Forum:Reasons why cards are Forbidden/Limited/List

Correct as of April 2024 (TCG and OCG)

Monster Cards

Currently Forbidden

Monster Card	Reason
Agido the Ancient Sentinel	Both have mill-5 effects that trigger when milled themselves (or simply discarded). Supposedly balanced by the opposing player also milling at the same time, but mitigated by the "shuffling" Ishizu cards (see below). As a result, enables Graveyard setup for countless Decks especially on turn zero.
Kelbek the Ancient Vanguard
Amazoness Archer	Banned in the OCG due to a lack of once-per-turn restriction on their effects enabling burn loop FTKs when combined with not-once-per-turn summoning effects. All are Unlimited in the TCG.
Cannon Soldier
Cannon Soldier MK-2
Toon Cannon Soldier
Artifact Scythe	Prevents the opponent from Special Summoning from their Extra Deck for the turn if Special Summoned during their turn. Was manageable upon first release due to inconsistent options to search it and trigger its effect, as well as a slower metagame at the time. Upon the release of Artifact Dagda to search it as well as Destiny HERO - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer (or T.G. Wonder Magician via Crystron Halqifibrax) to consistently trigger it on the opposing turn, the "Scythe lock" became trivial and an unfair means of taking a Duel out of the opponent's reach. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Barrier Statue of the Stormwinds	All Barrier Statues have a Continuous Effect to prevent Special Summoning monsters not of their Attribute; in this card's case, WIND. However, this card is more searchable than the other Barrier Statues (Swallow's Nest, Divine Wind of Mist Valley, Floowandereeze & Robina, Raidraptor - Arsenal Falcon, Simorgh, Bird of Sovereignty), and meta Decks that could use this card often ended their combo on it.
Baronne de Fleur	Generic omni-negate Synchro Monsters. Instant staples upon release, and soon became part of too many turn-one combo lines. Borreload Savage requires a Link Monster in grave in order to gain negates, but most competitive boards are able to keep their Extra Deck unrestricted during their combo. Both are currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Borreload Savage Dragon
Blackwing - Gofu the Vague Shadow	Easily summonable turn-one while also summoning two tokens with restrictions on their use at the time. Link Summoning was introduced afterwards, turning this card into a 1-card Link-3 with no drawbacks, all without using up the Normal Summon.
Block Dragon	Can bring itself on board from Graveyard as well as hand, unlike most other Nomi's. Cost easily met with various means of dumping Rock monsters from Deck. Floating effect is just more advantage (+1 to +3). Was made Forbidden in the TCG due to runaway success in Adamancipators, the first good Rock archetype. This card is currently Limited in the OCG.
Chaos Ruler, the Chaotic Magical Dragon	Generic Synchro that adds one of the top five cards in the Main Deck to hand if it is a LIGHT or DARK monster and sends the rest to the Graveyard. Otherwise, mills the top five cards of the Main Deck regardless. Godsend in Decks that abuse Graveyard setup and/or triggers, which are most Decks regardless of format.
Crystron Halqifibrax	Utility Link 2 meant to return consistency to Synchro plays after they were nerfed by Master Rule 4. Easy to make despite requiring a Tuner as material. However, the Tuner this card summons is not prevented from being used as further Link Material, and the restriction on the summoned Tuner only applied on the field, thus the mere presence of this card in the meta caused many +1 Tuners to become Forbidden. Its other effect to pivot into a Tuner Synchro Monster during the opposing turn allowed for disruption from the likes of T.G. Wonder Magician (to trigger a Scythe lock) or Desert Locusts for hand destruction, let alone quick Synchro Summoning.
Curious, the Lightsworn Dominion	Sets up any one card from the Main Deck into the Graveyard upon Link Summon, followed by the top three cards of that Deck immediately after it is shuffled, for one guaranteed and three potential gains in card advantage. Was meant to be balanced by stringent Link material requirements, but this was met by the Danger! engine several formats after release, which would combine this card with Knightmare Gryphon to essentially activate any Spell or Trap from the Deck. While it was not hit back then, this card remained one to watch out for as more and more Decks, especially mono-Attribute hybrid builds, became capable of summoning it. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Cyber Jar	A Flip effect that destroys all monsters on the field and lets both players Special Summon from among the top five cards in their Main Decks, any Level 4 or lower monsters (the remainder are added to the hand). Banned for its high impact in the slower metagame at the time (and a mill FTK related to it), though as time went on, more monsters became immune to destruction or floated upon destruction, and the Flip effect designation makes this card less likely to resolve without proper support. This card is currently Limited in the TCG.
Cyber-Stein	Not-once-per-turn Ignition Effect to summon any Fusion Monster from the Extra Deck. High cost supposedly makes it one-off but can be circumvented in a number of ways, making it capable of spamming a board with powerful Fusion Monsters. Forbidden between 2006 and 2018 (TCG) for previously enabling OTKs alongside Megamorph, then became Limited. Now Forbidden again for being an auto-win card due to high searchability through Gear Gigant X and the Spright engine; whether the cost is circumvented becomes a non-factor.
Dandylion	Compulsory not-once-per-turn effect. Generates lots of advantage most of the time. Re-usable in many Decks, creates Tokens that can be used for Tribute/Synchro/Link Summoning. Effect also triggers when it enters the Graveyard through any means.
Djinn Releaser of Rituals	Prevents the opponent from Special Summoning at all when used for a Ritual Summon, and can be banished from the Graveyard to be used for a Ritual Summon as well. Easily searchable through Tour Guide From the Underworld and dumpable through Armageddon Knight, Dark Grepher, and Lavalval Chain. Made Forbidden due to abuse in Nekroz, the first meta Ritual Deck. Its Level 3 Ritual Monster sends itself to the Graveyard to search the Ritual Spell that can Ritual Summon it from the Graveyard.
Eclipse Wyvern	Two not-once-per-turn effects, one compulsory, combining to search a vast array of power and/or utility monsters. Made Forbidden due to Dragon Link and Thunder Dragon Decks abusing both effects to their fullest extent. Elpy summons it from the Main Deck and Pisty loops it.
Elder Entity Norden	Its effect to revive a monster is not once-per-turn, leading to Rank 4 and Synchro spam. Summoned with ease by Instant Fusion, thus ignoring material requirements, and can be recurred consequently. Was banned in the OCG before its TCG release, and was looped by Zoodiacs via Fusion Substitute, Lunalight Black Sheep and Daigusto Emeral before its TCG ban.
Eva	Effect activates when sent to Graveyard from anywhere. Meant to provide a consistent stream of fodder to enable the negations of Herald monsters. Becomes an advantage engine when paired with Power Angel Valkyria. Made Forbidden in the TCG due to abuse in Drytrons, which easily summoned Herald of Ultimateness via their Ritual Spell and searched this card via Cyber Angel Benten. This card is currently Limited in the OCG.
Fairy Tail - Snow	Two not-once-per-turn effects combining to form a Book of Moon-style disruption on the opposing turn. Supposed to be balanced by the high Graveyard setup or field presence required for the Quick Effect revival, but Thunder Dragons made this trivial. Was even let off for two formats in 2022, but re-banned due to abuse in P.U.N.K. engines using Chaos Ruler, the Chaotic Magical Dragon. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Fiber Jar	A Flip effect that is ruled to also shuffle itself back into the Main Deck as part of its effect, which soft-resets the game state and often causes a Duel to go over its allocated tournament time. Though too slow to consistently resolve nowadays, it remains banned on this technicality.
Fishborg Blaster	Tuner with a not-once-per-turn effect to summon itself from the Graveyard at the cost of a discard, causing Synchro spam, loops and OTKs. Low level makes it eligible Tuner for Synchros that recoup the discard cost (usually Formula Synchron and T.G. Hyper Librarian). Condition to summon itself is easily met by Superancient Deepsea King Coelacanth which searches it. Fishborg Launcher was likely printed as a balanced alternative.
Glow-Up Bulb	Though once-per-Duel, effect is +1 with potential for further Graveyard setup. Easily searched off of One for One, Lonefire Blossom and most recently Crystron Halqifibrax. Was initially Forbidden to hit Plant Synchro Decks that were still topping in 2012, before being let off when they declined enough. Now Forbidden again due to the aforementioned Halqifibrax (also now Forbidden) enabling easy Link laddering. This card is currently Limited in the OCG.
Grinder Golem	Nomi Special Summoning condition is not once-per-turn, thus abused by the new Link mechanic. Tokens easily went into Akashic Magician and subsequently Security Dragon to return this card to the hand, enabling dangerous Link spam, all without using up the Normal Summon.
Guardragon Agarpain	Special Summons any Dragon monster from the Extra Deck, bypassing material requirements. Zone requirements for the summon are easy to meet in Dragon Link, often using Crusadia Spatha or World Legacy Guardragon to move a Dragon Link Monster summoned to the Main Monster Zone. Often enabled by or paired with Guardragon Elpy.
Guardragon Elpy	Special Summons any Dragon monster from the Main Deck without negating its effect, enabling easy play extension with the summoned monster. Like with Agarpain, zone requirements for the summon were easily met by Crusadia Spatha or World Legacy Guardragon.
Heavymetalfoes Electrumite	Meant to recover consistency of Pendulum Decks after Master Rule 4 nerfed them; did too good of a job in that regard. All three effects combine for a net gain in card advantage by committing just two cards. First two combine to search any Pendulum Monster, while the second two sets up a Pendulum Monster face-up in the Extra Deck from the hand without loss of card advantage. This card is currently Limited in the OCG.
Hot Red Dragon Archfiend King Calamity	Dragon Synchro Monster with a turn-long checkmate effect upon Synchro Summon, the most reviled among the player base. Meant to be balanced out by tough Synchro Material requirements and the possibility to miss the timing when used on the opposing turn. However, several 2023 product releases helped Synchro Summon this card more consistently. T.G., Mannadium and Centur-Ion were Synchro themes that gained Quick Effect access to this card, either directly or via Crimson Dragon, whose Quick Effect bypassed this card's material requirements to Synchro Summon it. This card is currently Unlimited in the TCG.
Isolde, Two Tales of the Noble Knights	Though can only be made with two Warrior monsters, having two search effects enabled hyper-consistent plays from most Warrior themes. Restriction on the first search was moot due to this card not restricting other plays; the second search could easily extend plays by also setting up the Graveyard with Equip Spells whose effects activate there, let alone summoning a body for further plays (that ideally made use of the first search as discard fodder). Initially spared when themes such as Gouki and Phantom Knights succeeded with this card during Master Rule 4. With the advent of Master Rule 5 and more viable Warrior themes, or themes that have space for a compact Warrior engine in general, this card had to go. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Kashtira Arise-Heart	The boss Kashtira monster, its effects combine to allow it to gain material at an alarming rate. This includes a Quick Effect disruption which factors in the attaching effect for a net material cost of two materials. Outside of this application, still a walking Macro Cosmos to stun opposing Graveyard setups. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Kashtira Fenrir	Key card in Kashtira, searched by their Field Spell, Pressured Planet Wraitsoth. Easily summoned turn-one and typically searches Kashtira Riseheart for a Rank 7 play, though can be left on the board to interrupt an opposing play involving a monster they summon, forcing unfair investment into spot-removal that can be negated by ally monsters. This card is currently Unlimited in the TCG.
Knightmare Goblin	Generic Link 2 that provides a free extra Normal Summon for any Deck that can Link spam (or at the bare minimum, commit one card to summoning three monsters). Easy to co-link this card from that point onwards, especially with other Knightmares to grant further protection to the board. Extra Links are no longer as threatening in Master Rule 5, but unbreakable boards are still doable without the co-link due to that extra Normal Summon.
Knightmare Mermaid	Easy to go into off of any Link 2 Knightmare, all of which have generic material requirements. Effect kickstarts the Full Orcust Combo by summoning Orcust Knightmare, whose DARK lock only applies once its Graveyard effect sets up Orcust Harp Horror and goes on from there. Also can be used to continue Link climbing via Knightmare Corruptor Iblee, whose Graveyard effect summons itself to the opposing field and prevents opponents from summoning non-Link Monsters.
Lavalval Chain	Generic Rank 4 that sends any one card from the player's Main Deck to the Graveyard, setting up Graveyard triggers of either the sent or detached card. Effect not a hard once-per-turn, causing loops in multiples and enabling FTKs. Made Forbidden before (TCG)/after (OCG) Rank 4 engines peaked via Clownblade.
Level Eater	Level 1 monster with a not-once-per-turn effect to summon itself from the Graveyard by reducing the Level of a Level 5 or higher monster in its owner's control, meant to facilitate Synchro plays requiring 2+ non-Tuner material. Easy to set up in the Graveyard, either directly from the Main Deck or by searching it first. Banned first in the OCG for enabling absurd Synchro lines that ended on several huge bodies or recycled hand-loop effects (from PSY-Framelord Omega or Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier). TCG followed suit several formats into the Link era due to abuse as infinitely-recurrable Link fodder.
Linkross	Easy token spam for Synchro Summons or recycling Linkuriboh to Link climb further, thus easily bypassing the restriction placed on them. Was designed with Master Rule 4 in mind, but Master Rule 5 came not long after release.
Linkuriboh	Requires 1 Level 1 monster as material. Can revive itself at Quick Effect speed by Tributing a Level 1 monster. Used mainly to trigger floating effect of the monster used as material or Tribute. Staple ever since release, only banned once proven to be too versatile. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
M-X-Saber Invoker	Generic Rank 3 that Special Summons a Level 4 EARTH Warrior or Beast-Warrior from the Main Deck, on a soft once-per-turn effect. Does not negate the effect of the monster summoned, so would easily extend plays as a result. Finally broken by Gouki Link spam piles and banned shortly afterwards. This card is currently Limited in the OCG.
Magical Scientist	Not-once-per-turn Ignition Effect to Special Summon a Level 6 or lower Fusion Monster from the Extra Deck, at a much lower cost than Cyber-Stein, with moot restrictions due to use of the summoned monsters as Catapult Turtle fodder for an FTK, prior to Catapult Turtle's once-per-turn errata. Nowadays it is also more searchable (One for One, Spellbook of Judgment, Where Arf Thou?), plus the lack of any once-per-turn restriction on its effect would enable easy spamming of Xyz and Link Monsters.
Majespecter Unicorn - Kirin	Bounce disruption (on either player's turn) easily enabled after Pendulum Summoning it. If not bouncing itself, can enable re-use of Pendulum Monsters as scales or for their monster effects. Also comes with protections that make it difficult to deal with; and if it was removed, could just be Pendulum Summoned again. Splashable in any Deck that regularly Pendulum Summons using generic Scale 7+ monsters. This card is currently Limited in the TCG.
Mathmech Circular	Summons itself by sending a Mathmech from the Deck to the Graveyard, then searches a Mathmech Spell or Trap when its controller summons a Mathmech monster. Sending Mathmech Sigma enables its revival and turns Circular into a 1-card vector for most Cyberse Decks into Accesscode Talker or Firewall Dragon Darkfluid - Neo Tempest Terahertz for a swift OTK, or to set up an unbreakable board on the first turn. Limit hit did not slow those Decks down due to Cynet Mining and Micro Coder easily searching this card. Unlikely to come off without an errata, so that future Cyberse themes do not have to be designed around this card's existence in the meta. This card is currently Limited in the OCG.
Master Peace, the True Dracoslaying King	Can Tribute Continuous Spells/Traps as well as monsters to be Tribute Summoned. For each frame of card (Monster, Spell or Trap) Tributed to summon this card, it becomes unaffected by effects of cards with the same frame. Also pops a card on a soft once-per-turn Quick Effect by banishing a Continuous Spell/Trap from its controller's Graveyard; this effect goes live by using the Tribute Summon condition, while the True Draco Deck has no shortage of means to fill the Graveyard with fodder for the quick pop, making this card too difficult to deal with for most Decks, even to this day.
Maxx "C"	Allows the player who resolves its hand trap effect to draw 1 card every time their opponent Special Summons that turn. When resolved, leads to an unfair game state where the player on the receiving end of the effect, usually the player going first, has to stop Special Summoning in order to prevent their opponent from starting their turn at an advantage. Also unfair if the player going first has it in hand while the player going second doesn't. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Mecha Phantom Beast Auroradon	Link 3 easily made via Crystron Halqifibrax, summoning three Mecha Phantom Beast tokens. Though Link Summoning is prevented for the rest of the turn, the three tokens easily open up more Synchro plays, especially if Deskbot 001 was the Tuner summoned by Halqifibrax. Was made Forbidden prior to Halqifibrax's own ban, but unlikely to come off while other Machine extenders exist, even if they require two cards instead of one for their plays. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Mind Master	Not-once-per-turn Ignition Effect to Special Summon a Level 4 or lower Psychic monster from the Main Deck by Tributing a Psychic monster other than itself or copies of itself. Life Point cost easily circumvented by Brain Research Lab or Telekinetic Charging Cell, hence enabled a deep draw FTK alongside Caam, Serenity of Gusto.
Number 16: Shock Master	Ignition Effect, at the cost of a material, prevents a declared frame of card from being able to be activated until the end of the next turn. Meant to be balanced by its 3-material summon requirement, but 3 Level 4's in one turn soon became trivial. Also only a soft once-per-turn effect; two copies made on the same turn can checkmate an opponent regardless of whether their Deck is known to the player of this card. Regardless, one copy was enough to stun opponents with Decks known to the player. Banned after a single format in the TCG; the OCG took three years and a Rank 4-centric format to follow suit.
Number 42: Galaxy Tomahawk	Another casualty of the new Link mechanic, turning what was for years a poor token-generating effect into automatic Link spam for Rank 7 engines. Damage prevention is moot when effect is applied going first. Also only a soft once-per-turn enabling even more Link spam with a second copy made on the same turn. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Number 86: Heroic Champion - Rhongomyniad	Gains effects for the number of materials it has. 3+ and 4+ effects make this card overpowered. It was meant to be balanced by the effect of detaching one material during the opposing End Phase, let alone the impracticality of Xyz Summoning it using 3+ Type-specific materials. This became trivial for any Warrior Deck with the release of Number 75: Bamboozling Gossip Shadow to transfer materials over.
Number 89: Diablosis the Mind Hacker	Generic Rank 7 that twice banishes opposing cards face-down (1 from Extra Deck, 1+ from Main Deck as a follow-up). Mostly harmless until Kashtira arrived, a Rank 7 engine whose entire gimmick is about banishing face-down. With this card alongside, they can use Kashtira Shangri-Ira (destruction-proof) to block all opposing Main Monster Zones on turn one, resulting in checkmate. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Number 95: Galaxy-Eyes Dark Matter Dragon	Easily summoned on top of a Rank 8 Galaxy-Eyes, two of which are generic. Sets up three Dragon monsters in the Graveyard directly from the Main Deck as cost. This was initially used to set up the then-Limited Dragon Rulers (causing them to be banned), then used to set up an Extra Deck lock via Arkbrave Dragon and Amorphage Goliath. Effects are also not a hard once-per-turn; can be Xyz Summoned on top of itself after being summoned by Guardragon Agarpain in order to set up three Dragon monsters in the Graveyard regardless.
Number S0: Utopic ZEXAL	Checkmate card, similar to Number 16: Shock Master. Meant to be balanced by (both) summoning requirements, but the original summoning requirement became trivial once Numeron Calling arrived. Interaction limited to Forbidden Chalice or Forbidden Droplet, especially if this card boosted its ATK by any other means.
Outer Entity Azathot	Prevents the opponent from activating any monster effects for the rest of the turn after being Xyz Summoned. Checkmate if summoned during the opponent's turn, which is easily enabled by The Phantom Knights' Rank-Up-Magic Launch and Tellarknight Ptolemaeus (which were banned in place of this card at first), and even then, was ideal for summoning as early as possible on turn one (usually via Outer Entity Nyarla) to ensure an uninterrupted combo line.
Performage Plushfire	Not-once-per-turn floating effect that triggers upon destruction, even while in the Pendulum Zone. Easy advantage for countless Pendulum Decks that destroy their own cards, usually via Performapal Pendulum Sorcerer, Luster Pendulum, the Dracoslayer and Wavering Eyes.
Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis	Banned due to a loop abusing this card's not-once-per-turn effects to revive itself and inflict burn damage. Effect activates during the End Phase and has no condition on how it was sent to the Graveyard. Topologic Bomber Dragon has a not-once-per-turn effect to destroy monsters summoned to the zones it points to, thus enabling an FTK that aimed to set up the Graveyard with 10+ Plants.
Prank-Kids Meow-Meow-Mu	Originally meant to improve consistency of its own theme, but has no restrictions on its use as material, allowing for other themes (usually Adventurer) to splash in a Prank-Kids engine and Link spam off of a single Prank-Kids monster. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Predaplant Verte Anaconda	Generic Link 2 meant to facilitate Fusion Summons during Master Rule 4, by sending a Polymerization or Fusion Spell from the Main Deck to the Graveyard to copy its effect. Moot restriction; likely to be played at the end of a combo anyway. Became a problem as soon as good Fusion targets could be summoned by a Fusion Spell that sourced material from the Main Deck, such as Red-Eyes Fusion for Red-Eyes Dark Dragoon and Fusion Destiny for Destiny HERO - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer. Banned just after Branded Fusion became another card to abuse.
Red-Eyes Dark Dragoon	Immune to half of all activated removal options, and can negate the remainder via a soft once-per-turn effect. Remaining effect easily sets its controller on the way to an OTK, and all of this could be achieved via one card (Red-Eyes Fusion). Became a problem when Predaplant Verte Anaconda, an incredibly generic Link Monster, gave every Deck a vector into this card by copying Red-Eyes Fusion's effect straight from the Deck. This card is currently Unlimited in the TCG.
Ronintoadin	Initially spared when Frog FTK was hit; effect easily set up via Swap Frog. Had been popular in Paleozoic-Frog builds ever since, and its effect is also not once-per-turn allowing for repeated revival after being used as material. Sprights would take this to an extreme by summoning this card or Swap Frog directly from the Main Deck via Gigantic Spright. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Simorgh, Bird of Sovereignty	Godsend in full or partial Winged Beast themes such as Lyrilusc and Tri-Brigade. It Special Summons a Winged Beast monster from the hand or Main Deck at the end of the turn, and protects the summon target from being targeted on the field if summoned to a linked zone. Though the summon target's Level is conditioned on the state of both players' backrow, it is easily managed turn-one. Mainly used to Special Summon Mist Valley Apex Avian for an omni-negate, or Barrier Statue of the Stormwinds to prevent non-WIND Special Summons. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Spright Elf	Gives targeting protection to monsters it points to. Quick Effect is an extender that, unlike other Spright cards, does not lock its user into Level/Rank/Link 2, making it splashable in any Deck that uses even a single Level 2 monster. May also trigger the revived monster's effect for further extension and/or disruption.
SPYRAL Master Plan	Two search effects, the first on an Ignition Effect and the second on a Trigger upon being sent from the field to the Graveyard. Meant to be balanced out by its high Level making it difficult to summon or use as fodder, but Link Summoning changed both, now making it easy to go +2 off of using this card as Link material, while the theme's own Link Monster, SPYRAL Double Helix, summons this card directly from the Main Deck. Magicians' Souls easily setting up this card in the Graveyard to be revived by a SPYRAL GEAR - Big Red searched by SPYRAL Quik-Fix, was the final straw for this card in the TCG. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Substitoad	Not-once-per-turn effect to summon a Frog monster from the Main Deck by Tributing any 1 monster in its user's control. Easy grave setup for Ronintoadin whose effect is also not once-per-turn, making it easy to FTK via Mass Driver. This card is currently Limited in the TCG, due to them banning Ronintoadin instead.
Summon Sorceress	Semi-generic (requires monsters of the same Type) Link 3 that summons a monster from the Main Deck. Though conditioned on having the same Type as another monster this card points to, and negating the summoned monster's effects, it is still a cheap extension nonetheless, spawning various FTKs even without pre-errata Firewall Dragon. This card is Unlimited in the OCG having received a functional errata that also negates the effect of the monster summoned from the hand to the opposing field, and restricts summons for the rest of the turn to the same original Type as the monster summoned from the Deck.
Superheavy Samurai Scarecrow	Extender for Superheavy Samurais; effectively summons a member of the theme from hand or Graveyard upon Link Summon. Meant to be balanced by the theme's lack of consistency (at the time of release), while also being generally incompatible with other themes due to requiring no Spells/Traps in the Graveyard, but new support from Cyberstorm Access turned them around and made them meta contenders. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Superheavy Samurai Soulbreaker Armor	Not-once-per-turn effect to banish all copies of itself from the Graveyard to inflict damage equal to the difference between a Superheavy Samurai monster's current and original DEF stats. Does not require at least another copy of itself to be banished alongside, enabling a hypothetical FTK involving two activations of this card and a Superheavy Samurai monster with 4000+ original DEF turned 0. This was finally made possible after Cyberstorm Access with Superheavy Samurai Brave Masurawo (2-material Synchro with 4000 DEF) and D/D/D Supersight King Zero Maxwell (which turns a monster's DEF to 0), the latter easily searched by Beyond the Pendulum, which Superheavy Samurai have easy access to. This card is currently Unlimited in the TCG, due to them banning Superheavy Samurai Scarecrow instead, that card required for the FTK involved.
Supreme King Dragon Starving Venom	Soft once-per-turn Ignition Effect to copy effects, resulting in an FTK when used to copy Lyrilusc - Independent Nightingale twice. Consistently performed by Pendulum Magicians in the TCG, leading to its ban. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Tearlaments Kitkallos	Key engine piece in Tearlaments, resulting in a Tier 0 format. Summoned by the theme's enablers (all Limited; see below) and enables a second Fusion Summon via its own effect, usually to summon Predaplant Dragostapelia or Tearlaments Rulkallos (both negation bodies) on turn zero. If summoned going first, can use its second effect to swap itself for another Tearlaments in the Graveyard and trigger third effect to mill 5.
Tempest Magician	Not-once-per-turn effect to generate Spell Counters (one per discard) and remove them from anywhere to inflict 500 damage per removed Spell Counter, meaning an FTK on 16 counters. Also gains one upon summon, so only needs to generate another 15 by discard or using other cards. Was inconsistent for a long time until the latest Endymion support arrived, followed by Selene, Queen of the Master Magicians, the latter gaining 15 Spell Counters on its own by trivial means.
The Tyrant Neptune	Copies the effects of the monsters Tributed for its Tribute Summon. Became a huge oversight upon the release of Lyrilusc - Independent Nightingale, whose effect makes this card gain 6000 ATK, become unaffected by other cards and burn for 5000 damage once-per-turn, a straight OTK. Also searchable by King of the Feral Imps. Banned pre-emptively in the TCG and unlikely to ever come off, so as to not have to design effects around this card.
Toadally Awesome	Boss monster of the Frogs. Easy to make via Swap Frog and Ronintoadin. Quick Effect omni-negate that also steals the card being negated. Though requires sending 1 Aqua monster from hand or field, this cost is easily met by the Standby Phase effect to summon a Frog from the Main Deck by detaching a material. Also can recycle itself with its floating effect. Had been Limited during Paleo-Frogs' glory years, but Sprights saw them resurge in the OCG. This card is currently Unlimited in the TCG, due to them banning Ronintoadin instead.
Topologic Gumblar Dragon	Hand loop card, capable of being summoned on turn one and leaving the opponent short by four cards before they can play any cards. Though the first effect involves a like-for-like trade in cards, it can be triggered on either player's turn, the second via any Quick Effect means of summoning. One can alternatively work towards forming an Extra Link (easily accomplished via pre-errata Firewall Dragon) for similar effect without the discard cost.
True King of All Calamities	Checkmate card against most Decks; its Quick Effect turns monsters on the field into a declared Attribute, then prevents opposing monsters of that Attribute from declaring an attack or activating their effects (whether on the field or not). At the time of release, Rank 9 engines were rare, and banlist movements centered around limiting easy access to this card (by banning The Phantom Knights' Rank-Up-Magic Launch and True King Lithosagym, the Disaster instead) but with more and more Decks capable of making Rank 9's over time, this had to go.
Union Carrier	Semi-generic (requires monsters of the same Type or Attribute) Link 2 monster that targets a monster on its controller's field (not necessarily itself) and equips any monster of the same Type or Attribute from the Main Deck to it. The targeted monster can then be Linked away, triggering various from-field-to-grave triggers without having to summon the monster treated as equipment (such as Earthbound Immortal Aslla piscu to clear the opposing board). Other builds equipped a monster with Dragon Buster Destruction Sword to lock the opposing Extra Deck.
Victory Dragon	Banned on principle rather than its power level; it was the first Match winner card but caused unsportsmanlike conduct during tournaments while it was legal, since a player is allowed to surrender at any point of the Duel, losing just the Duel instead of the Match.
Wandering Gryphon Rider	Key card in the Adventurer engine, acting as an omni-negate. Easily searched by Fateful Adventure which in turn is searched by Rite of Aramesir which summons the Adventurer Token. This card is currently Unlimited in the TCG.
Wind-Up Carrier Zenmaity	Key card in the Wind-Up hand loop, for it revives Wind-Up Rat in Attack Position to revive Wind-Up Hunter to loop its effect. None of the aforementioned effects are once-per-turn, and all can be looped on turn one with a two-card combo. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG, due to them banning Wind-Up Hunter instead.
Wind-Up Hunter	Key card in the Wind-Up hand loop, for it carries said hand loop effect that can be recurred for each time it is summoned (see above). This card is currently Unlimited in the TCG, due to them banning Wind-Up Carrier Zenmaity instead.
Zoodiac Broadbull	Turns any Zoodiac monster or any two Level 4 monsters into a search for almost any Beast-Warrior monster, thus being instant advantage for the theme (or for Beast-Warrior themes in general). Also not a hard once-per-turn, causing loops in multiples or via Daigusto Emeral to recycle it. This ushered in a Tier 0 format during the time it was legal.
Zoodiac Drident	Quick Effect destruction at the cost of a detach, making it difficult to play around. Can also be used to destroy its controller's card and gain more advantage. Moved from Forbidden to Limited at the turn of Master Rule 5, but put back to Forbidden a few formats later due to the success of Tri-Brigade hybrid builds.

Currently Limited

Monster Card	Reason
Ancient Fairy Dragon	Originally, both effects of this card were on soft once-per-turn restrictions. The first Special Summoned a Level 4 or lower monster from the hand at the cost of its controller's Battle Phase, a straightforward extension. The second led to its eventual ban in 2018; it destroyed all Field Spells on the field and let its controller search another. The power creep of Field Spells since this card's original release, such that more of them searched upon activation or destruction, made this card a valuable extender for themes that use such Field Spells, most of which had soft once-per-turn effects and thus could be cycled by this card. In 2023, this card was re-issued with an errata that made both effects hard once-per-turn effects while further limiting the second effect such that it can only search a Field Spell whose name differs from those of the destroyed Field Spells, preventing effects from being cycled. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Archnemeses Protos	Prevents Special Summoning of a declared Attribute until the end of the next turn. Checkmate card against any mono-Attribute engine, even when going first (since the summon lock is not dependent on cards being destroyed). Initially deemed inconsistent due to its Nomi status and Special Summoning condition, but this became trivial when Swordsouls came out, as they have multiple Attributes and can search this card with ease. With Swordsoul no longer topping events, this card was allowed to move to Limited. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Astrograph Sorcerer	Advantage engine for Pendulum Decks. Easily pivots into Rank 7 monsters and Level 8+ Synchros. Was made Forbidden in the TCG due to incredible synergy with Heavymetalfoes Electrumite, but was let off back to one copy several formats after Electrumite itself was banned.
Beatrice, Lady of the Eternal	Key card not just in Burning Abyss but also any Rank 6 engine. Furthers combo lines by sending a card from its controller's Deck to the Graveyard on a Quick Effect. Similar to Lavalval Chain in that the Graveyard setup effect is only a soft once-per-turn, but it is much more difficult to make multiple Rank 6's compared to multiple Rank 4's. Also, if summoned by its stated Xyz Evolution condition, it must wait to use its Quick Effect. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Black Dragon Collapserpent	Two Nomi Dragons whose effects go hand-in-hand. They banish a monster of their opposite Attributes from the Graveyard to be summoned, and if sent from the field to the Graveyard, can search each other. Though both can only be summoned once per turn by their own means, this was still enough for Dragon Link and Thunder Dragons to go wild with their Link combos, especially if any of them required a discard cost in between. Limiting both prevented them from being set up for follow-up plays on the following turn. However, both are currently Unlimited in the OCG.
White Dragon Wyverburster
Blaster, Dragon Ruler of Infernos	Like the other Dragon Rulers (see above), was banned due to Number 95: Galaxy-Eyes Dark Matter Dragon setting up its effects with ease. However, this card's unique (among the Dragon Rulers) effect of Spell Speed 1 spot removal at the cost of two cards became less effective over time, so it was allowed to come back to Limited four years after Number 95 was itself banned.
Blaze Fenix, the Burning Bombardment Bird	Burn effect only a soft once-per-turn, allowing it to be activated per copy summoned and cause an FTK, especially when combined with other burn cards. Was at its most potent in the Divine Wind FTK. This card is currently Unlimited in the TCG.
Bystial Baldrake	Each of them (plus Bystial Saronir) can Special Summon itself by banishing one LIGHT or DARK monster from either Graveyard, an effect that can be triggered on the opposing turn if facing an opposing monster. This ensures valuable disruption for the theme should they go second, especially considering the meta at the time. Only these three are hit due to the greater consistency they give to the theme in general compared to Saronir; Baldrake punishes Extra Deck summoning, Druiswurm takes an opposing monster down with it (and combos very well with Baldrake); Magnamhut searches or recycles any other Dragon monster. Baldrake and Druiswurm are currently Unlimited in the TCG.
Bystial Druiswurm
Bystial Magnamhut
Chronograph Sorcerer	Allows Pendulum Decks to swarm without using up their Pendulum Summon (which can be reserved for a stronger play later that turn). Became even more important under Master Rule 4. This card remains Unlimited in the TCG due to them banning more impactful Pendulum Monsters and support in this card's place over the years, such as Astrograph Sorcerer, Double Iris Magician, Performapal Skullcrobat Joker and Heavymetalfoes Electrumite.
Daigusto Emeral	Generic Rank 4 with a soft once-per-turn effect that enables looping of resources. Can loop itself if available at multiple copies. Key to many Zoodiac play lines during their Tier 0 dominance. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Danger!? Jackalope?	Two Level 3 Danger! monsters whose upon-discard effects recover card advantage (Jackalope summoning another Danger! from the Main Deck and Tsuchinoko summoning itself from the Graveyard), allowing almost any Deck to run a small Danger! engine for extra material and/or draw power. Both are currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Danger!? Tsuchinoko?
Dark Grepher	Took over as the Graveyard setup engine for DARK Decks after Armageddon Knight was Limited; though requiring a discard cost, worked out as more than an adequate supplement. Also searchable via Reinforcement of the Army and Summoner Monk. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Denglong, First of the Yang Zing	Generic Synchro Tuner that searches, dumps and floats; none of those effects miss timing. Though it can only be Special Summoned once per turn, this was not a problem for the Decks using this card, which would normally search Nine Pillars of Yang Zing and pivot into Herald of the Arc Light via this card and its lowered Level, ending their board with at least two more negates. Was Forbidden for this interaction in the TCG before being let off back to one recently. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Dinowrestler Pankratops	Stronger Cyber Dragon; does not require its user to control no monsters, instead, just requires fewer monsters than their opponent. Also with Quick Effect destruction though at the cost of a Tribute (usually itself). Limited in order to reduce consistency of pure Dinosaur builds that can search this card in a number of ways. This card is currently Semi-Limited in the TCG.
Divine Arsenal AA-ZEUS - Sky Thunder	Xyz Monster with a not-once-per-turn non-destruction board wipe and a means of being summoned that is accessible to the majority of Xyz Decks (usually those with direct attackers, such as Melffy, Lyrilusc and Zoodiac). High material cost met with ease, usually by summoning another Xyz Monster on top of the one that attacked, followed by this card. Can also replenish 1 material each time the opponent sends another of this card's ally monsters to the Graveyard. This card is currently Unlimited in the TCG.
Exodia the Forbidden One	Limited due to lore, as stated in the first episode of the anime. Multiple copies of each limb are likely to degrade an Exodia Deck's consistency regardless.
Left Arm of the Forbidden One
Left Leg of the Forbidden One
Right Arm of the Forbidden One
Right Leg of the Forbidden One
Gem-Knight Master Diamond	Its effect to copy a Gem-Knight Fusion Monster's effects on a soft once-per-turn, enabled an FTK by twice bypassing Gem-Knight Lady Lapis Lazuli's hard once-per-turn burn effect. Setup achieved consistency via Brilliant Fusion and Gem-Knight Phantom Quartz. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Herald of Orange Light	Minus-one hand trap that negates monster effects. Passable for years until the new Ishizu cards arrived. All of them, being Fairy-Type, are eligible discard fodder for this card, which in turn triggers the millers for more Graveyard setup, or sets up the shufflers to interrupt opposing setup. This card is currently Unlimited in the TCG.
Ib the World Chalice Justiciar	Generic Synchro Tuner that searches upon summon and when used as material, on the same turn, for huge advantage and consistency. Easy ladder into higher-leveled Synchros or Links especially when combined with other cards in the World Legacy lore (Mekk-Knight, Crusadia, Orcust, Guardragon). This card is currently Semi-Limited in the OCG.
Kashtira Unicorn	Key card in Kashtira, searched by their Field Spell, Pressured Planet Wraitsoth. Easily summoned turn-one and typically searches Kashtiratheosis for a Rank 7 play. This card is currently Unlimited in the TCG.
Keldo the Sacred Protector	Both have the Quick Effect to banish themselves from the hand or Graveyard to target up to three cards in either Graveyard to return to the Deck, fulfilling the dual role of resource replenishment and interruption. Both can be set up by the "milling" Ishizu cards (Forbidden, see above) as early as turn zero, though also have useful hand effects for setting up plays going first.
Mudora the Sword Oracle
Lunalight Tiger	Pendulum Effect is not a hard once-per-turn, allowing for a Lunalight monster to be revived per Scale activation of this card, and swarming the field with material for various kinds of plays. Made Forbidden at the turn of Master Rule 5 before being moved to Limited in February 2022. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Luster Pendulum, the Dracoslayer	Key consistency card in Pendulum Decks. Destroys a Scale to trigger its effect (if any), and searches another copy of that Scale, giving two-fold advantage if the destroyed Scale floats and can subsequently be Pendulum Summoned. Can also cycle through copies of a Pendulum Monster to loop Scale effects. Searchable via Draco Face-Off. This card is currently Unlimited in the TCG.
Miscellaneousaurus	Searchable via Fossil Dig. Allows Dinosaur combos to go off unhindered, while also being a combo extender itself, summoning a Dinosaur monster straight from the Deck by banishing Dinosaurs from the Graveyard equal to the Level of the summon target. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Morphing Jar	Flip monster version of Card Destruction, except that both players draw 5 cards. Any discarded cards may set up further plays (from both sides) on either turn. Has a Deck named after it. Unlikely to come off fully because of this, even if Flip effects tend to be too slow nowadays.
Performapal Monkeyboard	1-card Scale setup for Pendulum Summons that can be searched by Performapal Skullcrobat Joker, Performapal Pendulum Sorcerer and Wavering Eyes. Absurd when combined with Performapal Guitartle or Performapal Lizardraw. Forbidden for a long time, only recently let off to Limited in TCG or OCG.
Phantom Skyblaster	Initially summoned 1 or 2 tokens upon Normal or Flip Summon. For years this effect was middling because of a lack of practical means to use the tokens for any tangible benefit. But when Master Rule 4 arrived, adding an Extra Monster Zone and Link Monsters, this card could potentially summon a third token for an immediate Link 4 or higher play, using the tokens for an intermediate Link Summon first. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Predaplant Ophrys Scorpio	Key engine piece of the Predaplant Deck. Normally searches Predaplant Darlingtonia Cobra to set up a Fusion Summon via that card's subsequent search, but other summon targets can set up Synchro, Xyz or Link plays. This card is currently Unlimited in the TCG.
PSY-Framegear Gamma	Hand trap that stops other hand traps, though requires controlling no monsters as well as running a brick (PSY-Frame Driver). Still regularly stops Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring, Dimension Shifter and Droll & Lock Bird under this condition, allowing a turn-one play to continue uninterrupted. PSY-Framelord Lambda, a generic Link Monster, can bypass the no-monsters requirement entirely to allow this card to negate other monsters (including Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit).
PSY-Framelord Omega	Quick Effect to banish itself and a card in the opponent's hand is only a soft once-per-turn; can be repeated by summoning multiple copies or re-summoning the copy just banished, causing a turn-one hand loop. Did not catch on in the TCG until well into Master Rule 4.
Red Rose Dragon	A Crystron Halqifibrax target at the time of its TCG hit. Even after Halqifibrax's ban, this card remains a strong Synchro-climbing tool due to its first effect, easily pivoting into Baronne de Fleur and other strong Synchro Monsters. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Redox, Dragon Ruler of Boulders	Like the other Dragon Rulers (see above), was banned due to Number 95: Galaxy-Eyes Dark Matter Dragon setting up its effects with ease. Became the third Dragon Ruler to move from Forbidden to Limited, four years after the banning of Number 95, due to general power creep of the Rank 7 toolbox.
Rescue-ACE Air Lifter	+1 consistency boost for Rescue-ACE. Usually searches EMERGENCY! to swap itself for another Rescue-ACE straight from the Main Deck, enabling the summon of higher-Leveled Rescue-ACE monsters from the hand to extend further. This card is currently Semi-Limited in the OCG.
Speedroid Terrortop	Engine card for Rank 3 Decks like Burning Abyss and Phantom Knights. Easy Special Summoning condition, searches Speedroid Taketomborg which also Special Summons itself, making a Rank 3 without using up the Normal Summon. This card is currently Unlimited in the TCG.
Spright Blue	Key extenders in Spright; they Special Summon themselves while their owner controls a Level/Rank 2 monster, and search other Spright cards when Special Summoned. Both are currently Unlimited in the TCG.
Spright Jet
SPYRAL Quik-Fix	No hard once-per-turn on any of its effects. Insane advantage when Machine Duplication is used on it, hence this card's Limited status in the OCG. Only recently moved back to Unlimited in the TCG, which still has SPYRAL Master Plan banned, and the errata to Ancient Fairy Dragon preventing the theme from cycling copies of SPYRAL Resort.
Striker Dragon	Key extender for Dragon Link. Searches the card that summons two Rokkets, and can target one of them to trigger its effect. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Sunavalon Dryas	Easily summoned without using up the Normal Summon (Unexpected Dai, Rikka Princess, Rose Princess). Searches Sunvine Sowing to continue an explosive 1-card combo involving Plant monsters. Hit in the TCG after notable success for Plant Link. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Sunvine Healer	By far the top summon target of Sunavalon Dryas after taking damage from the Sunvine Sowing that it searched. Key LP gain effect allows for further combo play via Aromage Laurel on turn one. Hit instead of Aromaseraphy Jasmine due to an upcoming product release featuring new Aroma cards. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Superheavy Samurai Soulpiercer	Searcher for Superheavy Samurai as long it is sent from the field to the Graveyard, which is easily done by Superheavy Samurai Scarecrow, though even then, was not a problem until Superheavy Samurai became meta with the release of new support in Cyberstorm Access. Currently Unlimited in the TCG, due to them banning Scarecrow instead.
T.G. Hyper Librarian	Not-once-per-turn effect to draw 1 card each time either player Synchro Summons. Usually combined with other Synchro Monsters or Synchro Materials with similar effects (Formula Synchron, Darksea Rescue, Tuningware) for absurd draw power, sometimes to the extent of winning via Exodia. Came off the list for a few formats during Master Rule 4, but put back on in the lead-up to Master Rule 5.
Tearlaments Havnis	All three have the effect upon being sent to the Graveyard to Fusion Summon by returning themselves to the bottom of the Main Deck alongside other Fusion Materials in the hand, field or Graveyard. Each of them also have a means of triggering said effect by milling the top three cards of their Deck; Havnis can do this on turn zero in response to a monster effect activated by the player going first, triggering other grave triggers and getting a negation body on board via Tearlaments Kitkallos (now Forbidden) before their user's turn begins. This ushered in a Tier 0 format.
Tearlaments Merrli
Tearlaments Scheiren
Tearlaments Kashtira	One card for two meta-defining archetypes often played together. Easy summon from hand to set up Rank 7 plays, while also milling three cards off the top of either Main Deck upon summon. Dumping this card directly from the Main Deck (for example, via Tearlaments Reinoheart) also mills another two off its owner's Main Deck for more grave setup. This card is currently Unlimited in the TCG.
Tearlaments Reinoheart	Sets up a Tearlaments Fusion Summon by sending one of the three fusers (see above) directly from the Deck to the Graveyard upon summon. Also revives itself if milled, at the cost of a Tearlaments monster in hand, enabling a turn zero play. This card is currently Unlimited in the TCG.
Tempest, Dragon Ruler of Storms	Like the other Dragon Rulers (see above), was banned due to Number 95: Galaxy-Eyes Dark Matter Dragon setting up its effects with ease. However, this card's unique effect of searching a Dragon monster at the cost of discarding itself and another WIND monster was considered the weakest among the four, so when Number 95 was banned, this card was allowed to go from Forbidden to Limited.
The Bystial Lubellion	Searcher for the Bystials, three of which are also Limited (see above). If not banished to summon the searched Bystial, can proceed to summon itself by Tributing the just-summoned Bystial, and play a card directly from the Deck that either adds a negation (Branded Befallen), disruption (Branded Beast) or consistency boost (Branded Regained). This card is currently Unlimited in the TCG.
Thunder Dragon Colossus	The boss Thunder Dragon. Easy to make three of in its own Deck. Difficult to deal with - prevents opponents from searching, while protecting itself from destruction by banishing a Thunder monster from the Graveyard (likely another Thunder Dragon monster to trigger its effect and gain advantage). Was allowed to move from Forbidden to Limited in the TCG due to lack of Thunder Dragon representation in 2024.
Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls	Like the other Dragon Rulers (see above), was banned due to Number 95: Galaxy-Eyes Dark Matter Dragon setting up its effects with ease. Became the final Dragon Ruler to move from Forbidden to Limited, four years after the banning of Number 95, due to general power creep of the Rank 7 toolbox.
Unchained Soul of Sharvara	The card that single-handedly brought Unchained to tiered status in the TCG. Effect to Special Summon itself also destroys another Fiend monster or Set card in its user's control, for high-value plays involving Unchained cards - Set Unchained cards summon an Unchained moster from the Deck upon being destroyed, and this card itself floats into a Set Unchained card to extend further. Also a Quick Effect so that it can dodge opposing interactions at key moments. Fiend lock only applied while on the field, so did not impact the way Unchained played. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Zoodiac Ratpier	Sets up a Zoodiac monster in the Graveyard directly from the Main Deck upon Normal Summon, and grants to any Beast-Warrior Xyz Monster it is material for, the effect to summon another copy of this card from the Main Deck at the cost of a material. Since every Zoodiac Xyz Monster can be made with one other Zoodiac monster once per turn, this became a quick and easy way of swarming the field with Xyz Monsters and gaining massive advantage, solidifying its theme's Tier 0 status. Made Limited so that the effect granted as material can no longer be used, while still maintaining usability through its first effect.

Currently Semi-Limited

Monster Card	Reason
Armageddon Knight	Not-once-per-turn effect to send one DARK monster from the Main Deck to the Graveyard upon summon. Easy setup for countless Decks, and searchable via Reinforcement of the Army and Summoner Monk. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Destiny HERO - Malicious	Immediately generates advantage with its not-once-per-turn effect to banish itself from the Graveyard to Special Summon another copy of itself from the Main Deck, an effect easily set up by Armageddon Knight, Dark Grepher and Vision HERO Vyon among others. Putting such a card to two copies was the only way to limit its viability without eliminating its playability entirely. This card is currently Unlimited in the TCG.
Dimension Shifter	Hand trap version of Macro Cosmos (see below); applies its effect until the end of the next turn. Requirement of an empty Graveyard means this card is only ever used on either player's first turn, to stun opposing Graveyard setup or to enable setup of its user's banish pile going first. This card is currently Unlimited in the TCG.
Fire King High Avatar Kirin	Destroys a FIRE monster in hand or field to Special Summon itself from hand. Quick Effect allowing it or the destroyed monster to dodge key interactions. Insane synergy with countless FIRE monsters whose effects activate upon being destroyed. This card is currently Unlimited in the TCG.
Snake-Eye Ash	Elemental HERO Stratos equivalent for its own theme. The later release of Snake-Eyes Poplar (which Special Summons itself when searched, and searches Snake-Eye Spells/Traps) fulfilled this card's condition to summon from Deck, making it an incredibly consistent line of play. This card is currently Unlimited in the TCG.
S:P Little Knight	Quick Effect disruption on a generic Link 2. Added disruption if Link Summoned using an Extra Deck monster as material. This card is currently Unlimited in the TCG.

No longer on list (previously Forbidden)

Monster Card	Forbidden from	Forbidden to	Reason
Magician of Faith	March 2007	October 2016	(OCG only - TCG hit was between March 2007 and January 2014. Also on both TCG and OCG, was Limited for one format from September 2007 to March 2008) Recycles Spell Cards. Searchable via Apprentice Magician. Banned for its interactions with Tsukuyomi and stall Spells (like Swords of Revealing Light and Nightmare's Steelcage) to prevent opponents from ever being able to attack, back in a slower format. Came off fully in April 2017 once the meta became too fast for its Flip Effect to consistently resolve.
Tsukuyomi	September 2006	September 2012	Key card in Goat Control Decks, used to flip down an ally Thousand-Eyes Restrict summoned on a previous turn so that it and other ally monsters can attack. Also looped the effects of Magician of Faith and Mask of Darkness for endless stalling or a draw lock (via Time Seal). Came off fully in September 2013 once the meta became too fast for a single Normal Summon.
Thousand-Eyes Restrict	September 2006	July 2016	(OCG only - TCG hit was between September 2006 and April 2016) Key card in Goat Control Decks, often summoned by Metamorphosis Tributing a token summoned by Scapegoat. Stops all attacking, which was the main way to win during a slower format; a player controlling this card can bypass this effect themselves by using Tsukuyomi to flip it down on a turn after it is summoned (which also resets its spot-removal effect). Unbanned once the meta became too fast for its use other than via Instant Fusion, and fully off the list one format later.
Sangan	March 2013	March 2017	(TCG only - OCG hit was between March 2013 and April 2016. Also on both TCG and OCG, was Forbidden for one format from September/October 2004 to March/April 2005) Its not-once-per-turn universal search (similar to Last Will) was easy to abuse even in a slower format; this came to a head long after the Synchro era once Tour Guide From the Underworld searched it with ease, and Crane Crane recycled it. Unbanned after receiving a hard-once-per-turn errata that also prevented the searched monster or monsters with its name from activating their effects until the next turn.
Witch of the Black Forest	October 2004	September 2017	(TCG only - OCG hit was between September 2004 and April 2017) Similar to Sangan in terms of effect, but banned for longer than Sangan was, because this card's effect can search more powerful monsters, especially one-Tribute boss monsters like Jinzo and the Monarchs. Came off after receiving a similar errata to that of Sangan's.
Rescue Cat	September 2010	March 2017	(TCG only - OCG hit was between September 2010 and January 2017) Initially reserved for niche uses, but became a huge asset once Synchro Summoning was introduced, as well as a Tuner monster that it can summon (X-Saber Airbellum). Summoner Monk also searched it with ease. As soon as better Tuner or non-Tuner summon targets as well as more splashable Level 6 or lower Synchros were introduced, this card became too good at extending Synchro plays, and was banned until its hard-once-per-turn errata that also negated the effects of the monsters summoned. Fully off the list in September 2017.
Dark Magician of Chaos	September 2008	April 2016	(TCG only - OCG hit was between September 2008 and April 2015) Recycles Spell Cards like Magician of Faith does, but upon summon, making it more impactful. Its high Level meant nothing in Decks using Reasoning and Monster Gate as thinners. Formed an FTK with Dimension Fusion, Spell Economics and any Tribute-for-burn card. Came off after receiving a hard-once-per-turn errata that also delayed the return of the Spell Card until the End Phase.
Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning	September 2005	September 2011	(OCG only - TCG hit was between October 2005 and September 2011) Strong monster that is easy to summon. Capable of easily closing out Duels with its 3000 ATK and potential double-attack, while also providing spot removal (at the cost of its attack that turn, though can be Tribute fodder thereafter). Unbanned on the first list update after Ignition Effect rules were revised, meaning that it can be interrupted before it gets to banish a monster. Came off fully in February 2018 on account of ever-increasing power creep.
Chaos Emperor Dragon - Envoy of the End	October 2004	January 2019	(TCG only - OCG hit was between September 2004 and January 2015) Easy-to-summon monster with a blowout effect, either directly through the burn damage it inflicts, or indirectly by causing the Yata-Garasu Lockdown. Came off the banlist after receiving an errata that upgrades it to full Nomi status and prevents it from using its effect if its controller activated any other effects that turn, making said effect slower by two more turns.
Yata-Garasu	September 2004	October 2022	(OCG only - TCG hit was between October 2004 and May 2022) Infamous for being the core member of the Yata-Garasu Lockdown, where a player cannot play any cards or draw. Chaos Emperor Dragon - Envoy of the End and Sangan (to search this card) were the other cards that helped enable said lockdown. Came off long after both aforementioned monsters were given erratas that no longer made the lockdown possible, while the meta also became too fast to viably accomplish the lockdown by any other means. Was not fully off the OCG list until April 2023.
Destiny HERO - Disk Commander	September 2008	September 2018	(TCG only - OCG hit was between September 2008 and April 2018) "Pot of Greed" effect upon Special Summon from the Graveyard, giving the user insane advantage. Came off after receiving a once-per-Duel errata to its effect that also prevented it from being Special Summoned on the turn it was sent to the Graveyard.
Makyura the Destructor	April 2005	September 2020	(TCG only - OCG hit was between March 2005 and April 2020) Allows activation of Trap Cards from the hand on the turn it was sent to the Graveyard. Caused an OTK via Dark Scorpion - Chick the Yellow and Call of the Haunted. Came off after receiving an errata that limited its user to one activation of a Trap Card from the hand, while also becoming a hard-once-per-turn activated effect that only triggered if sent from the Monster Zone to the Graveyard.
Dark Strike Fighter	September 2009	January 2015	(TCG only - OCG hit was between September 2009 and April 2014) Generic Synchro Monster capable of inflicting 4000 damage by itself (direct attack + Tribute effect). Tribute effect was also not once-per-turn, enabling potential FTK loops. Came off after receiving a hard-once-per-turn errata to its effect which also limited its activation window to Main Phase 1.
Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier	September 2012	March 2017	(TCG only - OCG hit was between September 2012 and January 2017) Upon release, single-handedly caused Premature Burial to be banned due to how its effect worked at the time. Over time, more and more cards without hard once-per-turn effects were introduced, allowing this card to recycle them and enable various loops and FTKs. Came off after receiving an errata to its effect, making it a hard once-per-turn that only bounced opposing cards, and having to discard the same number of cards to be targeted for said effect.
Apoqliphort Towers	November 2015	February 2018	(TCG only - OCG never hit this card) First "invincible" boss monster that saw play. Easy to summon in its own Deck, and difficult to deal with because of its high Level and stat-debuffing of Special Summoned monsters, on top of a soft once-per-turn +1 Ignition Effect. Came off deep into the Link era when Pendulums were nerfed, and this card could be affected by Link Monsters' effects.
Burner, Dragon Ruler of Sparks	September 2013	April 2015	These "baby" variants of the Dragon Rulers searched their adult forms to make them even more consistent. Although summoning the adult Dragon Ruler does not immediately enable its effect (except to return to the hand much later), using it as material does enable its effect. Thus, these cards were banned to hit the adult Dragon Rulers while still making them playable. All came off once the adult Dragon Rulers themselves were banned.
Lightning, Dragon Ruler of Drafts
Reactan, Dragon Ruler of Pebbles
Stream, Dragon Ruler of Droplets
Destrudo the Lost Dragon's Frisson	April 2020	February 2022	(TCG only - OCG never hit this card) Easy setup for a Level 7 Synchro Monster. Banned at the turn of Master Rule 5 because it easily helped make Crystron Halqifibrax (despite not being one of its search targets) and extended from there. Did not fully come off until February 2023 after Halqifibrax was banned.
Dinomight Knight, the True Dracofighter	September 2017	May 2018	(TCG only - OCG had only Limited this card at worst) Easy Tribute Summon for the theme. After being Tribute Summoned, can activate True Draco Apocalypse or True King's Return directly from the Main Deck as a Quick Effect response to any opposing card, both of which set up more True Draco Tribute Summons, especially on the opposing turn, for further disruption. Also not a hard once-per-turn, meaning that it doesn't brick on multiple copies. Did not fully come off until October 2022.
Dragon Buster Destruction Sword	December 2020	March 2021	(TCG only - OCG never hit this card) Initially banned for its effect locking the opponent out of their Extra Deck while being equipped to any monster by any means (not just its own). Came off one format later when the most reliable way to equip this card, Union Carrier, became Forbidden.
Elemental HERO Stratos	September 2013	September 2018	(TCG only - OCG had only Limited this card at worst) Not-once-per-turn search for a HERO monster upon summon; itself searchable via E - Emergency Call, Reinforcement of the Army and A Hero Lives. Banned to kill the Divine Wind FTK at the time; unbanned after another key piece to said FTK, Ancient Fairy Dragon, was also banned, and came off fully in October 2019.
Evilswarm Exciton Knight	November 2015	September 2018	(TCG only - OCG never hit this card) Generic Rank 4 whose effect levels a board and is not once-per-turn, allowing for disruption that was difficult to deal with. "No damage" clause largely averted by consistently activating during the opposing turn in order to disrupt. Banned during the dominance of Rank 4 engines; unbanned deep into Master Rule 4 when more end-board monsters became capable of dodging its effect.
Firewall Dragon	December 2018	April 2021	(TCG only - OCG hit was between January 2019 and January 2021) Initially had no hard once-per-turn on its effects; the second effect enabled easy extension of a user's board and caused many loops and FTKs. Accommodated in many formats by hitting other cards with not-once-per-turn effects, before the hammer finally fell. Errata instated the hard once-per-turn clauses and limited the second effect further (to only summoning Cyberse monsters from the hand). This let it come off fully in July 2021.
Chaos Sorcerer	September 2006	March 2009	Weaker BLS, with its own soft once-per-turn banish only affecting face-up monsters, but it was still a +1 effect that not many monsters could contest at the time. Unbanned during the Synchro era after sufficient power creep, and came off fully on March 2011, but came back on the list in September 2012 after new applications in Rank 6 plays were found. Did not fully come off again until November 2015.
Breaker the Magical Warrior	March 2007	September 2008	(Note: was Limited between September 2007 and March 2008) +1 Normal Summon that dealt with backrow, considered overpowered at the time. Came off fully in September 2009.
Goyo Guardian	March 2011	January 2017	(OCG only - TCG hit was between March 2011 and July 2014) Pre-errata, it was the highest-ATK generic Level 6 Synchro Monster. Its effect adds another body to the user's board to Synchro or Xyz Summon further, but requires this card to destroy a monster by battle. Already too slow by the time it came off in the TCG, plus its effect doesn't affect Pendulum Monsters. Source of ridicule in the OCG which banned it for longer and only let it off once given an errata (to no longer be a generic Synchro) and forced the TCG to adopt the errata as well. Did not fully come off until July 2017.
Performage Damage Juggler	January 2016	October 2018	(OCG only - TCG hit was between February 2016 and February 2018) Key member of the Tier 0 PePe Deck. Stops FTKs/OTKs against its controller while also extending Rank 4 plays by searching another Performage monster. Itself searchable by Summoner Monk and Performage Plushfire. Came off deep into Master Rule 4 which had nerfed Pendulum Decks as a whole.
Performapal Skullcrobat Joker	February 2018	July 2021	(TCG only - OCG had only Limited this card at worst) The Elemental HERO Stratos equivalent for three different archetypes that synergized with each other. Was always an important part of PePe but never broken enough to be banned. Instead, it was banned when Pendulum Magicians, one of the archetypes it supports, topped events during Master Rule 4. Unbanned long after Heavymetalfoes Electrumite was banned, and came off fully in February 2022.
Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon	April 2019	April 2020	(OCG only - TCG had only Limited this card at worst) Strong Dragon monster (in terms of effect) that was easy to summon. Had always been a key extender for countless Dragon Decks since release, but its interactions with Gandora-X the Dragon of Demolition pushed it over the edge in the OCG. Unbanned after receiving a hard-once-per-turn errata to both its summon condition and its effect, which also allowed it to fully come off the list in February 2022.
Sinister Serpent	October 2005	April 2015	(TCG only - OCG hit was between September 2005 and January 2015) Free +1 for each of its user's Standby Phases, offsetting a discard cost for effects that require such. Unbanned, and fully off of the next banlist, after receiving a hard once-per-turn errata that also banished it from the Graveyard after it would return there, making its effect a one-off per copy.
Shurit, Strategist of the Nekroz	November 2015	January 2019	(TCG only - OCG had only Limited this card at worst) Key card in Nekroz. Substitutes for an entire Nekroz Ritual Summon, while its on-Tribute effect by extension also searches the on-theme Ritual Spells via Nekroz of Clausolas. Can be searched by Reinforcement of the Army and recycled via Salvage and The Warrior Returning Alive. Unbanned deep into Master Rule 4, by which time Nekroz had long fallen out of favor, and was fully off in the list in October 2019.
Spore	March 2012	September 2012	Banned for a single format in order to hit the Plant Synchro Decks that were still topping at the time, though they were being phased out regardless. Moved to Limited on the following list despite its once-per-Duel effect. Finally came off on the list that came afterwards.
Tribe-Infecting Virus	October 2005	January 2020	(TCG only - OCG hit was between October 2005 and October 2017) Not-once-per-turn effect to destroy all face-up monsters of a specific Type at the cost of a discard. Even against a board with different types of face-up monsters, this effect at least traded advantage. Was banned when Dark Hole and Raigeki had already been banned; came back directly to three copies long after Dark Hole and Raigeki had been unbanned as well.
Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier	March 2012	July 2015	(TCG only - OCG hit was between March 2012 and September 2013) Paid off its high material cost by banishing up to one each from the opposing hand, field and Graveyard. Could be made turn-one as a hand-rip card, and recycled via De-Synchro to deplete the hand/field/Graveyard even further because it lacked a hard once-per-turn restriction. Unbanned in the TCG after they hit the Deck most likely to loop it, Infernity. Came fully off the list late into Master Rule 4 when Synchro Summoning was at its weakest, but put back on the list at the turn of Master Rule 5. Fully off the list again in May 2022.
Jet Synchron	September 2020	May 2022	(TCG only - OCG never hit this card) Banned for being a Crystron Halqifibrax summon target that could then go into Mecha Phantom Beast Auroradon and extend from there. Unbanned once Auroradon was banned; fully off the list in February 2023.
Mecha Phantom Beast O-Lion	September 2020	October 2022	(TCG only - OCG never hit this card) Banned for being a Crystron Halqifibrax summon target that could then go into Mecha Phantom Beast Auroradon and extend from there. Unbanned once Halqifibrax was banned; fully off the list in February 2023.
Samsara Lotus	September 2018	June 2023	(TCG only - OCG never hit this card) Was an FTK enabler due to its not-once-per-turn means of reviving itself during the End Phase. However, that particular FTK had to summon three Link Monsters with eight monsters' worth of material, as well as send this card to the Graveyard - with most strategies unable to do this in less than three cards, this card was freed from the banlist in June 2023.
Morphing Jar #2	April 2014	January 2020	(TCG only - OCG had only Limited this card at worst) Flip Effect that removed monsters from the board by non-destruction, non-targeting means, replacing them with an equal number of Level 4 or lower monsters excavated from the Main Deck and summoned face-down. Caused loops via All-Out Attacks and an FTK involving Jackpot 7. Unbanned, straight to three copies in January 2020 when it was clear that Flip Effects wouldn't be viable without running specific support for them.
Double Iris Magician	February 2018	September 2020	(TCG only - OCG had only Limited this card at worst) Huge consistency card for Pendulum Magicians, which topped events played under Master Rule 4. Typically searches Star Pendulumgraph whose effect searches the rest of the theme on a similar trigger. Unbanned long after Heavymetalfoes Electrumite was banned, and came off fully in October 2021.
Salamangreat Miragestallio	January 2020	July 2021	(TCG only - OCG never hit this card) Another key extender for Salamangreat; its effect summons a Salamangreat from the Main Deck, and then when used as Link Material, targets and bounces a monster on either field. Salamangreat Gazelle gives 1-card access to it, and the FIRE effects lock didn't matter since the theme could use many off-theme FIRE monsters such as Decode Talker Heatsoul. Follow-up play used two on-theme cards to loop this card, meaning that Limiting it wasn't enough. Unbanned when the metagame progressed enough to make Salamangreat no longer a threat, and was fully off the list in May 2022.
Grandsoil the Elemental Lord	September 2017	May 2018	(TCG only - OCG never hit this card) Originally the only Elemental Lord without a hard once-per-turn restriction on its monster revival effect. Became a massive oversight in the early Link era when pre-errata Firewall Dragon abused this effect to cause more Link spam. Came off the list after receiving a hard-once-per-turn errata to keep it in line with the other Elemental Lords (including two newly-released ones).
The Phantom Knights of Rusty Bardiche	July 2019	September 2020	(TCG only - OCG never hit this card) Easy to summon in its own theme as well as other DARK themes such as Danger!, Time Thief and Orcust. Search targets easily enabled extension and/or interruption. Unbanned during Master Rule 5 as well as after its most busted play (to summon Outer Entity Azathot) was no longer possible, and fully came off in March 2021.
True King Lithosagym, the Disaster	September 2017	January 2020	(TCG only - OCG never hit this card) Key starter in True King-Dinosaur hybrid builds, often to trigger Babycerasaurus and/or Petiteranodon in hand for their searches while also gaining knowledge of the opposing Extra Deck and knocking out its three most important pieces. This was a checkmate strategy during Master Rule 4, which had every Deck playing Link Monsters to accommodate non-Link Extra Deck-based strategies. Unbanned one format before Master Rule 5, and was fully off the list in February 2023.
El Shaddoll Construct	November 2015	December 2018	(TCG only - OCG hit was between April 2015 and April 2018) Usually a 1-card summon off of Shaddoll Fusion if going second. Its own effect sets up any Shaddoll monster in the Graveyard from the Main Deck, furthering plays, while on-field it can contest any other Special Summoned monster regardless of statline, unless that monster is immune to destruction by effect. Unbanned during Master Rule 4 when Shaddoll became more difficult to pilot without Link Monsters, and was fully off the banlist in October 2019.
Injection Fairy Lily	March 2004	September 2004	(OCG only - TCG had only Limited this card at worst) At the time, this card was a Normal Summon that could beat over monsters that normally required a Tribute Summon, at the cost of 2000 Life Points per battle. Came off the list fully in March 2007; by then, there were enough means to viably remove it from the board.
Tellarknight Ptolemaeus	October 2015	January 2023	(OCG only - TCG hit was between February 2016 and December 2022) Banned within two formats of playability in both the TCG and OCG due to the dominance of Rank 4 engines at the time. They were able to use this card to pivot into a variety of Rank 5 monsters. Fully off by July 2023 due to tightening Extra Deck space and the subsequent banning of this card's most infamous target, Outer Entity Azathot. Dedicating three Extra Deck slots to an omni-negate (Cyber Dragon Nova, Cyber Dragon Infinity and this card) was also no longer considered good.
Blackwing - Steam the Cloak	January 2019	January 2023	(OCG only - TCG hit was between April 2020 and October 2022) Not-once-per-turn effect to summon a token when it leaves the field. Abused by combo lines involving Crystron Halqifibrax and was eventually Forbidden in the OCG for this (in the TCG, it was banned barely a month into Halqifibrax's release). Put to Limited two formats after Halqifibrax was itself banned; fully off the list in July 2023.
Gandora-X the Dragon of Demolition	July 2019	January 2024	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Destroys all other monsters on the field upon summon from the hand and can inflict damage equal to the highest original ATK among them. Was banned in the OCG because it worked differently, inflicting damage equal to the highest current ATK instead, allowing for easy FTKs. Came off once errata'd in the OCG to match its TCG ruling.
Orcust Harp Horror	January 2020	January 2024	(TCG only - OCG had only Limited this card at worst) Key card in Orcust, initially accessible to any Deck via Full Orcust Combo (Link 2 Knightmare into Knightmare Mermaid into Orcust Knightmare). But even after Mermaid was banned, Orcust engines easily set up this card's effect via Armageddon Knight, Dark Grepher, Scrap Recycler, Orcust Knightmare etc., and were capable of 1-card combo lines despite the Attribute lock. With no Orcust representation even as an engine four years after being Forbidden in the TCG, it was moved to Limited, then Unlimited one format later.

No longer on list (previously Limited at worst)

Monster Card	Limited from	Limited to	Reason
A-Assault Core	September 2018	December 2018	(TCG only - OCG never hit this card) Not-once-per-turn effect to return a Union monster other than itself from the Graveyard to the hand, if sent from the field to the Graveyard. Does not exclude other copies of itself, thus formed a combo with pre-errata Firewall Dragon for infinite Link Material or Cannon Soldier fodder. Hit for one format (despite the fact that a similar combo can be done with two Black Ptera); Firewall Dragon itself would be banned on the following list.
ABC-Dragon Buster	October 2017	October 2022	(OCG only - TCG hit was between April 2020 and September 2020. Also, in the OCG it was not Limited between July 2019 and April 2020) The premier Contact Fusion, easily made via Union Hangar. Contains two soft once-per-turn Quick Effects; one acting as a form of disruption, the other allowing this card to avoid disruption, usually by re-summoning its banished material. Limiting this card prevented abuse of the second Quick Effect by simply making another copy of this card using the re-summoned monsters. Came off once there was enough counterplay (such as Called by the Grave) to deal with the second effect. Came off fully in January 2023.
Aleister the Invoker	October 2017	April 2018	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Often enables 1-card Fusion Summons by searching the card that performs said Fusion Summon (and if searched by Magical Meltdown, the Fusion Summon cannot be stopped). Invoked-Windwitch builds were topping at the time this card was hit; came off fully in October 2018 when such Decks had faded from the meta.
Altergeist Multifaker	January 2019	January 2022	(OCG only - TCG hit was between July 2019 and June 2020) Often summoned on the opposing turn, in turn summoning Altergeist Silquitous to cause another disruption. Can be searched by Personal Spoofing (which enables its summon). Came off fully in April 2022 when Altergeist no longer had meta representation.
Artifact Moralltach	January 2015	February 2018	(TCG only - OCG hit was between July 2014 and October 2016) Turns any Spell Speed 2 effect that can summon this card, either directly (such as via Artifact Sanctum) or indirectly (by destroying it while Set) into non-targeting disruption for the opponent. Hit during top meta representation for Artifacts; came off when they were no longer meta-relevant.
Atlantean Dragoons	September 2013	July 2015	(TCG only - OCG hit was between February 2014 and January 2015) Searcher for Sea Serpent monsters, easily enabled by using a WATER monster's effect to discard/detach/Tribute it for cost. Often searches Moulinglacia the Elemental Lord, whose effect makes the opponent discard, leading to unfair turn-one plays. Remained Semi-Limited for a while afterwards, not fully coming off until May 2018.
Babycerasaurus	October 2017	January 2020	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Part of True King-Dinosaur combos; often triggered by True King Lithosagym, the Disaster to summon Souleating Oviraptor from the Main Deck and get another search. Came off fully in April 2020.
Black Rose Dragon	September 2009	September 2010	Generic Synchro Monster that clears the entire field upon Synchro Summon. Came off once there was sufficient counterplay (via Starlight Road, Effect Veiler and other battle hand traps).
Blackwing - Gale the Whirlwind	September 2009	October 2014	(OCG only - TCG hit was between September 2009 and July 2014) Extender for Blackwing, though often used in other Decks for its Shrink-like effect which was still in vogue at the time. Did not come off fully until October 2015, when new Blackwing support arrived.
Blackwing - Kalut the Moon Shadow	March 2011	September 2012	Themed Honest that is also not once-per-turn. Another hit for Blackwing which was still topping events despite its existing banlist hits. Came off fully in March 2013.
Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Rooster	September 2013	January 2015	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Mainly used for its effect to swap one Fire Formation for another, usually Fire Formation - Tenki for Fire Formation - Tensu in order to extend plays. Also an extender itself, searching a Fire Fist when summoned by another Fire Fist, usually Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Horse Prince. Fully off the list in April 2015 after Fire Fist dropped out of meta contention.
Card Trooper	September 2007	March 2011	The first truly-broken target of Machine Duplication. Three copies all on the field at once would be able to mill a total of nine cards from their user's Main Deck and draw another three upon being destroyed. Did not fully come off until February 2018 as a result.
Cyber Dragon	September 2008	March 2010	Easy Special Summon both on and off-theme. Facilitates Tribute Summons and Synchro Summons, as well as its own Contact Fusion using opposing Machine monsters. Came off once its means of summoning was no longer considered unique.
D.D. Assailant	March 2006	March 2007	Meant to hit Warrior Toolbox Decks that were topping at the time. Also helped remove monsters by crashing into them, though not as versatile as D.D. Warrior Lady. Fully off the list in September 2007.
D.D. Warrior Lady	March 2005	September 2009	Easy out to stronger monsters (or those that cannot be destroyed by battle), but needs to battle to do so. Came off when more-reliable removers came to the forefront.
Dark Armed Dragon	March 2009	October 2019	(TCG only - OCG hit was between March 2009 and July 2019) Formed part of a Tier 0 format when it was hit. Generally easy to summon, and guarantees three targeted pops. Multiple could be summoned on the same turn, leading to an OTK. Came off in favor of hitting the enablers instead (Armageddon Knight and, in the TCG as well, Dark Grepher).
Debris Dragon	January 2014	April 2016	(TCG only - OCG did not hit this card during this period. However, both the TCG and OCG did put this card to Limited between September 2011 and September 2012) Key extender for Dragon Synchro strategies. Many low-ATK monsters are easily set up in the Graveyard for this card to revive and then make Synchro plays. Though cannot be used for non-Dragon Synchro plays itself, can revive a low-ATK Tuner to avoid such a restriction. Fully off the list in September 2017, into the Link era where Synchro plays were at their weakest.
Deep Sea Diva	September 2013	January 2020	(TCG only - OCG hit was between October 2015 and January 2020) 1-card Synchro or Rank 2 play. Did not negate the summoned monster's effect, which enabled further play extension by summoning Atlantean Heavy Infantry or Neptabyss, the Atlantean Prince. Came off fully in July 2020 when the Decks that used it were no longer meta contenders.
Demise, King of Armageddon	September 2009	March 2010	Demise OTK had already been hit in several ways at the time; this was likely to reduce access to another board-breaker just as the Ritual Djinns eased access to Ritual Monsters. This hit only lasted one format, and in March 2011 it was fully off the list, with more counterplay such as Effect Veiler ready to handle it.
Dewloren, Tiger King of the Ice Barrier	September 2013	March 2021	(TCG only - OCG hit was between January 2017 and April 2021) Originally had a soft once-per-turn effect to bounce any of its controller's face-up cards. This allowed for endless cycling of resources even at one copy. Not a generic Synchro, but many strategies got around that via Instant Fusion. Only came off once it received its hard once-per-turn errata and could no longer target itself.
Draconnet	October 2019	April 2020	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) 1-card Link 2 or Synchro play. Was often used to go into Ib the World Chalice Justiciar and extend from there. Came off fully in July 2020 after Justiciar was banned.
El Shaddoll Winda	October 2014	April 2015	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Subjects both players to an effect similar to Summon Limit, while also being destruction-proof. Often summoned on the opposing turn via El Shaddoll Fusion in response to them Special Summoning once via effect, in order to shut off the rest of their plays. Came off when El Shaddoll Construct was banned, but put back on when Construct returned in April 2018; subsequently came off alongside Construct in October 2018 when it was clear that Shaddoll would not have an impact during Master Rule 4.
Elemental HERO Bubbleman	February 2014	July 2014	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Meant to hit HERO Decks that were topping in the OCG at the time while they still had access to Elemental HERO Stratos. Fully off the list in October 2015 in favor of Limiting Elemental HERO Shadow Mist instead.
Elemental HERO Shadow Mist	October 2015	October 2019	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Searches any HERO monster upon being sent to the Graveyard in any way. This converts Armageddon Knight and Vision HERO Vyon into additional copies of Elemental HERO Stratos. Other effect sets up the summon of Masked HERO Dark Law via the searched card, which can be played on the opposing turn to trigger this card's search regardless. Came off when HERO fell out of favor in most Decks.
Evigishki Gustkraken	September 2012	September 2020	(TCG only - OCG hit was between September 2012 and October 2015) Soft once-per-turn effect to shuffle a card in the opposing hand back to the Main Deck, causing a hand loop at multiple copies. Easily searchable, with the on-theme Ritual Spell returning spent copies to the hand. Came off once the meta was better equipped to deal with such an effect.
Evigishki Mind Augus	September 2013	December 2020	(TCG only - OCG never hit this card) Seemingly-innocuous soft-once-per-turn effect ended up forming one of the slowest FTKs in metagame history capable of playing through all known hand traps at the time in order to deck out the opponent. Came off once the meta was better equipped to deal with such an effect.
Evilswarm Ophion	February 2014	July 2014	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Prevents Level 5 or higher monsters from being Special Summoned, which usually meant shutting off most Fusion and Synchro Monsters. However, not being a generic Xyz Monster limits its usage to the theme it belonged to. Thus, it came off fully in January 2015 when said theme no longer saw meta representation.
Exiled Force	May 2002	September 2006	(OCG only - TCG hit was between July 2003 and September 2006) Searchable 1-for-1 monster removal that did not account for the removed monster's battle position, back when the format was slow enough for Sets to be as common as Normal Summons. Came off when the meta picked up speed, such that Fissure and Smashing Ground became the preferable 1-for-1 trades since they did not use up the Normal Summon.
Formula Synchron	September 2011	April 2015	(OCG only - TCG hit was between September 2011 and April 2014) Draws a card upon Synchro Summon. Insane advantage gain if the non-Tuner was Tuningware or Darksea Rescue, or while also controlling T.G. Hyper Librarian. Also had the effect to Synchro Summon at Quick Effect speed, allowing for Synchro plays that caused interruption, such as summoning a Black Rose Dragon on the opposing turn. Fully off in October 2015 when it became clear that most Decks wouldn't run more than one copy of it anyway.
Galatea, the Orcust Automaton	April 2020	April 2023	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Hit due to continued Orcust success following the release of Girsu, the Orcust Mekk-Knight. Came off when Orcust finally faded from meta relevance.
Genex Ally Birdman	September 2013	June 2023	(TCG only - OCG hit was between September 2013 and July 2022) Not-once-per-turn means of Special Summoning itself by bouncing another monster in its owner's control. Can loop several different monsters because of this, and thus formed part of the Gallis and Divine Wind FTKs. Came off while Ancient Fairy Dragon, key to the Divine Wind FTK, was banned and later errata'd, while the Gallis FTK is too inconsistent nowadays even with this card at 3.
Gladiator Beast Bestiari	March 2009	April 2015	(TCG only - OCG hit was between March 2009 and September 2013) Hit due to being required material for Gladiator Beast Gyzarus, a +1 play in Gladiator Beast that made them meta contenders. Came off when Gladiator Beast faded from meta relevance.
Gorz the Emissary of Darkness	March 2007	September 2013	(OCG only - TCG hit was between September 2008 and October 2014) Turnaround card; Special Summons itself when the user takes damage while having an empty board, while also having sizeable ATK of its own, allowing it to stop OTKs. Came off fully in April 2015 when OTK enablers became capable of strong attacks that couldn't be stopped by this card alone, making Battle Fader and Swift Scarecrow more preferable.
Green Baboon, Defender of the Forest	September 2006	September 2009	Summons itself from hand or Graveyard in place of its controller's Beast monster that was destroyed and sent to the Graveyard. This counts other copies of itself. Initially, this card's summon trigger could also go off by crashing a Beast monster during battle; however, it was ruled in 2009 that this card could not be activated during the Damage Step, so it eventually came off the list.
Harmonizing Magician	July 2018	April 2022	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Despite the restrictions placed on it, a successful Pendulum Summon of this card from the hand guarantees access to any Synchro or Rank 4 play alongside the monster summoned. Also worth noting at the time that the OCG did not ban Astrograph Sorcerer, Double Iris Magician or Performapal Skullcrobat Joker. This card came off after the latter two had come off the list already.
Honest	March 2011	January 2015	(TCG only - OCG hit was between March 2011 and February 2014) Battle hand trap for LIGHT monsters. Can chain multiple copies to potentially win the game. Easy to recover (via Archlord Kristya, Beckoning Light etc.) Fully off the list in September 2017.
Ignister Prominence, the Blasting Dracoslayer	April 2016	March 2021	(TCG only - OCG hit was between April 2016 and April 2017) Two soft once-per-turn effects. Can summon a Dracoslayer Pendulum Monster to then destroy for its non-targeting spot removal effect. Can even be a +1 play if an opposing Pendulum Monster can be targeted and destroyed, allowing the summoned Dracoslayer to instead pivot into Synchro or Xyz lines. Came off long after Pendulum Monsters faded from the meta after the banning of Heavymetalfoes Electrumite.
Invoked Mechaba	April 2018	January 2020	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Soft once-per-turn omni-negate effect. Although conditioned on having the same type of card in hand to discard, one can easily build their Deck around meta trends. Also, the negated cards are banished, making them more difficult to recover. Came off when Invoked had sufficiently faded from meta contention.
Inzektor Dragonfly	September 2012	July 2019	(TCG only - OCG hit was between September 2012 and October 2016) Huge consistency card for Inzektors. Not-once-per-turn effect to summon any other Inzektor from the Main Deck when a card equipped to it is sent to the Graveyard, complemented by a soft once-per-turn effect to equip an Inzektor monster from the hand or Graveyard to itself. This easily leads to multiple summons of Inzektor monsters from the Deck to further plays and create OTKs. Finally let off after enough counterplay was added, most notably Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring.
Inzektor Hornet	September 2012	January 2019	(TCG only - OCG hit was between September 2012 and January 2015) 1-for-1 spot removal in Inzektors; can even destroy its user's other cards equipped to their Inzektor Dragonfly or Inzektor Centipede for insane advantage gain. Eventually came off for similar reasons as Dragonfly.
Jinzo	November 2000	September 2007	(OCG only - TCG hit was between December 2002 and September 2007) Strong 1-Tribute monster that blanked all Trap Cards, back when all Trap Card effects were activated on the field. Came off fully in March 2008, in favor of hitting Royal Decree due to that card picking up in usage.
Junk Speeder	April 2020	January 2021	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Summons five monsters to make further Synchro plays with. Hit at the start of Master Rule 5 which opened up to Synchro plays, but came off fully in April 2021 once it was clear that this card wouldn't make an impact.
Kuribandit	April 2015	October 2015	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) End Phase mill-5 that also adds an excavated Spell or Trap to the hand. Fully off the list in April 2016 when its effect was deemed too slow.
Lady Debug	April 2019	January 2020	(TCG only - OCG hit was between July 2019 and October 2019) 1-card starter for most Cyberse Decks, especially Salamangreat which was topping events at the time.
Legendary Six Samurai - Shi En	September 2011	July 2014	(OCG only - TCG hit was between September 2011 and March 2012) Soft once-per-turn Spell/Trap negate for the theme. Can destroy a different on-theme monster its owner controls, in place of itself. Wasn't fully off the list until November 2015.
Lonefire Blossom	September 2011	February 2014	(OCG only - TCG hit was between September 2011 and January 2014. Also, in the OCG, was also hit between April 2018 and July 2020) Soft once-per-turn effect to Tribute a Plant monster (usually itself) to summon any Plant monster from the Main Deck regardless of Level. Came off when Plant Decks stopped being meta (though caused another card to be hit as a side-effect), but put back on the list in the OCG to hit the Predaplant engine which searched Brilliant Fusion.
Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner	March 2010	March 2012	Extender for Lightsworns, often getting Wulf, Lightsworn Beast out of the hand while reviving a different Lightsworn with a useful effect (usually the milling effect). Came off fully in March 2013 once Lightsworns fell off meta contention.
Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands	January 2015	April 2015	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Searcher for Ritual Monsters and Ritual Spells. Hit in an attempt to slow down Nekroz. This didn't work out, so it came off on the next list in favor of direct Nekroz hits.
Marshmallon	March 2005	March 2012	Battle-immune monster, released when removal options were limited. Inflicts burn damage when attacked into while Set. Came off fully in September 2012, when access to removal had by then become reliable and plentiful.
Mask of Darkness	March 2006	March 2007	Put on the list due to interactions with Tsukuyomi and Time Seal. Did not fully come off until March 2010, long after both Tsukuyomi and Time Seal were banned.
Mathematician	November 2015	May 2018	(TCG only - OCG hit was between April 2015 and October 2016) Free setup in the Graveyard for any Level 4 or lower monster from the Main Deck, allowing various 1-card Synchro or Rank 3 plays. Also floats by letting its user draw a card, but only by battle. Popular in Burning Abyss due to their grave triggers. Came off once themes had access to better on-theme grave setups.
Mermail Abyssteus	September 2013	October 2015	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Even-trade search effect. Discard cost can trigger Atlanteans, most notably Atlantean Dragoons to get another search. Came off fully in April 2016 when Mermails faded from meta relevance.
Mezuki	March 2009	July 2014	(OCG only - TCG hit was between March 2009 and September 2013) Not-once-per-turn effect to revive a Zombie monster in its owner's Graveyard by banishing itself. Extender for multiple Synchro and Xyz plays in Zombie Decks. Came off fully in January 2017.
Necro Gardna	March 2010	September 2011	Often milled by Lightsworns to give them a free attack negation. Came off fully in September 2012 once Lightsworns fell off meta contention.
Necroface	March 2010	April 2020	(OCG only - TCG hit was between March 2010 and April 2014) Devastating mill effect upon being banished; can trigger other banish triggers including other copies of itself, substantially powering up a Gren Maju Da Eiza or making D.D. Dynamite inflict more burn damage. Came off due to a lack of relevance; by then, other cards that banish (most notably Pot of Desires) were better enablers for the Decks that this card was used in.
Nekroz of Brionac	April 2015	October 2018	(OCG only - TCG hit was between November 2015 and January 2019) Huge consistency boost for the theme. Discards itself to search any other Nekroz monster, while also being searchable by Preparation of Rites. Came off when Nekroz had sufficiently faded from meta relevance.
Nekroz of Unicore	January 2015	January 2020	(OCG only - TCG hit was between November 2015 and June 2020) Walking Skill Drain for Extra Deck-based monsters. Also discards itself to recover any other Nekroz card, usually Nekroz Cycle so that it can be Ritual Summoned. Came off when Nekroz had sufficiently faded from meta relevance.
Neo-Spacian Grand Mole	March 2007	May 2018	(TCG only - OCG hit was between March 2007 and September 2013) If it battles a monster, it can bounce itself and the monster it is battling, without applying damage calculation. Non-targeting, non-destruction removal, especially against a monster summoned from the Extra Deck. Over time, end-boards would consist of monsters unaffected by monster effects and those that can negate them, rendering this card less and less effective. When it finally came off, Eater of Millions had already been around to outclass it for a few formats.
Night Assailant	September 2005	May 2022	Its effect upon being sent from the hand to the Graveyard used to be able to return other copies of itself to the hand, thus compensating for singular discard costs and making effects with such costs become too strong. Came off when it promptly received its errata which read except "Night Assailant" instead of except this card (though in the OCG it wasn't fully off until July 2022).
Number 11: Big Eye	November 2013	January 2015	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Generic Rank 7 monster that steals an opposing monster permanently. Hit to curb Dragon Rulers, the first consistent Rank 7 engine. Came off fully in April 2015, the same list that banned all the Dragon Rulers.
Performapal Pendulum Sorcerer	April 2016	July 2017	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Key member of the Tier 0 PePe Deck. Easy to Special Summon by various means, including from the Deck by Summoner Monk. Can destroy itself or other Pendulum Monsters to trigger their effects, then search the Scales required to Pendulum Summon them. Came off fully in October 2017, a few months into Master Rule 4 which nerfed most Pendulum Decks.
Plaguespreader Zombie	March 2009	February 2014	(OCG only - TCG hit was between March 2009 and September 2013) Tuner with a not-once-per-turn revival effect at the cost of a card in its owner's hand (which returns to the top of the Main Deck). Often milled by Lightsworns or used as discard fodder. Though it banishes itself when it leaves the field, Imperial Iron Wall was a way around that (and later, so would using this card as Xyz Material). Came off fully in September 2014 when Zombie Decks fell off meta contention.
Protector of the Sanctuary	September 2004	September 2007	This card had "fortified" Time Seal locks by preventing drawing outside of the Draw Phase as well. Also comboed well with Morphing Jar. Came off the list long after Time Seal was banned.
Qliphort Scout	November 2015	July 2019	(TCG only - OCG had only Semi-Limited this card at worst) Consistency card for Qli, searching any other on-theme card at a low cost. Soft once-per-turn effect, so can generate multiple searches if bounced back or replaced with another copy. Itself searchable by Summoner's Art and Saqlifice. Came off when Qli sufficiently faded from relevance due to Master Rule 4.
Raiza the Storm Monarch	March 2008	March 2009	Spins a card back to the top of the Deck/Extra Deck upon Tribute Summon. Hit during Monarchs' initial wave of dominance. However, at around the same time, Caius the Shadow Monarch was released, so this hit did nothing to slow the theme down. Fully off the list in September 2009.
Reflect Bounder	April 2003	March 2006	(OCG only - TCG hit was between February 2004 and April 2006) Essentially a telegraphed version of Magic Cylinder; guaranteed to hit opponents for at least 1700 damage no matter which way they attacked it. Came off fully in September 2006 when the meta was better equipped to deal with it.
Rescue Rabbit	September 2013	September 2017	(TCG only - OCG had only Semi-Limited this card at worst) 1-card Xyz (and later Link-2) play. Splashable despite it being more difficult to search than usual. Came off once Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring became an established counter to its effect.
Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys	March 2005	March 2007	Despite the two-Tribute cost to summon it normally, it had various means of being brought out faster. Removal at the time was mostly destruction-based, and unlike Vampire Lord, could be triggered by its owner's destruction effect. Upon revival, clears backrow of both players. Came off the list when the meta was better-equipped to deal with it, via cards such as Karma Cut and D.D. Crow.
Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss	April 2016	July 2017	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) End Phase search for on-theme monsters as well as Tour Guide From the Underworld. Often triggered on the opposing turn anyway. Came off fully in October 2017.
Senju of the Thousand Hands	January 2015	April 2015	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Searcher for Ritual Monsters. Hit in an attempt to slow down Nekroz. This didn't work out, so it came off on the next list in favor of direct Nekroz hits.
Sky Striker Ace - Kagari	January 2019	January 2023	(OCG only - TCG hit was between April 2019 and January 2020) Key member of the theme. Loops Sky Striker Mobilize - Engage! and Sky Striker Mecha - Hornet Drones. Though can only be summoned once per turn anyways, Limiting this card was meant to make Sky Striker plays more fragile and prone to disruption. Fully off the list in April 2023.
Slate Warrior	May 2002	April 2003	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Strong Normal Summon that also weakens the monster that destroys it by battle, during a format without accessible removal options. Came off once the meta was better equipped to deal with it.
Snipe Hunter	September 2007	September 2010	Not-once-per-turn discard for a more-often-than-not chance of destroying; this also bypasses the activation triggers of cards like My Body as a Shield and Stardust Dragon. Gadget Decks used it to great effect because of the hand advantage they could generate. Came off fully in March 2011 when more reliable removal options came to the forefront.
Souleating Oviraptor	October 2017	October 2021	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Elemental HERO Stratos equivalent for Dinosaurs, searching any Dinosaur monster (including another copy of itself) or setting it up in the Graveyard. Came off fully in January 2022 when Dinosaurs sufficiently faded from relevance.
Spirit Reaper	September 2006	March 2011	Battle-immune monster, though prone to destruction by any targeting effect. Hit in order to reduce consistency of stall Decks at the time. Came off fully in September 2011, when access to removal had by then become reliable and plentiful.
SPYRAL GEAR - Drone	November 2017	April 2020	(TCG only - OCG hit was between January 2018 and July 2018) Like SPYRAL Quik-Fix, also a Machine Duplication target without any hard once-per-turn restrictions on its effects. Effect upon summon guarantees the correct call for all variants of SPYRAL Super Agent, which this card's Graveyard effect can recover. Hit during the Tier 0 dominance of SPYRAL in the TCG, only coming off on the same list that banned SPYRAL Master Plan.
Star Seraph Sovereignty	October 2014	October 2016	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Not-once-per-turn extender for Star Seraph. +1 effect that sets up a 3-material Rank 4 most of the time. Hit when Star Seraph-Tellarknight builds were topping events in the OCG; fully came off in January 2017 when its theme stopped being meta-relevant.
Summoner Monk	October 2014	October 2017	(OCG only - TCG had only Semi-Limited this card during this period. Also, in both the TCG and OCG, was Limited between September 2009 and September 2011) Soft once-per-turn effect to summon any Level 4 monster from the Main Deck by discarding a Spell. Does not negate the effect of the monster summoned, and can summon another copy of itself, leading to wild plays with pre-errata Rescue Cat, and later on, Armageddon Knight, Elemental HERO Shadow Mist and many other monsters. Came off fully in April 2018 due to the speed of the meta, such that combo-heavy Decks are unlikely to have spare Spells to pitch from the hand.
Swap Frog	October 2022	January 2023	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Hit for one format in an attempt to curb Sprights, which eased access to Rank 2 engines such as Frog. Fully came off in April 2023, one format after Toadally Awesome was banned instead.
T.G. Striker	March 2012	July 2014	(OCG only - TCG hit was between March 2012 and September 2013) Tuner monster with a Cyber Dragon-like Special Summoning condition, making it easy to go into Synchro plays with. Fully off the list in January 2015 due to lack of usage.
The Agent of Mystery - Earth	March 2012	September 2012	Hit for one format after The Agent Decks using Archlord Kristya had been topping events. Though it cannot search Master Hyperion without the help of another card, it was often used to ensure that Master Hyperion's summon didn't bleed advantage. Also helped the theme go into Synchro Monsters. Wasn't fully off until February 2014.
The Phantom Knights of Torn Scales	January 2022	October 2022	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) On-field effect potentially sets up two Phantom Knights in the Graveyard for their effects, one of which can be banished to revive a Phantom Knights monster, and subsequently, another copy of this card itself. At the time of the hit, Phantom Knights were seeing play as an engine alongside Destiny HERO. Fully off the list in January 2023, long after key engine piece Predaplant Verte Anaconda was banned.
Thunder King Rai-Oh	September 2013	August 2016	(TCG only - OCG had only Semi-Limited this card at worst) Prevents searches and negates inherent Special Summons. However, it sends itself to the Graveyard to negate the summon, and is difficult to end a board on without Ties of the Brethren - when that card fell out of favor, so did this card, which fully came off in February 2018.
Tragoedia	March 2010	September 2011	Summons itself from the hand when its owner takes battle damage. Can take control of an opposing monster if Level conditions are met, then become that Level to make Xyz plays. Did not fully come off until April 2016, for largely the same reasons as Gorz the Emissary of Darkness.
Treeborn Frog	March 2006	March 2010	Free revival every Standby Phase while its owner's backrow is empty. Though unable to revive multiple copies on the same turn, the not-once-per-turn nature of revival allows it to dodge activated attempts to negate it. Came off the list fully just as Substitoad was banned (September 2010), and the only other Deck that would run this card, Monarch, began to fade from meta relevance.
Twin-Headed Behemoth	May 2002	March 2009	(OCG only - TCG hit was between July 2003 and March 2009) Limited due to a lack of clarity on how its effect worked. Came off the banlist once it was clarified that the effect applied to all copies of this card equally: Each player can only use the effect of "Twin-Headed Behemoth" once per Duel.
Vampire Lord	April 2003	March 2005	(OCG only - TCG hit was between February 2004 and April 2005) One of the stronger one-Tribute monsters at the time. Capable of dodging the mostly destruction-based removal options at the time, and even if it was run over, Book of Life could bring it back. Came off when Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys largely took its place.
Wind-Up Magician	March 2013	August 2016	(TCG only - OCG hits were between March 2013 and September 2013, and between April 2020 and January 2021) Summons a Wind-Up monster from the Main Deck in Defense Position when an ally Wind-Up monster activates its effect. Can only do so once while on the field, but it's not a once-per-turn effect, so its effect applies for each copy its user summons over the turn, allowing for insane combo potential with Wind-Up Shark. Searchable via Summoner Monk and Wind-Up Factory. Pre-emptive hit for the OCG during the turn of Master Rule 5, possibly in anticipation of potential Number F0: Utopic Draco Future abuse, but came off once it became apparent that Wind-Ups did nothing to impact the meta at all.
Wind-Up Shark	September 2013	July 2014	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) This card helped to activate the effect of Wind-Up Magician and kickstart its theme's combo sequences, thus took the hit in place of Wind-Up Magician. Fully off the list in October 2014 once it became apparent that Wind-Ups couldn't do anything without Wind-Up Hunter.
Wisdom-Eye Magician	October 2015	October 2016	(OCG only - TCG hit was between April 2016 and March 2017) Searcher for Pendulum Magicians that destroys itself in the process. Performapal Monkeyboard into Performapal Skullcrobat Joker was easily a 1-card vector which then went into potentially any number of Rank 4 Xyz Monsters, since this card could be Pendulum Summoned as part of the combo. Did not come off fully until July 2017, with Master Rule 4 firmly in place to nerf Pendulum Decks while Monkeyboard had long been Forbidden.
Tour Guide From the Underworld	April 2015	January 2020	(TCG only - OCG hit was between April 2016 and January 2020) 1-card Rank 3 and Link-2 play. Huge in Burning Abyss, since it negates the summoned monster so that it doesn't get destroyed, while also allowing a searched member of the theme to activate its grave trigger. Came off fully in January 2021 when Burning Abyss sufficiently faded from relevance.
Ritual Beast Ulti-Cannahawk	November 2015	June 2020	(TCG only - OCG never hit this card) Although Ritual Beast lacked representation in the meta, this hit was to prevent abusing the resource loop that this card provided for its theme - though a unique way of gaining advantage, it also meant longer turns and tournaments going over their allocated time limit. Came off a few months into Master Rule 5, as well as a pandemic that suspended in-person events at the time.
Mermail Abyssgunde	April 2014	January 2015	(TCG only - OCG never hit this card) Extender for the theme; revives an on-theme monster upon being discarded, usually by an on-theme Level 7 monster's effect to Special Summon itself. Can be searched by Mermail Abyssteus (one of those Level 7s) and recycled by Salvage. Hit while Mermails were still a topping Deck.
Kozmo Dark Destroyer	August 2016	September 2018	(TCG only - OCG never hit this card) Target-immune boss monster of Kozmo. Destroys a monster upon summon; the lower-leveled Kozmo monsters can summon this card from the hand on either player's turn, allowing them to cause disruption. Also floats into one of those lower-leveled Kozmo's when destroyed, setting up potential OTKs in multiples. Came off long after Kozmo faded from the meta, and more non-targeting forms of removal became prominent.
Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss	August 2016	September 2020	(TCG only - OCG never hit this card) When sent to the Graveyard, Special Summons any other Burning Abyss monster from its user's Graveyard. Often summoned by Graff in order to then revive Graff upon being sent to the Graveyard itself, creating a resource loop and easily extending Link plays during Master Rule 4. Came off during Master Rule 5, long after Burning Abyss faded from meta relevance.
Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss	November 2015	September 2020	(TCG only - OCG never hit this card) When sent to the Graveyard, Special Summons any other Burning Abyss monster from its user's Main Deck. Often summoned Cir for a resource loop that became an easy 1-card Link climb during Master Rule 4. Came off during Master Rule 5, long after Burning Abyss faded from meta relevance.
Coach Soldier Wolfbark	April 2014	October 2014	(TCG only - OCG never hit this card) Searchable via Fire Formation - Tenki. Summons a Level 4 FIRE Beast-Warrior monster from the Graveyard on a hard-once-per-turn Ignition Effect. Hit for two formats while Fire Fist was still topping events.
Constellar Ptolemy M7	September 2013	January 2014	(TCG only - OCG never hit this card) Generic Rank 6 with an effect to essentially recur one of its material. Often helped to further the Gishki hand loop, and was hit for this interaction. Came off two formats later with Evigishki Gustkraken still Limited.
Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Spirit	September 2013	April 2015	(TCG only - OCG never hit this card) Searchable via Fire Formation - Tenki. Effect upon Normal Summon sets up a Rank 3 play or Level 6 Beast-Warrior Synchro, usually the on-theme Lion Emperor or Horse Prince to recycle this card or further plays. Hit when Fire Fists were at their peak; came off long after they had faded from the meta.
Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss	April 2016	October 2018	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Generic Rank 3 that mills up to three cards from the top of its user's Main Deck for cost (alongside the detaching of one of its material). On-theme, this enables their Main Deck monsters to trigger their effects, though can also set up for other themes just as effectively. Also part of the alternative summoning condition of Beatrice, Lady of the Eternal (currently Limited, see above). In January 2019, this card was fully off the list.
Danger! Nessie!	January 2020	October 2021	(TCG only - OCG had only Semi-Limited this card at worst) First Danger! card to be Limited. Searches other Danger! cards upon being discarded. However, in the TCG this card's key Danger! searches would become Limited regardless. Came off fully in February 2022.
Cyber Angel Benten	March 2021	May 2022	(TCG only - OCG never hit this card) Searches any LIGHT Fairy monster (including other copies of itself) upon being Tributed. Drytron often used it to search Herald of Ultimateness or Eva. But Drytron fell out of favor once Eva was banned, so this card was allowed to fully come off one format later in October 2022.
Lyrilusc - Recital Starling	February 2022	December 2022	(TCG only - OCG never hit this card) Generic Rank 1 that searches a Level 1 Winged Beast monster. This includes every Main Deck monster in its own theme, as well as Tri-Brigade Nervall for Tri-Brigade and Floowandereeze & Robina for Floowandereeze. Fully off the list in June 2023.
Shooting Riser Dragon	May 2022	October 2022	(TCG only - OCG never hit this card) Hit for a single format due to being able to set up several Quick Effect activations from the user's Graveyard, while also being able to perform a Synchro Summon at Quick Effect speed as well. Often brought onto the field by Crystron Halqifibrax to set up Fairy Tail - Snow. The next list would ban both aforementioned monsters, allowing this card to come off.
Water Enchantress of the Temple	April 2022	October 2022	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Key component of the Adventurer engine. Searches Rite of Aramesir, the card that summons the token that enables its own summon, and the subsequent effect to place Forest of Lost Flowers or Zaralaam the Dark Palace on the field directly from the Main Deck. Came off fully in January 2023 after the Adventurer engine was sufficiently hit by the banning of Wandering Gryphon Rider.
Ignis Heat, the True Dracowarrior	September 2017	May 2018	(TCG only - OCG never hit this card) Easy Tribute Summon for the theme. After being Tribute Summoned, can activate Disciples of the True Dracophoenix or True Draco Heritage directly from the Main Deck as a Quick Effect response to any opposing card, both of which set up more True Draco Tribute Summons and allow the user to draw more cards. Also not a hard once-per-turn, meaning that it doesn't brick on multiple copies.
Ehther the Heavenly Monarch	August 2016	July 2019	(TCG only - OCG never hit this card) Allows itself to be Tribute Summoned on the opposing turn at the cost of banishing a Monarch Spell/Trap. The Monarchs Stormforth sets up the cost for this effect and allows for disruption. Then, upon Tribute Summon, sets up two Monarch Spells/Traps in the Graveyard for their effects, while also summoning a Monarch from the Main Deck, though it bounces back to the hand at the end of the turn. Insane consistency for Monarchs, whether played pure or as part of an FTK. Came off long after Monarchs faded from meta relevance.
Servant of Endymion	January 2020	February 2023	(TCG only - OCG never hit this card) Pendulum Effect summons itself and another Spell Counter-holding monster from the Main Deck, with a net loss of 1 Spell Counter. Easily enabled by a draw engine, and furthers plays involving Mythical Beast monsters as well as its own theme. Was also key to an FTK involving Tempest Magician, which was banned at the same time that they hit this card.
Saryuja Skull Dread	October 2019	April 2023	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Generic utility Link 4, often made with 4 differently-named monsters in order to access the draw-and-shuffle effect as well as the free summon from hand. Made Limited in the OCG to hit successful Dragon Link Decks at the time. Fully off the list as of July 2023.
Thunder Dragonhawk	July 2019	April 2023	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Hand effect to revive a Thunder Dragon monster in its controller's Graveyard or banish pile. Easy search off of Thunder Dragondark which can be a target for revival, though will more often target a direct setup via Batteryman Solar in order to then go into Thunder Dragon Colossus. Fully off the list as of July 2023.
Salamangreat Gazelle	July 2019	September 2023	(TCG only - OCG hit was between July 2019 and April 2023) Key extender for Salamangreat. Its effect usually sets up Salamangreat Spinny to be revived and subsequently summon Salamangreat Miragestallio to extend further. Came off long after Salamangreat were meta, as well as to promote a product featuring new Salamangreat cards.
Infernity Archfiend	October 2014	January 2024	(TCG only - OCG never hit this card) Its effect to search an Infernity card upon summon (by any means) while its controller has no hand, has no once-per-turn restriction, allowing for long lines of play and near-endless cycling of resources. Allowed to come off long after some of the enabled loops ceased to exist following the errata of Dewloren, Tiger King of the Ice Barrier.
Girsu, the Orcust Mekk-Knight	October 2020	October 2023	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Themed Armageddon Knight. Enables 1-card Link and Synchro climbs in Orcust. Fully off the OCG list as of April 2024.
Supreme King Dragon Darkwurm	April 2018	October 2023	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) All of its effects are advantage plays, from setting up the Pendulum Scales to free revival from the Graveyard. Essentially, Dragon Shrine and Dragon Ravine become play starters by dumping this card directly from the Deck. Fully off the OCG list as of April 2024.

No longer on list (previously Semi-Limited at worst)

Monster Card	Semi-Limited from	Semi-Limited to	Reason
Reborn Tengu	March 2012	April 2018	(OCG only - TCG hit was between March 2012 and January 2015) Free not-once-per-turn float into another copy of itself, which also activates when returned to the hand (but not the Main Deck). Semi-Limit was the only way to hit it without rendering its effect unusable. Came off due to a lack of use in the meta.
Altergeist Meluseek	January 2020	April 2021	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Direct attacker that removes an opposing card upon inflicting damage, while also searching an Altergeist monster when sent from the field to the Graveyard. Searchable via Altergeist Multifaker and Personal Spoofing. Easy to trigger the floating effect by being used as Link Material. Hit due to Altergeist still topping after several earlier hits; came off once they were no longer meta.
D/D Lamia	October 2016	April 2017	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Searchable via Dark Contract with the Gate, which it can then send to summon itself and make Synchro plays. Likely hit due to D/D topping OCG meta lists at the time.
D/D Swirl Slime	October 2016	July 2017	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Makes a D/D/D Fusion out of itself and another D/D in hand, setting up interaction with that other D/D monster in the Graveyard (whether by its own effect or other effects). From there, this card can use its Graveyard effect to extend further. Likely hit due to D/D topping OCG meta lists at the time.
Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring	April 2018	April 2020	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Hand trap that negates a search effect. Hit so that more linear strategies reliant on the first search had a chance in the meta, but this was unlikely to have ever made a difference. Came off on the list that came just before Triple Tactics Talent was released as a countermeasure.
Chronomaly Nebra Disk	July 2014	January 2015	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Has a search effect and a revival effect, both advantage plays (though its user has to choose between them). Likely hit due to Chronomaly topping OCG meta lists at the time.
Archlord Kristya	March 2011	April 2015	(OCG only - TCG hit was between March 2011 and January 2014) Easy-to-meet Special Summoning condition that recurs a resource, and blocks Special Summons while on the field. Goes to top of the Deck instead of the Graveyard, making it easy to recur and difficult to deal with. Came off when the Decks it was used in stopped being meta.
Manticore of Darkness	October 2003	March 2009	(OCG only - TCG hit was between April 2004 and March 2009) Not-once-per-turn effect to revive itself at the end of the turn it was sent to the Graveyard, by sending a Beast, Beast-Warrior or Winged Beast monster from hand to Graveyard (can even be another copy of itself, enabling a summon loop). Semi-Limit hit was meant to lower the chance of opening with two copies, but soon came ways of enabling the loop after summoning one copy of this card regardless (those being Generation Shift and Next to be Lost). Came off when the soon-banned Card of Safe Return, the most notable OTK enabler for the summon loop, was made Limited.
Marauding Captain	May 2002	September 2005	(OCG only - TCG hit was between July 2003 and October 2005) Summons another Level 4 or lower monster from the hand upon Normal Summon. Controlling two copies meant the opponent couldn't attack either of them, so a Semi-Limit hit lowered the chance of opening with two copies. Came off once it became easier to break the attack lock via removal.
Phantom of Chaos	September 2007	March 2008	Semi-Limited for one format due to its interaction with Sky Scourge Norleras - can copy its effect then proceed to clear the board and both hands.
Light and Darkness Dragon	March 2008	September 2008	Not-once-per-turn omni-negate that complemented Monarch builds capable of summoning extra Tribute fodder, though is double-sided. Hit for one format - the one that came just as Synchro Monsters debuted.
Judgment Dragon	September 2008	September 2011	Nomi Special Summoning condition easy to achieve in its own theme and not once-per-turn. Board wipe effect was also not once-per-turn. Hit in order to prevent an OTK scenario involving three copies. Came off once Lightsworns stopped being meta.
Guardian Sphinx	May 2002	April 2003	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Was one of the more daunting Tribute Sets back when removal wasn't so easily accessible - if it wasn't dealt with, it could bounce an entire opposing field and swing directly before flipping itself down again. Came off once the meta was better equipped to deal with it.
Goblin Zombie	March 2009	September 2010	Not-once-per-turn floating effect to search for a Zombie monster with 1200 or less DEF. Easily triggered by its user destroying or Tributing this card, or using it as Synchro material. Came off once Zombies stopped being meta.
Abyss Soldier	March 2005	March 2006	Strange hit. Supposedly fuelled by the "free" advantage that pre-errata Sinister Serpent provided, but that card was banned one format later, with this card not coming off until the format afterwards.
Apprentice Magician	March 2006	March 2008	Only battle tutor to ever be hit. Search targets are Special Summoned face-down, enabling Flip Effect triggers (notably from Magician of Faith, Old Vindictive Magician and Crystal Seer). Came off long after Magician of Faith was banned.
Dark Scorpion - Chick the Yellow	March 2005	September 2005	Strange hit. Though it enabled an OTK alongside a Call of the Haunted enabled by pre-errata Makyura the Destructor, Makyura was the problem card that got banned on the same list. This card was rightfully let off one format later.
Thunder Dragonroar	January 2020	July 2022	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Summons an on-theme monster upon being banished or sent from the field to the Graveyard. Alternatively, can be discarded to recycle an on-theme monster other than itself, which also recurs that monster's discard effect for added consistency to the theme. Came off when Thunder Dragon no longer saw top representation at OCG events.
Trickstar Candina	January 2019	April 2020	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Searcher for the theme. Often searches Trickstar Lilybell to enable a 1-card Link play. Came off in favor of Trickstar Light Stage becoming Limited.
Windwitch - Ice Bell	October 2017	July 2018	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) +1 play without using up the Normal Summon. Often summons Windwitch - Glass Bell which in turn searches Windwitch - Snow Bell, providing all the required material for Crystal Wing Synchro Dragon off of this card alone. Came off once the Windwitch engine no longer saw top representation at OCG events.
Superheavy Samurai Motorbike	July 2023	October 2023	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Searcher for Superheavy Samurai, even more so than Superheavy Samurai Soulpiercer because it discards itself from the hand for said search. Starter and enabler-alike, one of the new members of the theme responsible for elevating it to meta contention. Hit for one format before coming off due to hits elsewhere making the desired impact.
Green Gadget	September 2007	March 2008	Hit for one format, after the Gadgets had topped events regularly, even though most Gadget Decks wouldn't run more than two of each anyways.
Red Gadget
Yellow Gadget
Tri-Brigade Fraktall	April 2022	January 2024	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Main starter for Tri-Brigade. Effect activates in the hand and usually sets up enough Tri-Brigades in the Graveyard for the common Tri-Brigade effect of Special Summoning a Link Monster of one of their types by banishing such monsters from their owner's Graveyard. Searchable by Fire Formation - Tenki and Tri-Brigade Nervall. Came off when Tri-Brigade no longer saw top representation at OCG events.

Spell Cards

Currently Forbidden

Spell Card	Reason
Brilliant Fusion	A Fusion Spell that sources Fusion Material from the Deck. Searchable via Predaplant Darlingtonia Cobra. Often used to summon Gem-Knight Seraphinite by sending Gem-Knight Garnet and Performage Trick Clown for immediate advantage and an extra Normal Summon. However, this card's later applications in Thunder Dragons as well as its own theme (for their FTK) became problematic. This card is currently Limited in the OCG.
Butterfly Dagger - Elma	Not-once-per-turn effect to return itself to the hand when destroyed and sent to the Graveyard while equipped. Abused by being equipped to Gearfried the Iron Knight repeatedly, enabling infinite Spell Counter generation for Royal Magical Library to draw the entire Deck to win via Exodia, or Mythical Beast Cerberus to become infinitely powerful.
Card of Safe Return	Not-once-per-turn effect to draw a card each time its controller Special Summons a monster from their Graveyard. Busted when combined with not-once-per-turn Special Summons such as via Manticore of Darkness and Level Eater, the former easily enabling a win via Exodia.
Cold Wave	Prevents players from activating or Setting Spells or Traps until the end of the next turn. Though conditioned on being the first action of Main Phase 1, it is still a blowout at any turn of the Duel, especially considering how fast the meta has become over time and the ease of monster-only plays.
Confiscation	Low cost to look at the opposing hand and discard one card from it. Though an even trade in card advantage, gives hand knowledge to the player activating it, allowing them to make the better decisions over the course of the Duel, especially if played on turn one.
Delinquent Duo	A better Confiscation. Positive card advantage for the player using it, and while that player no longer sees their opponent's hand, said opponent does not have control over one of the cards they lose, putting them at a huge disadvantage.
Dimension Fusion	Swarms both fields with banished monsters on a not-once-per-turn effect. While meant to be balanced by the high Life Point cost and also summoning opposing banished monsters to their owner's field, this can be circumvented by Spell Economics and not banishing opposing monsters. Was recycled by pre-errata Dark Magician of Chaos to form an FTK, but wasn't truly broken until Dark Armed Dragon came out. Dimension Explosion is a more balanced version of this card, requiring both players to have banished monsters of their own, on top of its other condition.
Divine Sword - Phoenix Blade	Its effect to return itself to the hand by banishing two Warrior monsters from its owner's Graveyard is not once-per-turn, thus became broken upon Gouki debuting as the ideal Warrior theme to set up the Graveyard with, being used as Link Material for Knightmares whose effects all have discard costs. This card is currently Unlimited in the TCG.
Giant Trunade	Blowout card, often winning the Duel for its user on the turn it is played. Unlike Heavy Storm it avoids triggering the few backrow cards that float, and also enables reuse of its user's Field/Equip/Continuous Spells, causing cards of those types in the future to have hard-once-per-turn clauses built into them. Hey, Trunade! was likely printed as a balanced alternative.
Graceful Charity	Draw card that also sets up the Graveyard, without any loss in card advantage. Because its user draws before discarding, this card will almost never be dead in hand. Unlikely to come off without an errata due to the proliferation of Graveyard triggers that do not require being on the field first. Dark World Dealings and Dealer's Choice are both balanced alternatives, both setting the user back in terms of card advantage.
Heavy Storm	Blowout card, often winning the Duel for its user on the turn it is played. Though it has been playable for longer than Harpie's Feather Duster at first, it is now unlikely to come off even after the unbanning of Harpie's Feather Duster because it can serve a dual role of destroying its user's backrow cards that float (including Pendulum Scales) and generate more advantage for its user. This card is currently Limited in the OCG.
Kaiser Colosseum	Straight floodgate effect that never puts its user at a disadvantage. Passable at the time of release, but as the meta evolved, so did the power creep of its monsters, allowing a turn-one player to summon an "invincible" monster (like Apoqliphort Towers or Majespecter Unicorn - Kirin) and then play this card in order to prevent their opponent from swarming a board for ways to get around their monster. Was also ruled to prevent, or render ineffective, cards that enabled or performed summons using opposing monsters as fodder. This card is currently Semi-Limited in the OCG.
Last Will	Special Summons any one monster with 1500 or less ATK after another of its user's monsters is sent from their field to the Graveyard that turn. Though a Normal Spell, its effect can be applied at any point during the turn, for the rest of the turn, after activation. Known to be a problem long before Synchro Summons made it easy to set up this card's activation, for it usually searched out Cyber-Stein to enable OTK's.
Mass Driver	Not-once-per-turn effect to Tribute a monster to inflict 400 burn damage; this becomes busted alongside not-once-per-turn means to summon a monster during the Main Phase. Unlike monsters with similar not-once-per-turn effects (see above), does not use up the Normal Summon, leading to more consistent FTK's.
Metamorphosis	Once defined Goat Format alongside two other cards that were banned to end said format; this card continued until easily-summonable high-Level monsters arrived, making access to powerful Fusion Monsters trivial (such as Fusilier Dragon, the Dual-Mode Beast for The Last Warrior from Another Planet, or Beast King Barbaros for Cyber Twin Dragon). Unlikely to come back without an errata due to the introduction of more Fusion Monsters with powerful effects, especially those that are Level 4 or lower.
Mirage of Nightmare	Although its controller has to wait to potentially draw four cards, and doesn't get to use them from the hand on their next turn due to the required discard, this can be bypassed by playing any Spell Speed 2 effect that gets this card off the field before the user's next Standby Phase. Banned just before Dark Worlds arrived to take advantage of being discarded by effects, while the proliferation of grave triggers in general would make this card unable to come off without an errata.
Mystic Mine	Field Spell that prevents the player with more monsters under their control from having those monsters attack or activate their effects, though destroys itself at the End Phase if each player's monster count (on their fields) is equal. Unfair for the player at the receiving end, who would often see this card appear on the field via an opposing Metaverse. Eventually (after the banning of Imperial Order), an entire format revolved around this card and which Decks played well under it or could afford to run Spell or Trap-based spot removal to get around it.
Painful Choice	Sets up four out of five cards in its user's Main Deck of their choice into the Graveyard (the other, picked by their opponent, goes to the hand). Was initially passable until more and more strategies synergized with Graveyard triggers and recursion, such that this card was banned early on and would be an insanely-busted blowout if it was ever allowed back.
Pot of Greed	Free +1 for every Deck. Like Graceful Charity, almost never dead. If it were allowed in the format, every Deck would run it at the maximum copies permissible. Instead, various downgraded pots were released over the years to suit each Deck's needs.
Premature Burial	Reusable revival Spell that can be searched by Hidden Armory and recurred in many ways, most notably pre-errata Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier which led to its ban and Monster Reborn returning. Its cost per activation, the possibility of being "negated" by Quick Effect removal, as well as further restrictions compared to Monster Reborn were all weak arguments against its ban. Overdone Burial has since been printed as a balanced alternative.
Smoke Grenade of the Thief	Like other Equip Spells, can be searched by Hidden Armory. Effect akin to Confiscation or The Forceful Sentry where it lets its user look at their opponent's hand and snipe a card out of it, but only triggers on destruction while already equipped to a monster. This went from niche to trivial with the release of Infernoble Knights which easily search this card or set it up in the Graveyard to be equipped and destroyed by Infernoble Knight Emperor Charles, enabling a hand loop.
Snatch Steal	Blowout card. Steals an opposing monster for as long as it is equipped. Stolen monster can be foddered off immediately so as to not have to give any Life Points to the opponent; or, if the stolen monster is strong enough, the Life Point recovery effect becomes moot. Also, unlike other one-off control switchers, this card can be searched by Hidden Armory. This card is currently Limited in the TCG.
Soul Charge	Potentially revives five monsters for the user to make or continue explosive combo lines, especially since the revived monsters are not negated by this card. The loss of 1000 Life Points per summoned monster, as well as the skipping of the Battle Phase, does not matter if played on turn one.
That Grass Looks Greener	Effect is a straight mill for the player whose Main Deck is larger than their opponent's, allowing them to gain an unfair advantage. This also forced every Deck in the format to be built around this card, such that even Decks that did not run this card had to be near the Main Deck size limit in order to counter this card. This card is currently Semi-Limited in the OCG.
The Forceful Sentry	Another better Confiscation. No Life Point cost, can still look at the opposing hand, but most crucially, shuffles a selected card in the opponent's hand back into the Deck, avoiding grave triggers while still leaving the opponent worse off going into their turn.
Zoodiac Barrage	Acts as an Emergency Teleport for Zoodiacs (though can also destroy a different card in its user's control for greater value if necessary), while also being able to attach itself to their Xyz Monsters upon being destroyed. Improves the already-consistent Zoodiac engine even further and contributed to its Tier 0 status. This card is currently Limited in the OCG.

Currently Limited

Spell Card	Reason
Branded Fusion	Highly-searchable Fusion Spell that sources material from the Deck. Though it only summons Fallen of Albaz-related Fusions, either the summoned Fusion or the material used to summon it can pivot into other Fusions by their own effects to Fusion Summon (such as Albion the Branded Dragon) or by searching important combo pieces (such as Despian Tragedy or Shaddoll Hedgehog). This card is currently Unlimited in the TCG.
Branded Opening	Searcher for Despia. Though not a one-for-one search, the card it discards is treated as having been discarded by an effect, thus enabling Graveyard triggers that usually cannot be activated by discarding for cost. Also an indirect search for any other Branded Spell/Trap by searching Aluber the Jester of Despia, while providing destruction protection to its controller's Fusion Monsters. This card is currently Unlimited in the TCG.
Called by the Grave	Important card for the player going first, often to chain to a hand trap effect their opponent just played, in order to negate that effect and banish the card temporarily. This allows for turn-one combo plays to play through one interruption. This card is currently Semi-Limited in the OCG.
Card Destruction	Forces both players to discard and draw new hands. Only its activator has control over the cards they discard; some monsters may be discarded intentionally to activate their effects (Dark World, Fabled, Danger!, Burning Abyss etc.) Also helped Dragon Rulers and was thus Forbidden in the TCG when they were at their prime; did not return to one copy until 2018, long after they were banned.
Card of Demise	Potential +2 effect whose main drawbacks can be mitigated in stun-heavy Decks that tend not to Special Summon a lot (or, in Floowandereeze's case, not at all). The "no damage" clause can also be avoided by activating this card on Main Phase 2 having already attacked that turn.
Chain Strike	Gives its name to Chain Burn, a Deck that tries to do as much burn damage as possible on turn one, by abusing the fact that two copies of Chain Strike can be activated in chain. Initially made Limited, then Semi-Limited after a few formats. Returned to one copy in accordance with new end-of-match procedures in the TCG in 2018. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Change of Heart	Steals an opposing monster for the turn. The stolen monster can attack and then be Tributed away to prevent it from returning to the opponent. Was the first control-based remover to be Forbidden, but has recently moved to Limited on both lists due to continuing power creep; normally unable to be used going first, while the player going second has to be able to use hand traps to prevent their opponent from pivoting into a monster that cannot be targeted by this card, or can negate its effect. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Chaos Space	Searcher for Level 4-8 LIGHT or DARK monsters that cannot be Normal Summoned or Set, while also having a Graveyard effect to draw 1 card by shuffling back a similar resource. Both effects can be used on the same turn, making the search a two-fold consistency boost without loss of card advantage if played correctly. Hit in order to reduce consistency of Bystials, which can use this card to search The Bystial Lubellion, Black Dragon Collapserpent or White Dragon Wyverburster and/or set up their Graveyard effects. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Chicken Game	Field Spell version of Upstart Goblin (see below). Effect not a hard once-per-turn and cannot be responded to, enabling a deep draw FTK alongside Life Equalizer and Magical Explosion. Allowed to move to Limited after the Ancient Fairy Dragon errata, so that its effect can only be cycled once (via Pseudo Space). This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG, due to them banning the aforementioned cards instead.
Crossout Designator	Key Quick-Play Spell Card for the player going first, in order to call a particular hand trap and stop it from disrupting their plays. Although meant to be balanced by its activator also having to run a copy of that hand trap, skilled Duelists know when to side in tech choices. This card is currently Unlimited in the TCG, likely due to them banning Maxx "C", a popular call for this card in the OCG.
Divine Wind of Mist Valley	Effect to summon a Level 4 or lower WIND monster upon its user's WIND monster returning to the hand is only a soft once-per-turn, thus forming its own FTK. However, Ancient Fairy Dragon has since been given an errata such that it can only cycle this effect once, via Pseudo Space. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Dragonic Diagram	Searcher for True Draco and True King that also triggers an upon-destruction effect in the player's hand for added value. As a Field Spell, also searchable by Terraforming. This contributed to the success of True King-Dinosaur hybrid builds. Was even made Forbidden in the OCG for several formats as a result. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
EMERGENCY!	Quick-Play Spell that summons a Rescue-ACE monster from the Deck before Tributing another from hand or field. Usually searched by Rescue-ACE Air Lifter for a 1-card play into any Level of Rescue-ACE, which in turn summons any higher-Leveled Rescue-ACE monsters from the hand. Hit due to consistent success of its theme in the OCG. This card is currently Unlimited in the TCG.
Final Countdown	Decks that use this card are not fun to play against, often combining this card with other stall cards to hit the 20-turn victory condition. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Foolish Burial	Sets up any one monster in its user's Graveyard from their Main Deck, and is not once-per-turn. Within a few years of release, every competent Deck began relying on Graveyard setup, which this card has no problem ensuring.
Fusion Destiny	Fusion Spell that sources Destiny HERO material from the Main Deck to summon a monster that lists them as material. Initially made Forbidden in the OCG due to abuse via Predaplant Verte Anaconda to summon Destiny HERO - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer, but allowed to come back to one copy once Anaconda itself became Forbidden. This card is currently Unlimited in the TCG.
Gateway of the Six	Gains two counters for each time its controller summons a Six Samurai monster, and can spend counters for various not-once-per-turn effects, including searching or recycling a Six Samurai monster, many of which can Special Summon themselves. As a result, it caused various FTK-enabling loops even at one copy, and was Forbidden in the TCG between 2013 and 2017. Remains at one copy to this day regardless of Six Samurai's meta-viability now that the new Battle Shogun of the Six Samurai can search it.
Gold Sarcophagus	Had three stints at Limited. Initially it searched any card in its user's Main Deck to add to the hand in two of their turns, without being vulnerable like Different Dimension Capsule, but the meta sped up enough for this to no longer be considered good. Then it was Limited to hit the meta-defining Dragon Rulers, whose effects activate when banished; only coming off a few formats after all of them were banned. Its current Limited stint is due to abuse in Thunder Dragons, whose effects also activate when banished.
Harpie's Feather Duster	Was Forbidden between 2004 and 2015 (OCG)/2020 (TCG) due to being a blowout card that didn't destroy its user's backrow, thus always held or gained advantage for said user. Now back to Limited in both formats due to the decreasing popularity of Trap Cards and backrow-heavy setups in the metagame in general.
Infernity Launcher	Not-once-per-turn means to cycle through Infernity monsters. Can be searched by Infernity Archfiend, which it in turn revives to trigger another search. Limited in order to prevent looping. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Instant Fusion	Was always a popular card for setting up Synchro and Xyz plays. Elder Entity Norden, the first properly-busted target, made it Limited for several OCG formats before coming off due to Norden's ban. Since then, it became searchable via Predaplant Darlingtonia Cobra, let alone having more and more good targets that it could summon without negating the target's effect.
Into the Void	Despite being inconsistent for a draw card, it has always shined for a player going first, while the lack of once-per-turn restriction meant that opening with multiple copies meant even more consistent plays. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Magical Mid-Breaker Field	Field Spell that limits the ways a player can answer their opponent's board. Though itself required to be the first card its user activates during the Main Phase, and also preventing its user from displacing it with other Field Spells, this was enough to make Duels slow and tedious, especially if the protected monsters happened to offer complementary protection, such as Dark Magician the Dragon Knight. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Mask Change II	Summons a Masked HERO monster at the cost of a discard, making its card economy the same as a typical Fusion Summon via Polymerization. However, it is also a Quick-Play Spell capable of causing disruption via the summoned monster's effect, or the effects of the monsters sent for the summon, thus was Limited for the same reasons as El Shaddoll Fusion. This card is currently Unlimited in the TCG.
Monster Gate	Easy Graveyard setup for Decks with a low monster count, usually deep draw FTK variants. Unlike Reasoning (see below), doesn't have a chance of failing to summon a monster, but does require a Tribute to be activated regardless. Came back on the TCG list after being abused in a new FTK involving Machina Ruinforce. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Monster Reborn	Normal Spell that revives from either player's Graveyard and is not once-per-turn. Was Forbidden between 2004 and 2008, and also in the TCG between 2013 and 2018. Likely to remain Limited in both formats because of how generic it is, even in spite of more themed revival Spells being searchable and having once-per-turn restrictions on their activations.
One Day of Peace	Pure stall card with a not-once-per-turn effect to make both players draw 1 card. "No damage" clause lasts until the user's next turn, allowing the user to easily avoid it by playing it on Main Phase 2, while said clause becomes unavoidable for the opponent, thus also making it ideal in Decks that win through deck out, Exodia or other alternate win conditions.
One for One	Summons any Level 1 monster from the Main Deck without negating its effects. The summoned monster's effect can synergize with the discarded monster, or vice-versa, and set up many combo lines. Unlikely to come off for as long as utility Level 1 monsters continue to exist.
Pot of Prosperity	A combination of Pot of Extravagance and Pot of Duality, letting its user add to their hand, one card among six excavated from the top of their Main Deck at the cost of six Extra Deck monsters banished face-down. Unlike Extravagance, its user gets to choose what is banished, and unlike Duality, doesn't prevent Special Summons. However, like Extravagance, it does prevent drawing by other card effects during the turn it is used. Damage-halving side effect moot if played going first. This card is currently Unlimited in the TCG.
Pressured Planet Wraitsoth	Consistency Field Spell for Kashtira, searching their main starters and providing spot removal (though conditioned on controlling a specific monster that the Kashtira Deck can easily make). This card is currently Unlimited in the TCG.
Primal Seed	Limited as soon as Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning was unbanned, due to a potential infinite loop enabled by two copies of this card allowing any one burn Spell, even Sparks, to cause an FTK. However, it came off within three years in the TCG due to the setup required being evidently too difficult to accomplish, especially with them also putting Dimensional Fissure and Macro Cosmos to one.
Primeval Planet Perlereino	Consistency Field Spell for Tearlaments, searching their key monsters (also all Limited) and allowing one of their Fusion Summons to double up as spot removal. This card is currently Unlimited in the TCG.
Purrely Sleepy Memory	Themed One for One on a Spell Speed 2 effect, as with all Purrely Memory cards. Effect not truly a -1 due to the search targets' own effects to search cards; this even becomes an advantage play if it summons Purrelyly which can attach this card when it "evolves", enabling the draw effect when the opponent's turn starts. This card is currently Semi-Limited in the TCG.
Reasoning	Easy Graveyard setup for Decks with a low monster count, usually deep draw FTK variants. It also constitutes a free summon from the Main Deck for themes that have a variety of Levels among their monsters, making it less likely that the correct Level would be called. Has been on and off the list over the years; its most recent hit in 2016 was in order to curb Infernoids, which are mostly Nomi Main Deck monsters and thus would be ignored when this card excavates them, allowing them to be set up with ease in the Graveyard. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Reinforcement of the Army	Searches too broad a range of monsters. As more and more good Warrior themes get released over the years, some with their own searchers, it is unlikely that this card will ever come off.
Runick Fountain	Field Spell that turns the theme's key cards into hand traps, while also acting as a themed Pot of Avarice. This card is currently Semi-Limited in the TCG.
Sekka's Light	Its activated effect essentially functions as a Pot of Greed for Decks that use no Spells or Traps other than Sekka's Light, making it too consistent in such Decks even with a hard once-per-turn restriction. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Set Rotation	Sets two Field Spells with different names from its user's Main Deck to each field while also preventing them from being displaced while Set. This allowed some Field Spells with mandatory searches on activation (like Gateway to Chaos and Oracle of Zefra) to block opposing Field Zones because their new controller, lacking the requisite search target, wouldn't be able to activate them. Many combo lines rely on a Field Spell and would be unable to recover from this.
Sky Striker Mecha - Hornet Drones	Not-once-per-turn effect to summon a token while its user's Main Monster Zones remain empty. Can be looped once by Sky Striker Ace - Kagari, which can be summoned using that token as material, allowing for easy Link climbing without using up the Normal Summon.
Slash Draw	Hit in the TCG due to a highly-consistent FTK that used Danger! monsters and Saryuja Skull Dread to precisely hit the second copy of Slash Draw and destroy 4+ cards. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Spright Starter	Does what it says on the card. Usually searched by Spright Jet but can also summon that monster and trigger its search for a different Spright Spell/Trap. Via its Quick-Play Spell designation, it can also bring out Sprights more suited to disruption on the opposing turn. This card is currently Unlimited in the TCG.
Terraforming	Searches any Field Spell. Over time, new Field Spells have become integral to the themes they serve, acting as starters or extenders, thus, this card was bound to get hit.
WANTED: Seeker of Sinful Spoils	Searches Diabellstar the Black Witch, which in turn searches other Sinful Spoils cards in order to set up Snake-Eye plays. Also contains +1 Graveyard recursion effect that can be activated on the same turn. Limited to reduce consistency of the successful Snake-Eye engine in early 2024. This card is currently Unlimited in the TCG.

Currently Semi-Limited

Spell Card	Reason
Emergency Teleport	Summons a Level 3 or lower Psychic monster from the Main Deck, with no requirements on the user's board state. Banishment of the summon target is a non-factor as it often would be used as Tribute or material fodder. Originally Limited in order to hit the meta-defining Tele-DAD before eventually coming off, but put back to one after new targets for this card turned out to be effective extenders for meta decks (such as several Kozmo monsters and Super Quantum Blue Layer). This card is currently Unlimited in the TCG.
Foolish Burial Goods	Sets up any one Spell or Trap Card in its user's Graveyard from the Main Deck. With more and more non-monsters having Graveyard triggers to search and extend further, this card was bound to get hit despite having a once-per-turn restriction. Was likely hit in the OCG to reduce the consistency of Rainbow Bridge of Salvation, which has a double-search upon banishment. This card is currently Unlimited in the TCG.
Lightning Storm	A versatile board-breaker to open with going second, acting as either Raigeki or Harpie's Feather Duster. Condition on having no cards face-up limits its usability, but can still be a blowout (or, at the very least, contest negation bodies on the opposing board).
My Friend Purrely	Starter for the Purrely deck. Searches the Purrely Memory Quick-Play Spells, which are on-theme variations of One for One that do not cost card advantage due to the summon targets' own effects to search cards. This card is currently Unlimited in the TCG.
Pot of Desires	In several Decks, this is akin to a once-per-turn Pot of Greed. These include 60-card piles, Decks with multiple three-of's (since the chance of banishing all three is low), and Gren Maju Da Eiza beatdown variants that aim to profit off the ten banished cards. Also, unlike later Pot cards, doesn't restrict use of other draw effects for the rest of the turn. This card is currently Unlimited in the TCG.
Pot of Extravagance	In Decks that do not rely on summoning from the Extra Deck, this is akin to a once-per-turn Pot of Greed. This card is currently Unlimited in the TCG.
Purrely Delicious Memory	Themed One for One on a Spell Speed 2 effect, as with all Purrely Memory cards. Effect not truly a -1 due to the search targets' own effects to search cards. Specifically supported by Epurrely Plump, whose effect provides disruption while also making itself stronger if this card is material.
Raigeki	Banned between 2004 and 2015 (TCG)/2019 (OCG) due to its blowout nature. Almost always neutral-to-positive advantage for its user. Allowed to eventually come off the list due to more and more monsters either being immune to this card, able to negate it or simply float in response to destruction. This card is currently Unlimited in the TCG.
Super Polymerization	Was passable at the time of release due to most Fusion Monsters back then still having largely-specific material requirements and the discard cost required. Fusion Materials soon became more and more generic, such that this card became an unstoppable means of using up opposing monsters as a form of removal while also summoning a monster to its user's field, leading to it being banned in the TCG between 2015 and 2018. With eventual power creep resulting in end-boards full of boss monsters that can negate or are immune to destruction/targeting, this card was allowed to come off as a means of dealing with such end-boards, and is now currently Unlimited in the TCG. In the OCG, it was never banned, instead staying Limited for a long time before going to 2.

No longer on list (previously Forbidden)

Spell Card	Forbidden from	Forbidden to	Reason
Dark Hole	September 2004	September 2010	(Note: Was Limited between September 2005 and March 2006) Once considered a blowout card played like a second copy of Raigeki. Was allowed to come back to one copy owing to the general power creep of monsters, more of which were immune to destruction, could float upon destruction or even negate this card. A player could even use this card to destroy their own monsters for value if they had floating effects too. Fully came off by July 2019 as power creep continued.
Future Fusion	September 2012	March 2017	Originally sent Fusion Materials directly from the Main Deck to the Graveyard upon resolution before waiting two of its user's turns for the Fusion Summon. As Fusion Materials became more and more generic, this became a cheap means of setting up multiple monsters in the Graveyard for their effects. In 2017, it was unbanned after receiving an errata in which it delayed the sending of the monsters until its user's next Standby Phase, making the setup much more fragile. As a result, this card came off fully by February 2018.
Super Rejuvenation	September 2013	September 2019	(TCG only - OCG had only Limited this card at worst) Insanely-busted draw card that was impractical for most Decks until the Dragon Rulers arrived, all of which discarded themselves and another monster (usually Dragon-Type itself) for their own effects, as well as to make this card go live. Effect is not once-per-turn, so if a second copy was drawn into during the End Phase, it could immediately be activated to draw even more cards. Came off, straight into Unlimited, long after the Dragon Rulers themselves were made Forbidden.
Brain Control	September 2010	March 2017	Originally a slightly-worse Change of Heart that required paying Life Points and could only steal face-up monsters. Unbanned in 2017 after receiving an errata to its effect such that it can only steal monsters that can be Normal Summoned or Set, which reduced the chance of it being live due to most end-board monsters being Extra Deck-based. Came off fully by February 2018 as a result.
Dragon Ravine	January 2014	April 2015	(TCG only - OCG never hit this card) Banned in order to curb Dragon Rulers, which were still topping events at the time. Unbanned once the Dragon Rulers themselves were banned, but this card wasn't fully off the list until September 2017.
United We Stand	October 2005	March 2006	Forbidden for a single format. Back then, the metagame was still slow enough for any consistent and major ATK boost to convert into victories. Only came off fully by September 2010 once pure beatdown strategies stopped being considered good.
Wavering Eyes	April 2016	September 2017	(TCG only - OCG had only Limited this card at worst) Hugely-significant card in and against Pendulum Decks. Chainable and providing +2 advantage for its activator in three different scenarios. Came off, straight into Unlimited, one format into Master Rule 4 which nerfed the Pendulum mechanic in more ways than one and reduced its popularity.
Pot of Avarice	September 2013	January 2020	(TCG only - OCG had only Limited this card at worst) First Pot of Greed counterpart that was good. Setup required to activate it wasn't hard to come by. At its peak, was used to recycle Extra Deck-based resources while digging further into the Main Deck to keep loops going, such as the Wind-Up loop to completely deplete the opposing hand. Saw minimal play after being unbanned, and came off fully during the following format.
Rank-Up-Magic Argent Chaos Force	May 2018	March 2021	(TCG only - OCG never hit this card) Banned because it enabled easy access to Number S0: Utopic ZEXAL via that monster's summoning condition. Marshalling Field made it easy to search, though it could also be set up in the Graveyard via Foolish Burial Goods and other means before being added back to the hand by Xyz Summoning Number 39: Utopia Beyond. Came off once Number S0 itself was made Forbidden.
The Phantom Knights' Rank-Up-Magic Launch	January 2019	January 2020	(TCG only - OCG never hit this card) Banned because it enabled checkmate plays by summoning Outer Entity Azathot, D/D/D Duo-Dawn King Kali Yuga or True King of All Calamities on the opposing turn, and could be searched by The Phantom Knights of Rusty Bardiche. Came off once both Bardiche and Azathot were banned.
Temple of the Kings	September 2006	January 2015	(OCG only - TCG hit lasted from September 2010 to April 2015) Was similar to pre-errata Makyura the Destructor in that it allowed its activator to activate any number of Trap Cards during the turn they were Set, allowing them to FTK by various means. Unbanned after receiving an errata such that it only allowed activation of one Trap Card during the turn it was Set, per turn. As a result, came off fully during the following format.
Pestilence	February 2021	April 2021	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Banned for two months for what could only be a figurative reason - the world was under a pandemic at the time. This also coincided with the promotional campaign that distributed the card Amabie.
Spellbook of Judgment	September 2013	October 2022	(TCG only - OCG hit was between September 2013 and July 2022) Once considered a busted Spell Card for how well it supported the theme. It searches Spellbook Spell Cards for every Spell Card the player activates that turn after resolving this card, and summons a Spellcaster monster from that player's Main Deck whose Level is equal to or lower than the number of Spells activated. Often summoned Jowgen the Spiritualist on its user's own End Phase to lock Special Summons. Also highly searchable itself by many of its own search targets, as well as Spellbook Magician of Prophecy. Nowadays, this card is stopped by an ubiquitous hand trap, and waiting until the End Phase to add Spells is too slow. Fully came off the TCG list on January 2024.
Sky Striker Mobilize - Engage!	January 2020	July 2021	(TCG only - OCG had only Semi-Limited this card at worst) Essentially a better Pot of Greed for its theme, searching one card and drawing another if set up properly (which is easy to accomplish in Sky Striker). Eventually fully off in April 2024, long after Sky Striker fell off meta contention.

No longer on list (previously Limited at worst)

Spell Card	Limited from	Limited to	Reason
A Hero Lives	September 2018	February 2022	(TCG only - OCG hit lasted from October 2018 to April 2019. Also, in both the TCG and OCG, was Semi-Limited between September 2012 and September 2013) Summons a Level 4 or lower Elemental HERO straight from the Deck at a proportional Life Point cost. Easy to meet requirement of controlling no monsters, though makes it akin to a once-per-turn restriction. Limit coincided with unban of Elemental HERO Stratos, which made this card a +1 play without using up the Normal Summon. Came off fully in May 2022 after HERO Decks ended up not having the desired meta impact.
Advanced Ritual Art	March 2008	March 2013	Meant to hit the Demise OTK which was topping events at the time. Took three more years to fully come off the TCG list, only doing so in April 2016.
Allure of Darkness	March 2010	April 2016	(TCG only - OCG hit lasted from March 2010 to October 2015) Draw power for DARK Decks, especially those that could recover the banished card in some way. Non-DARK Decks could also use it to set up their Graveyard. Came off fully in August 2016 but put back to Semi-Limited in the OCG between January 2020 and April 2021 after Orcusts saw sustained success since release.
Black Whirlwind	September 2010	March 2013	Not-once-per-turn search for a Blackwing monster whenever its controller Normal Summons a Blackwing monster, though conditioned on the searched monster having less ATK than the Normal Summoned monster. Did not come off fully in the OCG until October 2015, long after Blackwing's dominance ended.
Book of Moon	March 2011	January 2020	(TCG only - OCG hit was between March 2011 and October 2015. Also, in both the TCG and OCG, was Limited between October 2005 and March 2008) Versatile Quick-Play Spell, useful for blocking an attack, resetting a Flip Effect, preventing (or even ensuring) an effect, and also preventing an opposing monster from being used for a Synchro/Xyz/Link Summon. Came off when the meta sped up such that it isn't enough for one copy to impact play.
Book of Taiyou	October 2005	April 2006	(TCG only - OCG never hit this card) Hit for one format to reduce the viability of Empty Jar. Came off on the next list that also banned Cyber Jar.
Burial from a Different Dimension	March 2010	September 2017	(OCG only - TCG hit was between March 2010 and July 2017) Recycles monsters with Graveyard triggers that involve banishing as cost, or banishing themselves after they are revived. Came off fully in September 2018 when most such monsters without once-per-turn restrictions (such as Plaguespreader Zombie) stopped seeing play.
Charge of the Light Brigade	March 2010	October 2015	(OCG only - TCG hit was between March 2010 and January 2015) Search card for Lightsworn that also sets up their Graveyard, thus boosting their consistency twofold. Did not come off fully until September 2017.
Destiny Draw	March 2010	September 2011	At the time it was hit, it had mainly been used to discard a Destiny HERO - Malicious searched by Elemental HERO Stratos, itself searched by Reinforcement of the Army or E - Emergency Call, for hyper-consistent Deck thinning. Came off fully in September 2012 to compensate for HERO being hit in other ways.
Dimensional Fissure	September 2013	December 2022	(TCG only - OCG never hit this card) Banishes monsters that would be sent to the Graveyard. While initially meant to bolster banish-heavy strategies, it would later be considered a floodgate against the opposing Graveyard, allowing the turn-one player to do their plays as usual involving the Graveyard before playing this card and denying their opponents the same benefit. Came off during a Tier 0 format in which turn-zero Graveyard plays were commonplace.
El Shaddoll Fusion	November 2015	September 2017	(TCG only - OCG hit was between April 2015 and October 2016) Quick-Play Spell that Fusion Summons a Shaddoll Fusion Monster; normally used in response to a Special Summon (or an effect that does so) to summon El Shaddoll Winda and block further Special Summons that turn, though can also be used conventionally to fuse monsters that have already attacked, for an additional attack in order to OTK. Fully came off in February 2018 after the meta had sufficiently left Shaddoll behind, with El Shaddoll Construct still Forbidden.
Fissure	September 2007	September 2009	Efficient one-for-one removal on a Normal Spell. Hit when Gadget Decks were at their prime; came off when they stopped being good (and more ways to stop this card had materialized).
Interrupted Kaiju Slumber	April 2017	October 2019	(OCG only - TCG hit was between September 2017 and January 2019) Dark Hole effect that also summoned two Kaiju monsters, one to each side. Restrictions placed on either monster didn't matter - the Kaiju summoned to its owner's field could be used as material for a summon, while other extenders would be able to remove the opposing Kaiju in other ways. Also doubles as a free Kaiju search if its user got another turn. Came off fully in January 2020 when Kaiju's stopped being meta-relevant.
Megamorph	September 2007	March 2011	Capable of manifesting OTKs while at a Life Point disadvantage (and could even be used while at more Life Points, by equipping it to an opposing monster and weakening it). Came off fully in September 2011 as the meta was no longer kind to ATK-gaining effects, especially those on Equip Spells.
Mystical Space Typhoon	October 2004	September 2010	Was the next best backrow remover after Harpie's Feather Duster was banned and Heavy Storm also Limited. Quick-Play Spell designation allowed for interaction on opposing turns, usually in response to their own targeted backrow removers. Came off fully in September 2011 as the meta picked up speed.
Nekroz Cycle	April 2015	July 2019	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Key Nekroz Ritual Spell, capable of Ritual Summoning from the hand or Graveyard. Can be searched by the Graveyard effects of Nekroz Ritual Spells including its own. Hit during the dominance of Nekroz in the meta, came off fully in October 2019, long after they stopped seeing play.
Nobleman of Crossout	September 2004	September 2008	(Note: was Semi-Limited between September 2007 and March 2008) Hit at the height of Goat Format. Was key anti-support for Flip monsters back when they were mostly good-to-broken. Came off fully in March 2009 when the meta became fast enough to discourage Setting one monster and passing.
Overload Fusion	March 2007	March 2011	Was the easiest way to access Chimeratech Overdragon, a monster often summoned with 8 or more materials for an OTK. Came off fully in September 2011 when there was enough counterplay against single-attack beatdown in general.
Pantheism of the Monarchs	August 2016	September 2020	(TCG only - OCG hit was between April 2016 and January 2018) Graveyard effect can set up activated effect by searching other copies of itself. Combos well with Tenacity of the Monarchs and The Prime Monarch, leading to hyper-consistent Monarch plays. Played a key role in the FTK involving Chicken Game, but was hit after Chicken Game was banned. Came off directly from Limited long after Monarchs faded from the meta.
Pendulum Call	April 2016	July 2021	(OCG only - TCG hit was between August 2016 and June 2017) Key searcher for Pendulum Magicians. At the cost of a discard, it sets up the scales for a Pendulum Summon. Activation clause does not prevent the searched monsters' Pendulum Effects from being activated, unless they would destroy themselves. Prevention of destruction for the duration stated all-but-guarantees two Pendulum Summons with the searched monsters over the course of the Duel. Came off fully in October 2021, long after its theme fell out of meta contention.
Preparation of Rites	January 2015	July 2017	(OCG only - TCG hit was between April 2015 and September 2017) Hit to reduce the consistency of Nekroz - this card searched most of their Ritual Monsters and recycled all their Ritual Spells. Came off fully in February 2018 after Nekroz had sufficiently dropped off.
Red-Eyes Fusion	April 2020	October 2020	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Was a desperate attempt to balance access to Red-Eyes Dark Dragoon while Predaplant Verte Anaconda was still playable. They eventually settled with banning Dragoon, letting this card come off at the same time.
Royal Tribute	September 2013	July 2019	(TCG only - OCG had only Semi-Limited this card at worst) Though requiring a specific card, can potentially destroy an entire hand on turn one (with that specific card also preventing any grave triggers of the discarded cards). Fell out of favor when a new ruling no longer required players to check each others' hands to verify effects such as this one, and came off fully in October 2019.
Sacred Sword of Seven Stars	January 2014	April 2015	(TCG only - OCG hit was between February 2014 and April 2014) Hyper-consistent draw Spell for Dragon Rulers, since they are Level 7 and their search effects trigger upon banishment. Came off the TCG list once all of them were banned.
Sky Striker Mecha Modules - Multirole	July 2019	June 2023	(TCG only - OCG had only Semi-Limited this card at worst) Sky Striker equivalent of Spellbook of Judgment, easily recovering the advantage lost from activating on-theme Spells. Its other effect, though -1, removes clutter from its user's Main Monster Zone and enables uninterrupted Spell activations. Came off the list in anticipation of new Sky Striker support.
Smashing Ground	September 2007	March 2010	Efficient one-for-one removal on a Normal Spell. Hit when Gadget Decks were at their prime; came off when they stopped being good (and more ways to stop this card had materialized).
Salamangreat Circle	July 2019	February 2022	(TCG only - OCG had only Semi-Limited this card at worst) Searcher for Salamangreat with the alternative effect to protect a Reincarnation Link Summoned Salamangreat from opposing monster effects. Easily a consistency card for the theme despite its once-per-turn restriction. Came off fully in May 2022 with Salamangreat no longer deemed a meta threat.
Saqlifice	April 2015	February 2018	(TCG only - OCG hit was between April 2015 and July 2017) Qli search card (specifically for its monsters) that can be searched via Hidden Armory. Triggers even when sent without being equipped, though generally sees more use for its other effect to enable a Qli Double Tribute off of a single Qli, usually Qliphort Disk to subsequently OTK. Came off during Master Rule 4 when all Pendulum themes, including Qli, had been nerfed.
Spellbook of Fate	January 2014	November 2015	(TCG only - OCG never hit this card) Highly-searchable Quick-Play Spell mainly used to interact via the second or third effect, either flipping an opposing monster face-down or banishing it (neither effect targets). Second effect can also recycle Spellbook Magician of Prophecy's effect for another search.
Spellbook of Secrets	October 2017	April 2018	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Hit long after its debut, in order to curb a draw engine that formed via this card, Spellbook Magician of Prophecy and the new Spellbook of Knowledge. Came off in favor of hitting Knowledge instead.
Spellbook of Knowledge	April 2018	January 2019	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Hit in place of Spellbook of Secrets, which it combined with Spellbook Magician of Prophecy for a draw engine in Spellcaster Decks, especially Altergeist and Pendulum Magicians at the time. Came off fully in July 2019 when both themes were sufficiently hit by other banlist movements.
SPYRAL Resort	February 2018	February 2023	(TCG only - OCG hit was between February 2018 and October 2019) Field Spell that searches a SPYRAL monster on a soft once-per-turn effect, while also giving targeting protection (from opposing cards) to its controller's other on-field SPYRAL cards. Easy to loop via Ancient Fairy Dragon, which was subsequently banned, then given an errata so that it can only loop this card once (via Pseudo Space).
Swords of Revealing Light	May 2002	September 2011	(OCG only - TCG hit was between December 2002 and September 2011. Also was Limited for one OCG format between November 2000 and January 2001) Prevents opponents from attacking for three of their turns, while not preventing its controller from attacking. Can be reused in several ways, most notably Giant Trunade (now Forbidden). Came off fully in September 2012 with enough monster-based spot removal around to ensure this card doesn't last. It can also be circumvented by monsters immune to Spell Cards.
Symbol of Heritage	April 2015	July 2021	(TCG only - OCG hit was between January 2015 and April 2020) Essentially a watered-down Premature Burial - more stringent activation requirement, but can be looped by returning it to the hand via pre-errata Dewloren, Tiger King of the Ice Barrier and similar cards. Hit when Lonefire Blossom becoming Unlimited as well as the metagame's general speed made it easy to fulfill the activation requirement. Did not come off until after Dewloren received its errata to no longer be able to loop this card.
The Beginning of the End	January 2020	April 2022	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) +2 draw Spell for DARK Decks. Seemingly-daunting activation requirement easily met by Danger!, Orcust, The Phantom Knights and other DARK themes. Came off fully in July 2022 when such Decks faded from meta relevance.
True Draco Heritage	October 2017	April 2018	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Searchable Draw Spell for True Draco and True King that also facilitates on-theme Tribute Summons. Came off fully in July 2018 after the theme had fallen off sufficiently.
The Monarchs Stormforth	August 2016	January 2019	(TCG only - OCG never hit this card) Searchable means of enabling Tribute Summons by Tributing opposing monsters. Unbricks a Monarch hand, gets around immunity to destruction and targeting, and becomes an advantage play when combined with the Tribute Summoned monster's own effect. Came off directly from Limited long after Monarchs faded from the meta.
Union Hangar	April 2020	July 2021	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card. Also Limited between January 2017 and July 2017) Hit whenever ABC-Dragon Buster saw frequent usage, in order to reduce the consistency of making said monster.
Shien's Smoke Signal	September 2011	March 2012	Hit at the height of Six Samurai's dominance, forcing them to settle with just two search Spells for one format. Did not fully come off until March 2013.
Mage Power	January 2002	March 2008	(OCG only - TCG hit was between April 2003 and March 2008) Substantial stat buff for a monster equipped with multiple copies of this card (and even at one copy, was easy to make this card buff as much as possible). Came off fully in September 2008 when beatdown was no longer dominant (and Equip Spells became more than easy to play around).
Limiter Removal	January 2001	April 2019	(OCG only - TCG hit was between December 2002 and May 2018) Battle trick for Machine monsters, doubling the ATK of all such on the user's field. Easy to grab OTKs with, even against an established board, especially if multiple copies are used (or if the affected monsters are able to attack multiple times). Came off fully in October 2019 once power creep had reached the point where stat-boosting effects no longer mattered.
Magical Stone Excavation	March 2006	March 2008	(OCG only - TCG hit was between June 2007 and March 2008) Key card in Diamond Dude Turbo Decks, which often used this card via Destiny HERO - Diamond Dude to recycle a Spell without having to discard two cards. Also key in Empty Jar and other deep draw FTKs. Was Semi-Limited for a long time afterwards, not coming off the OCG list until October 2015.
Scapegoat	September 2005	September 2013	Had two stints at Limited, the first being due to its widespread use in Goat Control Decks and as an attack blocker, before then facilitating Synchro plays. Second stint was in the TCG only between January 2019 and May 2022 to limit Link spam using the tokens summoned; it came off due to the subsequent summon restriction making it too slow for Link spam in general.
Sky Striker Mecha - Widow Anchor	October 2019	April 2020	(TCG only - OCG had only Semi-Limited this card at worst) Two potential disruptions in one card - negates a targeted monster's effect and potentially gives this card's user control of that monster, all for the requirement to control no monsters in the Main Monster Zones. Was fully off the TCG list in October 2020. However, in the OCG, it was Semi-Limited for longer, between October 2018 and October 2022.
Lightning Vortex	March 2005	September 2006	Having banned Dark Hole and Raigeki one format earlier, they went after the next-best mass monster remover in this card. However, this may be due to the fact that pre-errata Sinister Serpent and Night Assailant were still playable; the latter at more than one copy so that cards with singular discard costs essentially had no cost. Both were hit accordingly in the following format, but this card stayed hit for another two formats before coming off entirely.
Level Limit - Area B	March 2006	March 2012	Essentially a stall card, for it keeps Level 4 or higher monsters in Defense Position and prevents them from attacking. Came off fully in September 2012 - by then, there was enough spot removal to ensure this card didn't last, let alone the fact that Xyz Monsters are immune to it.
Domain of the True Monarchs	April 2016	October 2016	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Locks the opposing Extra Deck while also facilitating its theme's Tribute Summons. However, the Extra Deck lock is conditioned on its controller also controlling a Tribute Summoned monster while having no Extra Deck of their own, making it easy to interrupt by removing either this card or the Tribute Summoned monster. The meta adapted, and this card came off fully in October 2017.
Dragon Shrine	July 2014	October 2015	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Sets up a Dragon monster in the Graveyard from the Main Deck, two if one of them is a Normal Monster or Gemini monster. Meant to hit Dragon Rulers but they themselves were banned a few formats later. Did not fully come off until April 2016.
Draco Face-Off	April 2016	June 2023	(TCG only - OCG hit was between April 2016 and October 2019) Searcher for Dracoslayer and Dracoverlord. All Pendulum Monsters of both archetypes are Level 4 with Pendulum Scales that are not 4, enabling easy Pendulum Summoning of the card that wasn't chosen. Quick-Play Spell designation allows it to extend Battle Phases. Came off due to a lack of Dracoslayer in the meta, while Pendulums remain nerfed under Master Rule 5.
Rekindling	April 2014	July 2019	(TCG only - OCG never hit this card) Special Summons any number of FIRE monsters with 200 DEF from its user's Graveyard. Banishment often avoided by using the revived monsters as Tribute fodder or material, and unlike Soul Charge, doesn't cost Life Points and allows attacking on the same turn. Multiple FIRE themes have 200 DEF monsters just to be supported by this card and the less-splashable Flamvell Counter. Came off two formats after Soul Charge was banned, and the aforementioned FIRE themes no longer seeing meta contention (except Salamangreat, which typically use only a single 200 DEF monster).
Nadir Servant	February 2021	April 2023	(OCG only - TCG had only Semi-Limited this card at worst) Sends any one monster from the Extra Deck to the Graveyard to search a Dogmatika monster, at the cost of locking out summons from said Extra Deck until its user's next turn. Usually sets up Ritual Summons with the searched monster by sending Herald of the Arc Light, or can enable the summon of several on-theme monsters. Fully off the list in July 2023, long after Dogmatika fell out of meta contention.
Fire Formation - Tenki	October 2021	May 2022	(TCG only - OCG hit was between January 2017 and April 2017) Searcher for Beast-Warrior monsters, seeing heavy play whenever a Beast-Warrior theme is meta (Fire Fist, Lunalight, Zoodiac, Tri-Brigade). Though a Continuous Spell, its key search effect cannot be stopped by Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit. Fully off the OCG list as of July 2023, having been Semi-Limited since July 2021.
Trickstar Light Stage	July 2019	May 2022	(TCG only - OCG hit was between April 2020 and January 2023) Consistency Field Spell for Trickstar, searching their monsters including one that triggers another search. Search effect is not once-per-turn, allowing for cycling through all copies of this card in the Main Deck via pre-errata Ancient Fairy Dragon. Also doubles the rate at which Trickstars inflict damage, and can lock Set backrow (though only one Set card at a time). Fully off the OCG list as of October 2023.
Mind Control	September 2009	February 2018	(TCG only - OCG hit was between September 2009 and October 2015. Also was Limited in the TCG between April 2020 and January 2024) Mostly a worse Change of Heart. Was initially Limited after its own restrictions could easily be sidestepped by the new Synchro mechanic. Slowly dropped off the list as the meta sped up and more end-board monsters were able to avoid this card through immunity or negation. However, the TCG put it back to one copy at the turn of Master Rule 5, only taking it off after a recent unbanning of Change of Heart failed to impact the meta.
Upstart Goblin	April 2016	January 2024	(TCG only - OCG had only Semi-Limited this card at worst. Also, in the TCG, was Limited betwen October 2002 and April 2005) Immediately made Limited weeks after TCG release, in line with Pot of Greed. Fully off in March 2007, one format after Pot of Greed was banned. Hit once again after a consistent FTK that cycled through this card alongside Chicken Game to quickly get to Life Equalizer and Magical Explosion. Stayed Limited after Chicken Game was banned, due to the hyper-consistent plays enabled by two extra draws a turn regardless of the Life Points each copy would have given the opponent. Now fully off again long after new time rules that discouraged giving opponents Life Points, and a renewed focus on opening with the correct hand due to the prevalence of hand traps.
Floowandereeze and the Magnificent Map	October 2022	October 2023	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Gives added Normal Summons to a theme that cannot Special Summon. Indirect search for a Floowandereeze monster due to the banishment effect - a banished Level 1 Floowandereeze monster can be added to the hand when a Winged Beast monster is Normal Summoned (by this card itself). Hit in the OCG due to consistent success of Floowandereeze, often using this card to search Floowandereeze & Robina, and in turn, Barrier Statue of the Stormwinds to stun opposing plays. But with Stormwinds banned one format later, Floowandereeze fell off quickly. Fully off the OCG list as of January 2024.
Rite of Aramesir	April 2022	January 2023	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Key starter for the Adventurer engine. Summons the token that is central to their plays, and sets up the Spell that searches the rest of the theme. Fully off the OCG list as of April 2024.

No longer on list (previously Semi-Limited at worst)

Spell Card	Semi-Limited from	Semi-Limited to	Reason
Creature Swap	January 2003	March 2008	(OCG only - TCG hit was between July 2003 and March 2008) Non-targeting control switch; user of this card gains permanent control of an opposing monster in exchange for one of their monsters going to the other side. Monsters given away are of each player's choice, but one can easily set up the board state where the opposing player is forced to give up a strong monster. Came off once sufficient removal options were added.
Cursed Eldland	January 2021	April 2023	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Consistency card for Eldlich, searching Eldlich the Golden Lord or the Golden Land Traps. Eldlich the Golden Lord also effectively revives itself by sending this card from the field to the Graveyard, setting up a Golden Land card's effect to search an Eldlixir card, two of which can be played on the opposing turn. Came off when Eldlich disappeared from OCG representation.
E - Emergency Call	September 2012	September 2013	Searcher for Elemental HERO, which extends to search any HERO via Elemental HERO Stratos. Hit to reduce consistency of HERO Decks which were topping events at the time.
Emergency Provisions	March 2005	September 2006	Strange hit. Had been used in combos with Mirage of Nightmare and Good Goblin Housekeeping, but Mirage of Nightmare was banned at the same time this card was hit, and the chances of opening with all three copies of Good Goblin Housekeeping were slim. Came off while Good Goblin Housekeeping was still Semi-Limited.
Fossil Dig	October 2017	January 2021	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Searcher for Dinosaur; no hard-once-per-turn restriction, meaning no bricking on multiple copies. At the time it was hit, True King-Dinosaur builds were topping events.
Gravekeeper's Servant	July 2000	January 2001	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Usually combined with Banisher of the Light to prevent opponents from attacking, in a format without easily-accessible backrow removal. Came off once sufficient counterplay was made available.
Hieratic Seal of Convocation	September 2012	January 2015	(OCG only - TCG hits were between September 2012 and September 2013, then between April 2014 and April 2015) Searcher for Hieratic; no hard-once-per-turn restriction, meaning no bricking on multiple copies. At the times it was hit, Hieratic engines were topping events.
Magical Meltdown	January 2021	October 2022	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Searches Aleister the Invoker who in turn searches Invocation; also ensures that its controller's Fusion Summons cannot be stopped. Hit due to consistent 1-card Invoked plays at the time; came off once Invoked had sufficiently faded from the meta.
Memories of Hope	October 2020	April 2022	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Hit due to Numeron Calling (via Numeron Network) easily enabling a +3 off of this card. Came off when Numeron Calling faded from the meta.
Pot of Duality	September 2012	September 2013	Excavates the top three cards of the Main Deck and adds one of them to the hand. Special Summoning restriction bypassed by several Decks that do not Special Summon (often or even at all). Came off when such Decks stopped seeing meta representation.
Riryoku	January 2001	April 2003	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Allows any one monster to beat over any one other monster. Hit at the time due to limited effect-based removal; came off when such removal became more widespread (and preferable).
Swordsoul Emergence	January 2022	July 2022	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Consistency card for Swordsouls; often searches Swordsoul of Taia to enable a 1-card Level 7, 8 or 9 Synchro Monster. Hit for two formats after the success of Swordsouls in the OCG.

Trap Cards

Currently Forbidden

Trap Card	Reason
Appointer of the Red Lotus	Banned for the same reasons as Trap Dustshoot, the card it was supposed to replace. Meta is now too fast for its drawbacks to be relevant; a turn-one player can go through their combo as usual leaving only a single card in hand by the end of it, allowing this card to see the opposing hand and snipe off their best possible response. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Branded Expulsion	Highly-searchable interruption; even though it summons a monster to both fields, the monster summoned to the opposing field would have an effect that floodgates its controller (such as Gimmick Puppet Nightmare, Ra's Disciple, D/D Orthros, Ido the Supreme Magical Force etc.), and all such monsters can be set up directly from the Main Deck via Branded Fusion. Although Albion the Sanctifire Dragon can do the same thing, it is a monster with several more points of interaction that an opponent can use against, and cannot summon from banishment. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Imperial Order	Straightforward floodgate on all Spells on the field, either their activations or their effects while already on the field. Usually checkmates the opponent if opened alongside Skill Drain. Already unfair on its own because its user can activate Spells on the turn they Set this card, and an errata did not curb its power level. Was Forbidden before the errata, which turned the optional Life Point cost into a mandatory one and applied it to both players' Standby Phases, but now that Duels are won before the fourth turn, this stopped mattering.
Last Turn	Banned because of a loophole in its effect, which can be used to target a monster whose effect blocks Special Summons (Jowgen the Spiritualist at the time of its ban), winning the Duel for its user. Activation requirements made easy to meet via Wall of Revealing Light.
Life Equalizer	Key component of Magical Explosion FTK. Chicken Game and Upstart Goblin easily set up the LP differential required to activate this card as soon as the turn is passed, allowing the follow-up Magical Explosion to finish the opponent off. This card is currently Unlimited in the TCG, due to them banning Chicken Game instead.
Magical Explosion	An FTK centered around this card has a high success rate even at one copy, due to Chicken Game and Life Equalizer. Easy to fill up the Graveyard with many deep draw Spell Cards, minimum 15 for Life Equalizer followed by this card. Currently Limited in the TCG, due to them banning Chicken Game instead.
Red Reboot	Completely shuts off all Trap-based Decks on a lingering effect that lasts the turn. Can be activated from the hand at the cost of Life Points, allowing it to answer other Traps that can be activated without Setting them (Infinite Impermanence and Evenly Matched among others). As a Counter Trap Card, has few ways of being stopped if activated. This card is currently Limited in the OCG.
Return from the Different Dimension	Slower Dimension Fusion that was made Limited at the time Dimension Fusion was made Forbidden. Blowout if activated on its user's turn, since the revived monsters can just be used to make more monsters (such as Synchro Monsters at the time) before they get banished again. Became busted even on opposing turns when the Dragon Rulers arrived, for they all had effects that activated upon banishment.
Royal Oppression	At the time of release, this card was passable because Special Summons were rare. Now that Special Summons are routine in every meta, this becomes checkmate when activated, because nothing stopped its user from Special Summoning before flipping this card over. Some Decks even exploit the "no Damage Step" ruling on this card. Solemn Warning, itself Limited over the years, was designed to be a one-off version of this card with a higher activation cost.
Self-Destruct Button	Banned on principle. Easy to enable via Wall of Revealing Light and similar cards, and while it cannot win a Duel, it can help win a Match by following up the first won Duel with two drawn Duels and ensuring progression. Was also abused for dragging tournaments over allocated time limits. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Sixth Sense	Busted gamble card. Win-win regardless of die-roll result (its activator either draws cards or mills off the top of their Main Deck), and the Trap Card designation did not slow it down. Late addition to the TCG; had to be emergency-banned after a month of being playable.
Summon Limit	Initially tolerated on release since most decks didn't rely on multi-summon combos. Now considered too unhealthy for the game, especially after the banning of Royal Oppression and Vanity's Emptiness. As with other floodgate Continuous Traps, allows the player going first to do what the turn-two player cannot under the floodgate. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Trap Dustshoot	Normal Trap version of The Forceful Sentry, yet banned for the same reasons as the card it replaced. Activation restrictions are moot for the turn-one player opening this card; they gain knowledge of their opponent's hand and can usually make them lose a card, making it no different to The Forceful Sentry.
Ultimate Offering	Not-once-per-turn effect to Normal Summon at the cost of 500 Life Points. Its activation restrictions were passable during a slower format. Became busted with the introduction of more and more +1 Normal Summons. Unlikely to come off despite its fragility in the modern metagame, now that Ultimeat Offering has been designed to replace it.
Vanity's Emptiness	Blanket floodgate on Special Summons. Originally passable due to the slower metagame and the ease of shutting it off (by simply activating a Spell Card), but as the meta picked up speed, it became unfair for the turn-one player with access to Special Summons, to deny them to the turn-two player. Can be prolonged by banish floodgates such as Macro Cosmos, or by controlling Pendulum Monsters since they don't go to the Graveyard from the field.

Currently Limited

Trap Card	Reason
Anti-Spell Fragrance	Worse Imperial Order, but works in a similar way by preventing Spells from being activated from the hand, and preventing Set Spell Cards from being activated on the turn they are set. Tolerated upon release when the metagame was slow, now is frowned upon for preventing the turn-two player from doing what the turn-one player can do. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Gozen Match	With the speed of the meta as it is currently, floodgates on field presence become frustrating to play against, especially those that the turn-one player has access to. A player going second can lose on the spot if they are reliant on summons to access their removal tools, and one of these cards are flipped on them, preventing specific summons in subtle ways that a new player may not immediately understand. In the OCG, Gozen Match is currently Unlimited.
Rivalry of Warlords
There Can Be Only One
Naturia Sacred Tree	Consistency card for Naturia, now easily triggered by dumping it directly from the Main Deck via either Foolish Burial Goods or Naturia Camellia. Naturia-Runick builds were topping events at the time of this card's TCG hit. This card is currently Unlimited in the OCG.
Skill Drain	Floodgate that stops many but not all monster effects. Often employed by Decks whose monster effects are not on-field activations, or whose on-field effects were considered "negative". This card is currently Unlimited in the TCG, though for a very long time, was Limited in the TCG while Unlimited in the OCG.
Time Seal	Once formed a Draw Phase lock alongside Tsukuyomi and Mask of Darkness. Now, the meta is too fast to attempt this lock, since it does not skip a Draw Phase until three turns after it is Set.
Trickstar Reincarnation	One-sided Card Destruction on a Normal Trap that banishes the opposing hand instead of discarding it. Often used in tandem with Droll & Lock Bird (chaining the latter card) to leave an opponent empty-handed. Searchable by Trickstar Candina. Also not once-per-turn, potentially letting multiple copies played at once, deck out the opponent. This card is currently Unlimited in the TCG.

Currently Semi-Limited

Trap Card

Reason

Big Welcome Labrynth

Huge consistency boost for Labrynth - summons a Labrynth monster from the hand, Deck or GY then bounces one of its user's monsters. This essentially summons one of two differently-named Labrynth monsters for free while enabling the "furniture" Labrynth monsters to return to the hand or Special Summon themselves, enabling their Quick Effects. GY effect easily set up on-theme to act as disruption. This card is currently Unlimited in the TCG.

No longer on list (previously Forbidden)

Trap Card	Forbidden from	Forbidden to	Reason
Mirror Force	September 2004	March 2006	(Note: Was Limited between March 2005 and September 2005) Though entirely reactive, it was at the time one of few ways to blow up multiple monsters on the opposing turn, and in a slower format, was sometimes more impactful than even Raigeki. Battle traps soon became easier to deal with before entering the Battle Phase, such that this card was completely off both lists in July 2014.
Call of the Haunted	March 2008	September 2009	Generic reviver on a Continuous Trap Card (thus can be stopped by backrow removal chained to it). Ban was generally unwarranted due to not being faster than Premature Burial and Monster Reborn. Came off fully by March 2012 when it was established that players would not need to run three copies of it anyway.
Crush Card Virus	September 2009	January 2015	Pre-errata, it was a blowout card against most Decks. Eligible Tributes were easy to come by, and it was easy to regain advantage by destroying three or more opposing monsters. Errata coincided with an upcoming product release that required this card to summon a monster whose effect was the same as this card's pre-errata. After the errata, while it still rids the opposing hand and field of strong monsters, it no longer checked cards the opponent drew, while also giving them free Graveyard setup and preventing them from taking damage for the next two turns.
Ring of Destruction	October 2005	April 2015	(TCG only - OCG hit was between September 2005 and January 2015. Also, in both the TCG and OCG, was Limited between September 2006 and September 2007) Was once a strategic Duel winner, normally to scrape a win while still at a Life Point advantage. If not, it at least had the potential to end Duels tied, causing this card to also be banned on principle. Came back to Limited after receiving an errata so that it no longer causes a draw; it only inflicts damage based on original ATK and can only destroy opposing monsters on opposing turns. Even then, it did not fully come off until January 2019.
Exchange of the Spirit	March 2006	April 2015	(TCG only - OCG hit was between March 2006 to January 2015) Swapped both players' Main Decks with their Graveyards. Initially, only this card's user needed to have the requisite Graveyard setup; this made it possible to FTK by causing a deck-out. Unbanned after receiving an errata where both players have to have 15 cards in their Graveyard, and the effect is once-per-Duel. This was enough to have this card off both lists during the following format.
Solemn Judgment	September 2013	February 2018	(TCG only - OCG had only Limited this card at worst) Counter Trap that negates virtually any opposing activation or summon, with a proportional LP cost meaning that it can always be played. At the time of its ban, it was a high-impact card that could turn the Duel in its user's favor. Had minimal impact after being unbanned in the TCG, and was off both lists altogether in July 2019.

No longer on list (previously Limited at worst)

Trap Card	Limited from	Limited to	Reason
Trap Hole	July 1999	February 2000	Was one of three cards in the first ever (Konami) OCG Limited list. At the time, no cards could be negated, while the majority of monsters with 1000 or more ATK that could be Normal Summoned, required a Tribute to do so. Came off as soon as counterplay was established, and 1000+ ATK Level 4 or lower monsters became widespread.
Backup Soldier	January 2001	May 2001	(OCG only - TCG had only Semi-Limited this card at worst) At the time it was hit, Exodia Turbo Decks were topping events. Came off fully in April 2003 after it was established that Painful Choice was the more problematic card.
Mind Crush	March 2007	September 2011	Able to interrupt opposing attempts to search or recover cards, by declaring the card just added to the hand. Was also capable of following up Trap Dustshoot and later Appointer of the Red Lotus, which revealed the opposing hand, to further snipe cards away from it. Some Decks were able to mitigate this card's supposed drawback. Came off fully in March 2013 when it was established that players would not need to run three copies of it anyway.
Magic Cylinder	January 2001	September 2010	(OCG only - TCG hit was between April 2003 and September 2010) The ultimate turnaround card, intended to punish opponents for making too big a monster. Easily played around by swarming a field with multiple monsters and attacking with the weakest first, let alone the ease of access to spot removal. Came off fully in September 2012 as a result.
Ceasefire	January 2001	January 2019	(OCG only - TCG hit was between April 2003 and October 2014) Chainable, not-once-per-turn, burn Trap with the potential to OTK at two or three copies. Came off fully in July 2019 when Chain Burn Decks no longer topped events.
Torrential Tribute	September 2004	February 2018	(TCG only - OCG hit was between September 2004 and March 2012) Another turnaround card similar to Mirror Force, though requires a bit more skill to make the most advantage out of. However, it is generally not chainable, so it declined in usage as power creep rose. It was already fully off the OCG list in April 2014.
The Transmigration Prophecy	September 2007	October 2015	(OCG only - TCG hit was between September 2007 and October 2014) In a slower format, this card at multiple copies would be able to return other copies of itself to the Main Deck, thus also being able to loop another card alongside, making it perfect for stall Decks. Came off when the meta became too fast for it.
Bottomless Trap Hole	September 2013	February 2018	(TCG only - OCG had only Semi-Limited this card at worst) Destroys and banishes a monster (or monsters) upon Normal or Special Summon. At least a 1-for-1 trade depending on the number of monsters summoned, but isn't chainable except to effects that activate upon summon, so its usage declined steadily as the metagame picked up speed, and it came off the list accordingly.
Compulsory Evacuation Device	September 2013	May 2018	(TCG only - OCG never hit this card) Returns a targeted monster to the hand. If targeting a monster summoned from the Extra Deck, it becomes 1-for-1 removal that avoids most floating triggers. Also effective against Tribute Summoned monsters, and can even save its user's monsters depending on how easy they are to re-summon. Came off when the meta picked up speed.
Solemn Warning	March 2013	January 2020	(TCG only - OCG hit was between March 2013 and January 2018) Meant to be a one-off Royal Oppression that also hit Normal Summons. Effective enough to already be Semi-Limited before Royal Oppression got banned. Came off when the meta picked up speed.
Deck Devastation Virus	March 2005	March 2006	Easy to meet the Tribute cost in most DARK themes. Effect hits most play-starters and extenders; however, it may trigger floating effects to search or summon other monsters, and these aren't affected by this card.
Eradicator Epidemic Virus	September 2013	January 2019	(TCG only - OCG never hit this card) Initially deemed impractical due to the Tribute cost required, but this eased over time, such that being able to resolve two copies becomes almost like summoning two Number 16: Shock Master and calling Spell or Trap for each one. Most Spells and Traps lacked floating effects at the time, and were more difficult to recover. However, this card has been allowed to come off the list during a much faster metagame.
Wall of Revealing Light	September 2007	May 2022	(TCG only - OCG hit was between September 2007 and July 2016) Initially hit for being a one-sided attack lock that also lets its user choose how many Life Points they pay (and thus, how strong the monsters stopped by this card are). Despite more-accessible spot removal making this card more fragile over time, it remained on the list due to new applications of paying almost all the user's Life Points, usually for Reversal Quiz and Hope for Escape. Came off long after the aforementioned strategies stopped being viable.
Reckless Greed	May 2002	September 2006	(OCG only - TCG hit was between August 2003 and September 2006) Trap Card version of Pot of Greed that also skips the user's next two Draw Phases. Began coming off the list right after Pot of Greed was banned; in March 2008 the meta became fast enough for this card to come off fully.
Ojama Trio	March 2008	September 2010	Summons three tokens to the opposing field that cannot be Tributed for Tribute Summons, thus interfering with plays. Mainly used in Burn Decks to increase the burn of Just Desserts, Secret Barrel and Thunder Short. Also enables OTKs alongside a multi-attacking monster and either Final Attack Orders or Level Limit - Area A. Remained Semi-Limited for a long time since, despite the introduction of Synchro Monsters that can use the tokens as non-Tuner material. Did not fully come off in the TCG until February 2018, several formats into Link Summoning (which can remove the tokens without needing any other Main Deck monsters).
Drop Off	March 2006	September 2006	Was Limited on the same list that banned Time Seal, before dropping off one format later when it was realized that repeating the effect to discard a drawn card doesn't lock down as unfairly as Time Seal does because of Graveyard triggers and interactions. Also, Drop Off can't chain in response to any other card, making it less versatile overall.
True King's Return	September 2017	December 2020	(TCG only - OCG hit was between October 2017 and October 2018) On-theme Call of the Haunted that revives an on-theme monster, then, immediately enables a Tribute Summon using itself and the revived monster as Tributes, allowing for further disruption via this card's floating effect. Can be placed face-up directly from the Main Deck via Dinomight Knight, the True Dracofighter, allowing for turn-one uses of this card. Came off long after True Draco stopped seeing meta representation.
Soul Drain	September 2013	January 2020	(TCG only - OCG never hit this card) Prevents effect activations of monsters that are banished or in the Graveyard. Similar to other floodgates, can be unfair for the turn-two player to be denied access to plays the turn-one player had access to. However, Macro Cosmos was generally considered superior; as a result, this card saw less play and came off earlier.
Macro Cosmos	September 2013	December 2022	(TCG only - OCG never hit this card) Banishes any card that would be sent to the Graveyard. Ended up being a floodgate card like Dimensional Fissure that gave many Decks no chance if they went second and this card was played against them. Came off during a Tier 0 format in which turn-zero Graveyard plays were commonplace.
Metaverse	July 2019	December 2022	(TCG only - OCG hit was between July 2019 and January 2022) Was the premier way to bring Mystic Mine, the most oppressive Field Spell in history, into play at the time, since it couldn't viably be activated going first. Came off on the same list that banned Mystic Mine.
Gravity Bind	September 2006	September 2011	Stops Level 4 or higher monsters from attacking, making it a pure stall card. Came off one format into the Xyz era, in which Xyz Monsters bypassed this card's effect and could still attack.
Geargiagear	July 2014	November 2015	(TCG only - OCG never hit this card) Summons two Geargiano monsters from the Main Deck and raises their Levels by 1, setting up Rank 4 Xyz plays. Though a Trap Card, was still an advantage play regardless. Hit due to top representation of Geargia at TCG events, as well as to pre-emptively neuter the to-be-released Geargiano Mk-III, which can be summoned by this card and in turn summon another Geargia monster from the hand or Graveyard. Came off several months after Geargia fell off meta contention.
Abyss-sphere	September 2013	July 2014	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Chainable Continuous Trap that often summoned Mermail Abysslinde from the Main Deck in response to removal attempts; removal would then destroy Abysslinde to summon any other Mermail from the Main Deck. If not threatened with removal, can itself summon any other Mermail from the Main Deck regardless, usually those that are Level 7, in order to set up Rank 7 Xyz plays. Came off fully in October 2014; by that time, Mermail no longer had meta representation.
Sinister Shadow Games	October 2014	October 2015	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Normal Trap with a double function - sending a Shaddoll card from the Main Deck to the Graveyard, then flipping its user's Shaddoll monsters face-up, providing two outlets for Shaddoll effect triggers. However, it's unsearchable in its own theme, so when further Shaddoll banlist hits came, this card began to come off, though not fully until October 2016.
Needlebug Nest	July 2014	October 2014	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Hit for one format after which Lightsworns, Dragon Rulers and Shaddolls had all been seeing meta representation. Though a mill-5, its Trap designation meant it was too slow to ever warrant any extended time on the list.
Infernity Barrier	July 2014	January 2019	(TCG only - OCG never hit this card) Searchable (via Infernity Archfiend) omni-negate for the theme whose activation condition is easy to meet. Came off long after Infernity stopped seeing play in the meta.

No longer on list (previously Semi-Limited at worst)

Trap Card	Semi-Limited from	Semi-Limited to	Reason
Dimensional Prison	September 2013	July 2014	(TCG only - OCG never hit this card) Battle trap considered more deadly than Mirror Force in some cases, because the attacking monster gets banished, thus bypassing floating and destruction immunity. Came off due to a rise in spot removal as well as targeting immunity.
Eldlixir of Scarlet Sanguine	April 2022	January 2023	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Searcher for Golden Land Spells/Traps, easily enabled by Foolish Burial Goods. Also has an activated effect to summon directly from the Main Deck, Eldlich the Golden Lord (or any other Zombie monster if its user already controls Eldlich). Came off in favor of a hit to Foolish Burial Goods.
Good Goblin Housekeeping	March 2005	September 2007	The draw-then-shuffle effect of this card had been used with Emergency Provisions to draw an extra card due to this card now counting itself in the Graveyard. Semi-Limit ensured that such a strategy could only draw six and return two, and even then, was slow because of its Normal Trap designation. Eventually the meta became fast enough to reduce the chances of ever seeing all three copies over the course of a Duel.
Icarus Attack	March 2011	September 2011	Chainable 2-for-2 spot remover for Winged Beast themes. Semi-Limited for a single format in order to slow down Blackwings, which were still topping events long after release as well as despite being hit in other ways.
Personal Spoofing	January 2019	December 2020	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Searcher for Altergeist that also activates a searched Altergeist Multifaker to Special Summon itself and another Altergeist from the Main Deck. Came off once Altergeist no longer had meta representation.
Royal Decree	September 2007	September 2008	(Note: was also Semi-Limited for one format between March 2010 and September 2010) Trap Card that stops other Trap Cards (most of which had on-field activated effects at the time). Often paired with Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV8, Silent Swordsman LV7 or Herald of Perfection for total Spell/Trap lockdown. Came off once monster-based removal proliferated.
Solemn Strike	September 2017	October 2019	(OCG only - TCG never hit this card) Decent Life Point cost to negate any one monster effect or inherent Special Summon. Often used alongside other Solemn Counter Traps. Can be searched by Guiding Ariadne, whose Pendulum Effect removes the cost. By the time this card came off the list, generic Counter Traps were being phased out of most Decks in favor of hand traps and themed omni-negates.