Unlike many other trading card games, Yu-Gi-Oh! doesn't rotate its legal cards. Once printed, a card is generally legal forever, with the only exceptions being those on the Forbidden and Limited list.

Keeping track of the list is crucial, as it dictates not only which cards you can run in your deck, but also how many copies of them are allowed. The list also updates fairly regularly, so keeping o0n top of your builds and making sure they comply before your next organised event is of the utmost importance.

What Are Forbidden, Limited, And Semi-Limited?

Bannings in Yu-Gi-Oh! are split into three categories of severity:

  • Semi-Limited is the most lenient stage of banning, and cards that are either being banned or unbanned often become semi-limited as a test to see whether more or less involvement is needed. You are only allowed up to two copies of any semi-limited card in your deck.
  • Limited cards are cards that have proven to be a problem, but are key players in various archetypes or popular deck strategies, and fully banning them would cause bigger, unintentional effects. You are only allowed one copy of a limited card in your deck.
  • Forbidden cards, as the name suggests, are fully banned. This is the most restrictive stage of banning, as you are not allowed any copies of a limited card in your deck.

There is no limit to how long a card can be on the forbidden and limited list for. Some, like Pot of Greed or Change of Heart, have been restricted in some manner for decades, while others are only added as a temporary measure until future cards can be printed.

The regular updates to the Forbidden and Limited list often move cards between tiers. A limited card may become forbidden if it is still causing problems, while a limited or forbidden card may move to semi-limited when answers to it have been printed.

The Forbidden and Limited list only applies to the Advanced format, which is the one most stores and events play. The Traditional format makes every card listed here limited instead, and unofficial formats like Edison and GOAT have their own banlists.

Monsters

Limited

Limited Cards

Monsters

Left Arm of the Forbidden One

Left Leg of the Forbidden One

Right Arm of the Forbidden One

Right Leg of the Forbidden One

There are no forbidden or semi-limited Monster cards.

Effect Monsters

Forbidden

Forbidden Cards

Effect Monsters

Agido the Ancient Sentinel

Artifact Scythe

Barrier Statue of the Stormwinds

Blackwing - Gofu the Vague Shadow

Block Dragon

Cyberstein

Dandylion

Djinn Releaser of Rituals

Exlipse Wyvern

Fairy Tale - Snow

Fiber Jar

Fishborg Blaster

Gimmick Puppet Nightmare

Glow-Up Bulb

Grinder Golem

Jowgen the Spiritualist

Kelbek the Ancient Vanguard

Level Eater

Magical Scientist

Maxx "C"

Mind Master

Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis

Ronintoadin

Spyral Master Plan

The Tyrant Neptune

Victory Dragon

Limited

Limited Cards

Effect Monsters

Archnemesis Protos

Astrograph Sorcerer

Bytstial Druiswurm

Bystial Magnamhut

Dark Grepher

Dimension Shifter

Exodia the Forbidden One

Keldo the Sacred Protector

Master Peace, The True Dracoslaying King

Mathmech CIrcular

Miscellaneosaurus

Mudora the Sword Oracle

Phantom Skyblaster

Psy-Framegear Gamma

Substitoad

Tearlaments Havnis

Tearlaments Merrli

Tearlaments Scheiren

Tenpai Dragon Chundra

Zoodiac Ratpier

Semi-Limited

Semi-Limited Cards

Effect Monsters

Black Dragon Collapserpent

Ext Ryzeal

Ice Ryzeal

Maliss P Dormouse

Maliss P White Rabbit

Morphing Jar

Snake-Eye Ash

Snake-Eyes Poplar

Sword Ryzeal

Unchained Sword of Sharvara

White Dragon Wyverburster

Fusion Monsters

Forbidden

Forbidden Cards

Fusion Monsters

Elder Entity Norden

Fiendsmith's Lacrima

Supreme King Dragon Starving Venom

Tearlaments Kitkallos

Limited

Limited Cards

Fusion Monsters

Gem-Knight Master Diamond

Phantom of Yubel

Link Monsters

Forbidden

Forbidden Cards

Link Monsters

Apollousa, Bow of the Goddess

Crystron Halqifibrax

Curious, the Lightsworn Dominion

Guardragon Agarpain

Guardragon Elpy

Heavymetalfoes Electrumite

Isolde, Two Tales of the Noble Knights

Knightmare Goblin

Knightmare Gryphon

Knightmaree Mermaid

Link Decoder

Linkross

Linkuriboh

Mecha Phantom Beast Auroradon

Prank-Kids Meow-Meow-Mu

Predaplant Verte Anaconda

Simorgh, Bird of Sovereignity

Spright Elf

Summon Sorceress

Superheavy Samurai Scarecrow

Topologic Gumblar Dragon

Union Carrier

Limited

Limited Cards

Link Monsters

Striker Dragon

Sunavalon Dryas

Sunvine Healer

Synchro Monsters

Forbidden

Forbidden Cards

Synchro Monsters

Baronne de Fleur

Borreload Savage Dragon

Chaos Ruler, The Chaotic Magical Dragon

Hot Red Dragon Archfiend King Calamity

Tempest Magician

Limited

Limited Cards

Synchro Monsters

Psy-Framelord Omega

T.G. Hyper Librarian

Xyz Monsters

Forbidden

Forbidden Cards

Xyz Monsters

Abyss Dweller

Bahamut Shark

Beatrice, Lady of the Eternal

Kashtira Arise-Heart

Lavalval Chain

M-X-Saber Invoker

Number 16: Shock Master

Number 42: Galaxy Tomahawk

Number 86: Heroic Champion - Rhongomyniad

Number 89: Diablosis The Mind Hacker

Number 95: Galaxy-Eyes Dark Matter Dragon

Number S0: Utopic Zecal

Outer Entity Azathot

True King Of All Calamities

Wind-Up Carrier Zenmaity

Zoodiac Broadbull

Zoodiac Drident

Limited

Limited Cards

Xyz Monsters

Daigusto Emeral

Number 40: Gimmick Puppet Of Strings

Number C40: Gimmick Puppet Of Dark Strings

Ryzeal Detonator

Spells

Forbidden

Forbidden Cards

Spells

Butterfly Dagger - Elma

Card of Safe Return

Cold Wave

Confiscation

Delinquent Duo

DImension Fusion

Giant Trunade

Graceful Charity

Heavy Storm

Kaiser Colosseum

Last Will

Mass Driver

Metamorphosis

Mirage of Nightmare

Mystic Mine

Original Sinful Spoilers - Snake-Eye

Painful Choice

Pot of Greed

Premature Burial

Smoke Grenade of the Thief

Soul Charge

The Forceful Sentry

Limited

Limited Cards

Spells

Bonfire

Branded Fusion

Brilliant Fusion

Called by the Grave

Card Destruction

Card of Demise

Chain Strike

Change of Heart

Chaos Space

Chicken Game

Crossout Designator

Divine Wind of Mist Valley

Dragonic Diagram

Final Countdown

Foolish Burial

Gateway of the Six

Gold Sarcophagus

Harpie's Feather Duster

Infernity Launcher

Instant Fusion

Into the Void

Magical Mid-Breaker Field

Monster Gate

Monster Reborn

One Day of PEace

One for One

Pot of Prosperity

Reasoning

Reinforcement of the Army

Sangen Kaimen

Sangen Summoning

Sekka's Light

Set Rotation

Sky Striker Mecha - Hornet Drones

Slash Draw

Snatch Steal

Terraforming

That Grass Looks Greener

Triple Tactics Talent

Zoodiac Barrage

Semi-Limited

Semi-Limited Cards

Spells

Lightning Storm

Maliss In Underground

Purrely Delicious Memory

Purrely Sleepy Memory

Runick Fountain

Traps

Forbidden

Forbidden Cards

Traps

Appointer of the Red Lotus

Branded Expulsion

Imperial Order

Last Turn

Red Reboot

Return From The Different Dimension

Royal Oppression

Self-Destruct Button

Sixth Sense

Summon Limit

Trap Dustshoot

Ultimate Offering

Vanity's Emptiness

Limited

Limited Cards

Traps

Anti-Spell Fragrance

Gozen Match

Magical Explosion

Naturia Sacred Tree

Rivalry of Warlords

Skill Drain

There Can Only Be One