To check whether a Yu-Gi-Oh! deck is legal, first confirm the event’s format and region, then use the current official list for that format. In the North American TCG, Forbidden cards are not allowed, while Limited and Semi-Limited cards have combined copy limits across your Main, Extra, and Side Decks. Release dates, card market, and Remote Duel rules can affect legality too.
What do Forbidden, Limited, and Semi-Limited mean?
Konami’s North American TCG deck-construction rules define these categories by how many copies you may include across your Main, Extra, and Side Decks combined:
| Category | Maximum copies across Main, Extra, and Side Decks |
|---|---|
| Forbidden | 0 |
| Limited | 1 |
| Semi-Limited | 2 |
| Not listed in a restricted category | 3 maximum under the general copy rule |
For example, if a card is Limited, one copy in the Main Deck means you cannot put another copy in the Extra or Side Deck. The categories apply to the combined total, not separately to each section. See Konami’s Deck Construction Rules and the general copy guidance in the 2026 WCQ FAQ.
Which list applies to your event?
There is no single list that governs every Yu-Gi-Oh! tournament. This guidance concerns the North American TCG. Konami’s official deck-construction page names Advanced and Traditional formats; an event may also specify a special list or other rules. The 2026 WCQ FAQ, for example, describes events using either the current Advanced list or a World Championship format list, and advises players to ask their local store which list an event uses.
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Do not assume the TCG and OCG use the same restrictions, or that an event-specific format uses the ordinary Advanced list. Before building or submitting a deck, check the event announcement or ask the organizer or head judge which format and list apply. Konami’s 2026 WCQ FAQ and official deck-construction rules are useful starting points.
What is the current North American TCG list?
As of October 7, 2026, the latest North American TCG list surfaced in the official sources is Forbidden & Limited Lists – September 21, 2026, effective September 21, 2026. The page specifically says that the changes moving Mind Master and Elder Entity Norden from Forbidden to Unlimited do not take effect until September 28, 2026. Check the date and any card-specific effective-date note rather than treating every listed change as active immediately.
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Konami’s tournament policy says list updates happen periodically during the year, with no set schedule, and tells players to check the current list before sanctioned or official constructed events. An old deck profile, saved deck, or article may therefore be out of date. See KDE-US Tournament Policy v2.3 and the official list page.
How to check a deck before playing
- Identify the event and format. Find out whether the event uses Advanced, Traditional, or a named event-specific format. Check its published rules; if the format is unclear, ask the store, organizer, or head judge.
- Open the official list for that format. For North American TCG play, use Konami’s Forbidden and Limited List. Confirm its date and read effective-date notes for individual cards.
- Count copies across all three deck sections. Add a card’s copies in the Main, Extra, and Side Decks. Apply zero for Forbidden, one maximum for Limited, and two maximum for Semi-Limited. Cards outside those categories remain subject to the general three-copy maximum and any event-specific rules. The limits are detailed in Konami’s deck-construction rules and 2026 WCQ FAQ.
- Verify release legality in your territory. Tournament policy ties set legality to the official release date, which varies by region. A card’s release in another territory does not establish that it is legal for your event. Check Konami’s tournament policy.
- Check the card’s market and language. The North American WCQ FAQ says Asian-market cards, including Asian-English cards, are not legal in TCG tournaments. It permits foreign-language cards printed for the TCG market if you can provide an official translation when requested. Confirm the details in the 2026 WCQ FAQ.
- For Remote Duel, check its separate rules. Some cards are forbidden only in Remote Duel because certain private-knowledge effects cannot be resolved successfully in that setting. Those restrictions do not apply to in-person play and are not shown on the ordinary Advanced or Traditional list. Consult the North American Remote Duel OTS Qualifier FAQ.
Does the list apply to Remote Duel?
Not by itself. Remote Duel can have additional card restrictions that are separate from the ordinary Advanced and Traditional lists. Konami explains that some private-knowledge effects cannot be resolved successfully remotely; those Remote Duel-only restrictions do not apply to in-person play. Check the Remote Duel OTS Qualifier FAQ alongside the list for the event’s format.
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