Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
11
Premium Benefits
24/7
Access Available
21K+
Active Members
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information, you confirm you are aged 16 or over, have read our Privacy Policy and agree to the Terms & Conditions. Geographical rules apply.

Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
  • Home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
Trending
  • Summer Game Fest 2026
  • Xbox Games Showcase
  • Future Games Show
  • God of War Laufey
  • New Games 2026
  • SGF 2026 schedule
  • Summer Game Fest
  • Best gaming tech
  • Submit your clips. Win prizes
Jump To:
  • Standard
  • Commander
  • Modern
  • Vintage
  • Legacy
  • Block
  • Pauper
  • Pioneer
  • Oathbreaker
  • Historic
  • Timeless
  • Brawl
  • Explorer
  • Alchemy
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
  1. Tabletop Gaming
  2. Magic: The Gathering

Magic: The Gathering ban list 2025, featuring all banned cards in all formats

Guides
By Abigail Shannon Contributions from Benjamin Abbott last updated 1 July 2025

Here's the latest MTG ban list for everything from Standard to Vintage

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

A bear roaring, a sword on a bed of leaves and parchment, a woman lasooing a man with magic, and an elephant and cowering human, all divided by white lines
(Image credit: Wizards of the Coast)
Jump To:
  • Standard
  • Commander
  • Modern
  • Vintage
  • Legacy
  • Block
  • Pauper
  • Pioneer
  • Oathbreaker
  • Historic
  • Timeless
  • Brawl
  • Explorer
  • Alchemy
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
0
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Subscribe to our newsletter
Menu

1. Standard
2. Commander
3. Modern
4. Vintage
5. Legacy
6. Block
7. Pauper
8. Pioneer
9. Oathbreaker
10. Historic
11. Timeless
12. Brawl
13. Explorer
14. Alchemy

It's always a good idea to keep an eye on the MTG ban list. I know, I know - if you're hoping to go head to head with fellow Magic: The Gathering players at a local tournament or event, you'll probably put a lot of effort into making your deck more powerful. But what if I told you your deck could be too powerful to play? Bad news: if it contains any cards from this guide, you'll have to go back to the drawing board.

Magic: The Gathering has an active community and a scene that is constantly evolving (which is just one reason for it being amongst the best card games ever made). As part of this, if certain cards are disrupting the balance of the game or producing an over reliance on a singular metagame, they can be banned in sanctioned play. That leads us neatly to the current MTG ban list, which is pretty lengthy.

These may still be fair game in casual games with friends, but don't expect to show up to your local game store with a deck full of banned cards and get away with it. While some cards are banned across all forms of sanctioned play due to their racially or culturally offensive content, most are only restricted in certain formats. I've listed these below, but bear in mind that the line-up changes over time. Be sure to come back on November 10 when the next ban list rolls out!

Latest Videos From
Watch full video here:

Magic: The Gathering Standard ban list

A bear wreathed in red energy roars into the foreground as it swipes at branches

(Image credit: Wizards of the Coast)

As a format that solely encompasses the previous three years of MTG's catalogue, Standard has a relatively short list of banned cards. Or at least, it normally does. Following their dominance in the format recently, seven cards have been hit with the axe and removed from play. This will be particularly devastating to fans of Izzet Prowess decks, but judging by the community response, the change seems to have gone down well.

The list includes:

You may like
  • A selection of Riftbound cards scattered on top of one another First ever Riftbound ban list kills off popular cards that have become so ubiquitous they're hurting the game
  • MTG Secrets of Strixhaven booster packs on a plain background MTG Secrets of Strixhaven finally fixes a problem I've had with Magic for years
  • MTG Secrets of Strixhaven Commander deck and boosters on a wooden table MTG Secrets of Strixhaven Commander decks, ranked
  • Cori-Steel Cutter
  • Monstrous Rage
  • Abuelo's Awakening
  • Heartfire Hero
  • Hopeless Nightmare
  • Leyline of Resonance (only in Arena Best-of-One)
  • This Town Ain't Big Enough
  • Up the Beanstalk

Magic: The Gathering Commander ban list

Angel of Despair Magic The Gathering card Commander legal

(Image credit: Wizards of the Coast / Todd Lockwood)

These cards are banned in sanctioned Commander games and can't be used a player's Commander or be present anywhere in their deck or sideboard:

  • Ancestral Recall
  • Balance
  • Biorhythm
  • Black Lotus
  • Chaos Orb
  • Channel
  • Dockside Extortionist
  • Emrakul, the Aeons Torn
  • Erayo, Soratami Ascendant
  • Falling Star
  • Fastbond
  • Flash
  • Golos, Tireless Pilgrim
  • Griselbrand
  • Hullbreacher
  • Iona, Shield of Emeria
  • Karakas
  • Jeweled Lotus
  • Leovold, Emissary of Trest
  • Library of Alexandria
  • Limited Resources
  • Lutri, the Spellchaser
  • Mana Crypt
  • Mox Emerald
  • Mox Jet
  • Mox Pearl
  • Mox Ruby
  • Mox Sapphire
  • Nadu, Winged Wisdom
  • Paradox Engine
  • Primeval Titan
  • Prophet of Kruphix
  • Recurring Nightmare
  • Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary
  • Shahrazad
  • Sundering Titan
  • Sylvan Primordial
  • Time Vault
  • Time Walk
  • Tinker
  • Tolarian Academy
  • Trade Secrets
  • Upheaval
  • Yawgmoth's Bargain

All cards that have the card type 'Conspiracy'

  • Adriana's Valor
  • Advantageous Proclamation
  • Assemble Rank and Vile
  • Backup Plan
  • Brago's Favor
  • Double Stroke
  • Echoing Boom
  • Emissary's Ploy
  • Hired Heist
  • Hold the Perimeter
  • Hymn of the Wilds
  • Immediate Action
  • Incendiary Dissent
  • Iterative Analysis
  • Muzio's Preparations
  • Natural Unity
  • Power Play
  • Secret Summoning
  • Secrets of Paradise
  • Sentinel Dispatch
  • Sovereign Realm
  • Summoner's Bond
  • Unexpected Potential
  • Weight Advantage
  • Worldknit

All cards that reference "playing for ante"

  • Amulet of Quoz
  • Bronze Tablet
  • Contract from Below
  • Darkpact
  • Demonic Attorney
  • Jeweled Bird
  • Rebirth
  • Tempest Efreet
  • Timmerian Fiends

Racially insensitive cards or cards with racist depictions

  • Invoke Prejudice
  • Cleanse
  • Stone-Throwing Devils
  • Pradesh Gypsies
  • Jihad
  • Imprison
  • Crusade

Magic: The Gathering Modern ban list

Art from Arcbound Overseer Magic: The Gathering legal in Modern format

(Image credit: Wizards of the Coast / Carl Critchlow)

The Modern format allows players to construct decks with cards from Eighth Edition (released Summer 2003) onwards. However, it doesn't allow for the following banned cards... of which there are many:

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
  • Amped Raptor
  • Ancient Den
  • Arcum's Astrolabe
  • Birthing Pod
  • Blazing Shoal
  • Bridge From Below
  • Chrome Mox
  • Cloudpost
  • Dark Depths
  • Deathrite Shaman
  • Dig Through Time
  • Dread Return
  • Eye of Ugin
  • Field of the Dead
  • Fury
  • Gitaxian Probe
  • Glimpse of Nature
  • Golgari Grave-Troll
  • Great Furnace
  • Grief
  • Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis
  • Hypergenesis
  • Jegantha, the Wellspring
  • Krark-Clan Ironworks
  • Lurrus of the Dream-Den
  • Mental Misstep
  • Mycosynth Lattice
  • Mystic Sanctuary
  • Nadu, Winged Wisdom
  • Oko, Thief of Crowns
  • Once Upon a Time
  • Ponder
  • Punishing Fire
  • Rite of Flame
  • Seat of the Synod
  • Second Sunrise
  • Seething Song
  • Sensei's Divining Top
  • Simian Spirit Guide
  • Skullclamp
  • Summer Bloom
  • The One Ring
  • Tibalt's Trickery
  • Treasure Cruise
  • Tree of Tales
  • Umezawa's Jitte
  • Underworld Breach
  • Up the Beanstalk
  • Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath
  • Vault of Whispers
  • Violent Outburst
  • Yorion, Sky Nomad

Magic: The Gathering Vintage ban list

Mana Clash art from Magic The Gathering

(Image credit: Wizards of the Coast / Mark Tedin)

Vintage allows for almost all printed cards from Magic: The Gathering's 30-plus year history. Unfortunately for longtime fans, that means a lot of cards have been hit with the ban-hammer. This includes 25 cards with the 'Conspiracy' type, among others.

Here are the exceptions, in full:

  • Chaos Orb
  • Falling Star
  • Shahrazad

All cards that use the sticker or Attraction mechanic

  • Aerialephant
  • Ambassador Blorpityblorpboop
  • Baaallerina
  • _____ Balls of Fire
  • Bioluminary
  • _____ Bird Gets the Worm
  • Carnival Carnivore
  • Chicken Troupe
  • Clandestine Chameleon
  • Command Performance
  • Done for the Day
  • Fight the _____ Fight
  • Finishing Move
  • Glitterflitter
  • _____ Goblin
  • Last Voyage of the _____
  • Lineprancers
  • Make a _____ Splash
  • Minotaur de Force
  • _____-o-saurus
  • Park Bleater
  • Pin Collection
  • Prize Wall
  • Proficient Pyrodancer
  • Robo-Piñata
  • _____ _____ Rocketship
  • Roxi, Publicist to the Stars
  • Scampire
  • Stiltstrider
  • Sword-Swallowing Seraph
  • Ticketomaton
  • _____ _____ _____ Trespasser
  • Tusk and Whiskers
  • Wicker Picker
  • Wizards of the _____
  • Wolf in _____ Clothing
  • Coming Attraction
  • Complaints Clerk
  • Deadbeat Attendant
  • Dee Kay, Finder of the Lost
  • Discourtesy Clerk
  • Draconian Gate-Bot
  • Lifetime" Pass Holder
  • Line Cutter
  • Monitor Monitor
  • Myra the Magnificent
  • Petting Zookeeper
  • Quick Fixer
  • Rad Rascal
  • Ride Guide
  • Seasoned Buttoneer
  • Soul Swindler
  • Spinnerette, Arachnobat
  • Squirrel Squatters
  • Step Right Up
  • The Most Dangerous Gamer

All cards with the card type 'Conspiracy'

  • Adriana's Valor
  • Advantageous Proclamation
  • Assemble Rank and Vile
  • Backup Plan
  • Brago's Favor
  • Double Stroke
  • Echoing Boom
  • Emissary's Ploy
  • Hired Heist
  • Hold the Perimeter
  • Hymn of the Wilds
  • Immediate Action
  • Incendiary Dissent
  • Iterative Analysis
  • Muzio's Preparations
  • Natural Unity
  • Power Play
  • Secret Summoning
  • Secrets of Paradise
  • Sentinel Dispatch
  • Sovereign Realm
  • Summoner's Bond
  • Unexpected Potential
  • Weight Advantage
  • Worldknit

All cards that reference "playing for ante"

You may like
  • A selection of Riftbound cards scattered on top of one another First ever Riftbound ban list kills off popular cards that have become so ubiquitous they're hurting the game
  • MTG Secrets of Strixhaven booster packs on a plain background MTG Secrets of Strixhaven finally fixes a problem I've had with Magic for years
  • MTG Secrets of Strixhaven Commander deck and boosters on a wooden table MTG Secrets of Strixhaven Commander decks, ranked
  • Amulet of Quoz
  • Bronze Tablet
  • Contract from Below
  • Darkpact
  • Demonic Attorney
  • Jeweled Bird
  • Rebirth
  • Tempest Efreet
  • Timmerian Fiends

Racially insensitive cards or cards with racist depictions

  • Invoke Prejudice
  • Cleanse
  • Stone-Throwing Devils
  • Pradesh Gypsies
  • Jihad
  • Imprison
  • Crusade

Restricted cards

Restricted cards are cards which you may only have one copy of in both your main deck and your sideboard. At it stands, Vintage is the only Magic: The Gathering format with a restricted list.

The restricted card list for Vintage consists of:

  • Ancestral Recall
  • Balance
  • Black Lotus
  • Brainstorm
  • Chalice of the Void
  • Channel
  • Demonic Consultation
  • Demonic Tutor
  • Dig Through Time
  • Flash
  • Gitaxian Probe
  • Golgari Grave-Troll
  • Gush
  • Imperial Seal
  • Karn, the Great Creator
  • Library of Alexandria
  • Lion's Eye Diamond
  • Lodestone Golem
  • Lotus Petal
  • Mana Crypt
  • Mana Vault
  • Memory Jar
  • Mental Misstep
  • Merchant Scroll
  • Mind's Desire
  • Monastery Mentor
  • Mox Emerald
  • Mox Jet
  • Mox Pearl
  • Mox Ruby
  • Mox Sapphire
  • Mystic Forge
  • Mystical Tutor
  • Narset, Parter of Veils
  • Necropotence
  • Sol Ring
  • Strip Mine
  • Thorn of Amethyst
  • Time Vault
  • Time Walk
  • Timetwister
  • Tinker
  • Tolarian Academy
  • Treasure Cruise
  • Trinisphere
  • Urza's Saga
  • Vampiric Tutor
  • Vexing Bauble
  • Wheel of Fortune
  • Windfall
  • Yawgmoth's Will

Magic: The Gathering Legacy ban list

Nevinyrral’s Disk art from Magic The Gathering

(Image credit: Wizards of the Coast / Mark Tedin)

Like Vintage, Legacy allows for players to use cards dating all the way back to 1993. Nonetheless, it has significantly more card bans. The banned cards in Legacy are:

  • Ancestral Recall
  • Arcum's Astrolabe
  • Balance
  • Bazaar of Baghdad
  • Black Lotus
  • Channel
  • Chaos Orb
  • Deathrite Shaman
  • Demonic Consultation
  • Demonic Tutor
  • Dig Through Time
  • Dreadhorde Arcanist
  • Earthcraft
  • Expressive Iteration
  • Falling Star
  • Fastbond
  • Flash
  • Frantic Search
  • Gitaxian Probe
  • Goblin Recruiter
  • Grief
  • Gush
  • Hermit Druid
  • Imperial Seal
  • Library of Alexandria
  • Lurrus of the Dream-Den
  • Mana Crypt
  • Mana Drain
  • Mana Vault
  • Memory Jar
  • Mental Misstep
  • Mind Twist
  • Mishra’s Workshop
  • Mox Emerald
  • Mox Jet
  • Mox Pearl
  • Mox Ruby
  • Mox Sapphire
  • Mystical Tutor
  • Necropotence
  • Oath of Druids
  • Oko, Thief of Crowns
  • Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer
  • Sensei's Divining Top
  • Shahrazad
  • Skullclamp
  • Sol Ring
  • Strip Mine
  • Survival of the Fittest
  • Time Vault
  • Time Walk
  • Timetwister
  • Tinker
  • Tolarian Academy
  • Treasure Cruise
  • Underworld Breach
  • Vampiric Tutor
  • Wheel of Fortune
  • White Plume Adventurer
  • Windfall
  • Wrenn and Six
  • Yawgmoth's Bargain
  • Yawgmoth's Will
  • Zirda, the Dawnwaker

All cards that use the sticker or Attraction mechanic

  • Aerialephant
  • Ambassador Blorpityblorpboop
  • Baaallerina
  • _____ Balls of Fire
  • Bioluminary
  • _____ Bird Gets the Worm
  • Carnival Carnivore
  • Chicken Troupe
  • Clandestine Chameleon
  • Command Performance
  • Done for the Day
  • Fight the _____ Fight
  • Finishing Move
  • Glitterflitter
  • _____ Goblin
  • Last Voyage of the _____
  • Lineprancers
  • Make a _____ Splash
  • Minotaur de Force
  • _____-o-saurus
  • Park Bleater
  • Pin Collection
  • Prize Wall
  • Proficient Pyrodancer
  • Robo-Piñata
  • _____ _____ Rocketship
  • Roxi, Publicist to the Stars
  • Scampire
  • Stiltstrider
  • Sword-Swallowing Seraph
  • Ticketomaton
  • _____ _____ _____ Trespasser
  • Tusk and Whiskers
  • Wicker Picker
  • Wizards of the _____
  • Wolf in _____ Clothing
  • Coming Attraction
  • Complaints Clerk
  • Deadbeat Attendant
  • Dee Kay, Finder of the Lost
  • Discourtesy Clerk
  • Draconian Gate-Bot
  • Lifetime" Pass Holder
  • Line Cutter
  • Monitor Monitor
  • Myra the Magnificent
  • Petting Zookeeper
  • Quick Fixer
  • Rad Rascal
  • Ride Guide
  • Seasoned Buttoneer
  • Soul Swindler
  • Spinnerette, Arachnobat
  • Squirrel Squatters
  • Step Right Up
  • The Most Dangerous Gamer

All cards that have the card type 'Conspiracy'

  • Adriana's Valor
  • Advantageous Proclamation
  • Assemble Rank and Vile
  • Backup Plan
  • Brago's Favor
  • Double Stroke
  • Echoing Boom
  • Emissary's Ploy
  • Hired Heist
  • Hold the Perimeter
  • Hymn of the Wilds
  • Immediate Action
  • Incendiary Dissent
  • Iterative Analysis
  • Muzio's Preparations
  • Natural Unity
  • Power Play
  • Secret Summoning
  • Secrets of Paradise
  • Sentinel Dispatch
  • Sovereign Realm
  • Summoner's Bond
  • Unexpected Potential
  • Weight Advantage
  • Worldknit

All cards that reference "playing for ante"

  • Amulet of Quoz
  • Bronze Tablet
  • Contract from Below
  • Darkpact
  • Demonic Attorney
  • Jeweled Bird
  • Rebirth
  • Tempest Efreet
  • Timmerian Fiends

Racially insensitive cards or cards with racist depictions

  • Invoke Prejudice
  • Cleanse
  • Stone-Throwing Devils
  • Pradesh Gypsies
  • Jihad
  • Imprison
  • Crusade

Magic: The Gathering Block ban list

Replenish card art from Magic The Gathering Urza's Block

(Image credit: Wizards of the Coast / Jim Nelson)

As each block uses different sets, each block in the Block MTG format has its own list of banned cards. These are:

Innistrad-Avacyn Restored

  • Intangible Virtue
  • Lingering Souls

Mirrodin

  • Aether Vial
  • Ancient Den
  • Arcbound Ravager
  • Darksteel Citadel
  • Disciple of the Vault
  • Great Furnace
  • Seat of the Synod
  • Tree of Tales
  • Vault of Whispers
  • Skullclamp

Masques

  • Lin Sivvi, Defiant Hero
  • Rishadan Port

Urza

  • Gaea's Cradle
  • Memory Jar
  • Serra's Sanctum
  • Time Spiral
  • Tolarian Academy
  • Voltaic Key
  • Windfall

Tempest

  • Cursed Scroll

Mirage

  • Squandered Resources

Ice Age

  • Amulet of Quoz
  • Thawing Glaciers
  • Zuran Orb

Magic: The Gathering Pauper ban list

Spellstutter Sprite from Magic The Gathering Pauper legal card

(Image credit: Wizards of the Coast / Rebecca Guay)

The list of legal cards in Pauper includes cards that are of Common rarity. What it doesn't include are these banned cards:

  • Aarakocra Sneak
  • All That Glitters
  • Arcum's Astrolabe
  • Atog
  • Bonder's Ornament
  • Chatterstorm
  • Cloud of Faeries
  • Cloudpost
  • Cranial Plating
  • Cranial Ram
  • Daze
  • Disciple of the Vault
  • Empty the Warrens
  • Fall from Favor
  • Frantic Search
  • Galvanic Relay
  • Gitaxian Probe
  • Grapeshot
  • Gush
  • High Tide
  • Hymn to Tourach
  • Invigorate
  • Monastery Swiftspear
  • Mystic Sanctuary
  • Peregrine Drake
  • Prophetic Prism
  • Sinkhole
  • Sojourner's Companion
  • Stirring Bard
  • Temporal Fissure
  • Treasure Cruise
  • Underdark Explorer
  • Vicious Battlerager

All cards that use the sticker or Attraction mechanic

  • Aerialephant
  • Ambassador Blorpityblorpboop
  • Baaallerina
  • _____ Balls of Fire
  • Bioluminary
  • _____ Bird Gets the Worm
  • Carnival Carnivore
  • Chicken Troupe
  • Clandestine Chameleon
  • Command Performance
  • Done for the Day
  • Fight the _____ Fight
  • Finishing Move
  • Glitterflitter
  • _____ Goblin
  • Last Voyage of the _____
  • Lineprancers
  • Make a _____ Splash
  • Minotaur de Force
  • _____-o-saurus
  • Park Bleater
  • Pin Collection
  • Prize Wall
  • Proficient Pyrodancer
  • Robo-Piñata
  • _____ _____ Rocketship
  • Roxi, Publicist to the Stars
  • Scampire
  • Stiltstrider
  • Sword-Swallowing Seraph
  • Ticketomaton
  • _____ _____ _____ Trespasser
  • Tusk and Whiskers
  • Wicker Picker
  • Wizards of the _____
  • Wolf in _____ Clothing
  • Coming Attraction
  • Complaints Clerk
  • Deadbeat Attendant
  • Dee Kay, Finder of the Lost
  • Discourtesy Clerk
  • Draconian Gate-Bot
  • Lifetime" Pass Holder
  • Line Cutter
  • Monitor Monitor
  • Myra the Magnificent
  • Petting Zookeeper
  • Quick Fixer
  • Rad Rascal
  • Ride Guide
  • Seasoned Buttoneer
  • Soul Swindler
  • Spinnerette, Arachnobat
  • Squirrel Squatters
  • Step Right Up
  • The Most Dangerous Gamer

Magic: The Gathering Pioneer ban list

Radkos Guildgate card art from Magic The Gathering Return to Ravnica

(Image credit: Wizards of the Coast / Eytan Zana)

Pioneer supports the use of cards from 2012's Return to Ravnica onwards, although these cards are banned in the format:

  • Amalia Benavides Aguirre
  • Balustrade Spy
  • Bloodstained Mire
  • Expressive Iteration
  • Felidar Guardian
  • Field of the Dead
  • Flooded Strand
  • Geological Appraiser
  • Inverter of Truth
  • Jegantha, the Wellspring
  • Karn, the Great Creator
  • Kethis, the Hidden Hand
  • Leyline of Abundance
  • Lurrus of the Dream-Den
  • Nexus of Fate
  • Oko, Thief of Crowns
  • Once Upon a Time
  • Polluted Delta
  • Sorin, Imperious Bloodlord
  • Teferi, Time Raveler
  • Tibalt's Trickery (only in Arena Best-of-One)
  • Undercity Informer
  • Underworld Breach
  • Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath
  • Veil of Summer
  • Walking Ballista
  • Wilderness Reclamation
  • Windswept Heath
  • Winota, Joiner of Forces
  • Wooded Foothills

Magic: The Gathering Oathbreaker ban list

A rocky, tentacled creature against a blue background

(Image credit: Wizards of the Coast)

This tabletop format sees players building up a deck revolving around specific Planeswalkers, and has a wealth of banned cards to go with it.

  • Ad Nauseam
  • Ancestral Recall
  • Balance
  • Biorhythm
  • Black Lotus
  • Channel
  • Chaos Orb
  • Dark Ritual
  • Doomsday
  • Emrakul, the Aeons Torn
  • Expropriate
  • Falling Star
  • Fastbond
  • Griselbrand
  • High Tide
  • Jeweled Lotus
  • Library of Alexandria
  • Limited Resources
  • Lion's Eye Diamond
  • Mana Crypt
  • Mana Geyser
  • Mana Vault
  • Mox Emerald
  • Mox Jet
  • Mox Pearl
  • Mox Ruby
  • Mox Sapphire
  • Natural Order
  • Painter's Servant
  • Primal Surge
  • Saheeli, the Gifted
  • Shahrazad
  • Sol Ring
  • Sundering Titan
  • Sylvan Primordial
  • Time Vault
  • Time Walk
  • Tinker
  • Tolarian Academy
  • Tooth and Nail
  • Trade Secrets
  • Upheaval
  • Yawgmoth's Bargain

All cards that use the sticker or Attraction mechanic

  • Aerialephant
  • Ambassador Blorpityblorpboop
  • Baaallerina
  • _____ Balls of Fire
  • Bioluminary
  • _____ Bird Gets the Worm
  • Carnival Carnivore
  • Chicken Troupe
  • Clandestine Chameleon
  • Command Performance
  • Done for the Day
  • Fight the _____ Fight
  • Finishing Move
  • Glitterflitter
  • _____ Goblin
  • Last Voyage of the _____
  • Lineprancers
  • Make a _____ Splash
  • Minotaur de Force
  • _____-o-saurus
  • Park Bleater
  • Pin Collection
  • Prize Wall
  • Proficient Pyrodancer
  • Robo-Piñata
  • _____ _____ Rocketship
  • Roxi, Publicist to the Stars
  • Scampire
  • Stiltstrider
  • Sword-Swallowing Seraph
  • Ticketomaton
  • _____ _____ _____ Trespasser
  • Tusk and Whiskers
  • Wicker Picker
  • Wizards of the _____
  • Wolf in _____ Clothing
  • Coming Attraction
  • Complaints Clerk
  • Deadbeat Attendant
  • Dee Kay, Finder of the Lost
  • Discourtesy Clerk
  • Draconian Gate-Bot
  • Lifetime" Pass Holder
  • Line Cutter
  • Monitor Monitor
  • Myra the Magnificent
  • Petting Zookeeper
  • Quick Fixer
  • Rad Rascal
  • Ride Guide
  • Seasoned Buttoneer
  • Soul Swindler
  • Spinnerette, Arachnobat
  • Squirrel Squatters
  • Step Right Up
  • The Most Dangerous Gamer

All cards with the card type 'Conspiracy'

  • Adriana's Valor
  • Advantageous Proclamation
  • Assemble Rank and Vile
  • Backup Plan
  • Brago's Favor
  • Double Stroke
  • Echoing Boom
  • Emissary's Ploy
  • Hired Heist
  • Hold the Perimeter
  • Hymn of the Wilds
  • Immediate Action
  • Incendiary Dissent
  • Iterative Analysis
  • Muzio's Preparations
  • Natural Unity
  • Power Play
  • Secret Summoning
  • Secrets of Paradise
  • Sentinel Dispatch
  • Sovereign Realm
  • Summoner's Bond
  • Unexpected Potential
  • Weight Advantage
  • Worldknit

All cards that reference "playing for ante"

  • Amulet of Quoz
  • Bronze Tablet
  • Contract from Below
  • Darkpact
  • Demonic Attorney
  • Jeweled Bird
  • Rebirth
  • Tempest Efreet
  • Timmerian Fiends

Racially insensitive cards or cards with racist depictions

  • Invoke Prejudice
  • Cleanse
  • Stone-Throwing Devils
  • Pradesh Gypsies
  • Jihad
  • Imprison
  • Crusade

Magic: The Gathering Historic ban list

Phyrexia: All Will Be One artwork showing Compleated servants of Phyrexia

(Image credit: Wizards of the Coast)

This non-rotating format is only playable on MTG Arena, and has the following cards on its ban list:

  • Agent of Treachery
  • Arid Mesa
  • Blood Moon
  • Bloodstained Mire
  • Brainstorm
  • Channel
  • Chrome Mox
  • Commandeer
  • Dark Ritual
  • Demonic Tutor
  • Endurance
  • Field of the Dead
  • Flare of Cultivation
  • Flare of Denial
  • Flare of Duplication
  • Flare of Fortitude
  • Flare of Malice
  • Flooded Strand
  • Force of Vigor
  • Fury
  • Grief
  • Harbinger of the Seas 
  • Intruder Alarm
  • Land Tax
  • Lightning Bolt
  • Mana Drain
  • Marsh Flats
  • Memory Lapse
  • Misty Rainforest
  • Natural Order
  • Necropotence
  • Nexus of Fate
  • Oko, Thief of Crowns
  • Once Upon a Time
  • Polluted Delta
  • Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer
  • Reanimate
  • Scalding Tarn
  • Show and Tell
  • Sneak Attack
  • Solitude
  • Spreading Seas
  • Subtlety
  • Swords to Plowshares
  • Thassa's Oracle
  • Tibalt's Trickery
  • Time Warp
  • Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath
  • Veil of Summer
  • Verdant Catacombs
  • Wilderness Reclamation
  • Windswept Heath
  • Winter Moon
  • Wooded Foothills

Magic: The Gathering Timeless ban list

Phyrexia: All Will Be One art

(Image credit: Wizards of the Coast)

Timeless is the digital-only equivalent to Vintage. As such, it has a relatively short ban list.

  • Channel
  • Demonic Tutor
  • Tibalt’s Trickery

Magic: The Gathering Brawl ban list

Universes Beyond - Warhammer 40,000 The Swarmlord card art

(Image credit: Wizards of the Coast)

This twist on Commander only allows for Standard legal cards. As well as this, the following cards are banned in Brawl:

  • Agent of Treachery
  • Chalice of the Void
  • Channel
  • Demonic Tutor
  • Drannith Magistrate
  • Field of the Dead
  • Gideon's Intervention
  • Lutri, the Spellchaser
  • Meddling Mage
  • Natural Order
  • Nexus of Fate
  • Oko, Thief of Crowns
  • Phyrexian Revoker
  • Pithing Needle
  • Runed Halo
  • Sorcerous Spyglass
  • Tainted Pact
  • Ugin, the Spirit Dragon

Magic: The Gathering Explorer ban list

Lotus field Magic the Gathering art Explorer legal

(Image credit: Wizards of the Coast / John Avon)

This MTG Arena exclusive format, like Pioneer, permits cards from as far back as Return to Ravnica. These are the cards on the Explorer ban list:

  • Amalia Benavides Aguirre
  • Expressive Iteration
  • Field of the Dead
  • Geological Appraiser
  • Karn, The Great Creator
  • Kethis, the Hidden Hand
  • Leyline of Abundance
  • Lurrus of the Dream-Den
  • Nexus of Fate
  • Oko, Thief of Crowns
  • Once Upon a Time
  • Sorin, Imperious Bloodlord
  • Teferi, Time Raveler
  • Tibalt's Trickery
  • Underworld Breach
  • Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath
  • Veil of Summer
  • Wilderness Reclamation
  • Winota, Joiner of Forces

Magic: The Gathering Alchemy ban list

A roiling red storm in a corridor

(Image credit: Wizards of the Coast)

There are only a few cards banned in the MTG Arena-only Alchemy format. They are as follows:

  • Cori-Steel Cutter
  • Leyline of Resonance
  • Monstrous Rage

Looking for what to play next? Why not check out the best board games, or the best tabletop RPGs?

Today's best Play Booster prices
Magic: The Gathering Edge of...
MTG Edge of Eternities Play Booster Box
Amazon
$164.70
$129
View Deal
See all prices
Magic: The Gathering Tarkir:...
Tarkir: Dragonstorm Play Booster Box
Amazon
$147.99
View Deal
See all prices
Magic: The Gathering...
Magic: The Gathering Aetherdrift Play
Amazon
$116.99
View Deal
See all prices
Magic: The Gathering...
Magic: The Gathering Innistrad
Amazon
$219.99
$176.99
View Deal
See all prices
Magic: The Gathering - Final...
MTG Final Fantasy Play Booster Box
Amazon
$174.99
View Deal
See all prices
Magic: The Gathering |...
MTG Spider-Man Play Booster Box
Amazon
$114.95
View Deal
See all prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Abigail Shannon
Abigail Shannon
Social Links Navigation
Contributor

Abigail used to be a Tabletop & Merch writer at Gamesradar+ but has now spread her wings as a freelancer. She carries at least one Magic: The Gathering deck in her backpack at all times and always spends far too long writing her D&D character backstory. She’s a lover of all things cute, creepy, and creepy-cute.

With contributions from
  • Benjamin AbbottTabletop & Merch Editor

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Read more
A selection of Riftbound cards scattered on top of one another
Tabletop Gaming First ever Riftbound ban list kills off popular cards that have become so ubiquitous they're hurting the game
 
 
MTG Secrets of Strixhaven booster packs on a plain background
Tabletop Gaming MTG Secrets of Strixhaven finally fixes a problem I've had with Magic for years
 
 
MTG Secrets of Strixhaven Commander deck and boosters on a wooden table
Tabletop Gaming MTG Secrets of Strixhaven Commander decks, ranked
 
 
Captain America leads Thor, Ant-Man, Wasp, Hulk, and Iron Man into battle
Tabletop Gaming I may not like mixing MTG Marvel Super Heroes with classic Magic, but from what I've seen it deserves a chance
 
 
MTG Spider-Man boxes laid out in a glass case
Tabletop Gaming Fans argue that six Magic: The Gathering sets a year "is too many" after news drops that 50% of new releases will be crossovers
 
 
Mood Swings box and cards on a rough, gridded background
Tabletop Gaming Magic: The Gathering head designer reveals Mood Swings, a new card game 28 years in the making
 
 
Latest in Tabletop Gaming
A Warhammer 40K Armageddon space marine levels a boltpistol into the foreground
Tabletop Gaming Where to buy Warhammer 40K Armageddon
 
 
Captain America leads Thor, Ant-Man, Wasp, Hulk, and Iron Man into battle
Tabletop Gaming I may not like mixing MTG Marvel Super Heroes with classic Magic, but from what I've seen it deserves a chance
 
 
Ahsoka Tano and Boba Fett look on as Kylo Ren and Rey battle in a snowy forest below
Tabletop Gaming Star Wars Unlimited introduces new mini-set specially made for players who fell off the wagon
 
 
A 2.5D Lego Gyarados Pokemon card against a purple background
Toys & Collectibles These fan-made Lego Pokemon card sets will blow your mind
 
 
Multiple Pikachu Pokemon cards on a yellow, sparkly background
Tabletop Gaming Pokemon TCG introduces new card rarity with gorgeous 30th Celebration collection
 
 
Two unpainted Space Marine models ready their weapons, with the Warhammer 40K Armageddon box set visible behind them
Tabletop Gaming I've been hands on with Warhammer 40K Armageddon, and it's Christmas come early for fans
 
 
Latest in Guides
Task Bar Hero Rune upgrade menu Rune of Command
RPGs Best Task Bar Hero Runes and upgrades to get fast
 
 
TBH Task Bar Hero sorcerer previewed in formation menu
RPGs Best Task Bar Hero builds and formations for the early-game
 
 
TBH Task Bar Hero character selection screen
RPGs Best Task Bar Hero characters and tier list
 
 
A Roblox character climbs seemingly infinite stairs in Re:Aura
Simulation Games Re Aura codes (June 2026) for Shards and Yen
 
 
A brown-haired Roblox character wields a glowing red sword as he faces off against a green golem in Broken Blade
RPGs Broken Blade codes (June 2026) for Elements
 
 
Forza Horizon 6 vending machines in gas station with Lotus Emira in front
Forza Horizon How to find Forza Horizon 6 vending machines to smash
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Exodus screenshot of Jun zipping along in the air with Big Preview branding
    1
    Exodus narrative director dives into its inspirations from Interstellar to Star Wars to Mass Effect
  2. 2
    Call of Duty DMZ devs have been "paying attention" to other extraction shooters like Arc Raiders
  3. 3
    After over 5 years in early access, Valheim 1.0 launches in September with final biome Deep North
  4. 4
    Persona 4 Revival avoids Persona 3 Reload's biggest mistake and looks like a definitive remake
  5. 5
    Final Fantasy 7 Revelation's story changes based on your choices, but it'll have a "singular ending"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...