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The Standard Format Exclusion List or X-List was created by Decipher on March 25, 2003 in an effort to create a more vibrant and competitive tournament environment. The cards on this list were prohibited from being played in decks because they were deemed by Decipher to be over-powered, under-costed, or lacking cultural enforcement. The X-list underwent a regular review by the DGMA every three months (March 31, June 30, September 30, December 31). Cards were added and removed to the list as warranted.
After the introduction of set rotation on March 25, 2005 when Black Rider cards became tournament legal and Expanded Format was created as an official Format by Decipher, the Expanded format X- and R-Lists were also created. The cards that were on the Standard Format Exclusion list were voted upon by players, master players and Decipher playtesters for inclusion on either the initial Expanded Format X- or R-List. The results were announced on March 22, 2005.
Cards that were on the Standard Format Exclusion list included:
| Card Name | Date Added | Date Removed | Notes | |
| Elrond, Lord of Rivendell | March 25, 2003 | March 25, 2005 | Removed when Fellowship Block Rotated out of Standard Format | |
| Galadriel, Lady of Light | March 25, 2003 | March 25, 2005 | Removed when Fellowship Block Rotated out of Standard Format | |
| Ottar, Man of Laketown | March 25, 2003 | March 25, 2005 | Removed when Fellowship Block Rotated out of Standard Format | |
| No Stranger to the Shadows | March 25, 2003 | March 25, 2005 | Removed when Fellowship Block Rotated out of Standard Format | |
| Savagery to Match Their Numbers | March 25, 2003 | March 25, 2005 | Removed when Fellowship Block Rotated out of Standard Format | |
| Ulaire Nertea, Messenger of Dol Guldur | March 25, 2003 | March 25, 2005 | Removed when Fellowship Block Rotated out of Standard Format | |
| Forces of Mordor | March 25, 2003 | March 25, 2005 | Removed when Fellowship Block Rotated out of Standard Format | |
| Sting | March 25, 2003 | March 25, 2005 | Removed when Fellowship Block Rotated out of Standard Format | |
| Flaming Brand | March 25, 2003 | March 25, 2005 | Removed when Fellowship Block Rotated out of Standard Format | |
| Filibert Bolger, Wily Rascal | March 25, 2003 | May 4, 2004 | Removed when it was ruled that Ringbearer skirmishes could not be cancelled | |
| O Elbereth! Gilthoniel! | March 25, 2003 | May 4, 2004 | Removed when it was ruled that Ringbearer skirmishes could not be cancelled | |
| Aragorn, Heir to the White City | March 25, 2003 | March 25, 2005 | Removed when Fellowship Block Rotated out of Standard Format | |
| Horn of Boromir | March 25, 2003 | March 25, 2005 | Removed when Fellowship Block Rotated out of Standard Format | |
| Saruman, Keeper of Isengard | March 25, 2003 | March 25, 2005 | Removed when Fellowship Block Rotated out of Standard Format | |
| Uruk Regular | March 25, 2003 | January 12, 2004 | Removed after Deep of Helm was no longer on the site path. | |
| Relics of Moria | January 12, 2004 | March 25, 2005 | Added to take some power away from Moria once RotK was released. Removed when Fellowship Block Rotated out of Standard Format | |
| The Palantir of Orthanc | January 12, 2004 | March 25, 2005 | Removed when Fellowship Block Rotated out of Standard Format | |
| Frying Pan | January 12, 2004 | March 25, 2005 | Added as a counter to removing Relics of MoriaRemoved when Fellowship Block Rotated out of Standard Format | |
| Bill The Pony | January 12, 2004 | March 25, 2005 | Removed when Fellowship Block Rotated out of Standard Format | |
| Steadfast Champion | July 6, 2004 | Added due to interactions with Treebeard, Keeper of the Watchwood | ||
| Gondorian Captain | July 6, 2004 | November 10, 2004 | Added due to interactions with Base of Mindolluin, removed when Shadows Sites became legal | |
| Aggression | July 6, 2004 | Added due to being under-costed | ||
| Mordor Fiend | July 15, 2004 | Added the day after the set released, before he would have been legal to use in a deck. | ||
| Memories of Darkness | August 3, 2004 | |||
| Saruman's Snows | Prior to November 3, 2004 | March 25, 2005 | Added prior to Shadows Release date before rotation was introduced | |
| Bill Ferny, Swarthy Sneering Fellow | Prior to November 3, 2004 | March 25, 2005 | Added prior to Shadows Release date before rotation was introduced | |
| Sam, Son of Hamfast | Prior to November 3, 2004 | March 25, 2005 | Added prior to Shadows Release date before rotation was introduced | |
| A Talent for Not Being Seen | Prior to November 3, 2004 | March 25, 2005 | Added prior to Shadows Release date before rotation was introduced | |
| Gimli, Dwarf of the Mountain Race | Prior to November 3, 2004 | March 25, 2005 | Added prior to Shadows Release date before rotation was introduced. Deemed to be abusive with the focus on site path introduced in Shadows | |
| Galadriel, Lady of the Golden Wood | Prior to November 3, 2004 | March 25, 2005 | Added prior to Shadows Release date before rotation was introduced. Granted easy site path manipulation without cultural enforcement | |
| The Shire Countryside | Prior to November 3, 2004 | March 25, 2005 | Added prior to Shadows Release date before rotation was introduced | |
| Legolas, Dauntless Hunter | Prior to November 3, 2004 | June 9, 2006 | Added prior to Shadows Release date before rotation was introduced. Abusive with the new unbound hobbits released in Shadows | |
| Fortress Never Fallen | Prior to November 3, 2004 | June 9, 2006 | Added prior to Shadows Release date before rotation was introduced | |
| Get On and Get Away | Prior to November 3, 2004 | June 9, 2006 | Added prior to Shadows Release date before rotation was introduced. Provided too much site path manipulation. | |
| Galadriel, Lady Redeemed | January 18, 2005 | |||
| Final Account | January 18, 2005 | |||
| Demoralized | Prior to May 22, 2006 | |||
| Courtyard Parapet | January 29, 2007 | |||
| Madril, Defender of Osgiliath | January 29, 2007 | |||
| Strange Looking Men | August 13, 2007 | |||
| Orkish Smith | August 13, 2007 | |||
| Card Name | Date Added | |
| Galadriel, Lady of Light | March 25, 2005 | |
| Saruman's Snows | March 25, 2005 | |
| Ulaire Nertea, Messenger of Dol Guldur | March 25, 2005 | |
| A Talent for Not Being Seen | March 25, 2005 | |
| Sam, Son of Hamfast | March 25, 2005 | |
| Sting | March 25, 2005 | |
| Galadriel, Lady of the Golden Wood | March 25, 2005 | |
| Gimli, Dwarf of the Mountain Race | March 25, 2005 | |
| Aragorn, Heir to the White City | March 25, 2005 | |
| Horn of Boromir | March 25, 2005 | |
| Saruman, Keeper of Isengard | March 25, 2005 | |
| The Palantir of Orthanc | March 25, 2005 | |
| Frying Pan | March 25, 2005 | |
| The Shire Countryside | March 25, 2005 | |
| Legolas, Dauntless Hunter | March 25, 2005 | |
| Steadfast Champion | March 25, 2005 | |
| Aggression | March 25, 2005 | |
| Memories of Darkness | March 25, 2005 | |
| Galadriel, Lady Redeemed | March 25, 2005 | |
| Mordor Fiend | March 25, 2005 | |
| Final Account | March 25, 2005 | |
| Strange Looking Men | August 13, 2007 | |
| Orkish Smith | August 13, 2007 | |
DGMA First Standard Format Exclusion List (X-List)
Decipher designers explain why cards wound up on the first X-List
Decipher designer quoted explaining why cards wound up on the Shadows X-List
Mordor Fiend X-Listing update
Expanded Format X-/R-List voting announcment
Expanded Format X-/R-List announcement
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