Format Proposal: Metal Fight Minus (Formerly Project: LIMBO)

After seven months of testing and theorycrafting and seven completed test tournaments, Cindercast and I are proud to present: METAL FIGHT MINUS!
Format Summary 
Metal Fight Minus (Formerly Metal fight LIMBO or Project: LIMBO) is a format designed to give wheels that normally are considered too underpowered to see the light of day a home, in addition to providing a different experience than Metal Fight Limited at a similar, if not lower, price point.

The banlist can be viewed here.

Metagame
Minus is a format with plenty of powerful attack and defense options in addition to some strong same-spin stamina options. Opposite spin stamina is limited in power due to only having access to Meteo (without Absorb), Pre-hybrid L-Drago and Dragooon.

Some meta combos include the following:
Storm (Susanow/Gil/Giraffe) (85/90/100/105/W105/LW105/DF105) (RF/R2F/LRF) - A strong attacker with plenty of stamina to back it up.
Gemios (85/90/100/105/W105/LW105/DF105) (RF/R2F/LRF) - An absolutely devastating wallbreaker with ridiculous power.
Sol (Cancer/Aquario/Cygnus/Bull) (85/90/100/105/W105/LW105/DF105) (RS/RSF/CS) - A solid defender with a good amount of stamina.
Escolpio (85/90/100/105/W105/LW105/DF105) (RSF/RS/RB) - The Bell. An absolute wall with the ability to counter if launched hard enough.
Pisces/Killer (Cancer/Cygnus/Bull/Gemios) (85/90/100/105/W105/LW105/DF105) (MB/CS) - A stamina bey that makes up for its lack of defense in raw spin power. The CS variant exchanges some stamina for better defense.
Pisces/Killer (Cancer/Cygnus/Bull/Gemios) BD - Trading some stamina for better LAD and Defense, this variant can cause chaos with random critical hits.

Combos were created via community testing and tournament results, which can be found here.

Reception
In almost every region that has tried Minus in a tournament, the reception has been overwhelmingly positive. People like specifically that it's a break from Limited while still being at a similar affordable price. The only negative reception was the community in Maryland, but the only real explanation I received was that the format was boring, which heavily contrasts with what has been said everywhere else.

Format Footage
This footage is courtesy of Virtuous Circle.
Project: LIMBO - NightHawk Project: LIMBO - Corrosion This footage is courtesy of Deadly_162.
Project: LIMBO - Event 1: Isolation Conclusion
This format has been well-received and well-tested, and we believe that this format will make a fine addition to the format roster. It gives almost every single metal wheel in the game a home and many people, myself included, would be thrilled to see this format become official and ranked.
Project: LIMBO thoughts
LIMBO/Minus is a truly unique format, bringing a primarily offensive dish to the table with decks relying on some sort of attack power to reign above others. 

First and foremost, it was very well received by the SoCal community, with both Night Hawk and Corrosion having overall positive thoughts on the format. It has even ranked in the top 3 of all formats in some of our bladers opinions. LIMBO/Minus will continue to be beloved by this community and will have a special spot at Beyblade West this year!

To speak more about this format, the heavy focus on attack brings a huge shift from what is usually expected from a WBO format that usually aims to promote balance. The fight of offensive versus offensive while maintaining a somewhat consistent circle of counters for one another is a new, exciting thing that would be able to coexist alongside the likes of its other Metal Fight format brothers. LIMBO/Minus is also relatively inexpensive, allowing novice and budget players to experience full meta builds without having to drop too much money.

No Place for Stamina?
While endurance-based combos aren't the strongest, this couldn't be further from the truth. LTDC Sol RS struggles to defeat Infinity SR200CS (#Fafnir combo). Sol can clear through most of the offensive options in the format at a consistent rate, easily putting it at the top of LIMBO/Minus combos as it continues to power through the plethora of attackers that stand in its way. However, this combo puts it in a corner.

Infinity SR200CS isn't the only combo. SwagLakitu, the host of Project: LIMBO - Darkmatter in NYC, mentioned LTSC Killer DS having a bit of success. Better defensively than WD with enough stamina to outlast opponents was the general idea.

Aimless AvA?
Not the case at all! Storm and PHW L-Drago are consistent in keeping some of LIMBO's hardest hitters, such as Cyclone and Gemios, in check.

Defense outside of Sol?
LTDC Samurai Revizer RS worked wonders for me when it came to counterpicking and punishing offensive options. HasProto Nemesis is also a great defensive choice.

Zero-G Use?
Archer and Beserker can hit relatively well. I believe Deadly was using Gladiator on one of his ZRG Attack setups as well. Gargoyle and Ifraid are the main choices for hard-hitting attackers. Gargoyle is capable of some crazy late-game knockouts. Maybe it could serve a similar purpose that Wyvang serves in MFL.

Revizer, in the previous point, was mentioned for its good defensive qualities. It's very much worth it if you're looking to directly punish an offensive combo in Deck Format.

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In my personal experience, I noticed LIMBO directly challenges your skill as a blader to understand your combos and how you have the upper hand in potentially losing matchups. Maneuvering your combo to evade a threat has been present in two or more of my matches as I play in these events. Being able to ensure a Grand/Sol CS doesn't get knocked out by a Sol RS, or trying to evade and get behind a Storm RF. Movement control becomes somewhat of a necessary skill in a format like this. 

Overall, the outstandingly positive comments on LIMBO from the SoCal crew and the extraordinary playstyle that lets it shine from the others could be something that should be considered to be placed as an official format. The ability to pick it up as someone new to MFB with its straightforward yet still somewhat complex metagame could bring more bladers to the generation as a whole.
I have been in support of This format since project: limbo, and I will continue to support it. There is still a lot to be discovered about this format, and it’s a very unique and exciting way to play metal fight.
Never heard of this but I am hard rooting for y'all! 💜
I've been able to play Project:Limbo at home, and it's honestly the freshest format in MFB. It feels like playing plastics in MFB and I fully support it.
More formats and ways to play created by the players will always be appreciated.
This format is great for areas that love MFB but may find stagnation in different formats available currently.

IMO, better than potentially trying to reinvent the wheel with new bans for limited format as well, by giving low tier parts a chance to get use somewhere else by creating its own space with room to grow.

Generally I think it is pretty cool to rethink parts that have negative stigmas in the formats of play, and have their use and value in bulk lot buying go up. People have cases full of storms, poisons, etc just begging for use.

While growing a legacy format is already hard work for us in an area only just getting into MFB, the areas that do have the gear and interest have shown incredible promise and dedication to getting this to work and be played. That effort should absolutely be commended, and recognized by being an official WBO format!
Well, three months have passed since the format proposal, and progress on getting the format rated seems to have reached an impasse. While I try to figure out why that is, I encourage anyone interested in the format to spread the word about it within and beyond the beyblade community. Any support helps!