Gitaxian Probe

Standard	Rotated out on October 5, 2012
Pioneer	Not Legal
Modern	Banned since January 20, 2017
Legacy	Banned since July 6, 2018
Vintage	Restricted since April 24, 2017
Commander	Never Banned
Pauper	Banned since May 24, 2019
Oathbreaker	Never Banned
Extended	Never Banned

View on Scryfall

Timeline

• May 13, 2011 - Released
• January 20, 2017 - Status changed to Banned in Modern
• April 24, 2017 - Status changed to Restricted in Vintage
• July 6, 2018 - Status changed to Banned in Legacy
• May 24, 2019 - Status changed to Banned in Pauper

Rationale

Gitaxian Probe has been flagged across multiple formats for providing a low-cost, high-impact information advantage and contributing to explosive mana efficiency. In Vintage, it was restricted due to the information it provided to certain strategies, such as Monastery Mentor, while in Legacy, it was banned because its ability to easily fill the graveyard and gain knowledge undermined the format’s historical emphasis on spellcasting and the psychological element of bluffing. In Pauper, it was banned alongside other free spells (*Gush* and *Daze*) as part of a broader effort to curb the power of blue tempo strategies and excessive mana efficiency in the format.

This summary was generated by gemma4 on September 14, 2026. It has not yet been reviewed by a human editor and may contain some inaccuracies. Learn more.

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