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Pojo's Yu-Gi-Oh! Reader's Top Ten Lists
Baneful's Ten: Best Cards of 2014 (so far)
July 21, 2014

contact: banefulscolumn@gmail.com
 
So we're in July and the first half of the year is over.  We're probably going to have a top 10 list at the end of the year, but right now let's take a look at candidates so far.  These are of the cards we reviewed (I don't think there are any great ones we missed).  And they had to have been released in 2014.
 
I'm personally judging the cards based on the impact they've had in tournament play as well as their overall quality.
 
Legacy of the Valiant, Primal Origins and Dragons of Legend are the three big sets here.
 
Runner-ups (There were lots of great cards this year, especially for archetypes so I'll give a mention to the following):
Gwenyfar, of Noble Knights
Imperial Tombs of Necrovalley
Sylvan Sagequoia
Traptrix Dionea
Raiden, Hand of the Lightsworn
Lots of others for sure, though.
 
10 - Number 103: Ragnazero
 
Great XYZ option, especially against archetype decks that use stat boosters like Fire Fists and Madolches.  Can punish certain decks and provides draw power to make it a floater.
 
09 - Number 101: Silent Honor ARK
 
This card gets rid of your opponent's monsters without destroying them, is able to protect itself by detaching and it gives your opponent reason to ponder before Special Summoning in Attack Position blindly.
 
08 - Sylvan Charity
 
Graceful Charity for Sylvans.  Lets you stack your deck.  Improves consistency by a mile.  If you think that's already crazy, imagine recycling it with Sylvan Sagequoia's effect.  
 
07 - Madolche Anjelly
 
A fast searcher who matters because Madolches were meant to be a toolbox deck.  It synergizes with almost every single Madolche.  Triggers effects, helps XYZ summoning and even fuels Hootcake.  Holy crap.
 
06 - Artifact Sanctum

I'm in love with this card.  Bringing out Moralltach is costless chainable removal and a free 2100 beater for LV5 XYZ.  People run Artifacts in their deck just for amazing support like this.  
 
05 - Fire Hand

Ah, the hands.  So abusable, self-sufficient creatures.  By ramming into opponent's monsters, you can -1 your opponent multiple times.  Decks have had to play around these things.
 
04 - Ice Hand
 
Both Hand are excellent (can be a tad broken at times) though I'll give Ice Hand the slightest edge because it handles support spells/traps and floodgates alike.
 
03 - Evilswarm Exciton Knight

I underrated this gem, big time  3/5?  More like 4.5/5.  Yeah, it won't be useful every time, but when it is, you can easily gain a +2 or +3 advantage on your opponent.  You can even strategically burn your resources to make this card activate-able.  It makes players think twice before building big setups.
 
02 - Soul Charge
 
The most anticipated card in the set with big reason.  Turns out the life point and battle phase cost was manageable.  These helped bring out XYZ summons and other monsters that plussed when summoned from the graveyard.  Made the Dracossack + Felgrand lockdown combo easier to pull off for sure!  But numerous decks have abused this card.
 
01 - Wiretap
 
I call the past few months in the game, "the Wiretap Format".  Maybe this card was more of a reaction to the meta than part of the meta itself but it will no doubt be recognized as the card everybody ran 3 of amongst a 15 to 18 card trap lineup.  Where a single Wiretap, or having one more Wiretap set than your opponent can determine the outcome of the duel.
 
- Baneful