Yu-Gi-Oh Master Duel continues to thrive, since our last banlist guide. With more players joining each month, the game having in-game events that have implemented special rulings, and the continual release of new cards and packs such as the Adventurer Token engine, it's a good time to be a Master Duel player. This game is the best way to play a digital Yu-Gi-Oh format thanks to the many quality-of-life additions based on card usage, modes, rewards, and more.
Konami does not always provide exact or even vague reasoning for its banlist implementations even in the trading card game (TCG) itself. Hopefully, this guide will grant you a clearer understanding of why certain cards became forbidden, limited, or semi-limited.
Before we start with the forbidden cards, there were a few buffs with an increased rate of use for three cards. Night Assailant, which was at one copy before is now unlimited at three copies. Altergeist Multifaker, which was also previously at one copy allowed, is now semi-limited to two copies in decks. Similarly, Salamangreat Gazelle had been limited to one copy but is now semi-limited to two copies. Cards such as these have had their rate increased due to being power crept out. (Power crept means that older cards are just not as strong as newer cards that have been released and/or cannot contend with the current higher top-ranking or meta-defining decks on the ranked ladder.) To aid in making certain decks more prevalent in the game, in this case, the Altergeist, and Salamangreat archetypes, this provides additional playability with much more efficient synergy alongside combo potential or opportunities to win a duel.
Last time, we had no new additions to the Forbidden section, but now we have five cards marked as forbidden.
Forbidden Additions
Number 75: Bamboozling Gossip Shadow
Number 75: Bamboozling Gossip ShadowNumber 75: Bamboozling Gossip Shadow is a Rank 3 Xyz Monster that is able to negate any Monster effect an opponent activates, and change that effect for both players to draw a card. Though it was only used as one copy for the Extra Deck, if a player went first such as in a Virtual World deck, then they would be able to summon Number 75 with ease alongside having a Monster negation effect with high defense, as well.
Card advantage is incredibly important in card games, so the draw-one-card effect is great by rewriting an opponent’s effect. Rather than limiting the card, it has been banned outright, since it only requires two level 3 Monsters to summon, and could be used in almost any deck as long as the Monsters on the field are level 3. A few Extra Deck Monsters as recommendations that can negate Monster effects are Baronne de Fleur, Number 41: Bagooska the Terribly Tired Tapir, Crystal Wing Synchro Dragon, and Apollousa, Bow of the Goddess.
Imperial Order
Imperial OrderImperial Order made it so Spell cards would just not work. Many Spells in Master Duel like Mystical Space Typhoon, Twin Twisters, and Harpie’s Feather Duster are all excellent in destroying continuous Trap cards, but Imperial Order would negate all Spells, even your own. The benefit of Spell cards is that they can be used right away rather than Trap cards that need to be set on the field for a turn before activation. With Order’s Spell negation, it would be a consistent way to also protect your Monsters and Traps from Spells cards, as well.
This card was used in control decks such as Eldlich which leaned more heavily on Trap cards than Spells. Imperial Order is a strong counter to decks like Sky Striker due to the archetype's heavy Spell reliance. A few recommended cards that can negate Spells or Spell activations on the field, but still allow you to activate them are Secret Village of the Spellcasters, Magician’s Right Hand, and Anti-Spell Fragrance, as long as certain conditions are met with Secret Village of the Spellcasters, and Magician’s Right Hand only working if you control a Spellcaster Monster.
True King of All Calamities
True King of All CalamitiesTrue King of All Calamities would just make it so your opponent could not do anything. Combining this Rank 9 Xyz Monster with Imperial Order would have almost zero possibilities. True King is basically an “I am not going to let you play this game” card. It would not just stop Monster effects, but even Monster attacks.
This was a card that was continually summoned by Virtual World players that went first, and if you went second? You might as well surrender if they also had other cards such as Baronne de Fleur on the field ready to negate your Spells or Traps. The closest substitutes for True King of all Calamities would be Hot Red Dragon Archfiend King Calamity, Invoked Mechaba, and Divine Arsenal AA-Zeus - Sky Thunder.
Vanity’s Emptiness
Vanity’s EmptinessVanity’s Emptiness is another card that would make the game’s current state unplayable. Going first, you could create your huge combo, and have numerous Monsters on the field. Then when it is your opponent’s turn, they draw a card, and you use Vanity’s Emptiness. Now they cannot special summon any Monster. If you combined this with Imperial Order and the True King of All Calamities, you would create a board state with little room for a counter or possible reaction.
Surrendering was sometimes the better option, and hoping you do not lose the next match just because you lost the initial coin toss to decide who goes first. Replacements for Vanity’s Emptiness can be Fire Prison, Summon Limit, Kaiser Colosseum, and There Can Be Only One.
Destiny HERO - Celestial
Destiny HERO - CelestialDestiny HERO - Celestial allows a player to draw two cards from their hand if they have no cards in hand alongside banishing it and another Destiny Hero Monster from the graveyard. With the use of Fusian Destiny, which we covered in our previous banlist guide, you can send two Destiny Hero monsters from deck to graveyard with many choosing Celestial and Destiny HERO - Dasher for Destiny HERO - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer.
Being able to draw two cards with Celestial’s effect, when your resources are low can and do turn a match to come out as the victor. Fusion Destiny now needs another target to send to the graveyard alongside Dasher, so the replacement can be Destiny HERO - Denier, Destiny HERO - Malicious, or Destiny HERO - Dynatag. Most players, and I, have been using Denier to replace Celestial.
These five cards were all additions to the Forbidden List. Outside of Celestial, the tactic they have in common is to create an unplayable situation for your opponent. Being on the receiving end of that, and not being allowed to play Spells, Monsters, or even activate effects made it so the game was decided solely on if you went first or second in many cases. Konami rightfully banned these cards, which is a huge step considering the first banlist had zero forbidden cards added.