Standard has been rough all summer. The 2025 MTG ban schedule mistake made it worse by locking action behind long windows. We lived through Cori-Steel Cutter and friends until June, then landed in Vivi Cauldron world. Wizards finally spoke up. The next ban announcement moves up. They also admitted the schedule was off, and they plan more windows next year. That is the right read.
I care because I play, write, and print cards at PrintMTG.com. When Standard is warped, people stop brewing. Weeknights feel stale. And stores pay the price. So let’s unpack what changed, why it matters, and what to do between now and November.
Why the 2025 ban schedule missed the mark
Wizards tried to tie banned and restricted announcements to RC and RCQ seasons. On paper this helps travel plans and keeps events stable. In practice the windows were too sparse and poorly timed for Standard’s power spikes. We saw a format break early, then sit there while players argued about “emergency bans” that were never coming. Wizards now says those windows were wrong for this part of the year. That honesty is good. The reality on the ground backs it up.
What moving the November announcement means
The next announcement shifts from November 24 to November 10. Two weeks is not huge, but it matters. It gives players more time before big end-of-year events and lets the team fix problems sooner. It also respects RCQ plans. No one wants a surprise ban mid season. This is a reasonable middle path.
Vivi Ornitier and Cauldron are the problem to solve
If you have played Standard lately, you know the engine. Vivi Ornitier plus Agatha’s Soul Cauldron turns your board into a mana factory. The deck snowballs fast and punishes anyone not packing specific answers. Wizards called Vivi “warping,” which tracks. They also said they are unsure on Cauldron itself. That nuance matters. Cauldron was fine before Final Fantasy added Vivi to the format. Naive two-card hits can cause collateral damage. Surgical changes can free the metagame without overcorrecting.
The combo’s power is not just theory. Lists and results across digital play show how easily the shell scales. If you have been rolled by it on ladder, you are not alone.
More ban windows per set release
Here is the best part of the update. Wizards plans to add more ban windows next year, aiming for one around each major set release. That aligns with how Standard actually breaks. New sets introduce new engines, new combos, and new incentives. If the metagame spikes in a bad direction, the team can fix it close to the cause rather than months later. Predictable windows also help stores and event organizers set expectations. You want stability and adaptability together. This gets closer.
The trade-offs of frequent bans
Frequent bans can create churn. If every window hits a card, players will feel like they rent decks. That is bad for trust. Wizards says the long-term goal is still minimal bans with a yearly touch near rotation. I agree with the principle. The trick is living through years like this, when one card clearly breaks the room. The answer is not zero bans. The answer is clear windows, sparing use, and fast fixes when the data is obvious.
What to do between now and November
If you play Standard weekly, you still have time to adapt.
- Respect the combo. Pack clean answers that hit artifacts or activated abilities, not just spot removal. Stack interaction early.
- Be honest about clock speed. If your deck durdles for two turns, you will lose to Vivi Cauldron often.
- Tune mana bases so your sideboard cards come down on time. If you need a refresher, our guide to lands is solid and plain English. Read it here: https://printmtg.com/the-essential-guide-to-lands-in-magic-the-gathering/
- Use tools. Goldfish-style metagame trackers, deck databases, and testing helpers are great when formats churn. We collected our favorites here: https://printmtg.com/the-best-magic-the-gathering-tools-for-research-deck-building-proxies-and-more/
If you are a store, keep communication clear with your players. Note the November 10 date on your calendar. Consider small Standard side events with clear prize support to keep interest up. The update is coming.
Why this matters for Avatar in November
Avatar releases November 21. With the ban window on November 10, Standard will either be cleaned up right before previews finish or the combo will survive a bit longer by design. That timing is better than waiting until after release. No one wants to learn a new set and a new metagame in the same week. A quicker decision makes the transition cleaner.
How we got here
June 30 brought a big slate of Standard bans. That reset was needed after months of frustration. The part that failed was what followed. We shifted straight into a new dominant engine, then had to wait for months again. The 2025 MTG ban schedule mistake is not just a date on the calendar. It is the slow feeling when the game is stuck and everyone knows the fix is gated by policy. That is why this update feels like a turning point.
What I expect on November 10
My read: Vivi goes. Cauldron is a maybe. If the team believes Mono-Red and a few new lists can keep Vivi in check, they might wait. But their messaging says they are ready to act. If Vivi leaves, Standard should open up fast. Decks that could not race the engine will have room again. Midrange and tempo shells should breathe.
Bottom line
Wizards owned the mistake and adjusted. The next announcement moved up. The plan for 2026 looks smarter. Players get clearer windows and faster responses when new sets push too far. There are risks with more frequent action, but the current plan balances stability and flexibility better than what we had.
If you are tired of losing to Vivi, you are heard. If you just want your Friday night to feel fun again, same. Let’s get to November 10 and see the change. We will keep this page updated as news lands.
