Commander Banned and Restricted Announcement - February 9, 2026
Announcement Date: February 9, 2026
Hello! This is Gavin Verhey on behalf of the Commander Format Panel. Today, we're diving into the latest updates to the Commander banned and restricted list, discussing the cards we've unbanned, and exploring the broader implications for the format.
Unbanned: Biorhythm
Biorhythm is unbanned, marking a significant shift in the game's dynamics. This card has the potential to end the game on the spot for a player with no creatures, and you can set up board states where you can take out all three opponents in a single go. While we acknowledged its potential strength and disproportionate impact last year, we decided to hold off on unbanning it. However, with the successful unbanning of several expensive spells that radically warp or end the game, we believe Biorhythm is now a viable option. It takes enough setup and has enough counterplay that it's far from an auto-include, making it a situational eight-mana sorcery.
Unbanned: Lutri, the Spellchaser
Lutri, the Spellchaser is unbanned but remains banned as a companion. This decision was influenced by the potential for every blue-red deck to include Lutri as a companion, which we deemed undesirable. However, Lutri has a lot going for it, and players have been asking to play with the card in Commander. We've created a new designation: banned as a companion, allowing Lutri to appear in decks or as commanders.
Other Cards Under Discussion
We also discussed Sundering Titan, Iona, Shield of Emeria, and Griselbrand. While these cards are not being unbanned today, we welcome your feedback on whether you think they should be unbanned in the future. We're open to hearing your thoughts and will continue to monitor the situation.
No Bans
There are no additional bans today, and we're keeping a close eye on Thassa's Oracle and Rhystic Study. We haven't seen enough evidence to warrant a ban, but we'll continue to monitor their impact.
Commander Banned and Restricted Updates in 2026
We want to set expectations for the rest of the year. Unlike last year, we're not limiting ourselves to just one banned and restricted update window. If we decide to unban a card, we can come back later this year and do it. We'll be listening to your feedback and hope you find homes for the freshly unbanned cards. We'll talk with you again likely this summer in May or June. Don't forget to check out the other article today that covers some other topics and changes.
Signing off on behalf of the Commander Format Panel,
Alex Heyer (https://bsky.app/profile/highermtg.bsky.social)
Bandit (https://bsky.app/profile/banditmtg.bsky.social)
Ben Wheeler (https://bsky.app/profile/wheeler.bsky.social)
Deco (https://x.com/Deco_PDC)
Ittetu (https://bsky.app/profile/ittetu.bsky.social)
Josh Lee Kwai (https://bsky.app/profile/joshleekwai.bsky.social)
Lua Stardust (https://bsky.app/profile/luastardust.com)
Olivia Gobert-Hicks (https://bsky.app/profile/goberthicks.bsky.social)
Rachel Weeks (https://bsky.app/profile/wachelreeks.com)
Rebell Lily (https://bsky.app/profile/rebell.bsky.social)
Tim Willoughby (https://bsky.app/profile/timswheelbarrow.bsky.social)
Toby Elliott (https://x.com/TobyElliott)
Tomer Abramovici (https://bsky.app/profile/budgetcommander.bsky.social)
