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Thoughts on the Next Ban List,
Or, How to Cause Major Controversy
By Pook
02.14.05 

            There is a wonderful little piece of American government that I’m quite thankful for, and that would be the freedom of the press.  The First Amendment of the United States Constitution allows me to express my opinion openly.  With that being said, I’d like to address a topic that I know for a fact that I will receive countless e-mails about – the next ban/restricted list. 

            A little while back, Konami thought that it would be a good idea to start restricting the use of certain cards, in order to create a higher level of game play, as well as pull out many of the stops in the cookie-cutter-deck fad.  In America, we did not get to officially experience the first ban list, but in October of 2004, the entire world of Yu-Gi-Oh was introduced to Traditional format, the style forbidding no card, and the Advanced format, the style of game play banning certain cards all together.  It took Konami 6 months from the institution of the Japanese ban list until the Advanced format hit the worldwide scene, so it would seem logical that after another 6 months, Konami would mix things up again.  If that is the case, we could be looking at a new Ban List come April.  Now this is purely speculation on my part, but I have been considering what cards may be banned in the future, and what current cards may have their restriction lifted.  Here are my thoughts on what I’d like to see happen with the next ban list. 

Cards I’d Like to See Banned

            Before I begin, I would just like to defend my choices for this category.  I feel that there are cards that people play in any deck, simply because game play can be too competitive without them.  I’m not talking about the staple cards, I mean less common choices that are still at the point of overkill. 

Painful Choice – this card has a great effect, you pick 5 cards; your opponent selects one that goes to your hand.  The rest are sent to the graveyard.  This card has been abused in order to get the necessary Light and Dark monsters to the graveyard in order to Special Summon Black Lust Soldier.  So with two cards, you can easily summon one of the deadliest monsters in the Advanced format.  This card is also excellent for thinning out your deck, which can help you get the edge in pulling the card you need.  On top of that, almost every single player picks Sinister Serpent as one of the 5 cards, because 1. Sinister Serpent is overplayed and 2. if your opponent doesn’t pick it, you still get it during your next Standby Phase.  The argument for the card is that you have to sacrifice 4 other cards, but come on, you are counting on those cards to hit the graveyard. 

Sinister Serpent – like I said before, this card is overplayed.  Yes, it is a great card and even I play it, but it’s a free discard every turn.  Many cards have a 1 card discard cost because the effect is so good.  The discard is meant to be a payment or a penalty, and it should be difficult to pick.  But, without even considering any other card, Sinister is gone. 

Black Luster Solider – Yes, I know.  This card is not nearly as deadly as it’s big brother, Chaos Emperor Dragon, but let’s face it – this is an easy monster to summon.  With all of the Warrior support, you can thin out your deck in no time to get this to your hand.  Then all you need is one Light and one Dark from the graveyard, plus you can then also summon that turn.  If the cost to summon it were greater, I’d have no problem with this card, but it is just too easy to get out with too good of stats and too good of an effect. 

Breaker the Magical Warrior – Ok, I love this card.  No joke, when I got mine in a pack, I was ecstatic (but alas, I did eventually trade him, only to get another one later on).  But this is another case of a card that is just too good and thrown into every deck.  When it is normal summoned, it gets a Spell counter, boosting it to 1900 ATK.  You can sacrifice the counter to get a Mystical Space Typhoon effect that can’t be countered.  Sure, then you are stuck with a 1600 monster, but 1600 can still hold its own.  Breaker, you are the best, but I won’t be surprised if I see you go. 

Tribe-Infecting Virus – another 1600 monster that can hold its own.  As most of you know, I have a deck containing mostly Fire and Pyro type monsters.  So if my opponent gets Tribe onto the field, for the mere cost of Sinister Serpent, he or she can wipe out all of my monsters.  This goes along with most of my other arguments – a discard is supposed to be a difficult choice.  This card is too easy to abuse, but I will give it that it is only a 1600 ATK, meaning on my next turn, I can probably destroy it, that is, if I survive the previous attack. 

Jinzo – this is the comment that will bring the hammer down on me.  Jinzo should be banned.  Now know you know my feelings on this card (heck, I refuse to even own one), but everyone knows that this is the epitome of the overused card.  One tribute is not that hard to bring out.  2400 ATK is very good for a level 6 monster.  Oh, and there is that little trap-stopping ability, too.  But listen to my argument.  Many people (not all) use this card as a crutch.  Not every deck needs this card.  In fact, I do just fine without one.  But think of the level of game play we can achieve if this card is banned, even for just 6 months.  Trap-based decks will sprout up.  Lesser-played trap cards will finally see the light of day, and could create some incredibly fun combos.  Other Tribute monsters will finally have their day (Great Maju Garzett is more fun that words can describe).  The fact is, if this card has a temporary ban, many players will finally grow up.  So many people feel that they can just fall back on this card, and because of that, they cannot ascend to the next level of game play. 

Cards I’d Like to See Removed from the Ban List

Sangan – ah, Critter, how I missed you.  Unlike his big sister, Witch of the Black Forest, Sangan could easily return to our ranks.  The fact that there is a 1500 ATK cap means that it is more balanced than Witch (I remember the days of getting my Summoned Skull from Witch’s effect every time).  This card will especially do well in burn and/or stall decks, particularly in Messenger of Peace or Gravity Bind Decks.  Look, just because he has three eyes doesn’t mean we should cast him aside.  Viva Sangan!

Graceful Charity – this card could easily make a comeback if Sinister Serpent is banned.  Zombie decks would have a field-day with this card, especially because they are based around the graveyard.  Even Dark Paladin/Red Eyes Darkness Dragon decks could take advantage of ditching a spare Dragon to the graveyard in order to boost the big boys.  I can see why this card was banned, because it would have made BLS even easier to summon, but let us imagine a time when players aren’t looking to throw monsters into the graveyard just to bring out a heavy hitter.  Think about the anime – is it fair to treat your monsters that way?  Now I know that this card was abused for first-turn tribute monsters (toss a big monster, Premature Burial or, back in the day, Monster Reborn it).  It is that reason that I would not be surprised if the card stayed where it is, but hey, a guy can dream. 

            And there you go.  As for the rest of the cards on the ban list, I’m quite happy to see them stay put.  I, personally, have loved this list and our current Advanced format.  I know that things change, but I wanted to put in my two cents before the rumors started flying.  So please, no hate mail if I recommended your favorite card to be banned, but hey, we’ve all had to make sacrifices.  Konami wants to keep improving game play, bringing it to higher levels, levels that we can only dream of.  But until they do, all we can do is sit back and watch.  Until next time, Happy Valentine’s Day and Happy Dueling!