Hello to Pojo and Yugioh fans one and all, I figured it was as good a time as any to start writing again, and I'm here today to talk about the changes to the upcoming Ban List for September.  So let's begin...

Newly Banned

Dark Strike Fighter

Level 7

Machine-Synchro

2600 atk 1800 def

1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters

You can tribute one monster to inflict damage to your opponent equal to it's Level x200.

A respectable move, as Dark Fighter Decks in their various forms have been wreaking havoc in the Yugioh scene for too long, but alas, it doesn't change a whole lot.  Don't be surprised to see another broken (or not so broken) Synchro monster/Deck replace it.

Card of Safe Return

Continuous Magic

When a Monster is Special Summoned from your Graveyard to your side of the Field, you can Draw one card from your Deck.

A huge blow to Zombie Decks, obviously, but I never really agree with limiting the power of a Deck that just isn't quite the Top.  Zombies are powerful, and they still should be, but there are other problems we should be addressing.

Monster Reborn

Normal Magic

Special Summon 1 monster from either player's Graveyard to your side of the field.

Who didn't see this coming?  It was and always is fun to have a card like Monster Reborn playable in a Format, but it's an equal blow to everyone.

Crush Card Virus

Normal Trap

Tribute 1 DARK monster with 1000 or less ATK. Check all monsters your opponent controls, your opponent's hand, and all cards they draw (until the end of your opponent's 3rd turn after this card's activation), and destroy all monsters with 1500 or more ATK.

Crush Card Virus being Banned is what some players are calling a blessing, and others are calling a curse.  The raw destructive power of Crush Card Virus is amazing, and it's great to see something so powerful go away.

Newly Restricted

Blackwing Gale the Whirlwind

Level 3

Dark-Winged-Beast-Tuner

1300 atk 400 def

If you control a "Blackwing" monster other than "Blackwing - Gale the Whirlwind", you can Special Summon this card from your hand. Once per turn, you can halve the ATK and DEF of 1 face-up monster your opponent controls.

Blackwing Decks continue to get more powerful all the time with new support, namely with cards such as Blackwing-Vayu the Emblem of Honor. 

Believe it or not, this does limit one particular resource, but it's not that big of a hit to Blackwing players.

Mind Master

Level 1

Light-Psychic-Tuner

100 atk 200 def

You can pay 800 Lifepoints and Tribute one Psychic-type monster except "Mind Master" to Special Summon one Level 4 or lower Psychic-type monster from your Deck in face-up Attack position.

This fits the category of "cards that really don't need to be touched and hurts a Decktype that just isn't all that powerful."  It's a reasonably prudent move, but Psychic Decks aren't exactly anything to fear either.

Rescue Cat

Level 4

Earth Beast-Effect

300 atk 100 def

You can send this face-up card to the Graveyard to Special Summon two Level 3 or lower Beast-type monster from your Deck.  Those monsters are destroyed during the End Phase.

The cutest little animal in Yugioh has been limited to one, and with damn good cause.  There are many a decks, Synchro, OTK/FTK Decks that are absolutely attrocious to play against, and while you can still pull some off, it will be much more difficult.

Black Rose Dragon

Level 8

Fire-Dragon-Synchro

2400 atk 1800 def

1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters

When this card is Synchro Summoned, you can destroy all cards on the Field.  Once per turn, you can remove from play one Plant-type monster from yoru Graveyard to change one monster your opponent controls to face-up Attack Position and reduce its attack to 0 until the End Phase.

Black Rose has always been an unwieldly powerful and destructive card, but has always also been on the in and out, so to speak.  Finally, even non-Plant players were able to start using her to destroy, so this is a good move.

Demise, King of Armageddon

Level 8

Dark-Ritual-Fiend

2400 atk 2000 def

This card can only be Ritual Summoned with the Ritual Magic Card, "End of the World."  you can pay 2000 Lifepoints to destroy all cards on the Field, except this card.

Demise has always been a card, that seems to be something that people play with, exploit for a while, and then put back in their trade binder for a few months.  I find it odd that a Ritual monster, however powerful, made the list.

Cold Wave

Normal Magic

This card can only be activated at the start of Main Phase 1.  Until your next turn, you and your opponent cannot play or set any Magic or Trap Cards.

Cold Wave has always been somewhat of a nuisance, whose play seems to rise and fall per Format.  It's been a wonderful tech tool in countless Decks, but you should still see the one copy allowed in plenty of Decks.

One For One

Normal Magic

Send one Monster card from your Hand to the Graveyard.  Special Summon one Level 1 Monster from your Hand or Deck.

Another great Restriction, as this card is obviously a great speed tool for about any Deck that wants to Synchro Summon.  Dump something that is uselessly sitting in your Hand, and bring out a great Tuner.

Solemn Judgement

Counter Trap

Pay half your Lifepoints. Negate the activation of a Spell Card/ Trap Card/Normal Summon/Flip Summon/Special Summon and destroy the Spell Card, Trap Card, or Summoned Monster.

Solemn Judgement...obviously powerful, and equally annoying.  There are other cards to fill this hole...My Body as a Shield will probably be the most popular one, but it forces most players to think outside the box.

Newly Semi-Restricted

Chaos Sorcer

Level 6

Dark-Spellcaster-Effect

2300 atk 2000 def

This card cannot be Normal Summoned or Set. This card can only be Special Summoned by removing 1 LIGHT and 1 DARK monster in your Graveyard from play. Once per turn, you can remove 1 face-up monster on the field from play. If you activate this effect, this card cannot attack during this turn.

For those of you who were playing one Chaos Sorcerer, having an extra one isn't going to make much difference.  The thing was, and still is, that the bigger and more powerful threats have, and will continue to dispose of Chaos Sorcerer.

Mezuki

Levle 4

Earth-Zombie-Effect

1700 atk 800 def

You can remove from play this card from your Graveyard to Special Summon one Zombie-type monster from your Graveyard.

I'm guessing this might have to do with the Restriction of Card of Safe Return, although Mezuki probably never should have been Restricted in the first place...two is a nice fit I think.

Bottomless Trap Hole

Normal Trap

Activate only when your opponent Summons a monster(s) with 1500 or more attack.  Destroy and remove from play the monster(s).

There are plenty of players who seriously use three copies of Bottomless Trap Hole...that alone might be cause for only being allowed to use one, but you will still see plenty of players packing two, as it's a great answer waiting in hiding.

Closing out our list, let's go over cards that have been completely taken off the list.

DD Warrior Lady is an interesting move, but this might be a bigger problem for Traditional Format, or anyone actually ambitious enought to play a hardcore Warrior toolbox Deck.

Breaker the Magical Warrior is a fun choice to be at three, but as good as Breaker is, I don't expect anyone to play more than one, simply because you don't have room for him...prove me wrong.

Green Baboon, Defender of the Forest could be a mistake, but maybe not.

 Baboons, Beasts, Gladiators, they are all about as powerful as ever, and will get new help in the next set, but I guess NOW it isn't a problem.

Raiza the Storm Monarch, I see as the biggest potential mistake...why? 

The Divine Monarchy, namely in the form of Raiza is trying like hell to make a comeback.  We'll see what happens though.

Well, that does it for today, and I hope you enjoyed it!  As always, feel free to contact me with anything @ tsearcy@lssu.edu

You stay classy, Planet Earth :)

~Dark Paladin~