Ban list
* Sensei's Divining Top will be allowed for a trial period between November 15th, 2026 and February 15th, 2027.
* Skullclamp will be allowed for a trial period between November 15th, 2026 and February 15th, 2027.
- Ancestral Recall
- Black Lotus
- Flash
- Library of Alexandria
- Mana Crypt
- Mana Vault
- Mox Emerald
- Mox Jet
- Mox Pearl
- Mox Ruby
- Mox Sapphire
- Nadu, Winged Wisdom
- * Sensei’s Divining Top
- * Skullclamp
- Sol Ring
- Strip Mine
- Thassa’s Oracle
- Time Vault
- Time Walk
- Tinker
- Tolarian Academy
- Treasure Cruise
- Underworld Breach
- Vampiric Tutor
- White Plume Adventurer
Dexterity/Shahrazad
Culturally offensive policy
Category restrictions
Format in general
European Highlander is a Magic: The Gathering format that is sometimes described to as “constructed cube“ in flavor. The format’s power level is somewhere between Vintage and Legacy. If in recent years you have played Modern or high-powered Commander, you likely have the cards for a European Highlander deck
The format is played like “regular Magic”: 1 versus 1, 20 life, usually best-of-3.
A European Highlander deck consists of at least 100 cards. It’s a so-called singleton format, meaning discounting basic lands there may only be one copy of any card in a deck.
The format’s banlist and central rules are maintained by a council consisting of members from several countries. Banlist changes are made four times every year: February, May, August, and November 1st.
Deckbuilding
As mentioned, the central constraint is that each card may appear in a deck only once, discounting basic lands and cards that explicitly mention so (e.g. Shadowborn Apostle).
100 card minimum
A European Highlander deck consists of at least 100 cards.
Card legality
All tournament legal Magic: The Gathering cards are legal within the constraints of the banlist.
New sets become legal on the day of their prerelease.
Sideboard
The format does not use a sideboard. This includes companions (e.g. Lutri, the Spellchaser) and “wishboards” (e.g. Wish). In other words, you may only play with the cards in your deck.