Welcome to Gaia! ::

Although our last discussion of the Advanced Forbidden & Restricted List didn't go very well, it is a healthy and important aspect to the game, and coming to understand the List in accordance with the card pool is a great way to become the model player.

February is a short month, and we're only three weeks now to the new List. We're a fresh guild and not very big, so I want to see some discussion!

All you need to do is understand and follow a few guidelines:

> Discussion of the Forbidden & Restricted List must have little bias as possible. The List is researched to see what is dominating the tournament field, and deeming anything that is considered unhealthy to the environment. If there is anything outside of the tournament field that you have issues with and you feel the need for it to be banned, I suggest you get some advice as to deck and side work in our appropriate sub-forum.

> Reasons, reasons, reasons. We want to see reasons as to why anything should be placed on the List and where, or removed from the List and where. You may push your opinion as we are aggressive speakers, but again must contain little bias as possible.

> Discussion can be tense without petty insults. It happens, I know, I call people idiots all the time. But, if you have no counter-argument to the point that you have to say someone has no life, or insult the personal lives of people you don't know, you may as well shut up and go somewhere else.

If you want to know what is top tier, what the tournament scene that I specify is, check out http://www.konami.com/yugioh/blog/ for any reports.

And remember, the List demands what is needed in the OCG Japan scene, and not the TCG. We get TCG exclusive cards that make decks powerful, but if the OCG does not have them, do not expect them or the deck to be dealt with.

It's pretty unanimous that Blackwings and Six Samurai are the biggest two to look at this format, since they're in nearly in every top in every tournament of Japan, with Blackwings clenching the top seat in at least every 8 of 10 tournaments.

Icarus Attack is a terrifying card, and worthy of being placed on the list, at one.

Blackwing - Bora the Spear isn't anything to look at in consideration. In a sense, Blackwing - Bora the Spear was hit when Blackwing - Gale the Whirlwind was hit. The deck's only remaining alternatives of Synchro being Blackwing - Vayu the Emblem of Honor and Blackwing - Blizzard the Far North overlook and ignore him entirely.

The same can easily be said with Blackwing - Kalut the Moon Shadow. It was easily injured when Black Whirlwind went down to 2, and then again when down to 1. A set 1400 attack increase is nothing compared to Honest, which can be used to attack manipulation for optimal damage. Blackwing - Kalut the Moon Shadow can be a saving grace, but Honest wins every battle it goes into. Also, with Black Whirlwind down to 1, it goes to the hand or straight to the field, unlike Honest which is continually recycled.

When it comes to Six Samurai, there's really only two monsters you may ever consider being touched- True Six Samurai Kizan and True Six Samurai Kageki. The latter will probably remain untouched as it does primarily take up the Normal Summon for True Six Samurai - Shi En, but True Six Samurai Kizan is nuts.

Other than that, Gateway of the Six, Gateway of the Six, Gateway of the Six. Incredibly overdone at three.

Scraps are completely off the map. Scrap Breaker is great, but like I said in my opening post, TCG exclusive. The deck isn't where it needs to be in Japan.

Gravekeeper's need to tap Gravekeeper's Recruiter. They won't, because it's a TCG exclusive.

I agree completely with Jazzy and will add.

We've seen a touch on a TCG powered deck before but NEVER the TCG cards. Rescue Cat gone from Sabers. We all saw it happen. Synchro Cat was NOTHING in the OCG and Sabers were even less. The ban was left field from an OCG perspective (though there were a few formats where it was blindingly obvious that it should be hit).

Scraps and Gravekeepers will likely take a hit outside of their own engines. I'm expecting Solemn Warning to drop to two along with Duality for simple limitation on their abuse. They are VERY good and balanced cards but are being overplayed. I think Konami will touch them slightly for a universal hit.

Otherwise, Cold Wave. ********, Cold Wave.

It's far stronger than Heavy Storm. Drop it, clear their backrow for -two- turns. Not one, two. I'm talking about using Hyunlei, Black Rose Dragon, Scrap Dragon, Scrap Twin Dragon, Brionac, etc etc etc. It just needs to go.

Back to Minecraft.

Like I said before, Scraps won't be touched because their potential in the OCG is severely limited, and still not high enough in the TCG even with Scrap Breaker.

Price is irrelevant to the banned list, though normally associated with what is playable. Solemn Warning won't be hit in order to drop its price but to calm "overuse and abuse". Pot of Duality won't get hit if it's overrated, rather the contrary. If it weren't that great then it wouldn't be up for discussion, but the fact of the matter is it is that great. Consideration of it being limited would be the same for Solemn Warning, overuse and abuse.

Blackwing - Shura the Blue Flame will be hit long before Kalut or Vayu are.

Lonefire Blossom, Dandylion, and Debris Dragon are the trio of the deck. They do all the work. Quickdraw Synchron is pretty minuscule.

When you try many forms of the deck extensively, you come to understand there's really just one optimal variant of the deck.

Dandylion I see no reason to hit again, rather Lonefire Blossom may go down to 1.

Debris Dragon down to 2.

Gale is already limited.
Sirocco is only run at one these days anyway because of Samurai
Shura is not all that impressive... at all.

As far as hit cards go, I think that GK Spy will get hit in some form or fashion, as it opens up a multitude of combos for GK's.
Other than that, I don't have a clue on anything else, as I haven't played much in this format. I don't understand the Icarus Attack hate though, since things like Trap Stun, Royal Decree, Jinzo, Solemn Judgment, etc, exist and in most cases are uses in triples(excluding Jinzo and Solemn). But whatever, you guys know more about it than I do.

Again, nonexistent in Japan and won't be touched.

I can list a multitude of counters to any card in the game, it doesn't make it any less justifiable for a hit. Icarus Attack is our target, because Blackwings have been rampaging as Japan's #1 deck for 1.5 years running now, all on the utility one card gives it. It doesn't matter the counters that exist to provide outs to it, the general advantage and utility the deck offers encircling it is ridiculous.