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FanatikMonk on Yu-Gi-Oh!
Before the Ban
August 15, 2006

Jeez!  September ban list?  That’s unheard of, but very welcome.  I hate waiting an extra month to be disappointed.  I figure I’ll start the ban list tirades right now with what I feel should be the new ban list and the way to improve our dueling environment.

Our Meta

I see the biggest problem with the meta being a lack of creativity. While banning cards does a lot for shifting the meta to the next big thing, the goal should be to give each theme it's own space and chance. The ideal meta would be one where any deck type can be played competitively; although this is far off from now, we've seen major steps taken in the right direction. Mass/quick removal, FTK and 0 for 1 advantage cards have been removed. So, in my opinion in order to be banned, a card must generate its own advantage and in order for the meta to be whole, cards that stifle creativity of other themes should be eliminated or restricted.

 

How is this accomplished?  Well out and out banning of cards is stupid but letting change trickle in is effective.  A regression to a more conservative style of play could save the game and as time progresses we can give more to the aggressive aspects of the game.  For now these are my thoughts:

Scapegoat should be unrestricted
This balances the rampant Cyber Dragon, Reaper and Sorcerer abuse. It gives combo based decks more time to stall, prepare and mange their strategy. Creating 4 tokens does a lot for controlling tempo but because they each have 0/0, it can hardly be seen as advantageous without the aid of another card. Combos are ok!

Book of Moon and Book of Taiyou should be Semi-Limited
Lets give Mill and flip-flop a second shot.  These cards can fuel a lot of great combos and allow for more consistent play within underused types. 

Exiled Force Should be Semi-Limited
It's a 1 for 1 in it's purest form. You lose a summon for the turn in order to blow away a monster. Slow the duel, without changing the tides entirely.  While its searchability becomes an issue, it’s low atk/def values ensure that it isn’t an enormous threat.  Let’s face it, we can run smashing ground in threes, isn’t this a little more fair?

Nobleman of Crossout should be limited
One is more than enough. Use it to your advantage but let’s not hand out OTKs and lucky draws at will. Nobleman of Crossout did a lot for ruining the chances of a lot of deck types and that needs to change immediately.

Cyber Stein Should be Limited
Cyber Stein is a very balanced card, but the OTK theme is not. Bringing Stein down to one challenges the theme. Though last will and tomato are still in use and can be legitimate threats, the type now takes more skill to play.

Chimeratech OverDragon should be limited
Anyone that's played a Chimeratech deck knows this cards power. However the combo lends itself to a fatal flaw.
Future Fusion->Trunade->Overload->Dimension Fusion
Future Fusion allows you to slim your deck for the rest of the cards that you need, however it's a time bomb, if it isn't gone by the second standby phase, it explodes because of chimeratech and chimera goes with it. If that is your only one, then all you're watching for is Dimension Fusion.

Breaker the Magical Warrior should be Restricted, if scapegoat is not unrestricted
It's a 0 for 1. That's not cool let's face it.  I love breaker as much as the next guy but the opportunity to take 2 cards from an opponent with one monster, is unfair.  With Mystical Space Typhoon at one, breaker provides an unfair advantage against continuous spell or trap based decks.  Balance is key and this card has very little.

 

Chaos Sorcerer should remain unchanged
Now I love Chaos Sorcerer and I hate it. It needs to stay in the format though in order to inspire creativity. Chaos is still a theme and it'll be weakened by the suggestions I made above. Removing sorcerer is counter productive to the ban lists goals.

 

So, we’ve seen failure (in terms of encouraging creativity) in the past two lists, but let’s not lose faith just yet.  This new ban provides a great opportunity for the game to grow and change.  Let’s expand tier 1 into something diverse and beautiful and without allowing the game to trickle into it’s next CC. 

Sorry this article is so short and poorly written, I wanted to get it out before the ban list.  Anyway, I expect you all to comment on this because I’m quite open to your thoughts and ideas, thanks!

FanatikMonk

Clayton_Nelson@brown.edu