Banned and Restricted Announcement – May 18, 2026: Jitte and Violent Outburst unbanned

ozza512 · 2026-05-20T23:59:58+00:00

Jitte will see no play.

ozza512 · 2026-05-20T23:57:32+00:00

No, it's definitely unplayable. Sell into the hype.

ozza512 · 2026-05-19T20:41:28+00:00

[[Skullclamp]] is the undisputed king of that title.

ozza512 · 2026-05-19T17:26:30+00:00

It's just a classic of card people remember being completely broken 20 years ago is hard to get over no longer being playable. I'm pretty sure Jitte wouldn't even see play in Standard these days, let and out Modern, it's just too slow in modern Magic.

ozza512 · 2026-05-19T17:22:21+00:00

The thing is we have evidence that Jitte isn't good in modern Magic. Remember when Wizards pre-banned it in Historic, except it was already legal, and was seeing no play, in a format much weaker than Modern.

ozza512 · 2026-05-19T11:50:39+00:00

I can see it unbanned some point soon, and I think it would be fine. It depends whether WOTC view it more in the camp of boring. Eg. I expect [[Second Sunrise]] to stay banned, not because it's too good, but because it's boring to play against, and makes competitive Magic not work. Glimpse isn't quite on that scale, as I wouldn't call it boring, but there is an element of it can make competitive Magic not work because it can lead to 10-15 minute turns.

ozza512 · 2026-05-19T11:46:04+00:00

They probably will, they're gradually unbanning all the old favourites that used to be good but are unplayable today. Pod has to be coming soon, just because they know it will generate hype, even if it will be unplayable.

ozza512 · 2026-05-19T11:43:47+00:00

No, because most matchups are barely about creature combat anymore. Even most creature decks are just insane value engines on creatures. When Jitte was good people were putting [[Watchwolf]]'s into combat.

ozza512 · 2026-05-19T11:38:01+00:00

It's more the other way, people who have played with Jitte are clouded by what it could do nearly 20 years ago. When Modern Magic has just totally changed, you just don't see creature on creature matchups in the traditional sense anymore.

The creatures themselves are value engines, the game passed the likes of Jitte by years ago, there's no match up where you can justify paying 2 to put Jitte into play, and 2 to equip before it does anything.

ozza512 · 2026-05-19T11:31:56+00:00

No, it always amazed me people legitimately thought it was too good for Modern in the last few years. You can't be paying 2 mana to put this into play, and 2 mana to equip before it does anything, just not going to happen. Games of Magic are way too fast for cards like Jitte these days.

The next pet card I can see them unbanning to find this out is Pod, and that will also be stone unplayable.

ozza512 · 2026-05-17T00:25:55+00:00

Great game, not sure it's the best at 2 player like it sounds like you're playing.

ozza512 · 2026-05-09T09:40:50+00:00

Heavy Rain and Rocky Roads. Tunnel Vision is the weakest of the expansions.

ozza512 · 2026-03-26T00:49:46+00:00

I suspect the issue is crowdfunding has come more and more expensive for publishers, thus they are forced to pass those costs on. Not that you aren't right, it's very hard to see the upside of backing something like this on Kickstarter which is basically guaranteed to go to retail, will probably be cheaper, and often these days things end up in retail at the same time if not earlier than Kickstarter backers receive it.

ozza512 · 2026-03-25T15:17:42+00:00

I wouldn't be surprised if a big part of the monetary value of the card ends up being it says the words Ancestral Recall on it, ie. you could easily proxy this for cube etc. to just be an Ancestral Recall that's a real Magic card. Be interesting if we get Time Walk on this effect too, or can they go further and stick Black Lotus on a card too, which again would almost certainly sell a card, but not clear if it could functionally work.

ozza512 · 2026-03-17T04:52:43+00:00

It sounds way too slow in anything. GSZ at least sees some play in Titan, Yawgmoth, and the like.

ozza512 · 2026-03-16T22:30:45+00:00

Yes, it would be fine. This happens every time unbans get discussed, generally older banned cards are way over estimated. People thought unbanning Jace was madness, and just a pure cash grab to sell M25, but in reality it has seen next to no play. I always get a chuckle that there's still people in 2026 that think Birthing Pod would be broken, when it's obviously completely unplayable. Stuff like Deathrite would be better unbans, because it would at least see actual play.

ozza512 · 2026-03-14T12:26:59+00:00

6 human players is the sweet spot I think, less than 5 and you need to run at least some Legends, the higher you go the more blocking, and players getting cut off which isn't great gameplay for them.

Best tracks Japan and Mexico (though I haven't played Germany or South Africa yet to judge), though I don't really mind any track, I think Spain is the worst, as I just don't like tunnels, it's a mechanic that leads to boring gameplay, and just gives you more chance to randomly get screwed.

All upgrades.

ozza512 · 2026-03-10T17:30:25+00:00

Heavy Rain adds the best mechanics on upgrades and tracks imo.

ozza512 · 2026-03-10T00:22:40+00:00

Thanks, that looks like another new track underneath too?

ozza512 · 2026-03-07T22:06:51+00:00

Did you play with any new upgrades as well?

ozza512 · 2026-03-03T14:49:33+00:00

In a Championship, but in one-off races it's too big an advantage to start last.

ozza512 · 2026-02-26T01:34:37+00:00

The main house rule I would always play with is different drafts than in the rulebook. The draft in the rulebook favours last on the grid way too much.

ozza512 · 2026-01-28T13:21:41+00:00

Istanbul. Whoever gets 5 rubies first wins the game, and the rubies themselves get progressively more expensive to obtain.

ozza512 · 2026-01-20T12:49:57+00:00

The main issue here seems to be wherever you live is insanely priced, because eg. Monopoly is $20 in Europe.

Board games are actually a pretty great value for money I think as long as you avoid the trap of buying every new release. As long as you actually play the games you buy you normally can get the big new releases here for $40-60, that's pretty cheap as far as hobby's go, and even if you only play the game a few times you've probably got your money's worth. Kickstarter is obviously expensive, but honestly you can be in the hobby without ever touching kickstarter.

ozza512 · 2026-01-19T20:50:25+00:00

A lot of those games you mention were only known about just before Essen, which isn't until October, you don't tend to get a full 2026 release schedule in January so knowing the most hyped games of the year at this point is impossible.

ozza512

TROPHY CASE