EDIT NOTE: This post was originally from the Winning Combinations at WBO Events thread, and has been duplicated here to allow the continuation of the discussion without derailing the original thread so much. Please feel free to discuss why hS, aH, and rP should or shouldn't be banned from the metagame, or any alternative suggestions you may have in mind.
Meta Madness
London, UK - 27/10/18
Custom Ruleset: Archer Hercules, Hell Salamander, Revive Phoenix were banned from this event.
1st- @[Basedsamuraij]
Crash Ragnaruk 7 Cross Zephyr'
Dead Hades 7 Cross Xtreme'
Arc Bahamut 7 Proof Absorb
Deep Chaos 7 Proof Absorb
Arc Bahamut 0 Proof Absorb (Deck Format Finals Only)
Bloody Longunus 10 Reach Xtreme' (Deck Format Finals Only)
2nd - @[Mashoga]
Drain Fafnir 7 Bump Atomic
Z Achilles 1' Hit Yielding
Dead Hades 0 Bump Zephyr'
Twin Nemesis 7 Dagger Destroy'
3rd - @[Mr LT]
Winning Valkyrie 1' Hit Xtreme'
Dead Hades 8 Bump Destroy'
Geist Fafnir 0 Proof Zephyr'
Bloody Longinus 12 Reach Hunter'
Z Achilles 13 Dagger Jolt
Orb Egis 7 Vortex Yielding
I don't really understand the opinion coming out of the Toronto event that the meta is in a good place. It isn't. It's fine to think it is, but it undeniably is in a stagnant state and needs a massive change. When all but one combo on the Winning Combos for that event utilise the three problem Layers (as has been the case for many months now), I find it really hard for anyone to justify saying that the meta is in a good place.
So now take a look at our recent London event, with all three of the problem combinations removed. See a massive difference in diversity of combinations there? Attack was far more prominent due to the removal of problem Layers. While Sr Bearing was still a thing, the increased amount of attack usage meant that it was being ragdolled around a lot of the time, and wasn't the most effective of choices. Even Sr Destroy' ended up being KO'd often, likely due to the difference in weight compared to some Cho-Z Layers.
Special mention to cR.7C.Z' for being the MVP combination of the event, as Jay can agree. I'd been toying around with it on Destroy' and Zephyr' throughout the day before settling on Zephyr due to it's better stamina and being a safer stalling option. It hits a nice balance between being a stamina staller and maintaining it's potential to KO opponents.
Dead Hades has also proven to be an interesting attack choice as well, and the Layer itself seems to be have some decent stamina behind it. I absolutely cannot advise using it on a non-dash Driver though, haha. Gums are gums at the end of the day.
I won't talk a tonne here about the event as I know Jay intends to write a tournament report for this event, but I'm happy to answer some questions anyone may have. I'd firmly encourage other communities to try this custom banlist out though as, while it's drastic, I do think this is one of the best moves going forward to bring diversity and balance back to what is undeniably a stagnant and lacklustre stamina-dominated metagame.
Meta Madness
London, UK - 27/10/18
Custom Ruleset: Archer Hercules, Hell Salamander, Revive Phoenix were banned from this event.
1st- @[Basedsamuraij]
Crash Ragnaruk 7 Cross Zephyr'
Dead Hades 7 Cross Xtreme'
Arc Bahamut 7 Proof Absorb
Deep Chaos 7 Proof Absorb
Arc Bahamut 0 Proof Absorb (Deck Format Finals Only)
Bloody Longunus 10 Reach Xtreme' (Deck Format Finals Only)
2nd - @[Mashoga]
Drain Fafnir 7 Bump Atomic
Z Achilles 1' Hit Yielding
Dead Hades 0 Bump Zephyr'
Twin Nemesis 7 Dagger Destroy'
3rd - @[Mr LT]
Winning Valkyrie 1' Hit Xtreme'
Dead Hades 8 Bump Destroy'
Geist Fafnir 0 Proof Zephyr'
Bloody Longinus 12 Reach Hunter'
Z Achilles 13 Dagger Jolt
Orb Egis 7 Vortex Yielding
I don't really understand the opinion coming out of the Toronto event that the meta is in a good place. It isn't. It's fine to think it is, but it undeniably is in a stagnant state and needs a massive change. When all but one combo on the Winning Combos for that event utilise the three problem Layers (as has been the case for many months now), I find it really hard for anyone to justify saying that the meta is in a good place.
So now take a look at our recent London event, with all three of the problem combinations removed. See a massive difference in diversity of combinations there? Attack was far more prominent due to the removal of problem Layers. While Sr Bearing was still a thing, the increased amount of attack usage meant that it was being ragdolled around a lot of the time, and wasn't the most effective of choices. Even Sr Destroy' ended up being KO'd often, likely due to the difference in weight compared to some Cho-Z Layers.
Special mention to cR.7C.Z' for being the MVP combination of the event, as Jay can agree. I'd been toying around with it on Destroy' and Zephyr' throughout the day before settling on Zephyr due to it's better stamina and being a safer stalling option. It hits a nice balance between being a stamina staller and maintaining it's potential to KO opponents.
Dead Hades has also proven to be an interesting attack choice as well, and the Layer itself seems to be have some decent stamina behind it. I absolutely cannot advise using it on a non-dash Driver though, haha. Gums are gums at the end of the day.
I won't talk a tonne here about the event as I know Jay intends to write a tournament report for this event, but I'm happy to answer some questions anyone may have. I'd firmly encourage other communities to try this custom banlist out though as, while it's drastic, I do think this is one of the best moves going forward to bring diversity and balance back to what is undeniably a stagnant and lacklustre stamina-dominated metagame.