OCG 2023.04 Metagame (1 Apr – 30 Jun 2023)

Series 12 starts off with Duelist Nexus and with its release comes the new Illusion Monster Type. Purrely was already at the top of the metagame and the new support cards strengthened its position, while Rescue-ACE also with new support cards rose in the competitive ranks.

Compiled from a total of 1329 top-placing decks from 244 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 2023.04 format.

• 193 Purrely (164 Purrely, 18 Dark World Purrely, 6 Adventurer Purrely, 3 Ishizu Purrely, 1 Kashtira Purrely, 1 Shaddoll Purrely)
• 115 Mathmech (98 Mathmech, 17 Code Talker Mathmech)
• 86 Adamancipator (64 Grass Superheavy Samurai Ishizu Vernusylph Adamancipator, 9 Fossil Vernusylph Adamancipator, 4 Superheavy Samurai Adamancipator, 3 Ishizu Vernusylph Adamancipator, 2 Grass Ishizu Vernusylph Adamancipator, 1 Vernusylph Adamancipator, 1 Grass Fossil Ishizu Vernusylph Adamancipator, 1 Superheavy Samurai Vernusylph Adamancipator, 1 Superheavy Samurai Adamancipator Gallis FTK)
• 83 Kashtira (80 Kashtira, 3 Invoked Kashtira)
• 82 Superheavy Samurai (58 Superheavy Samurai, 11 Superheavy Samurai FTK, 4 Bystial Superheavy Samurai, 4 Vernusylph Superheavy Samurai, 3 Superheavy Samurai Gallis FTK, 1 Mathmech Superheavy Samurai, 1 Zefra Superheavy Samurai)
• 79 Tearlaments (39 Ishizu Tearlaments, 31 Ishizu Kashtira Tearlaments, 3 Shaddoll Ishizu Tearlaments, 2 Adventurer Ishizu Tearlaments, 1 Danger Ishizu Tearlaments, 1 HERO Ishizu Tearlaments, 1 P.U.N.K. Ishizu Tearlaments, 1 Purrely Ishizu Tearlaments)
• 75 Branded (52 Branded, 23 Grass Branded)
• 74 Rescue-ACE (73 Rescue-ACE, 1 Infernoble Knight Rescue-ACE)
• 73 Runick (69 Runick, 3 Naturia Runick, 1 Bystial Invoked Vanquish Soul Runick)
• 61 Vanquish Soul (60 Vanquish Soul, 1 Kashtira Vanquish Soul)
• 58 Labrynth (29 Labrynth, 19 Ishizu Labrynth, 5 Ishizu Unchained Labrynth, 4 Ishizu Tour Guide Labrynth, 1 Ishizu Tearlaments Labrynth)
• 28 Dragon Link (20 Bystial Dragon Link, 8 Grass Bystial Dragon Link)
• 24 Exosister
• 18 Magician
• 17 Mannadium (12 Scareclaw Mannadium, 2 Bystial Scareclaw Mannadium, 2 Kashtira Scareclaw Mannadium, 1 Scareclaw Mannadium FTK)
• 16 Rikka (11 Sunavalon Rikka, 4 Rikka, 1 Therion Sunavalon Rikka)
• 16 Sky Striker (14 Sky Striker, 1 Invoked Sky Striker, 1 Spellbook Sky Striker)
• 15 Scareclaw (8 Scareclaw, 6 Kashtira Scareclaw, 1 Adventurer Kashtira Scareclaw)
• 15 Unchained (12 Unchained, 2 Evil★Twin Unchained, 1 Labrynth Unchained)
• 11 Mathmech @Ignister
• 11 Salamangreat (6 Salamangreat, 5 Mathmech Salamangreat)
• 11 Synchron (8 Adventurer Synchron, 1 Synchron, 1 Bystial Adventurer Synchron, 1 Superheavy Samurai Adventurer Synchron)
• 10 Dinosaur
• 10 Tri-Brigade (9 Spright Tri-Brigade, 1 Scareclaw Tri-Brigade)
• 9 Blackwing
• 9 Floowandereeze
• 8 HERO
• 8 Swordsoul (7 Tenyi Swordsoul, 1 Swordsoul)
• 8 Vaylantz
• 7 Traptrix
• 6 Infernoble Knight (4 Adventurer Infernoble Knight, 2 Infernoble Knight)
• 6 Mikanko
• 6 Phantom Knights (2 Mikanko Phantom Knights, 2 P.U.N.K. Phantom Knights, 1 Phantom Knights, 1 Mikanko P.U.N.K. Danger Phantom Knights)
• 5 Chimera (3 Branded Chimera, 1 Chimera, 1 Kashtira Chimera)
• 5 Tri-Brigade Lyrilusc
• 4 Bystial (2 P.U.N.K. Bystial, 1 Bystial, 1 Adventurer Bystial)
• 4 Meta Beat
• 4 Shaddoll (1 Branded Shaddoll, 1 Grass Branded Shaddoll, 1 Grass Dogmatika Ishizu Tearlaments Shaddoll, 1 Grass Dogmatika Magistus Ishizu Tearlaments Shaddoll)
• 4 Thunder Dragon (3 Bystial Thunder Dragon, 1 Thunder Dragon)
• 4 Virtual World (3 Virtual World, 1 Adventurer Virtual World)
• 3 Endymion
• 3 Necroface (2 Grass Superheavy Samurai Ishizu Lightsworn P.U.N.K. Bystial Necroface, 1 Ishizu Tearlaments Lightsworn Necroface)
• 2 Adventurer Ishizu Lightsworn
• 2 Altergeist
• 2 Crystal Beast
• 2 Dinomorphia
• 2 Dracoslayer (1 Dracoslayer, 1 Kashtira Superheavy Samurai Dracoslayer)
• 2 Generaider (1 Generaider, 1 Kashtira Generaider)
• 2 Grass Mikanko Burning Abyss Phantom Knights
• 2 Luna
• 2 Marincess
• 2 Superheavy Samurai Orcust
• 2 Tellarknight
• 2 Vernusylph Madolche
• 1 ABC
• 1 Adventurer Plunder Patroll
• 1 Chaos Bystial Galaxy-Eyes
• 1 Cyber Dragon
• 1 Dogmatika
• 1 Dogmatika Invoked
• 1 D/D
• 1 Eldlich
• 1 Grass Dogmatika Ishizu Tearlaments Shaddoll
• 1 Grass Ishizu Tearlaments Shaddoll Branded
• 1 Grass Ishizu Vernusylph Naturia
• 1 Grass Superheavy Samurai P.U.N.K. Ishizu Lightsworn Da Eiza Catapult Turtle FTK
• 1 Grass Superheavy Samurai Zombie
• 1 Kashtira Mayakashi
• 1 Kashtira Nemleria
• 1 Kashtira Evil Eye
• 1 SPYRAL
• 1 Superheavy Samurai Infernity
• 1 Superheavy Samurai Raidrapter
• 1 True Draco
• 1 Umi

Purrely was already doing well in the OCG 2023.01 format, and with Tearlaments heavily hit by the new Limit Regulation, Purrely quickly rose to the top.

Duelist Nexus brought along Epurrely Noir which further strengthened Purrely. Epurrely Noir is the new Rank 2 Purrely Xyz Monster that could be Special Summoned with Purrely or Purrelyly effect by attaching Purrely Sleepy Memory as Xyz Material. Epurrely Noir comes with a removal effect that bounces cards back to hand, and another effect that could fetch Purrelyeap!?.

Later in the format as Rescue-ACE rise up in the competitive scene, Stray Purrely Street would come up as a counter against Rescue-ACE. The disruptions from Rescue-ACE are targeting effects and would be shutdown by Stray Purrely Street.

OCG 2023.04 → OCG 2023.07 Limit Regulation changes:

• Purrely Sleepy Memory 3 → 1

The limitation of Purrely Sleepy Memory is a twofold blow. Not only does it take away the ability generate massive card advantage during the opponent’s Standby Phase, it also reduces the chance of bringing out Epurrely Noir. Despite the weakening, Purrely would remain a top contender.

The release of Link Decoder has made it easier to Link Summon Firewall Dragon Darkfluid – Neo Tempest Terahertz. Firewall Dragon Darkfluid – Neo Tempest Terahertz would provide 2 disruption from Cyberse Desavewurm and Mereologic Aggregator, while Mathmech Superfactorial could Xyz Summon Primathmech Laplacian to send 1 card from hand and 1 Monster, 1 Spell/Trap from field to graveyard. Primathmech Laplacian would also be able to negate a card or effect with the ability gained from using Mathmech Diameter as Xyz Material. This would effectively trade for all of opponent’s 6 opening cards.

OCG 2023.04 → OCG 2023.07 Limit Regulation changes:

• Mathmech Circular 3 → 1

The limitation of Mathmech Circular is a massive hit to Mathmech’s consistency and would cause it to fall off from competing in the top.

Barely affected by the Limit Regulation, Grass Superheavy Samurai Ishizu Vernusylph Adamancipator continued strong into the new OCG 2303.04 format.

Glow-Up Bulb was a great addition to the deck as it provides another way to go into Power Tool Braver Dragon by using Glow-Up Bulb and Block Dragon as Synchro Material.

OCG 2023.04 → OCG 2023.07 Limit Regulation changes:

• Superheavy Samurai Soulpiercer 3 → 1
• Superheavy Samurai Motorbike 3 → 2
• Block Dragon 3 → 2
• Smoke Grenade of the Thief 3 → 0

The reduction of Superheavy Samurai Soulpiercer, Superheavy Samurai Motorbike and Block Dragon are just a drop in consistency. But losing Smoke Grenade of the Thief took out the deck’s biggest strength of picking off cards in the opponent’s hand. With no more reason to run Power Tool Braver Dragon, there are better combo decks that could put out stronger boards than Adamancipator.

Kashtira remains as a strong anti-meta deck, using Kashtira Arise-Heart and Necorvalley to crush graveyard-reliant decks such as Adamancipator and Tearlaments.

OCG 2023.04 → OCG 2023.07 Limit Regulation changes:

• Kashtira Fenrir 1 → 0
• Pot of Prosperity 2 → 1

Without Kashtira Fenrir, Kashtira falls off the competitive scene.

Superheavy Samurai only needs 1 Superheavy Samurai Prodigy Wakaushi to start off their combo, allowing them to play a huge amount of ‘hand traps’. There are a variety of possible end boards, but the one that had seen most success are locking out the opponent with Artifact Scythe, with support from Baronne de Fleur and Therion “King” Regulus.

OCG 2023.04 → OCG 2023.07 Limit Regulation changes:

• Superheavy Samurai Soulbreaker Armor 3 → 0
• Superheavy Samurai Soulpiercer 3 → 1
• Superheavy Samurai Motorbike 3 → 2
• Cyber-Stein 1 → 0

Superheavy Samurai Soulbreaker Armor going to forbidden disabled the FTK variant. The reduction of Superheavy Samurai Soulpiercer and Superheavy Samurai Motorbike were enough to reduced Superheavy Samurai consistency and they would fall off from the competitive scene.

The OCG 2023.04 was a very diverse format.

The power level of the decks are fairly even. Superheavy Samurai barely edged out in 5th, while Tearlaments, Branded, Rescue-ACE, Runick, Vanquish Soul and Labrynth that follows behind are merely just a couple of counts from each other.

Major tournaments were also won by a variety of different decks. Magician won Duelist Cup 2023 Philippines, Grass Superheavy Samurai Ishizu Vernusylph Adamancipator won Duelist Cup 2023 Thailand, Vanquish Soul won Duelist Cup 2023 Hong Kong and Duelist Cup 2023 Singapore, Naturia Runick won Duelist Cup 2023 Malaysia, Floowandereeze won Duelist Cup 2023 Indonesia, Purrely won Duelist Cup 2023 Taiwan and Duelist Cup 2023 Asia Finals, and Superheavy Samurai won Duelist Cup 2023 China Mainland.