OCG banlist Apr 2023

[Thain]

Bye Elf, which is kind of expected. And bye Bystial? Totally unexpected.

https://yu-gi-oh.jp/news_detail.php?page=details&&id=1561

Arrange from ban to limit to semi-limit to unlimited

[Merilirem]

I am just happy to see the dragonrulers coming back. Not because I even want to play them but because I like seeing things come off the list when they can. Hopefully intact.

[Aldain]

See ya Elf.

Also even MORE Tear hits.

Good lord it's the deck that keeps getting up after getting double tapped.

Also Ishizu hits because FREAKING DUH KONAMI HOW DID YOU THINK THAT LEVEL OF MILL WAS A GOOD IDEA?!

[Astrallight]

Nice. ban to Elf and limit Blue Elf and semi-limit Runic Fountain.

[wildnike]

Elf is eradicated. Felled. Another generic Link-2 dead to rights.

Tears have also been destroyed, along with the Ishizu cards. Guess they were finally tired of seeing Tears still sitting around 30% representation.

The Dragon Rulers making a return pleases me.

Glow-Up Bulb to one? Definitely wasn't expecting that card's return, but a welcome one.

Skill Drain is pretty expected. The card has been prominent in a lot of BO1 OCG events lately.

Bystial hits are very much expected. As is Runick. I'm surprised we aren't seeing more semi-limits to the Quick Play cards themselves.

Overall, pretty solid list. I expect Vanquished Soul to become very meta in the OCG in the near future, as well as several rogue decks to rise to prominence. Looking at you Rikka, Mathmech, and Labrynth: the apparent only survivors of 2022 YGO.

[Kane526]

The OCG REALLY hates Branded. Practically every card that lets the deck function is set to 1. What I want to know is why? Branded was very uncommon to see when Tear showed up and it eventually just vanished all together from top tournaments, showing up in the top cut only once or twice. But instead of hitting Kashtira more, the other big Tier 1 Deck, they further hit a Tier 2 Deck. Im assuming its because with Tear and Spright eating dirt, the OCG doesnt want Branded to make a comeback

[C.C. 折オリ枝 の 夫]

Originally posted by Kane526:

The OCG REALLY hates Branded. Practically every card that lets the deck function is set to 1. What I want to know is why? Branded was very uncommon to see when Tear showed up and it eventually just vanished all together from top tournaments, showing up in the top cut only once or twice. But instead of hitting Kashtira more, the other big Tier 1 Deck, they further hit a Tier 2 Deck. Im assuming its because with Tear and Spright eating dirt, the OCG doesnt want Branded to make a comeback

Because Branded can, even tho may not be the most optimal board, end on a decent board with just 2 special summons, that being the obvious Mirrorjade set Branded in Red pass.

Why does that matter? Maxx "C", that's why. Branded is a deck Maxx "C" can't keep in check because when it's dropped, the opponent can get away with very little special summoning. Sure, the opponent gets only a Pot of Greed value off of Maxx "C", but it doesn't force Branded to pass turn like it would other decks.

[C.C. 折オリ枝 の 夫]

Originally posted by Aldain:

See ya Elf.

Also even MORE Tear hits.

Good lord it's the deck that keeps getting up after getting double tapped.

Also Ishizu hits because FREAKING DUH KONAMI HOW DID YOU THINK THAT LEVEL OF MILL WAS A GOOD IDEA?!

This is honestly what I would call "a list just to push new product".

Sure, Tearlaments might've needed a new hit in the OCG because the previous one wasn't that big (at least not when compared to the TCG), but Sprights? Ok, the Elf hit was needed, Elf is a busted card, but why also hit Blue as well? Don't forged OCG has Jet and Starter also limited.

Out of the cards Spright decks run at 3 (if able), those being Blue, Jet and Starter, all 3 are now limited in the OCG.

Branded also didn't really need a new hit.

[Merik Lobo]

Originally posted by Kane526:

The OCG REALLY hates Branded. Practically every card that lets the deck function is set to 1. What I want to know is why? Branded was very uncommon to see when Tear showed up and it eventually just vanished all together from top tournaments, showing up in the top cut only once or twice. But instead of hitting Kashtira more, the other big Tier 1 Deck, they further hit a Tier 2 Deck. Im assuming its because with Tear and Spright eating dirt, the OCG doesnt want Branded to make a comeback

to be fair, they hit Bystials. Bystials have been primarily ran in other decks, like Tearlaments, as a better D.D. Crow. That's the main reason they got hit here. The only odd one out is Lubellion, who isn't splashed nearly as much.

[Merik Lobo]

Originally posted by C.C. アヌビス:

Originally posted by Aldain:

See ya Elf.

Also even MORE Tear hits.

Good lord it's the deck that keeps getting up after getting double tapped.

Also Ishizu hits because FREAKING DUH KONAMI HOW DID YOU THINK THAT LEVEL OF MILL WAS A GOOD IDEA?!

This is honestly what I would call "a list just to push new product".

Sure, Tearlaments might've needed a new hit in the OCG because the previous one wasn't that big (at least not when compared to the TCG), but Sprights? Ok, the Elf hit was needed, Elf is a busted card, but why also hit Blue as well? Don't forged OCG has Jet and Starter also limited.

Out of the cards Spright decks run at 3 (if able), those being Blue, Jet and Starter, all 3 are now limited in the OCG.

Branded also didn't really need a new hit.

yeah, they do all this, but the still have a huge roach infestation. Clearly, they need to hire the Orkin Man to do their next banlist.

[wildnike]

Originally posted by C.C. アヌビス:

Originally posted by Aldain:

See ya Elf.

Also even MORE Tear hits.

Good lord it's the deck that keeps getting up after getting double tapped.

Also Ishizu hits because FREAKING DUH KONAMI HOW DID YOU THINK THAT LEVEL OF MILL WAS A GOOD IDEA?!

This is honestly what I would call "a list just to push new product".

Sure, Tearlaments might've needed a new hit in the OCG because the previous one wasn't that big (at least not when compared to the TCG), but Sprights? Ok, the Elf hit was needed, Elf is a busted card, but why also hit Blue as well? Don't forged OCG has Jet and Starter also limited.

Out of the cards Spright decks run at 3 (if able), those being Blue, Jet and Starter, all 3 are now limited in the OCG.

Branded also didn't really need a new hit.

To me, Elf is one of those future proof hits. It's a very powerful generic Link-2, and we all know how those go. The card has mostly been seeing play in Tears decks since Spright's downfall, so that could also be a reason. Really wanted to drive as many nails in the coffin as possible.

Spright... yeah it's done for. If I had to guess, Konami looked to Spright and Tear and saw they were some of the most powerful archetypes ever printed, and it would be best to just eliminate them entirely in favor of whatever new products we get. A product push? Yeah, but that's the root of a lot of banlists.

I agree Branded's penance in the OCG is a crime. But maybe they see Branded as too overtuned in the TCG? It's been in the meta for about a year, and has been fairly durable. If I had to guess, they probably don't see the un-limiting of cards as a priority to pushing new product.

[C.C. 折オリ枝 の 夫]

Originally posted by wildnike:

Originally posted by C.C. アヌビス:

This is honestly what I would call "a list just to push new product".

Sure, Tearlaments might've needed a new hit in the OCG because the previous one wasn't that big (at least not when compared to the TCG), but Sprights? Ok, the Elf hit was needed, Elf is a busted card, but why also hit Blue as well? Don't forged OCG has Jet and Starter also limited.

Out of the cards Spright decks run at 3 (if able), those being Blue, Jet and Starter, all 3 are now limited in the OCG.

Branded also didn't really need a new hit.

To me, Elf is one of those future proof hits. It's a very powerful generic Link-2, and we all know how those go. The card has mostly been seeing play in Tears decks since Spright's downfall, so that could also be a reason. Really wanted to drive as many nails in the coffin as possible.

Spright... yeah it's done for. If I had to guess, Konami looked to Spright and Tear and saw they were some of the most powerful archetypes ever printed, and it would be best to just eliminate them entirely in favor of whatever new products we get. A product push? Yeah, but that's the root of a lot of banlists.

I agree Branded's penance in the OCG is a crime. But maybe they see Branded as too overtuned in the TCG? It's been in the meta for about a year, and has been fairly durable. If I had to guess, they probably don't see the un-limiting of cards as a priority to pushing new product.

But Branded isn't hit in the TCG. OCG also has stuff like Branded Opening limited.

So I would've probably agreed if it was something like "ok, we can see how good it is in the TCG, so we're lowering the power level a bit preemptively", but, OCG already did that by a lot.

[Astrallight]

Originally posted by Kane526:

The OCG REALLY hates Branded. Practically every card that lets the deck function is set to 1. What I want to know is why? Branded was very uncommon to see when Tear showed up and it eventually just vanished all together from top tournaments, showing up in the top cut only once or twice. But instead of hitting Kashtira more, the other big Tier 1 Deck, they further hit a Tier 2 Deck. Im assuming its because with Tear and Spright eating dirt, the OCG doesnt want Branded to make a comeback

Branded is still way too good so Branded getting hit should be a positiv thing. rather then a complain.

[Kane526]

Originally posted by Merik Lobo:

Originally posted by Kane526:

The OCG REALLY hates Branded. Practically every card that lets the deck function is set to 1. What I want to know is why? Branded was very uncommon to see when Tear showed up and it eventually just vanished all together from top tournaments, showing up in the top cut only once or twice. But instead of hitting Kashtira more, the other big Tier 1 Deck, they further hit a Tier 2 Deck. Im assuming its because with Tear and Spright eating dirt, the OCG doesnt want Branded to make a comeback

to be fair, they hit Bystials. Bystials have been primarily ran in other decks, like Tearlaments, as a better D.D. Crow. That's the main reason they got hit here. The only odd one out is Lubellion, who isn't splashed nearly as much.

This is true, the Bystials are played in a lot of decks besides Branded

[Kane526]

Originally posted by C.C. アヌビス:

Originally posted by wildnike:

To me, Elf is one of those future proof hits. It's a very powerful generic Link-2, and we all know how those go. The card has mostly been seeing play in Tears decks since Spright's downfall, so that could also be a reason. Really wanted to drive as many nails in the coffin as possible.

Spright... yeah it's done for. If I had to guess, Konami looked to Spright and Tear and saw they were some of the most powerful archetypes ever printed, and it would be best to just eliminate them entirely in favor of whatever new products we get. A product push? Yeah, but that's the root of a lot of banlists.

I agree Branded's penance in the OCG is a crime. But maybe they see Branded as too overtuned in the TCG? It's been in the meta for about a year, and has been fairly durable. If I had to guess, they probably don't see the un-limiting of cards as a priority to pushing new product.

But Branded isn't hit in the TCG. OCG also has stuff like Branded Opening limited.

So I would've probably agreed if it was something like "ok, we can see how good it is in the TCG, so we're lowering the power level a bit preemptively", but, OCG already did that by a lot.

Ya Branded was already bleeding out in the OCG and then they shot em again

[Kane526]

Originally posted by Astrallight:

Originally posted by Kane526:

The OCG REALLY hates Branded. Practically every card that lets the deck function is set to 1. What I want to know is why? Branded was very uncommon to see when Tear showed up and it eventually just vanished all together from top tournaments, showing up in the top cut only once or twice. But instead of hitting Kashtira more, the other big Tier 1 Deck, they further hit a Tier 2 Deck. Im assuming its because with Tear and Spright eating dirt, the OCG doesnt want Branded to make a comeback

Branded is still way too good so Branded getting hit should be a positiv thing. rather then a complain.

Not true. Branded in the OCG is dead in the water because Branded Fusion and Branded Opening are both at 1 in the OCG, effectively killing the whole deck's main engine. One negate and it dies. The Bystials were the last leg it had to stand on, with that being hit as well the deck is essentially worthless.