Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG: April 2024 Banlist Review

The first banlist in 2024, which was eagerly awaited by most Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG players, is finally here! Despite the wait, on April 13th 2024 Konami once again updated the Limited and Forbidden list; these changes will be legal from April 15th 2024 onward in the Americas, but only from April 22nd 2024 onward in other regions (EU, ME, Africa, and Oceania).

Even though it didn't make any deck unplayable, the new banlist will probably influence the metagame significantly, considering it included cards that are very popular in the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG competitive scene. Additionally, it did what Konami promised earlier (restrict floodgates), but, on the other hand, it brought back to the game some problematic monsters that have floodgate effects.

Check out below all changes made to the banlist for the new Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG format.

Very popular in decks of the current format (particularly in Snake-Eye variants), Linkuriboh definitely needed a ban.

Besides improving the beginning of Snake-Eye's combos, it made these decks more resistant against interactions that need to target something, like these handtraps: Infinite Impermanence, Effect Veiler, and Ghost Mourner & Moonlit Chill.

This card was also incredibly important for plays with Decode Talker Heatsoul, which, therefore, won't be popular in Snake-Eye anymore.

The Baronne de Fleur / Borreload Savage Dragon ban was a surprise to some players, but a relief to some.

The message that Konami sends us with these bans is that it doesn't want a format that is dominated by omni-negates, something that part of the community has always criticized, considering they allow us to build "unbreakable" boards. Whether these bans are bad or good for the game, we still don't know, but Snake-Eye's Synchro variant will probably be less popular, and the main "negate" in the format will most likely become Apollousa, Bow of the Goddess.

Summon Limit was, possibly, the most popular floodgate in the format; we even used it in Snake-Eye, but we mostly used it against it.

Considering this card is completely anti-game, this ban will please most players, who'll now have one less floodgate to worry about during their matches.

Even though this banlist focused on restricting floodgates, Konami decided to free Archnemeses Protos, which is a floodgate in monster form. I believe most players didn't like this decision, except for Swordsoul players, who might use it again and become the biggest predators of Fire decks because they disable this attribute.

Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls is the last Dragon Ruler to be unbanned, and, even though its effect is better than its archetype companions, it shouldn't impact the metagame as much as the other Dragon Rulers.

Thunder Dragon Colossus is another floodgate monster that will be unbanned. If many already complain about Droll & Lock Bird, what can we say about "Colossus", which doesn't even let us move cards from our deck to our hand?

Besides having a pretty strong effect, Thunder Dragon Colossus is extremely generic due to Nemeses Corridor, which allows us to summon it more easily. As a result, this monster can definitely pop up in competitive decks in this format.

The return of Majespecter Unicorn - Kirin was quite predictable, considering this archetype got an excellent support card recently: Majespecter Orthrus - Nue. Even though now it has its boss monster, besides the new card, Majespecter will likely not stand out in the competitive scene, and it will only be a viable rogue deck.

Chicken Game is another surprise that will return to the game, both because of its effect (which is practically an Upstart Goblin) and because we can't imagine a clear reason to bring it back. Despite this, it can be incredibly useful in decks that depend on their field spell, and it is a good target for Set Rotation.

Finally, we got to the only card in the limited list that will be restricted, and won't be returning to the game. Anti-Spell Fragrance is a floodgate that has been, for years, on the metagame radar, and for years many players have wanted it banned. Even though its ban is still far away, limiting it is a good start, considering its popularity will go down.

Previously limited and now with another copy available, Armageddon Knight shouldn't be relevant in Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG's competitive scene, and it will probably be unlimited when one of the next banlists comes along.

Purrely Delicious Memory also went from limited to semi-limited, and the reason behind this is its supposedly favorable matchup against Snake-Eye. If Purrely's consistency gets better, this deck might threaten Snake-Eye's dominance, which, at least for the beginning of this format, will have to find a new build.

Destiny HERO - Malicious went from semi-limited to completely unlimited, which is, once again, unexpected, considering this card is extremely generic and tends to be abused in combo decks. I believe that, just like in other moments when this card was free to use, 3 copies of it, it will soon be semi-limited again.

Orcust Harp Horror, Speedroid Terrortop, and Sky Striker Mobilize - Engage! being unlimited was already expected and, although they improve the decks that use it, they shouldn't impact the metagame.

Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG's metagame was being dominated by Snake-Eye variants, considered by many tier 0 decks. So, many players wanted or expected changes that would make them weaker, but even though the monsters that were used in their extra decks were banned, these hits weren't that relevant.

I consider the bans in this list to be great for the current game state, and the same applies to its only restriction (Anti-Spell Fragrance), which could easily be a ban. As far as cards returning, I consider some necessary and interesting, but others prejudicial for the game, like Archnemeses Protos, Thunder Dragon Colossus, and Destiny HERO - Malicious.

So, my verdict is that this banlist is average because, even though it changed, with reason, some cards, it didn't lower the power level of the main deck in the format that significantly, and brought back to the game some problematic cards. The new format will probably have pure Snake-Eye and Fire King Snake-Eye as the main decks, followed by Voiceless Voice.

But what about you, what did you think of this banlist? Did you miss any cards? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section.

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