While I was at the Atlanta Shonen Jump Championship, I thought to myself, “Hey, this is a great opportunity to see what people think of the new Advanced format list!” As the tournament wound on, I fooled some unwary people who came over to talk to me into answering some questions about the new format.

I talked to quite a range of people, too: Jeff Yusak, Level 2 judge (and player when he gets the chance) from Youngstown, Ohio; “Dutch” Hochberg, professional poker player and second-ranked Yu-Gi-Oh! player in Georgia; Dave Jamieson, a Yu-Gi-Oh! dad turned player (I see him all the time at the large conventions) who just qualified for Nationals; Evan Vargas, college student and creator of the Soul Control deck; and Tony Lee, Team Savage member who’s well known for his presence in the online community and at high-profile events. Are you curious to know what they had to say? Read on!

Before the new list even came out, what cards were you expecting to see leave the game?

Jeff Yushak was sure that Black Luster Soldier – Envoy of the Beginning’s time had come, and “I figured they’d do something about Goats. I was pretty sure Pot of Greed would go, but I did think they’d let us keep Graceful Charity.”

Dutch Hochberg said “Definitely Black Luster Soldier – Envoy of the Beginning, and Delinquent Duo. Those had to go.”

Dave Jamieson commented, “Black Luster Soldier – Envoy of the Beginning. Top 8 decklists were always identical . . . I was hoping that regardless of what was forbidden, more diversity would come out.”

Evan Vargas was prepared to see Black Luster Soldier – Envoy of the Beginning exit the game. “Honestly, I was expecting Trinity to be gone, along with Sinister Serpent.”

Tony Lee said, “I knew Black Luster Soldier – Envoy of the Beginning would be gone, along with Delinquent Duo and Sinister Serpent.”

No one was surprised when their predictions came true, as these were cards that had dominated the game for quite some time. Obviously, players weren’t going to voluntarily give up cards that seemed mandatory in serious competitive play, so off they went.

Were there any cards you were expecting to come back this time? How about a particular favorite you would have liked to see again?

Jeff said, “I really thought that Monster Reborn might come back, because last time they gave us Mirror Force and let us keep Black Luster Soldier – Envoy of the Beginning.” He also would have liked to trade in Sangan to get Witch of the Black Forest back instead.

Dutch was expecting to see Confiscation return. “I figured that, and I hoped we’d get Makyura the Destructor. Exchange of the Spirit is already restricted.”

Dave said, “Not really, I couldn’t think of anything they’d bring back. I hoped they wouldn’t bring back any of the old ‘power cards.’ I hate losing due to an awesome topdeck!” He was glad to bid adieu to Mirror Force, and wouldn’t mind seeing a few other cards forbidden. “I was surprised that Ring of Destruction was gone.”

Tony hoped Confiscation would come back, along with Dark Hole. “I wouldn’t mind Painful Choice,” he added.

Evan said, “Nothing really comes to mind. Like Tony said, maybe Painful Choice, although not having it eliminates a lot of the advantage of going first.” Overall, he wasn’t disappointed at the prospect of any of the forbidden cards remaining forbidden.

Opinions varied on what might return. Having had Mirror Force returned to us with the last list, it seemed reasonable that a similar old standby might show itself once more. In this case, it was Confiscation and Dark Hole.

Let’s say that only one of the newly forbidden cards was going to be removed from the game. If you got to pick the card, which one would you forbid?

Jeff was emphatic in his choice of Tribe-Infecting Virus. “That’s the one that I wanted gone, and now it will allow mono-type decks.”

Dutch picked, “Black Luster Soldier – Envoy of the Beginning.”

Dave took a moment to think about it. “Losing Tribe-Infecting Virus was a pleasant surprise . . . but I’d have to go with Black Luster Soldier – Envoy of the Beginning.”

Evan didn’t even have to stop and consider. “Delinquent Duo.”

Tony agreed. “Yeah, Delinquent Duo.”

Can you believe it? No one wanted Black Luster Soldier – Envoy of the Beginning back! And it always seemed so popular! There’s clearly no love for the Soldier, but these guys seemed equally happy to lose Tribe-Infecting Virus, along with the hand-destroying Delinquent Duo.

If you could pick one forbidden card to be reinstated to the game, which one would you pick?

Jeff said, “I can’t think of anything that I’d return from the Forbidden list, but from the Limited list, I’d bring back another Metamorphosis. Having only one doesn’t let me trade in Fusilier Dragon, the Dual-Mode Beast for King Dragun!” This was a key combo in his Horus deck.

Dutch said, “I’d go with Makyura the Destructor, for the serious player. For casual players, Magical Scientist.”*

Dave thought about it, then decided on Ring of Destruction. “Probably Ring of Destruction—that card gave you a lot of options.”

Evan was fair and gave the matter some consideration before deciding that all the forbidden cards deserved their fate. “I can’t think of anything I’d bring back. They can all stay gone.”

Tony said, “I’ll go with Change of Heart. It did end games, but without the one-for-one.”

This is obviously a matter of personal taste, since each of the players chose a different card. (I still mourn the loss of Fiber Jar, but thus far, I appear to be solitary in my suffering.)

What’s your opinion on having a different list than Japan’s?

Jeff said, “I think it’s a good idea, because we have a different card pool and play styles, so in the end we need a different format to accommodate that. I don’t see how it could hurt, really. Worlds will affect, what, 40 people? They’ll figure something out.”

Dutch didn’t have a problem with the different list, either. “As long as we go with our list for Worlds, I don’t think it matters. The list was a necessity, and before Nationals and Worlds is a good time to test it out.”

Dave said, “I think it’s good. I liked the surprises, like forbidding Sinister Serpent. That made costs into ‘real’ costs.”

Evan didn’t think that it made much of a difference. “Honestly, I think the list being different is irrelevant. It’s good that some of the cards are gone, but they’ll just get replaced by something new.”

Tony agreed that the different lists seemed irrelevant. “I think the new list makes it worse, makes it even more cookie-cutter. I think it did the opposite of what it was supposed to do.”

Despite some early concerns expressed by some that having a different list would widen the gap between the TCG and OCG, none of the players that I spoke to thought it was an issue of major importance.

Which decks do you think will be hit the hardest in the new format?

Jeff said, “Obviously, Chaos decks and Goat Control, and the new list really hurts Machines and OTK decks.”

Dutch figured that most of the top decks had lost power. “Thousand-Eyes Restrict Control, Goat Control, Chaos, a bit. I like the new list a lot—the old list rewarded bad play.”

Dave said, “A lot of the decks that people were relying on won’t be as effective. I’m hoping that we’re going to see people start looking elsewhere.”

Evan said, “Goat Control and Chaos.”

Tony nodded and agreed. “Goat Control and Chaos.”

Everyone was more or less in agreement on this one, along with the bulk of the competitors. Play has definitely changed.

Which decks do you think will be stronger now?

Jeff said, “I’d say theme decks. Warriors are going to be top-notch, and so are Spellcasters once that Structure deck comes out. Personally, I’m really looking forward to playing with Exchange of the Spirit.”

Dutch believed that Fiend decks and Soul Control would flourish.

Dave said, “I think a lot of decks will be stronger, but especially Warriors and Zombies. I bring my son and his friends to events, and I’ve always said that any deck that’s well made and well played has a chance to win. That’s going to be even more apparent now. Put some thought into it, make the right choices and combos, and any deck ‘can’ win.”

Evan went with Soul Control as well. “Especially now that Nobleman of Crossout got restricted, Soul Control gives you face down monster removal.”

Tony said, “Soul Control will get stronger. Its worst enemy was Tsukuyomi, and now that’s it’s limited, the deck is stronger. Soul Control counters a lot . . . ” He considered a moment, and added “And any deck that supports three Cyber Dragon.”

How many cards did you lose form your decks, on average, once the new list came out?

Jeff lost about six. “But I wasn’t playing some of the ‘staples,’ so that’s why I didn’t lose very many.”

Dutch knew exactly how many. “I lost fourteen cards from my second-place deck at last week’s Regionals. It was a Thousand-Eyes Restrict control deck.”

Dave said, “I lost anywhere from eight to eleven. Unfortunately, they brought back Confiscation and Dark Hole, making new staples.”

Evan said, “I’d say about ten cards.”

Tony lost a bit more. “I’ve literally got so many decks, it depends . . . I remember I lost fifteen or twenty from an Airknight deck.”

Eight to fifteen cards probably represents an average loss across the board, due as much to the Limited list as to the Forbidden one.

How early did you start playtesting in this format? Did you begin when the Japanese list was announced, or did you wait until our version?

Jeff began testing the second week after the Japanese list came out. “I started playtesting Soul Control, and then when the new list came out, we dropped everything and spent three weeks playtesting.”

Dutch said, “Once the Japanese list hit, I started, then changed once Tribe-Infecting Virus was gone and Magician of Faith was restricted.”

Evan hadn’t had the opportunity to do much playtesting. “College has been taking up all my time. The first playtesting I did was yesterday.”

Tony waited as well. “Jae said, ‘In this format, high-caliber players can theorize a deck, and it will work without playtesting.’ The format is predictable, so that’s true.”

Although most players knew there was a strong possibility of a different list, many began playtesting immediately so that they could take full advantage of the time available before the lists went into effect. Others chose to wait and save their ideas until they saw the final and accurate list.

What kinds of players are going to shine in this format? Will creative, innovative decks reign, or will players again fall back on cookie-cutters?

Jeff thinks it will likely be a little of both. “Experienced deck builders will resurrect older decks, and look at cards that were previously underplayed and find uses for them. I think in the first three months, it will be innovation . . . but then, going off of my experience in judging and playing, it’ll be about the new top tier deck. I think half the Top 8 will have the same deck and the rest will be innovators.”

Dutch said, “Initially I’d say deckbuilders, then later on Cyber Dragon will be a fixer. It’s the new Black Luster Soldier – Envoy of the Beginning. They probably should have limited Wave-Motion Cannon, too.”

Dave said, “I think the players with well-built, well-played decks are going to rise above the rest.”

Evan figured there’d be more emphasis on deckbuilding. “But even though there are fewer staples, the cookie is here to stay.”

Tony said, “The Top 8 will still have all the same kinds of cards. Now it’ll be Smashing Ground, Mobius the Frost Monarch, Cyber Dragon, and Sakuretsu Armor.”

There were a lot of surprises at this event, but the more unusual decks tended to drop out around round 6 or so, and the Top 8 from this event did show a lot of the same cards in their decks. Will the Chicago event look any different?

Has the “luck” factor been altered at all?

Jeff said, “Yeah, it’s been altered. I think it’s more about top decks now—it’s just that the top decks are more likely to be good. It’s not just the Trinity, it’s getting everything. Decks could get bigger, too.”

Dutch figured that luck had been cut in half, but the arrangement of the game’s resources kept it a luck-based game. “Heart of the cards,” he added.

Dave said, “It’s much better now. I think luck is inherent in the game, but it’s less likely to turn a duel than it used to. I think the new format will reward good decks and good players.”

Evan ruefully acknowledged having lost a game to a four-card combo and topdecking. “There’s still a lot of luck in the game, it’s spread out past certain cards is all. It’s still about card advantage.”

Tony said, “Actually, I think there’s more luck now, because if you draw certain cards, like Cyber Dragon or Mobius the Frost Monarch, and your opponent doesn’t have Sakuretsu Armor, you’re going to win the game.”

Luck is part of the game, but opinions differ on how big a role it plays, even after the elimination of some of the arguably most game-altering topdecks and combos in the game. Perhaps now the luck is more commonly served in well-distributed, bite-sized portions on frilly toothpicks; rather than in sporadic, economy-size . . . sacks.

There’s another Shonen Jump Championship event coming up in mere weeks. With more time to settle into the format, and more examples to draw from, it remains to be seen what the participants will come up with. Some players like the new format and some don’t, some think it could have been better while some are dancing for joy. Regardless, it’s had an impact that will continue on to the next big tournaments. Watch and see what develops!

I’d like to thank everyone who’s emailed me so far! If you haven’t, what are you waiting for? Drop me a line at MetagameJulia@gmail.com.  ust two tiny things worth mentioning—you really should send your decks to Jason. He loves that sort of thing and can’t get enough of it. Send him your decks at Jason@metagame.com. Second, you can all stop emailing me about the holo playmat, because it’s still in the prototype stage. Rest assured that once I’ve perfected it, I will share this marvel with the world. If you can’t think of anything else to say, why not send along your thoughts about the new list? Or, maybe you miss Fiber Jar too. If I haven’t answered your email yet, I will eventually—there’s just more mail than I’d originally anticipated.

* No, no, no, a thousand times no. Bring back Magical Scientist and judges everywhere will revolt en masse. (Oh, no! The judges are revolting!)