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The Magic cards that were banned for being too good (and another one for being racist)
Cards that are game-breaking or outright offensive have no place in the popular collectible card game.
The world is constantly changing, and what seemed like a good idea yesterday may not be today. The world of trading card games is no different. Whether it’s the way the game’s meta is evolving, the illustrations, or the characters on the cards, there have been some changes. In Magic: The Gathering, there are a few examples of cards that have been banned for various reasons, which we will review today.
Too good to be true
The first case involves four popular cards in the Commander format: Dockside Extortionist, Jeweled Lotus, Mana Crypt, and Nadu, Winged Wisdom. However, these cards were retired late last year.
- The Dockside Extortionist is a creature whose value fluctuates throughout the game, yet it remains an incredibly powerful resource engine. When it enters the field, it creates treasure tokens based on the number of artifacts and enchantments controlled by opponents. These tokens can be converted into mana, enabling explosive plays that can turn the tide of the game or end it immediately.
- The Jeweled Lotus was printed specifically for Commander and literally cannot function in other formats. Inspired by the legendary Black Lotus, it can generate three mana of a single color, but it can only be used to cast the commander.
- Over the years, Mana Crypt has proven so powerful that it has been banned from all but one format in which it could be legal. Its ability to generate two mana at the start of a turn if the coin toss is won makes it an extremely effective source of acceleration.
- Nadu, Winged Wisdom, was previously banned from the Modern format for introducing an overpowered combo. Non-deterministic sequences that can’t be shortcuted take a really long time and might eventually fizzle out.
And a really racist card
Over the years, Wizards of the Coast has withdrawn a total of seven cards due to racist content. The most controversial of these is Invoke Prejudice, whose name, artwork, text, and controversial illustrator all contributed to its withdrawal. The card evokes the concept of racism, and its ability to increase the cost of creatures of different colors creates an in-game version of racism and colorism. The illustration features axe-wielding, hooded figures bearing a striking resemblance to Ku Klux Klan members.
Its artist, Harold McNeill, had previously included favorable references to Nazi symbols in other works. As if that were not enough, Invoke Prejudice is number 1488 in Magic’s database—a number associated with neo-Nazi slogans.
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