Mon Mar 23 22:50:00 UTC 2026: ### Headline: Food Chain Banned in MTG Arena’s Historic Format Following Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Crossover

The Story:
Wizards of the Coast (WotC) has announced a ban of the card “Food Chain” in the Historic format on MTG Arena. This decision comes after the card’s introduction as a “Special Guest” from the Magic: The Gathering | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles crossover set. The combination of “Food Chain” and “Sigardian Evangel” created a powerful and consistent combo, allowing players to generate infinite 3/1 creatures as early as Turn 2, often leading to a Turn 3 victory. WotC’s Play Design team admitted to missing this interaction during testing and cited the combo’s high win rate and cumbersome digital execution as reasons for the ban.

Key Points:

  • “Food Chain” banned in MTG Arena’s Historic format.
  • The card was introduced as a “Special Guest” from the Magic: The Gathering | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles crossover.
  • The “Food Chain” and “Sigardian Evangel” combo enabled extremely fast wins.
  • WotC’s Play Design team acknowledges missing the interaction during testing.
  • Other formats (Standard, Pioneer, Modern, and Legacy) are considered healthy and evolving.
  • The next scheduled B&R announcement is set for May 18.

Key Takeaways:

  • Crossover sets can introduce unexpected and potentially game-breaking interactions.
  • Thorough testing is crucial for new card additions, especially in digital formats.
  • WotC is willing to take swift action to address problematic cards in MTG Arena’s Historic format.
  • The health of other MTG formats remains stable, according to WotC’s Play Design team.

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