Psi-Blocker/Prohibition List: Ups and Downs, Ins and Outs

Over time, the amount of questions involving these two cards has increased drastically, with their recent resurgence back into the competitive scene. So, I took it upon myself to combine the reliable information that we have about Psi-Blocker and Prohibition (which is a lot more difficult than I make it sound).

Last updated: 6th September, 2015

(This list is unofficial as far as the TCG goes, but I still do feel it is a useful reference. As it currently stands, we do not have any rulings from a TCG official source regarding Prohibition or Psi-Blocker. In the event this does change, any differences will be updated, but you should use the one provided by Konami before this one.)

What you can and cannot do with a card declared by Psi-Blocker:

CANNOT:
Monster Card:

• Normal Summon or Set
• Special Summon
• Be placed on the field
• Be used as a Fusion, Synchro, or Xyz Material Monster
• Attack
• Manually change its battle position
• Activate its effects that start a Chain (including mandatory effects)
• Apply its Continuous Effects

Spell/Trap Card:

• Activate the card, or any of its effects
• Apply any Continuous Effects
• Set
  • This also includes Setting a Spell/Trap Card by the effect of Dust Tornado, Fire Fist monsters, etc.
  • Playing it from the hand or Deck, such as by the effect of Masked Beast Des Gardius, Destiny Board, etc.

CAN:

Monster Card:

• Use it to pay a cost. Examples: Trade-In, Enemy Controller, Sacred Sword of Seven Stars, etc.
• Copy its name, Level, ATK, DEF, and effects. Examples: Elemental HERO Prisma, Phantom of Chaos, etc.
• Use it for other card effects. Examples: Reinforcement of the Army, Foolish Burial, etc.
  • (It is perfectly legal to add it to your hand from any card location, target it, and/or affect it by any means.)
  • (Exceptions: You cannot use it for anything that would perform a Fusion or Synchro Summon.)
    • [Exception to exception: Future Fusion]
• Use it for another monster’s Summoning Procedure.
  • (This also includes using it as part of a Tribute Summon)
• Change its battle position via card effect. Examples: A/D Changer, Book of Moon, etc.
• Apply any lingering effects

Spell/Trap Card:

• Use it to pay a cost. Examples: Summoner Monk, etc.
• Use it for other card effects. Examples: Magician of Faith, Ninja Grandmaster Hanzo, etc.
  • (It is perfectly legal to add this card to your hand from any location, or have the declared card’s effects used via another card. Example: Spellbook of the Master)
• Apply any lingering effects

General things you should know:

• Psi-Blocker can affect cards that are already on the field. This is due to a textual difference with Prohibition. Psi-Blocker does not have an equivalent to the last sentence of Prohibition.
• You can only declare cards that are legal card names in the TCG. This also extends to cards that alter their original name. Tokens cannot be declared.
  • (For example, Harpie Lady 1, Harpie Lady 2, and Harpie Lady 3 cannot be declared. You must declare Harpie Lady. All three of those cards will be treated as if they are Harpie Lady.)
• You do not need to declare the full name of a card. You only need to provide enough details that both you and your opponent have a clear understanding as to which card you are referring to.
  • (If you actually do declare the name of one card, when you mean another, you are bound to what you actually stated. Example: If you declare “Black Luster Soldier“, but intended for “Black Luster Soldier – Envoy of the Beginning“, “Black Luster Soldier – Envoy of the Beginning” can still be used.)

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