Many Duelists' Convocation members have remarked that, while they appreciate our policy of announcing changes in the Banned/Restricted Lists one month before they become effective, there have been problems in getting the information out in a timely manner. So, we have decided to make certain days of the year "Banned/Restricted Days." No, that doesn't mean you'll have to cross those days off your calendar! It just means that we will announce changes to the Banned and Restricted Lists ONLY on those days.

• Type I: March 1, September 1
• Type II: March 1, June 1, September 1, December 1

In addition, the Duelists' Convocation would like to take this opportunity to announce that the Banned and Restricted Lists for Type I and Type II sanctioned tournaments will henceforth be separated from one another. That is to say, each card which is Banned or Restricted in the future will be considered on its own merits for each type of tournament: The addition of a card to the Banned or Restricted List for Type I tournaments does NOT necessarily mean the card will also be added to the Type II Banned or Restricted Lists.

STANDARD banned list

• No alterations

CLASSIC restricted list

• No alterations

CLASSIC banned list

• No alterations

CLASSIC RESTRICTED banned list

• Please see below

Previously, cards that appeared by card title on either the Classic or Standard Restricted and Banned Lists were also banned in Classic-Restricted play. This resulted in considerable confusion, and raised questions about the continued viability of this tournament environment. In order to both clarify the rule and maintain the viability of the Classic-Restricted tournament environment, the DCI will make changes to the Classic-Restricted Banned List independent from any other Restricted or Banned Lists. Black Vise and Strip Mine are therefore added independently to this list, and not as a consequence of their appearance on any other banned or restricted list. Consequently, they will remain on this list when 4th Edition leaves the Standard environment and is replaced by 5th Edition. Land Tax, however, will not appear on this list at that time.

The DCI will announce changes to this list four times per year, on March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1. The Banned List for Classic Restricted, effective April 1, 1997, is as follows:

• Any card not specifically permitted by rule 2.5
• Any ante card contained in any newly released card set
• Amulet of Quoz (IA)
• Ancestral Recall
• Balance
• Berserk
• Black Lotus
• Black Vise
• Braingeyser
• Bronze Tablet
• Candelabra of Tawnos (AQ)
• Channel
• Chaos Orb
• Contract from Below
• Copy Artifact
• Darkpact
• Demonic Attorney
• Demonic Tutor
• Divine Intervention (LE)
• Falling Star (LE)
• Fastbond
• Feldon's Cane (AQ)
• Fork
• Ivory Tower
• Jeweled Bird
• Land Tax
• Library of Alexandria (AN)
• Maze of Ith (DK)
• Mind Twist
• Mirror Universe (LE)
• Mishra's Workshop (AQ)
• Mox Emerald
• Mox Jet
• Mox Pearl
• Mox Ruby
• Mox Sapphire
• Rebirth
• Recall (LE)
• Regrowth
• Sol Ring
• Shahrazad (AN)
• Strip Mine
• Tempest Efreet
• Time Walk
• Timetwister
• Timmerian Fiends (HM)
• Underworld Dreams (LE)
• Wheel of Fortune
• Zuran Orb (IA)

The Duelists' Convocation International (DCI) announces the elimination of the official Standard (Type II) Restricted List, effective January 1, 1997. Henceforth, only the Banned List will affect Standard tournament-deck construction (in addition to the existing DCI Standard Floor Rules). Cards that currently appear on the Standard Restricted List and that remain in the tournament environment after the departure of Fallen Empires and Ice Age on January 1, 1997, will be moved to the Standard (Type II) Banned List.

Therefore, on January 1, 1997, the official Banned List for sanctioned Standard (Type II) tournaments will appear as follows:

2.3.2 The Banned List for Standard (Type II) tournaments:

• Any card not specifically permitted by rule 2.3
• Any ante card contained in any newly released card set
• Balance
• Black Vise
• Bronze Tablet
• Channel
• Ivory Tower
• Jeweled Bird
• Land Tax
• Mind Twist
• Rebirth
• Strip Mine
• Tempest Efreet
• Timmerian Fiends (HM)

The DCI realizes that this change will significantly alter deck construction and playing strategies in the Standard tournament environment. However, we believe there are sufficiently compelling reasons to support this decision.

The 1995 - 96 tournament season demonstrated that restricted cards, despite being limited to one per deck by card title, frequently decided the outcome of duels and matches. The ability to swing a duel or match by drawing or otherwise playing a restricted card introduces a much higher element of chance into the tournament environment than is appropriate for an intellectual sport. Eliminating the Restricted List reduces the randomness factor.

Moreover, the restriction of powerful cards creates a significant problem in ongoing card design. By way of example, consider the Tutors in Mirage : Their effectiveness is greatly enhanced by their ability to retrieve restricted cards from a player's library. Eliminating the Restricted List creates fewer card design limitations.

While banning or restricting cards is never taken lightly, the absence of a Restricted List clearly means that DCI must exercise even greater care when making future decisions.

The DCI hopes you understand the need for this alteration to the Standard tournament environment.

Sincerely,
Jason Carl
Director, DCI