In the Standard 2022 format, The Book of Exalted Deeds is now banned. This will happen with the MTG Arena release this Friday morning, July 16. It will not require a client update.
When The Book of Exalted Deeds is combined with Faceless Haven, a player could control a land which prevented them from losing the game and it was highly unlikely the opponent had a way to remove it.
While this deck was not dominant either by win rate or percentage of players playing the combo, running into it was a very frustrating experience. If both players were using it, the game would have no way to end until one player finally decided to concede. This is not the game play experience we are aiming to provide.
It should be noted that this ban does not mean The Book of Exalted Deeds will be banned in Standard after format rotation with the release of Innistrad: Midnight Hunt.
Standard 2022 is Best-of-One, which removes the ability to sideboard against the combo. It's also only a format on MTG Arena, which has different considerations than formats played in tabletop. And, of course, Innistrad: Midnight Hunt will be legal in Standard after rotation but is not available in Standard 2022.
Note that wildcard grants are not used for bans in Standard 2022. The Book of Exalted Deeds can still be used in both Standard and Historic play on MTG Arena.
The only time I saw this combo go off on Arena, I gained control of their Faceless Haven with Kiora Bests the Sea God. They were spamming "Good Game" nonstop after assembling the combo, while I stared at my hand and chuckled.
LoooooooL wizard is really clueless. How could they miss that?
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How i feel about competitive players and casual players in EDH: The competitive are german tourists, the casual are italian tourists, both in a italian beach. The italians asking themselves "why are the germans here?" make a legitimate question, the answer is because the beach is beautiful, no matter the country you came from. The italians wanting to ban the germans are dumb, because if the germans pay for their stay and follow the rules like everyone else, they have the right to be in the beach. Hovewer, if the germans started to ask themselves "why are the italians here?"... they would be dumb as hell.
And they were doing so well with sets released in 2021 so far.
Like why ban it for Standard 2022 and not for the format moving forward post-rotation? The combo pieces will still be intact so how is this any different or going to solve anything?
Future Future League needs to be reintroduced.
'buster
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'buster
HR Analyst. Gamer. Activist | Fearless, and forthright | Aggro-control is a mindset. Elspeth and Jhoira rock my world.
And they were doing so well with sets released in 2021 so far.
Like why ban it for Standard 2022 and not for the format moving forward post-rotation? The combo pieces will still be intact so how is this any different or going to solve anything?
Future Future League needs to be reintroduced.
'buster
Either there's something that will solve the problem in Innistrad: Midnight Hunt or they didn't want to reveal that there isn't. All it takes is a Field of Ruin or Ghost Quarter reprint or something similar.
Could also just be they want to wait and see how it is with IMH since they noted the deck isn't that good.
And they were doing so well with sets released in 2021 so far.
Like why ban it for Standard 2022 and not for the format moving forward post-rotation? The combo pieces will still be intact so how is this any different or going to solve anything?
Future Future League needs to be reintroduced.
'buster
Either there's something that will solve the problem in Innistrad: Midnight Hunt or they didn't want to reveal that there isn't. All it takes is a Field of Ruin or Ghost Quarter reprint or something similar.
Could also just be they want to wait and see how it is with IMH since they noted the deck isn't that good.
It's also specifically being banned because it's a Bo1 format, which prevents sideboarding in solutions to it. Even bad land destruction could chase it out of the format if it threatened to be a problem in a Bo3 format. I'd be very surprised if this "combo" is a concern moving foward.
It needs to be at least 1 non-basic land destruction in every standard, at all times.
A bunch more non-basic land destruction if possible, but the corner stone to not be dead in the pool is to have an answer that is viable for all decks.
Field of Dead was a problem and every land that turns into a issue has to have a answer, if not, bad things happen.
The book should say the ability only works while its a creature, the fact it doesnt produces the same combo with Mutavault, even better as its cheaper.
The fact its not a persistent problem in older formats is the simple existence of land-destruction, proper counterspells and removal.
It needs to be at least 1 non-basic land destruction in every standard, at all times.
A bunch more non-basic land destruction if possible, but the corner stone to not be dead in the pool is to have an answer that is viable for all decks.
Field of Dead was a problem and every land that turns into a issue has to have a answer, if not, bad things happen.
The book should say the ability only works while its a creature, the fact it doesnt produces the same combo with Mutavault, even better as its cheaper.
The fact its not a persistent problem in older formats is the simple existence of land-destruction, proper counterspells and removal.
There is a nonbasic that destroys lands in standard currently. It's actually a pretty good one, sees play in multiple formats.
The issue is, that mechanics like Adventure and Escape create so much inherent card advantage without costing any tempo loss at all are highly prevalent, so sacrificing a land, or risking being stuck out of a color is too high a cost to include Field of Ruin.
On the bright side, this is a brilliant commander design, and I am pleased to see the card created than not, even if it means a ban. It can appeal to other formats without holding standard hostage.
Land destruction doesn't test well they said....
This is what happens when you nerf large portions of the game because of "feed back". It's really a balance thing. You could lay back on some of it, but the fact that land destruction is no longer a real thing in any real way is the issue. You don't have to go overboard, there are some in the format, but nuking it as badly as they have because of "feel bads" leads to other "feel bads" breaking through.
It needs to be at least 1 non-basic land destruction in every standard, at all times.
A bunch more non-basic land destruction if possible, but the corner stone to not be dead in the pool is to have an answer that is viable for all decks.
Field of Dead was a problem and every land that turns into a issue has to have a answer, if not, bad things happen.
The book should say the ability only works while its a creature, the fact it doesnt produces the same combo with Mutavault, even better as its cheaper.
The fact its not a persistent problem in older formats is the simple existence of land-destruction, proper counterspells and removal.
There is a nonbasic that destroys lands in standard currently. It's actually a pretty good one, sees play in multiple formats.
The issue is, that mechanics like Adventure and Escape create so much inherent card advantage without costing any tempo loss at all are highly prevalent, so sacrificing a land, or risking being stuck out of a color is too high a cost to include Field of Ruin.
Or, you know, the fact Field of the Dead is not legal in Standard 2022. You know, the *Arena Only* format where they let people play with only cards that will be around after the rotation? The only one that Book of Exalted Deeds has been banned in? The one without a single card with Adventure or Escape?
It needs to be at least 1 non-basic land destruction in every standard, at all times.
A bunch more non-basic land destruction if possible, but the corner stone to not be dead in the pool is to have an answer that is viable for all decks.
Field of Dead was a problem and every land that turns into a issue has to have a answer, if not, bad things happen.
The book should say the ability only works while its a creature, the fact it doesnt produces the same combo with Mutavault, even better as its cheaper.
The fact its not a persistent problem in older formats is the simple existence of land-destruction, proper counterspells and removal.
There is a nonbasic that destroys lands in standard currently. It's actually a pretty good one, sees play in multiple formats.
The issue is, that mechanics like Adventure and Escape create so much inherent card advantage without costing any tempo loss at all are highly prevalent, so sacrificing a land, or risking being stuck out of a color is too high a cost to include Field of Ruin.
Or, you know, the fact Field of the Dead is not legal in Standard 2022. You know, the *Arena Only* format where they let people play with only cards that will be around after the rotation? The only one that Book of Exalted Deeds has been banned in? The one without a single card with Adventure or Escape?
So this combo isn't even an oversight as it's only an issue in a limited time format? Seems like you're winding on about nothing at this point.
For the second time in less than a week: card bannings do not belong in the Rumors section.
Rumor Mill is defacto News section at this point. Also, we couldn't put actual spoilers in this area either then since they're not rumors. Get used to the fact that this is the News subforum with the wrong name.
Yeah, the concern here is that Standard 2022 isn't a real format. It's missing a lot of answers we would expect to have in a regular format. We shouldn't be surprised that a format that was never designed by R&D to be a format doesn't quite work, and this ban is both good for this format and not a symbol of what's to come.
Also, I totally expect Ghost Quarter to get reprinted.
Cleansing Wildfire is a better answer to this combo than Stone Rain and is legal in standard 2022.
Such are completely different cards with entirely different use-cases.
You need a damn good reason to play Cleansing Wildfire and its not a card to maindeck, unless you have a specific reason to.
Cards that are way better at the job: Wasteland (so efficient that you play it anyway, maindeck) Vindicate (Hits permanents, so it just hits whatever is the problem, no questions asked) Assassin's Trophy (Also hits permanents)
To play fringe specific cards maindeck is not a recipe thats reasonable at all, but actual useful powerful flexible answers prevent such problems from happening, as players will have some form of answer to whatever problem is relevant, so you are never a completely sitting duck, you have outs.
Stone Rain and friends are specific land destruction that you maindeck if your strategy is to denial mana in general. That by "accident" also destroys lands that are problems, as it destroys any lands. Pillage is more flexible, and they print Demolish versions quite often, could simply make it 1RR and its somewhat competitive, as the difference of 3 to 4 mana is so massive if the goal is to deny mana (especially with the super hyper efficient 1 and 2 drops we get today).
As of right now, "lands" are the most protective permanent type of them all, anything else has proper maindeck removal, but lands are the holy cow that nobody is allowed to touch, so if a land becomes a problem its a problem that has no good answers (but to be frank, here its not the land thats the problem, but the entire rules interaction of the land having an ability that is supposed to be on a creature, and we have plenty of creature removal).
Cleansing Wildfire is a better answer to this combo than Stone Rain and is legal in standard 2022.
Such are completely different cards with entirely different use-cases.
You need a damn good reason to play Cleansing Wildfire and its not a card to maindeck, unless you have a specific reason to.
Cards that are way better at the job: Wasteland (so efficient that you play it anyway, maindeck) Vindicate (Hits permanents, so it just hits whatever is the problem, no questions asked) Assassin's Trophy (Also hits permanents)
To play fringe specific cards maindeck is not a recipe thats reasonable at all, but actual useful powerful flexible answers prevent such problems from happening, as players will have some form of answer to whatever problem is relevant, so you are never a completely sitting duck, you have outs.
Stone Rain and friends are specific land destruction that you maindeck if your strategy is to denial mana in general. That by "accident" also destroys lands that are problems, as it destroys any lands. Pillage is more flexible, and they print Demolish versions quite often, could simply make it 1RR and its somewhat competitive, as the difference of 3 to 4 mana is so massive if the goal is to deny mana (especially with the super hyper efficient 1 and 2 drops we get today).
As of right now, "lands" are the most protective permanent type of them all, anything else has proper maindeck removal, but lands are the holy cow that nobody is allowed to touch, so if a land becomes a problem its a problem that has no good answers (but to be frank, here its not the land thats the problem, but the entire rules interaction of the land having an ability that is supposed to be on a creature, and we have plenty of creature removal).
Stone Rain is only maindeckable in dedicated land destruction decks. If you have a red deck with a different strategy and want to add a card to answer this combo, Cleansing Wildfire is better because it is cheaper and cantrips. The point I was making is that reprinting Stone Rain would not help here.
totally reasonable ban. Best of 1 is a *****show and having to run a random 2 mana land destruction or field of ruin to interact with that combo would make things worse than they alread are. Imagine having to make your deck inconsistent to interact with one deck….. once it hits normal standard I don’t except it to be a issue, it is less retarded than companions and most of the stuff that are alread in type 2.
Looking into the salty games were ppl just stall to slowly be killed by deck (because they can’t destroy a land with their main deck)
have to say: future league should stop *****ing about cards that are strong and actually look forward to combos and interactions……………
For the second time in less than a week: card bannings do not belong in the Rumors section.
Arguably, there are a great many things in the rumor mill that don't belong here either. Like the entirety of any given spoiler season (if the cards are previewed, it's not a rumor its fact) someone once suggested that the Rumor Mill is actually more like a News Mill and that Baseless Speculation is what should be named Rumor Mill.
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yep this is exactly what I would predict would happen faceless haven combo with The Book of Exalted Deeds would get one of the two banned in standard
so Sorry standard player your not even getting a chance to do this busted combo
|| UW Jace, Vyn's Prodigy UW || UG Kenessos, Priest of Thassa (feat. Arixmethes) UG ||
Cards I still want to see created:
|| Olantin, Lost City || Pavios and Thanasis || Choryu ||
Like why ban it for Standard 2022 and not for the format moving forward post-rotation? The combo pieces will still be intact so how is this any different or going to solve anything?
Future Future League needs to be reintroduced.
'buster
HR Analyst. Gamer. Activist | Fearless, and forthright | Aggro-control is a mindset.
Elspeth and Jhoira rock my world.
Either there's something that will solve the problem in Innistrad: Midnight Hunt or they didn't want to reveal that there isn't. All it takes is a Field of Ruin or Ghost Quarter reprint or something similar.
Could also just be they want to wait and see how it is with IMH since they noted the deck isn't that good.
It needs to be at least 1 non-basic land destruction in every standard, at all times.
A bunch more non-basic land destruction if possible, but the corner stone to not be dead in the pool is to have an answer that is viable for all decks.
Field of Dead was a problem and every land that turns into a issue has to have a answer, if not, bad things happen.
The book should say the ability only works while its a creature, the fact it doesnt produces the same combo with Mutavault, even better as its cheaper.
The fact its not a persistent problem in older formats is the simple existence of land-destruction, proper counterspells and removal.
WUBRG#BlackLotusMatterWUBRG
👮👮👮 #BlueLivesMatter 👮👮👮
There is a nonbasic that destroys lands in standard currently. It's actually a pretty good one, sees play in multiple formats.
The issue is, that mechanics like Adventure and Escape create so much inherent card advantage without costing any tempo loss at all are highly prevalent, so sacrificing a land, or risking being stuck out of a color is too high a cost to include Field of Ruin.
|| UW Jace, Vyn's Prodigy UW || UG Kenessos, Priest of Thassa (feat. Arixmethes) UG ||
Cards I still want to see created:
|| Olantin, Lost City || Pavios and Thanasis || Choryu ||
This is what happens when you nerf large portions of the game because of "feed back". It's really a balance thing. You could lay back on some of it, but the fact that land destruction is no longer a real thing in any real way is the issue. You don't have to go overboard, there are some in the format, but nuking it as badly as they have because of "feel bads" leads to other "feel bads" breaking through.
So this combo isn't even an oversight as it's only an issue in a limited time format? Seems like you're winding on about nothing at this point.
Rumor Mill is defacto News section at this point. Also, we couldn't put actual spoilers in this area either then since they're not rumors. Get used to the fact that this is the News subforum with the wrong name.
"It's too powerful!" they say. Yeah well the format is pretty damned powerful as it is without it so having it around might balance it out a bit.
'buster
HR Analyst. Gamer. Activist | Fearless, and forthright | Aggro-control is a mindset.
Elspeth and Jhoira rock my world.
Also, I totally expect Ghost Quarter to get reprinted.
Such are completely different cards with entirely different use-cases.
You need a damn good reason to play Cleansing Wildfire and its not a card to maindeck, unless you have a specific reason to.
Cards that are way better at the job:
Wasteland (so efficient that you play it anyway, maindeck)
Vindicate (Hits permanents, so it just hits whatever is the problem, no questions asked)
Assassin's Trophy (Also hits permanents)
To play fringe specific cards maindeck is not a recipe thats reasonable at all, but actual useful powerful flexible answers prevent such problems from happening, as players will have some form of answer to whatever problem is relevant, so you are never a completely sitting duck, you have outs.
Stone Rain and friends are specific land destruction that you maindeck if your strategy is to denial mana in general. That by "accident" also destroys lands that are problems, as it destroys any lands.
Pillage is more flexible, and they print Demolish versions quite often, could simply make it 1RR and its somewhat competitive, as the difference of 3 to 4 mana is so massive if the goal is to deny mana (especially with the super hyper efficient 1 and 2 drops we get today).
As of right now, "lands" are the most protective permanent type of them all, anything else has proper maindeck removal, but lands are the holy cow that nobody is allowed to touch, so if a land becomes a problem its a problem that has no good answers (but to be frank, here its not the land thats the problem, but the entire rules interaction of the land having an ability that is supposed to be on a creature, and we have plenty of creature removal).
WUBRG#BlackLotusMatterWUBRG
👮👮👮 #BlueLivesMatter 👮👮👮
Yeah there's that and also Smashing Success Kaldheim.
But then not many people seem to think like that so I guess this ban could've been offset if people just opened their eyes a tad.
'buster
HR Analyst. Gamer. Activist | Fearless, and forthright | Aggro-control is a mindset.
Elspeth and Jhoira rock my world.
Stone Rain is only maindeckable in dedicated land destruction decks. If you have a red deck with a different strategy and want to add a card to answer this combo, Cleansing Wildfire is better because it is cheaper and cantrips. The point I was making is that reprinting Stone Rain would not help here.
Nonred decks would still struggle to find answers, it's not a perfect solution.
totally reasonable ban. Best of 1 is a *****show and having to run a random 2 mana land destruction or field of ruin to interact with that combo would make things worse than they alread are. Imagine having to make your deck inconsistent to interact with one deck….. once it hits normal standard I don’t except it to be a issue, it is less retarded than companions and most of the stuff that are alread in type 2.
Looking into the salty games were ppl just stall to slowly be killed by deck (because they can’t destroy a land with their main deck)
have to say: future league should stop *****ing about cards that are strong and actually look forward to combos and interactions……………
Arguably, there are a great many things in the rumor mill that don't belong here either. Like the entirety of any given spoiler season (if the cards are previewed, it's not a rumor its fact) someone once suggested that the Rumor Mill is actually more like a News Mill and that Baseless Speculation is what should be named Rumor Mill.