Karn, the Great Creator

Standard	Rotated out on September 25, 2020
Pioneer	Banned since December 4, 2023
Modern	Never Banned
Legacy	Never Banned
Vintage	Restricted since August 30, 2019
Commander	Never Banned
Pauper	Never Banned
Oathbreaker	Never Banned
Extended	Not Legal

View on Scryfall

Timeline

• May 3, 2019 - Released
• August 30, 2019 - Status changed to Restricted in Vintage
• December 4, 2023 - Status changed to Banned in Pioneer

Rationale

In Vintage, Karn, the Great Creator was restricted due to its static ability, which provided Shops decks with excessive early-game lockout potential, reducing the overall interactivity of the format. The card's ban status was later reinforced in Pioneer and Explorer, where its unrestricted power level was deemed detrimental because its broad range facilitates convoluted infinite combos, making the format less approachable. Its powerful consistency and overwhelming versatility warp the metagame, creating an environment where fair midrange strategies struggle to exist.

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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