Riftbound ban list: eight cards and two battlefields banned from 23 November

Riot is adding eight cards and two battlefields to the Riftbound ban list. The bans take effect on Monday, 23 November 2026, in Standard and 2v2 Constructed. Game Director Dave Guskin announced the changes on 13 Nov at 17:00 CET on playriftbound.com and X.

What is banned

Cards:

• Riven, Broken Blade
• Zhonya's Hourglass
• Stellacorn Herder
• Nocturne, Horrifying
• Rhasa the Sunderer
• Brynhir Thundersong
• Dazzling Aurora
• Baited Hook

Battlefields:

• Emperor's Dais
• Star Spring

The legends themselves are not on the list. The bans hit individual cards from the Riven, Kennen and Kai'Sa decks, plus two cards Riot is banning as a precaution.

Why Riot is acting now

Riot uses three questions: is a card overrepresented in an unhealthy way, will the problem grow over time, and does it promote unhealthy play patterns? After the European Regional Championship in Stuttgart, the team says "decisive action" is needed (Riot).

• Riven: According to Riot, Riven made up 43 percent of registered decks in Stuttgart, 3 of the top 4 and 8 of the top 16. The champion Riven, Broken Blade, Stellacorn Herder and Zhonya's Hourglass are banned. Riot says the battlefields Star Spring and Emperor's Dais allowed near risk-free conquers, similar to the previously banned Reaver's Row.
• Kennen: According to Riot, about 15 percent of the field played Kennen, which took 3 of the top 8 slots and won the event. Riot would not print Nocturne, Horrifying or Rhasa the Sunderer this way today. Both cost 0 energy and are likely to get stronger with future cards.
• Kai'Sa: Brynhir Thundersong can stop an opponent from playing cards for a whole turn.
• Precautionary: Riot says Dazzling Aurora pushes every ramp deck in the same direction. Baited Hook sees little competitive play, but Riot is banning it because it could become a problem with upcoming sets, including Legacy, also with the World Showcase in January in mind.

The Stuttgart result per the official event page: 315 players, won by ASC Evansrhim with Kennen, top 8 with four Riven, three Kennen and one Kai'Sa deck (Riot, Best-Ofs). More in our event report.

What this means for you

• The current list applies up to and including 22 Nov, so also to the Summoner Skirmishes in Hesse until then. From 23 Nov the new bans apply, including Skirmishes in the rest of the window until 13 Dec.
• Riot says bans apply at official events, including Nexus Nights at your store.
• Riot deliberately avoids bans within two weeks of major tournaments, such as the North America Regional Championship on 11 to 13 Dec.
• New: separate ban lists by region. In Korea and the Traditional Chinese regions the bans only apply once Radiance releases there. Europe follows the 23 Nov date.
• From 2027 Riot will only announce bans in fixed windows: on the Friday two weeks before and two weeks after each Continental Championship.
• For 2v2, Riot calls Yasuo strong. There are no extra 2v2 bans for now; changes are planned for early 2027.

Next step

Need to rebuild your deck by 23 Nov? Search for replacement Riftbound cards on Binderly.

Sources (retrieved 13 Nov 2026)

• Riot Games, Radiance Ban List Updates (Effective November 23, 2026), 13 Nov 2026
• Play Riftbound on X, 13 Nov 2026
• Riot Games, Best Ofs for the European Championship, 11 Nov 2026
• Official event page, Regional Championship Europe (UVS)