Is the Urza saga banned?

No, Urza's Saga is not currently banned; instead, it holds a restricted status in certain formats.

Urza's Saga Status Update

As of the Banned and Restricted announcement on August 26, 2024, Urza's Saga is designated as restricted, not banned. This means that while the card is not entirely prohibited from play, its presence in decks is significantly limited.

Understanding Restricted vs. Banned Cards

In the context of Magic: The Gathering, there's a crucial distinction between a card being "banned" and "restricted":

• Banned Cards: A card that is banned cannot be included in a player's deck or sideboard in the specific format where it is banned. It is completely disallowed from play.
• Restricted Cards: A card that is restricted allows players to include only one copy of that card in their entire deck, including the sideboard. This limitation applies to specific formats, typically powerful formats like Vintage, where even a single copy of a highly impactful card can be significant.

The change in Urza's Saga's status reflects ongoing efforts to balance gameplay and maintain a diverse meta-game across various formats. For the official announcement, you can refer to the August 26, 2024 Banned and Restricted Announcement.

Other Notable Card Status Updates

Alongside Urza's Saga, another card, Vexing Bauble, was also listed as restricted on the same August 26, 2024 announcement. These changes are part of regular adjustments made by game developers to ensure competitive balance.

Below is a summary of the mentioned card statuses: