OCG 2024.10 Metagame Report #2, #3

by Akira · 23 October 2024

Welcome to Week #2, #3 of the OCG 2024.10 format.

This report tabulates 182 top-performing decks from 41 tournaments that were held in Japan, China Mainland, South Korea and Vietnam during 12 – 20 October 2024.

Update: Added data from “Cats Island Card Shop Tournament” and “Battle City Vietnam 2024 National Finals”.

Metagame Breakdown

80 Ryzeal (78 Ryzeal, 1 Melodious Ryzeal, 1 Toy Ryzeal)
26 Maliss (23 Maliss, 1 Bystial Maliss, 1 Fiendsmith Maliss, 1 Grass Fiendsmith Maliss)
9 Memento (8 Memento, 1 Fiendsmith Memento)
8 Fire King (2 Fire King, 2 Tri-Brigade Fire King, 2 Azamina Snake-Eye Fire King, 1 Fiendsmith Snake-Eye Fire King, 1 Fiendsmith Azamina Snake-Eye Fire King)
8 Tenpai Dragon (7 Tenpai Dragon, 1 Fiendsmith Tenpai Dragon)
7 Voiceless Voice (6 Voiceless Voice, 1 Ryzeal Voiceless Voice)
4 Blue-Eyes
4 Runick (3 Runick, 1 White Forest Runick)
3 Centur-Ion
3 Goblin Biker (2 Goblin Biker, 1 Fiendsmith Goblin Biker)
3 Horus Gimmick Puppet
3 Labrynth (2 Labrynth, 1 Fiendsmith Labrynth)
2 Dragon Link (1 Grass Dragon Link, 1 Grass Centur-Ion Dragon Link)
2 Fiendsmith Yubel
2 Ritual Beast
2 Salamangreat
2 Snake-Eye (1 Fiendsmith Azamina Snake-Eye, 1 Crystal Beast Fiendsmith Azamina Snake-Eye)
1 Atlantean
1 Blue-Eyes Buster Blader
1 Dracoslayer
1 Fiendsmith Toy White Forest
1 Fiendsmith Visas
1 Grass Branded
1 Grass Horus Fiendsmith Visas Tearlaments
1 Grass Infernoid
1 Mikanko
1 Ragnaraika Rikka
1 Sky Striker
1 Snake-Eye Synchron
1 Spright Tri-Brigade
1 Supreheavy Samurai Snake-Eye T.G.

Ryzeal

Takesshi ran a standard optimized Ryzeal build, having a strong ratio of starters, ‘hand traps’, and counterplays to Maxx “C”/Mulcharmy.

Starters (16)

3 Ice Ryzeal
3 Ext Ryzeal
3 Sword Ryzeal
3 Seventh Tachyon
2 Seventh Ascension
1 Bonfire
1 Pot of Prosprity

16 starters in a 40 cards deck has a 93.54% of opening with at least 1 starter in hand.

‘Hand Traps’ (14 + 6)

3 Mulcharmy Fuwalos
3 Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring
2 Maxx “C”
3 Effect Veiler
3 Infinite Impermanence

3 Nibiru, the Primal Being
3 Artifact Lancea

14 ‘hand traps’ in the Main Deck of a 40 cards deck has a 58.20%* of opening with 2 or more ‘hand traps’ in hand. Adding 3 Nibiru, the Primal Being and 3 Artifact Lancea from the Side Deck would bring the ‘hand traps’ count up to 20 after Side Decking, raising the probability to 82.92%* of opening with 2 or more ‘hand traps’ in hand.

*The actual probability is lower due to certain combinations such as 2 Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring or 2 Nibiru, the Primal Being are effectively only 1 disruption since they can only be used once per turn.

Counterplays to Maxx “C”/Mulcharmy (6 + 11)

3 Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring
2 Called by the Grave
1 Crossout Designator

1 Artifact Scythe
3 Seventh Tachyon
2 Seventh Ascension
2 Artifact Sanctum
3 Dimensional Barrier

The Main Deck only runs 6 counterplays to Maxx “C”/Mulcharmy, namely 3 Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring, 2 Called by the Grave and 1 Crossout Designator.

After Side Decking, the counterplays count goes up to 17 by bringing in the Artifact Scythe package and Dimensional Barrier. Seventh Tachyon and Seventh Ascension play a versatile role, functioning as a starter by fetching a Ryzeal monster or as a counterplay by fetching Artifact Scythe.

The addition of the Mulcharmy monsters to Maxx “C” meant that a single Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring is unlikely to stop the opponent from getting draws off your Special Summons, as they could play a second copy if the first is negated. When hit by a Maxx “C” or Mulcharmy, you would be obligated to halt or minimize your plays for the turn to avoid giving too many draws to the opponent. Artifact Scythe and Dimensional Barrier becomes a counterplay as it stops your opponent from making Xyz Summon plays during their turn, effectively achieving a turn skip.

Takesshi has written a remarkable article (ライゼオルメモ) about his Ryzeal deck. In particular, he discussed his Side Decking strategy and his thought process for the Ryzeal mirror match reflects the current understanding of the OCG metagame.

Going First against Ryzeal
Side Out: 3 Mulcharmy Fuwalos 3 Forbidden Droplet 1 Infinite Impermanence	Side In: 1 Nibiru, the Primal Being 1 Artifact Scythe 2 Artifact Sanctum 3 Dimensional Barrier

When going first in the Ryzeal mirror match, he would side in the Artifact Scythe package and Dimensional Barrier. If he was able to setup a proper opening board, then Artifact Scythe or Dimensional Barrier would make it difficult for the opponent to break the board and go for game. If he was disrupted and unable make an opening play, then Artifact Scythe or Dimensional Barrier would force a turn skip on opponent’s turn.

Going Second against Ryzeal
Side Out: 2 Called by the Grave 2 Seventh Ascension 1 Ryzeal Plasma Hole	Side In: 3 Ultimate Slayer 2 Dimensional Barrier

Siding in 3 Ultimate Slayer for boardbreaking is a common strategy against Ryzeal. The interesting part is that he is also siding in 2 Dimensional Barrier when going second. He is expecting that the opponent would force a turn skip with Artifact Scythe or Dimensional Barrier, so running his own Dimensional Barrier would allow him to force another turn skip on the opponent.

Takesshi goes much further indepth into the Ryzeal gameplan in his article and it is a recommended read.

Takesshi (たけっしー) went 8-1 and finished 1st in “43rd RAM Cup Individual Tournament (Omori Venue)” which had 80 participants.

Maliss

Sea ran a Maliss build that is teched against Ryzeal. Dominus Impulse has low impact on Ryzeal, so he cut them from the Main Deck and chose to run Droll & Lock Bird instead.

Droll & Lock Bird could be effective against Ryzeal, such as when hitting their Seventh Ascension or Seventh Tachyon early, causing them to be unable to get any search off Ext Ryzeal, Sword Ryzeal or Ryzeal Duo Drive later in the turn. However, if the Ryzeal opponent already has a Ryzeal monster in their opening hand, then they would hold off activating Seventh Tachyon for later in the turn. More commonly, Droll & Lock Bird would only stop them from making a bigger board, but at the minimal Ryzeal would still be able to setup a Ryzeal Detonator.

Droll & Lock Bird‘s other purpose is to be used during your own turn to stop the opponent from getting any additional draws off Maxx “C”/Mulcharmy. Droll & Lock Bird is much more effective than Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring especially if the opponent activates multiple Maxx “C”/Mulcharmy in the same turn. Droll & Lock Bird would stop Maliss <Q> Red Ransom from adding a “Maliss” Spell from deck to hand, but the rest of the Maliss effects banish a monster from deck and then Special Summon from banished, or Sets 1 “Maliss” Trap from deck to Spell/Trap Zone, allowing Maliss to continue playing without adding cards from deck to hand.

Similarly Maliss is also using Dimensional Barrier as a turn skip against Ryzeal. But conversely, Artifact Lancea is a turn skip against Maliss, and Ryzeal has a way to search out Artifact Lancea via Seventh Tachyon.

Sea has written a short article (M∀LICE 雑感) about his Maliss deck, and counterplays to look out for and play around.

Sea (しい) went 5-2 and finished 1st in “Asaka ★ Goyusai Autumn 2024” which had 25 Teams (125 participants).

Conclusion

Ryzeal remains in the dominating lead, with Maliss trailing far behind.

The OCG metagame is currently about turn skips, by using Maxx “C”, Mulcharmy, Artifact Scythe, Artifact Lancea, Dimensional Barrier to curtail the opponent’s play and getting back the initiative.

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