Magic: The Gathering’s notorious Vivi Ornitier is facing a nerf today on MTG Arena, just before it may be banned in specific formats on November 10. Magic: The Gathering has seen a surge in sales and overall success, partly due to releases from Universes Beyond, including Final Fantasy. The reception for Universes Beyond has been mixed; however, the Final Fantasy release was well-received, contributing to the creation of some potent cards and combos.

As players began integrating the new Final Fantasy cards into Standard’s rotation post their June release, an issue arose: Vivi Ornitier started to dominate the Standard meta, leading to a scenario where the most powerful Final Fantasy deck in MTG was priced at $800. Following numerous appeals for action, Wizards of the Coast adjusted the timeline for the November Banned and Restricted post to November 10 and indicated that Vivi might be banned. A recent update clarified that Vivi is undergoing rebalance changes in MTG Arena.

Say Goodbye to the Version of Vivi You Know

The combination of Vivi and Agatha’s Soul Cauldron is exceptionally strong in Standard, though it is not available in Alchemy format. Changes are being made to ensure Vivi aligns with other competitive cards, which are non-playable in Alchemy but can still combo with Swiftspear’s Teachings. While players can initiate combos for one red mana to trigger damage, Vivi will now require tapping to generate mana, while its ability will not be limited to once per turn.

However, these balance changes could affect other formats as well, with players speculating Vivi might gain some strength in Historic due to potential combos involving cards like Crab Umbra and Freed from the Real. Players express frustration, believing the nerfed version of Vivi would have been less overpowered in Standard compared to its current state. As discussions swirl, fans will await the outcomes of Wizards of the Coast’s November 10 announcements.