Normally you can play up to 3 copies of any card across your Main Deck, Extra Deck and Side Deck combined. The Forbidden & Limited list, usually just called the ban list, lowers that number for specific cards in official tournaments.
The three restrictions
| Status | Copies allowed (Main + Extra + Side combined) |
|---|---|
| Forbidden | 0. You can’t use it at all |
| Limited | 1 |
| Semi-Limited | 2 |
Every other card is Unlimited: up to 3 copies as usual.
Why cards get restricted
Konami updates the list to keep the game balanced. Cards that make games too one-sided, or that power up many decks at once, get restricted. Cards can also come off the list when the game moves on and they’re no longer a problem.
Advanced vs Traditional format
Konami’s list has two columns:
- Advanced Format is the standard competitive format, and the one almost every tournament uses. Forbidden cards can’t be played.
- Traditional Format treats Forbidden cards as Limited instead. Everything else is the same.
Konami also runs Genesys, a separate tournament format that uses a point system instead of the Forbidden & Limited list.
The current list
The current TCG list took effect on September 21, 2026. In the Advanced Format it has 122 Forbidden cards, 95 Limited cards and 8 Semi-Limited cards. See our current ban list for every card, or Konami’s official page for the full table.
TCG vs OCG
The TCG and the OCG (the Japanese Official Card Game) have separate lists, and a card can be restricted in one and not the other. For example, Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring is Semi-Limited in the OCG but unrestricted in the TCG as of October 2026. If you play in the US, check the TCG list.
Checking your deck after a new list
- Read the official list on the day it’s announced, especially the cards marked as new changes.
- Check every card in your Main, Extra and Side Deck against it, not just the ones you expect to be hit.
- Remove extra copies, and find replacements before your next event.
- Note the effective date. Occasionally a few changes take effect later than the rest of the list. On the September 2026 list, two cards didn’t change until September 28.
When a new list drops, we post every change on our news page the same day.
Next: your first locals tournament.