Tier 1
TPC Comments
Even with the onslaught of Loading... everywhere, Rose Dragons can't be easily countered, being able to play backrow removal, some using tech’d Synchros like Loading... , or even just using Loading... to still make a Level 7. The new competition is yet another consistent 1-card combo deck that can also play a bunch of techs, Meklords, but even that is not enough to bring the deck down from its current status. A Turn 1 Loading... requires Loading... to out and if the deck can stop them from summoning it, stop it’s attack, or just survive the turn, Rose Dragon can easily break their board and follow up with a board nuke in Loading... or Loading... (if it doesn’t get stolen by Triskelion). Still not an easy matchup and rather coin-flippy, but still not bad enough to stop the deck’s dominance.
Rose Dragon is the best deck, no question about it. Loading... seems to be its biggest enemy right now, so more lists are maining multiple Loading... to not get Floodgated with lower-leveled monsters on the field. There are options to play around it with in the extra deck to try play through Stygian dirge, such as Loading... , but the most effective way is going to be through hard backrow removals. Loading... in the Selection BOX gave the deck a boost and opened up a new deck variant running Yang Zing monsters in the Main Deck. I personally think the original version is stronger in what this meta is turning into, but even that version should have Yazi in its Extra Deck.
Tier 2
TPC Comments
While still being Tier 2, things aren’t looking too well for the deck. Its obvious consistency issues and fragility it is to disruption on its searches, backrow removal on Loading... or even Meklords going first and burning to disable card of the soul, make it feel like the Blue-Eyes of the format. It can still pop off with the same boards it made pre banlist but it’s consistency can make it unreliable and risky to bring in both Side and non-Side formats, especially when you have a deck like Rose Dragon with consistent 1-card combos and recovery. It still has Loading... and the ability to play floodgates like Loading... in its favor while also not being too affected by Dirge itself, but that doesn’t overshadow its weaknesses as stated above.
I’m honestly surprised this deck is still Tier 2. It loses to Loading... and the rise of Loading... while builds are running the vision hero package is a problem for the deck. However, the deck is very consistent along with an even further consistency boost from the Loading... bundle and it’s generally a deck that plays towards its strengths. Loading... drawing into Loading... is great for most matchups and for those it’s weak for, it’s discard fodder. So with that in mind, its flexibility tech-wise and ability to throttle D/D/D and other matchups is why HEROs keeps its Tier 2 status.
HEROs' insane draw power and aggressiveness, and now boost in consistency with Loading... , still keeps this deck in Tier 2. However, players can’t just focus on building their other decks to work against Rose Dragon, the respect for HEROs is still real, especially for Meklord players, as they have a tough matchup vs HEROs. However, HEROs is still more fragile than other decks like Rose Dragon vs popular techs like Loading... , which keeps this deck in check and at Tier 2 level.