We are currently in a strange meta. At the top of the Tier List we have the most powerful decks in Despia and Shaddoll. However, since they both require Fusion Summons we have Loading... decks performing very well (mainly Sky Striker, but NFA also sees play in other decks). In turn, this stipulation makes Synchro decks viable because they don't struggle against the anti-Fusion floodgates. This environment generates a pretty diverse metagame with a lot of viable decks. Additionally Fusion-based decks have started running Loading... / Loading... to out NFA, weakening their Turn 1 by running a potentially less-impactful tech card.
Tier 1
While it hasn't seen much use in community tournaments yet, Loading... was used during the WCS in Despia. Going first, Despia can Link away their own board into Beat Cop and then tribute itself to deny the going second effects of Skills, most notably Shaddoll and Speedroid. I expect the card to see use in the upcoming KC Cup.
Tier 2
Sky Striker is able to draw a lot of cards Turn 1, making it the best Loading... deck. However, this deck’s matchup against Shaddoll is not really favorable, as hard drawing Loading... or Loading... is almost a guaranteed win against the Striker board (unless there’s a second NFA). Going 2nd, it’s extremely hard to OTK Shaddolls, as they can float, disrupt your GY and dodge your Loading... with El Shaddoll Fusion or Loading... in Grave, I don’t see Strikers actually being able to take down Shaddoll from the best deck spot, but it’s still a great option for this meta. It’s worth mentioning that this deck has a huge weakness to Loading... , but since the card is almost useless against Shaddoll, it’s hard to justify running it in this meta (unless you want to target Sky Strikers specifically).
Tier 3
TPC Comments
Ancient Gear's position in the metagame is dubious, largely because it lacks positive matchups. While boasting the strongest matchup against Sky Striker, both with and without Loading... , the deck at best goes even with many of the remaining decks but loses to most: unfavorable matchups against Shaddoll, Chimera, Speedroid, and Despia; very poor matchups against Utopia and Gusto. Overall, Ancient Gear largely succeeds when the opponent is unfamiliar with the correct counterplay but optimal play forces AG to open a starter, a tech, and sometimes Loading... as well, all to beat an opposing engine opener.