Summary

Effective Date: Monday, August 25th, 2025
Next B&R: September 15th, 2025

Summary: New card from Phantom Monarchs is released early as a Proxia's Vault card. As a reminder, this card will be removed from the Vault with the launch of that set. Rile the Abyss has been added to category 2.

The Watchlist only contains cards that were either previously legal in the Standard format or are currently legal for Standard.

See the entire list of banned cards here.

Proxia's Vault

Purifying Thurible

Part of our design philosophy has been to explore mechanics using the various zones established in the game. One of the predominant zones for many mechanics is the Graveyard, which synergizes with many core mechanics in Grand Archive. We have made continuous efforts to provide players with counterplay and interaction for these mechanics. One of these cards is Purifying Thurible which allows Wind decks to more effectively combat graveyard strategies. We hope that releasing this card early allows a broader and healthier meta to develop in the remainder of the season. Purifying Thurible is releasing as a regular card for Phantom Monarchs and will be removed from Proxia's Vault upon release at that time.

As a reminder, Proxia's Vault is a new way we're addressing specific meta issues by releasing cards that players are allowed to proxy, even for use in competitive events. Proxia's Vault is being updated to allow cards to be proxied indefinitely as long as the card is in Proxia's Vault. The policy guide will be updated accordingly. Read about the Proxia's Vault policy here:

Watchlist

Category 3

This category will contain all cards that are banned and restricted, proving to be too powerful or too impactful, and limiting tournament deck diversity and meta health. Currently, Baby Gray Slime, Crystal of Empowerment, Corhazi Outlook, Dissonant Fractal, Erupting Rhapsody, Icebound Slam, Lost in Thought, Sword of Avarice, and Reckless Conversion are banned.

Category 2

This category contains cards that we consider very problematic and are heavily watched for potential future legality changes and category shifts. This category currently has three cards with the addition of Rile the Abyss.

Rile has proven to be a part of a powerful package in many Fire decks showcased this weekend and across the current meta in many different archetypes of Fire decks. We will be paying close attention to the developing meta to observe shifts with Rile's place in the competitive scene and hope it assumes the narrower role it was intended to have. We have seen similar card advantage packages with Baby Gray Slime and hope that, as the Rile package has more ability to be interacted with, will not be as problematic in a matured meta.

Category 1

This category consists of cards that we don’t consider problematic in the current environment, but are unhealthy for future balance and game design space. This category currently has four cards.

That's all for this B&R update! This B&R will go into effect August 25th and the next update will be on September 15th, 2025, following Ascent Taipei!