Thank you all for your ongoing support of the Gundam Card Game (GCG).
We, the GCG developers and management team, have been keeping a close eye on the GCG meta on a daily basis to ensure that playing the Gundam Card Game remains an enjoyable experience for all our users. After much testing and deliberation we would like to use this opportunity to announce several new updates to the banned and restricted card list.
Banned and Restricted Cards
GCG rules permit up to four copies of cards with the same card number to be included in a deck, but there are occasions, such as official or sanctioned tournaments, when certain cards will be designated as banned or restricted. When a card is banned, that means that not even one copy of that card can be included in either your deck or your sideboard, and when a card is restricted, that means that only a specified number of copies of that card may be included in your deck and your sideboard. For example, a card listed as restricted (2) may have no more than two copies included in your deck and your sideboard combined.
We understand that these can heavily affect the way people play the card game and so we are announcing these new additions to the banned and restricted cards list in advance before they go into effect July 24, 2026.
*Official Season 1 Regional Tournaments already scheduled for July will not be affected by the new bans / restrictions.
New bans and restrictions will be officially in affect from Official Season 2 Regional Tournaments,
Furthermore to comply with this update, decks that were registered for tournaments on or after July 31 that are affected by the new Ban / Restictions will be reset on July 27.
We kindly ask you to re-register your deck before participating in these tournaments.
We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.
Banned cards (cannot be used in decks or sideboards)
GD01-020 Anksha
In the present meta, there are an exceptionally high number of blue-purple decks being played that make heavy use of GD01-020 Anksha and purple cards that have the ability to deal damage to enemy Units, and their win percentage stands out. We are adding this card to the list as banned in order create more diversity in the meta by reducing this unit that deals direct damage to enemy Units.
Restricted cards (up to the specified number of copies can be used in decks and sideboards)
No additions
- "ST02-016 Corsica Base" will remain [Restricted (2)].
Banned pair (cards A and B cannot be used at the same time)
Starting with this current update, we are introducing a new banned pair category. The banned pair category is meant to prevent two cards, A and B, from being used in the same deck at the same time. This category will enable additional, fine grained tuning of the meta as it welcomes more mobile suits and Pilots from numerous titles and a growing variety of card combinations.
A: GD01-008 Guntank
B: GD05-015 M1 Astray Shrike
The cards listed above have the same abilities and stats, and they were designed to produce synergy among cards with their respective traits. However, as with the argument for banning GD01-020 Anksha, the win percentage of decks using multiple cards that have the ability to deal damage to enemy Units has exceeded our expectations. Therefor we are adding these two cards to the list as a banned pair.
A: ST01-010 Amuro Ray
B: ST05-010 Mikazuki Augus
Blue-purple decks capable of using these two cards in unison are extremely proficient at dealing with enemy Units, and the number of these decks being played, as well as their win percentage, is exceptionally high. We are adding these two cards to the list as a banned pair in order to rectify this situation and create more diversity in the meta.
GD01-035 Zaku Ⅱ
GD01-060 Zaku Mariner
GD01-085 Demi Garrison
GD02-013 Hizack
GD02-080 Nemo
GD03-032 Zaku (Four Snake Eyes') [YETI] (GQ)
GD03-063 0 Gundam
GD04-078 Borjarnon
GD05-014 Javelin
GD05-027 Jegan
GD05-042 Shining Gundam
GD05-062 Hobby Hizack
GD05-077 Leo
ST01-005 GM
ST04-008 Ginn
ST05-004 Graze Custom
ST05-009 Graze
ST06-004 Gelgoog (GQ)
ST09-005 Zaku Warrior
ST10-005 Nemo
All combinations of cards that match the above description "a Unit card that is Lv.2 with cost 1, 2 AP, and 2 HP, and without effects" are included as banned pairs, and no more than four copies of one card matching this description can be used in a deck. Additionally, matching cards printed in GD05 and after will also be added to the above banned pair listing at the time of their release.
In the present competitive environment, there is a lot of importance attached to the efficient destruction of enemy Shields and achieving a quick conclusion, and we recognize that decks which focus on deploying many low-cost Units are being constructed to produce these results. Fast-paced decks employing a large number of cards matching the description "a Unit card that is Lv.2 with cost 1, 2 AP, and 2 HP, and without effects" are particularly powerful, and any opponent who lacks an effective strategy against them may have no choice but to accept an undesirable game outcome. Such situations are at odds with the game experience we hope to provide.
We are adding these cards to the list as banned pairs in order to further support the diversification in deck construction and adoption promoted by the previously mentioned bans and restrictions, thus providing a meta that encourages more deck variety.
- We recognize that two cards matching the description are included in the Iron Bloom [ST05] starter deck, and players will still be able to use this deck in official and sanctioned tournaments so long as no changes are made to its lineup.
In regards to the present game meta, within which fast-paced blue-purple and blue-green decks have a strength advantage, we believe the game rules themselves may be a contributing factor, and we are looking closely at a possible fundamental rule change. However, because such changes cannot be rushed, we are making this current revision to the banned and restricted list as a temporary measure to re-balance the game meta for the time being. If any changes are made to the game rules, the contents of all previous revisions to the banned and restricted list will also be carefully reevaluated.
We hope you’ll continue to play and enjoy the Gundam Card Game.