Since its arrival in MTG Modern Horizons 3, Nadu, Winged Wisdom has loomed large over Modern, prompting significant concerns for the health of the format. Or at least that was the case until August 26, when Wizards of the Coast’s banhammer finally knocked Nadu out of the sky.
Within weeks of its arrival, Nadu, Winged Wisdom established itself as a new Modern staple – albeit for all the wrong reasons. Almost immediately, the three-drop bird wizard dominated the format in a way that left those who played against it with little in the way of an answer. Even further evidence of the feathered fiend’s preeminence was delivered when 5 of the Top 8 decks at Pro Tour Modern Horizons in June sported a Nadu-centric build. So, the writing was on the wall – Nadu needed to be banned.
Balance is an essential element of any of the best card games, and Magic: The Gathering is no exception.That’s why, in an attempt to maintain a consistent power level and to avoid too singular a meta, Wizards of the Coast maintains a list of cards that are banned or restricted from play in sanctioned events. Yet despite pressure from players, Nadu, Winged Wisdom managed to avoid induction into the MTG banlist for over 2 months.
