Magic: The Gathering Ban List Update | November 2025

This month was a weird one. What was initially scheduled for a late November discussion was promptly moved up to today, November 10th, 2025. As expected, an update to the Magic: The Gathering ban list has been released, nonetheless. While some additions may have been easy to guess, a couple were not really on anyone's radar.

So let's dive into what is new and how the recent bans shake up the meta.

The Updated Magic: The Gathering Ban List

So yeah, things finally hit a breaking point. Standard’s been kind of a mess lately. Same deck everywhere, same matchups, not a lot of room to breathe. But with the bans of Vivi, Proft’s Eidetic Memory, and Screaming Nemesis, the format’s about to look completely different.

Izzet Cauldron was just too much. It had the whole package: card draw, removal, combo finish, and almost zero real weaknesses. The Proft engine already had a pedigree, but once Vivi and Cauldron got added to the mix, it turned into a monster. You couldn’t outvalue it, you couldn’t race it, and you definitely couldn’t outgrind it. It was everywhere. Five-plus copies in every Spotlight Top 8 since Edge of Eternities dropped.

Now that Vivi’s gone, the loop is broken. And banning Proft too? That’s a statement. Wizards clearly didn’t want the shell sticking around in any form. It makes sense, though. Proft was basically a two-mana draw engine that dodged most answers and scaled way too well.

Mono-Red also caught a stray. Screaming Nemesis was the card that let red punch through lifegain and big blockers, and without it, the deck loses a ton of reach. It was the only thing keeping up with Izzet, but now that Izzet’s out, red’s getting trimmed down too—probably to stop it from becoming the next problem.

What could this mean for the meta?

• Izzet is severly weakened. The Cauldron shell is gutted, and without Proft or Vivi, it’s not coming back in the same form.

• Red loses its teeth. Aggro’s still viable, but it won’t be the default “beat everything” choice anymore.

• Control and midrange decks finally get some breathing room. Esper, Domain, Grixis, expect those to show up more.

• Combo players will need new toys. Graveyard loops and enchantment value engines are on notice.

• Deckbuilding’s about to get spicy again.

Other Bans

Pioneer

• Heartfire hero

Pauper

• High Tide

Brawl

• Strip Mine

• Mana Drain

• Chrome Mox

• Ancient Tomb

A Giant Sigh of Relief

After months of frustration, the bans feel like a long-overdue exhale. The community has been asking for change, and now that Vivi, Proft's Eidetic Memory, and Screaming Nemesis are gone, there's a real sense of possibility again. The format isn't locked anymore. It feels alive.

Players are already brewing. Cards that were pushed out by Izzet's dominance or slower value engines are suddenly viable. Control decks can actually stabilize. Midrange lists don't have to warp themselves around Cauldron loops. Aggro has to work for its wins again. It's not just healthier. It's more fun.

And that's the real win here. Standard feels exciting again. Not solved. Not stale. Just open. The bans didn't just fix a problem. They helped give the format some of its soul back.