Apparently, this card is at 2 in Japan (although still banned in the TCG).  It was semi-limited in Japan with an errata.  Although, surprisingly, it's not a major one.  We've seen Sinister Serpent and other cards needlessly castrated, yet Witch is still viable.  The only stipulation, aside from a standard once per turn clause, is that the player cannot used the card they searched within the same turn.  This is clearly informed by the Chaos Emperor Dragon combo in which the player could nuke all cards in both players fields and hands, search out Yata-Garasu and use it in the same turn for a lockdown.
 
Witch was a very formative card early game.  For the most part, it searched what Sangan searched and more.  I guess you couldn't get D.D. Warrior Lady, but almost everything else (including Jinzo and Airknight if need be).  Witch added some good aspects to the game (removal had to be used carefully).  Using Exiled Force and Creature Swap on a set monster was more risky.  But banning Witch after Chaos-Yata format was a good idea.  Not necessarily because it was overpowered, but Sangan already existed and in general the format already had duplicates of staples which did the same thing (i.e. Delinquent, Duo, Confiscation).  There was also a concern with XYZ's.  Tour Guide and Sangan was seen as somewhat overpowered combo, which is what kept Sangan banned.  However, that was a while back and power creep has persisted since.
 
 As far as how Witch of the Black Forest works in 2017, we will have to see.  Witch's searching ability can help almost any deck (and that's a good thing).  It's inherently support for archetypes.  However, its lack of field presence is more of an issue today.  It takes up a Normal Summon and can get ran over by big free Special Summoned beaters.  Also, monster removal no longer comes in form of power cards that need to be concerned, but are instead free byproducts of bringing out powerful cards as it is.  With so many cards that instantly search other cards, Witch may be kind of slow today.  However, it's criteria is so open-ended (as any monster with under 1500 DEF; there's hundreds of them), that's it's bound to find use somewhere.  It can search Pendulum monsters (which also act as Spells).  With such a broad effect, it's bound to see play someday.  There just needs to be a <1500 DEF that is so powerful that you'd want to use a non-archetypal card to search it.  I wouldn't count it out!
 
4/5

Hello Pojo Fans,
 
Flashback to another banned card, though it is at 2 in the OCG: Witch of the Black Forest.
 
WotBF was a staple in everyone's deck until it was banned. Its search ability was far-reaching, and because she searched 1500DEF instead of ATK, it made her better than Sangan most of the time. Now you cannot activate effects of the monster you search with WotBF for the turn. While this eliminates you using the monster on your turn if you send WotBF to the grave, you can still get the search during your opponents turn and use the monster on the next turn. The card is still fantastic despite that restriction and I understand why it is still banned in the TCG, but with Sangan being changed and Unlimited right now, it's not impossible that Witch may return some day.
 
Advanced-3.5/5
Art- 4/5
 
Until Next Time
KingofLullaby

This week's throwback thursday, and my return from a brief hiatus, is Witch of the Black Forest. A level 4 dark spellcaster with 1100 attack and 1200 defence. Witch recently got a reprint and an errata in Light's Revenge. Witch is currently forbidden in the TCG, but rumoured to be returning given she has been edited to work in a manner similar to Sangan's errata.
 
When Witch is sent from the field to the grave, you can add one monster with 1500 or less defence from your deck to your hand, But you can't use the effects of a card with that name for the rest of the turn. Now, Sangan does the same thing but for attack monsters and has slightly worse stats and is at 3, but hasn't really seen any play.
 
With Witch, I suspect a return to the limited or semi-limited portion of the list, given she can search more useful monsters than Sangan can. A wide variety of decks can take advantage of her and even tech her in to make themselves more competitive.
 
Advanced 3/5