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How the Chains of Mephistopheles Card Accidentally Killed One of MTG's Most Fun Formats
This card combo's resurgence explains the format crash everyone is discussing. Commander players test experimental rules, sparking fresh debates.
How the Chains of Mephistopheles Card Accidentally Killed One of MTG's Most Fun Formats is an infinite lock piece. This combo stops all nonland mana, turning lively pods into frozen tables. Research shows this interaction can abruptly end a Commander table's energy.
Lands matter more when spells go silent. Chains turns every land into raw value, skipping normal steps. Players suddenly race to untap, creating tense, compressed turns.
Command becomes chaos. Casual groups joke about banned lists, but competitive tables enforce strict rules. Studies indicate clear communication prevents arguments about this card.
Embrace fast, decisive action. Accept swift, targeted disruption to preserve long-term table fun.
How severe is this combo in casual play?
Casual pods often ban the card or use slow mode to keep games interactive.
Does this combo appear in official Commander rules?
No; the interaction is legal, but table policy decides whether it stays welcome.
