Current TCG Banlist – December 15, 2020
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!
UPDATED: 12/10/2020
- 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.
This list also applies to Europe, Latin America, Middle East, South Africa, and Oceania regions.
FORBIDDEN & LIMITED LISTS
The next update after this will be no sooner than March 1, 2021.
The previous (September 14, 2020) list will remain in effect until December 15, 2020.
| Card Type | Card Name | Advanced Format | Traditional Format | Remarks |
| Monster/Effect | ASTROGRAPH SORCERER | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | BLACKWING – GOFU THE VAGUE SHADOW | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | BLACKWING – STEAM THE CLOAK | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | BLASTER, DRAGON RULER OF INFERNOS | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | BLOCK DRAGON | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | CYBER JAR | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | DANDYLION | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | DESTRUDO THE LOST DRAGON’S FRISSON | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | DJINN RELEASER OF RITUALS | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | DRAGON BUSTER DESTRUCTION SWORD | Forbidden | Limited | New |
| Monster/Effect | ECLIPSE WYVERN | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | FAIRY TAIL – SNOW | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | FIBER JAR | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | FISHBORG BLASTER | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | GLOW-UP BULB | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | GRINDER GOLEM | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | JET SYNCHRON | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | LEVEL EATER | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | LUNALIGHT TIGER | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | MAGICAL SCIENTIST | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | MAJESPECTER UNICORN – KIRIN | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | MASTER PEACE, THE TRUE DRACOSLAYING KING | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | MAXX “C” | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | MECHA PHANTOM BEAST O-LION | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | MIND MASTER | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | ORCUST HARP HORROR | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | PERFORMAGE PLUSHFIRE | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | PERFORMAPAL MONKEYBOARD | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | PERFORMAPAL SKULLCROBAT JOKER | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | PHOENIXIAN CLUSTER AMARYLLIS | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | REDOX, DRAGON RULER OF BOULDERS | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | SAMSARA LOTUS | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | SPYRAL MASTER PLAN | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | SUBSTITOAD | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | THE TYRANT NEPTUNE | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | TIDAL, DRAGON RULER OF WATERFALLS | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | VICTORY DRAGON | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | YATA-GARASU | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Fusion | ELDER ENTITY NORDEN | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Fusion | SUPREME KING DRAGON STARVING VENOM | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Fusion | THUNDER DRAGON COLOSSUS | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Link | FIREWALL DRAGON | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Link | GUARDRAGON AGARPAIN | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Link | HEAVYMETALFOES ELECTRUMITE | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Link | KNIGHTMARE GOBLIN | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Link | KNIGHTMARE MERMAID | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Link | LINKROSS | Forbidden | Limited | New |
| Monster/Link | SUMMON SORCERESS | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Link | TOPOLOGIC GUMBLAR DRAGON | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Synchro | ANCIENT FAIRY DRAGON | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Synchro | DENGLONG, FIRST OF THE YANG ZING | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Synchro | IB THE WORLD CHALICE JUSTICIAR | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Synchro | TEMPEST MAGICIAN | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Xyz | LAVALVAL CHAIN | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Xyz | M-X-SABER INVOKER | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Xyz | NUMBER 16: SHOCK MASTER | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Xyz | NUMBER 42: GALAXY TOMAHAWK | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Xyz | NUMBER 86: HEROIC CHAMPION – RHONGOMYNIAD | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Xyz | NUMBER 95: GALAXY-EYES DARK MATTER DRAGON | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Xyz | OUTER ENTITY AZATHOT | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Xyz | SALAMANGREAT MIRAGESTALLIO | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Xyz | TELLARKNIGHT PTOLEMAEUS | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Xyz | WIND-UP CARRIER ZENMAITY | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Xyz | ZOODIAC BROADBULL | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | BRILLIANT FUSION | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | BUTTERFLY DAGGER – ELMA | 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 | GIANT TRUNADE | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | GRACEFUL CHARITY | 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 | PAINFUL CHOICE | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | POT OF GREED | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | PREMATURE BURIAL | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | RANK-UP-MAGIC ARGENT CHAOS FORCE | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | SKY STRIKER MOBILIZE – ENGAGE! | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | SMOKE GRENADE OF THE THIEF | Forbidden | Limited | New |
| Spell | SNATCH STEAL | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | SOUL CHARGE | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | SPELLBOOK OF JUDGMENT | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | THAT GRASS LOOKS GREENER | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | THE FORCEFUL SENTRY | 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 | TIME SEAL | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Trap | TRAP DUSTSHOOT | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Trap | ULTIMATE OFFERING | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Trap | VANITY’S EMPTINESS | Forbidden | Limited |
Limited
| Card Type | Card Name | Advanced Format | Traditional Format | Remarks |
| Monster | LEFT ARM OF THE FORBIDDEN ONE | Limited | Limited | |
| Monster | LEFT LEG OF THE FORBIDDEN ONE | Limited | Limited | |
| Monster | RIGHT ARM OF THE FORBIDDEN ONE | Limited | Limited | |
| Monster | RIGHT LEG OF THE FORBIDDEN ONE | Limited | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | ARMAGEDDON KNIGHT | Limited | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | BLACK DRAGON COLLAPSERPENT | Limited | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | CYBER-STEIN | Limited | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | DANGER!? JACKALOPE? | Limited | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | DANGER! NESSIE! | Limited | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | DANGER!? TSUCHINOKO? | Limited | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | DARK GREPHER | Limited | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | DINOMIGHT KNIGHT, THE TRUE DRACOFIGHTER | Limited | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | DINOWRESTLER PANKRATOPS | Limited | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | DOUBLE IRIS MAGICIAN | Limited | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | EXODIA THE FORBIDDEN ONE | Limited | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | GENEX ALLY BIRDMAN | Limited | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | INFERNITY ARCHFIEND | Limited | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | MORPHING JAR | Limited | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | NIGHT ASSAILANT | Limited | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | PHANTOM SKYBLASTER | Limited | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | RED-EYES DARKNESS METAL DRAGON | Limited | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | SALAMANGREAT GAZELLE | Limited | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | SERVANT OF ENDYMION | Limited | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | SPEEDROID TERRORTOP | Limited | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | SPYRAL QUIK-FIX | Limited | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | TEMPEST, DRAGON RULER OF STORMS | Limited | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | TRUE KING LITHOSAGYM, THE DISASTER | Limited | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | WHITE DRAGON WYVERBURSTER | Limited | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | ZOODIAC RATPIER | Limited | Limited | |
| Monster/Fusion | GEM-KNIGHT MASTER DIAMOND | Limited | Limited | |
| Monster/Link | THE PHANTOM KNIGHTS OF RUSTY BARDICHE | Limited | Limited | |
| Monster/Synchro | DEWLOREN, TIGER KING OF THE ICE BARRIER | Limited | Limited | |
| Monster/Synchro | IGNISTER PROMINENCE, THE BLASTING DRACOSLAYER | Limited | Limited | |
| Monster/Synchro | PSY-FRAMELORD OMEGA | Limited | Limited | |
| Monster/Synchro | T.G. HYPER LIBRARIAN | Limited | Limited | |
| Monster/Synchro | TRISHULA, DRAGON OF THE ICE BARRIER | Limited | Limited | |
| Monster/Xyz | BEATRICE, LADY OF THE ETERNAL | Limited | Limited | |
| Monster/Xyz | DAIGUSTO EMERAL | Limited | Limited | |
| Monster/Xyz | ZOODIAC DRIDENT | Limited | Limited | |
| Spell | A HERO LIVES | Limited | Limited | |
| Spell | CALLED BY THE GRAVE | Limited | Limited | |
| Spell | CARD DESTRUCTION | Limited | Limited | |
| Spell | CARD OF DEMISE | Limited | Limited | |
| Spell | CHAIN STRIKE | Limited | Limited | |
| Spell | DIMENSIONAL FISSURE | Limited | Limited | |
| Spell | DIVINE WIND OF MIST VALLEY | Limited | Limited | |
| Spell | DRACO FACE‐OFF | Limited | Limited | |
| Spell | DRAGONIC DIAGRAM | Limited | Limited | |
| Spell | EMERGENCY TELEPORT | Limited | Limited | |
| Spell | FINAL COUNTDOWN | Limited | Limited | |
| Spell | FOOLISH BURIAL | Limited | Limited | |
| Spell | GATEWAY OF THE SIX | Limited | Limited | |
| Spell | GOLD SARCOPHAGUS | Limited | Limited | |
| Spell | HARPIE’S FEATHER DUSTER | Limited | Limited | |
| Spell | INFERNITY LAUNCHER | Limited | Limited | |
| Spell | INSTANT FUSION | Limited | Limited | |
| Spell | INTO THE VOID | Limited | Limited | |
| Spell | MAGICAL MID-BREAKER FIELD | Limited | Limited | |
| Spell | MIND CONTROL | Limited | Limited | |
| Spell | MONSTER REBORN | Limited | Limited | |
| Spell | ONE DAY OF PEACE | Limited | Limited | |
| Spell | ONE FOR ONE | Limited | Limited | |
| Spell | RAIGEKI | Limited | Limited | |
| Spell | REASONING | Limited | Limited | |
| Spell | REINFORCEMENT OF THE ARMY | Limited | Limited | |
| Spell | SALAMANGREAT CIRCLE | Limited | Limited | |
| Spell | SCAPEGOAT | Limited | Limited | |
| Spell | SEKKA’S LIGHT | Limited | Limited | |
| Spell | SET ROTATION | Limited | Limited | |
| Spell | SKY STRIKER MECHA – HORNET DRONES | Limited | Limited | |
| Spell | SKY STRIKER MECHA MODULES – MULTIROLE | Limited | Limited | |
| Spell | SLASH DRAW | Limited | Limited | |
| Spell | SPYRAL RESORT | Limited | Limited | |
| Spell | SYMBOL OF HERITAGE | Limited | Limited | |
| Spell | TERRAFORMING | Limited | Limited | |
| Spell | TRICKSTAR LIGHT STAGE | Limited | Limited | |
| Spell | UPSTART GOBLIN | Limited | Limited | |
| Spell | ZOODIAC BARRAGE | Limited | Limited | |
| Trap | IMPERIAL ORDER | Limited | Limited | |
| Trap | MACRO COSMOS | Limited | Limited | |
| Trap | MAGICAL EXPLOSION | Limited | Limited | |
| Trap | METAVERSE | Limited | Limited | |
| Trap | RED REBOOT | Limited | Limited | |
| Trap | SKILL DRAIN | Limited | Limited | |
| Trap | WALL OF REVEALING LIGHT | Limited | Limited |
Semi-Limited
| Card Type | Card Name | Advanced Format | Traditional Format | Remarks |
| Monster/Effect | DESTINY HERO – MALICIOUS | Semi-Limited | Semi-Limited | |
| Trap | TRUE KING’S RETURN | Semi-Limited | Semi-Limited | Was Limited |
No longer on list
| Card Type | Card Name | Advanced Format | Traditional Format | Remarks |
| Monster/Effect | CIR, MALEBRANCHE OF THE BURNING ABYSS | No longer on list | No longer on list | Was Semi-Limited |
| Monster/Effect | GRAFF, MALEBRANCHE OF THE BURNING ABYSS | No longer on list | No longer on list | Was Semi-Limited |
| Monster/Ritual | EVIGISHKI MIND AUGUS | No longer on list | No longer on list | Was Limited |
| Monster/Fusion | ABC-DRAGON BUSTER | No longer on list | No longer on list | Was Semi-Limited |
| Monster/Xyz | TOADALLY AWESOME | No longer on list | No longer on list | Was Semi-Limited |
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