"The Last Croak" - What's next for "Splights"? | July 2022 OCG Banlist Review

"Konmai, I don't feel so good" - Toadally Awesome 2016-2022

Toadally Awesome exits after more than 6 years in OCG

Exactly one week since the July 2022 OCG Forbidden & Limited List was released, the world was shocked again with the changes that will soon take effect. Three very powerful cards namely Toadally Awesome, Crystron Halqifibrax and Vanity's Emptiness ended their reign. Today, I'm going to do a quick review on the latest OCG Banlist as well as provide some insights on how the archetype Splights adapt after the changes in a span of a week.

Here's a quick recap of the July OCG 2022 Banlist

Newly Forbidden:

Toadally Awesome (1-0)
Crystron Halqifibrax (1-0)
Vanity's Emptiness (1-0)

Limited

Spellbook of Judgment (0-1)
Eva (3-1)
Branded Opening (2-1)

Semi-limited
Genex Ally Birdman (1-2)
Floowandereeze and the Magnificent Map (3-2)
Branded Fusion (3-2)

Unlimited
Orcust Harp Horror (2-3)
Harmonizing Magician (2-3)
Night Assailant (2-3)
Thunder Dragonroar (2-3)
Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier (2-3)
Lonefire Blossom (2-3)
Wind-up Zenmaity (2-3)
Beginning of the End (2-3)
Swordsoul Emergence (2-3)
Raigeki (2-3)
Divine Wind of Mist Valley (2-3)

Review

After Splight's three months reign, their ace card Toadally Awesome has finally reached its end. Toadally Awesome is quite an expected hit due to how it elevated the end board of Splight from just a swarm of level 2s to a field with multiple negates. Toadally Awesome also puts pressure of being protected with attacks with the help of Dupe Frog. Hitting the usual end goal would mean that Splights need to have an alternate win condition or board to keep up with Tearalaments who received a boost with the help of Duelist Pack: Duelist of Pyroxene's Ishizu's fairies. 

Cryston Halqifibrax 2017-2022 (5 years)

There's also a subtle impact when Crystron Halqifibrax was also hit. Crystron Halqifibrax can bring out a level 2 tuner which can help in bringing out a 3200 ATK Gigantic Splight instantly by just having 1 Tuner and 1 non-tuner. It can also bring Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring to the table which can be bounced by Swap Frog. That combo is quite insane as searchable hand traps like Maxx "C" and Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring could really bring the game in your favor. As a result, the card from its limited status in OCG for quite some time finally got forbidden together with all the spicy combos that starts in a single Crystron Halqifibrax. 

What's next for Splights? 

After a week of coping  observing the trend and lists for post July 2022 List, I can say that Splights, as an archetype, is still undisputed. While not as explosive as with having Toadally Awesome, players found some room for an alternate route easily.

Splights is known for its extreme consistency being able to have the ability to bring out Gigantic Splight that can search the entire level 2 phone book by just using 2 level 2 monsters usually. The banning of Toadally Awesome and Crystron Halqifibrax also provided some slots in Extra Deck which we will discuss later.

Swap Frog and Ronintoadin still remained to be untouched but because of the banning of Toadally Awesome, Dupe Frog is no longer that needed which opens another room in the main deck. 

Alternate Strategy

There are two new routes that is becoming a trend post July 2022 list in OCG and they can also be combined if resources are enough.

I:P Masquerena Route

I:P Masquerena is a generic link 2 monster that only requires 2 non-link monster. It has the ability to link summon during your opponent's main phase. This allows you to bring link monsters that fits in the situation with additional card effect protection. 

The goal can be achieved by going through the same Splight combo that will end with Splight Elf reviving Swap Frog but instead of doing an XYZ summon, you will summon I:P Masquerena. Since the materials are now in GY, you can use your Ronintoadin again and special summon it to your field opening the possibilities for an easy Link 2, Link 3, Link 4 or even Link 5!

Below are some of the Link monsters that you may consider summoning:

• Knightmare Unicorn - Shuffles 1 card
• Apollousa, Bow of the Goddess - Negates monster effects
• Mekk-Knight Crusadia Avramax - Protects your other monster from attacks, cannot be targeted (And destroyed by effects with the help of I:P Masquerena) and can win almost any battles (except Floowandereeze X Empen)
• Topologix Trisbaena - Can wipe Spell/Traps
• Underworld Goddess of the Closed World - Uses one monster your opponent's controls as one of the material, unaffected by board wipes and can negate a revival effect.

Union Carrier + Dragon Buster Destruction Sword

After reviving Swap Frog and Ronintoadin, Link Summon Union Carrier. Then, revive Ronintoadin and XYZ summon a 3200 ATK Gigantic Splight using Splight Elf and Ronintoadin. Use Union Carrier's effect to equip Dragon Buster Destruction Sword to Gigantic Splight since it's a DARK attribute monster and you can raise its ATK to 4200 and prevent your opponent's monster from accessing their Extra Deck summons. 

There's a reason why TCG made this card forbidden. The Extra Deck lock could really put the round.  into your favor. While this combo could potentially end Extra Deck reliant opponent's, this is also a bit fragile as you would need to run a Garnet which is Dragon Buster of Destruction Sword. Nothing can also stop an opponent from activating their newly unlimited Raigeki. On my opinion, I still feel the I:P Masquerena route is more versatile compared to this. Still, it's a decent route regardless.

Summary

The recent July OCG 2022 banlist was heartbreaking scenario for folks who love using Toadally Awesome and Crystron Halqifibrax. Despite of this, many players are still not giving up Splights and that includes me. In July, Darkwing Blast will soon arrive opening the possibility of a new batch of Splight cards. There's a chance that Splight can gain their former reign depending on how the upcoming cards turn out. 

Can they retain the throne or is it really their Last Croak? 

Share your thoughts in the comments.