Yu-Gi-Oh! – Advanced Ban List – April
We’ve seen the ban list take multiple hits in the past, and the latest ban list took a huge hit recently with cards banned that some of the older decks relied upon; cards that have been added back into the game.
These are a few of the cards that I feel the need to discuss, as they’re likely going to influence the game the most.
Ban List Terms
Forbidden = Card cannot be used within a duel.
Limited = Only one of this card may be used per deck.
Semi-Limited = Only two of this card may be used per deck.
Skill Drain has become limited, this has impacted many decks across all of Yu-Gi-Oh, and will leave plenty of room for a greater variety of decks to see competitive play.
Skill Drain was widely known as the most feared card in Yu-Gi-Oh for a long time. It made most of the decks used today completely useless until they were able to draw a Mystical Space Typhoon, or another ‘destroy trap card’ ability.
Vanity’s Emptiness is another card that has been made limited, and this will impact some of the older decks as they rely on this card to counter the more mainstream decks that are used today.
Yosenju are a new archetype that has been particularly impacted by this. Yosenju revolve around normal summoning from the hand, and then returning the cards back to your hand during your end phase; none of these count as a special summon, nor do they send this card to the graveyard from the 2nd ability of this card.
Ring of Destruction has changed from forbidden to limited this month. Ring of Destruction needs to be played well to maximise the damage inflicted on an opponent; you wouldn’t want to activate this card when your opponent attacks you with a 500 attack monster, and then be unable to use it if they special summon a 3500 attack monster later.
This card can be very versatile in the right circumstances, but at the very least, it can draw you the game, and at other times, it’s a card that won’t do anything for you.
Tour Guide from the Underworld is a newly limited card and for good reason. This card is capable of XYZ summoning Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss from her effect.
This card is also extremely powerful in many decks, which in my opinion, means it was definitely a smart decision of Konami’s to limit it.
Snatch Steal is simply one of the most powerful cards for many decks. Capable of taking control of one of your enemy’s best monsters; it was a staple for many decks, like Raigeki is now.
You can get past paying the cost for this card by using a Book of Moon, or anything that flips a card from face-up, to face-down; it will remove the equip feature of this card, and it’ll be sent to the graveyard, but you’ll still keep the chosen card on your side of the field.
This card was made forbidden in April’s ban list, and is no longer usable in duels.
Tempest, Dragon Ruler of Storms, along with other 
Dragon Rulers were recently either added to the ban list as forbidden, or were removed from the list completely.
Dragon Rulers in their time were considered extremely powerful, and were one of the most feared monsters; it will be interesting to see how they’re going to manage in today’s competition.
Crush Card Virus is arguably the most frowned upon card, but many don’t think it’s too powerful because of decks like Frog Monarch, where the base attack is relatively low for their monsters.
This card is now limited to one-per-deck, however, I can’t help to wonder how much of an impact this will have on many decks, not only about creating decks based around Crush Card Virus, but decks to defend against it.
Qliphort users have 
been hit hard with Qliphort Scout, and Saqlifice coming onto the ban list.
Qliphort Scout has become a semi-limited card, which won’t destroy the deck alone, but it means that the deck will no longer be tier 0.
With Saqlifice being limited to one, will have the biggest impact and will definitely lower these decks to a high tier 2.
Overall the ban list for April will have a huge impact on Yu-Gi-Oh!, from very basic decks, to the more recent decks. There are a lot of cards that haven’t been mentioned in this article, but we’ve discussed the main changes to the game so far, and we hope that the bans haven’t hurt your deck too badly, if at all.
For a full list of the banned cards for April, please check this link out: http://www.yugioh-card.com/en/limited/
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Thank you for reading!
Luke – Big Orbit Games.
Big Orbit are a hobby games retailer that specialises in the sale of individual trading cards and game components – Big Orbit also runs a Gaming venue in Evesham, Worcs, UK.