Hieratic Update - September 2012 Banlist

The banlist has not officially been posted yet, assuming the "Satoshi List" is the real deal, I build this deck, tested it, and it works. Well, Red-Eyes is almost certain a limit to one now, so regardless whether the Satoshi list is true, this build should cover that. 

I shall name this dude "Dragonic Overlord Ennead"

monster (20):

3 Hieratic Dragon of Su

3 Hieratic Dragon of Eset

3 Hieratic Dragon of Tfenut

3 Card-car D

2 Tragoedia

1 Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon

1 Black Luster Soldier - Envoy

1 Wattail Dragon

1 Emerald Dragon

1 BLUE-EYES WHITE DRAGON!!!

1 Cyber Valley

spell (11):

2 Pot of Duality

2 Hieratic Seal of Convocation

2 Forbidden Lance

2 Mystic Space Typhoon

1 Heavy Storm

1 Monster Reborn

1 Mind Control

trap (9):

3 Reckless Greed

2 Call of the Haunted

2 Bottomless Trap Hole

1 Phoenix Wing Wind Blast

1 Solemn Judgment

extra (15):

2 Hieratic Dragon Lord - Ennead

2 Hieratic Dragon King - Atum

2 Gaia Dragoon

1 No25 Focus Force

1 Photon Streak Bounzer

1 Inzektor Exa-Beetle

1 Sword Breaker

1 Tiras, Keeper of Genesis

+4

I originally wanted to play Hieratic because a 3000 beater that could blow stuff up was cool, but Ennead was overshadowed by the Hieratic loop. Since the loop is basically gone at this point, I see this as a fitting chance for me to play Ennead again.

I play 2 Call of the Haunted to bring back my REDMD. So, instead of playing Ennead's Hieratic Seal, I figure I just play good old' Blue-Eyes instead. Since I could bring him back and deal damage. With Inzektors out of the picture, a 3000 beatstick means something again. I have 3 normal monsters in the deck now, which is a lot, I know, but I really need 2 level 6's.

Another monster you guys might be confuse with would definitely be Cyber Valley. Cyber Valley, in a format without Inzektors and Agents would be very good; as it serves as a wall and sometimes I could pull off a draw-2 from it. The other main reason why I play this card is because Machina gadget WILL be the top deck of this format (at least the beginning of it). I would side 2~3 copies of Electric Virus against them, not to mention a Mind Control in the main. Who I wanna take? Giganto X of cause. I could always play a Virus, grab his Giganto, attack his gadget, use its effect to grab Valley from deck, banish them both for advantage.

The spell and trap lineup is basic, no need for explanations there.

Also, if Ennead successfully pop's 2 card and your Hieratic's effect got off. Its an OTK.

Ennead pops 2 --> summon 2 level 6, Atum --> REDMD and one of the level 6 vanilla ---> Gaia Dragoon

3000 + 2600 + 2400 = 8000

Considering you need 4 Hieratics to play this OTK, its not as consistent, BUT, I do run 3 Reckless Greeds, 3 Cardcar D, 2 Duality, 2 Convocation and also a Cyber Valley. I'm not exactly low in draw power here. And lets not forget, even without an OTK, you could always play grind games, since Rank 6 XYZs has one of the best effects in the game. 

Conclusion, Hieratics can no longer do the 3-card-OTK, but the deck is far from dead, and I expect the Hanzo variant to be very much alive too. Also, the format is slowing down, explosiveness would not be the primary aspect in a slower format. I don't think the deck is dead, not at all; BUT it has definitely lost its position as a Tier 1 and sadly I don't think it'll ever be a top deck ever again.