If you’ve been playing Magic for a while, especially Commander, you probably felt that little jolt when the news started spreading: Biorhythm is back. Yes, that Biorhythm. The one that spent decades banned, the card behind all those wild stories about games ending out of nowhere. But that wasn’t the only thing. February 2026 brought one of those updates that doesn’t look massive at first glance, but quietly reshapes the game, the market, and the conversations around the table. The goal here is to put everything together. The official announcement, the deeper reasoning behind it, what actually changes in Commander, and how all of this spilled straight into card prices. No rush, no corporate tone. More like chatting after a long game, coffee going cold, thinking “okay… this actually matters”. ## The announcement no one really expected: Biorhythm is legal in Commander again For years, Biorhythm was basically a myth. Everyone knew what it did, few had ever resolved it, and almost no one believed it would ever come off the ban list. It had been banned since 2005 and was treated as permanently incompatible with the spirit of Commander. When Wizards announced the unban, reactions were all over the place. Some people were excited, some nervous, some immediately started digging through old binders to see if they still had a copy. The core reasoning was bold but simple: Commander today is not the Commander of twenty years ago. The format is faster, more interactive, and packed with answers. Cheap removal, stack interaction, protection effects, counterspells in every color. The argument was that while Biorhythm is still extremely powerful, it’s no longer an automatic game-ender every time it hits the stack. And honestly, that tracks. In casual pods, it can easily turn into one of those ridiculous moments people talk about for months. In higher-powered tables, it rarely resolves uncontested. Still, the psychological impact is real. Knowing someone might suddenly set everyone’s life total to the number of creatures they control changes how you read the board. ## What actually changes in gameplay with Biorhythm legal In practice, Biorhythm doesn’t slot into just any deck. It asks for setup, timing, and most of all, good table awareness. This isn’t a card you fire off on autopilot. Very often, just holding Biorhythm is more threatening than casting it right away. Its return also reinforces something Commander has been pushing for years: pre-game conversations. Talking about deck power, warning about explosive cards, setting expectations. Biorhythm officially landed in the category of cards that demand that social check-in. Legal, yes. Harmless, not really. Deckbuilding shifts a bit too. Creatures matter even more now, both for players trying to exploit the effect and for those trying not to die to it. Decks that lean too hard on enchantments, artifacts, or planeswalkers without maintaining a board presence are suddenly taking on more risk. ## Lutri, the otter, and a compromise decision Alongside Biorhythm, another card was removed from the Commander ban list: Lutri, the Spellchaser. But this one comes with an important asterisk. Lutri is still banned as a Companion, which was the entire reason it was banned in the first place. Always having access to it with no real deckbuilding cost completely broke the format. Now, as a regular creature or even as a commander, Lutri is just… fine. Strong, sure, but within reason. The decision feels like a smart compromise. It lets players enjoy the card’s design and flavor while removing the truly abusive part. This also signals a shift in Commander philosophy. Instead of blanket bans, there’s more willingness to tweak specific rules when possible. It’s not perfect, but it shows the format growing up a bit. ## Game Changers and the evolution of Commander One concept that got more attention in this update was the idea of Game Changers. These are cards that aren’t banned, but clearly have the power to warp a game on the spot. Biorhythm officially joined that category. This isn’t just a label. It’s a reminder that Commander is, at its core, a social format. Winning matters, but how you win and how the table feels afterward matters too. This approach also helps keep the format healthy without banning everything scary. Instead of removing every potentially problematic card, the format leans more on communication between players. It doesn’t always work, but it works more often than people expect, especially in established playgroups. ## The immediate impact on the card market As expected, the market reacted fast. Biorhythm, an old card with limited printings, spiked almost instantly after the announcement. Commander players, collectors, and speculators all chased the same small supply. This kind of movement isn’t just about playability. Nostalgia plays a big role. Biorhythm carries that forbidden-card aura, and that alone adds value. Other cards tied to creature-based strategies also saw indirect bumps. Whenever a card like this comes back, it pulls an entire ecosystem with it. Old synergies resurface, new ideas pop up, and prices respond. ## The Hot and Cold List as a snapshot of the moment The Beckett Hot and Cold List from that week basically confirmed what everyone already suspected. Biorhythm showed up as one of the hottest cards around, driven by demand and scarcity. At the same time, cards people expected to be unbanned, like Prophet of Kruphix, cooled off fast. When speculation doesn’t pan out, the market corrects brutally. That’s just how it goes. Some other movements were interesting for different reasons. A few cards rose not because of Commander, but due to tournament results in other formats. It’s a good reminder that Magic’s ecosystem is deeply interconnected. A shake-up in one place ripples everywhere. ## What this says about the future of Commander The most interesting part of this update isn’t just specific cards coming back, but the message behind it. Commander feels more confident. More confident in its players, in the format’s ability to self-regulate, and in the idea that not every problem needs a permanent ban. This also opens the door to conversations about other long-banned cards. It doesn’t mean everything is coming back, but it shows that the past isn’t sacred. Context matters, and the game has changed. For casual players, this means more variety, more chaos, and more stories. For anyone watching the market, it means staying alert. Bans and unbans remain one of the strongest price drivers in Magic. ## Final thoughts, without the formal wrap-up At the end of the day, February 2026 became a real milestone for Commander. Biorhythm returned, Lutri found a middle ground, and the format took another step toward being more flexible and less rigid. Will it work long-term? Hard to say. But right now, it’s hard not to find it fascinating. Commander has always been about stories, and very few cards create stories as absurd as Biorhythm. ## FAQ about Biorhythm, Commander, and bans ### Is Biorhythm really legal in Commander now Yes. Biorhythm is no longer on the Commander ban list and can be played, assuming the table agrees on power level. ### Is Biorhythm considered broken It’s extremely powerful, but today’s format has far more answers than it did in the past. That’s why it’s labeled a Game Changer rather than banned. ### Can Lutri be used as a Companion in Commander No. Lutri remains banned as a Companion, but is legal in the deck or as a commander. ### Will Biorhythm’s price keep going up It depends. Initial spikes are often followed by stabilization. Future reprints or fading hype could affect its value. ### What are Game Changers in Commander They’re legal cards with very high impact that can drastically change a game and usually require a pre-game conversation. ### Does this change affect other Magic formats Not directly, but market movement and renewed interest in older cards often spill into other formats and collecting. ## Sources [https://www.polygon.com/mtg-ban-announcement-biorhythm-commander-legal/](https://www.polygon.com/mtg-ban-announcement-biorhythm-commander-legal/) [https://articles.starcitygames.com/magic-the-gathering/mtgs-february-banned-restricted-announcement-unbans-two-cards-in-commander/](https://articles.starcitygames.com/magic-the-gathering/mtgs-february-banned-restricted-announcement-unbans-two-cards-in-commander/) [https://www.beckett.com/news/magic-the-gathering-hot-cold-list-for-the-week-of-february-9-2026/](https://www.beckett.com/news/magic-the-gathering-hot-cold-list-for-the-week-of-february-9-2026/)