#roach to 2 has happened before. notably. We'll see if this is a repeat or if they're actually tired of the bug

[omarwolaeth]

New banlist! Notably this is for the OCG, so my understanding of how it effects the format isn't going to be great from the get-go. Anyway;

Only one forbidden card this banlist, and it is Beatrice, Lady of the Eternal - previously the card was limited; I suppose the OCG realised a limit was absolutely nothing to the strategies Beatrice heralded within decks that wanted her (Fiendsmith I know did, Yubel might've?) The only place left with Beatrice is MD.

Big limited list, which looks better than what the TCG got back in August; Fiendsmith Engraver and Fiendsmith's Tract hits for Fiendsmith; Diabellstar the Black Witch, Snake-Eyes Poplar, and Bonfire hits for Snake-Eyes (and really any deck that took advantage of Diabellstar's summon cost). On top of these hits were Phantom of Yubel and Tenpai Dragon Chundra (Phantom not getting hit was a total surprise in the TCG, so I'm glad they did get hit somewhere.) Zoodiac Drident, Master Peace, the True Dracoslaying King, Red-Eyes Dark Dragoon, and Snatch Steal have been released to the limited list also. Less enthused about Master Peace's release than the others (even Dragoon) given its effects.

Also big semi-limit list. Eva, Speedroid Terrortop, Dinowrestler Pankratops, M-X-Saber Invoker, and Luster Pendulum, the Dracoslayer were released from limited (none of these are hugely notable, but Speedroid is receiving support, so Terrortop going to 2 helps on that end.) Other releases include Gold Sarcophagus, Fusion Destiny, and Branded Opening. HEROs are getting support on the Evil end of things, so maybe Fusion Destiny will end up more impactful at 2 than other entries (except for maybe one particular entry.) Personally not sure how Branded fairs in the OCG, but good for them. The cards added to the list (instead of being released) include Nightmare Throne (another Yubel hit), Gozen Match (a boardbreaker/floodgate that isn't the most fun), and, apparently Maxx "C".

Unclear if Maxx "C" is facing what Ash Blossom and Joyous Spring did in the TCG, where it was unlimited, semi'd, and then unlimited again, or if they're slowly walking everyone's least favourite cockroach into a death spiral (even if that's an ant thing) until it's forbidden everywhere but MD (I imagine if the OCG doesn't even want Maxx "C" in the end, then neither will MD.)

Unlimits include the big Dragon Rulers, Performage Plushfire (who has been errata'd), SPYRAL Quik-fix (sure), Divine Arsenal AA-ZEUS – Sky Thunder (who doesn't care because you'll only really run 1 copy), Majespecter Unicorn - Kirin (supported recently), My Friend Purrely (sure), Raigeki and Lightning Storm (monster board breakers.)

My best guess is that this might change what decks are at the top, but won't absolutely manage it - Snake-Eyes was already hit with Ash at 1, and now Diabellstar and Poplar join it alongside Bonfire (this isn't quite enough to kill the deck, especially with Azamina, but it wounds it), and Fiendsmith losing 2 copies of Engraver doesn't necessarily spell doom, but does hurt. Yubel only having one Phantom of Yubel is, additionally, hurting but not dooming. Tenpai was already fairly dead from a limited Sangen Summoning, but perhaps not enough, so Chundra had to be limited.

We'll see if roach to 2 has any impact.