Hello Alter Reality readers! I am Philip Kampa and this will be my very first article here on ARG. Today I will be discussing the new Forbidden/Limited list for September 1st, 2012! But first, allow me to introduce myself.
My name is Philip Kampa and I'm from New Orleans, LA. I have been playing Yugioh since the game was released here in the States, and have been playing competitively since 2008. I have around 16 regional tops as well as finishing 17th after Swiss at Nationals this year. I've lost on the bubble at countless SJC/YCS also. Many people know me from my YouTube channel (HolyCheetos) and I usually attend all major events in the Southern region of the USA. But enough about me, let's get on with the new banned list. It looks a little something like this :
Banned :
Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier
Future Fusion
Limited :
Inzektor Dragonfly
Inzektor Hornet
Chaos Sorcerer
Spore
Tsukuyomi
Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon
Evigishki Gustkraken
Wind-Up Carrier Zenmaity
Ultimate Offering
Semi-Limited :
Rescue Rabbit
The Agent of Mystery - Earth
Debris Dragon
Blackwing - Kalut the Moon Shadow
Tour Guide from the Underworld
E-Emergency Call
Pot of Duality
Hieratic Seal of Convocation
A Hero Lives
Reasoning
Mirror Force
No longer restricted :
Necro Gardna
Marshmallon
Emergency Teleport
Destiny Draw
Level Limit - Area B
Swords of Revealing Light
Magic Cylinder
Whoa, that's alot of changes! Let's talk about the 2 cards that we can no longer use come September 1st.
Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier
With the release of the new Atlantean monsters coming out in Abyss Rising, this card needed to be dealt with. Bounce a card with him, then the Atlantean Marksman you discarded for the effect destroys a facedown card your opponent controls. This card should've been on the Forbidden list a long time ago in my eyes.
Future Fusion
This one really needs no explanation. Anyone who has played in a semi-competitive environment within the last 4 months knows the capabilities of this card. Being able to put any 5 Dragons in your grave as well as set up for Chaos Monster/Dark Armed plays through one card is absolutely absurd. I love the deck, but even I must say this card deserves banning.
On to the limited cards, some may be grouped together due to relevance with each other or similarities in their limitation.
Inzektor Dragonfly/Hornet
Inzektors were going to get the hammer somehow, and I feel this is the most effective way it could've been done. While the simple limiting of Inzektor Centipede would've sufficed, it would still allow the deck to have a powerful otk factor. Through limiting Dragonfly and Hornet, it takes away the consistency of getting the Sword/Giga otk on the first turn, as well as making the player dig harder for their one lone Hornet. This deck needed a reality check and this change gave it just that.
Chaos Sorcerer/Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon
I feel the limitation of these cards was necessary as well. With Chaos Dragons already packing a whopping 8 "Chaos" Monsters who are all above 2300 attack points, are essentially free to summon, and have powerful effects, putting Sorcerer at one isn't that bad. I feel that Sorcerer is one of the best cards in the deck, and deserves to be limited alongside his brother Black Luster Soldier. As for Red Eyes, his effect is a free revival, he is relatively easy to get on the field, and with Gustav Max on it's way in Shonen Jump Alpha, Hieratics will abuse his power even more. I completely agree with this change.
Evigishki Gustkraken/Wind-Up Carrier Zenmaity
These cards are limited due to their part in hand-disruption combos. Multiple Gustkraken paired with Hieratic monsters to tribute for the Ritual summon leaves the player with a full field and their opponent with few cards to fight back with. The same goes for the Wind-Up loop, which we have all experienced before (it knocked me out of Top 64 at Nationals), and it's not very fun. These cards deserve their limitation.
Ultimate Offering
With Gadgets, Machina, and Geargia variants running around, this card must be put to 1. Opening this card as well as a Gadget monster is an onslaught waiting to happen. This one has been bouncing on and off the list the past few years and I think it found where it belongs, right at 1.
Spore/Tsukuyomi
YAY! We finally get cards back from the Forbidden list! I feel that Konami was trying to promote Xyz monsters back in March, which led to Spore and Glow-up Bulb's ban. Having Spore back gives the Plant engine a sight edge again, but I feel it lacks alot with the absence of Glow-Up Bulb. As far as Tsukuyomi goes, I feel she is perfectly fine at 1. With Effect Veiler everywhere, and not many flip effects currently being played to abuse, she can come back and not be broken like she was in Goat format when you could turn a Thousand Eyes Restrict on his backside or continuously abuse Magician of Faith. I look forward to seeing the impact these cards have on the format.
Now moving on to the cards we can play 2 copies of. We'll start with the cutest and most deadly.
Rescue Rabbit/Tour Guide from the Underworld
Oh the wonders of opening the game with both of these cards. Usually it means a quick end for the opponent, but now the combo will be slightly harder to find during starting turns with only 2 copies of each card. By no means does this mean that Dino-Rabbit loses consistency. I firmly believe it is still the best deck after September 1st, as it didn't take a blow like the other 3 top decks did on this banlist. Expect to still see this deck around alot of regionals and YCS at the top tables.
The Agent of Mystery - Earth/Debris Dragon/Blackwing - Kalut the Moon Shadow
As stated with Spore, Konami is allowing Synchro monsters some breathing room, bringing back some key points in Agents, Plants, and Blackwings. I don't think these decks will suddenly be amazing again, and this change won't affect the meta in a large way. I like to see the attempt at leveling the playing field though, good move Konami.
E-Emergency Call/Hieratic Seal of Convocation/A Hero Lives/Pot of Duality
Emergency Call and Hieratic Seal join Shien's Smoke Signal at 2. It seems like the only recruiting spells we won't see at more than one of are Charge of the Light Brigade and Reinforcement of the Army. Pot of Duality is the ultimate setup card, so I understand it going to 2. Hieratic Seal searches for combo pieces to otk with, A Hero Lives is an instant Stratos into Blade Armor Ninja in Heroes(Bubble-Beat mainly), and I completely agree with these cards being on the list.
Reasoning/Mirror Force
I feel that these 2 choices came completely out of left field, although I do agree with them. After seeing Torrential Tribute get bumped up to 2 last list, I joked about the semi-limiting of Mirror Force, and look at what the cat dragged in. I love mass-removal traps due to the simple fact that they punish players who stupidly over-extend without proper protection on board. Force and Torrential being at 2 rewards conservative players as well as people who know how to read and play around them. As far as Reasoning goes, I guess we'll have to wait and see what wacky magical things people do with it back at 2. (I wonder if anyone caught that?)
And last, but certainly not least, let's talk about the cards that are now unrestricted and can be played in 3's.
Necro Gardna/Marshmallon
With the drop in popularity of Lightsworn, Necro Garnda coming back to 3 may give the deck a little more protection, but not by any means will it become top tier because of this. Marshmallon is essentially the same, being a card that is hardly ever played and constantly overshadowed by the likes of Spirit Reaper and Arcana Force 0 - The Fool, which are also at 3. I feel it won't impact the meta at all, usually being cast aside for the other 2 options mentioned above, who don't instantly die due to Evolzar Dolkka.
Emergency Teleport/Destiny Draw
Wow, haven't seen these cards at 3 since Tele-Dad back in 09. Many people think that these cards being unlimited will bring back the almighty Tele-Dad, but in a completely different format where Rescue Rabbit and many other powerful decks are being played, the current version of a deck that was once feared by many is now mediocre. It will be fun to play at the most, but I highly doubt this change will bring back this great deck of the past.
Level Limit - Area B/Swords of Revealing Light
With Mystical Space Typhoon at 3, as well as countless other spell/trap destruction cards being played, I feel these are okay to go to 3. Swords hasn't seen play in ages, and Level Limit just recently saw play in Side Decks to combat Chaos Dragons, a great idea popularized by Joseph Giorlando if I remember correctly. These cards going to 3 don't change much, and if one would side deck LLAB, it would be no more than 2 copies, so unlimiting these is fine.
Magic Cylinder
The last card going to 3 is a personal favorite of mine. If you watch my YouTube videos, you know that I am always going on about Chain Burn. This card going to 3 as well as the limiting of the Inzektor/Windup problems, players no longer live in fear of havin their backrows destroyed outside of Heavy/Mst, or having their entire hand looped on turn one. This gives decks such as Chain Burn an edge, and a 3rd Cylinder is amazing, as a bulk of or damage comes from deflected attacks through Cylinder/Dimension Wall. With cards like Forbidden Lance that can stop Cylinder, I feel t is perfectly fine going to 3. I also think it will make players think before spending life points so carelessly, as one or two attacks into a Cylinder could mean game over after paying do a Solemn Warning and taking a hit or two. I love that this card is going to 3, and I think it will make an impact on the format in a great way.
So, in conclusion, I think that we will actually have a decent and semi-balanced format, with no fear of losing your entire field on turn 2 to Inzektors or starting the game with 2-3 cards against Wind-Ups. I would like to thank all of you for reading my introductory article, and I promise many more great reads to come. You can contact me on Facebook, Youtube, or in the comment section below if you have any suggestions on anything you would like me to touch on in an article. I would like to thank AlteRealityGames for allowing me to post this, as well as great writers such as Patrick Hoban, Billy Brake, and Joseph Giorlando for always posting amazing articles. I have learned so much from reading their content, and I hope that you all learn something from reading my content as well. Well, I'm off to begin playtesting for September 1st. Until next time readers, play hard or go home!
Latest posts by Philip Kampa (see all)
- Playtesting and Preparing for YCS MIami - February 5, 2013
- New Beginnings (September 2012 Banlist Analysis) - August 22, 2012
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