Hi everyone! Recently, the Organized Play division of the WBO Staff met to review some proposed updates to the rules of several formats, as well as get a pulse check on our guidelines for hosting tournaments during the era of COVID-19.
While there are some larger-scale adjustments in the works for competitive play that have yet to have some of their finer details ironed out, we'll keep you updated on those when they're ready, so keep an eye out!
For now, here are all of the changes that we agreed on during the meeting, which can be enacted immediately.
Updates Overview
COVID-19 Requirements for Tournaments
In addition to the following the WBO COVID requirements while attending a tournament, organizers must now announce the local COVID requirements for their state or region at the venue, at the start of the event. This can most easily be done when announcing the rules at the beginning of a tournament.
Update to Deck Format Launcher Restrictions
Effective September 28 2020, the WBO will be loosening restrictions regarding using different Launcher setups during Deck Format. Players may now include up to three Launchers in their Deck, one per combo. Additionally, the restriction for re-configuring Launcher setups during a match has been removed.
Launchers can still be repeated. For example, you can use the Long Beylauncher LR with a Grip as your sole Launcher in a dual-spin, three-combo Deck. However, now you may also include the left and right Sparking Launchers for your other two combos, and exchange the grip between the Launchers as you use them.
These rules were changed due to some issues where certain Layers were incompatible with certain Launchers and were unlaunchable as a result, and in the interest of making Deck Format more accessible to players that use more complex Launcher setups.
Ultimately, addressing these issues was ruled to be more important to the game than the strategic depth offered by keeping the restrictions in place.
Burst Limited Banlist Update: GT Layer Bases + GEN Unbanned
![[Image: SXJtWdA.png]](https://i.imgur.com/SXJtWdA.png)
About a month ago, LazerBeamz posted a proposal to unban some of the weaker GT Layer Bases, as well as all Gatinko Chips except Diabolos, and the GEN Layer Weight.
The four Layer Bases included in the original proposal were Ace, Slash, Venom, and Erase, but as other members such as Shindog, myself, and AirKingNeo contributed testing for these parts, it was revealed that those four Layer Bases, as well as Union (Speed Mode), Grand, and by extension Rock were not powerful enough to upset the balance of the Limited meta as it currently appears to be.
Though it may seem a bit controversial to throw the latter three into the mix, keep in mind that Burst Limited is still in an experimental stage, so if there's any right time to experiment with these new parts, it would be now.
Side Note: Burst Limited & Burst Classic Watchlists
Several members of the OP Team began using the term "Watchlist" to classify questionably overpowered or overcentralizing parts that had the potential to be banned, pending tournament results, so we thought it would be good to compile and publicize these Watchlists so everyone can get a good idea of what all parts are under scrutiny.
Burst Classic
Burst Limited
These Layers don't have any notable tournament feats as of yet: out of the three, only Shadow αmaterios appears in the Winning Combos thus far, and only once. Attendees of BSL tournaments that have owned these parts have opted not to use them in favor of other Layers.
As previously mentioned, the format is still in an experimental stage, so we just need more data on these before we can draw a real conclusion.
Plastics Format Update: Dragon Breaker + Screw Zeus Unbanned
![[Image: nXYaVE3.png]](https://i.imgur.com/nXYaVE3.png)
Last, but not least, we also decided to overturn a ruling made over three years ago regarding a particular Plastics combo using the Dragon Breaker Main AR with the Screw Zeus Sub-AR that was said to be incompatible for some players.
Upon further examination and reconsideration of this combo, we have re-evaluated our stance on this issue and decided that it falls within acceptable limits of what constitutes a legal AR setup. While highly competitive, the AR setup in question is not overpowered, and does not cause damage to itself or opponents during battle, so there is little reason for it to remain banned.
Feedback?
If you have any feedback on these particular changes, or any questions or suggestions for further adjustments or additions, please post your thoughts below or in the WBO Organized Play Rules thread.
Thank you to everyone for your continued support of WBO Organized Play! We appreciate any and all feedback and are always looking to improve and clarify things where possible.
While there are some larger-scale adjustments in the works for competitive play that have yet to have some of their finer details ironed out, we'll keep you updated on those when they're ready, so keep an eye out!
For now, here are all of the changes that we agreed on during the meeting, which can be enacted immediately.
Updates Overview
- Organizer's Guide: COVID-19 Requirements for Tournaments
- All Rulebooks: Update to Deck Format Launcher Restrictions
- Burst Limited Format: Ban List Updates
- Plastics Format: Ban List Updates
COVID-19 Requirements for Tournaments
In addition to the following the WBO COVID requirements while attending a tournament, organizers must now announce the local COVID requirements for their state or region at the venue, at the start of the event. This can most easily be done when announcing the rules at the beginning of a tournament.
Update to Deck Format Launcher Restrictions
Effective September 28 2020, the WBO will be loosening restrictions regarding using different Launcher setups during Deck Format. Players may now include up to three Launchers in their Deck, one per combo. Additionally, the restriction for re-configuring Launcher setups during a match has been removed.
Launchers can still be repeated. For example, you can use the Long Beylauncher LR with a Grip as your sole Launcher in a dual-spin, three-combo Deck. However, now you may also include the left and right Sparking Launchers for your other two combos, and exchange the grip between the Launchers as you use them.
Old WBO _____ Format Rules: Deck Format Wrote:Deck Building
- Choose 3 Beyblades: Build up to 3 Beyblades with no repeating parts that will make up your deck for the match.
- Choose Launcher(s): Choose one launcher for each spin direction for the match.
- Declare you are "set" to the judge.
- Judge Inspects Deck: The judge will inspect your deck and launcher(s).
- Players Inspect Opponent's Deck: Before the match begins, both Bladers will inspect each other’s decks.
- Beyblade Selection: Both players then select their first Beyblade in secret.
New WBO _____ Format Rules: Deck Format Wrote:Deck Building
- Choose 3 Beyblades: Build up to 3 Beyblades with no repeating parts that will make up your deck for the match.
- Choose Launcher(s): Choose up to three launchers (one launcher per combo) for the match.
- Declare you are "set" to the judge.
- Judge Inspects Deck: The judge will inspect your deck and launcher(s).
- Players Inspect Opponent's Deck: Before the match begins, both Bladers will inspect each other’s decks.
- Beyblade Selection: Both players then select their first Beyblade in secret.
Old WBO _____ Format Rules: Gameplay Appendix - Deck Format Advanced Rulings Wrote:
- Launchers & Accessories:
- Launchers and accessories must be chosen during the deck building phase.
- Accessories attached to each launcher may not be removed or reconfigured once the match has begun.
New WBO _____ Format Rules: Gameplay Appendix - Deck Format Advanced Rulings Wrote:
- Launchers & Accessories:
- Launchers and accessories must be chosen during the deck building phase.
- Accessories attached to each launcher may not be removed or reconfigured once the match has begun.
These rules were changed due to some issues where certain Layers were incompatible with certain Launchers and were unlaunchable as a result, and in the interest of making Deck Format more accessible to players that use more complex Launcher setups.
Ultimately, addressing these issues was ruled to be more important to the game than the strategic depth offered by keeping the restrictions in place.
Burst Limited Banlist Update: GT Layer Bases + GEN Unbanned
About a month ago, LazerBeamz posted a proposal to unban some of the weaker GT Layer Bases, as well as all Gatinko Chips except Diabolos, and the GEN Layer Weight.
The four Layer Bases included in the original proposal were Ace, Slash, Venom, and Erase, but as other members such as Shindog, myself, and AirKingNeo contributed testing for these parts, it was revealed that those four Layer Bases, as well as Union (Speed Mode), Grand, and by extension Rock were not powerful enough to upset the balance of the Limited meta as it currently appears to be.
Though it may seem a bit controversial to throw the latter three into the mix, keep in mind that Burst Limited is still in an experimental stage, so if there's any right time to experiment with these new parts, it would be now.
Side Note: Burst Limited & Burst Classic Watchlists
Several members of the OP Team began using the term "Watchlist" to classify questionably overpowered or overcentralizing parts that had the potential to be banned, pending tournament results, so we thought it would be good to compile and publicize these Watchlists so everyone can get a good idea of what all parts are under scrutiny.
Burst Classic
- Wave: Wave initially showed top level performance as a same spin Stamina Driver while also having enough Life After Death on its own to counter Dragoon, but later testing suggests that its same spin performance is not as good in a lighter format without Wheel.
- Charge': It can Tornado Stall, but doesn't seem to be very good at it. However, its weight and strong spring mean that it is difficult to score 2 points against, which could pose an issue in Deck Format.
- Universe: Universe can achieve similar results to the banned Atomic, but it must be launched hard in order to do so, and can self KO as a result. Tournament results pending on whether this is enough of a drawback to moderate its use.
- Trans': Trans' is popular on the Winning Combos list, and can also be used to Tornado Stall. However, its shape makes it an ineffective Staller compared to α' or Z', and the level of knowledge and technique required to bring out its best performance seems to keep it balanced.
- Zeta': May provide some combos with an unhealthy combination of Stamina and Burst Resistance, but has yet to do so since its introduction over a year ago.
Burst Limited
- Shining αmaterios
- Shadow αmaterios
- Hercules H4
These Layers don't have any notable tournament feats as of yet: out of the three, only Shadow αmaterios appears in the Winning Combos thus far, and only once. Attendees of BSL tournaments that have owned these parts have opted not to use them in favor of other Layers.
As previously mentioned, the format is still in an experimental stage, so we just need more data on these before we can draw a real conclusion.
Plastics Format Update: Dragon Breaker + Screw Zeus Unbanned
Old WBO Plastic Format Rulebook Wrote:Screw Zeus (Zeus)
- The combination of Screw Zeus with Attack Rings that visibly do not fit, cause the parts to bend from their original shape, or do not sit level with each other is forbidden. One example of this is Dragon Breaker.
- The combination of Screw Zeus on SG Free Wing Base with Weight Disks that visibly do not fit and cause the parts to bend from their original shape or do not sit level with each other is forbidden.
New WBO Plastic Format Rulebook Wrote:Screw Zeus (Zeus)
- The combination of Screw Zeus with Attack Rings that visibly do not fit, cause the parts to bend from their original shape, or do not sit level with each other is forbidden. One example of this is Twin Horn G.
- The combination of Screw Zeus on SG Free Wing Base with Weight Disks that visibly do not fit and cause the parts to bend from their original shape or do not sit level with each other is forbidden.
Last, but not least, we also decided to overturn a ruling made over three years ago regarding a particular Plastics combo using the Dragon Breaker Main AR with the Screw Zeus Sub-AR that was said to be incompatible for some players.
Upon further examination and reconsideration of this combo, we have re-evaluated our stance on this issue and decided that it falls within acceptable limits of what constitutes a legal AR setup. While highly competitive, the AR setup in question is not overpowered, and does not cause damage to itself or opponents during battle, so there is little reason for it to remain banned.
Feedback?
If you have any feedback on these particular changes, or any questions or suggestions for further adjustments or additions, please post your thoughts below or in the WBO Organized Play Rules thread.
Thank you to everyone for your continued support of WBO Organized Play! We appreciate any and all feedback and are always looking to improve and clarify things where possible.
![[Image: izt9hKq.png]](https://i.imgur.com/izt9hKq.png)
![[Image: 107-D2464-D868-4-CE2-A859-686-EE150-EB1-A.png]](https://i.postimg.cc/mD6NwgGm/107-D2464-D868-4-CE2-A859-686-EE150-EB1-A.png)
![[Image: Hamster-s.png]](https://i.ibb.co/Scx4j1L/Hamster-s.png)
![[Image: AdvancedMagnificentGiraffe-max-14mb.gif]](https://thumbs.gfycat.com/AdvancedMagnificentGiraffe-max-14mb.gif)
