, Locus of CreationOmnath, Locus of Creation.

While this would be more than adequate commander, it would lead to one major issue: no mana. I had to cut 126 cards from this list, and there is a non-zero amount of those that fall into this particular slice of the color pie.

But then I was saved, saved by a creature who happens to be part of an infamous lineup of creatures where almost every single one has been banned in a paper or online format at some point.

Jegantha, the WellspringJegantha, the Wellspring is not only the perfect commander for this list, but the perfect encapsulation of ban-worthy things in the game. We have hybrid mana, the c0mpanion ability on the card, and the ability for this card to count as a 5c Commander without needing all the colors to cast.

Now, almost all of this means nothing in the deck since we aren't using it as a companion, and as a 5c deck, we can make all the mana we need. With our commander secured, what else are we taking "off the list?"

Better Than All

A lot has to happen for a planeswalker to end up on a banned list. Even more has to occur for that same planeswalker to end up on multiple banned lists. While there are a few powerful options that could have found a way into the fold of this deck, one stands above the rest as a planeswalker better than all.

Jace, the Mind SculptorJace, the Mind Sculptor has, at times, been the poster child for a pushed card. With four different abilities, how can it possibly be beaten? For a time, it couldn't.

Often, planeswalkers aren't great in Commander, as three opponents can remove them from the table. Jace's legacy of power and frustration, which affects players opposite the table, ensures it makes the list, regardless of optimality.

They Banned This?

The power level of the game has ebbed and flowed over the years. One of the truly hilarious sections of the B&R is the collection of creatures that found themselves outlawed from deck lists.

As insane as it may look, these are some of the powerhouse creatures we have access to in the deck. Are we able to power up Kird ApeKird Ape? Not on turn one, since there isn't currently a Forest-Mountain dual land banned. We'll be able to run over any walls thanks to JuggernautJuggernaut, but we have to contend with one of the worst lines of text in the game: "attacks each combat if able."

When it comes to Serendib EfreetSerendib Efreet, there isn't much to complain about. Having 40 life means the downside of this easy-to-cast flyer isn't too bad.

We don't have to fret, however, since for every Rogue RefinerRogue Refiner found in our deck, we have mighty creatures who earned their way onto the B&R list.

Arguments can be made that Emrakul, the Promised EndEmrakul, the Promised End, was banned for the sins of other cards. Those arguments can be made in defense of those other cards for Emrakul's sins, so either way, it's on the list.

Deathrite ShamanDeathrite Shaman can be considered the "second planeswalker" included because of the nickname earned during this card's time in legality.

Finally, we have Lurrus of the Dream-DenLurrus of the Dream-Den, a card banned in Vintage, a format that almost outright never bans cards, because it was too strong. If it's too strong for a format allowing Black LotusBlack Lotus, then it's good enough to make our list.

Seriously, They Banned This?

Bans are often the result of a mismanaged balance within formats. Sorceries are a card type whose balance comes from only being able to cast them during your turn. So what has to happen for a sorcery to be banned? Well, maybe we can find a few connections between some of the ones found across the B&Rs of the time.

A prominent example of a card that was just way too strong is HypergenesisHypergenesis. Thought of as a fixed version of EurekaEureka, it turned out that it was still too good when utilizing the cascade mechanic to get this card for free without putting it on suspend.

Mind TwistMind Twist can wipe out an entire opponent's hand when paired with fast mana. Random mass discard has the bonus of extra bad feelings since you always think about the one card you want to keep, and it always ends up in the bin.

Faithless LootingFaithless Looting might look egregious when compared to some other cards, but at the right time, this was the most dangerous card in specific 60-card formats.

Our deck's sorceries, like the creatures, have some head-scratchers when it comes to banned cards. The two that top the list are Attune with AetherAttune with Aether and Lingering SoulsLingering Souls. Yes, a card that's a slightly upgraded Lay of the LandLay of the Land was banned in Standard. Take a bow, energy counters; you're responsible for many cards on the B&R.

Lingering SoulsLingering Souls, on the other hand, might not have a parasitic mechanic. Still, in a block constructed Innistrad format, this card paired with Intangible VirtueIntangible Virtue was game over.

There's No Way They Banned This

Our instant-speed cards outline the absurdity of comparing B&R lists across the ages. We need look no further than the card Punishing FirePunishing Fire to see this. When paired with Grove of the BurnwillowsGrove of the Burnwillows, this card defined formats and made two toughness or less creatures unplayable.

But in the Commander format, and without its partner in crime land, it's nothing more than a bad ShockShock. This deck is no stranger to odd duck instants, either.

All three of these cards, when considered in isolation, would make one chuckle upon discovering that they're banned. But with the context of Violent OutburstViolent Outburst allowing for instant-speed reanimated board states thanks to Living EndLiving End.

This Town Ain't Big EnoughThis Town Ain't Big Enough costs only when bouncing your own cards for value. Hurkyl's RecallHurkyl's Recall was even a combo piece in the early days of Magic when low-cost artifacts were the dominant strategy.

Enchanting Artifacts, Both Banned

In days gone by, enchantments and artifacts were the kings and queens of the game. Nowadays, it's dependent on a myriad of factors for which card type sits on the throne. That doesn't mean that both card types are absent from head-scratching bans.

Oath of NissaOath of Nissa might be one of the most baffling cards I came across when making this deck. I remember when the card was banned, and maybe you do too. But when compared to well-known powerhouse enchantments like Underworld BreachUnderworld Breach or FastbondFastbond, it leaves more questions than answers.

Ivory TowerIvory Tower shows that back in the day, one of the best ways to win was to outlast your opposition. What's a better way to do that than making sure they hit zero before you do?

Lastly, Arcum's AstrolabeArcum's Astrolabe for a time made the entire player base no longer care about colors of mana as long as it was snow-covered. But in Commander, unless someone is heavy on a winter theme, this card isn't even an afterthought as to how many cards are played instead of it.

They Even Banned the Land

Some lands are clearly too strong for specific formats. Tolarian AcademyTolarian Academy, Bazaar of BaghdadBazaar of Baghdad, and Mishra's WorkshopMishra's Workshop often come to mind when players think of a land too powerful to see the light of day, Commander players included. Some players might not even think about other lands.

I don't have anything to say about Thawing GlaciersThawing Glaciers other than, wow, have the times changed. We just got our third distinct version of Evolving WildsEvolving Wilds with the printing of Vibrant CityscapeVibrant Cityscape, and all the differently named versions of the Wilds make Thawing GlaciersThawing Glaciers look unplayable. Yet against all odds, banned!

Faceless HavenFaceless Haven makes the second snow-based card to find its way onto a B&R, and it must mean one thing: Faceless HavenFaceless Haven > MutavaultMutavault.

The final card to be discussed, Ramunap RuinsRamunap Ruins, names the deck, which was banned from Ramunap Red. All you need to win a game or even a Pro Tour might be a small amount of uncounterable damage at the cost of .

Wrap Up

This was a thought experiment for me to see if a semi-coherent deck could be pieced together from the ruiners of formats past and present. Are these the strongest 100 cards to ever be banned? Not a chance. This deck doesn't include Nadu, Winged WisdomNadu, Winged Wisdom, or the likes of Sol RingSol Ring. What it does feature is more of the head-scratching, side-eyeing, mouth-agape cards that tell a bit of a tale of the history of the game.

With all of this being said, what's your favorite card to ever be banned in a format? What's the card that broke your heart when it ended up on the B&R list? Let me know online where you can find me @nicnax96.

Jegantha, the Wellspring Commander Deck List

Read More: