Yu-Gi-Oh Banlist Explained

The Yu-Gi-Oh TCG banlist is the official Forbidden & Limited List for tournament play. It changes how many copies of certain cards you can use, which keeps the format healthier and forces old deck lists to be checked before they are played. If you are still learning the basics, start with how to play Yu-Gi-Oh.

Our current TCG list is effective 2026-05-18 and includes 119 Forbidden, 97 Limited, and 10 Semi-Limited cards. See the full searchable page at Yu-Gi-Oh TCG Banlist.

What the statuses mean

Status	Allowed	Meaning
Forbidden	0 copies	You cannot use the card in your Main Deck, Extra Deck, or Side Deck in Advanced Format.
Limited	1 copy	You can use only one copy total across your Main Deck, Extra Deck, and Side Deck.
Semi-Limited	2 copies	You can use only two copies total across your Main Deck, Extra Deck, and Side Deck.

How to check if your deck is legal

Search every card that appears more than once in your Main, Extra, or Side Deck.
Count all copies together. A Limited card means one copy total, not one per Deck zone.
Check older deck profiles before copying them. A list from last format may be illegal now, so use the deck-building guide to rebuild around legal counts.
Watch for cards that are legal in one format but not another. TCG, OCG, Master Duel, and special events can use different lists.

Official and local sources

Konami publishes the official TCG Forbidden & Limited List. This site mirrors current TCG data from YAML Yugi and links each matched card into the local database so you can inspect text, type, printings, and images. If a source ever disagrees with Konami's current list, the official Konami list is the one that controls tournament legality. Banlist changes can also move prices, so collectors should pair this with the card value guide.