End of the Year 2009

Yeah, I wasn't planning on doing this type of post, but I might as well.

So, I'm not sure exactly what to talk about. So much has happened this year.

I guess I might as well talk about the meta that was around for this year and what could happen next year. I suppose the most notable deck was Synchro Cat. It kinda forced the Limiting of both Summoner Monk and Rescue Cat. It also contributed to the ban of Dark Strike Fighter, though it had it coming.

The hole left by Synchro Cat was filled with Blackwings and Lightsworn, though mostly Blackwings. And, for some reason, they (Konami) saw it fit to bring Mezuki back to 2.

With the arrival of Brionac, Dragon (*cough* Sea Serpent) of the Ice Barrier, Zombies came into power. They were pretty good without Brionac, but it pushed them straight to the top.

Gorz, although played sometimes in some decks, was made into a staple. Obviously because Brionac could just send your field back to your hand and threaten an OTK. Tragoedia is now splashed into some decks just to help with that.

Zombies, although sometimes slow, are fairly consistent. Lots of searching, lots of floaters. Blackwings and Lightsworn probably won't last much longer. The Shonen Jump Championship in Los Angeles will probably be won by Zombies, but anything can happen.

Of course, with Absolute Powerforce coming out in February, Battle Fader will come to the TCG. Although it will be too late by then, since the new ban list will be coming less than a month afterward, it will definitely help ward off OTK's.

Hopefully the new ban list in March will help to fix the meta. Judgment Dragon is too good to even exist, Mezuki is too abusable, and Black Whirlwind turns Blackwings into feathered Gadgets with decent effects.

However, the threat of X-Sabers looms on the horizon. All of the new X-Saber support coming in Absolute Powerforce could make them a new top deck. Saber Hole is barely fair. It's like Vanquishing Light (Horn of Heaven for Lightsworn) without the cost. I don't think X-Saber decks need that when they can rip all of the cards out of your hand with ease.

Either way, we'll just have to wait and see what happens next year.