OCG 2021.10 Metagame (1 Oct – 31 Dec 2021)
Deck Build Pack: Grand Creators ushered in a new era of the Adventurer, and together with Destiny HERO – Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer they would come to define the OCG 2021.10 format.
Compiled from a total of 938 top-placing decks from 182 competitive tournaments held in Japan, China Mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan, here is the final metagame breakdown of the OCG 2021.10 format.
Metagame Breakdown
- 205 Phantom Knights (184 Destiny HERO Adventurer Phantom Knights, 13 Danger Phantom Knights, 2 Danger P.U.N.K. Phantom Knights, 2 Grass Phantom Knights, 1 Adventurer Danger Phantom Knights, 1 Destiny HERO Phantom Knights, 1 Grass Danger Burning Abyss Phantom Knights, 1 Grass Destiny HERO Danger Burning Abyss Phantom Knights)
- 81 Swordsoul (24 Tenyi Swordsoul, 23 Swordsoul, 18 Destiny HERO Tenyi Swordsoul, 16 Destiny HERO Swordsoul)
- 75 Prank-Kids (61 Adventurer Prank-Kids, 12 Destiny HERO Adventurer Prank-Kids, 2 Destiny HERO Prank-Kids)
- 74 Eldlich (48 Eldlich, 7 Adventurer Eldlich, 5 Destiny HERO Adventurer Eldlich, 3 Destiny HERO Eldlich, 2 Grass Destiny HERO Eldlich, 2 Grass Destiny HERO Adventurer Eldlich, 1 Adventurer Branded Eldlich, 1 Destiny HERO Adventurer Zoodiac Eldlich, 1 Destiny HERO Ancient Warriors Eldlich, 1 Dogmatika Eldlich, 1 Grass Eldlich, 1 Grass Adventurer Eldlich, 1 Grass Destiny HERO Adventurer Zombie Eldlich)
- 73 Drytron (67 Drytron, 5 Destiny HERO Drytron, 1 Grass Drytron)
- 58 Floowandereeze
- 40 Tri-Brigade (27 Destiny HERO Zoodiac Tri-Brigade, 5 Destiny HERO Tri-Brigade, 4 Zoodiac Tri-Brigade, 3 Tri-Brigade, 1 Lyrilusc Ancient Warriors Branded Tri-Brigade)
- 39 Adventurer Tenyi (35 Adventurer Tenyi, 3 Rose Dragon Adventurer Tenyi, 1 3-Axis Adventurer Tenyi)
- 25 Despia (6 Branded Despia, 3 Destiny HERO Branded Despia, 3 Destiny HERO Frightfur Branded Despia, 2 Adventurer Branded Despia, 2 Destiny HERO Despia, 2 Frightfur Branded Despia, 1 Destiny HERO Adventurer Branded Despia, 1 Grass Branded Despia, 1 Grass Destiny HERO Branded Despia, 1 Grass Shaddoll Branded Despia, 1 Invoked Branded Despia, 1 Thunder Dragon Branded Despia, 1 Destiny HERO Frightfur Despia)
- 21 Adamancipator (13 Adamancipator, 4 P.U.N.K. Adamancipator, 2 Grass P.U.N.K. Adamancipator, 1 Grass P.U.N.K. Scrap Adamancipator, 1 Sekka Prank-Kids Adamancipator)
- 21 @Ignister
- 20 Sky Striker (8 Sky Striker, 7 Destiny HERO Sky Striker, 5 Destiny HERO Adventurer Sky Striker)
- 16 Phoenix Adventurer
- 16 Salamangreat
- 16 Shaddoll (7 Grass Destiny HERO Invoked Shaddoll, 2 Invoked Shaddoll, 2 Destiny HERO Invoked Shaddoll, 2 Grass Destiny HERO Adventurer Frightfur Shaddoll, 1 Grass Shaddoll, 1 Grass Destiny HERO Adventurer Shaddoll, 1 Grass Destiny HERO Dogmatika Invoked Shaddoll)
- 15 HERO
- 14 Invoked (9 Destiny HERO Invoked, 2 Branded Dogmatika Invoked, 1 Destiny HERO Dogmatika Invoked, 1 Dogmatika Invoked, 1 Neos Invoked)
- 12 Virtual World (11 Adventurer Virtual World, 1 Virtual World)
- 11 SPYRAL
- 10 Tri-Brigade Lyrilusc
- 7 Sekka Danger Kaiju Luna
- 7 Thunder Dragon (2 Thunder Dragon, 2 Chaos Thunder Dragon, 2 Destiny HERO Thunder Dragon, 1 Destiny HERO Chaos Thunder Dragon)
- 7 Zefra (6 Zefra, 1 Destiny HERO Adventurer Zefra)
- 6 Endymion
- 6 Destiny HERO Orcust
- 5 Agent Fairy
- 5 Dragon Link (3 Dragon Link, 2 Adventurer Dragon Link)
- 5 Megalith FTK
- 4 Dinosaur (2 Destiny HERO Dinosaur, 1 Dinosaur FTK, 1 True King Dinosaur)
- 4 Evil★Twin
- 4 Madolche
- 4 Marincess (3 Marincess, 1 Adventurer Marincess)
- 3 Destiny HERO Adventurer Cyberse
- 2 Code Talker
- 2 Destiny HERO Adventurer Nemeses
- 2 Destiny HERO Exosister
- 2 Destiny HERO Subterror
- 2 Dragonmaid (1 Dragonmaid, 1 Branded Dragonmaid)
- 2 Grass Infernoid
- 2 Magician
- 1 Adventurer Good Stuff
- 1 Adventurer P.U.N.K. Lightsworn
- 1 Adventurer 3-Axis Synchro
- 1 Buster Blader
- 1 Destiny HERO Cyberdark Orcust Chaos Dragon Link
- 1 Destiny HERO Invoked Mekk-Knight
- 1 D/D
- 1 Fluffal
- 1 Grass Zombie
- 1 Numeron
- 1 P.U.N.K. Adventurer
- 1 P.U.N.K. Scrap Mecha Phantom Beast
- 1 Rikka
- 1 Speedroid
- 1 Unchained
Phantom Knights
Destiny HERO Adventurer Phantom Knights barely edged out at the start, but quickly took over the metagame once its build was optimized.
The initial Destiny HERO Adventurer Phantom Knights build revolved around bringing out Destiny HERO – Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer and Number F0: Utopic Draco Future as the main threats, but opponents started running Super Polymerization with Gilti-Gearfried the Magical Steel Knight as a counter.
The next iteration saw Number F0: Utopic Draco Future being dropped, switching over to I:P Masquerena instead, but it remained vulnerable to Super Polymerization with Predaplant Dragostapelia or Starving Venom Fusion Dragon.
Finally, Artifact Dagda for Artifact Scythe became the dominant build. Being able to play around Forbidden Droplet, Super Polymerization, Dark Ruler No More and Kaiju made this deck extremely difficult to deal with.
OCG 2021.10 → OCG 2022.01 Limit Regulation changes:
- The Phantom Knights of Torn Scales 3 → 1
- Water Enchantress of the Temple 3 → 2
- Rite of Aramesir 3 → 2
- Fusion Destiny 3 → 0
- Crossout Designator 2 → 1
With Fusion Destiny forbidden, the Artifact Scythe lock is no longer viable. Phantom Knights could only revert back to their older Number 86: Heroic Champion – Rhongomyniad build as they slips off from the top of the competitive scene.
Swordsoul
Swordsoul had a decent start, but fell off gradually due to the power level. Swordsoul could not run Adventurer since they need to use the effect of their Normal Summon. Eventually Swordsoul took the drastic measure of running Dimension Shifter in the Main Deck to stand a chance against the metagame.
OCG 2021.10 → OCG 2022.01 Limit Regulation changes:
- Swordsoul Emergence 3 → 2
Swordsoul Emergence being semi-limited hurts the consistency of Swordsoul. Adventurer package was only lightly hit and would continue to suppress Swordsoul.
Prank-Kids
Adventurer package was a major boost to Prank-Kids. Wandering Gryphon Rider provided protection against Nibiru, the Primal Being, while Fateful Adventure could be activated in a Chain behind a Prank-Kids effect to prevent them from being negated by Ash Blossom and Joyous Spring.
OCG 2021.10 → OCG 2022.01 Limit Regulation changes:
- Prank-Kids Meow-Meow-Mu 3 → 1
- Water Enchantress of the Temple 3 → 2
- Rite of Aramesir 3 → 2
- Crossout Designator 2 → 1
Prank-Kids Meow-Meow-Mu being limited was a major hit to Prank-Kids. The hits to Adventurer package and Crossout Designator also made Prank-Kids more vulnerable against disruptions and they would slowly fade off from the top of the competitive scene.
Eldlich
Eldlich being immune to Artifact Scythe gave them a slight advantage against Phantom Knights. Eldlich was also running the full set of Rivalry of Warlords, Gozen Match and There Can Be Only One, and are rather effective in the metagame as many decks had monster with different Attribute and Type from running the Destiny HERO package and/or Adventurer package.
Untouched by the new Limit Regulation, Eldlich is expected to put out the same performance in the new format.
Drytron
Drytron could not run the Adventurer package as Wandering Gryphon Rider is a Special Summon that could be Normal Summoned/Set. Running Destiny HERO package was a possibility, but it had poor synergy and contribute to higher bricks with Drytron.
Drytron was also caught in the crossfire with the increase in usage of Droll & Lock Bird in the Side Deck against Destiny HERO Adventurer Phantom Knights.
Untouched by the new Limit Regulation, Drytron is expected to have a better performance in the new format.
Conclusion
The OCG 2021.10 format is still largely shaped around Adventurer and Destiny HERO – Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer and Adventurer.
Battle of Chaos made Phantom Knights stronger by giving them Dharc the Dark Charmer, Gloomy, an answer to the opponent’s Destiny HERO – Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer. Swordsoul gained a minor boost in Swordsoul Sinister Sovereign – Qixing Longyuan, but its power level is not on the same level as Destiny HERO – Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer and Wandering Gryphon Rider.
From among the 938 decks, 150 played only the Destiny HERO package, 129 played only the Adventurer package, and 237 played both Destiny HERO and Adventurer package.
OCG 2021.10 → OCG 2022.01 Limit Regulation changes:
- Fusion Destiny 3 → 0
- Water Enchantress of the Temple 3 → 2
- Rite of Aramesir 3 → 2
The new Limit Regulation recognized the impact that Destiny HERO – Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer and Adventurer had on the metagame and took the appropriate measures to curb their power. Destiny HERO – Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer is effectively out of the competitive scene with Fusion Destiny gone. Adventurer only sustained a minor hit to their consistency and would continue to see play.
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