Last episode of 2020 with discussion of emergency nerfs, skill rebalancing, new cards from Mission Research, Duelist Chronicles 5D’s, and more! Recapping 2020 in Duel Links, and taking a look at what’s ahead in 2021. #YGODuelLinks #duellinks #yugioh #podcast
#YGODuelLinks #duellinks #yugioh #podcast
The Duel Assessment Episode #198
Your Podcast for Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links
December 26, 2020
1. Intro
– Intro/Outro Music: “Danger Storm,” by Kevin Macleod, Deck Theme: “Desert Conflict,” by Rafael Krux, used under Creative Commons license—thanks, Kevin and Rafael!
http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/music.html
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– [0:01:34]: The Week in Duel World
2. News
– [0:03:21]: This Week in Esports
DLM Weekly #156
- 1st – Refresh w/ Balance Noble Knights: Full-on 30 carder with the expected monster core of the best Noble Knights. This deck runs 2x Caliburn, usually a one-of. Then an assortment of traps, mostly those that rely on discard-for-cost.
- 2nd – MoAbdel w/ Level Reduction Blackwings: We’ve seen this version with Tornado the Reverse Wind recently, and it appears to becoming the new list.
- Top 4 – Tasm w/ Balance Noble Knights: This is the cheaper version of the deck, running just 2x Merlin and Until Noble Arms are Needed Once Again. 2x Solemn Scolding is there as well, showing that 2x Caliburn is quite important in the deck’s control strategy.
- Top 4 – Drizzels w/ FIRE Reload Invoked Neos: This is the typical Tier 1 deck now. The trap composition of these decks will always vary, but seeing Dimensional Prison come back is very interesting.
DLWTB Christmas Cup
- 1st – Giorfio w/ Destiny Draw Ritual Beasts: Winda is back in her regular deck, here a pure Ritual Beast deck. Not much has changed in the deck aside from Lava Golem leaving.
- 2nd – Melo w/ Cyber Style Amano Cyber Dragon: There aren’t many Cyber Dragons left with just 1x Cyber Dragon and 3x Cyber Dragon Core, but I guess throwing in Amano-Iwato is worth it!
- Top 4 – DirtyHippie w/ Balance Ritual Beast Neos U.A.: Here is quite a bit of spice with three different decks. This is mostly a U.A. deck with 3x Midfielder, 1x Perfect Ace, 1x Rival Rebounder, 1x Mighty Slugger, 3x U.A. Stadium, and 2x U.A. Penalty Box. Amarylease functions as ramp for the U.A.
- Top 4 – Gabriele94 w/ Master of Destiny Desperado: Just a typical look Desperado deck. Black Salvo, sometimes an unpopular choice, is in there for Synchros.
– [0:10:32]: Duel Links Meta Power Rankings
- Tier 1: Desperado (13.4), Invoked Neos (10.9), Noble Knights (10.1)
- Tier 2: Blackwings (6.8), Blue-Eyes (7.3), Witchcrafter (6.0)
- Tier 3: Cyber Dragon (4.9), Ritual Beasts (3.9), Thunder Dragons (3.2), Heroes (3.3), Triamids (3.1), Weather Painters (2.5)
– [0:14:51]: Emergency Nerf! (January 5)
- Battlin’ Boxer Veil (Limit 3): Realizing that they have bolstered Control Hell, as well as giving Invoked new life once again, here is the emergency banlist placement. This really hits at the Invoked Purgatrio play, as now you’ll just be running 1 each of Aleister, Invocation, and Veil to make it work. While other control decks ran Veil, this mostly is a hit on Invoked Roids.
– [0:17:06]: Random Skill Changes (January 15)
- Time Passage: The main Fortune Lady skill gets a buff, being able to be used once per turn, with no more limit of twice per Duel. This allows the deck to have late game capability for Synchro Summoning, so as long as you have enough Tuners still around. It is also worth stating that Fortune Lady Every can become a 4000 attack beat-stick every turn as well.
- Emergency Call: This makes the tutor more exclusive, as you can just reveal 1 Elemental HERO to get a different name Elemental HERO, rather one that matches type and attribute. They do add a Turn 5 or after activation requirement, but that isn’t too late game.
- Ready for Victory: Previously this only worked with just 2 monsters that were used for the Xyz summon. Now it is inclusive of Xyz monsters that require 3 materials.
- Ultimate Earthbound Immortal: This now comes with the Turn 5 and after activation requirement, though it didn’t seem like the skill was abused prior.
– [0:23:30]: Mission Research
- Curse of Darkness (x1): 500 burn is considered decent at this point, and this card will limit a player to activating no more than 7 spells, as 8 would end the game. Among the meta decks, this should hurt Noble Knights the most, though they have inherent life gain with Caliburn. Cyber Dragon could get hurt, though they take more advantage when losing LP. This could have sneaky tech usage, but having only 1 copy will hurt the card’s consistency of being drawn.
- Amphibious Bugroth MK-3 (x2): Second copy of this card, and it is already obsolete. Umi will weaken the card, making it a 1300 direct attacker. Something like Superheavy Samurai is already better.
– [0:26:30]: Duelist Chronicles 5D’s: Attack of the Dark Signers
- Majestic Red Dragon (UR): Similar to Majestic Stardust Dragon, this monster will see no play due to the extremely difficult summoning condition of requiring a specific Level 8 Synchro monster, a specific Level 1 Tuner, and a random Level 1 monster. Very strong monster once it is out on the board, but the summon is always what holds these Majestics down.
- Stardust Xiaolong (SR): This card almost exists just to help Majestic Star Dragon. Once you use it for the initial Synchro Summon of Stardust Dragon, you can resurrect it for Majestic Star Dragon as the Level 1 non-Tuner.
– [0:29:28]: 2020 in Duel Links
- January: Superheavy Samurai, Selection Box Vol 3
- February: Sealed Tombs nerf, Grass, Darklords, Limited 3 introduced
- March: Lightsworns, Chaos Dragon Levianeer
- April: WCS 2020 cancelled
- May: KCGT announcement, Grit, NMCR nerfed, a banlist that was ineffective besides Thunder Dragons
- June: Witchcrafters
- July: KCGT main tournament announcement, a banlist that was ineffective
- August: Lightsworn + Witchcrafter nerf, KCGT ends with ZaidKing winning
- September: Karakuri, Karma Cut, Lava Golem nerf
- October: Zexal world release, Grass, Cyber Stein forbidden, widespread nerfs, Switcheroo, Show of Nightmares, and Shadow Game hit hard
- November: KC Cup with cheating allegations
- December: Invoked, Karakuri, DM, Shiranui, Crystron nerfs, Noble Knights Box
3. [0:38:39]: Upcoming News
- 4th Anniversary New Week & End of Week Campaign
- [Early January] Mission Circuit: New UR “Flying Elephant”
- [Early January] Shark Attack: Unlock Shark, new skill “Fully Armored Xyz [Black Ray]”
- [Early January] DSOD Yugi retired to the Gate
- [Early January] Tour Guide Mission Bingo: New UR “Crane Crane”
- [Mid January] 4th Anniversary Campaign
- [Mid January] Raid Duel Dimensional Disaster Indiora Doom Volt” New UR “Cubic Ascension” new SR “Gundari”
- [Mid January] Tag Duel Tournament” New UR “Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon” new SR “Neos Force”
- [Late January] Duel Quest: New SR “Stealth Bird”
- [Late January] Obtain Kite Tenjo
- [Late January] Mission Circuit: New SR “Linear Accelerator Cannon”
- [Mid January] Improvement to the Duel Screen
Wrap up
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