Update
Ban and Errata Update 01/09/24
UVS Games
Today we are announcing changes to the Ban List. These changes will go into effect on January 15th, 2024.
Standard and Spotlight Formats
There are no changes to the Standard or Spotlight UniVersus Banned and Errata list this month. We are into the early stages of a post Jet Burn meta and have seen a wide variety of decks having success. As always we are monitoring any cards near our key metrics of win rate, usage and negative play experiences as this new meta develops.
Retro Format
On that note, we are attempting to curb some of the problematic cards in our Retro format. In general as we try to maintain a healthy and enjoyable Retro format, there are a few things that we want to avoid, first turn kills and low input infinite combos. In pursuit of that goal we are banning the following cards in our Retro format:
Twisting Azure Inferno
Shoki Gehosen
Kaden’s Blindfold
Twisting Azure Inferno
Twisting Azure Inferno in Retro has such an extensive amount of actions to choose from that more and more dangerous blends have been getting developed. These decks often don't allow for much meaningful interaction and are very capable of winning on Turn 1, something we just don’t want to be happening.
Shoki Gehosen
Shoki Gehosen is a niche card. It's really only played by a single character, Zsolt from Seventh Cross. The problem is that when Zsolt plays this card, he can comfortably play it on turn 1 and dish out a generally unblockable 10 damage to his opponent, if he draws 2 copies, he can outright kill most 7 hand characters before the game even really begins. Zsolt had a strong showing at NA Nationals Retro with the support of this interaction and it's not something we want to see gaining broad adoption.
Kaden's Blindfold
Kaden’s Blindfold is an interesting card in retro. It’s the key piece in a few different impressive combo decks and keeps finding new cards to invigorate those combos. Most of the time those combo decks don’t win at an abnormal level in a very powerful Retro format. With the release of Jet Burn a new powerful combo emerged, Tasty Riff. With just a little help, Tasty Riff and Kaden’s Blindfold combine to create a 2 card near infinite combo by offsymboling the Blindfold and just getting a single copy in your discard pile to be targeted by Riff with 6 counters on your character. This combo is just a little too easy for our comfort level, and very achievable in the early game.
We plan on continuing to monitor Retro with a close eye for problematic interactions, particularly in overly early kills. We are also looking to continue the trend of moving some player favorite cards off the ban list if we think they have a case for it.
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