Along with increasing thefrequency of theirMagic: The Gathering(MTG) releasesover the years, Wizards of the Coast have also begun to provide consistent updates to theirBannedandRestrictedcard lists for each format. In a2023 updateby Wizards designer Dan Musser, he confirmed that banned and restricted announcements will now be made within two to five weeks after the release of a set.
Whether you’re playingCommanderat your Local Games Store (LGS) or preparing a decklist for aModernChallenge tournament, it’s essential that you’re up to date on what cards are legal in your format of choice.
The Difference between Banned and Restricted cards
Banned Cards
Banned cards inMagic: The Gatheringare exactly what they sound like. These cards can’t be used in your deck or sideboard, otherwise your deck would be considered illegal to play. You’ll be expected to play with a legal deck even in casual settings unless you’ve discussed it with your playgroup or players at your LGS.
Restricted Cards
Restricted lists are currently only used in theVintageandTimelessformats. If a card is on the restricted list, only a single copy can be included within a deck and sideboard. This keeps the most powerful cards from being used over and over again, making it much more important for players to time their casts wisely.
Why does Wizards of the Coast ban or restrict cards?
In many competitive games, balance changes are necessary in order to sustain a healthy gameplay environment;Magic: The Gatheringis no exception. But with over 30,000+ cards and counting, reprinting cards with minor changes isn’t feasible. And let’s face it, no player wants to take a Sharpie to their foils and adjust the power or toughness of their creatures.
MTG’s solution is simple: Ban or restrict the cards that are disrupting the play environment or simply take the fun out of games. This policy has worked well for decades and isn’t likely to change anytime soon. Due to MTG’s rapid growth, some cards have managed to become unbanned due to the release of more forms of counterplay, effectively making previously overpowered cards reasonable for play.
Most recent MTG Banned and Restricted lists update:August 07, 2025
Next MTG Banned and Restricted lists update:August 07, 2025
This list includes cards indefinitely banned for racially or culturally offensive features, “Conspiracy” cards, and “Playing for ante” cards.
All Sticker Cards (A list of these cards can be found in the next section)
All Attraction Cards (A list of these cards can be found in the next section)
Banned List
Restricted List
