Overwhelming Bans Set to Redefine Magic’s OG Format

Last updated on August 11, 2026

Voice of Victory | Illustration by Joshua Cairos

With the banning of three hugely problematic cards yesterday and a new set releasing today, the Standard format is in a state of flux. Not often do we get format warping bans and a set full of new toys to play with at the same time, and what will come of it is anyone's guess. But if we had to guess, which is what I plan on doing, what decks can we expect to be the best once the dust has settled? 

What's Gone?

First of all, for those of you who didn't see what was banned yesterday, Badgermole Cub, Gran-Gran, and Stormchaser's Talent all got hit with the ban hammer. Good riddance. However deserving these bans were, it undoubtedly leaves a power vacuum in the Standard format, as the decks that relied on them are likely no longer going to be viable.

Who's Next?

Moonshadow | Illustration by Julie Benbassat

But what decks can we expect to take the place at the top of the format now that various Izzet decks and Badgermole Cub green piles of nonsense are effectively gone? Well, there are a few candidates.

First and most obvious is the four color control deck, a deck that utilizes ramp and card advantage from cards like Tablet of Discovery to cast Jeskai Revelation among other things, controlling the game with efficient removal spells like Inevitable Defeat to get there. This deck is untouched by bans, and it was already getting good results near the top of the format, and I don't expect that to change much.

The only consideration is that this deck, along with pretty much every other deck in the format, has been tuned to deal with the dominant izzet spells and green assertive creature decks that are now banned out of existence, so there may be some wiggle room in terms of the amount of early removal spells and sweepers these decks have to include.

Sultai reanimator is another deck that is completely untouched by these bans, and I can only imagine it will be better positioned in the aftermath. Its gameplan revolves around dumping cards into the graveyard quickly with a myriad of different methods, and then bringing back an Ardyn, the Usurper or a Bringer of the Last Gift with Superior Spider-Man. Overall, a very tight gameplan that likely only gets better when it doesn't have to face as much aggression.

Speaking of aggression, Mardu Discard is a deck that has been kicking around in the format for a little while now, and it seems poised to take the role of perhaps being the most aggressive deck in the format after these bans. It's a deck with efficient creatures like Moonshadow and Hardened Academic that gains value out of discarding key cards to recur them or to trigger synergies, and I think it's a gameplan that is not only better positioned after these bans, but it's also incredibly fun to play.

Going back to control, Dimir Excruciator is a deck that I predict will make a comeback. It was once far more dominant in the format, winning by controlling the game until they could cast a Doomsday Excruciator and then attacking the opponent with Restless Reef to mill what's left of their library. It's a good deck that's simply had a hard time adjusting to how fast the format was, but now that some of the pressure is off, the deck can shine once more.

Dimir Midrange is also a deck that could shine again, as it was also once very dominant, playing cheap evasive creatures like Spyglass Siren to attack easily and ninjutsu Kaito, Bane of Nightmares into play.It's a strategy that cares a lot about tempo, disruption, and getting in damage with evasive creatures while drawing cards, and it was simply outclassed by now banned cards. With them gone, this may have a chance again.

What's New?

Bard, King of Dale | Illustration by Xabi Gaztelua

Despite these bans and how good they seem to be for the format overall, they are not the only factor affecting the format. The Hobbit is releasing today, and with it there will be several new cards competing for spots in Standard decks, and they may create a new meta of their own.

There are certainly some very powerful cards in the set: The Eagles Are Coming! is a strong card, although it needs to be built around to see its true potential. Settle the Wreckage is a welcome reprint that could very well make white based control decks even stronger. Bolg's Company and The Great Goblin could be exactly what the format needs to make a competitive goblins deck a reality, and Chief Warg's Company could revive green black midrange.

Wrap Up

Smaug the Magnificent | Illustration by John Tedrick

As for how things exactly will pan out, there are too many variables to make any assurances. The format will change because of the bans, the format will change because of the new cards from The Hobbit, but it's hard to say exactly how. The only guarantee is change. And that's a good thing. Hopefully it's a change for the better, and at least in the short term, I think it will be. New cards and fresh bans always make for a certain uncertainty, and it's in the uncertainty that I think the most fun is found. But I guess we won't know anything for sure until the dust settles, so until then, have fun.