MTG Bans October 12, 2026: 3 Competitive Brawl Commanders Banned, Nashi Nerfed

Updated October 12, 2026. Wizards of the Coast's latest Magic: The Gathering banned-and-restricted announcement leaves Standard, Pioneer, Modern, Legacy, Vintage, Pauper, Alchemy, Historic, Timeless and regular Brawl unchanged. Competitive Brawl on MTG Arena is the only format receiving changes today. Three commanders are newly banned as commanders, nine previously banned cards are now restricted only from the command zone, and the digital-only Nashi, Illusion Gadgeteer has been rebalanced.

The changes are effective October 12, 2026. Here is what players need to know before queueing for their next match.

Three new Competitive Brawl commander bans

  • Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow — banned as a commander.
  • Spider-Man 2099 — banned as a commander.
  • Light-Paws, Emperor's Voice — banned as a commander.

Wizards says these commanders had reached problematic win rates. The bans target their consistency and power when available from the command zone, rather than removing the cards entirely from the format. They remain playable within the other 99 cards of a Competitive Brawl deck when otherwise legal.

Official MTG Arena gameplay screenshot showing cards and battlefield interface
Illustrative MTG Arena gameplay screenshot. Image: Wizards of the Coast; this older screenshot does not depict the newly banned commanders.

Nine existing bans are now commander-only

Wizards also changed the status of the following cards: they are still banned as commanders, but can now be included among the 99 cards in a Competitive Brawl deck, subject to deck-building rules.

  • Ajani, Nacatl Pariah
  • Nadu, Winged Wisdom
  • Oko, Thief of Crowns
  • Old Stickfingers
  • Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer
  • Rusko, Clockmaker
  • Tamiyo, Inquisitive Student
  • Wrenn and Six
  • Tajic, Legion's Valor

This distinction matters when editing a deck: a card that is illegal as your commander may still be legal in your library. Wizards says MTG Arena now supports banning a card specifically as a commander, without banning it in the main deck. Other existing restrictions, including any unrelated card bans, still apply.

Nashi, Illusion Gadgeteer loses flash

The update also removes the flash keyword from Nashi, Illusion Gadgeteer. Wizards says the digital-only card had been a persistent problem in Competitive Brawl, and removing flash is intended as a targeted balance adjustment rather than a full ban. Players using Nashi should check its updated Arena text before entering a match.

Official MTG Arena screenshot illustrating digital card text and in-game battlefield
MTG Arena's digital battlefield and card interface. Image: Wizards of the Coast; illustrative gameplay, not a screenshot of Nashi's updated card.

Did Standard, Modern or Commander get new bans?

No. The October 12 announcement lists no changes for Standard, Pioneer, Modern, Legacy, Vintage, Pauper, Alchemy, Historic, Timeless or regular Brawl. It also does not announce a tabletop Commander ban. Competitive Brawl is a separate, ranked MTG Arena format with its own ban list and matchmaking.

What Competitive Brawl players should do now

  • Check your commander: If your deck leads with Yuriko, Spider-Man 2099 or Light-Paws, choose a legal commander before entering Competitive Brawl.
  • Revisit the 99: Some previously excluded power cards, such as Ragavan or Oko, may now be usable as non-commanders in a deck with the appropriate color identity.
  • Review Nashi: Losing flash changes when the card can be cast and may affect your game plan.
  • Check current Arena legality: Use the in-game deck builder and Wizards' official list; online deck trackers may not reflect same-day updates immediately.

Competitive Brawl uses 100-card singleton decks and begins at 25 life. Unlike regular Brawl, its matchmaking uses competitive rank and rating, and the format does not grant a free mulligan.

Will players get wildcard refunds?

Yes, for the three newly banned commanders. Wizards' October 12 MTG Arena announcement confirms that players will receive up to one wildcard for each of Yuriko, Spider-Man 2099, and Light-Paws in their collection. Check the official announcement and your Arena account for the applicable refund details.

When is the next MTG banned-and-restricted announcement?

Wizards has scheduled its next announcement for November 30, 2026. The company also plans a WeeklyMTG discussion on October 13 at 10 a.m. Pacific to answer questions about the latest decisions.

Official sources

Wizards of the Coast: October 12 banned-and-restricted announcement · MTG Arena announcements, October 12 · Wizards: Introducing Competitive Brawl · MTG Arena patch notes on commander-only bans.

Images are official MTG Arena gameplay screenshots published by Wizards of the Coast, used to illustrate the digital game and its card interface. © Wizards of the Coast. The images are not screenshots of the October 12 balance changes.

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