OCG 2023.01 Metagame (1 Jan – 31 Mar 2023)

Cyberstorm Access gave new supports for several themes, but their impact has been largely overshadowed by Tearlaments.

Compiled from a total of 1404 top-placing decks from 218 competitive tournaments held in Japan, China Mainland, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, South Korea and Vietnam, here is the final metagame breakdown of the OCG 2023.01 format.

• 384 Tearlaments (352 Ishizu Tearlaments, 25 Ishizu Kashtira Tearlaments, 5 Shaddoll Ishizu Tearlaments, 1 P.U.N.K. Ishizu Tearlaments, 1 Volcanic Ishizu Tearlaments)
• 104 Tri-Brigade (96 Spright Tri-Brigade, 8 Scareclaw Tri-Brigade)
• 94 Purrely (83 Purrely, 11 Ishizu Purrely)
• 87 Adamancipator (59 Grass Superheavy Samurai Ishizu Vernusylph Adamancipator, 9 Grass Ishizu Vernusylph Adamancipator, 8 Vernusylph Adamancipator, 3 Superheavy Samurai Adamancipator, 2 Adamancipator, 2 Fossil Vernusylph Adamancipator, 2 Ishizu Vernusylph Adamancipator, 1 Superheavy Samurai Kashtira Adamancipator, 1 Spright Adamancipator)
• 85 Kashtira (84 Kashtira, 1 Mekk-Knight Kashtira)
• 70 Runick (63 Runick, 4 Spright Runick, 2 Sky Striker Runick, 1 Kashtira Spright Runick)
• 55 Exosister (49 Exosister, 6 Ishizu Exosister)
• 53 Bystial (27 Spright Bystial, 15 P.U.N.K. Bystial, 9 Adventurer Bystial, 1 Bystial, 1 P.U.N.K. Kashtira Bystial)
• 51 Superheavy Samurai (29 Superheavy Samurai, 19 Bystial Superheavy Samurai, 2 Vernusylph Superheavy Samurai, 1 ABC Superheavy Samurai)
• 47 Dragon Link (38 Bystial Dragon Link, 9 Grass Bystial Dragon Link)
• 45 Labrynth (24 Ishizu Labrynth, 21 Labrynth)
• 37 Branded (25 Branded, 12 Grass Branded)
• 22 Floowandereeze
• 16 Spright (8 Spright, 5 Adventurer Melffy Spright, 2 Melffy Spright, 1 Adventurer Spright)
• 15 Spright Gishki
• 14 Mathmech (13 Code Talker Mathmech, 1 Mathmech)
• 14 Sky Striker
• 13 Magician (12 Magician, 1 Performapal Magician)
• 12 Evil★Twin (11 Spright Evil★Twin, 1 Evil★Twin)
• 12 Swordsoul (9 Tenyi Swordsoul, 1 Swordsoul, 1 Kashtira Swordsoul, 1 Superheavy Samurai Swordsoul)
• 10 Vaylantz (8 Vaylantz, 1 Kashtira Vaylantz, 1 Superheavy Samurai Vaylantz)
• 9 Scareclaw (7 Kashtira Scareclaw, 2 Scareclaw)
• 9 Tri-Brigade Lyrilusc
• 8 Rikka (5 Sunavalon Rikka, 2 Therion Sunavalon Rikka, 1 Rikka)
• 8 Shaddoll (2 Grass Dogmatika Magistus Tearlaments Shaddoll, 1 Shaddoll, 1 Branded Shaddoll, 1 Branded Invoked Shaddoll, 1 Grass Tearlaments Shaddoll, 1 Grass Ishizu Tearlaments Shaddoll)
• 8 Synchron (2 Synchron, 2 Adventurer Synchron, 2 P.U.N.K. Adventurer Synchron, 2 Superheavy Samurai Adventurer Synchron)
• 8 Traptrix
• 6 Mannadium (2 Bystial Scareclaw Mannadium, 2 Scareclaw Mannadium, 2 Spright Scareclaw Mannadium)
• 6 Mathmech @Ignister
• 5 Blackwing (4 Blackwing, 1 Bystial Blackwing)
• 5 Eldlich (3 Grass Adventurer Ishizu Eldlich, 1 Eldlich, 1 Scareclaw Eldlich)
• 4 Bystial Thunder Dragon
• 4 Danger Dark World
• 4 Evil Eye
• 4 Generaider (3 Generaider, 1 Invoked Generaider)
• 4 Ishizu Vernusylph Naturia
• 4 Orcust (1 Orcust, 1 P.U.N.K. Bystial Orcust, 1 Scareclaw Orcust, 1 Superheavy Samurai Orcust)
• 4 Phantom Knights (1 Grass Ishizu Phantom Knights, 1 Mikanko Phantom Knights, 1 Mikanko P.U.N.K. Danger Phantom Knights, 1 P.U.N.K. Phantom Knights)
• 3 Dracoslayer (2 Dracoslayer, 1 Superheavy Samurai Dracoslayer)
• 3 HERO
• 3 Lightsworn (2 Adventurer Ishizu Lightsworn, 1 Ishizu Lightsworn)
• 3 Marincess
• 3 Meta Beat
• 3 Superheavy Samurai Zefra
• 3 Vanquish Soul
• 3 Virtual World (2 Adventurer Virtual World, 1 Virtual World)
• 2 Dinosaur
• 2 EARTH Machine
• 2 Endymion
• 2 Grass Superheavy Samurai Ishizu Thunder Dragon P.U.N.K. Bystial
• 2 Megalith
• 2 Necroface (1 Grass Superheavy Samurai Ishizu Thunder Dragon P.U.N.K. Bystial Necroface, 1 Ishizu Tearlaments Necroface)
• 2 Salamangreat (1 Salamangreat, 1 Mathmech Salamangreat)
• 1 Agent
• 1 Barrier Statue
• 1 Branded Dogmatika
• 1 Bystial Buster Blader
• 1 Bystial Dragonmaid
• 1 Chaos
• 1 Dinomorphia
• 1 Dogmatika Invoked
• 1 Drytron
• 1 Grass Adventurer Ishizu Shaddoll Tearlaments
• 1 Grass Branded Despia Predaplant
• 1 Grass Branded Witchcrafter
• 1 Grass Ishizu Tearlaments Shaddoll Branded
• 1 Grass Ishizu Thunder Dragon P.U.N.K. Bystial
• 1 Infernoid
• 1 Luna
• 1 Madolche
• 1 Mikanko
• 1 Nemleria
• 1 Scareclaw SPYRAL
• 1 Shaddoll Branded Despia
• 1 Spright Nephthys FTK
• 1 Subterror
• 1 Tellarknight
• 1 True King Dinosaur
• 1 Spellbook Dracoslayer Endymion Zefra

The initial reaction to Tearlaments Kitkallos being forbidden saw Tearlaments being dropped momentarily, but Tearlaments continued to outperform in tournaments and remains a force to be reckoned with. With 3 Tearlaments Kashtira, 3 Kelbek the Ancient Vanguard and 1 Agido the Ancient Sentinel still available, Tearlaments still had plenty of starters to send cards from deck to graveyard.

King of the Swamp found its way into the deck as a substitute for Tearlaments Kitkallos when Fusion Summoning Tearlaments Rulkallos, a substitute for Tearlaments Reinoheart when Fusion Summoning Tearlaments Kaleido-Heart, and a substitute for Grapha, Dragon Lord of Dark World when Fusion Summoning Grapha, Dragon Overlord of Dark World. King of the Swamp is an Aqua monster so it could also be used to fulfill the Aqua monster requirement for Fusion Summoning Tearlaments Kaleido-Heart.

King of the Swamp effect could discard itself to add Polymerization from deck to hand. Polymerization is then used to Fusion Summon Guardian Chimera, providing a removal ability and a way to trigger Kelbek the Ancient Vanguard or Agido the Ancient Sentinel.

OCG 2023.01 → OCG 2023.04 Limit Regulation changes:

• Tearlaments Havnis 2 → 1
• Tearlaments Merrli 3 → 1
• Mudora the Sword Oracle 3 → 1
• Kelbek the Ancient Vanguard 3 → 1
• Spright Elf 3 → 0

The third hit to Tearlaments saw most of the Tearlaments monsters and Ishizu monsters going to limited. Despite the consistency hit, Tearlaments would remain competitive due to the powerful opening board that they could setup as long as they could kick start sending cards from deck to graveyard.

After almost two years, Tri-Brigade is back to the forefront of the competitive scene with the inclusion of Spright. Spright Tri-Brigade was thought to be the deck to beat at the start of the format, but they quickly decline when players realized that Tearlaments were still viable.

Spright Tri-Brigade has one of the most powerful opening board, being able to setup Tri-Brigade Revolt supported with Spright Elf, Spright Red and Spright Carrot. However, they had a difficult match-up against Tearlaments and was only able to steal a win with Number 2: Ninja Shadow Mosquito.

OCG 2023.01 → OCG 2023.04 Limit Regulation changes:

• Spright Blue 3 → 1
• Spright Elf 3 → 0

Spright Blue being limited and Spright Elf being forbidden was a heavy hit to the Spright package, and many decks that utilize the Spright package would decline in the competitive scene.

The new cards Purrelyly and Purrely Sleepy Memory from Cyberstorm Access propelled Purrely to competitive status.

Purrelyly ① effect could add My Friend Purrely from deck to hand, greatly boosting their consistency. Purrelyly ② effect also Xyz Summon into a Rank 2 Purrely Xyz Monster by attaching a Purrely Quick-Play Spell from the graveyard.

Purrely Sleepy Memory provides card advantage that Purrely sorely needs. During the opponent’s Standby Phase, a Purrely Xyz Monster with Purrely Sleepy Memory could activate its effect to draw a card. This could be combined with Purrelyeap!? to double the card draws. An Epurrely Plump with multiple Purrely Sleepy Memory attached draw a card for each, then Purrelyeap!? would be played to Xyz Summon Expurrely Noir. Expurrely Noir now has multiple Purrely Sleepy Memory attached would be able to draw a card for each again.

Dimensional Fissure and Dimension Shifter were often teched against Tearlaments and Adamanciptor.

Unaffected by the OCG 2023.04 Limit Regulation, Purrely would go on to become the deck to beat in the next format.

The new Superheavy Samurai cards from Cyberstorm Access has enabled an oppressive Grass Adamancipator build.

Opening with Superheavy Samurai Prodigy Wakaushi would bring out Borreload Savage Dragon or Baronne de Fleur to protect your combo, before going into Gallant Granite to add Block Dragon from deck to hand. Power Tool Braver Dragon would also be brought out to equip Rod of Silence – Kay’est and Smoke Grenade of the Thief, which would promptly destroy Smoke Grenade of the Thief and trigger its effect to pick a card off the opponent’s hand. During the opponent’s Standby Phase, Baronne de Fleur effect would Special Summon Power Tool Braver Dragon from the graveyard, and its effect would equip Rod of Silence – Kay’est and Smoke Grenade of the Thief again. Smoke Grenade of the Thief would be destroyed and its effect would be able to see what the opponent just drew and pick a card off the opponent’s hand again.

It is almost a certain victory when their combo is uninterrupted, as Smoke Grenade of the Thief would be able to pick off Kaiju monsters or Dark Ruler No More, while Apollousa, Bow of the Goddess, Borreload Savage Dragon and I:P Masquerena would be able to deal with the remaining 4 cards.

OCG 2023.01 → OCG 2023.04 Limit Regulation changes:

• Mudora the Sword Oracle 3 → 1
• Kelbek the Ancient Vanguard 3 → 1

The hits to the Ishizu monsters greatly reduced the chances of sending Block Dragon from deck to graveyard, but the overall gameplan is unaffected.

Kashtira was initially written off at the start of the format due to Kashtira Fenrir, Kashtira Unicorn and Pressured Planet Wraitsoth going to limited. However, Kashtira Arise-Heart is still a powerforce in the metagame especially against Tearlaments and Adamancipator.

Planet Pathfinder was played to add Pressured Planet Wraitsoth from deck to hand and then go into the Kashtira Unicorn into Kashtiratheosis into Kashtira Fenrir into Kashtira Riseheart standard opening.

Unaffected by the OCG 2023.04 Limit Regulation, Kashtira would remain as an anti-meta pick in the metagame.

Tearlaments had a dominate lead over the rest. But outside of them, the metagame is fairly even for the rest of the decks. The OCG 2023.04 Limit Regulation would bring Tearlaments down another peg to bring their level down to more aligned with the rest.

OCG 2023.01 → OCG 2023.04 Limit Regulation changes:

• The Bystial Lubellion 3 → 1
• Bystial Druiswurm 3 → 1
• Bystial Baldrake 3 → 1

The additional hits to the Bystial monsters would effectively take out Bystial as a deck itself. But they would continue to prosper in Branded and Dragon Link.

Announcement of changes to the next Limit Regulation was also shifted from Week #11 to Week #13, allowing the format to run its full course.