OCG 2017.04 Metagame (1 Apr – 30 Jun 2017)

OCG 2017.04 marked the beginning of a new era. The “New Master Rule” was implemented and together with it was the debut of Link Monsters.

Compiled from a total of 668 top-placing decks from 95 competitive tournaments held in Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and China Mainland, here is the final metagame breakdown of the OCG 2017.04 format.

• 241 Zoodiac (179 True Draco Zoodiac, 59 Zoodiac, 3 Kaiju Zoodiac)
• 190 True Draco (102 Demise True Draco, 33 Windwitch Spellbook True Draco, 23 Invoked True Draco, 16 Mono True Draco, 5 Demise Spellbook True Draco, 4 Invoked Spellbook True Draco, 3 Windwitch Invoked True Draco, 2 Spellbook True Draco, 1 Windwitch True Draco, 1 Trickstar True Draco)
• 121 Dinosaur (84 True King Dinosaur, 36 True King Yang Zing Dinosaur, 1 True King Grandsoil Dinosaur)
• 32 Kozmo (30 True Draco Metalfoes Kozmo, 2 True Draco Kozmo)
• 23 Yang Zing (21 Dinosaur Yang Zing, 2 D/D Dinosaur Yang Zing)
• 15 Trickstar (10 Windwitch Trickstar, 5 Trickstar)
• 7 Infernoid (5 Grass Infernoid, 1 Infernoid, 1 Windwitch Spellbook Infernoid)
• 7 Metalfoes (2 Windwitch Spellbook True Draco Metalfoes, 2 Windwitch True Draco Metalfoes, 1 True Draco Metalfoes, 1 True Draco Spellbook Metalfoes, 1 True Draco Zefra Metalfoes)
• 4 Brilliant Venus World Chalice
• 3 Windwitch Kaiju Luna
• 2 Fluffal
• 2 Kaiju Burning Abyss
• 2 Invoked (1 Kaiju Invoked, 1 Windwitch Trickstar Invoked)
• 2 Windwitch Artifact Kaiju
• 2 Windwitch Graydle
• 1 Burn
• 1 Darklord
• 1 Grass Lightsworn Gandora
• 1 Grass Predaplant Lunalight
• 1 Grass Skull Servant
• 1 Kaiju Performapal Odd-Eyes Magician
• 1 HERO
• 1 Infernity
• 1 Kaiju Atlantean Mermail
• 1 Lightsworn
• 1 Magician
• 1 Ritual Beast
• 1 Shiranui
• 1 True Draco Zoodiac Monarch
• 1 Zefra

Zoodiac was thought to be weakened when Zoodiac Drident, Zoodiac Barrage became forbidden, and Zoodiac Ratpier became limited. While the Ratpier combo is no more, Zoodiac Broadbull and Zoodiac Chakanine could still generate decent card advantage.

Zoodiac in OCG 2017.04 plays in a similar style as the traditional Gadget control deck. Through the effect of Zoodiac Broadbull, Zoodiac monsters become self-replacing, just like the cycling of Green Gadget, Red Yellow and Yellow Gadget. With the card advantage from Zoodiac Broadbull, the Zoodiac player will remain ahead by simply disrupting the opponent with “Hand Traps” (Quick Effect monsters that activates from hand) such as Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit, Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring and Skull Meister.

Zoodiac is also more efficient at Tribute Summoning Master Peace, the True Dracoslaying King with immunity to Monster Effect by using the monster Special Summoned by Zoodiac Chakanine effect. Zoodiac Chakanine also makes it easier to Link Summon Missus Radiant, gaining 2 Link Arrow that points to the Main Monster Zone. When Missus Radiant is destroyed by battle or card effect, it could salvage an EARTH monster from the graveyard.

With power from Master Peace, the True Dracoslaying King, and consistency from Zoodiac Broadbull and Dragonic Diagram, True Draco Zoodiac would dominate the OCG 2017.04 format.

OCG 2017.01 → OCG 2017.04 Limit Regulation changes:

• Zoodiac Broadbull 3 → 0

Another massive hit to Zoodiac finally puts an end to their reign.

The implementation of the “New Master Rule” saw many players picking up Demise True Draco as the deck is unaffected by the new Extra Monster Zone ruling.

True Draco is inefficient Tribute Summoning a Master Peace, the True Dracoslaying King with immunity to Monster Effect, resulting in a weaker Master Peace that is vulnerable against the opponent’s Master Peace or the effect of Zoodiac Whiptail.

However, they could open with Master Peace, the True Dracoslaying King by Tributing a Continuous Spell and a Continuous Trap, then follow up with a Skill Drain. Since Master Peace, the True Dracoslaying King was already on the field, it would not be negated by Skill Drain. If the opponent were to summon their own Master Peace, the True Dracoslaying King while Skill Drain is on field, then theirs would be negated.

OCG 2017.01 → OCG 2017.04 Limit Regulation changes:

• Master Peace, the True Dracoslaying King 3 → 1
• Dragonic Diagram 3 → 1
• Card of Demise 3 → 2
• Terraforming 3 → 2

Multiple hits to reduce True Draco consistency, but Master Peace, the True Dracoslaying King would still be the most powerful monster going in the OCG 2017.07 metagame.

True King Dinosaur has the most explosive openings. It could banishing 2 cards from the opponent’s hand by Synchro Summoning Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier then following up with Xyz Summoning Phantom Fortress Enterblathnir. Going into True King of All Calamities is also an option if the opponent deck relies heavily on Monster Effects.

True King Yang Zing Dinosaur build could also open with Denglong, First of the Yang Zing to fetch Nine Pillars of Yang Zing, and then bring out Herald of the Arc Light, which essentially equates to the negation of 2 opponent effects.

While the deck has a very high power ceiling, it is also relatively lower in consistency and struggles to make plays when disrupted by the opponent. Nonetheless, Dinosaur was enough of a threat that Skull Meister is played in the Side Deck to negate Miscellaneousaurus, Babycerasaurus and Petiteranodon.

Top Japanese players such as Hiyama Shunsuke (2015, 2016 World Champion), Momiji Daiki (5-8th at World Championship 2016), and Hasegawa Akira (3rd at World Championship 2015) chose to go with True King Dinosaur or True King Yang Zing Dinosaur for their deck choice this format.

OCG 2017.01 → OCG 2017.04 Limit Regulation changes:

• Dragonic Diagram 3 → 1
• Terraforming 3 → 2

True King Dinosaur took a hit in terms of consistency but would remain as a top contender in the early OCG 2017.07 format.

Out of all 668 decks, 219 were decks running with True Draco engine, 190 were True Draco decks, 121 were True King decks, and only 138 decks were not running any Dragonic Diagram. In total, Dragonic Diagram was played in 79.34% of the decks.

Searchable by Dragonic Diagram, Master Peace, the True Dracoslaying King has both power and consistency, making it a strong inclusion in many decks.