OCG 2015.07 Metagame (1 Jul – 30 Sep 2015)

The OCG 2015.07 Limit Regulation had no changes, but the release of Dimension of Chaos warped the metagame and for the first time made Pendulum the dominating strategy in the metagame.

Compiled from a total of 506 top-placing decks from 65 competitive tournaments held in Japan, Hong Kong and China Mainland, here is the final metagame breakdown of the OCG 2015.07 format.

• 220 Performapal Performage (216 Performapal Performage, 2 Odd-Eyes Performapal Performage, 1 Hand Performapal Performage, 1 Majespecter Performapal Performage)
• 83 HERO (80 HERO, 3 Artifact HERO)
• 69 Magician (37 Performapal Performage Magician, 12 Clownblade Magician, 6 Magician, 5 Majespecter Magician, 3 HERO Magician, 1 Artifact Magician, 1 Hand Performage Magician, 1 HERO Clownblade Magician, 1 HERO Majespecter Magician, 1 Performage Magician, 1 Star Seraph Magician)
• 46 Nekroz (43 Nekroz, 3 Atlantean Nekroz)
• 34 Atlantean (16 Atlantean, 10 Atlantean Mermail, 7 Artifact Atlantean, 4 Genex Atlantean)
• 9 Majespecter (7 Majespecter, 1 Performage Majespecter, 1 Performapal Majespecter)
• 6 Clownblade (3 Clownblade, 2 Hand Clownblade, 1 Star Seraph Clownblade)
• 6 Tellarknight
• 5 Shaddoll Train
• 4 Artifact (2 Artifact, 1 Clownblade Artifact, 1 Hand Artifact)
• 4 Qliphort
• 3 Infernoid
• 3 Magician Infernity
• 3 Monarch
• 2 Chronomaly (1 Artifact Chronomaly, 1 Artifact Galaxy Chronomaly)
• 2 D/D
• 2 Volcanic Shaddoll
• 1 Chow Len Beat
• 1 Galaxy Cyber Dragon
• 1 Junk Doppel
• 1 Shaddoll Deskbot
• 1 Yang Zing

Dimension of Chaos came with Performage Plushfire and Performage Mirror Conductor, propelling Performage to the top.

Performage Plushfire in particular changed the way Pendulum decks are played. The older Pendulum decks such as Magician mainly rely on Pendulum Summoning from hand in the initial wave, and after these Pendulum Monsters are wiped out then they could Pendulum Summon them back from the Extra Deck.

Performapal Performage on the other hand uses Performapal Pendulum Sorcerer, Luster Pendulum, the Dracoslayer and Wavering Eyes to destroy cards in their Pendulum Zones, then Pendulum Summon back right on their first wave. Certain Pendulum Monsters such as Performage Plushfire has a Monster Effect can be activated even when destroyed in the Pendulum Zone. This allows the deck to quickly mass up Level 4 monsters to make powerful Rank 4 plays involving Number 16: Shock Master, Tellarknight Ptolemaeus and Traptrix Rafflesia.

Tellarknight Ptolemaeus allows the player to go into Constellar Pleiades, Cyber Dragon Infinity, and later Outer Entity Azathoth after the release Extra Pack 2015 in 19 September 2015.

The recursive Pendulum Summon mechanic also allows Performapal Performage to quickly rebuild their board even after being wiped out.

OCG 2015.07 → OCG 2015.10 Limit Regulation changes:

• Elder Entity Norden 3 → 0
• Tellarknight Ptolemaeus 3 → 0

Performapal Performage loses access to Constellar Pleiades, Cyber Dragon Infinity and Outer Entity Azathoth, but remains a strong contender going into the OCG 2015.10 format.

HERO was one of the older decks that remained consistent in the format while the others such as Nekroz and Atlantean has fallen off.

Masked HERO Dark Law is the main factor that kept HERO competitive. Its effect makes the opponent’s cards to be banished instead of going to the graveyard, and this affects Pendulum Monsters as well, causing them to be banished instead of going to the Extra Deck, greatly reducing the recursive advantage from the Pendulum Summon mechanic.

HERO are also based around Level 4 monsters, and could make powerful Rank 4 plays involving Number 16: Shock Master, Tellarknight Ptolemaeus and Traptrix Rafflesia.

However, HERO runs out of steam after their opening play, and would often be unable to keep up with the explosive plays from Performapal Performage.

OCG 2015.07 → OCG 2015.10 Limit Regulation changes:

• Elemental HERO Shadow Mist 3 → 1
• Elemental HERO Bubbleman 2 → 3
• Elder Entity Norden 3 → 0
• Tellarknight Ptolemaeus 3 → 0

The OCG 2015.10 format has hit HERO rather hard. Losing Tellarknight Ptolemaeus greatly reduces their Rank 4 plays, while limiting Elemental HERO Shadow Mist lowers their consistency of opening with Masked HERO Dark Law.

Magician made use of Pendulum Summon to Special Summon big disruptive monsters such as Mist Valley Apex Avian and Majespecter Unicorn – Kirin.

Pendulum Call prevents Magician cards in the Pendulum Zone from being destroyed, preventing them for utilizing Luster Pendulum, the Dracoslayer and Wavering Eyes effectively. Many Magician Pendulum Effects also require another Magician in the other Pendulum Zone, limiting their ability to mix with Performage.

• Wisdom-Eye Magician 3 → 1
• Tellarknight Ptolemaeus 3 → 0

Limiting Wisdom-Eye Magician makes Magician even more undesirable, and would see a more players pivoting to Performapal Performage.

The new OCG 2015.10 Limit Regulation has weakened most of the older themes such as HERO, Nekroz and Atlantean, while leaving the new theme Performapal Performage untouched. Performapal Performage would continue to dominate in the OCG 20.15.10 format.

Extra Pack 2015 and Structure Deck R: Advent of the True Monarch introduced Burning Abyss and Monarch to the competitive scene, and both have left a small impression in the metagame, but are not quite no par with Performapal Performage.