The OCG banlist for January 2017 has now been revealed, thanks to the latest issues of VJUMP. There are quite a few changes, which for better or worse, many did not see coming.

There are 19 cards that are affected from this banlist change, 6 of them being errata'd cards. How would these changes leave an impact for the OCG metagame? And was everything that changed a wise decision? I'll go through and give my analysis of the changes and the impact they may possibly have.

Forbidden

Majespecter Unicorn - Kirin (1 -> 0) - Majespecter Unicorn - Kirin was a card I didn't see or feel needed to get banned. It was both un-targetable and indestructible, can bounce most monsters once per turn and can be recycled each turn, thus forcing your opponent to play around and deal with him if they're not careful. Majespecter Unicorn - Kirin at 1 was fine since players had to either open up with him or Majespecter Raccoon - Bunbuku. But in the long run, hitting Majespecter Unicorn - Kirin was a smart move as it became a main staple to be splashed in many Pendulum decks due to being a Scale 2 that can be searched out with Majespecter Raccoon - Bunbuku and his bouncing effect.

Limited

Speedroid Terrortop (3 -> 1) - A card many players were expecting to get hit; either to 1 or 0. Speedroid Terrortop allowed instant access to Rank 3 plays, either to something like Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss or the current main problem Rank 3 monster in the OCG metagame; M-X-Saber Invoker. With Zoodiacbeing the current best deck in the OCG metagame, taking up nearly 90% of the top decks, hitting Speedroid Terrortop was an attempt to diminish their power. But in the long run, hitting Speedroid Terrortop wasn't the main problem, as there are other Rank 3 enable cards you can replace him with, such as Galaxy Worm or the combo cards of Predaplant Ophrys Scorpio and Predaplant Darling Cobra (who can immediately get you an Instant Fusion when summoned).

Rescue Cat (0 ->1) - Rescue Cat has come back with a new errata of;

You can only use the effect of “Rescue Cat” once per turn.

You can send this card to the Graveyard; Special Summon 2 Level 3 or lower Beast-Type monsters from your Deck, but their effects are negated and destroyed during the End Phase.

Rescue Cat is now given a hard once per turn effect clause, but this is not longer the olden days of Synchro Cat format. While this new errata does stop several Rescue Cats from going off in the same turn, I feel this won't do that much. As the monsters summoned off Rescue Cat can still be used for something like an instant Rank 3 play to make someone like M-X-Saber Invoker or instant Synchro play for someone like Naturia Beast, Naturia Barkion, and even Goyo Guardian. And speaking of Goyo Guardian:

Goyo Guardian (0 -> 1) - Goyo Guardian has come back with a new errata of;

1 EARTH Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters

When this card destroys a monster and sends it to the Graveyard, you can Special Summon it to your side of the field in Defense Position.

The most interesting and strangest card to gain an errata is Goyo Guardian. Goyo Guardian now requires an Earth-type tuner to be summoned and is no longer a generic Synchro. I don't understand why Goyo Guardian needed an errata, perhaps it was to encourage players to make him with the monsters summoned off of Rescue Cat. Goyo Guardian is at 3 in the TCG format with no errata and doesn't do a thing. Even with this errata, Goyo Guardian won't do a single thing to the meta-game or affect it any way and I can personally see it coming back to 3 in the next upcoming list. Or maybe Konami of Japan sees some possible broken plays with him in the future and that's why he's given this strange errata.

Dewloren, Tiger King of the Ice Barrier (2 -> 1) - Dewloren, Tiger King of the Ice Barrier as a card has never done anything major to the meta-game and has only existed to do a lot of convoluted loops that would take up an entire match time to do with his best friend Grandsoil the Elemental Lord. Limiting Dewloren, was to only stop and prevent more future loops from happening.

Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier (0 ->1) - Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier has come back with a new errata of;

You can only use the effect of “Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier” once per turn.

You can discard to the Graveyard any number of cards, then target that many cards your opponent controls; return them to the hand.

Like Rescue Cat, Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier has come back from the Forbidden list with a hard once per turn clause and can now only effect your opponents card. Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier like Dewloren, Tiger King of the Ice Barrier has existed to do complex loops and plays. With this new errata, Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier won't be making that much of an impact as you are now required to have your opponent have an established board before he can do anything and can no longer do turn 1 loops.

Toadally Awesome (3 -> 1) - Ironic that Toadally Awesome would go on the banlist before Cyber Dragon Infinity would. Toadally Awesome being to hit to 1 was something that wasn't expected. Toadally Awesome saw usages in 3 decks; Paleozic Frogs, Mermail, and HEROs. Being able to stop most any card your opponent activated, Toadally Awesome was a threat, but it didn't pose as much of a threat as it would appear to have in the meta-game. At 1, it can still recycle itself, so it hinders decks that uses Toadally Awesome for field presence.

Fire Formation - Tenki (3 -> 1) - Another card I didn't see getting hit. Like Speedroid Terrortop, Fire Formation - Tenki was hit to also hinder Zoodiac. But in the long run, Fire Formation - Tenki doesn't hurt Zoodiac that much, as they still have another way to access Zoodiac Marmorat. Hitting Fire Formation - Tenki in truth, hurts other casual decks like Yosenju or Lunalight.

Union Hangar (3 -> 1) - ABC was expected to be affected by the banlist at some point, due ABC being one of the strongest deck in the last format. While ABC hasn't seen many plays recently in the OCG metagame, hitting Union Hangar has stopped the deck from being played at a more competitive level.

Brain Control (0 -> 1) - Brain Control has come back with a new errata of;

Pay 800 LP, then target 1 face-up monster your opponent controls that can be Normal Summoned/Set; take control of that target until the End Phase.

A breakout card in the past, Brain Control allowed you to steal any opponents monster and do whatever you wanted with it; such as Attack, Tribute, or use for Synchro plays. Brain Control with its new errata won't leave much of an impact in the future. In the current state of the game, monsters don't remain on the field that long, especially monsters that can be Normal Summoned or Set. Monsters are now combo pieces that you use to extend your future plays, to make either Xyz or Synchro plays. It's safe to say Brain Control with its new errata won't be doing much and we can see it coming back to 2 or even 3 in the near future.

Future Fusion (0 -> 1) - Future Fusion has come back with a new errata of;

During your next Standby Phase after this card’s activation: Reveal 1 Fusion Monster in your Extra Deck, and if you do, send the Fusion Materials for that Fusion Monster from your Deck to the Graveyard.

Member Chaos Dragon format? I 'member. Future Fusion was one of the strongest Spell in the past to load up your graveyard for future plays. While its new errata does make the card slow, it still poses a threat if your opponent doesn't take it seriously. Behind Zoodiac and all its variants in the OCG metagame, Infernoid is one of the better decks to play right now. Future Fusion can easily send all your Infernoid monsters to the grave now due to Infernoid Terria's summoning condition. I can see Future Fusion being a main deck card now in Infernoid due to its power.

Imperial Order (0 -> 1) - Imperial Order is finally the last card to come back with a new errata of;

You must pay 700 LP during each player’s Standby Phase. If you cannot pay 700 LP, destroy this card.

Agreed by all as possibly the best floodgate card in this games history. Imperial Order's cost was once optional, meaning you were able to stop your opponent from playing Spell cards during their turn, completely cutting them off, and then stop paying the cost on your turn. Imperial Order with its new errata of paying 700 LP during both Standby Phase is minimal to the impact it will leave on the board. With many decks now relying on key Spell cards to do their plays; Zoodiac with Elemental Triangle of the Zoodiac, Darklord with Banishment of the Darklord, or even generic Spell cards like Pot of Desire. Imperial Order even with this change, will now be seeing a lot of play in the meta-game, being able to stop all Spell cards if your opponent cannot deal with it soon enough.

Semi-Limited

Magician of Faith (1 -> 2) - There's not much to say with Magician of Faith coming back to 2, sometimes even I forget that she is on the list. Magician of Faith being at 2 won't do anything to the future of the game and will eventually come back to 3 like how she currently is in the TCG format, as she is now too slow of a card to be played or invested into.

Dandylion (1 -> 2) - Once a key card of the Synchro/Tengu Plant deck. Dandylion was a powerful card to enable and create combos for the deck. But as the game has evolved into its current state, Dandylion won't be leaving that much of an impact now.

Unlimited

Inzektor Dragonfly (2 -> 3) -  For start, I didn't play during the Inzektor format, so my knowledge of Inzektor Dragonfly and his impact on the future OCG metagame may not be 100% accurate. With Inzektor Dragonfly now at 3, Inzektor as a deck that is now back to full strength. Inzektor as a deck can punish players who have established a board if they went first. While I don't see how the exact impact Inzektor as an deck will leave in the upcoming metagame for the OCG, Inzektor will still punish players now if the opponent cannot react to the deck.

Star Seraph Sovereignty (2 -> 3) - Part of the great Shaddoll cleansing of 2014, Star Seraph Sovereignty now at 3 won't be leaving that much of an impact. Star Seraph Sovereignty was a powercard of the Star Seraph Shaddoll format, but Shaddoll is neutered with no El Shaddoll Construct. But on the bright side, the OCG can now do the classic Stick-Chair combo with Star Seraph Scepter. Or maybe someone will figure out how to make RANK 10 TRAIN Star Seraph Shaddoll.

Mathematician (2 -> 3) - Part of the great Shaddoll cleansing of 2014, Mathematician was a main card for the deck, able to dump any of your Shaddoll cards for the situation. But at 3, it won't be leaving that much of an impact.

Mezuki (2 -> 3) - There isn't much to say about Mezuki coming to 3, it's fine. He's seen play for mainly Shiranui as a key card and able to bring back to any Zombie card from the grave.

El Shaddoll Fusion (2 -> 3) - The final card that was part of the great Shaddoll cleansing of 2014, El Shaddoll Fusion is a key card in the Shaddoll arsenal to go for game or react during your opponent's turn. But at its current state, El Shaddoll Fusion back at 3 won't do much for the OCG metagame.

Personal Thoughts

So that my analysis of the OCG January 2017 banlist change. While I do agree with the changes that happened, I feel that certain cards weren't address.

Zoodiac Marmorat - The elephant or, should I say, the rat in the room. Zoodiac Marmorat is the main key card in the deck. While hitting Speedroid Terrortop and Fire Formation - Tenki does hurt the deck, it doesn't stop the Zoodiac deck, as they are still at full power and easily replace Speedroid Terrortop and Fire Formation - Tenki with other options. Zoodiac Marmorat was a card that should've been hit more for the deck. Even at 2, it would slow down the deck a lot.

M-X-Saber Invoker - A card I felt that should've been hit over Speedroid Terrortop,  M-X-Saber Invoker was a more key and problematic card for the Zoodiac deck, as it allowed you instant access to Zoodiac Marmorat right away. But I guess you could say that hitting Speedroid Terrortop was the smarter move, since besides from being able to go into M-X-Saber Invoker, Speedroid Terrortop also allowed you into any Rank 3 monsters.

Left Arm Offering - As I discuss earlier, behind Zoodiac and all its variant, Infernoid is probably the second best deck to play. Left Arm Offering allowed you access to one of the best card for the deck; The Grass is Always Tastier on the Other Side and now possibly Future Fusion. With the minimal hit to Zoodiac, Infernoid is easily still a top contender for the upcoming OCG metagame.

Thanks for reading. Until next time, k, thanks, bye.