Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG: October 2022 Banlist Analysis

Since early September, Yu-Gi-Oh! players have been eagerly waiting for a new banlist, and despite the delay, it's finally out!

On September 26, 2022, Konami updated the list of forbidden and limited cards for the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG, and once again Mystic Mine was unharmed. The new banlist will be in effect from October 3, 2022.

Check out all the changes below!

Fairy Tail - Snow

Fairy Tail - Snow was forbidden for some time and returned to the game limited to 1 copy in the past banlist, however, as expected, it has returned to be a problem in the game, as it allows oppressive decks to divide interactions because, in addition to setting up a strong field, they can still count on Snow's effect on the graveyard.

Ronintoadin

The ban of Ronintoadin was one of the biggest surprises of this update, and it was certainly a big hit for the Spright deck, which despite not being completely unusable, loses a lot of its consistency and resilience, in addition to having more difficulty to invoke Toadally Awesome.

Crystron Halqifibrax

Crystron Halqifibrax has been a problematic card since its release, and its ban is more than deserved. In addition to raising the ceiling on combo decks, more recently, “Halq” was a key player in making the “Scythe Lock”.

Also, due to their existence, several "tuner" monsters were banned from the game, as "Halq" combos were responsible for ensuring easy access to them. Despite being used more "fairly" by Spright in the current format, it's a card that players always find a way to use in a degenerate combo.

Chaos Ruler, the Chaotic Magical Dragon

Chaos Ruler, the Chaotic Magical Dragon is another monster that makes generic combos possible. At no cost, its effect adds 1 card to the hand and sends another 4 to the graveyard.

Despite not being a card as problematic as others on the list, its ban is a relevant asset to decrease the consistency of the decks that use it.

Red Reboot

Red Reboot is another surprise on the banlist, since it was already limited to 1 copy and there were no major complaints about it.

Despite this, it really is an unbalanced card against “Trap” decks, as it activates directly from the hand and prevents the opponent from activating other traps for the rest of the turn.

Blackwing - Steam the Cloak

Blackwing - Steam the Cloak is one of the "tuner" monsters that were banned because of Crystron Halqifibrax. However, due to the ban on “Halq”, they are returning to the game.

Thanks to its effect to summon from the graveyard, and to create an Aqua-Type token when it leaves the field, it can be tested in Tearlaments, in the vacancy left by Fairy Tail - Snow's absence.

Cyber ​​Jar

Cyber ​​Jar has an effect that seems pretty strong: Destroy all monsters on the field, then both players reveal the top 5 cards of the deck and Special Summon all Level 4 or lower monsters, as well as adding the remaining cards to their hands.

However, the fact that it is a monster with a "Flip" effect, makes it too slow for the current Yu-Gi-Oh!. Also, putting monsters on your opponent's field and more cards in their hand is definitely not a good idea. So, this shouldn't be a relevant return, and will possibly go back to 3 in an upcoming banlist.

Mecha Phantom Beast O-Lion

Mecha Phantom Beast O-Lion is another one of the "tuner" monsters that were banned because of Crystron Halqifibrax, and I believe it won't cause any problems in a world without "Halq" and Mecha Phantom Beast Auroradon.

Substitutoad

Substitoad was banned for being a fundamental part of the "Frog Burn FTK", however, with the ban on Ronintoadin this combo is no longer possible, so I doubt it'll be an issue now.

Also, since it's not a Level 2 monster, it doesn't make sense to use it on Spright, despite it being able to fetch Swap Frog.

Spellbook of Judgment

Spellbook of Judgment was once a strong card to the point of needing to be banned, but due to the power creep present in the game, I believe it won't cause any problems. Despite this, there are already players testing it in a new deck: Runick Spellbook.

Appointer of the Red Lotus

Appointer of the Red Lotus is the only card on this limited list that was released to 3 copies before. Despite being a side deck card, it has the strong effect of looking at your opponent's hand cards and banishing 1 of them until the end phase of the next turn. In theory, you use it to remove from your opponent's hand the card that would make them break your field.

Dinomight Knight, the True Dracofighter

Dinomight Knight, the True Dracofighter released at 3 copies is nothing new, as it was 2 in the last banlist and had no competitive relevance. Despite that, for those who enjoy the True Draco deck, this update strengthens their strategy.

Cyber ​​Angel Benten

Cyber ​​Angel Benten is one of the best Ritual monsters in the game and, in the opinion of many, should be banned. However, due to the current ceiling in the game, the most the card will do is make Drytron more consistent.

Shooting Riser Dragon

Shooting Riser Dragon was strangely limited to 1 copy, strangely because only 1 is enough to use in a deck. However, tinkering with other cards was enough to solve the situation, and besides, without Fairy Tail - Snow, I doubt it'll be a major problem.

Fusion Destiny

With Predaplant Verte Anaconda being banned in the past banlist, releasing Fusion Destiny at 3 copies seems fair to me.

At first, I imagine that only 3 "relevant" decks will use it to count on the Destiny HERO - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer: HERO, Invoked and Sky Striker. Despite this, it is unlikely that any of them will have great representation in the current meta.

Nadir Servant

Nadir Servant is another card that was once considered very strong, but today it no longer poses a problem when leaving the list due to the game's power creep. At first, it makes Invoked Dogmatika more consistent, but most likely it won't change the deck's level that much.

Trickstar Light Stage

Trickstar Light Stage is another card on this list that lost to power creep, despite being used in some Spright lists as an engine to put a Level 2 monster on the field, it didn't have any negative impact on the game at all. So, I believe its departure from the list was fair.

Wall of Revealing Light

Wall of Revealing Light is a floodgate with such a fair effect that it's bad for the present day. It's definitely a card that doesn't need to be banned and certainly won't have competitive relevance.

Despite the banning of problematic cards like Fairy Tail - Snow and Crystron Halqifibrax, it left something to be desired for simply ignoring Mystic Mine and Artifact Scythe, which are very harmful to the game's health.

Furthermore, I believe that Ronintoadin's ban was a huge casualty for the Spright, while their biggest rival, Tearlaments, didn't suffer any direct loss, as they only lost "Snow".

The format that starts on October 3, 2022 will be unevenly and with Tearlaments firing ahead of the other decks. Spright will need to reinvent itself, and initially, I believe the most popular variations will be Runick Spright and Spright Evil Twin.

On the other side, decks like Exosister, Floowandereeze, and Mystic Mine Burn can increase in popularity, as they have a favorable match against Tearlaments.

Thus, apparently because of an incomplete banlist, the new format seems significantly worse than the previous one. Because in addition to the very present Mystic Mine, there will be a deck far above the rest.

For more information about the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG keep following our articles, and you are welcome to give your opinion here in the comments, Cards Realm thanks you for your collaboration!