Hello Rulers!
As we announced a few weeks ago, after reviewing the
results of the latest events of the season held in Europe, we evaluated whether
or not to make any adjustments to the Paradox banned list for the 2025
WGP. Considering the success of the Evil
Cluster rulers in tournaments, and the wide variety of decks played, we believe
that the Paradox format is in a healthy state.
Matelda and Valgott were the most prevalent rulers in
both events. Both employ very interesting and diverse strategies; while all
versions of Matelda are based on low-cost resonators, some focus more on Knight
resonators, others on powerful high-cost resonators, and still others on Warden
resonators to win the game. Valgott, however, is a life-loss deck, but uses
many cards never seen before in the competitive scene.
While the final of the first of the two events was
Matelda vs. Valgott (coincidentally, a matchup that could easily be part of the
Force of Will lore), Nero was the winner of the last GP of the season, facing
Matelda in the final! Therefore, we do not consider it necessary to impose any
severe bans on decks.
On the other hand, we have thoroughly studied the Top
8 lists of both events, and we believe it is necessary to add two banned
combinations to the list, hoping that this will slightly reduce the difference
in the number of decks played in these events and at the WGP.
Finally, we have also listened to your feedback on the
new ATD cards. We will make some minor changes to the four ATD cards that you
have discussed the most on social media. These changes will also be announced
in this document and will be effective immediately. We are confident that the
WGP 2025 metagame will be as varied, fun, and creative as all the events of
this season.
And now, here is the new Force of Will update to the
Banned List and Combination Banned List for Paradox!
Effective date: 23/09/2025
·
Paradox
Combination Banned
o
Hi-Speed
Uppercut Treatment (TSR-068) + Immortal King of Sylthmir, Valgott // Valgott,
Bloodthirsty Tyrant of Sylthmir (ESD1-001)
o
Awakened
Magic Stone, the Earth (MP02-056) + Queen of Velmardia, Matelda // Matelda,
Incarnation of Virtue (ESD2-001)
PARADOX UPDATES
Hi-Speed Uppercut
Treatment (TSR-068) + Immortal King of Sylthmir, Valgott // Valgott,
Bloodthirsty Tyrant of Sylthmir (ESD1-001)
We've seen Valgott decks using
many different Demon resonators that have never been played competitively
before, such as Demon Debt Collector and Demon of the Crimson Moon, among
others. We considered restricting the power level of the deck by applying
certain bans, but instead, we decided that while the strategy is powerful, it
requires spending all our will each turn, leaving us vulnerable, making it a
high-risk, high-reward strategy. However, having a card that can deal with the
opponent's resonators even without enough will to activate it, especially in a
deck that draws a lot of cards like Valgott, seems too powerful, considering
all the other interactions in the deck. With this in mind, we've decided to
add these two cards to the Combination Banned list.
Awakened Magic Stone,
the Earth (MP02-056) + Queen of Velmardia, Matelda // Matelda, Incarnation of
Virtue (ESD2-001)
There are many, many different
deck variations using Matelda as the ruler. Some focus on powerful resonators,
others on small resonators, some exclusively on Knight resonators, and others
on Wardens. But they all have one thing in common: Matelda's incredibly
powerful [Judgment]. To reduce the power of the deck, we would either have had
to remove one of its key cards, which would have severely weakened it, or
reduce the effectiveness of the [Judgment]. We have therefore chosen the latter
option. Now, while Matelda's [Judgment] remains very powerful, it will require
paying the full cost, without magic stones available to play another cards. With
this in mind, we've decided to add these two cards to the Combination Banned
list.
ATD UPDATES
After carefully analyzing the
cards and taking into account feedback from the community on social media, we
have decided to reduce the power level of some of the cards in the ATD set.
These cards are now more balanced in relation to their effects, and while they
remain powerful, their power level is more in line with that of the other cards
in the set. The new text for these cards will take effect immediately (the
cards for the 2025 WGP will have this text printed on them).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is how
the Combination Banned List of Wanderer, the Banned List of Wanderer, the
Combination Banned List of Paradox, the Banned List of Paradox and Banned List
of Arcana Battle Colosseum look like: (as of September 23th, 2025)
Wanderer Banned List
1.
Laevateinn,
the Demon Sword (TTW-099)
2.
Child of the
Light Moon (NWE-003)
3.
Girl's Staring
at... (CST-006)
4.
Tea Party
Before the Decisive Duel (GRL-014)
5.
Tinker Bell,
Spirit of the Light Trials (CMB-014)
6.
White
Sparkling Crystal Apple // White Sparkling Crystal Apple (TEU-009) (Banned from
Sideboards only)
7.
Chevaleresse's
Tears (CMB-020)
8.
Elektra,
Shooting Star of Fire (CST-021)
9.
Magic Stone
Dance of Chaos (GOG-024)
10.
Phantasmal
Ascendant (DSD-006)
11.
Sprinting
Steward (NWE-021)
12.
Advisor to the
Underwater Federation, Rucheel // Rucheel, Songstress of the Forgotten Town
(TEU-019)
13.
Last Movement
(CMB-036)
14.
Setting the
Stage for Providence (GRL-034)
15.
Conflict of
Memory and Soul (CMB-042)
16.
Dinner Time (GRL-041)
17.
Melfee,
Traveling Sorceress (ROL-017)
18.
Wall of Wind
(TMS-064) (WL005)
19.
Roar of Dark
Blessing (CMB-064)
20.
Alice, Zeus
Incarnate (DBV-091)
21.
Traveler in
Wonderland (SDAO1-030)
22.
Inferno
(TST-086, MP01-171)
23.
Zeus, the
First Olympian // Order of the Olympians (GRV-087)
24.
Broken Mask of
the Crusader (TSR-087)
25.
Solaria, Ruler
of Desire // Solaria, Empress of Arcus (JRP-076)
26.
Magic Stone of
the Wolf's Night (MP01-018)
27.
The Magic
Stone of the Six Sages (MSW-102)
Wanderer Combination
Banned List
1.
Bloody Moon
(CMF-021) + Fleeting Moon Jewel (MP01-115)
2.
Cheshire Cat,
the Grinning Remnant (TAT-039, MP01-083) + Crimson Moon's Fairy Tale // Grimm,
Crown of the Crimson Moon (MP01-002)
3.
Ancient
Manager (LEL-009) + World Creating Paradox (MP02-016)
4.
Book of Light
// Re-Earth, New World Fairy Tale (ENW-004) + Book of Dark // Lapistory,
Subjugation Fairy Tale (ENW-071)
5.
Kiki,
Selesta's Partner // Kiki's Exploration (EDL-046) + Lehen, Legendary Explorer
// Lehen, Witch Swordswoman (TSD1-001)
6.
Graveyard
Keeper of the Demonic World (TST-057) + Crea, Wooden Reborn (TEU-028)
7.
Hanzo, Ninja
of the Moon (GOG-050) + Hologram of the Crimson Moon (CMB-035)
8.
Ayu,
Multidimensional Wanderer (GRL-006) + Alice, Tales of Creation // Order of
Genesis (GRL-067)
9.
Raging Messiah
(TWS-028) + To Arms! (ESD2-009)
10.
Crimson Moon's
Battleground (CMB-000) + Trials from Kaguya (MP01-038)
11.
Brandhardt,
Blazing Stern (CST-015) + Flaming Thoughts (CST-018)
12.
Mirror of Chaos
(MP01-010) + Resonance Guardian of Pandora (MP01-102)
13.
Fate of the
Girl (MP01-031) + Alf Laylah (MP01-122)
14.
Cursed Mirror
of the Snake (TSD1-014) + Those who Betrayed Laurite (MP02-091)
15.
Queen of the
Eternal Eclipse, Giotto Sansta (TEU-007) + Conquerors of All Dimensions
(MP02-112)
16.
Shitalkin,
Seer of the Coral District (TEU-025) + The Fishing Spot of Jiang Ziya (TEU-026)
17.
Shitalkin,
Seer of the Coral District (TEU-025) + Sea Monster's Bioluminescent Eggs
(TEU-080)
18.
Conquerors of
All Dimensions (MP02-112) + Ashwyn, Calamity of Darkest Fires (MP02-114)
Arcana Battle
Colosseum Banned List
1.
Rumsfeld,
Member of the Twelve Sacred Knights (CMB-010)
2.
Flighter of
the Underground Fighting Arena (TWS-025)
3.
Sprinting
Steward (NWE-021)
4.
Insatiable
Desire for Treasure (EDL-044)
5.
Mariabella,
Sincere Engineer // Heart-to-Heart Talk (ROL-013)
6.
Umr-at-Tawil
(ENW-051)
7.
Welser, the
Progenitor of Magic (EDL-074)
8.
Windia, Member
of the Twelve Sacred Knights (TUS-048)
9.
Academy City's
Expert Therapist (TSR-061)
10.
Roar of Dark
Blessing (CMB-064)
11.
Whisper from
the Abyss (TAT-090)
12.
Magic Stone
Research Institute (MSW-087)
13.
Broken Mask of
the Crusader (TSR-087)
14.
Laevateinn,
the Demon Sword (TTW-099)
15.
Satan
(TST-094)
16.
Star Scale of
the Sacred Dragon (TSR-088)
17.
The Magic
Stone of the Six Sages (MSW-102)
Paradox Banned List (+
all cards on the Wanderer Banned list)
1.
Angelic Battle
Barrier (NWE-001)
2.
Rushing
Dinosaur (TUS-024)
3.
Dexia's Advice
(TUS-026)
4.
Ethereal
Princess (TUS-053)
5.
Megiddo,
Artificial Sun (TUS-073)
6.
Metal Helix
(TUS-074)
7.
Raging Messiah
(TWS-028)
8.
Summon the
Charger of War! // Ifrit Glass Chronogear (TWS-032)
9.
Light Curtain
(CMB-005)
10.
The End of the
False Savior (CMB-012)
11.
Great
Dimension Library (CMB-045)
12.
Falchion,
Shooting Star of Water (CST-035)
13.
King's
Hopeless Scream (CST-087)
14.
Replicant:
Odin (JRP-069)
15.
Replicant:
Shiva (JRP-071)
16.
Lehen,
Legendary Explorer // Lehen, Witch Swordswoman (TSD1-001)
17.
Cursed Mirror
of the Snake (TSD1-014)
18.
Flashfreeze
(TSD1-015)
19.
Test Tubes of
Spirits (TTT-033)
20.
Mina Harker,
Heroic Vampire Huntress (TSR-097)
21.
Dead Eye of
Astaroth // Dead Eye of Astaroth (TEU-021)
22.
Shitalkin,
Seer of the Coral District (TEU-025)
23.
The Fishing
Spot of Jiang Ziya (TEU-026)
24.
Hugh, Queen's
Left Hand (TEU-066)
25.
Moonless
Night's Crossing Point (TEU-094)
26.
Zero's Light
Lightning (MP02-003)
27.
Zero's Secret
Garden (MP02-004)
28.
Glorian Bond
of the Sacred Spirit (MP02-071)
29.
Those who
Betrayed Laurite (MP02-091)
30.
Hairpin of the
Beastmaster // Hairpin of the Beastmaster (MP02-105)
31.
Empty Vessel
of Worlds // Empty Vessel of Worlds (MP02-113)
32.
Yggdrasil,
Malefic Verdant Tree (MP02-140)
33.
The Library of
Neverending Stories (MP02-149)
Paradox Combination
Banned List (+ all cards on the Wanderer Combination Banned list)
1.
Asuka
(HSD-020) & Asuka, Gravekeeper of Tsukuyomi (NWE-058) + Night of the
Legendary Vampire // End of Night (HSD-021, NWE-072)
2.
Refrain,
Resident of Wanderers' Castle (TUS-008) + Reflect, Resident of Wanderers'
Castle (TUS-044)
3.
Memory of
Worlds (TUS-043) + Queen of the Eternal Eclipse, Giotto Sansta // Giotto
Sansta, Conqueror of Protopaterpolis (TEU-007)
4.
Statue of the
Misty Dragon (TSD1-013) + Queen of the Eternal Eclipse, Giotto Sansta // Giotto
Sansta, Conqueror of Protopaterpolis (TEU-007)
5.
Yokoshima
HANADA // Yokoshima, Monarch of the Exploding Flame (TSD2-001) + Robo Mugou,
HANADA's New Protector (TOP-089)
6.
Lyka,
Stregheria of Beasts // Lyka, Stregheria of the Beast (TTT-016) + Rabbit of
Aradia (TTT-022)
7.
Hi-Speed
Uppercut Treatment (TSR-068) + Conquerors of All Dimensions (MP02-112)
8. Hi-Speed Uppercut Treatment (TSR-068) +
Immortal King of Sylthmir, Valgott // Valgott, Bloodthirsty Tyrant of Sylthmir
(ESD1-001)
9.
Yggdor, the
Moss Beast (TEU-036) + Chubby Five-Tailed Fox (MP02-136)
10.
The Silver Key
of the Labyrinth // The Silver Key of the Labyrinth (TEU-048) + Zkauba,
Magician of the Silver Key (MP02-040)
11. Awakened Magic Stone, the Earth
(MP02-056) + Queen of Velmardia, Matelda // Matelda, Incarnation of Virtue
(ESD2-001)
12.
Lyka,
Tigermorphed (TEU-070J) + Beast Lords of Aradia (TOP-016)
