Standard Banned List and Meta: What to Play in 2026
Thirteen cards are banned in Standard after three waves (June 2025, November 2025, August 2026). May 18, 2026 changed nothing in Standard. Here is where the format sits now.
The claim that ten cards were banned in Standard on May 18, 2026 is wrong. Wizards of the Coast's May 18, 2026 announcement lists no changes for Standard. Its only Cori-Steel Cutter action that day was a ban in Pioneer. Standard's banned list was built over three separate updates, and as of November 1, 2026 it holds 13 cards.
This is the corrected guide. Which cards are banned and when each one fell, what the May 18 update actually said, why the August 10 bans happened, and where the format sits now. Everything below was checked against Wizards' banned and restricted announcements and the Standard format page on November 1, 2026.
The 13 banned cards at a glance
Wizards' banned and restricted list shows these cards banned in Standard, grouped here by the announcement that banned them.
| Banned Card | Banned On |
|---|---|
| Cori-Steel Cutter | June 30, 2025 |
| Abuelo's Awakening | June 30, 2025 |
| Monstrous Rage | June 30, 2025 |
| Heartfire Hero | June 30, 2025 |
| Up the Beanstalk | June 30, 2025 |
| Hopeless Nightmare | June 30, 2025 |
| This Town Ain't Big Enough | June 30, 2025 |
| Vivi Ornitier | November 10, 2025 |
| Screaming Nemesis | November 10, 2025 |
| Proft's Eidetic Memory | November 10, 2025 |
| Badgermole Cub | August 10, 2026 |
| Stormchaser's Talent | August 10, 2026 |
| Gran-Gran | August 10, 2026 |
Wizards' list also carries Leyline of Resonance, which is banned only in MTG Arena Best-of-One, so it is not part of the 13 above.
Seven cards fell in 2025's first wave, three more in November 2025, and three in August 2026. The announcements dated December 16, 2024, February 9, 2026, March 23, 2026, May 18, 2026, June 29, 2026, and October 12, 2026 all list no Standard changes.
What actually happened on May 18
The May 18, 2026 update was a large one for other formats. Phlage, Titan of Fire's Fury and Lotus Field were banned in Modern, Cori-Steel Cutter was banned in Pioneer, and Undercity Informer was banned in Legacy. For Standard, the announcement says "No changes".
The Standard section was a post-mortem of Pro Tour Secrets of Strixhaven. Wizards reports that Izzet Prowess took a 30.5% metagame share on Day One, failed to reach the Top 8, and posted a non-mirror win rate slightly below 50%. Badgermole Cub Landfall decks did better. Both Mono-Green and Selesnya Landfall earned high win rates, and the finals was a Selesnya Landfall mirror. Nathan Steuer beat Christoffer Larsen in that final, per magic.gg's Pro Tour coverage.
Wizards also said at the time that the speed of Standard was faster than they wanted, but stopped short of banning anything. That changed in August.
Why the August bans landed
The August 10, 2026 announcement banned Badgermole Cub, Stormchaser's Talent, and Gran-Gran. Wizards gave three reasons, one per card.
Badgermole Cub was the target on the green side. Wizards says a Selesnya Offense deck built around Practiced Offense had become the strongest green variant, with a win rate over 57% on MTG Arena and the second-highest play rate. They called Cub a cheap threat that demands an immediate answer and builds an insurmountable mana advantage.
Stormchaser's Talent was banned as the keystone of Izzet Prowess. Wizards called it an inappropriately well-rounded one-mana card, strong early and, through Boomerang Basics, strong late.
Gran-Gran was banned to stop Jeskai Lessons from taking over after the other two bans. Wizards called it a powerful mana engine for Lessons decks that, like the other two, is an inappropriately threatening one-mana card.
The stated goal was a fun and diverse Standard as competitive pressure returns with the RCQ season.
Where the metagame stands after October 12
The October 12, 2026 announcement made no Standard changes and described the format as looking fun and healthy. Wizards' read of the post-ban metagame:
Mono-Green Landfall was the early winner after the August bans but has fallen in popularity and win rate. Without Badgermole Cub, Wizards still calls it among the best decks in the format, though not an uncontested best deck. Our Selesnya Landfall guide covers the Pro Tour winning list, which ran four Badgermole Cub and is no longer legal as written.
Izzet Spellementals was mostly left unscathed by the bans and remains a strong deck, with enough competition at the top that the metagame stays healthy.
Newer and rising decks named by Wizards include Dimir Excruciator and Mardu Discard, which existed before the bans and are doing better since, plus Jund Sacrifice and Boros Dwarves, which are enabled in part by The Hobbit.
Wizards also said metagame diversity has improved since the pre-ban format. For the green side of the format, our best green cards in MTG guide covers the staples.
Three brewing directions
These are directions drawn from the decks Wizards named, not tier rankings. We have no first-party win-rate data of our own. Check MTGGoldfish or mtgdecks.net for current numbers before you commit.
Direction 1: Mono-Green Landfall without Cub. The list Wizards published on October 12 runs 14 Forest with Llanowar Elves, Sazh's Chocobo, Icetill Explorer, Mightform Harmonizer, and Earthbender Ascension.
Direction 2: Izzet Spellementals. The shell Wizards showed leans on Hearth Elemental, Eddymurk Crab, Sunderflock, Prismari Charm, and a pile of cheap spells and counters.
Direction 3: Something newer. Mardu Discard, Dimir Excruciator, Jund Sacrifice, and Boros Dwarves are the decks Wizards says are finding more success post-ban. Jund Sacrifice and Boros Dwarves are new creations enabled in part by The Hobbit.
What to wait on
The next scheduled banned and restricted announcement is November 30, 2026. Wizards moved it earlier than a December date because the Monday of the first weekend in December falls in November. Wizards said on October 12 it is not looking to make sweeping Standard changes before rotation, but that it will act if a problem emerges, so it is the date to watch before spending on a deck.
Rotation is coming. Wizards' October 12 announcement says Nauctis: The Sunken Realm, releasing in early 2027, triggers the next Standard rotation, and it will be an extra-large one: Wilds of Eldraine, The Lost Caverns of Ixalan, Murders at Karlov Manor, Outlaws of Thunder Junction (with The Big Score), Bloomburrow, and Duskmourn: House of Horror all leave. Weigh that before buying cards from those sets.
Magic: The Gathering | Star Trek releases on November 13, 2026, which is still in the future as of this update. We have not checked which of its cards matter for Standard, so we are not making calls on it here.
Quick Action Checklist
- Check every card against the banned list before you buy. Badgermole Cub, Stormchaser's Talent, and Gran-Gran are the newest additions, and older Landfall and Prowess lists that include them are illegal.
- If you are rebuilding Landfall, start from the post-ban Mono-Green list. It is still among the best decks, per Wizards' October 12 update.
- If you play blue-red, look at Izzet Spellementals. It was mostly unaffected by the August bans.
- Do not buy into a brew on speculation. Wait for weekend results and the November 30 announcement.
- Track the metagame on MTGGoldfish and mtgdecks.net. Third-party data lags the format, so treat it as supporting evidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cards are banned in Standard right now?
Was there a Standard ban wave on May 18, 2026?
Is Izzet Prowess still playable?
What is the best deck in Standard right now?
Why did Wizards ban Badgermole Cub, Stormchaser's Talent, and Gran-Gran?
When is the next Standard B&R update?
Which sets are legal in Standard?
Keep Reading
- Wizards of the Coast — Banned & Restricted Lists
- Wizards of the Coast — Banned & Restricted May 18, 2026
- Wizards of the Coast — Banned & Restricted August 10, 2026
- Wizards of the Coast — Banned & Restricted October 12, 2026
- Wizards of the Coast — Banned & Restricted June 30, 2025
- Wizards of the Coast — Banned & Restricted November 10, 2025
- Wizards of the Coast — Standard Format
- magic.gg — Pro Tour Secrets of Strixhaven
- MTGGoldfish — Standard Metagame
- mtgdecks.net — Standard Decklists
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