Top Decks Nerfed! Asian English January 2026 Banlist Breakdown The January 2026 Asian English Forbidden & Limited List is here, and it’s one of the most impactful updates we’ve seen in a while. No Forbidden cards this time, but the hits to top decks and staples are enough to shake up the format. Let’s recap what happened in the latest AE Banlist!  A. Banlist Recap NEWLY FORBIDDEN No changes. 「NEWLY LIMITED」Cupsy Yummy (3⇒1)K9 66A – Jokull (3⇒1)Maliss March Hare (3⇒1)Maliss White Rabbit (3⇒1)Herald of Arc Light (3⇒1)Ketu Dracotail (3⇒1)Maliss in Underground (3⇒1)Obedience Schooled (3⇒1)Pre-Preparation of Rites (3⇒1)Gozen Match (3⇒1)Rivalry of Warlords (3⇒1) 「SEMI LIMITED」Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring (3⇒2)Ice Ryzeal (3⇒2)K9-17 Izuna (3⇒2)Maxx “C” (3⇒2)Vanquish Soul Razen (3⇒2)Yummy Snatchy (3⇒2) 「UNLIMITED」 Cyber Jar (0⇒3)Pot of Desires (2⇒3)Purrely Sleepy Memory (2⇒3)Snatch Steal (0⇒3) Source: Official Asia Yu-Gi-Oh! Facebook Page   C. Banlist Highlights 1. Top Tier Deck Major Hits Maliss took the biggest blow this round, with three of its core cards limited: Maliss March Hare, Maliss White Rabbit, and Maliss in Underground. That’s a huge consistency cut. Yummy also got trimmed down. Cupsy Yummy, Obedience Schooled, and Arc Light are now limited, while Yummy Snatchy is semi-limited. Still, the deck feels playable thanks to the new Marshmao Yummy from DOOM OF DIMENSION AE. Vanquish Soul and K9 weren’t spared either. The K9 engine lost steam with K9 Jokull limited and Izuna semi-limited, which definitely lowers its firepower. 2. Top Tier Deck Minor Hits Dracotail only saw Ketu Dracotail limited, but with three Branded Fusion still available in AE, it remains a top contender. Mitsurugi took a consistency hit with Pre-Preparation of Rites limited. Ryzeal continues to be chipped away, now with Ice Ryzeal semi-limited, weakening its starter options. 3. Staple Hits Big staples finally got touched. Maxx “C” and Ash Blossom are now semi-limited. This feels like a shift we’ve been prepared for, especially with the Tactical Try Decks showing us new play patterns. Floodgates like Gozen Match and Rivalry of Warlords were limited, weakening stun strategies and opening space for more interactive gameplay. 4. Major Comeback Purrely is back at full power with Purrely Sleep Memory now unlimited. Pot of Desires returns to 3, alongside nostalgic classics like Cyber Jar and Snatch Steal. Cyber Jar and Snatch Steal has a modern AE print yet, which raises the question: are reprints coming soon?   D. Final Thoughts This January 2026 update is a big step forward for Asian English. By hitting the top meta decks hard, the format opens up space for new strategies to shine. With upcoming AE events like the Rank-Up League and 3-on-3 Tournament, deck building is about to get very interesting. If you’re looking to power up your AE decks, don’t forget to check out TCG-Corner for the latest card options. Once again, this has been ArcKnigt of RespectYGO, wishing you happy holidays and an exciting start to the new dueling year!  

New Year, New Meta: Breaking Down the January 2026 OCG Banlist The start of a new year always brings fresh changes to the competitive scene, and the January 2026 OCG Forbidden & Limited List is no exception. Several top decks took direct hits while staple cards were adjusted, setting the stage for a very different meta. Players are already talking about how these changes will shape their builds and strategies moving forward. Let’s recap what happened in the latest OCG Banlist! RespectYGO A. Banlist Recap FORBIDDEN ● Newly Restricted [4 Cards] Moon of the Closed Heaven 【Unlimited ⇒ Forbidden】 Splash Mage 【Unlimited ⇒ Forbidden】 Number 41: Bagooska the Terribly Tired Tapir 【Unlimited ⇒ Forbidden】 Maliss <Q> Red Ransom 【Unlimited ⇒ Forbidden】 LIMITED ● Newly Restricted & Increased Restriction [7 Cards] Ice Ryzeal 【Unlimited ⇒ Limited】 Maxx “C” 【Semi-Limited ⇒ Limited】 Dracotail Mululu 【Unlimited ⇒ Limited】 Marshmao☆Yummy 【Unlimited ⇒ Limited】 Yummy★Snatchy 【Semi-Limited ⇒ Limited】 Pre-Preparation of Rites 【Unlimited ⇒ Limited】 Called by the Grave 【Semi-Limited ⇒ Limited】 Toadally Awesome 【Forbidden ⇒ Limited】 Metamorphosis 【Forbidden ⇒ Limited】 SEMI-LIMITED Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring 【Unlimited ⇒ Semi-Limited】 Solemn Judgment 【Unlimited ⇒ Semi-Limited】 Dominus Impulse 【Unlimited ⇒ Semi-Limited】 Spright Starter 【Limited ⇒ Semi-Limited】 UNLIMITED  Astrograph Magician 【Semi-Limited ⇒ Unlimited】 Eclipse Wyvern 【Limited ⇒ Unlimited】 Bystial Baldrake 【Semi-Limited ⇒ Unlimited】 EMERGENCY! 【Semi-Limited ⇒ Unlimited】 Pot of Desires 【Semi-Limited ⇒ Unlimited】 Purrely Sleepy Memory 【Semi-Limited ⇒ Unlimited】 Pressured Planet Wraitsoth 【Semi-Limited ⇒ Unlimited】 Source: Official JP Site   C. Banlist Highlights 1. Maliss Maliss has been one of the format’s most consistent decks, but this time it took heavy hits. Both Maliss Red Ransom (Forbidden) and Splash Mage (Forbidden) were removed, cutting into the deck’s consistency and swarming potential. While the core remains intact aside from Maliss Doormouse being Limited still, these changes undeniably reduce the deck’s firepower and make it harder to maintain its dominance. 2. Ryzeal Ryzeal received a direct blow with Ice Ryzeal Limited, reducing its starter options, and Number 16: Bagooska Forbidden, stripping away a key defensive tool. This makes it tougher to stabilize after cards like Maxx “C” or Mulcharmy. The Onomat Ryzeal variant should still hold ground, but players will need to rethink their builds to compensate for the lost consistency. 3. Yummy Yummy decks were hit hard, losing grind and recovery power with Yummy Snatchy and Marshmao Yummy each reduced to one copy. This weakens their mid-to-late game and leaves them more vulnerable to hand traps. Consistency takes a big dip here, making Yummy less reliable as a competitive choice. 4. Dracotail Dracotail’s flexible starter, Dracotail Mululu, was Limited, slowing down its ability to kick off plays with minimal resources. Even so, Branded Dracotail variants remain strong contenders, showing that the archetype still has room to thrive despite the setback.   5. Maxx “C” and Called by the Grave The OCG’s decision to limit Maxx “C” and Called by the Grave is game-changing. Maxx “C” has long been a momentum-shifting card, often deciding matches outright when resolved. Restricting it reduces its oppressive nature but still keeps it relevant. Meanwhile, Called by the Grave at one copy gives go-second players more chances to land their hand traps, balancing out the duel dynamics. 6. Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring and Dominus Impulse Ash Blossom being semi-limited means consistency cards and draw effects have a better chance of resolving, shaking up how duelists plan their defenses. Dominus Impulse also moves to semi-limit, reducing its ability to counter summon-heavy strategies. Both changes open up the format for more diverse deckbuilding.   7. Moon of the Closed Heaven The generic bridge to Fiendsmith is now Forbidden, removing an easy route to connect into the powerful LIGHT Fiend strategy. This limits Fiendsmith to decks that already run main deck LIGHT Fiend cards such as Magical Musket, Evil Twin, and even Elvennotes to some extent. With this change, there’s a chance the Fiendsmith engine could slowly return from limitation in the future. Who knows? 8. Mitsurugi Mitsurugi received a slight consistency hit with Pre-Preparation of Rites reduced, lowering the chances of accessing the powerful Ame no Habakiri no Mitsurugi. With anticipation building for its wave 2 OCG support in the upcoming set, players are eager to see if new cards will push Mitsurugi’s standing even higher in the meta.   D. Final Thoughts This January 2026 OCG Banlist feels like a step toward aligning formats, especially with Maxx “C” now at one copy — just a single adjustment away from matching the TCG. The hits to Maliss, Ryzeal, and Yummy will reshape the competitive landscape, while staple adjustments like Ash Blossom and Called by the Grave create new opportunities for creative deckbuilding. Overall, the outcome looks promising and it’s exciting to see which decks rise to the top in the coming meta. Speaking of top decks, be sure to check TCG Corner to grab the cards you need — maybe even the missing piece of your next tier-one build. This has been ArcKnight from RespectYGO, wishing you a happy holidays and a strong start to the dueling year!

What’s Inside the New Duelist Box – Prismatic Summon? Mark your calendars—Saturday, December 20, 2025 brings the release of the Duelist Box – Prismatic Summon, the ultimate holiday treat for Yu-Gi-Oh! fans! This limited set celebrates all six summoning methods—Ritual, Fusion, Synchro, Xyz, Pendulum, and Link—with brand-new cards, exciting reprints, and stylish accessories. It’s festive, flashy, and full of surprises… so let’s crack it open and see what’s inside!   Introducing the 6 New Cards! Six brand-new cards debut here, each tied to one of the summoning methods. They’re designed to bring fresh strategies and exciting plays to the table. End of the World Ruler Nightmare-Eyes Restrict Crystron Halqifibrax Prism   Wind Unicorn Parallel, the Dracoslayer Galaxy-Eyes Antimatter Dragon Infernal Strike Fighter   New Accessories Available in 6 Variants! This box isn’t just about cards—it’s about presentation. Each summoning method comes with its own uniquely designed accessory set, making this release a collector’s dream. Included items: Special Storage Box Special Duelist Card Case Special Duelist Card Protector Special Duelist Coin All of these come in six different designs inspired by the summoning methods.   Link Edition   Ritual Edition   Pendulum Edition   Synchro Edition Xyz Edition Special Packs Alongside the new cards and accessories, the Duelist Box includes Special Packs that mix nostalgia with rarity-driven excitement. Each box contains 4 packs, with a total of 60 card types (6 Super Rare + 54 Normal Parallel). Some cards appear in higher rarities: Super Rare, Secret Rare, and Prismatic Secret Rare. There are 18 types of Prismatic Secret Rare cards, and each box guarantees one Prismatic Secret Rare card per pack. Below is the list of all additional cards included as reprints. Final Thoughts The Duelist Box – Prismatic Summon is a holiday highlight for fans of every summoning method. With six new cards, stylish accessories, and packs full of versatile reprints, it’s a release that blends collectible flair with competitive potential. Available at TCG Corner starting Saturday, December 20, 2025, this box is the perfect way to close out the year on a high note. This has been ArcKnight of RespectYGO. Happy Holidays! 🎅✨