There's only about 1 month left before we start seeing heavy speculation, false lists, and finally, the advanced screening of the September 07 Ban/Restrict list for the OCG. This list in turn will likely be at least 95% identical to what we'll see here in the TCG. Why wait though. Let's take a look at the current lists first and see any changes that may occur.
Banned Cards
Let's first start with the obvious list.
Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning, Butterfly Dagger - Elma, Chaos Emperor Dragon - Envoy of the End, Chaos Sorcerer, Cyber-Stein, Delinquent Duo, Exchange of the Spirit, Last Turn, Last Will, Magical Scientist, Makyura the Destructor, Mirage of Nightmare, Painful Choice, Raigeki, Sinister Serpent, Time Seal, Tribe-Infecting Virus, Victory Dragon, Witch of the Black Forest, Yata-Garasu.
These cards aren't going anywhere. Each of these cards can provide serious game winning situations for minimal investment. These cards have likely earned the "banned for life" moniker for very good reasons.
This still leaves 16 other banned cards that while they are very good and potent, they could possibly see a short time back to 1.
Breaker the Magical Warrior - One of the most likely cards to come off the list. With the popularity of Pulling the Rug as well as the possibility of other Spell and Trap Destruction cards becoming banned, Breaker can fill in nicely. Used by most everyone before it was banned, it will likely resume it's popularity while Pulling the Rug will help balance it out some.
Change of Heart - The best card stealer in the game. This card was brought off the list once before. However, with more people eager to see Brain Control restricted and Snatch Steal banned, Change of Heart will likely stay where it is.
Cyber Jar - This card has come off the ban list on 2 occasions. It provides field clearing, mass summoning, and card drawing for both people. The randomness behind it can lead to certain victory or defeat for either player. It can be used to slow down aggression or speed it up. Chances are it will stay where it is, but it wouldn't be much of a surprise to see it come off again.
Dark Hole - When this card came off the ban list once before, it was a surprise to many. Powerful and able to make anyone come from behind, it's restriction/banning would likely depend heavily upon what else is/is not restricted/banned.
Fiber Jar - Believe it or not, this card did come off the ban list once before. Just about everything that was said for Cyber Jar could be said for this one too. Chances are noone wants to see the reset button come off the list though so here is where it will stay.
Graceful Charity - Another of the Love it/Hate it cards. No card provides better drawing through your deck than this one (even with the discard cost). With the influx of new drawing cards (theme specific in most cases), Graceful Charity will likely stay. It might come off again one day, but not now.
Harpie's Feather Duster - Honestly I would not be surprised to see this card come off the list for a half-season. If it did happen, that would mean it traded places with Heavy Storm. Yes it is better than Heavy Storm but at high level play, the difference on how it would affect the game compared to Heavy Storm is minimal. Konami/UDE hasn't been afraid to unban powerful cards for a short spell and this one isn't quite as game-breaking as a lot of other banned cards (at least when compared to other versions that is playable). Not likely to come off, but 1 of 3 stronger cards that could return.
Imperial Order - This would be 2 of 3 stronger cards that I could see returning for a short while. In a meta that is heavily dominated by Spell Cards, this card is quite the balancer. Also, with Royal Decree more available, this card is easier to shut down. Still powerful though and worth giving it some play once again.
Magician of Faith - Again, in a meta that is heavily dominated by Spell Cards, this card's banning was seen as a good thing. People have even begun to run Dark Magician of Chaos in order to keep the "retrieve 1 Spell Card" effect. Given the high number of dump and recycle decks during this meta, this card should stay where it is.
Monster Reborn - Number 3 of 3. In the same category as cards like Snatch Steal, Imperial Order, Harpies' Feather Duster, and the like. Powerful and like the rest, would be dropped into everyone's deck. However, it's effect is not as game breaking as some of the other banned cards. Same things I've said for Harpie's Feather Duster and Imperial Order can be said here.
Pot of Greed - This card is also in the upper echelon of very powerful and potent cards, but not completely game breaking (though closer to that than the rest). Because it was recently banned and the creation of a number of other draw cards, this one should stay banned for awhile more. Like Graceful Charity, it may come off 1 day, but not this list.
The Forceful Sentry - This is what people played before Trap Dustshoot was even created. Unlike the trap, this has no timing or target restrictions. Given that the card is sent back to the deck, that is a better choice than the Graveyard for some cards and the lack of a cost makes it stronger than Confiscation. While not as strong as some of the cards listed here, it still is good and with Trap Dustshoot being a very likely target for restriction (or banning), this card certainly won't be going anywhere.
Thousand-Eyes Restrict - One of the best utility fusions in the game with the poor circumstance of being too easy to get out. The fate of this card and Tsukuyomi will likely be entwined since together they set up a powerful lock. Between the two, Thousand-Eyes Restrict will likely stay banned since it can alter the game much easier.
Tsukuyomi - On the other hand, with Monarchs being among the most prevalent deck types right now, this card is a great answer to them. Flip them to defense and attack. Still abusable in Flip-Flop themed decks, but like Breaker, it's subject to Pulling the Rug. Unless every Monarch is banned outright (won't happen), this card will find a nice niche and an easy way to deal with them (as well as give people incentive to try Legacy of Yata-Garasu).
After looking though all this, I would say Breaker the Magical Warrior and Tsukuyomi stand the best chance of coming off the list while Cyber Jar, Harpie's Feather Duster, Imperial Order, and Monster Reborn are dark-horse cards that could enjoy a 6 month pass since Konami and UDE have stated that it is not their intention for cards to stay banned forever. (Right, tell that to any card with the word "Envoy" in the title). I'll get to the rest of the list later.
Discuss!
Banned Cards
Let's first start with the obvious list.
Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning, Butterfly Dagger - Elma, Chaos Emperor Dragon - Envoy of the End, Chaos Sorcerer, Cyber-Stein, Delinquent Duo, Exchange of the Spirit, Last Turn, Last Will, Magical Scientist, Makyura the Destructor, Mirage of Nightmare, Painful Choice, Raigeki, Sinister Serpent, Time Seal, Tribe-Infecting Virus, Victory Dragon, Witch of the Black Forest, Yata-Garasu.
These cards aren't going anywhere. Each of these cards can provide serious game winning situations for minimal investment. These cards have likely earned the "banned for life" moniker for very good reasons.
This still leaves 16 other banned cards that while they are very good and potent, they could possibly see a short time back to 1.
Breaker the Magical Warrior - One of the most likely cards to come off the list. With the popularity of Pulling the Rug as well as the possibility of other Spell and Trap Destruction cards becoming banned, Breaker can fill in nicely. Used by most everyone before it was banned, it will likely resume it's popularity while Pulling the Rug will help balance it out some.
Change of Heart - The best card stealer in the game. This card was brought off the list once before. However, with more people eager to see Brain Control restricted and Snatch Steal banned, Change of Heart will likely stay where it is.
Cyber Jar - This card has come off the ban list on 2 occasions. It provides field clearing, mass summoning, and card drawing for both people. The randomness behind it can lead to certain victory or defeat for either player. It can be used to slow down aggression or speed it up. Chances are it will stay where it is, but it wouldn't be much of a surprise to see it come off again.
Dark Hole - When this card came off the ban list once before, it was a surprise to many. Powerful and able to make anyone come from behind, it's restriction/banning would likely depend heavily upon what else is/is not restricted/banned.
Fiber Jar - Believe it or not, this card did come off the ban list once before. Just about everything that was said for Cyber Jar could be said for this one too. Chances are noone wants to see the reset button come off the list though so here is where it will stay.
Graceful Charity - Another of the Love it/Hate it cards. No card provides better drawing through your deck than this one (even with the discard cost). With the influx of new drawing cards (theme specific in most cases), Graceful Charity will likely stay. It might come off again one day, but not now.
Harpie's Feather Duster - Honestly I would not be surprised to see this card come off the list for a half-season. If it did happen, that would mean it traded places with Heavy Storm. Yes it is better than Heavy Storm but at high level play, the difference on how it would affect the game compared to Heavy Storm is minimal. Konami/UDE hasn't been afraid to unban powerful cards for a short spell and this one isn't quite as game-breaking as a lot of other banned cards (at least when compared to other versions that is playable). Not likely to come off, but 1 of 3 stronger cards that could return.
Imperial Order - This would be 2 of 3 stronger cards that I could see returning for a short while. In a meta that is heavily dominated by Spell Cards, this card is quite the balancer. Also, with Royal Decree more available, this card is easier to shut down. Still powerful though and worth giving it some play once again.
Magician of Faith - Again, in a meta that is heavily dominated by Spell Cards, this card's banning was seen as a good thing. People have even begun to run Dark Magician of Chaos in order to keep the "retrieve 1 Spell Card" effect. Given the high number of dump and recycle decks during this meta, this card should stay where it is.
Monster Reborn - Number 3 of 3. In the same category as cards like Snatch Steal, Imperial Order, Harpies' Feather Duster, and the like. Powerful and like the rest, would be dropped into everyone's deck. However, it's effect is not as game breaking as some of the other banned cards. Same things I've said for Harpie's Feather Duster and Imperial Order can be said here.
Pot of Greed - This card is also in the upper echelon of very powerful and potent cards, but not completely game breaking (though closer to that than the rest). Because it was recently banned and the creation of a number of other draw cards, this one should stay banned for awhile more. Like Graceful Charity, it may come off 1 day, but not this list.
The Forceful Sentry - This is what people played before Trap Dustshoot was even created. Unlike the trap, this has no timing or target restrictions. Given that the card is sent back to the deck, that is a better choice than the Graveyard for some cards and the lack of a cost makes it stronger than Confiscation. While not as strong as some of the cards listed here, it still is good and with Trap Dustshoot being a very likely target for restriction (or banning), this card certainly won't be going anywhere.
Thousand-Eyes Restrict - One of the best utility fusions in the game with the poor circumstance of being too easy to get out. The fate of this card and Tsukuyomi will likely be entwined since together they set up a powerful lock. Between the two, Thousand-Eyes Restrict will likely stay banned since it can alter the game much easier.
Tsukuyomi - On the other hand, with Monarchs being among the most prevalent deck types right now, this card is a great answer to them. Flip them to defense and attack. Still abusable in Flip-Flop themed decks, but like Breaker, it's subject to Pulling the Rug. Unless every Monarch is banned outright (won't happen), this card will find a nice niche and an easy way to deal with them (as well as give people incentive to try Legacy of Yata-Garasu).
After looking though all this, I would say Breaker the Magical Warrior and Tsukuyomi stand the best chance of coming off the list while Cyber Jar, Harpie's Feather Duster, Imperial Order, and Monster Reborn are dark-horse cards that could enjoy a 6 month pass since Konami and UDE have stated that it is not their intention for cards to stay banned forever. (Right, tell that to any card with the word "Envoy" in the title). I'll get to the rest of the list later.
Discuss!