How does the new 'banish' mechanic work with cards like Baited Hook, and what happens to banished cards - can they be recycled or are they removed for the rest of the game?

Ruling: When a card effect banishes cards (like Baited Hook's errata), those cards are temporarily placed in a banished zone. If the banished card can be played, it gets played normally. If it cannot be played (e.g., Cruel Patron without other friendly units to sacrifice), it stays banished for the rest of the game and cannot be recycled or returned to deck.

Sequence:

• Card effect banishes the card(s) from deck
• Attempt to play the banished card
• If playable: card enters play normally
• If unplayable: card remains banished permanently

Nuances:

• Ignoring costs (like Baited Hook does) only ignores base costs, not additional costs like sacrificing units
• The banish errata exists to prevent confusion about where unplayable cards should return to after other cards have already been recycled
• Once cards are recycled to bottom of deck, the choice is locked in and cannot be rewound, even at low OPL
• A card staying banished due to being unplayable should be treated as a learning experience, not rewound