Riftbound Ban List (October 2026): Every Banned Card Explained

The Riftbound ban list currently has 12 cards and battlefields banned in Standard Constructed, plus one extra ban that applies only in 2v2, for 13 bans in total. This page lists every ban, when it took effect and why Riot made it, and we update it with each announcement.

Last updated October 4, 2026. Riot announces bans on its official Riftbound news page, starting with its first ban announcement. Always check there before a tournament, since a ban can take effect on a different day from when it's announced.

Current Riftbound ban list: Standard

Card	Effective	Why it was banned
Called Shot	March 31, 2026	Powered "Miracle" decks built on heavy cost discounts
Scrapheap	March 31, 2026	The other half of the same Miracle engine
Draven, Vanquisher	March 31, 2026	Riot's design team called it an outright mistake
Reaver's Row (battlefield)	March 31, 2026	Paired too well with Draven
Fight or Flight	March 31, 2026	Reined in the power of Chaos decks
The Dreaming Tree (battlefield)	March 31, 2026	Gave too much card flow
Obelisk of Power (battlefield)	March 31, 2026	Showed up in nearly every competitive list
Stealthy Pursuer	July 24, 2026	Enabled a near-infinite unit combo by turn 3
The Arena's Greatest (battlefield)	July 24, 2026	Distorted how competitive games were played
Aspirant's Climb (battlefield)	July 24, 2026	The same structural problem as The Arena's Greatest
Ekko, Recurrent	September 18, 2026	Created an infinite-turn combo that left the opponent too little room to interact
Stacked Deck	September 18, 2026	Consistency piece behind the dominant Kennen decks

That's 12 cards banned in Standard. The 13th entry, below, is banned only in 2v2.

Riftbound 2v2 ban list

Riot started a separate Constructed 2v2 ban list in July 2026. It includes every Standard ban above, plus:

Card	Effective	Note
Master Yi, Wuju Bladesman	July 24, 2026	Banned in 2v2 only; still legal in 1v1 Standard

Riot says a ban will be labelled clearly when it applies to both formats. Otherwise, don't assume a ban carries over from one format to the other. Our Riftbound 2v2 guide covers the format itself.

Why so many battlefields are banned

Five of the twelve Standard bans are battlefields. That's not a coincidence. Battlefields are in play for the whole game and can't be removed, so one that generates extra card flow, extra points or an early advantage affects every game it appears in. When a battlefield shows up in nearly every competitive list, as Obelisk of Power did, there's no card to answer it with. Banning it is the only fix. If you're choosing battlefields for a new deck, our Riftbound battlefields guide explains what to look for.

Riftbound ban timeline

• March 31, 2026: the first ban list. Seven bans aimed at Miracle decks (Called Shot, Scrapheap), the Draven package (Draven, Vanquisher and Reaver's Row), Chaos (Fight or Flight) and two universally played battlefields.
• July 24, 2026: launch of the 2v2 list. Three Standard bans around a turn-3 combo and two battlefields that bent competitive structure. The new 2v2 list added Master Yi, Wuju Bladesman.
• September 18, 2026: before Radiance. Ekko, Recurrent and Stacked Deck were banned to break up an infinite-turn combo and the dominant Kennen decks.

Is there rotation in Riftbound?

Not yet. No set has rotated out of Standard, so every card from Origins through Radiance is legal unless it's on this list. See every Riftbound set in order for the full card pool.

What happens to the value of banned cards?

Banned cards usually lose playing demand right away. Collector demand is a different story: an overnumbered or Signature version of a famous banned card can stay collectible for its art and history. If you're selling a collection that includes banned cards, see our sell your collection page.

How to stay current

Bans can be announced at any time, but Riot has tended to schedule them around set releases and major events. Before any event:

1. Check Riot's official Riftbound announcements.
2. Check the event page on PlayRiftbound.com for format details.
3. Make sure none of your three battlefields are banned. It's the easiest one to miss.

Frequently asked questions

How many cards are banned in Riftbound?

12 cards and battlefields are banned in Standard. The 2v2 list has those 12 plus Master Yi, Wuju Bladesman, for 13 in total.

When was the last Riftbound ban list?

The latest bans took effect September 18, 2026: Ekko, Recurrent and Stacked Deck.

Why was Ekko, Recurrent banned?

Riot banned it because it enabled an infinite-turn combo that left opponents too little room to interact.

Is Master Yi banned in Riftbound?

Only in 2v2. Master Yi, Wuju Bladesman is still legal in 1v1 Standard.

Can I play banned cards at Nexus Nights?

Sanctioned events use the official ban list. Casual games with friends can use any house rules you agree on.

Build a legal deck

Make sure your list is legal, then fill the gaps with Riftbound singles. New to building? Start with our Riftbound deck building guide.