OCG 2021.10 Metagame Report #10

by Akira · 10 December 2021

Welcome to Week #10 of the OCG 2021.10 format.

This report will tabulate 76 top-performing decks from 18 tournaments that were held in Japan, China Mainland and Taiwan during 4 – 8 December 2021.

“8th Kinta CS (Individual Battle)” had 55 participants but ended prematurely with a split at Top 8 due to the venue closing, and as such would not be included in this week’s tabulation.

“Duelist Cup 2021 Taiwan Final” had 74 participants but Structure Deck: Alba Strike was not allowed in the tournament, and would also not be included in this week’s tabulation, so as to better gauge Structure Deck: Alba Strike‘s impact on the metagame.

New Product Release

Structure Deck: Alba Strike

Metagame Breakdown

15 Phantom Knights (14 Destiny HERO Adventurer Phantom Knights, 1 Grass Destiny HERO Danger Burning Abyss Phantom Knights)
10 Eldlich (7 Eldlich, 1 Adventurer Eldlich, 1 Adventurer Branded Eldlich, 1 Destiny HERO Adventurer Eldlich)
6 Drytron
6 Floowandereeze
6 Swordsoul (2 Destiny HERO Swordsoul, 2 Destiny HERO Tenyi Swordsoul, 2 Tenyi Swordsoul)
5 Branded Despia (3 Destiny HERO Frightfur Branded Despia, 1 Branded Despia, 1 Grass Branded Despia)
4 Adventurer Swordsoul Yang Zing Tenyi
3 Adventurer Prank-Kids
3 Tri-Brigade (2 Destiny HERO Zoodiac Tri-Brigade, 1 Lyrilusc Ancient Warriors Branded Tri-Brigade)
2 Salamangreat
2 Sky Striker (1 Sky Striker, 1 Destiny HERO Adventurer Sky Striker)
2 SPYRAL
2 @Ignister
1 Adventurer Virtual World
1 Buster Blader
1 Destiny HERO Exosister
1 Grass P.U.N.K. Scrap Adamancipator
1 Grass Shaddoll
1 Madolche
1 Marincess
1 Megalith FTK
1 Sekka Danger Kaiju Luna
1 Tri-Brigade Lyrilusc

Phantom Knights

Yutaman (ゆたまん) went 5-2 and finished 2nd in “5th Tierra CS -Void Imagination Arc-” which had 32 participants.

He ran 2 Dimensional Barrier in the Side Deck against Branded Despia. Activating Branded Fusion would lock the player into Special Summoning Fusion Monsters from the Extra Deck for the turn, so chaining Dimensional Barrier to Branded Fusion and declaring Fusion would essentially lock them out the Extra Deck for the turn. However Destiny HERO Adventurer Phantom Knights has the option to run Artifact Scythe which could be fetched by Artifact Dadga, a much more consistent strategy than drawing Dimensional Barrier.

Dimensional Barrier however does have the flexibility in the Drytron match-up, being able to declare Ritual to stop their Ritual Summons. Dimensional Barrier could also be used to declare Xyz after they attacked with a Xyz Monster to prevent Divine Arsenal AA-ZEUS – Sky Thunder from being Xyz Summoned.

Eldlich

Joji (じょーじ) went 7-1 and finished 1st in “3rd Iburi CS” which had 30 participants.

He ran 2 Tiras, Keeper of Genesis in the Extra Deck. Tiras, Keeper of Genesis has a Trigger Effect that allows it to destroy 1 opponent’s card after it battles at the end of the Battle Phase, and it could be used to Xyz Summon Gaia Dragon, the Thunder Charger and then Divine Arsenal AA-ZEUS – Sky Thunder during Main Phase 2. As Tiras, Keeper of Genesis does not require any Xyz Materials for its effect, this allows Divine Arsenal AA-ZEUS – Sky Thunder to have 4 Xyz Materials.

Tiras, Keeper of Genesis is also more impactful in the Eldlich mirror match as it cannot be destroyed by card effects, making it immune to Conquistador of the Golden Land.

Branded Despia

Babelbobul (バベルボブル) went 5-2 and finished 3rd in “3rd Iburi CS” which had 30 participants.

Branded Fusion could use Fallen of Albaz and Despian Tragedy from deck as materials to Fusion Summon Lubellion the Searing Dragon. This would trigger Despian Tragedy ① effect to add Aluber the Jester of Despia from deck to hand. Lubellion the Searing Dragon ① effect is also trigger when successfully Fusion Summoned, and could shuffle itself from the field and Fallen of Albaz from the graveyard back into the deck to Fusion Summon Mirrorjade the Iceblade Dragon. Aluber the Jester of Despia is Normal Summoned and its effect will add Branded in Red from deck to hand, which is then set in the Spell/Trap Zone.

During the opponent’s turn, by sending 1 Fusion Monster that lists “Fallen of Albaz” as material from your Extra Deck to the graveyard as the activation cost, Mirrorjade the Iceblade Dragon ② effect could banish 1 monster on the field. Sending Albion the Branded Dragon is the standard choice as its effect could add Branded Fusion from deck to hand during the End Phase.

Branded in Red could also be activated to add Despian Tragedy from graveyard to hand, then banish Despian Tragedy from hand, Mirrorjade the Iceblade Dragon and Aluber the Jester of Despia from field to Fusion Summon Guardian Chimera. On summon, Guardian Chimera ① effect would draw 1 card and then destroy 2 opponent’s cards.

This core combo uses 1 Branded Fusion and another 1 card to discard as cost for Lubellion the Searing Dragon to create disruptions in the form of Mirrorjade the Iceblade Dragon banish 1 monster and Guardian Chimera destroy 2 cards. The combo also finishes with another Branded Fusion, in preparation for another round on the next turn.

Playing Branded Fusion would lock the player into Fusion Monsters, but Fusion Destiny could still be activated to Fusion Summon Destiny HERO – Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer for an additional disruption.

Conclusion

At the end of the OCG 2021.10 format, Phantom Knights finishes at the top position with Eldlich coming in behind.

The new Structure Deck: Alba Strike has propelled Despia to competitive level with the new Branded cards. Branded Despia is showing great potential and would be in a good position going into the next format, especially if the current top decks are hit by the upcoming OCG 2022.01 Limit Regulation.

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