Summary
Wizards of the Coast has updated its ban list, and while there are no changes to Standard and other categories, as many expected,Underworld Breach has been banned in Modern. The reasoning behind the decision has been explained, but it’s one many of you will have seen coming.
Magic: The Gathering’s Modern format allows players to choose from far more sets, and hence a lot more cards, than the Standard format. That naturally leaves more room for cards that are going to cause havoc, and not necessarily in a good way. Players have been pointing to Underworld Breach as an offender in that regard leading up to this planned ban update, hence why some of you won’t be all that surprised to hear the news.
As noted in today’s ban list, the issues with Underworld Breach stem from Mox Opal being unbanned at the end of 2024. The team behind the banning and unbanning of various cards from MTG formats notes that it’s pleased with where it has seen Mox Opal showing up in various decks, along with some of the other cards that were unbanned three months ago. However, the Temur Breach deck created when it’s combined with Underworld Breach has led to some undesired results.
Underworld Breach Has Been Banned In Modern
It Was Only A Matter Of Time
“We’ve seen Mox Opal, Green Sun’s Zenith, and Faithless Looting show up in a bunch of decks, to varying degrees of satisfaction from the team here at Wizards… However, Mox Opal teaming up with Underworld Breach to create an explosive and resilient combo deck is not something we’re happy with,” the post reads on MTG’s most recent ban list.
Since Mox Opal can be tapped for mana, combining it with Breach means you can effectively play any card in your deck when tapping it for mana, return it with Breach untapped, and tap it again. See the issue?
Since Mox Opal’s unbanning in Modern, it has been used by many to create a Temur Breach deck along with the now-banned Underworld Breach. There was a fear among some players that Wizards would misread the situation and reban Mox Opal, but thankfully, that hasn’t happened. Underworld Breach has already earned itself a ban from other formats without Mox Opal’s help, and now it can’t be used in Modern either.
Underworld Breach is the only card on the Modern ban list in the latest update and is, by far, the most notable change, but it’s not the only one. Sowing Mycospawn and Troll of Khazad-dum have been banned from Legacy, and three cards have been banned from Pauper with two other unbanned. All other formats remain unchanged.
