OCG 2013.11 Metagame (1 Nov 2013 – 31 Jan 2014)

Despite having no changes made to the Limit Regulation, the format continues to develop on its own and saw a shift in deck distributions.

Compiled from a total of 339 top-placing decks from 36 competitive tournaments held in Japan, Singapore and Taiwan, here is the final metagame breakdown of the OCG 2013.11 format.

• 185 Dragon Ruler
• 53 Evilswarm
• 28 Atlantean Mermail
• 16 A Live HERO
• 11 Chronomaly
• 8 4-Axis Fire Fist
• 6 Dragunity (5 Dragunity, 1 Dragon Ruler Dragunity)
• 5 Dark World
• 5 Lightsworn (4 Dragon Ruler Lightsworn, 1 Lightsworn)
• 4 Six Samurai
• 3 Chain Burn
• 3 Infernity
• 2 Constellar
• 1 Cyber Dragon
• 1 Final Countdown
• 1 Fire King
• 1 Geargia
• 1 Gravekeeper
• 1 Heraldic Beast
• 1 Hieratic
• 1 Meta Beat
• 1 Prophecy
• 1 Spirit

Running 1 Mythic Water Dragon and 1 Mythic Tree Dragon in the Main Deck for quick access to Rank 8 plays. Mythic Water Dragon is a WATER Dragon and Mythic Tree Dragon is a EARTH Dragon, allowing them to be added to hand by the effects of Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls and Redox, Dragon Ruler of Boulders respectively.

Mythic Tree Dragon low ATK 100 also allows it to be Special Summoned by Debris Dragon, and together they could be used to make Rank 4 plays. Legacy of the Valiant introduced Evilswarm Exciton Knight and Number 101: Silent Honor ARK, two powerful Rank 4 Xyz Monsters that would become staples of many Rank 4 decks.

OCG 2013.11 → OCG 2014.02 Limit Regulation changes:

• Redox, Dragon Ruler of Boulders 3 → 2
• Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls 3 → 2
• Blaster, Dragon Ruler of Infernos 3 → 2
• Tempest, Dragon Ruler of Storms 3 → 2
• Sacred Sword of Seven Stars 3 → 1
• Gold Sarcophagus 3 → 1
• Return from the Different Dimension 1 → 0

Heavy hits to Dragon Ruler in both power and consistency. Having Return from the Different Dimension forbidden takes out the surprise OTK, and cuts the ability to recycle banished Dragon Rulers. Big Dragon Rulers going to semi-limited and Sacred Sword of Seven Stars, Gold Sarcophagus going to limited are major hits to consistency, forcing Dragon Ruler to come up with a whole new strategy if they were to remain competitive.

Evilswarm received great boosts in the form of two new powerful Rank 4 monsters, Evilswarm Exciton Knight and Number 101: Silent Honor ARK, giving them stronger going second options to clear the opponent’s threats.

Mistake has been pivotal in shutting down many of the top decks in the metagame. Dragon Ruler, Atlantean Mermail and HERO rely on adding cards from deck to make their plays.

OCG 2013.11 → OCG 2014.02 Limit Regulation changes:

• Evilswarm Ophion 3 → 1

Having their key monster card reduced to 1 forces Evilswarm to play more other Rank 4 monsters and not rely solely on locking out the opponent with Evilswarm Ophion.

Duelist Pack: Kamishiro Siblings Edition gave the other decks a strong tech card Diamond Dust against Atlantean Mermail. Diamond Dust is a would wipe the board of all WATER monsters and has no activation condition.

Number 101: Silent Honor ARK is a WATER Xyz Monster and detaching Atlantean Dragoons for its effect would trigger Dragoons’ effect.

OCG 2013.11 → OCG 2014.02 Limit Regulation changes:

• Atlantean Dragoons 3 → 1
• Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls 3 → 2

Atlantean Mermail is already barely afloat and the further consistency hits would see them fall off from the top of the competitive scene.

HERO were also hit by the new Limit Regulation. With Elemental HERO Bubbleman going to 1 effectively puts an end to the Rank 4 turbo build.

OCG 2013.11 → OCG 2014.02 Limit Regulation changes:

• Elemental HERO Bubbleman 2 → 1

The top 4 decks Dragon Ruler, Evilswarm, Atlantean Mermail and HERO were all affected by the new Limit Regulation, opening up for new decks such as Chronomaly to shine in the new OCG 2014.02 format.