With the new Limited and Forbidden list finally confirmed for the Autumn-Winter season, it is finally time to start analysing the new format. What strategies have been damaged the most by the list, and could we see the revival of forgotten strategies as a result? And just how different will this format be to the last? Let’s find out!
The September Impact!
In forming an opinion on the new format, it is important to first take into account the “Power Card” availability that the list leaves us with. Power Cards can be anything from something widely considered a staple, to threats and solutions that were previously unavailable. So let us begin by taking a look at five of the most impacting factors leading into the new format.
1. The Perfect Storm
Once Heavy Storm found its way onto the Forbidden list, players across the globe were ecstatic. And I won’t lie, I was one of them! Players could finally play the controlling Traps and theme-empowering Field Spells they’d always wanted to, and surely the potential for crazy combinations and One Turn Kills were impossible!
It turns out that a single back row sweeper is enough for combo players to work with, especially when that sweeper is Giant Trunade. The fact the format shifted towards the use of such controlling traps as Solemn Warning and Royal Oppression resulted in Giant Trunade being doubly advantageous. Should it resolve, the player can generally pull off any major play they need to with minimal fear, needing only to play carefully to avoid Effect Veiler when possible, and then follow up by resetting their defenses to force the opponent into having one real out. And that, of course, would be their own Giant Trunade...
With Giant Trunade leaving the format, Heavy Storm makes its triumphant return. As ever, the presence of Heavy Storm will result in far more calculated, careful use of the spell and trap zones, whilst bringing Stardust Dragon back to higher levels of play. Much hype has been given to the supposedly inevitable maindecking of Starlight Road thanks to the staple status of Dark Hole and Heavy Storm.The problem with this is Mystical Space Typhoon, and its long awaited (or feared?) return to 3 copies per deck. This change alone makes the playability of Starlight Road fall dramatically, but will yet again drive up the presence of Stardust Dragon. The return of Heavy Storm brings the game back to a state in which reckless and mindless play are punished severely, but only time will tell whether or not the unlimiting of Mystical Space Typhoon will prevent the formation of a skillful format.
2. A Legend Stands Alone
When Lightsworn and Blackwings tore apart their respective formats, Konami took every necessary step to eradicate the problem with the following Limited and Forbidden list, and often going too far just to ensure the problem is dealt with. The release of Storm of Ragnarok revived the Six Samurai theme with superior Legendary versions, whilst bringing the theme up to date by introducing a powerful Synchro “Boss Monster” to work with.
Legendary Six Samurai - Shi En swiftly became a powerhouse in the format, and Konami’s precautionary response in March was to restrict Gateway of the Six. One format later, and the restriction has proven fairly meaningless to decks seeking to swarm and lock up the game as fast as possible. As a result, Konami made the decision to restrict both Legendary Six Samurai - Shi En and the theme-specific tutor Shien’s Smoke Signal. I believe that this decision was the best that Konami could possibly make, as for once they’re actually tackling the problem cards without butchering the theme entirely.
3. Freedom from Oppression
Of all the Traps in recent years to produce one-sided games, Royal Oppression is the worst offender. Similar in many ways to the sheer power once displayed by Imperial Order, Royal Oppression was very rarely used in the manner originally intended. The design idea behind the card is clearly to impose a soft lock on special summons in order to control the pace of the game. The reality of the game, however, enables the player to run through their own explosive turn and only then follow up with Royal Oppression. In doing so, a player can utterly dominate the board unfairly in a game that is ever shifting towards utility through special summons, firstly with Synchro’s and today with Xyz.
Many argue that the return of Heavy Storm and unlimiting of Mystical Space Typhoon would have been enough to counter the oppressive Trap card, but should we really have to answer such a card? It isn’t an engine, or a win condition to build a deck around. Royal Oppression had simply become an abusable game changer, and its move to the Forbidden list is long overdue.
4. Unique Individuals
A major sweep of six major card restrictions have been enforced with the new Limited and Forbidden list, and the majority of which were to keep the previous format’s top deck under control. The first of these restrictions brings the TCG in line with the OCG by limiting Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier. Trishula has clearly had a powerful effect on the game since its printing, and has had long enough to be experimented with in multiples in the TCG.
The next pair of limitations were those of Lonefire Blossom and Debris Dragon. The plant engine has made its presence known for quite some time, and though the limitation of their tutor does hinder the engine, it certainly doesn’t kill it. With the arrival of Leviair the Sea Dragon, the plant engine gained another level of play in being able to retrieve whatever plant was removed in order to revive Spore. This gain is more than enough to make up for the minor decrease in opportunity of drawing into the powerful tutor.
Debris Dragon has long abused the plant engine, and its limitation will be most strongly felt in the TCG. The OCG has frequently seen the combination of Junk Synchron and Doppel Warrior take precedence over Debris Dragon techniques, particularly with the release of Shooting Quasar Dragon and the removal of ignition priority. With the TCG behaving as quite a different beast to the OCG recently, it will be interesting to see whether or not Junk Synchron can make such an impact this season.
The next pair of limitations came as a result of Synchro spam abuse. Yes, everyone predicted the limitation of the draw engine that is T.G. Hyper Librarian, and Konami were wise enough to realise that the card severely needed restriction to make it a powerful card not to be wasted recklessly. For some strange reason though, the limitation of Formula Synchron came as a surprise to many, and I can’t quite understand how anyone who has played the card can possibly be surprised by this. If Hyper Librarian is the engine, then Formula Synchron is the enabler. Without multiple copies to work with, chaining Synchro summons into Shooting Quasar Dragon will require greater patience and skill.
But why do all these restrictions matter so much? Pot of Avarice has now regained its limited status, and in doing so has phenomenally raised the level of skill involved in playing such engines as the plant engine. This limitation will also have an effect on the reliability of such combo decks as Fabled, decreasing the ease of pulling back into the game when the combo fizzles. This again promotes skillful play, and increases the consequences for playing recklessly.
5. Don’t Shoot the Messenger!
When Gold Series 4 telegraphed the return of Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning, forums erupted in rage. To many, the Envoys are symbolic in the need of the Limited and Forbidden list, with Chaos Emperor Dragon - Envoy of the End hitting the first list before being swiftly followed by the Soldier. But with time the game has changed dramatically, and though the Dragon would still be very much overpowered, the Soldier is no longer the unstoppable titan that he once was.
Though infinitely more splashable than similar cards such as Dark Armed Dragon and Judgment Dragon, the Envoy is now little more than another Boss Monster to work with. In the OCG the Envoy is weaker still due to the loss of ignition priority, which has resulted in an excess of hype surrounding the use of either Honest or Armory Arm to finish the opponent in an instant. Though clearly possible, potential One Turn Kills involving attacks involve such a risk that they can be deemed fair, particularly with Tragoedia now an ever-present fear in its semi-limited status.
With the Envoy in mind, it is worth taking a moment to respect Konami’s instinct in answering any potential madness before it can emerge by restricting Primal Seed. Though the card is far from insane on its own, in multiples it can produce an infinite loop. With a field containing the Envoy and a card with a Macro Cosmos effect, two copies of Primal Seed and an Ookazi can loop for infinite damage with ease. Though a seemingly unrealistic combo, the potential to make games dull and uninteresting was there and has been dealt with efficiently.
To the Future!
As the Limited and Forbidden list comes into force, I will start looking at a variety of decks that show potential as the new format develops, how the current top tier can potentially evolve to survive, as well as the projects that I intend to work on myself.
I essentially hand my first game of the day over to my opponent with a single utterance of “ok” in response to his activation of Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon’s revival effect. Clearly unfocused, I allowed this activation despite having Herald of Orange Light in hand with another Fairy to discard. I calm myself swiftly, and attempt to bring my mind under control as I sideboard. Game 2 starts with his summoning of a Koa’ki Meiru Drago, which paralyses my mind with fear that my ridiculous errors would leave me with a loss in the first round. Thankfully his summoning was merely for tempo, as he proved to have no access to dragons and only sought to set up the dragon for reanimation later. I leapt on the opportunity, and won that game and the one that followed.
As one of the more unique decks seeing play at the event, I wasn’t quite prepared to face down the winged menace. Though I played carefully around the various traditional pieces of the puzzle, the inclusion of Ryko to feed Black Luster Soldier was a devastating surprise. Both games ran long, with him dutifully pushing through my misplays to seize the win.
Following a lengthy break the quarter finals begin, and I am dreading it. Having built momentum throughout the constant play of the last three rounds, I could feel myself lacking in focus as the match began. With little experience against Gladiators I was incredibly wary of the use of my counters. Extensive experience in using counterspells in Magic allowed me to gauge the right timing for my limited responses, and I managed to push for the win in both games.
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