[br0kenglass000@yahoo.com]
Formats: The Advantages and Disadvantages - iViE
Heyo All!
 
   It's been a while since I've written for Pojo, or anyone for that matter.  I'll try my best to not disappoint.  I've written about newbies and trading tips in the past, but now, I'll switch to the formats of the game and how it effects the person as well as the overall game play.  I'll start by the most well know.
 
The Official Format
   Well duh, no brainer there.  The Official Format or "the Standard Format" is the way we're all used to playing.  8000 LP, restricted and semi-restricted cards, tributes for monsters, and no god cards.  Tournaments are ran mainly on this format.  Some of you may already be skipping this portion just because there nothing more you believe you need to know, and you might be right.
   As for the uninformed duelists, this is the most competitive of all formats.  So if you plan to play here, prepare to be taunted by some, and be barraged by good cards.  I'm referring to "good" as in staples, pre-negators, control, chaos and the like.  This is one of the most free formats, though because of it being the oldest, people are losing interest in it.  The reason?  It's true that almost all cards (save god cards) are accessible in this format, some cards are placed so much higher in regard than others, people don't use anything BUT those select cards.  It has made the game mundane, or boring to a lot of people.  Creativity doesn't usually spawn from this format, and someone very wise once told me "You have most to do when you have no places left to go."  (This was said in Chinese, but it basically means that you can make the most out of what you have when you run out of options.)  In steps the Ban List.
 
Ban List "Format"
   The Ban List was already there at the beginning of YuGiOh, though because some people refuse to let go of the Official Format, this "Format" was introduced.  The banned format focuses primarily on the 10 banned cards, which rotate every 6 months to keeps things interesting.  The current ban list consist of the following:
 
Yata Garasu
Injection Fairy Lily
Cyber Jar
Fiber Jar
Raigeki
Harpies Feather Duster
Delinquent Duo
Painful Choice
Change of Heart
Imperial Order
 
These cards are supposedly "the best of the best" and are forbidden in this format of play.  How does it change the game?  Not much really, but it helps promote the theme of certain decks.  Decks that needed more room for more specialized cards might now have 2-6 or even more slots at their disposal.  The banned cards usually give the player using it a large trade-off advantage.  Trade-off advantage meaning the card itself to the number of cards it affects.  Take Delinquent Duo for example.  The price of this card: 1000 Life points.  The advantage: 2 cards from your opponent's hand.  To most, the advantage far outweighs the price.  An eighth of your Life points to totally ruin your opponent's game plan at the beginning of a game is extremely good.  Or perhaps Raigeki.  One card, capable of taking out up to 5.  A potential 1 to 5 trade-off is excellent.  However, because of these cards are so superb, other potentially good cards are overshadowed, ignored, or even shunned.  A card with amazing potential is White Magician Pikeru, but rarely anyone plays her because life gain is considered a waste of time.  When all is said and done, the Ban Format is simply a way to make people realize the cards that aren't already in front of them or they have not played against.  Try it, you might like it.
 
BanX Format
   This format truly deserves it own place.  It incorporates the Ban List format and adds one extra element:  only 15 restricted cards.  The rules still apply, no forbidden cards, 8000 LP, and a friendly handshake.  But since only a third of your deck can consist of restricted cards, your options narrow even further.  Your semi-restricted remains unchanged though.  The only disadvantage I can think of for this format is the slow game play, or perhaps the frustration in not being able to throw that one last Magical Scientist in (Though Scientist OTK decks are the most popular deck for this format).  This format is by far the most challenging and (in my opinion) most entertaining of all formats.  This format forces you to concentrate on good deck building and smart play.  Old cards like Magician of Faith run rampant, to get back that precious Pot of Greed.  BanX is something worth trying out, I have a deck made to this format, and i guarantee you, it's feels good to beat someone with a BanX deck playing Official Format. (My deck has no Banned cards and only 10 Restricted ones, 2 Semi Restricted.)
 
Junior Format
   This is not a joke, nor is it a ploy to make fun of newbies.  The Junior format is an official play-type, designed to help beginners with the game.  Most people aren't even aware there is such a format in existence, even though it's been shown to them over and over again.  Some refer to it as "playing by no rules" since it certainly seems that way.  You simply play like the TV show does before Battle City.  Higher level monsters require no tribute.  Though magics card must also be set before use.  Only one M/T may be set per turn and only one card may exist on your M/T zones at any time.  Field cards are an exception.  Also, Cards with special summoning requirements stated on the card must also follow them. (Chaos Emperor Dragon has to have 1 Light and 1 Dark to special summon) But otherwise, it's one of the more "I really don't care what I'm doing" type of play formats.  Fun, though almost never serious.  God cards run rampant here (Still needs 3 tributes kiddos!)
 
These are the formats i have actually seen played (and that i have played myself).  I'm open to all replies.  Maybe you want to introduce me to a new format of play, or found that I've made a mistake somewhere (oh the horror, I'm only human) and wish to correct it, feel free to email me at: br0kenglass000@yahoo.com .  I'm open to all constructed criticism.  And If you want to flame me, please do it legibly and to the point, I don't want to read flames which uses half the page to say that I'm an effed up guy and ends up spelling the F-word wrong.
 
Maybe some other time,
iViE