However… if you’d ask any opponent on the other end of my table at locals this entire format, we’ve had a problem deck that is almost irrefutably “broken” and needs to be hit. I’d disdainfully have to agree. As much as I love my Wind-Ups, it needs to be understood that such a powerful deck won’t be left unchecked, and limitations for the deck are almost guaranteed for this banlist. But as many of you will remember, these were the same words that players spoke in August of 2012, shortly before the Limitation of Wind-Up Carrier Zenmaity to One per deck. Wind-Ups have had their factory broken into, but as we’ve done before, we can rebuild. And build them better at that.
I could go on and on about the existing Wind-Up combos, but what I’d like to focus on in today’s article are several different scenarios. The problem with trying to limit Wind-Ups is that each card is a different piece of the puzzle. There isn’t anything inherently broken about Wind-Up Magician and Wind-Up Shark, but together they make arguably one of the most versatile two-card combos in the game, you can “Wind Up” with multiple Xyz monsters of various Ranks just by having them. The same can be said for Wind-Up Factory and Wind-Up Rabbit, the list goes on and on. But anyways, let’s not toy around, I’ll cover these scenarios one by one.
The first scenario for Post March-2013 Wind-Ups is one that I’m sure we’ve all heard (or in most cases, said) is the Limitation of Wind-Up Magician. No doubt it would hurt the deck, after all, the most popular OTKs involve utilizing two of them throughout various stages of the combos. But what needs to be understood is that Limiting Wind-Up Magician is barely a kink in the Wind-Up Key, so to say.
Magician’s primary function is a combo piece for the deck, you don’t just summon one on the first turn, ask for a response, and then pass. Magician’s utility is determined by the Wind-Ups that can assist her, including fellow Magicians. What we’d be seeing in a “Magician to One” format is simply alternative ways to use Magician. Magician and Shark without other Magicians can still net you a Shock Master, Zenmaity and supporting Xyz monsters, and many more possible outcomes. A two-card OTK becoming a three-card OTK isn’t as big a deal as it sounds, especially when you can tutor out all of your combo pieces with ease. Magician and Shark combo, but Magician and two Shark can make use of a recurring Magician. For example:
Summon Magician, reveal Shark, bring out Rat, make Papilloperative detatching Magician for Rat, bring back Magician with Rat. Reveal Second Shark, bring out Rat, banish that Magician and have Rat and Rabbit form a Leviair. Levi grabs Magician, Shark turns level three and brings out a level three Wind-Up with Magician, make Zenmaity who will give you Shark to make Abyss Dweller with Magician. 1500+1700+1800+2100+1000 from Abyss Dweller is a nice 8100 on the board. And keep in mind that’s just when you’re going for a kill, Magician and Shark can still make whatever you need from the extra deck with Magician Limited.
Now let’s discuss the other likely course of action, a Limited Wind-Up Shark. Shark is the fuel that keeps the Wind-Up Keys turning, but even Limited, he just needs a little help from his friends. I’d like to remind everyone that despite how Rat/Rabbit/Magician/Shark/Factories has been the traditional Wind-Up engine, they have many other members of their archetype available. And unlike some archetypes that I won’t mention (cough, Inzektors, cough), the “non-meta” Wind-Up cards pack a ferocious punch. Take Wind-Up Warrior for instance. Level Four, and can raise the level of any Wind-Up on the field by One. That’s any Wind-Up. He can make a Rank Four when brought out by Rat and can be a valuable asset alongside Shark for Rank Four and Five plays.
Wind-Up Rat, bring back Wind-Up Magician, reveal your One Wind-Up Shark, bring out Wind-Up Warrior. Zenmaity and a Shock Master, Zenmaity and a Rank Five, Two Rank Four Monsters… Shark is never truly alone when used properly.
I’d like to go into one last scenario, and after seeing the previous banlist, it’s what I believe to be the most likely outcome. Multiple Wind-Up hits. A Wind-Up Factory Limitation and a Shark Semi-Limitation could easily happen, and what this results in is hurt consistency. But rather than looking at it like that, I see it as more room for other options. I’ve been advocating for Wind-Up Warrior as an upcoming star for the deck next format, yet in a current build, I could barely find the room to include one. More open space also means room for new elements in the deck. Wind-Ups weren’t always as trap heavy as they are now back when Zenmaity was unlimited. Players nowadays who don’t have room for cards in their Wind-Up deck such as Pot of Duality, Compulsory Evacuation Device, or Thunder King Rai-Oh now have room to try out alternative playing styles. A blanket hit on the deck like I described in this section wouldn’t mean the end of the deck, but rather, a new beginning.
What will happen to the deck? None of us know for certain, but all I can say is that nothing short of banning Magician, Shark, Rat, Rabbit and Factory all together would kill it (I shouldn’t have said that out loud, you never know with Konami). Again, if you ask me personally, just Ban Zenmaity himself, he’s unfortunately been behind all of the decks OTKs, loops, and so on, but I doubt that’ll ever happen. Wind-Ups have historically shown that even after losing key cards, the deck can continue to function, and the players will come up with new strategies. Until the day the banlist is announced, none of us will truly know how to play the new deck, but until then, one should always be prepared, and of course, unwound.
- thecheese103
I don't see W-Us getting hit at all! Dat powercreep man, dat powercreep.
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