Current TCG Banlist – Jan 2019
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
The next update after this will be no sooner than April 2, 2019.
The previous (effective December 3, 2018) list will remain in effect until January 28, 2019.
| 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 | BLASTER, DRAGON RULER OF INFERNOS | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | CYBER JAR | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | DANDYLION | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | DJINN RELEASER OF RITUALS | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | DOUBLE IRIS MAGICIAN | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | FAIRY TAIL – SNOW | Forbidden | Limited | New |
| Monster/Effect | FIBER JAR | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | FISHBORG BLASTER | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | GRINDER GOLEM | Forbidden | Limited | Was Limited |
| Monster/Effect | LEVEL EATER | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | MAGICAL SCIENTIST | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | MAJESPECTER UNICORN – KIRIN | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | MAKYURA THE DESTRUCTOR | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | MASTER PEACE, THE TRUE DRACOSLAYING KING | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | MAXX “C” | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | MIND MASTER | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | MORPHING JAR #2 | 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 | SUBSTITOAD | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | TEMPEST, DRAGON RULER OF STORMS | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | THE TYRANT NEPTUNE | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | TIDAL, DRAGON RULER OF WATERFALLS | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | TRIBE-INFECTING VIRUS | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | TRUE KING LITHOSAGYM, THE DISASTER | 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/Link | FIREWALL DRAGON | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Link | KNIGHTMARE GOBLIN | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Link | TOPOLOGIC GUMBLAR DRAGON | Forbidden | Limited | New |
| Monster/Synchro | ANCIENT FAIRY DRAGON | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Synchro | DENGLONG, FIRST OF THE YANG ZING | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Xyz | DAIGUSTO EMERAL | 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 | New |
| Monster/Xyz | NUMBER 86: HEROIC CHAMPION – RHONGOMYNIAD | Forbidden | Limited | New |
| Monster/Xyz | TELLARKNIGHT PTOLEMAEUS | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Xyz | WIND-UP CARRIER ZENMAITY | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Xyz | ZOODIAC BROADBULL | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Monster/Xyz | ZOODIAC DRIDENT | 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 | 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 | PAINFUL CHOICE | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | POT OF AVARICE | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | POT OF GREED | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | PREMATURE BURIAL | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | RANK-UP-MAGIC ARGENT CHAOS FORCE | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | SNATCH STEAL | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | SOUL CHARGE | Forbidden | Limited | Was Limited |
| Spell | SPELLBOOK OF JUDGMENT | Forbidden | Limited | |
| Spell | SUPER REJUVENATION | 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 |
| 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 | ARMAGEDDON KNIGHT | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | CHAOS EMPEROR DRAGON – ENVOY OF THE END | Limited | Was Forbidden | |
| Monster/Effect | CIR, MALEBRANCHE OF THE BURNING ABYSS | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | CYBER-STEIN | Limited | Was Forbidden | |
| Monster/Effect | DARK ARMED DRAGON | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | DARK GREPHER | Limited | New | |
| Monster/Effect | DEEP SEA DIVA | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | DINOMIGHT KNIGHT, THE TRUE DRACOFIGHTER | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | EHTHER THE HEAVENLY MONARCH | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | ELEMENTAL HERO STRATOS | 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 | MISCELLANEOUSAURUS | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | MORPHING JAR | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | NIGHT ASSAILANT | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | PERFORMAGE DAMAGE JUGGLER | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | RED-EYES DARKNESS METAL DRAGON | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | SHURIT, STRATEGIST OF THE NEKROZ | Limited | Was Forbidden | |
| Monster/Effect | SPEEDROID TERRORTOP | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | SPYRAL GEAR – DRONE | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | SPYRAL QUIK-FIX | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | TOUR GUIDE FROM THE UNDERWORLD | Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | ZOODIAC RATPIER | Limited | ||
| Monster/Ritual | EVIGISHKI GUSTKRAKEN | Limited | ||
| Monster/Ritual | EVIGISHKI MIND AUGUS | Limited | ||
| Monster/Ritual | NEKROZ OF UNICORE | Limited | ||
| Monster/Fusion | EL SHADDOLL CONSTRUCT | Limited | Was Forbidden | |
| Monster/Fusion | GEM-KNIGHT MASTER DIAMOND | Limited | ||
| Monster/Fusion | RITUAL BEAST ULTI-CANNAHAWK | Limited | ||
| Monster/Link | HEAVYMETALFOES ELECTRUMITE | Limited | ||
| Monster/Synchro | DEWLOREN, TIGER KING OF THE ICE BARRIER | Limited | ||
| Monster/Synchro | IGNISTER PROMINENCE, THE BLASTING DRACOSLAYER | Limited | ||
| Monster/Synchro | PSY-FRAMELORD OMEGA | Limited | ||
| Monster/Synchro | TRISHULA, DRAGON OF THE ICE BARRIER | Limited | ||
| Monster/Xyz | BEATRICE, LADY OF THE ETERNAL | Limited | ||
| Spell | A HERO LIVES | Limited | ||
| Spell | BOOK OF MOON | Limited | ||
| Spell | BRILLIANT FUSION | Limited | New | |
| Spell | CARD DESTRUCTION | Limited | ||
| Spell | CHAIN STRIKE | Limited | ||
| Spell | DARK HOLE | Limited | ||
| Spell | DIMENSIONAL FISSURE | Limited | ||
| Spell | DIVINE WIND OF MIST VALLEY | Limited | ||
| Spell | DRACO FACE‐OFF | Limited | ||
| Spell | EMERGENCY TELEPORT | Limited | ||
| Spell | FINAL COUNTDOWN | Limited | ||
| Spell | FOOLISH BURIAL | Limited | ||
| Spell | GATEWAY OF THE SIX | Limited | ||
| Spell | GOLD SARCOPHAGUS | Limited | New | |
| Spell | INFERNITY LAUNCHER | Limited | ||
| Spell | MAGICAL MID-BREAKER FIELD | Limited | New | |
| Spell | MONSTER GATE | Limited | ||
| Spell | MONSTER REBORN | Limited | ||
| Spell | ONE DAY OF PEACE | Limited | ||
| Spell | ONE FOR ONE | Limited | ||
| Spell | PANTHEISM OF THE MONARCHS | Limited | ||
| Spell | RAIGEKI | Limited | ||
| Spell | REASONING | Limited | ||
| Spell | REINFORCEMENT OF THE ARMY | Limited | ||
| Spell | REKINDLING | Limited | ||
| Spell | ROYAL TRIBUTE | Limited | ||
| Spell | SCAPEGOAT | Limited | Was Semi-Limited | |
| Spell | SET ROTATION | Limited | ||
| Spell | SKY STRIKER MECHA – HORNET DRONES | Limited | ||
| Spell | SLASH DRAW | Limited | New | |
| Spell | SPYRAL RESORT | Limited | ||
| Spell | SUPER POLYMERIZATION | Limited | ||
| Spell | SYMBOL OF HERITAGE | Limited | ||
| Spell | UPSTART GOBLIN | Limited | ||
| Trap | IMPERIAL ORDER | Limited | ||
| Trap | MACRO COSMOS | Limited | ||
| Trap | MAGICAL EXPLOSION | Limited | ||
| Trap | SKILL DRAIN | Limited | ||
| Trap | SOLEMN JUDGMENT | Limited | ||
| Trap | SOLEMN WARNING | Limited | ||
| Trap | SOUL DRAIN | Limited | ||
| Trap | TRUE KING’S RETURN | Limited | ||
| Trap | WALL OF REVEALING LIGHT | Limited | ||
| Card Type | Card Name | Advanced Format | Traditional Format | Remarks |
| Monster/Effect | DESTINY HERO – MALICIOUS | Semi-Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | LUSTER PENDULUM, THE DRACOSLAYER | Semi-Limited | ||
| Monster/Effect | NECROFACE | Semi-Limited | ||
| Spell | TERRAFORMING | Semi-Limited | ||
| Card Type | Card Name | Advanced Format | Traditional Format | Remarks |
| Monster/Effect | INZEKTOR HORNET | No Longer On List | Was Limited | |
| Monster/Ritual | NEKROZ OF BRIONAC | No Longer On List | Was Limited | |
| Monster/Xyz | EVILSWARM EXCITON KNIGHT | No Longer On List | Was Limited | |
| Spell | INTERRUPTED KAIJU SLUMBER | No Longer On List | Was Limited | |
| Spell | THE MONARCHS STORMFORTH | No Longer On List | Was Limited | |
| Trap | ERADICATOR EPIDEMIC VIRUS | No Longer On List | Was Limited | |
| Trap | INFERNITY BARRIER | No Longer On List | Was Limited | |
| Monster/Effect | WIND-UP MAGICIAN | No Longer On List | Was Semi-Limited | |
| Monster/Synchro | T.G. HYPER LIBRARIAN | No Longer On List | Was Semi-Limited | |
| Spell | LIMITER REMOVAL | No Longer On List | Was Semi-Limited | |
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