When Was Mox Opal Banned? A Deep Dive into its Banning and Related FAQs
Mox Opal was banned in Magic: The Gathering’s Modern format on January 13, 2020. This ban was part of a larger announcement that also saw the banning of Oko, Thief of Crowns, and Mycosynth Lattice. This decision significantly impacted the competitive landscape of Modern, specifically targeting the dominance of Urza, Lord High Artificer decks.
The Fall of Mox Opal
Mox Opal’s power lay in its ability to provide fast, efficient mana acceleration, especially in artifact-heavy decks. Its “metalcraft” ability, where it produces a mana of any color when you control three or more artifacts, made it a cornerstone in numerous strategies. It allowed players to deploy powerful threats or combos much earlier than would otherwise be possible, creating explosive starts and dominating board states. This made it incredibly potent in decks focusing on artifact synergy, such as the aforementioned Urza decks and other artifact-based strategies.
The primary reason for banning Mox Opal was its role as a lynchpin in these high-powered decks. While individual powerful threats like Oko, Thief of Crowns were potent, Mox Opal’s mana-generating capabilities allowed for those threats to come down too quickly, and often too early in the game. Wizards of the Coast (WotC) specifically targeted Mox Opal to reduce the power level of these strategies, as the card was seen as the glue that held together many of the most explosive and dominant builds.
The Context of the Banning
The banning didn’t happen in a vacuum. The power of Urza decks, along with the oppressive nature of cards like Oko, had led to a significant imbalance in the format. While Oko was a powerful individual threat, it was the synergy with Mox Opal’s mana advantage that made the archetype particularly problematic. The combination of early threats, disruptive spells, and fast combos was simply too difficult to overcome for many other decks.
The Modern format aims for a diverse metagame, where a variety of decks and strategies can compete viably. Mox Opal’s dominant position, however, constricted the potential for innovation and variety, leading WotC to make the difficult decision to ban it. This was not the first powerful card to be banned, and likely won’t be the last, in the constant balancing act for a healthy, competitive environment.
The Impact of the Ban
The ban of Mox Opal had a considerable impact on the Modern metagame. The immediate effect was a noticeable decrease in the power level of decks reliant on its early mana acceleration. This created space for other archetypes to rise in popularity and viability. Urza decks, while still playable, became less dominant and more reliant on alternative strategies. The metagame overall became healthier and more diverse, demonstrating the effect a single, seemingly small ban can have on the overall health of a format.
The ban also highlighted the careful consideration WotC must give to powerful enablers. While individual threats might be problematic, enablers like Mox Opal often pose a larger problem because they can synergize with future cards. The lesson is that banning a single card can have a ripple effect, and sometimes targeting the enabler has more of a positive overall impact, like the ban of Mox Opal.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Mox Opal?
Mox Opal is a legendary artifact with the ability to produce one mana of any color once the player achieves “metalcraft,” which means they control three or more artifacts. This ability has made it a staple in artifact-heavy strategies for a long time.
Why was Mox Opal considered problematic?
Mox Opal provided extremely fast mana acceleration, allowing players to play powerful threats and combos much earlier than intended, primarily in artifact-based strategies.
Was Mox Opal the only card banned at the time?
No. Oko, Thief of Crowns and Mycosynth Lattice were also banned in the same announcement, as they were seen as other problematic elements in the Modern meta.
Why was Oko, Thief of Crowns banned alongside Mox Opal?
Oko was banned due to its power and flexibility as a threat, being able to neutralize enemy threats, and generating board presence consistently. The combination with Mox Opal made it especially problematic.
What was the issue with Mycosynth Lattice?
Mycosynth Lattice was banned because it showed up more often than was considered fun in competitive play, due to its relatively low deckbuilding cost and the powerful lock-out strategies that were built around it.
What are the “Mox” cards in Magic: The Gathering?
The “Mox” cards are a cycle of five incredibly powerful zero-mana artifacts that each produce one mana of a specific color: Mox Pearl (white), Mox Sapphire (blue), Mox Jet (black), Mox Ruby (red), and Mox Emerald (green). These are incredibly rare, highly desired, and often banned or restricted in formats where they are legal.
Why are the original Mox cards mostly banned or restricted?
These cards were seen as too powerful for most formats, due to their ability to ramp out powerful spells ahead of the curve. They can often lead to incredibly unbalanced games and are therefore restricted or banned early in the game’s history.
What formats was Mox Opal legal in before the ban?
Mox Opal was legal in Modern, Legacy, and Vintage. It is now banned in Modern, while still being legal in Legacy and Vintage, albeit as restricted to one copy.
What is the “Metalcraft” ability on Mox Opal?
Metalcraft is an ability word that is featured on cards when you control three or more artifacts. With metalcraft on Mox Opal, it produces one mana of any color, making it a powerful mana source.
How did the ban affect Urza, Lord High Artificer decks?
The ban of Mox Opal significantly weakened Urza decks by removing their primary source of early, explosive mana. While still viable, they became less dominant and had to adjust their strategies.
How does Wizards of the Coast decide what cards to ban?
WotC monitors the competitive landscape of each format and bans cards that create imbalances, oppressive strategies, or stifle deck diversity. They prioritize a healthy and varied format experience.
Are there any other cards with similar abilities to Mox Opal?
While there are other cards that can produce mana from artifacts, none are as powerful and efficient as Mox Opal. Some examples are Manamorphose and Mishra’s Bauble.
What is the “Banned and Restricted” list?
The Banned and Restricted List is a list of cards that are either banned (not allowed) or restricted (only one copy allowed per deck) in specific Magic formats to maintain game balance.
Was the banning of Mox Opal a controversial decision?
While some players disagreed with the decision, most players and analysts recognized that Mox Opal was creating problems and generally agree that the banning was a move that improved the format’s overall health.
Has there ever been discussion about unbanning Mox Opal?
There have been occasional discussions within the player community about unbanning Mox Opal, but as of now, WotC has not shown any indication of wanting to do so. It is considered too powerful for Modern at this time.