Culturally offensive
In 2020, several Magic: The Gathering cards were designated racially or culturally offensive.[1][2] These cards are banned from sanctioned play, and Gatherer and Scryfall replace the card image with a description of the categorical concerns. As of 2025, the list of banned cards has not been updated. Wizards of the Coast has made other decisions, before and since, to address similar concerns.
Description
Wizards did not elaborate on the context for their decision. Hipsters of the Coast noted that the announcement coincided with the George Floyd protests.[2]
Banned cards
| Card name | Set | Release |
|---|---|---|
| Crusade | Alpha | 1993 |
| Jihad | Arabian Nights | 1993 |
| Stone-Throwing Devils | Arabian Nights | 1993 |
| Cleanse | Legends | 1994 |
| Invoke Prejudice | Legends | 1994 |
| Imprison | Legends | 1994 |
| Pradesh Gypsies | Legends | 1994 |
Later developments
Additional cards were removed from two products printed in 2022. Collector boosters from Dominaria United rarely contain Lost Legends. However, the cards listed above, all other cards illustrated by Harold McNeill, and Barbary Apes, Craw Giant, Gwendlyn Di Corci, and Pyrotechnics were withheld from the Lost Legends card pool.[3]
In addition to Crusade, Contract from Below, Darkpact, Demonic Attorney, Earthbind, and Weakness were omitted from 30th Anniversary Edition, with the explanation that they did not meet modern standards.[4]
In 2023, Wizards updated three gameplay terms to further their goal of making Magic inclusive and welcoming.[5] The keyword ability "Totem armor" was renamed to Umbra armor. The card type "Tribal" was renamed kindred, and "tribal" mechanical themes were rebranded typal, due to controversy surrounding the previous term.[6] The Cat subtype was removed from cards depicting Rakshasa to better reflect their Hindu origin, which describes them as shapeshifters.[7][8]
Wizards chose not to create a "Witch" creature type due to the term's use in real-world religions.[9] In 2023, Wizards was evaluating the appropriateness of the Druid and Shaman types.[10][11] As of 2025, both of those types are in continued use.
In 2025, R&D started referring to the species/job model of creature subtypes instead of the "race/class model".[12][13]
Precedent
Unholy Strength from Alpha depicted a flaming pentagram in the background of the artwork. The pentagram was removed from the Fourth Edition reprint of that card to shield Wizards of the Coast from negative publicity, such as the accusations of Satanism in Dungeons & Dragons. For the same reasons, the Demon subtype was not printed for several years, until returning in 2002.[14][15]
Crusade had earlier been reprinted with alternate art after criticisms.[citation needed] Artwork depicting skeletons has also been modified for the Chinese market.
Rules
From the Tournament Rules (May 29, 2023—March of the Machine)
- 6.6 Legacy Format Deck Construction
The following cards are banned in Legacy tournaments:
• Cards whose art, text, name, or combination thereof that are racially or culturally offensive are banned in all formats. This list is a work in progress.
References
- ↑ Depictions of Racism in Magic. magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast (June 10, 2020).
- ↑ a b David McCoy (June 10, 2020). "Wizards Bans 7 Cards with Racist Depictions, Including Invoke Prejudice". Hipsters of the Coast.
- ↑ Blake Rasmussen (July 21, 2022). "Lost Legends". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Blake Rasmussen (October 4, 2022). "Celebrate 30 Years of Magic: The Gathering with 30th Anniversary Edition". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (November 3, 2023). "Card Updates Coming with Khans of Tarkir on MTG Arena". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (June 5, 2023). "Just for clarification - is "typal" the same thing as what's commonly referred to amongst players as "tribal"?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Card Updates Coming Soon (Tribal, Naga, Totem Armor errata'd out of the game). Reddit (November 3, 2023).
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 3, 2023). "I have not seen it explained, but why was cat typal removed from those creatures?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater. "Why isn't Witch a type?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (September 28, 2023). "If 'witch' is excluded bc of its significance as a real world religious identifier, why are 'shaman' and 'druid' creature types?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (September 29, 2023). "Please don't phase out druids". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Matt Tabak (July 24, 2025). "If multiple creature types appear in rules text, they’re usually in alphabetical order.". Bluesky.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 4, 2025). "Magic's colleagues over in D&D chose to transition to using "species" instead of "race". Has R&D discussed making a similar shift in how y'all refer to the race/class model?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Brandon Haught (September 07, 2003). "The Gap in the Cards". www.atheistparents.org. Archived from the original on 2005-08-24.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (5 July 2004). "Where Have All The Demons Gone?". www.wizards.com. Archived from the original on 2005-12-30.