Box Review: Blackstorm Rising
This is the 16th Main Box and was released on November 11, 2018. Blackstorm Rising contains support for Blackwing, Bujin, Dragunity, Harpie, Reptilianne, and Gladiator Beast decks.
“What are your thoughts on the new Blackwing support?”
The deck at the moment relies too much on the extra deck for making pushes. And without a good enough Synchro to tutor out, Blackwings currently have no reliable win condition.
Black Whirlwind is a very insane card, and Blackwing - Shura the Blue Flame is also very good. Both Blackwing - Bora the Spear and Shura being over the 1600 ATK threshold is also very important. This deck might be really good, but not having access to Blackwing - Gale the Whirlwind or Blackwing - Kalut the Moon Shadow might slow the deck down too much. The Crow skill Mark of the Dragon - Tail that gives 2 Blackwing - Blizzard the Far North is almost definitely staple.
“What are your thoughts on the new Bujin support?”
Bujingi Crane is a fantastic addition to the deck. The deck now has a good Bujingi that activates from the hand. Thus, resolving Bujin Yamato/Ties of the Brethren is now even more powerful. Unlike Bujingi Sinyou, Crane does not halve the battle damage the opponent takes - allowing Crane to be used for lethal pushes, too.
However, in a side deck format I do not expect this deck to perform too well if cards such as DNA Surgery and Crevice Into the Different Dimension are prevalent.
Bujingi Crane is amazing, the other cards not so much. Bujin might be tiered starting this box.
“What are your thoughts on the new Gladiator Beast support?”
I don’t think the new Gladiator Beast cards are what Gladiator Beast players were hoping for. It’s nothing on the level of Gladiator Beast War Chariot or Gladiator Beast Gyzarus, but it offers some nice tech options for people to mess around with.
Gladiator Beast Hoplomus could see play as 2400 defense can be difficult to get over. I doubt anything else will.
“What are your thoughts on the new Harpie support?”
Some very nice cards that improve the deck’s consistency. At some point down the road in a stun format I could see the deck being very viable. However, the primary constraint of the deck is that it has no efficient way to remove a heavy swinger - which is problematic in this current format.
Seeing as our meta has a lot of heavy backrow, Harpies’ Hunting Ground comes in at a perfect opportunity. I’m not sure that its enough to bring Harpies into the meta though. It could potentially do well this format.
“What are your thoughts on Dragunities?”
The equip spell, Dragunity Divine Lance, is a superb card with the ability to protect the equipped monster from traps - a very useful effect in a format with many trap decks. Dragunity Aklys is also a great card that offers some core removal for the deck. There are a few ways in which this deck can be constructed - many builds may choose to use Double Cyclone or Storm to generate advantage whilst triggering Aklys in the process. Furthermore, the new UR Cards of Consonance fits nicely into the deck. I am yet to test the deck thoroughly and thus cannot give a conclusion on whether I think the deck will fly or flop.
Having some one-card combos into Stardust Dragon is nice, but Stardust is too weak on its own. The engine will get even better as more level 8 Synchros are released.
“What are your thoughts on Reptiliannes?”
An interesting deck with a searchable boss monster. Its playstyle is quite unique, though it could be compared to Batteryman in how it has a Batteryman Industrial Strength-esque card.
Reptilianne Gorgon might bring out a new cancer deck into the format. This deck could potentially be good enough to KOG with late season.
“Are there any other cards that you expect to have a significant influence on the current meta?”
Breaker the Magical Warrior could be a side deck option for Spellbooks to clear cards such as DNA Surgery and Drowning Mirror Force, whilst having synergy with the rest of the deck by being a Spellcaster.
Breaker the Magical Warrior might just find itself in a perfect spot for a Spellbook side deck. Other than it, there isn’t anything that catches my eye.
“Are there any other cards with significant future potential?”
Cards of Consonance can only get better from here on out.
Tell us your own thoughts on the box in the comments below!
