This is quite an interesting format, but still, there are cards that are quite annoying and banlist worthy.
These are not predictions, but things I believe should happen. Big difference actually.
Banned -
Rescue Cat
Torrential Tribute
Restricted to 1 -
Caius The Shadow Monarch
Mass Driver
Infernity Mirage
Semi Limited -
Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner
Battle Fader
Infernity Launcher
Necroface
Reinforcement of the Army
Pot of Avarice
Machina Fortress
Machina Gearframe
Smashing Ground
Substitoad
Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter
Unlimited to 3 -
Skill Drain
Goblin Zombie
Royal Decree
Rescue Cat is the reason X-Sabers can OTK. X-Sabers is the sole reason Cat is good, I am not bashing on Synchro Cat Varients, but Airbellum and Darksoul basically broke Rescue Cat.
Now Torrential Tribute is regarded as the best trap card legal in the game. It prevents overextension, and punishes it. Mirror Force is acceptable, because it requires a battle phase, and Stardust Dragon stops it (while one could Torrential while the tuner/s are summoned). Torrential is basically a version of Dark Hole, that has ups and downs, but I am sick of having a span of 2-3 turns where I do not summon simply because of the risk of Torrential Tribute.
Restricted To 1 -
Caius The Shadow Monarch
Mass Driver
Infernity Mirage
Caius is a broken card. You use Caius to remove any threat, or prevent threats. I believe Caius is too good because it is simply everywhere. Caius was ok when it was not played as much, but the fact it is a Caius happy format makes it too good. A 2nd turn Caius, removing a recruiter is game-breaking. Not to mention, Caius definitely is the best topdeck mid-game.
Mass Driver is simply for the Frog OTK that good players are losing too because it is a stupid deck. No real explanation, they could always ban Ronintoadin, or put it to 1, but this would suffice better. INB4DECKISSTILLPLAYABLE
Infernities are a huge deck, but it is simply too early for them to completely die, using Tele-DAD and/or Lightsworns as an example. The deck is although debatable, not a powerhouse such as the said decks. The deck does have a lot of flaws, and pluses, which makes it allowable for a couple formats. Hitting Mirage makes 2-3 Mirage Builds unplayable, and in theory Mirage is the best graveyard summoner in the deck. 2 Mirage is still a little much.
Semi Limited -
Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner
Battle Fader
Infernity Launcher
Necroface
Reinforcement of the Army
Pot of Avarice
Machina Fortress
Machina Gearframe
Smashing Ground
Substitoad
Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter
Lumina was put to 1 because Lumina + Garoth opening plays are usually a +1. I believe this is justified, because we have gone through a format where only 1 LS build has topped, ensuring Konami and players that Charge of the Light Brigade really is the engine. Without 3 Charges, I think it is acceptable to ALLOW a CotlB target to be played in 2s. Decent trade-off, in a format where LS was not Tier 1.
Battle Fader is kinda of ridiculous in Frognarchs, imo, making it the soul reason the deck is actually used. Putting Fader @ 2 makes it so you cannot just shove 3 Faders into a deck and instantly make it good. Fader could be put to 1, but in general, the number of Fader plays need to decrease.
Infernity Launcher is relatively self explanatory. Card is ridiculous in combination with Infernity Archfiend and Necromancer. The 3 synchro loop needs to modified a little. Deck is still usable, as intended.
Necroface was apparently put to 1 for a card called Handless Fake I believe, something like that. It allows you to remove from play your entire hand for a turn, as a continous trap. Well, really, this deck does not sound like an amazing deck, and the strategics behind this is not amazing either. The opponent loses 5 cards off the top of their deck, not their hand, or anything actually relating to advantage. Necroface is one of my favorite cards too.
Reinforcements has been on my predicted lists for various formats, but the idea of abusing Elemental Hero - Stratos in union with the syenergy with Elemental Hero - Stratos, Destiny-Draw, and Destiny-Hero Malicious is quite gone. The idea of the Destiny Hero engine has no real powerhouse anymore, and Destiny Draw is limited to one (and I doubt is going to 2, but do not count on it). RoTa is not abused in ANY deck, and Warriors as a theme is not anything to be scared of.
Pot of Avarice is being used too much, and it is too easy to get 5 monsters into the graveyard, netting a +1. Pot of Avarice is a Pot of Greed, the fact you put 5 monsters into your deck has really no purpose, and in some decks it actually benefits the deck.
Machina Fortress and Gearframe are used in unison in the Machina Gadget deck is actually tier 1. Fortress is broken, and Gadgets have an annoying as hell amount of +1s. Please touch the deck a little. pl0x and ty.
Smashing Ground - If this is not touched Gadgets would simply turn into a STUN type of deck, using triple Fissure and Smashing (depending on the format of course). No deck really runs 3 Smashing Ground, I realize that, but it should not be left @ 3 to be abused.
Substitoad is basically a Lonefire Blossom for Frogs, which is a deck with a lot more potential. Frogs have 3 types of OTKs, being Witch Doctor of Sparta, Mass Driver, and Dewloren, Tiger of the Ice Barrier. Lets slow those down just a little. Subtitoad will get hit eventually.
Ryko is a card I am sick of this format. You can play around it, of course, but it is simply annoying with Super Nimble Mega Hamster, Pot of Avarice, and even Quickdraw Dandywarrior (which is a deck I believe will not be hit, Dandylion to 1 at the most). It is stupid to summon a monster, attack, monster dies and opponent mills 3 cards to their advantage.
Unlimited to 3 -
Skill Drain
Goblin Zombie
Royal Decree
Skill Drain is really a SKILLED players deck. There are many variations of Skill Drain. Plant Skill Drain, Lightsworn Drain, DaDrain, Beast Drain, AbsoDrain, and whatever. Skill Drain really did no harm @ 3, and I would love to actually play a more competetive Plant Skill Drain deck.
Goblin Zombie is relatively HORRIBAD with 1 Mezuki and 1 Plaguespreader Zombie. Why is this even semi'd? Drawing it mid and late game does nothing. It is simply an ok opening play.
Royal Decree should be allowed to be used in 3s because it has no use in commonly played decks. I have seen it used in a plethora of things, from gadgets to lightwsorn, but it is a game of monster effects, where trap cards are not winning games. You are bad if you lose to this card.
Some cards I considered -
Magic Cylinders to 2
Dandylion to 1
Dark Armed Dragon banned
Trap Dustshoot banned
Gorz, the Emissary of Darkness banned
Gold Sarcophagus to 1
Black Rose Dragon to 2
etc... There are of course of a lot of options.
Hope you enjoyed my evaluation of the next banlist. I could not really find a specific section for this so I threw it in w/e and hoped it doesn't get deleted.
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http://www.yugiohforums.com/showthread.php?p=764129