Current TCG Banlist
Almost all tournaments follows the Advanced format, which has many forbidden and limited cards. Forbidden cards are not allowed anywhere near your deck. Limited cards are those that you can only have one of in your deck and Semi-Limited are those that you can only have two of in your deck, instead of the usual three.
Cards are banned in order to keep the game interesting. Without these lists, tournament matches will just be a game of luck: whoever draws the super powerful card first will win. In some cases, if both players get a strong starting hand, it might even be whoever goes first wins. This is no fun for players and observers. Instead, the banlist forces players to be creative and to strategize while playing, which keeps the game interesting in the long run.
There is also the Traditional format of Duel Monsters, which has no forbidden cards. Those that are forbidden are considered to be limited instead under the Traditional format. If you are playing with your friends, be sure that you all agree on which ruleset you are following in order to prevent arguments later on!
The banlist is constantly updated and changed. Some cards that are forbidden now may become limited in the future and vice versa. Yu-Gi-Oh! World will be sure to keep you updated on these changes!
- Cards that are “Forbidden” cannot be used in your Main Deck, Extra Deck, or Side Deck.
- You can only have 1 copy maximum of a “Limited” card in your Main Deck, Extra Deck, and Side Deck combined.
- You can only have 2 copies maximum of a “Semi-limited” card in your Main Deck, Extra Deck, and Side Deck combined.
FORBIDDEN & LIMITED LISTS
Effective from March 31, 2017 |
UPDATED: 03/21/2017 |
| Card Type | Card Name | Advanced Format | Traditional Format | Remarks |
| Monster/Effect | APOQLIPHORT TOWERS | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | BLASTER, DRAGON RULER OF INFERNOS | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | CHAOS EMPEROR DRAGON – ENVOY OF THE END | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | CYBER JAR | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | CYBER-STEIN | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | DESTINY HERO – DISK COMMANDER | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | DJINN RELEASER OF RITUALS | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | ELEMENTAL HERO STRATOS | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | FIBER JAR | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | FISHBORG BLASTER | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | MAGICAL SCIENTIST | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | MAJESPECTER UNICORN – KIRIN | Forbidden | Limited | Was Limited |
| Monster/Effect | MAKYURA THE DESTRUCTOR | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | MIND MASTER | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | MORPHING JAR | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | MORPHING JAR #2 | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | PERFORMAGE DAMAGE JUGGLER | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | PERFORMAGE PLUSHFIRE | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | PERFORMAPAL MONKEYBOARD | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | REDOX, DRAGON RULER OF BOULDERS | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | SHURIT, STRATEGIST OF THE NEKROZ | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | SUBSTITOAD | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | TEMPEST, DRAGON RULER OF STORMS | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | THE TYRANT NEPTUNE | Forbidden | Limited | New |
| Monster/Effect | TIDAL, DRAGON RULER OF WATERFALLS | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | TRIBE-INFECTING VIRUS | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | VICTORY DRAGON | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | WITCH OF THE BLACK FOREST | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | YATA-GARASU | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Fusion | EL SHADDOLL CONSTRUCT | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Xyz | EVILSWARM EXCITON KNIGHT | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Xyz | LAVALVAL CHAIN | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Xyz | NUMBER 16: SHOCK MASTER | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Xyz | TELLARKNIGHT PTOLEMAEUS | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Xyz | WIND-UP CARRIER ZENMAITY | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | BUTTERFLY DAGGER – ELMA | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | CARD DESTRUCTION | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | CARD OF SAFE RETURN | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | CHANGE OF HEART | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | CHICKEN GAME | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | COLD WAVE | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | CONFISCATION | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | DELINQUENT DUO | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | DIMENSION FUSION | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | GATEWAY OF THE SIX | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | GIANT TRUNADE | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | GRACEFUL CHARITY | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | HARPIE’S FEATHER DUSTER | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | HEAVY STORM | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | KAISER COLOSSEUM | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | LAST WILL | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | MASS DRIVER | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | METAMORPHOSIS | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | MIRAGE OF NIGHTMARE | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | MONSTER REBORN | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | PAINFUL CHOICE | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | POT OF AVARICE | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | POT OF GREED | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | PREMATURE BURIAL | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | SNATCH STEAL | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | SPELLBOOK OF JUDGMENT | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | SUPER POLYMERIZATION | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | SUPER REJUVENATION | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | THE FORCEFUL SENTRY | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | WAVERING EYES | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Trap | LAST TURN | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Trap | RETURN FROM THE DIFFERENT DIMENSION | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Trap | ROYAL OPPRESSION | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Trap | SELF-DESTRUCT BUTTON | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Trap | SIXTH SENSE | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Trap | SOLEMN JUDGMENT | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Trap | TIME SEAL | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Trap | TRAP DUSTSHOOT | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Trap | ULTIMATE OFFERING | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Trap | VANITY’S EMPTINESS | Forbidden | Limited | Was Limited |
| Card Type | Card Name | Advanced Format | Traditional Format | Remarks |
| Monster | LEFT ARM OF THE FORBIDDEN ONE | Limited | ||
| Monster | LEFT LEG OF THE FORBIDDEN ONE | Limited | ||
| Monster | RIGHT ARM OF THE FORBIDDEN ONE | Limited | ||
| Monster | RIGHT LEG OF THE FORBIDDEN ONE | Limited | ||
| Monster | QLIPHORT SCOUT | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | ARTIFACT MORALLTACH | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | BLACK LUSTER SOLDIER – ENVOY OF THE BEGINNING | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | CIR, MALEBRANCHE OF THE BURNING ABYSS | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | DANDYLION | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | DARK ARMED DRAGON | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | DEEP SEA DIVA | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | EHTHER THE HEAVENLY MONARCH | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | EXODIA THE FORBIDDEN ONE | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | GENEX ALLY BIRDMAN | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | GRAFF, MALEBRANCHE OF THE BURNING ABYSS | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | INFERNITY ARCHFIEND | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | INZEKTOR DRAGONFLY | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | INZEKTOR HORNET | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | KOZMO DARK DESTROYER | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | LUSTER PENDULUM, THE DRACOSLAYER | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | MATHEMATICIAN | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | MAXX “C” | Limited | Was Semi-Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | NEO-SPACIAN GRAND MOLE | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | NIGHT ASSAILANT | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | PERFORMAPAL SKULLCROBAT JOKER | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | RED-EYES DARKNESS METAL DRAGON | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | RESCUE CAT | Limited | Was Forbidden | |
| Monster/Effect | RESCUE RABBIT | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | TOUR GUIDE FROM THE UNDERWORLD | Limited | ||
| Monster/Ritual | EVIGISHKI GUSTKRAKEN | Limited | ||
| Monster/Ritual | EVIGISHKI MIND AUGUS | Limited | ||
| Monster/Ritual | NEKROZ OF BRIONAC | Limited | ||
| Monster/Ritual | NEKROZ OF UNICORE | Limited | ||
| Monster/Fusion | ELDER ENTITY NORDEN | Limited | ||
| Monster/Fusion | RITUAL BEAST ULTI-CANNAHAWK | Limited | ||
| Monster/Synchro | BRIONAC, DRAGON OF THE ICE BARRIER | Limited | Was Forbidden | |
| Monster/Synchro | DEWLOREN, TIGER KING OF THE ICE BARRIER | Limited | ||
| Monster/Synchro | IGNISTER PROMINENCE, THE BLASTING DRACOSLAYER | Limited | ||
| Monster/Synchro | TRISHULA, DRAGON OF THE ICE BARRIER | Limited | ||
| Monster/Synchro | T.G. HYPER LIBRARIAN | Limited | ||
| Monster/Xyz | BEATRICE, LADY OF THE ETERNAL | Limited | ||
| Spell | BOOK OF MOON | Limited | ||
| Spell | BRAIN CONTROL | Limited | Was Forbidden | |
| Spell | BURIAL FROM A DIFFERENT DIMENSION | Limited | ||
| Spell | DIMENSIONAL FISSURE | Limited | ||
| Spell | DIVINE WIND OF MIST VALLEY | Limited | ||
| Spell | DRACO FACE‐OFF | Limited | ||
| Spell | EL SHADDOLL FUSION | Limited | ||
| Spell | EMERGENCY TELEPORT | Limited | ||
| Spell | FINAL COUNTDOWN | Limited | ||
| Spell | FOOLISH BURIAL | Limited | ||
| Spell | FUTURE FUSION | Limited | Was Forbidden | |
| Spell | INFERNITY LAUNCHER | Limited | ||
| Spell | LIMITER REMOVAL | Limited | ||
| Spell | MIND CONTROL | Limited | ||
| Spell | MONSTER GATE | Limited | ||
| Spell | ONE DAY OF PEACE | Limited | ||
| Spell | ONE FOR ONE | Limited | ||
| Spell | PANTHEISM OF THE MONARCHS | Limited | ||
| Spell | PENDULUM CALL | Limited | ||
| Spell | PREPARATION OF RITES | Limited | ||
| Spell | RAIGEKI | Limited | ||
| Spell | REASONING | Limited | ||
| Spell | REINFORCEMENT OF THE ARMY | Limited | ||
| Spell | REKINDLING | Limited | ||
| Spell | ROYAL TRIBUTE | Limited | ||
| Spell | SAQLIFICE | Limited | ||
| Spell | SOUL CHARGE | Limited | ||
| Spell | SYMBOL OF HERITAGE | Limited | ||
| Spell | THE MONARCHS STORMFORTH | Limited | ||
| Spell | UPSTART GOBLIN | Limited | ||
| Trap | BOTTOMLESS TRAP HOLE | Limited | ||
| Trap | COMPULSORY EVACUATION DEVICE | Limited | ||
| Trap | ERADICATOR EPIDEMIC VIRUS | Limited | ||
| Trap | IMPERIAL ORDER | Limited | Was Forbidden | |
| Trap | INFERNITY BARRIER | Limited | ||
| Trap | MACRO COSMOS | Limited | ||
| Trap | MAGICAL EXPLOSION | Limited | ||
| Trap | RING OF DESTRUCTION | Limited | ||
| Trap | SKILL DRAIN | Limited | ||
| Trap | SOLEMN WARNING | Limited | ||
| Trap | SOUL DRAIN | Limited | ||
| Trap | TORRENTIAL TRIBUTE | Limited | ||
| Trap | WALL OF REVEALING LIGHT | Limited | ||
| Card Type | Card Name | Advanced Format | Traditional Format | Remarks |
| Monster | LEFT ARM OF THE FORBIDDEN ONE | Limited | ||
| Monster | LEFT LEG OF THE FORBIDDEN ONE | Limited | ||
| Monster | RIGHT ARM OF THE FORBIDDEN ONE | Limited | ||
| Monster | RIGHT LEG OF THE FORBIDDEN ONE | Limited | ||
| Monster | QLIPHORT SCOUT | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | ARTIFACT MORALLTACH | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | BLACK LUSTER SOLDIER – ENVOY OF THE BEGINNING | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | CIR, MALEBRANCHE OF THE BURNING ABYSS | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | DANDYLION | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | DARK ARMED DRAGON | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | DEEP SEA DIVA | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | EHTHER THE HEAVENLY MONARCH | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | EXODIA THE FORBIDDEN ONE | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | GENEX ALLY BIRDMAN | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | GRAFF, MALEBRANCHE OF THE BURNING ABYSS | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | INFERNITY ARCHFIEND | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | INZEKTOR DRAGONFLY | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | INZEKTOR HORNET | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | KOZMO DARK DESTROYER | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | LUSTER PENDULUM, THE DRACOSLAYER | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | MATHEMATICIAN | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | MAXX “C” | Limited | Was Semi-Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | NEO-SPACIAN GRAND MOLE | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | NIGHT ASSAILANT | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | PERFORMAPAL SKULLCROBAT JOKER | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | RED-EYES DARKNESS METAL DRAGON | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | RESCUE CAT | Limited | Was Forbidden | |
| Monster/Effect | RESCUE RABBIT | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | TOUR GUIDE FROM THE UNDERWORLD | Limited | ||
| Monster/Ritual | EVIGISHKI GUSTKRAKEN | Limited | ||
| Monster/Ritual | EVIGISHKI MIND AUGUS | Limited | ||
| Monster/Ritual | NEKROZ OF BRIONAC | Limited | ||
| Monster/Ritual | NEKROZ OF UNICORE | Limited | ||
| Monster/Fusion | ELDER ENTITY NORDEN | Limited | ||
| Monster/Fusion | RITUAL BEAST ULTI-CANNAHAWK | Limited | ||
| Monster/Synchro | BRIONAC, DRAGON OF THE ICE BARRIER | Limited | Was Forbidden | |
| Monster/Synchro | DEWLOREN, TIGER KING OF THE ICE BARRIER | Limited | ||
| Monster/Synchro | IGNISTER PROMINENCE, THE BLASTING DRACOSLAYER | Limited | ||
| Monster/Synchro | TRISHULA, DRAGON OF THE ICE BARRIER | Limited | ||
| Monster/Synchro | T.G. HYPER LIBRARIAN | Limited | ||
| Monster/Xyz | BEATRICE, LADY OF THE ETERNAL | Limited | ||
| Spell | BOOK OF MOON | Limited | ||
| Spell | BRAIN CONTROL | Limited | Was Forbidden | |
| Spell | BURIAL FROM A DIFFERENT DIMENSION | Limited | ||
| Spell | DIMENSIONAL FISSURE | Limited | ||
| Spell | DIVINE WIND OF MIST VALLEY | Limited | ||
| Spell | DRACO FACE‐OFF | Limited | ||
| Spell | EL SHADDOLL FUSION | Limited | ||
| Spell | EMERGENCY TELEPORT | Limited | ||
| Spell | FINAL COUNTDOWN | Limited | ||
| Spell | FOOLISH BURIAL | Limited | ||
| Spell | FUTURE FUSION | Limited | Was Forbidden | |
| Spell | INFERNITY LAUNCHER | Limited | ||
| Spell | LIMITER REMOVAL | Limited | ||
| Spell | MIND CONTROL | Limited | ||
| Spell | MONSTER GATE | Limited | ||
| Spell | ONE DAY OF PEACE | Limited | ||
| Spell | ONE FOR ONE | Limited | ||
| Spell | PANTHEISM OF THE MONARCHS | Limited | ||
| Spell | PENDULUM CALL | Limited | ||
| Spell | PREPARATION OF RITES | Limited | ||
| Spell | RAIGEKI | Limited | ||
| Spell | REASONING | Limited | ||
| Spell | REINFORCEMENT OF THE ARMY | Limited | ||
| Spell | REKINDLING | Limited | ||
| Spell | ROYAL TRIBUTE | Limited | ||
| Spell | SAQLIFICE | Limited | ||
| Spell | SOUL CHARGE | Limited | ||
| Spell | SYMBOL OF HERITAGE | Limited | ||
| Spell | THE MONARCHS STORMFORTH | Limited | ||
| Spell | UPSTART GOBLIN | Limited | ||
| Trap | BOTTOMLESS TRAP HOLE | Limited | ||
| Trap | COMPULSORY EVACUATION DEVICE | Limited | ||
| Trap | ERADICATOR EPIDEMIC VIRUS | Limited | ||
| Trap | IMPERIAL ORDER | Limited | Was Forbidden | |
| Trap | INFERNITY BARRIER | Limited | ||
| Trap | MACRO COSMOS | Limited | ||
| Trap | MAGICAL EXPLOSION | Limited | ||
| Trap | RING OF DESTRUCTION | Limited | ||
| Trap | SKILL DRAIN | Limited | ||
| Trap | SOLEMN WARNING | Limited | ||
| Trap | SOUL DRAIN | Limited | ||
| Trap | TORRENTIAL TRIBUTE | Limited | ||
| Trap | WALL OF REVEALING LIGHT | Limited | ||
| Card Type | Card Name | Advanced Format | Traditional Format | Remarks |
| Monster/Effect | SANGAN | No longer on list | Was Forbidden | |
Download a PDF version of the Forbidden & Limited card lists here! (yugioh-card.com)
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