Banned and Restricted Card Announcement (2024/08/23) − RULE

Banned and Restricted Card Announcement (2024/08/23)

In the Digimon Card Game, your deck can include up to 4 copies of a card with the same card numbers. In official tournaments, however, some cards are banned or restricted, limiting the number of copies you can play.

Banned cards: cards that are not allowed to add to your deck.

Restricted cards (1): If you want to include cards listed as restricted, you can only include a number of copies equal to the number listed in parentheses.

Banned Pair: If A is included in a deck, B is banned from being included in the deck.

Note:
Banned and restricted cards listed here may be removed from the list depending on the current competitive environment.

Based on the competitive environment, the following cards will be added to the banned and restricted list from August 31, 2024.

Full List

Cards that will become banned or restricted cards from August 31, 2024

Restricted Cards (1): Decks can only include one copy of these cards.

*Even the illustrations are different, if they have the same card number that can only include one copy of these cards.

: P-123
Ukkomon

It was intended for this to be a card that could be combined with [P-130 Lui Ohwada] and used in a variety of decks, but the importance of this one card turned out to be much bigger than predicted, as it increases the speed of control decks that don't require level 3, and provides many options by securing memory.
As a result, there’s a difference in power between decks that can use this card and those that can’t, resulting in a loss of diversity in the decks that can be used.
For the above reasons, we have decided to restrict this card to 1 per deck.

: P-130
Lui Ohwada

By repeatedly combining effects that aren’t [Once Per Turn], such as [BT6-088 Matt Ishida]’s, with this card's [On Play] effect, the game speed accelerates dramatically, making it difficult for many decks to compete.
Because various decks use countermeasures against this combination, decks that are strongly affected by the countermeasures are no longer able to perform as effectively as they should, resulting in a loss of diversity in the decks being used.
For the above reasons, we have decided to restrict this card to 1 per deck.

: ST2-13
Hammer Spark

This card has been used in decks that include blue cards for a long time, but the increased variety of cards available now allows for more card drawing, making it possible to have multiple cards in the hand and use them consecutively in one turn.
As a result, it has become easier to speed up the game, widening the gap between decks that can use this card and others.
For the above reasons, we have decided to restrict this card to 1 per deck.

: BT9-098
Awakening of the Golden Knight

This card is used in decks that mainly use [BT16-102 Magnamon (X Antibody)], which has a high usage rate in recent game environments. When combined with cards such as level 3 cards that support digivolution, it was possible to keep [BT16-102 Magnamon (X Antibody)] on the board early on and move toward attacking.
The above play is very powerful and creates situations that many decks can't handle.
To fix this issue, we have decided to restrict this card to 1 per deck.

: BT15-057
Numemon (X Antibody)

When using [Numemon] decks, this card has high board retention from the beginning of the game and its inherited effect can be reused when combined with other cards, allowing this single card to significantly increase the ability to control the entire deck.
In addition, since a level 6 can also be played by its effect, it's easy to digivolve from there to level 7, which has a higher output, to create a one-sided control board at an early stage.
For the reasons stated above, we expect this card will play a very large role in the deck, resulting in a loss of diversity in the cards included.
For the above reasons, we have decided to restrict this card to 1 per deck.

: BT14-084
T.K. Takaishi

Having multiples of this card in play makes it easy to continuously and significantly increase Memory, guaranteeing stability in “Yellow Vaccine” decks and others that use this card.
Also, this card’s role through the entire game becomes significant since the effect which increases or decreases the Security cards can be activated for a low Memory cost.
On top of this, having Memory gained after ⟨Recovery⟩ effects lets the player do more and makes matches take excessively longer.
For these reasons this card will be limited to 1 copy in a deck.

Restricted cards that will be lifted from August 31, 2024

: ST6-03
Gabumon

In past game environments when this card was widely used, by combining it with a Digimon that had an effect that let it attack consecutively and activating its inherited effect that doesn't have [Once Per Turn] multiple times, it increased the speed and consistency of decks that made use of the trash.
However, as the card pool has increased in recent game environments, there are now more ways to suppress attacks. Because of this, we have determined that it has become more difficult to consistently activate this card's effect multiple times compared to before, therefore we have decided to change this card from "Restricted to 1" to "Unrestricted."

Past banned and restricted card announcement

Card pair that will be banned from January 12, 2024

Banned Pair: If A is included in a deck, B is banned from being included in the deck.

*Even the illustrations are different, if they have the same card number that can only include one copy of these cards.

Component Card A

・EX5-065 Sayo & Koh

Component Card B

・P-097 Zubamon
・BT13-102 Keenan Crier
・ST16-14 Matt Ishida

It has been discovered that by combining the [Start of Opponent's Turn] effect of [EX5-065 Sayo & Koh] and the [On Play] effect of [P-097 Zubamon], it is repeatedly possible to gain memory and immediately end the opponent's turn.
This can be set up quickly, and once set up, it is difficult to interfere with and the game will end with the opponent unable to participate at all. The intended experience is based on turns going back-and-forth and both players getting to play cards, so we have decided that this is not healthy for the game due to how fast and consistently this combination can be used.
In addition, we've identified that the same combination also works with [BT13-102 Keenan Crier] and [ST16-14 Matt Ishida]. For the above reasons, we have decided to ban the three cards [P-097 Zubamon], [BT13-102 Keenan Crier] and [ST16-14 Matt Ishida] from being included in decks that include [EX5-065 Sayo & Koh].

Cards that will become restricted cards from January 5, 2024

Restricted Cards (1) - Decks can only include one copy of these cards.

*Even the illustrations are different, if they have the same card number that can only include one copy of these cards

: BT14-002
Bukamon

Because this card grants <Jamming> by fulfilling an easy condition, it offers greater consistency than other blue Digi-Egg cards that are more specialized for different blue deck playstyles.
As a result, there is little reason for blue decks to use any other cards than this one.
For the above reasons, we have decided to restrict this card to 1 per deck.

: BT15-102
Apocalymon

If you can send cards with the [Dark Masters] trait to the trash even once, this card can be played many times easily and for a low cost depending on the number of copies, which combined with cards such as [BT13-077 Craniamon], makes it extremely difficult to deal with.
In addition, there is no cost to activating the deck trashing effect and the number of cards trashed at a time is considerable, making it difficult to deal with for decks that cannot utilize the trash, so this card limits the number of deck types that can compete in the environment.
For the above reasons, we have decided to restrict this card to 1 per deck.

: EX5-015
Gabumon (X Antibody)

In a Garurumon deck, this card offers both higher consistency and speed than other cards.
In addition, this card’s inherited effect grants a protection effect that makes it difficult for the opponent to respond from the beginning of the game.
As a result, there is little reason to use other cards, because the importance of this one card is so great.
For the above reasons, we have decided to restrict this card to 1 per deck.

: EX5-018
Garurumon (X Antibody)

This card alone allows altering one’s hand to a great degree, and it offers greater consistency than is reasonable for decks that can use it.
In addition, this card can be used by not only Garurumon decks, but also decks that utilize the trash.
As a result, there is little reason to use other cards, because the importance of this one card is so great.
For the above reasons, we have decided to restrict this card to 1 per deck.

: EX5-062
Anubismon

This card has high board retention and control due to its continuous play and removal effects, which greatly improves the consistency and speed of the deck when combined with several other existing cards.
There are very few deck types that can handle this speed, and currently this card reduces the space for choosing other deck themes with similar board expansion effects, limiting the diversity of decks you can use.
For the above reasons, we have decided to restrict this card to 1 per deck.

Cards that will become restricted cards from October 27, 2023

Restricted Cards (1) - Decks can only include one copy of these cards.

*Even the illustrations are different, if they have the same card number that can only include one copy of these cards

: ST6-03
Gabumon

Digimon with effects that can attack in succession are able to send targeted cards to the trash at a faster rate than expected, and the output of effects that take advantage of the trash and the stability of the deck is higher than expected, due to the inherited effect of this card to exchange hands multiple times in one turn.
In addition to the above, this card is Lv.3 and can evolve to "GABUMON X Antibody" at 0 cost, so the timing of the inherited effect is highly flexible, which narrows the range of design of active effects and effects utilizing trash.
For the above reasons, we have decided to restrict this card to 1 per deck.

: BT2-069
Gabumon

It is very versatile among the hand exchange effects due to its ability to send a targeted card to the trash while increasing the number of cards in the hand with the inherited effect.
In addition, since it has this effect as a Lv. 3 evolution source, it can perform this hand exchange at a very early stage, and as a result, it is so powerful that there is no need to use other methods, thus we have decided to limit this card.
For the above reasons, we have decided to restrict this card to 1 per deck.

: BT13-012
GeoGreymon

When using [ShineGreymon] decks, [Marcus Damon] becomes central to play, and the card was intended to be a card similar to [BT12-038 GeoGreymon] that plays Tamers. However, because it can play Tamers from areas other than a hand, the speed and reliability of playing [Marcus Damon] cards was greater than predicted, leading to greater precision of one-shot wins with [ShineGreymon] decks.
Because this card is a Vaccine card, [Yellow Vaccine] decks also allow Tamers to be played at speeds greater than predicted when [BT14-033 Patamon] is included.
In addition, at level 4 and higher, an effect allows for playing from the security stack instead of from the hand, and because the effect specifies "red or yellow Tamer," the card design is limited to decks that use red or yellow Tamers.
For the above reasons, we have decided to restrict this card to 1 per deck.

: EX4-019
MachGaogamon

When using [MirageGaogamon] decks, pairing this card's inherited effect with the inherited effects of cards such as [EX4-015 Gaomon] or [EX04-017 Gaogamon] allowed for faster digivolutions to level 6 than predicted. As a result, interfering with opponent's moves using [BT11-033 MirageGaogamon] was faster than other [MachGaogamon] cards.
In addition, the conditions for the unsuspending effect in this card's inherited effect are looser than other [MachGaogamon] cards since it activates when attacking, allowing for greater attack capabilities.
As a result of these two factors, other [MachGaogamon] cards fall by the wayside, and [MirageGaogamon] decks have greater stability than predicted.
For the above reasons, we have decided to restrict this card to 1 per deck.

: BT7-069
Eyesmon：
Scatter Mode

It has long been an effective card in decks that utilize trashing, but its ability to exchange a very large number of cards at Lv. 4 has greatly reduced the usage rate of other cards with hand exchange effects.
In addition, the effect is so powerful that deck designs that utilize the Trash must be based on this card.
For the above reasons, we have decided to restrict this card to 1 per deck.

Restricted cards that will be lifted from October 27, 2023

Restricted Cards (1) - Decks can only include one copy of these cards.

*Even the illustrations are different, if they have the same card number that can only include one copy of these cards

: BT6-015
SaviorHuckmon

In past game environments when this card was widely used, its effect and [BT6-016 Jesmon]'s effect that played [Sistermon] cards were very powerful, and when the unsuspending effect in this card's inherited effect was paired with [BT6-016 Jesmon]'s Piercing, security stacks could be rapidly worn down without being affected by defensive strategies such as <Blocker>.
However, we have determined that decks that can counter these strategies have increased in recent game environments, therefore we have decided to change this card from "Restricted to 1" to "Unrestricted."

: BT7-086
Tommy Himi

In past game environments when this card was widely used, this card's On Play effect was a factor that allowed decks that used [Hybrid] cards as main cards to immediately attack more easily than predicted and more effectively than decks that required multiple standard digivolutions, creating an imbalance in play.
Even among [Hybrid] decks, effects in [Blue Hybrid] decks that prevented attacking and blocking were particularly strong, and this led to a heavy burden on other decks.
However, in recent game environments, there has been an increase in cards that can counter digivolution card removals and can counter effects that prevent attacking/blocking, therefore we have decided to change this card from "Restricted to 1" to "Unrestricted."

Card ban lifted for Asia from July 8, 2023

・Exceptional ban cards for Asia：cards that are not allowed to add to your deck.

※If the card numbers are the same, you can not add the card to your deck even if the designs are different.

The cards shown above will be distributed in Shop Event from July 8, 2023.
Therefore the ban in Asian regions will be lifted from July 8 onwords.

Cards that will become restricted cards from June 16, 2023

・Restricted Cards (1) - Decks can only include one copy of these cards.

*Even the illustrations are different, if they have the same card number that can only include one copy of these cards

: BT3-054
Blossomon

When using Plant/Vegetation/Fairy decks, this card's level can easily increase to level 6, even with very little memory. This limits the future game design possibilities for green cards and Plant/Vegetation/Fairy decks. It also removes the need for another level 5 card with <Digisorption>. For these reasons, we’ve decided to restrict this card to 1 copy per deck.

: EX2-039
Impmon

In current [Beelzemon] decks, this card has an effect that can trash an additional card from the deck when this card is trashed, making it easy to build up cards in the trash. Additionally, it even removes the need for using cards such as [Ai & Mako] to place a card at the top of your deck so it can activate an effect when it is trashed from the deck, accelerating the game speed and limiting future game design possibilities for cards that reference the number of cards in your trash. For these reasons, we’ve decided to restrict this card to 1 copy per deck.

: P-008
WereGarurumon

In current decks that use [MetalGarurumon (X Antibody)], a quick defeat is possible using this card. It doesn't have extreme power in current play environments, but this card limits the future game design possibilities for decks that reference the name [Garurumon]. For this reason, we’ve decided to restrict this card to 1 copy per deck.

: P-025
GranKuwagamon

As this card can add multiple activations of <S Attack +1>, this card allows decks with [GrandisKuwagamon] to easily defeat an opponent in a short amount of time, the attacked player has few methods for defense, and this card has been used in play environments for longer than we expected. For these reasons, this card limits the future game design possibilities for decks that reference [GranKuwagamon] or [Insectoid] cards, therefore we’ve decided to restrict this card to 1 copy per deck.

Cards that will become restricted cards from April 1, 2023

・Restricted Cards (1) - Decks can only include one copy of these cards.

*Even the illustrations are different, if they have the same card number that can only include one copy of these cards

The effect of reducing the cost when digivolving from this card to a Digimon that has [Greymon] in its name allows you to digivolve into [BT12-068 MetalGreymon] or [BT9-015 MetalGreymon (X Antibody)] too efficiently, accelerating the speed at which the deck reduces the opponent's security and its comeback potential.
Additionally, this card's inherited effect gives resistance to a number of effects, and overall increases the effectiveness of Greymon decks more than expected. Therefore, we have determined that this card narrows the range of viable decks in the format, and we have decided to restrict this card to 1 copy per deck.

Card ban lifted for Asia from January 27, 2023

Exceptional ban cards for Asia：cards that are not allowed to add to your deck.

※if the card numbers are the same, you can not add the card to your deck even if the designs are different.

The cards shown above will be included in “DIGIMON CARD GAME REBOOT BOOSTER RISING WIND [RB-01]”, releasing on January 27, 2023.
Therefore the ban in Asian regions will be lifted from January 27 onwords.

Cards that will become restricted cards from December 1, 2022

・Restricted Cards (1) - Decks can only include one copy of these cards.

*Even the illustrations are different, if they have the same card number that can only include one copy of these cards

As this card can delete the player’s own Digimon and return Digimon cards from the trash at a low cost, it has been used to cause continuous loops. As this outcome was not what we intended, we have decided to restrict this card to 1 copy per deck.

With an effect that can play Tamers for free alongside a strong DP reduction effect, the output of this card in certain decks was more powerful than intended. Hence, we decided that it limits variety in deck building and restricted it to 1 copy per deck.

As the [End of Attack] effect of this card allows players to reuse the cards required for DigiXros, players can repeatedly perform attacks at a low cost by having multiple copies of this card in their hand. Coupled with its [On Play] effect which increases the cards in the player’s hand, [Xros Heart] decks have performed much better than intended. Hence to improve game balance, we have decided to restrict this card to 1 copy per deck.

Exceptional ban cards for Asia from September 24, 2022

Exceptional ban cards for Asia：cards that are not allowed to add to your deck.

※if the card numbers are the same, you can not add the card to your deck even if the designs are different.

The cards shown above were distributed in Japan for magazine free gift etc. and are not distributed in Asian regions.
Therefor, to keep the playing field level, these cards will be banned from official tournaments and events in Asian regions exceptionally,starting from September 24 “Super! Tamer Battle” onwards.

*will NOT be banned in the ongoing EVO CUP(until Sep.24).
*the ban will be applied for all official events after Sep.24.
*This ban will be lifted when the cards are officially distributed in all Asian regions in the future.

Cards that will become banned or restricted cards from September 1, 2022

・Restricted Cards (1) - Decks can only include one copy of these cards.

*Even the illustrations are different, if they have the same card number that can only include one copy of these cards

Decks with this card have dominated the meta longer than anticipated, limited the variety of yellow colour viable decks. As such, we decided to restrict this card to 1 copy per deck.

With low cost, this card trashes multiple cards from the bottom of a digivoled Digimon; plus the additional effects of preventing opponent’s Digimon from attacking or blocking, we decided to restrict this card to 1 copy per deck.

With “X-Antibody” traits, other card with “X-antibody” can be simply placed at the bottom of this Digimon as digivolution card. Furthermore, it gains +1 security check and prevents effects of deleting or reducing DP when digivolving until the end of opponent’s next turn. As such, we determined that adding multiple copies to the deck will upset the balance of the game; we decided to restrict this card to 1 copy per deck.

Cards that will become banned or restricted cards on February 1, 2022

Banned cards: cards that are not allowed to add to your deck.

*if the card numbers are the same, you can not add the card to your deck even if the designs are different.

BT7-112 Susanoomon is a level 7 Digimon that can digivolve from a Tamer, allowing you to use this card to digivolve for free without the need for a level 6 Digimon, speeding up the metagame and restricting viable decks in the format. As such, we’ve decided to ban this card.Many games end in the early or mid-game simply by using this card to digivolve into a finisher, so we believe simply restricting this card will not be enough to fix the issue. For this reason, we’re choosing the ban this card instead of restricting it.

Restricted Cards (1) - Decks can only include up to one copy of these cards.

*Even the illustrations are different, if they have the same card number that can only include one copy of these cards

Decks that use this card with BT6-016 Jesmon have dominated the metagame for longer than anticipated, greatly limiting viable decks in red. For this reason, we’ve decided to restrict this card to 1 copy per deck.

This card proved considerably more powerful than the other Memory Boost cards, and exceeded our power level estimations when used in specialized decks, such as non-yellow multicolor control decks, and D-Reaper decks. We believe the card is too generally powerful to be left unchecked, and have decided to restrict it to 1 copy per deck.

Though performing as intended as a defensive card, using it every turn results in a lock situation that negatively impacts the speed of games. The resulting unenjoyable play patterns outweigh the benefits of the card’s effect, so we’ve decided to restrict it to 1 copy per deck.

Using BT7-072 Eyesmon and BT7-069 Eyesmon: Scatter Mode in tandem makes it easier than anticipated to cycle through your deck while playing Digimon to your Battle Area for free. Therefore, we’ve decided to restrict this card to 1 copy per deck.