Biorhythm unbanned in Commander after nearly 21 years

Wizards of the Coast has unbanned the green sorcery Biorhythm in Commander, ending nearly 21 years of exile. First printed in 2002's Onslaught, Biorhythm costs eight mana and sets each player’s life total equal to the number of creatures they control — potentially an instant loss for an opponent with no creatures.

Biorhythm was banned in April 2005 alongside the Power Nine, Balance, and Library of Alexandria. Sheldon Menery, who helped popularize Commander, said it was the first card he recommended banning: "Indestructible wasn’t really a thing, so there weren’t too many ways to win that way, but games were devolving into Biorhythm battles.

This was a time when the creatures weren’t so great that there weren’t really too many creature strategies.

biorhythm, commander, wizards, onslaught, 2002, eight mana, life total, creatures, april 2005, sheldon menery