BANNED AND RESTRICTED
This page lists all the cards that are structurally or specifically banned or restricted in Duel Commander. This content is just extracted from the Comprehensive Rules for better readability, taken from section 404.1.
More details on each specific card can be found across each corresponding announcement text.
Please use the search engine above to find them. ↑
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 - REMINDER
Duel Commander uses structural and individual card restrictions. The complete listing would be too long, so the first part of this document uses structural descriptions that are sufficient to clearly identify the cards even without being aware of all of their names.
A banned card means you can't list it. You can't play it. It can't be part of a Duel Commander game.
A restricted card means it's partially banned/legal under specific conditions mentioned in each section. See below.
2 - STRUCTURALLY BANNED CARDS
You can’t use any of the cards mentioned in this section in a Duel Commander deck.
This is in addition to points 1. 3. and 4. in this document.
Only cards that are structurally playable in sanctioned Magic The Gathering formats are structurally legal in Commander, and, therefore, in Duel Commander. This means, as for tournaments, that they shall fall under the "Authorized Cards" section of Wizards Of The Coast Tournament Rules (https://wpn.wizards.com/en/rules-documents, usually found at section 3.3 of the document "3.3 Authorized Cards").
Which excludes special border cards like:
Gold-bordered cards (World Events promo cards / ...).
Silver-bordered cards (found in "Un"-sets / Holiday cards / ...).
Scroll-looking cards like Conspiracies.
Square-cornered cards (Collector’s Edition / ...).
Cards with a special acorn-looking holofoil or acorn-looking printed stamp.
Oversized and other miscellaneous (usually nontraditional) cards such as Planechase Planes, Archenemy Schemes, Vanguard cards, Helvault cards, Minigames, Bounties, etc.
Cards marked offensive by Wizards of the Coast. Click here for the list. This list is a work in progress.
Any other card that will be explicited as not legal in sanctioned play by Wizards of The Coast.
That also excludes the cards that use the Ante ability :
That also excludes physical abilities cards that are Falling Star and Chaos Orb.
The fast subgame card (which is not an effect, but a real card) Shahrazad is also excluded.
Also, this implies cards marked offensive by Wizards of the Coast. Click here for the list.
As stated by Wizards Of The Coast, this list is a work in progress.
All cards that bring a sticker or an Attraction into the game are also banned.
Any other card that will be explicited as not legal in sanctioned play by Wizards of the Coast™.
Note: the visual list hereabove is not exhaustive. This is only intended to give a few examples.
3 - RESTRICTED CARDS (BANNED AS A COMMANDER ONLY)
These cards are restricted. Here, they're still playable and only legal when listed apart from being a commander.
These cards cannot be one of your commanders, but are still allowed in the other parts of your deck lists (usually called "the 98-99").
This is in addition to points 1. 2. and 4. in this document.
Ajani, Nacatl Pariah is banned as a commander only.
Akiri, Line-Slinger is banned as a commander only.
Arahbo, Roar of the World is banned as a commander only.
Asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar is banned as a commander only.
Baral, Chief of Compliance is banned as a commander only.
Breya, Etherium Shaper is banned as a commander only.
Derevi, Empyrial Tactician is banned as a commander only.
Dihada, Binder of Wills is banned as a commander only.
Edgar Markov is banned as a commander only.
Edric, Spymaster of Trest is banned as a commander only.
Emry, Lurker of the Loch is banned as a commander only.
Eris, Roar of the Storm is banned as a commander only.
Esior, Wardwing Familiar is banned as a commander only.
Geist of Saint Traft is banned as a commander only.
Inalla, Archmage Ritualist is banned as a commander only.
Krark, the Thumbless is banned as a commander only.
Minsc & Boo, Timeless Heroes is banned as a commander only.
Nadu, Winged Wisdom is banned as a commander only.
Najeela, the Blade-Blossom is banned as a commander only.
Old Stickfingers is banned as a commander only.
Oloro, Ageless Ascetic is banned as a commander only.
Omnath, Locus of Creation is banned as a commander only.
Prime Speaker Vannifar is banned as a commander only.
Raffine, Scheming Seer is banned as a commander only.
Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary is banned as a commander only.
Shorikai, Genesis Engine is banned as a commander only.
Tamiyo, Inquisitive Student is banned as a commander only.
Tasigur, the Golden Fang is banned as a commander only.
Urza, Lord High Artificer is banned as a commander only.
Vial Smasher the Fierce is banned as a commander only.
Winota, Joiner of Forces is banned as a commander only.
Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow is banned as a commander only.
Zurgo Bellstriker is banned as a commander only.
4 - INDIVIDUALLY BANNED CARDS
You can’t have any of these cards in a Duel Commander game. They can't be listed, they're not legal in Duel Commander.
They can't be used in a Duel Commander game.
This is in addition to points 1. 2. and 3. in this document. This section is usually the one that is most likely to evolve.