Is Lurrus Banned in Legacy? A Deep Dive into a Format-Defining Card

Yes, Lurrus of the Dream-Den is currently banned in Legacy. This decision was made due to the card’s overwhelming impact on the format, its ability to slot into a wide range of strategies, and its warping effect on deckbuilding choices. Lurrus became a ubiquitous presence, stifling diversity and pushing out other viable strategies, ultimately leading to its ban.

Why Was Lurrus Banned? The Core Issues

Lurrus’s banning wasn’t a knee-jerk reaction. It was the result of careful observation and analysis of its effect on the Legacy metagame. Several key factors contributed to the decision:

• Ubiquity: Lurrus found its way into a vast array of decks, from aggressive strategies like Death & Taxes and Delver to more controlling archetypes. Its ability to repeatedly recur cheap threats or disruption made it a valuable asset in virtually any strategy that could meet its companion condition.

• Deckbuilding Constraints: The companion mechanic, while initially intended as a unique and flavorful addition, imposed significant deckbuilding constraints. To accommodate Lurrus, players were incentivized to build their decks around it, often at the expense of overall deck strength or strategic diversity. Decks became homogenized as players cut high mana cost options to consistently meet Lurrus’s criteria.

• Power Level: Even with the deckbuilding restrictions, Lurrus’s power level proved too high for Legacy. Its ability to generate card advantage and resilience consistently outmatched other strategies. The combination of cheap threats and a recursive engine proved extremely difficult to overcome, making it a defining force in the metagame.

• Stifling Diversity: A healthy metagame boasts a variety of viable strategies. Lurrus’s dominance pushed many other archetypes to the sidelines, resulting in a less diverse and less interesting competitive landscape. The ban was a deliberate attempt to open the format up to a wider range of strategic possibilities.

The Impact on Legacy

Lurrus’s ban has had a significant impact on the Legacy metagame. The format has become more diverse, allowing previously underrepresented strategies to flourish. Decks that struggled to compete with Lurrus-based strategies have seen a resurgence in popularity. The ban has also forced players to re-evaluate their deckbuilding choices, leading to innovation and the emergence of new archetypes.

Overall, the ban has been viewed positively by the Legacy community. While some players may miss the consistency and power of Lurrus, the increased diversity and strategic depth of the format are generally seen as a welcome change.

What does this say about game design?

The Lurrus saga serves as a potent lesson in game design. It highlights the delicate balance between innovation, flavour, and power. While the companion mechanic was an interesting design experiment, its implementation ultimately proved problematic. This experience underscores the importance of thorough testing, community feedback, and a willingness to adapt and make changes when necessary. The Games Learning Society and other organizations promote research and collaboration on these kinds of learning opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Lurrus and Legacy

Here are some frequently asked questions about Lurrus and its place (or lack thereof) in the Legacy format:

1. Was Lurrus ever legal in Legacy?

Yes, Lurrus of the Dream-Den was initially legal in Legacy upon its release in Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths. However, it quickly became apparent that its power level was too high, leading to its eventual ban.

2. When was Lurrus banned in Legacy?

Lurrus was banned in Legacy on May 18, 2020, along with Zirda, the Dawnwaker. This announcement came after a period of intense observation and analysis of the card’s impact on the format.

3. What other formats is Lurrus banned in?

In addition to Legacy, Lurrus of the Dream-Den is also banned in Modern, Pioneer, and Vintage. This widespread banning is a testament to the card’s problematic power level and warping effect on various Magic: The Gathering formats.

4. What is the companion mechanic?

The companion mechanic allows you to reveal a card from outside the game (typically your sideboard) at the beginning of the game, provided your deck meets certain deckbuilding requirements. You can then cast the companion from outside the game once per game. This mechanic was intended to offer a unique strategic element, but it proved to be problematic in practice.

5. What were the deckbuilding restrictions for Lurrus?

To use Lurrus as a companion, your deck could only contain cards with a mana value of 2 or less. This restriction heavily influenced deckbuilding choices, as players were incentivized to prioritize cheap cards to meet the companion condition.

6. Why was Zirda banned in Legacy alongside Lurrus?

Zirda, the Dawnwaker was banned in Legacy primarily due to its interactions with cards like Grim Monolith and Basalt Monolith, creating powerful and consistent mana combos.

7. What are some other cards that are banned in Legacy?

The Legacy banned list is extensive and includes cards like Demonic Consultation, Necropotence, Brainstorm, and many more. This list is regularly updated to ensure the format remains balanced and diverse.

8. How often does the Legacy banned list change?

Wizards of the Coast typically announces changes to the banned and restricted lists several times a year, often in conjunction with major set releases or significant metagame shifts. These announcements are based on data analysis, community feedback, and a desire to maintain the health and balance of each format.

9. Where can I find the most up-to-date Legacy banned list?

The most up-to-date Legacy banned list can be found on the official Magic: The Gathering website or through various online resources dedicated to Magic: The Gathering information.

10. Is companion still a mechanic used in new sets?

Wizards of the Coast has largely moved away from the companion mechanic in its original form due to the issues it caused. While similar mechanics might appear in the future, it’s unlikely that the companion mechanic will return in its initial iteration.

11. Can I still play with Lurrus in casual Legacy games?

While Lurrus is banned in sanctioned Legacy tournaments, you can still play with it in casual games with friends. It’s always a good idea to discuss house rules and card legality before playing casual games to ensure everyone is on the same page.

12. What archetypes have benefited most from Lurrus being banned?

The banning of Lurrus has opened up space for a wider variety of archetypes to thrive in Legacy. Control strategies, midrange decks with higher mana costs, and combo decks that struggled against Lurrus’s resilience have all seen a resurgence in popularity.

13. How does the Legacy format differ from other constructed formats like Modern or Pioneer?

Legacy is a non-rotating format, meaning that cards from nearly all sets in Magic: The Gathering’s history are legal (subject to the banned list). This vast card pool allows for a wide range of strategic possibilities but also requires a deep understanding of the game’s history. Modern and Pioneer are both rotating formats, meaning that only cards from certain sets are legal, which helps to keep the formats fresh and accessible.

14. Does the banning of Lurrus affect Commander (EDH)?

Lurrus is not banned in Commander, although it has some restrictions in that format. As a companion, Lurrus can only be played in Commander decks whose commander’s color identity is white and/or black. It also can’t be a commander itself.

15. Why is it important to have banned lists in Magic: The Gathering?

Banned lists are essential for maintaining the health and balance of Magic: The Gathering formats. Without them, certain cards or combinations of cards could become too dominant, leading to a stale and uncompetitive metagame. Banned lists help to ensure that a wide range of strategies remain viable, promoting diversity and strategic depth.

The banning of Lurrus in Legacy highlights the importance of careful card design and the need to adapt to unforeseen consequences. While the companion mechanic was an interesting experiment, its implementation ultimately proved problematic, leading to a necessary ban. The Legacy format is now more diverse and balanced as a result, offering players a wider range of strategic possibilities. Be sure to check out the GamesLearningSociety.org website to learn more about game balance and design.