For the Hordes to be “fun” and function properly, we want to ensure that the cards used are fair. Any card that otherwise renders the horde completely ineffectual is banned. Permanents that impact the board state until end of turn, or when they enter the battlefield are OK. Cards with a static ability that would otherwise keep the Horde’s board clear (such as opponents’ creatures get -2 / -2, for instance) are banned, as they will be detrimental to the overall fun of playing against the Horde. So, they’re banned.

Here’s some good rules to follow when we’re considering cards to ban:

• Any card that forces horde creatures to ETB tapped
• Any card that causes lethal when horde creatures ETB
• Any card that mills the horde by ETB or ETG
• Any card that gains life based on the cumulative power of attacks
• Any card that is mathematically too easy to win
• Combos:
  • Midnight Guard + Elemental Mastery
  • Exquisite Blood + Sanguine Bond

Current Ban List

These can’t be played against the horde.