4D Format
A Proposal
11/11/2022 Update
Thank you so much to everyone who has run test events for 4D, played in test events, or simply experimented with the format independently!
Scroll down for the ban list update.
This is a somewhat ambitious proposal that I've been talking with the Indiana/Midwest Beyblading community about, as well as others on the WBO Discord and elsewhere - a new format in the spirit of MFB Limited, but based around late 4D era power levels.
Without further ado, the rules:
All rules match the MFB: Standard Format rulebook, with the exception of the following bans -
Similar to in MFB Limited, the objective of the bans is to maximize metagame diversity around a certain power level, allowing as many things as possible to compete without stifling each other.
Synchromes
All Synchromes are banned. Even the lightest Synchrome combos are significantly heavier than even the heaviest pre- Zero-G MFB, and so they universally pose a threat to balance, with their sheer weight making them defensively and often offensively effective by default.
Duo
Duo is an extremely strong part on multiple fronts; it is second only to Phantom in Stamina; it is arguably the best Defense Metal Wheel in 4D; and it is very effective against left-spin opponents thanks to its small diameter, smooth surface, and inherently high LAD due to its low, round, smooth shape. Duo competes with and generally outclasses many other 4D wheels due to this excellent combination of traits, so banning it lets other Defense and Stamina options step into the spotlight.
E230
In a similar fashion to Duo, E230 poses a serious threat in terms of both Defense and Stamina. Its width and weight inherently boost Stamina, block attacks, and improve recoil management, and its elevator gimmick enables it to destabilize opponents, threatening many same-spin opponents by simply existing. Unlike BD145, E230 has no issues with floor scraping, meaning that it has very little in the way of drawbacks compared to its massive benefits.
RDF
This infamous Tip combines top-tier Defense and top-tier LAD on a tall Tip capable of negating BD145's scraping problems. RDF allows Defense types to threaten almost any opposite-spin opponent without compromising their defensive strength, and gives dedicated spin equalization combos an option that is not at all easy to deal with, given that it can absorb attacks, compete with the best LAD setups, and even be launched aggressively to sneak in a KO or disrupt a Tornado Stall. It isn't unbeatable, but it is extremely dominant and is a major contributor to slow and typically boring "LAD wars" type gameplay.
UPDATE: 11/11/2022
Diablo + BD145
This is a combination ban. Diablo and BD145 may be used independently in separate combos, but together they create by far the heaviest combos in the format. The immense weight of these setups reinforces Diablo's status as an offensive and defensive powerhouse, creating a "rich get richer" scenario where alternative options for the Defense/Attack hybrid role simply can't keep up with the raw power of the already-strong Diablo enhanced by BD145, and where Diablo is often the clear choice to receive the coveted Boost Disk during Deck construction instead of other, lighter Metal Wheels.
Banlist Update - 11/11/2022
After hearing feedback from test events over these past months, I believe a relatively small further adjustment to the 4D Format banlist is necessary. The use of the Diablo Metal Wheel and the Boost Disk 145 Track on the same Beyblade is now banned. While it would generally be preferable to avoid bans of combinations of parts for the sake of simplicity, neither part is independently strong enough to warrant a full ban, and both independently have a lot of positive influence in the format. It is only together that these two parts are a threat to the health of the format, and so going forward, the combination of these two will be banned in a similar manner to Zero-G Format's F230GCF/CF ban.
Pre-update text [prior to 11/11/2022]
Spoiler (Click to View)
Why make a new MFB format now?
Burst's various formats and even MFB Limited will almost certainly remain more popular than any other new MFB format we might try to introduce, but a new format re-exploring parts that have gone unused for the better part of a decade would be a breath of fresh air for the MFB community.
Why 4D?
Currently there is a large gap between the strongest parts that are legal in Limited Format and the weakest parts that are particularly useful in Standard. Between the Maximum Series right up until the end of 4D there are a ton of popular Beyblades that have no real place in either of the currently extant formats, parts which could be given a format of their own. Judging where in 4D's run the power level for the format should strive for was difficult, but in the end it simply wouldn't be possible to make underused parts like Big Bang highly competitive without axing popular and exciting options like Blitz and Variares, and so we settled on a point late in 4D's power curve.
What about Synchromeless Format?
You may recall juncction's Synchromeless Format proposal from back in 2015. This came up many times during discussion of a 4D-era format proposal, and the original banlists we tried were very close to what juncction proposed. The intentions behind this 4D format are essentially the same, but ultimately the speculative banned parts list drifted away from juncction's, and it would be inappropriate to hijack his thread.
Why isn't Death banned?
Death is somewhat suspect, as it does have a solid combination of Defense, Stamina, and anti-left-spin abilities, but it is still weaker than Duo since its Stamina is just good and not great. It is heavier than Duo but larger and slightly more recoil-y and with less inherently great LAD. Overall it is an excellent Defense option, but faces competition from a variety of other solid Defense and Anti-Attack options like Wing, Diablo, Basalt, and even L-Drago Guardian and short Scythe.
Why isn't Diablo banned?
Diablo is a terrifying Metal Wheel, with great Attack power and immense weight. It is perfect for Anti-Attack customizations that bully both Attack and Stamina type opponents with power to KO them and weight to survive Attack type impacts. Its ability to easily deal with two of the three primary types is concerning, but even very strong Anti-Attack still loses badly to traditional Defense and Defense/Stamina hybrids, and Anti-Attack helps keep traditional Attack in check without allowing Stamina to become too dominant. Diablo is worth keeping an eye on for a potential ban, but an aggressive metagame is generally considered a healthy one, and Diablo is certainly aggressive.
11/11/2022 Update:
With Diablo now locked out of BD145 use by the combination ban, other Anti-Attack options like Basalt BD145 and Wing [Mortal Blow] BD145 can compete on a significantly more even playing field with the somewhat lighter (by Diablo standards) variants like Diablo R145. Without BD145's protection, Diablo is also threatened more by shorter Attackers and must choose between middle height (worse performance vs short opponents) and low height (worse performance vs BD145 opponents and tall opponents).
Why isn't Flash banned?
Flash is the strongest Attack type in 4D, with respectable solo spin time to boot. Another potentially banworthy wheel with multiple angles of threat, Flash is kept in check by Diablo especially, but also by other potential Anti-Attack setups using wheels like Basalt, Wing [Mortal Blow], and even Variares. Flash's low recoil and high Stamina makes tips like MF and CF attractive, but those Attack/Stamina hybrid setups are easy pickings for the Defense/Attack blend of Anti-Attack types. Flash's raw power does lead it to compete favorably against other Attack options, but Diablo's weight and Variares' dual spin give each a notable advantage over Flash that leaves all three as compelling options. (Sorry, Blitz.)
Why are Zero-G parts legal if it's "4D Format"?
The name of the format is not particularly important - the idea behind it is more concerned with creating a balanced, varied game at roughly 4D power levels than acting as a time machine back to before the release of Zero-G. Aside from the obvious Synchromes, E230 is the one standout Zero-G part that is worth putting on the chopping block for balance reasons, but so far the rest haven't been a serious issue. Of course, like all the other bans, this is subject to change as more people try the format and the meta develops.
What about [bad Synchrome]?
While I think it might be possible that a particularly weak Synchrome could compete fairly in the format, the question of what Synchrome(s) isn't easy to answer and would distract from the other balance questions of the format before it even gets off the ground. Better to entertain the question when there's a developed metagame that can handle the shakeup.
In closing, I want to say that the best way to get this iteration of this concept to take off is to play it! I would encourage any MFB fans with a passing interest in a new format or nostalgia for 4D to at least give it a try - it doesn't even need to be this particular ruleset, any more discussion over 4D-era MFB will help drive interest in a 4D-era competitive format. Going forward, I hope to host and/or participate in some unofficial/unranked tournaments running this format, and all I can ask for is that others would join in this experiment so it (or something like it) can become official in time.
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