Legend Story Studios (LSS) published its scheduled Banned and Restricted announcement today, making changes to three non-Classic Constructed formats.
Blitz
Traverse the Universe is proving to strong in Blitz without efficient counterplay despite the community having ample time to attempt to adapt to the card in the format. Zen being able to take advantage of Traverse always being live to search for an Inner Chi means it has be sidelined for the foreseeable future. Zephyr Needle has proven problematic in Blitz just like in Classic Constructed as cards with retrieve make it too easy to mitigate the weapon’s downside. Zephyr Needle joins the ban list along with Traverse the Universe.
But it isn’t all swings of the ban hammer in Blitz. Crown of Seeds makes its return, but Bryan Gottlieb writes that it isn’t without risk. However, the risk is worth the shot as Blitz has cemented itself as an hyper-aggressive format that could use a tool like Crown of Seeds to help give defensive decks a fighting chance. LSS will be keeping an eye on the legendary Earth Equipment going forward.
Living Legend
In Living Legend, a new elemental card is being restricted due to its power in Bravo, Star of the Show.
Electromagnetic Somersault is being restricted because it makes it trivial to rebuy an Oaken Old or similarly restricted attack action when you can play multiple copies of this Lightning Instant from Rosetta. Restricting powerful attack actions no longer solves the problem if a card like Electromagnetic Somersault can override the restriction.
Commoner
Due to the power-level of Commoner, LSS is taking action on three of the most powerful weapons that start in play and stay in play: Rosetta Thorn, Waning Moon, and Zephyr Needle. Taking these weapons out of the pool should open up other heroes to compete when they lack a powerful weapon that sticks around and starts in the arena.
Lastly, Ball Lightning is returning to Commoner to give Lightning heroes a chance to strike in the meta. This is another unbanning that comes with some risk, but LSS believes now is a good time to shake things up in Commoner.
All changes listed above go into effect today. The next Banned and Restricted announcement is scheduled for May 27.
Read the official announcement from LSS.
