OCG 2025.01 Metagame Report #5

by Akira · 8 February 2025

Welcome to Week #5 of the OCG 2025.01 format.

This report tabulates 178 top-performing decks from 40 tournaments that were held in Japan, China Mainland and South Korea during 1 – 5 February 2025.

Metagame Breakdown

52 Maliss (44 Maliss, 7 Grass Maliss, 1 Grass Horus Maliss)
33 Ryzeal
24 Blue-Eyes (23 Primite Blue-Eyes, 1 Buster Blader Blue-Eyes)
12 White Forest (8 Azamina White Forest, 3 Fiendsmith Azamina White Forest, 1 Toy Azamina White Forest)
9 Orcust (6 Orcust, 2 Fiendsmith Orcust, 1 Grass Cyber Dragon Orcust)
5 Fiendsmith Gem-Knight
5 Tenpai Dragon
4 Crystron
4 Memento
4 Regenesis (2 White Forest Dogmatika Regenesis, 1 Diabell Regenesis, 1 Primite Dogmatika Regenesis)
3 Fiendsmith Evil★Twin
3 Ryu-Ge
3 Voiceless Voice
2 Atlantean
2 Goblin Biker (1 Goblin Biker, 1 Fiendsmith Goblin Biker)
2 Snake-Eye (1 Fiendsmith Azamina Snake-Eye, 1 Fiendsmith White Forest Azamina Snake-Eye)
1 Azamina Snake-Eye Fire King
1 Fiendsmith Centur-Ion
1 Dragon Ruler Tachyon
1 Fiendsmith Azamina Chimera
1 Fiendsmith Tellarknight
1 Fiendsmith Unchained
1 Grass Vernusylph Naturia Adamancipator
1 Jurrac
1 Labrynth
1 Mathmech Code Talker
1 Runick

Maliss

The OCG 2025.01 format is currently divided between Maliss and Ryzeal. The tech cards that are used against them are vastly different, making it difficult to build a deck that covers for both equally.

Artifact Lancea, Mulcharmy Meowls are specifically against Maliss, whereas Droll & Lock Bird, Mulcharmy Purulia, Ultimate Slayer are specifically against Ryzeal. This makes it not viable to run the tech cards directly in the Main Deck, but to settle for generic ‘hand traps’ such as Effect Veiler and Infinite Impermanence that could work against both Maliss and Ryzeal.

However, a single Effect Veiler or Infinite Impermanence is often insufficient to stop Maliss or Ryzeal and they have to be paired to another ‘hand trap’. As such many of the top contenders in the format are running 16 or more ‘hand traps’ in the Main Deck.

Chaiyou (柴油) finished 1st in “13th Champion Card Game Annual Tournament” which had 96 participants.

Ryzeal

Running Infernal Flame Banshee in the Extra Deck is now the standard build for Ryzeal as its ① effect could be used to fetch Star Ryzeal from deck, which in turn could be Special Summoned from hand by detaching 1 Xyz Material Infernal Flame Banshee. Star Ryzeal ② effect would fetch Ryzeal Cross from deck.

This setups Ryzeal Cross before Xyz Summoning Ryzeal Duo Drive, which would also be able to use its ① effect to attach a Ryzeal Monster from graveyard as Xyz Material. Ryzeal Duo Drive could now use its ③ effect by detaching 2 Xyz Materials from itself, while still having a third Xyz Material for Ryzeal Cross against the opponent’s Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring, Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit or Effect Veiler.

The combo is as follow:

Normal Summon Ice Ryzeal.
Ice Ryzeal ② effect, Special Summon Sword Ryzeal from deck.
Sword Ryzeal ② effect, add Ext Ryzeal from deck to hand.
Ice Ryzeal + Sword Ryzeal → Infernal Flame Banshee.
Infernal Flame Banshee ① effect, detach 1 Xyz Material, add Star Ryzeal from deck to hand.
Special Summon Star Ryzeal from hand by detaching 1 Xyz Material from Infernal Flame Banshee.
Star Ryzeal ② effect, set Ryzeal Cross from deck to Field Zone.
Activate Ryzeal Cross.
Special Summon Ext Ryzeal from hand by sending Eclipse Twins from Extra Deck to graveyard.
Ext Ryzeal ② effect, add Node Ryzeal from deck to hand.
Star Ryzeal + Ext Ryzeal → Ryzeal Duo Drive.
Ryzeal Duo Drive ① effect, attach Ice Ryzeal from graveyard as Xyz Material.
Ryzeal Duo Drive ③ effect, detach 2 Xyz Materials (Ext Ryzeal and Star Ryzeal), add Ryzeal Plugin and Sword Ryzeal from deck to hand.
Node Ryzeal ② effect, send Infernal Flame Banshee to graveyard, Special Summon Sword Ryzeal from graveyard.
Node Ryzeal + Sword Ryzeal → Ryzeal Detonator.
Ryzeal Detonator ① effect, attach Eclipse Twins from graveyard as Xyz Material.
Ryzeal Cross ② effect, place Ext Ryzeal and Node Ryzeal on the bottom of the deck, then draw 1 card.
Set Ryzeal Plugin.

Akize (あきぜ) went 6-1 (excluding 1 bye) and finished 3 – 4th in “Barujina Off Individual Tournament” which had 63 participants.

Blue-Eyes

The Side Deck is currently overly packed due to having to run 2 sets of different tech cards against Maliss and Ryzeal, opening up an opportunity for Blue-Eyes to come in as the third deck of the format. Specific techs such as Artifact Lancea, Mulcharmy Meowls, Mulcharmy Purulia, Droll & Lock Bird are relatively ineffective against Blue-Eyes or they could be played around to minimize their impact. Blue-Eyes is also able to run 16 or more ‘hand traps’ in the Main Deck to keep up with disrupting Maliss and Ryzeal.

Ancient Fairy Life Dragon is a new LIGHT Dragon Synchro Monster from Alliance Insight, and is an option to be Special Summoned by Blue-Eyes Spirit Dragon. Blue-Eyes Spirit Dragon ③ effect Special Summons LIGHT Dragon Synchro Monster from your Extra Deck in Defense Position, while Ancient Fairy Life Dragon ② effect allows it to attack in face-up Defense Position and apply their DEF for damage calculation, giving the deck an extra push of damage.

Newaza King (寝業キング) went 7-2 and finished 3rd in “1st Teru CS” which had 68 participants.