Backrow

[ihop]

So with a big change in top decks comes a big change in backrow. If we take a look at last format's top backrow-

 

Mind Crush

Breakthrough Skill

Bottomless Trap Hole

Torrential Tribute

Fiendish Chain (over BTS in decks that bounce)

Chaos Trap Hole

Mirror Force

Vanity's Emptiness

x floodgate

Solemn Warning

 

Out of these Warning, Bottomless, Vanity, Mind Crush and relevant floodgates seem to be about as good this format, if not better. Fiendish and Breakthrough both seem extremely weak since 2 of the projected top decks are more or less immune to targetting and a lot of the others like Yang Zing aren't too bothered. Mirror Force also seems mediocre since a lot of decks float or are immune to destruction, not to mention a lot of decks making power plays which really need to be stopped before the battle phase. Chaos Trap Hole was only really mained in Tellarknights to out Denko, but might actually see a bit of play since it can negate the summons of little Kozmos not named Wickedwitch. I don't think it justifies maindecking, but it might be around. TT still seems pretty solid because if you flip it on a little Kozmo they have a bit of a tough situation, and it's decent against other decks bar Majespecter and Yang Zing as well (actually, maybe TT isn't that good). 

 

Looking at backrow that wasn't around last format, Time-Space Trap Hole seems an obvious place to start. In a format where non-destroying non-targetting removal will be key Time-Space fits the bill perfectly, while being a pretty solid out to everything else as well. Obviously, Solemn Notice comes out in BOSH which will probably revolutionise backrow, but BOSH should also change the meta so I don't want to go into too much detail about that.

 

So, over to you. What backrow do you think are going to be good/bad? Have I missed any important backrow that might be good, or do you think some of the stuff I've dismissed is still worthwhile? Feel free to throw your opinions about, this is an interesting discussion that I'd like a lot of different viewpoints on.

[Spinny]

Mistake and Solemn notice x5

[Maeriberii Haan]

I somewhat wanted to bring up Deep Dark Trap Hole since it deals with big ships, YZ synchs, and 'noids, but tbh I'm not sure yet since it kind of felt a bit narrow. Banishing is pretty nice, however.

 

Also is it just me, or warning felt really weak unless you're facing Majespecter?

[Darj]

This is mostly from theory but:

 

I think Trap Hole Nightmare could become a decent option for monster effect negation since it doesn't target.

 

I thought of Debunk for stopping floaters such as the Kozmos spaceships and Yang Zings, but I doubt it will be worth of being mained.

Also thought of Memory of an Adversary for non-destruction, non-targeting removal, which would be great for stealing spaceships... but then I remembered the opponent can recover them with the Field Spell before it resolves.

 

Perhaps D.D. Grounds could get attention? Banish those spaceships, Specters, milled Infernoids, etc.

[ENMaker]

Judgement of Anubis will make its breakthrough with thanks to Ariadne, you heard it here first.

[Tinkerer]

Ferret Firestorm is looking promising imo.

[Catman25]

I definitely think the Trap Holes are going to see more play, especially with Rafflesia on the horizon. Stuff like Nightmare, Void and Deep Dark. I feel like Double Trap Hole could even have its uses against like YZ, and maybe if Majespecter SS in DEF (I don't actually know their playstyle). Time-Space for obvious reasons

 

I'm very tempted to still main Mirror Force, as it's a response to Farmgirl and pals, but it's terrible otherwise. Same with Fiendish/BTS, if you ever go up against rogue

 

Debunk will be decentish once Neptabyss hits TCG, though Dweller is probably a better answer

[Synchronized]

Storming Mirror Force.

 

Card is going to have a lot of upside particularly against Majispecters and such.  Even if they can Pendulum summon again, you at least clear the field and give yourself time to try and make some comeback plays.  Storming is also really, really strong against Yang Zing and solid against Kozmo, too.

 

Other than that, Warning, Notice, Mind Crush, Deep Dark Trap Hole, Time Space, etc. All decent. Not really sure outside of that.

[Kaiji]

Storming Mirror Force does look real. On paper it looks awful vs Majespecter since you've given the opponent the opponent the option to use them as scales but:

1) there is no difference between pendulum summoning X Majespecters from extra or hand (if you dealt with them differently they would have been available in the extra deck anyway)

2) the option of being used as scales is actually removed as the most value you get off of Storming Mirror Force is off a Pendulum

summon for more than 1, therefore the 2 Pendulum Zones are already occupied

[Synchronized]

Storming Mirror Force does look real. On paper it looks awful vs Majespecter since you've given the opponent the opponent the option to use them as scales but:

1) there is no difference between pendulum summoning X Majespecters from extra or hand (if you dealt with them differently they would have been available in the extra deck anyway)

2) the option of being used as scales is actually removed as the most value you get off of Storming Mirror Force is off a Pendulum

summon for more than 1, therefore the 2 Pendulum Zones are already occupied

 

Exactly.  I genuinely do think the card is going to see a lot of play, and rightfully so.  There's no Deck it's out-right bad against, except maybe funking Ghostricks or something, lmao

[Tinkerer]

Exactly.  I genuinely do think the card is going to see a lot of play, and rightfully so.  There's no Deck it's out-right bad against, except maybe f***ing Ghostricks or something, lmao

 

*cough*Superheavysamurai*cough*

[Maeriberii Haan]

Storming also helps against Kozmo to push for damage, so it's not too useless against it.

 

Tbh kinda considering to find a way to make Void Trap hole+Frozen Void work in 'noids. idk tbh, but it helps against Dark Destroyer without requiring me to use Onuncu against it.

[Synchronized]

*cough*Superheavysamurai*cough*

But Samurai sucks. At least Ghostrick could be a fun little niche deck with Dust Force.

[ENMaker]

But Samurai sucks. At least Ghostrick could be a fun little niche deck with Dust Force.

 

You cannot say SHS sucks when you're promoting Ghostricks. Superheavies have their thing and can do much more than "Oh you attack? Ohoho face-down you go". And rendering all the Mirror Forces useless bar the one that nobody has ever used.

[vla1ne]

windstorm of etaqua, chained to dark mirror force

 

Some new cards that might see play could be Cursed Seal, Memory Loss (the poor mans breakthrough) and Xyz encore, Considering how annoying certain pendulum scales are, and the new majispecter support, it might be worth dropping a spell of your own to prevent certain cards from ever being used again. Memory loss does not target, it does not destroy, and it changes the battle position, so it might see play where breakthrough can't/ wouldn't work.  and as far as encore goes, if your opponent drops ptolemaeus into nova/ summons raffelsia or any other Xyz, you can just hit them with encore. the problem might still exist, but it's a guaranteed setback at least.

 

I'm not calling them maindeck material, but they might be decent side cards after breakers of shadow hits.

[Synchronized]

You cannot say SHS sucks when you're promoting Ghostricks. Superheavies have their thing and can do much more than "Oh you attack? Ohoho face-down you go". And rendering all the Mirror Forces useless bar the one that nobody has ever used.

I never promoted Ghostrick. I said that Storming Mirror Force isn't particularly effective against the deck, just to make a point. Saying it could be a "fun little niche" deck doesn't mean I'm saying it's good. It's terrible. But so is SHS.

[Maeriberii Haan]

Storming's raising in price already.

 

Seems like it's catching on. It's hella good in a format where it can be used to open opportunities to push, and decks atm can explode really well too. No Valkyrus or Masquerade being around also make it even sweeter.

[ihop]

idk about Storming. It's slow and unreliable and doesn't really deal with any threats, just delays them and tbh the format seems a bit on the slow side ATM and I doubt many decks ability to take full advantage of the clear board for a turn. Kozmo is the only deck that can really explode and even that needs some prior setup because it can only really do 4900 max out or nowhere unless you have Teleport. 

 

Time-Space Trap Hole is the stone cold nuts btw.

[Maeriberii Haan]

Majespecter can explode a lot of damage at once since they have access to Trapeze.