Decks to go for in Post-Link Summoning Format

Hey there once again MyPochi here, now featuring top decks I think will be rather successful for the LINK Format.

Post Master Rule 4 is gonna be a big thing now. Plenty of players are already posting their thoughts and speculations on their various platforms. Today, we do the same. MyPochi + Ken Sir let you know what we think is gonna be the hot picks for the upcoming format.

Just the usual disclaimer: This is just our speculation and thoughts, and we may have differing views.

 Rubrics
So how I qualify a deck to have potential in the LINK Format is that it must have this few factors...
- Speed (The Meta is slower now so difference in speed is very crucial)
- Extra Deck Reliance (Due to the limited Extra Monster Zone, decks that do not summon from Extra Deck thrives in this format)
- Resources (Games do not end in the first 3 turns anymore, so decks with good resource management is getting popular)
- Float-ability (With Zoodiac Whiptail potentially gone, decks that are able to float and control the flow of the game is necessary in this Meta)
- Consistency (A strong board is not so effective if you could not pull it off all of the time)

That's the rubrics for this new Meta decks I have. Do note that the list is not ranked in any way.
Now without further ado, I will post what I think will be the top deck in LINK Format...

Zoodiacs

Speed 8/10
EDR 7/10
Resource 8/10
Float 2/10
Consistency 9/10

Yes Zoodiacs...even with LINK Format, Konami just had to print Missus Radiant, a Link Monster that aids Zoodiac, allowing them to still end with a Drancia + Daigusto Emeral field. However, Zoodiac is still very reliant on Extra deck which makes them vulnerable. They must first enter the summon of LINK monsters, making this a weakness that can be exploited.

Atlantean Mermail

Speed 7/10
EDR 8/10
Resources 6/10
Float 4/10
Consistency 5/10

Atlantean Mermail might resurface in this new format due to it's ability to OTK quickly. Atlantean Mermail only requires to summon Extra Deck Monsters as support to trigger the Atlantean monster's effects, thus not being affected by the limitation. However, Atlantean Mermail lost the ability to summon Toadally Awesome.

Mermail Abyssmegalo has always been the one doing the heavy lifting and OTKs. Not being an Extra Deck monster and with the archetype's spells and traps to perform negation, I say this deck has a good chance.

Nekroz

Speed 6/10
EDR 9/10
Resource 7/10
Float 5/10
Consistency 7/10

The ritual summon deck which has no need to rely on the Extra Deck is definitely untouched by the metagame. Nekroz's Extra Deck sole purpose is to be used as tribute for Nekroz Kaleidoscope. I put Nekroz float-ability at 5/10 as I believe that Hand Nekroz might see play again.(Fire Hand+Ice Hand)

Anti-Meta

Speed 2/10
EDR 10/10
Resource 8/10
Float 6/10
Consistency 5/10

Anti-Meta deck benefits greatly from the new LINK Format. Card of Demise further increases the deck resource management. However this deck have insanely poor speed, having to rely on starting first most of the time, as most decks rely on field setups and traps being laid.

Kozmo

Speed 4/10
EDR 9/10
Resource 8/10
Float 7/10
Consistency 6/10

The Kozmo archetype have a very good resource management in a form of Kozmo Town. Kozmo also can float out of any situation and never lose board control. But, Kozmo in general is rather slow, normally ending off with a Tin Can. (This is for Pure Kozmo). Before GeoTheBacon argues, I must admit that the True Draco Kozmo version of the deck trades off resources for insane speed...... but at the same time, compromising consistency.

Yang Zing

Speed 3/10
EDR 7/10
Resource 8/10
Float 9/10
Consistency 4/10

The Yang Zing deck have changed to a sort of Anti-Meta liked build nowadays. Yang Zing have very strong board control due to it's innate float-ability but Yang Zing's turn 1 plays rely heavily on JiaoTu to start. Yang Zing do not suffer much from the Extra Deck Limitation as Yang Zing normally summons 1 Synchro monster at a time, but the loops and flooding capabilities of the deck definitely took a hit.
That being said, I still see potential in the deck.

True Draco

Speed 5/10
EDR 10/10
Resource 7/10
Float 4/10
Consistency 8/10

True Draco deck seems to be the new Meta even for now Pre Link Format. It is due to Master Peace being such a powerful boss monster with annoying effects that opponents have to overcome and bait. True Draco does not rely on Extra Deck but instead rely on their Field Spell to function.

Monarch

Speed 6/10
EDR 10/10
Resource 6/10
Float 3/10
Consistency 6/10

Alongside True Draco, another tribute-based decks is Monarch. Both deck work well together however as a whole, Monarch seems to be inferior to True Draco against the other match-ups. The banlist has also not been in the deck's favour.

D/D/D

Speed 8/10
EDR 4/10
Resource 8/10
Float 3/10
Consistency 7/10

As we wait for GeoTheBacon to try and revive D/D/D, my reason for D/D/D to be in this list is that any Extra Deck monster revived from the graveyard does not go to the Extra Monster Zone. Thus, D/D/D can warp into a totally new playing method, and go for a more revival based D/D/D deck due to new supports in the form of the Executive D/D/D cards.

It is food for thought, and also the task for all D/D/D fans to embark upon.

Burning Abyss

Speed 6/10
EDR 7/10
Resource 5/10
Float 9/10
Consistency 5/10

Burning Abyss attempts to make a comeback with the new format. However, this time the deck is confined to only 1 Extra Deck monster which should not be a problem since Beatrice shall suffice. Additionally, the Ritual Based Build is very strong against this Meta due to their over-reliance of Kaiju. Kaiju is capable of breaking many floodgates and field except for Djinn Lock as it is unable to special summon.

Yosenju

Hmmm, my favourite entered the list (Nekroz) and so did GeoTheBacon's (D/D/D). Ken Sir's favourite (Yosenju) is equally deserving of a spot on the list.

The deck will likely change its playing style, at least that is the direction Ken Sir is heading, from a OTK based to a board-control orientated type of deck. Pendulum cards such as Yosenju Shinchu L and Yosenju Shinchu R may be played more often to leverage on the new support and provide the activation condition for Yosenju's Secret Move.

Being a WIND attribute deck does however, put it at odds against Missus Radiant.

Conclusion

Of course, all of the archetypes and decks on the list is operating under the assumption that they will not have a LINK monster capable of fitting into their deck, and hence have to make do with a single Extra Monster Zone, due to the absence of LINK Monsters and zone.

As the game progresses, undoubtedly, more and more LINK monsters will be released, and some decks may find themselves having an easier and better time adjusting to the new mechanics.

Ken Sir has mentioned a few other notable mentions that should have been included, but they don't have their own paragraph since I am not confident how they will take off, or due to the lack of explanation to elaborate upon.

• Six Samurai - Three Gateway of the Six Samurai, being EARTH attribute to abuse Missus Radiant, Negation in the form of Legendary Six Samurai Shi-En and Great Shogun Shien.
• Lightlords, Chaos Dragons - Effect monsters to do the heavy lifting. Lightlords also gained new support in the form of Punishment Dragon.
• Dark World - Powercreep is a thing, and 2700 may not be anything much now. But Grapha, Dragon Lord of the Dark World may be able to do something, especially with the new support cards.
• Under the same argument for D/D/D, Fluffals does have the ability to 'move' their monsters around the Monster Zones by allowing the initial fusion monsters (that exist in the Extra Monster Zone) to first enter the graveyard, then be revived.
• If we talk about Effect Monster 'Boss' monsters, Apoqli monsters do stand a great chance in the OCG, but getting the needed tributes onto the field may be tougher than before.
• Carrying on, we have Infernoids as well. But as they have always been, a timely negation on cards such as Left Arm Offering or Lullaby of Obedience by Imperial Order or Ghost Ash & Beautiful Spring will decapicitate them of resources.
• Dragonuity can also work out, given their playing style of summoning synchro monsters one at a time, 'climbling' the level ladder. But once again, being WIND, means Missus Radiant will be a challenge.
• Other Ritual decks - The only other apart from Nekroz that comes to mind is Cyber Angels played together with the Herald archetype. Having negation in the form of the Herald Lights and the potential to summon of Herald of Perfection.
• ABC Unions - it will be harder to get the required materials into the right places, and one can no longer rely on Bujintei Tsukiyomi, and a single limited Union Hangar doesn't help, but Kaiba's machines do have a good chance of returning to the competitive scenes.

That's all I have for today's article...anything I missed out? Just comment down below.

MyPochi here, signing out.