Final Fantasy is one of the more interesting, fun sets we've had in a while, driving new players to Arena and to Magic at record numbers. Unfortunately, while the set is a blast to play, it enters a Standard that may be the fastest and most hostile format for new cards that we've ever seen. As such, with the yearly Ban List decision looming on June 30th, I thought I'd take the time to look at each color and see if there are cards that should be considered, and what I would do were I on the committee.

White

Possible bans: Caretaker's Talent, Nurturing Pixie, Abuelo's Awakening

I think Caretaker's Talent is an incredible engine card, and it has potential to dominate the meta in a post-rotation world if some of the other cards on our list are taken away. Realistically, it does a lot, but banning this card would be all about anticipated damage, and I don't think they're willing to go that far.

Pixie is annoying, and I've seen players say it does too much for 1 White mana, but it's just not a big enough problem. The hate exists in the format to make Abuelo's Awakening a fringe deck (especially now that Temporary Lockdown will be rotating and no longer sweeps up all the Rest in Peace and Ghost Vacuums), if players can devote the sideboard slots to it.

Final verdict: No bans in White.

Blue

Possible bans: Omniscience, This Town Ain't Big Enough, Stormchaser's Talent, Enduring Curiosity.

While I love Omniscience the card, I hate that it's in the format because it pretty much relegates all other reanimation strategies into just being a worse version of Omniscience reanimator. But, while I'd like to see it gone, I don't think it's at the point where it needs to be banned.

This Town Ain't Big Enough and Stormchaser's Talent are a package deal at this point, and together they make up one of the stronger strategies in the format, working their way into multiple decks. The interaction is strong, but I don't think it's time for the duo to ride off into the sunset yet. Although, Stormchaser's Talent is very close to ban worthy on its own.

I feel like Enduring Curiosity was a mistake, as it should have the same, "Only once per turn" draw clause that we see on Enduring Innocence. I would advocate for banning it, but I don't think WOTC is ready to go that far.

Final Verdict: No bans in Blue, but I'd love for Enduring Curiosity to beat it

Black

Possible bans: Hopeless Nightmare

Hopeless Nightmare is a very annoying card to play against, and the life loss really should have been 1 instead of 2 if they were going to print so many bounce effects in Standard at the same time. But, it's probably not ban worthy.

Final Verdict: No bans in Black.

Green

Possible bans: Up the Beanstalk

Green is in a dire place in Standard right now, by far the worst color, and it really needs all the help it can get. That said, Up the Beanstalk is extremely powerful, and easily splashed into multiple decks. It's had its heyday and won a Pro Tour, and I don't think WOTC is happy about having this engine in Standard going forward. I'm fine with banning please, but please, give Green some cards that make it a playable color in Standard.

Final Verdict: Up the Beanstalk is banned.

Red

Possible bans: Monstrous Rage, Cori-Steel Cutter, Manifold Mouse, Screaming Nemesis.

I broke order to save Red for last because it is the deepest and most powerful color in Standard right now. I think, at minimum, we need 2 cards banned from Red. Realistically, you could ban 4-5 and there would still be multiple Red/X decks flirting with tier 1 status. Red mana cards are just ridiculous right now.

Monstrous Rage is gone. I don't see how WOTC can keep it in the format given the performance of Red decks in the last 3 months and the rising vocal dismay about the card.

Likewise, Cori-Steel Cutter is just too strong for Standard. I hate that it leaves so quickly, but the card warps everything in the format around 1-2 mana spells and fast interactions in an unhealthy way. Cut the cord now, don't wait for it to remain so dominant that you do more damage to the format. It will still see play in Pioneer, Modern, and Legacy.

Manifold Mouse could be Heartfire Hero, but either way the Mouse package from Bloomburrow is just too strong and consistent. I don't think WOTC will ban this, but I think they should.

Screaming Nemesis is just a Hail Mary for me, but the card makes Green decks almost unplayable. There are no cards in Green to remove this and it practically invalidates the color (trampling over it is not enough). I don't think this gets banned, but I've grown to hate the card and what it does to the format.

Final Verdict: Monstrous Rage and Cori-Steel Cutter are banned, but I would prefer if all 4 of the cards I mentioned were banned.

So, there you have it. While I think 5-10 cards should be banned to promote the health of the format, in reality, I can only see Up the Beanstalk, Cori-Steel Cutter, and Monstrous Rage as the cards that will be banned on June 30th.

You can find more of my Magic musings on Twitter/X @travishall456 and on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/anakinsdad.bsky.social