Tier 1
TPC Comments
Blue-Eyes is the most powerful and consistent deck in the format. Going first, Blue-Eyes has options of making:
- Loading... + Loading... + Loading...
- Loading... + Loading... / Loading...
- Loading... / Loading... + Loading... + Loading...
This allows them to produce an optimal board for almost any scenario. (Also noteworthy that Loading... can search Loading... which can then be Ritual Summoned with Loading... 's GY effect, serving as additional disruption.
Going second, Blue-Eyes has a ton of removal options in addition to the ability to summon Loading... (It should be noted that disrupting Loading... will be impactful, but Blue-Eyes should be able to play around it)
In conclusion, Blue-Eyes is powerful, consistent, and has a going-first board prepared for any other deck in the meta. While it's going-second plays are slightly more vulnerable to destruction protection and negates, they are still strong nonetheless.
Shinobird has access to two strong removal effects in Loading... / Loading... and can pair this alongside Loading... which will blanket negate the opponent's monster effects. They also have access to powerful Rank 4 Xyz Monsters like Loading... , Loading... and Loading... . They also are quite difficult to OTK between Loading... and the ability to Ritual Summon on the opponent's turn with Loading... 's GY effect. Shinobird has good matchups against any deck that can't negate monster effects, justifying their Tier 1 promotion. I think Shinobird will compete with Blue-Eyes for the top spot, but it's much better than most of the other decks in the meta, providing more value for less cost.
Shinobird has proven itself as one of the best decks right now, with strong representation and a high percentage of tops and tournament wins. It's expected to keep performing well in the coming weeks, and it’s one of the decks that every other deck needs to adapt to in order to compete.
Most players have started dropping Loading... and the Level 1 package, as the Turn 3 follow up with the Nightingale setup doesn’t seem that great, and the Level 1 package tends to weaken the overall Turn 2 push. It also takes up valuable main deck space that could be used for more essential tech cards.
Right now, the deck seems to focus on playing more backrow techs, with Loading... helping to draw into them. This backrow-heavy approach not only provides disruption and helps the deck survive Turn 1 — especially when paired with setups like Loading... , Loading... , or a Rank 4 Xyz Monster — but also contributes to a stronger Turn 2, allowing the deck to maintain pressure and control.
It’s worth noting that with a good portion of the deck being tech cards (and some other engine cards that don't trigger Shinato's Judgment ), the deck can occasionally fail to activate its full Skill. For example, if your opening hand consists of two techs, Loading... , and a Spirit monster (a decently commoon opener), you will be in trouble. That said, running the maximum number of Loading... might be necessary for maximum consistency in optimal builds, as Pre-Prep essentially functions as a Shinato's Judgment trigger on its own.
Tier 2
TPC Comments
, World ChampionThe Rebecca Dragons deck has evolved into playing Loading... for Loading... who can add either a boardbreaker in Loading... or a Starter in Loading... / Loading... . This coupled with Loading... sent by the Guardian Angel's Charity allows the deck to win a couple going second games more often than you'd originally think. It's still a deck that prefers to go first and just psuedo-FTK'ing its opponent with its endboard+techs drawn from Loading... but its going second ability has been improved quite a bit (meaning you aren't just thinking about scooping the moment you lose the coin-flip). This deck feels like it can put up a good fight with the other Tier 1 and Tier 2 decks, so it's being promoted.
Shaddoll is still very powerful, but due to unfavorable match-ups against Blue-Eyes and Shinobird, its position in the meta got worse.