Table of Contents
Introduction
Welcome to Lorcana.gg's weekly meta report! Each week we analyze the state of the meta using data from the previous week of tournament play. Our tier list is updated with the latest data, while this meta report will go over what it all means, as well as highlighting some particularly strong and interesting decks in each archetype.
The tier list is separated into three tiers. Tier 1 has the strongest decks, usually with multiple top 8 performances in major tournaments. Tier 2 and Tier 3 decks are a notch below the top tier, with these decks usually having one or two weaknesses keeping them from dominating the meta.
Meta Overview
Disney Lorcana Challenge Fort Worth took place over the weekend with almost 2,000 competitors. The results were similar to Bochum, with Emerald/Steel Bucky Discard being the most represented in the meta and in the top 8. But the champion was, once again, Amethyst/Ruby Bounce Control. These two decks are clearly the top, top tier decks.
Steelsong also had a good DLC showing, landing two decks in the top 8. The deck has come on strong of late. Part of the reason for that is Ruby/Sapphire Pawpsicle Control, probably its worst matchup, is struggling in the current meta. I think it's time we swapped those two decks in the tier list, dropping Pawpsicle down to tier 2 and bumping Steelsong up to tier 1.
The only deck outside of tier 1 to top 8 at DLC Fort Worth was Amber/Emerald Discard. This deck continues to impress and I've bumped it up near the top of tier 2. It's certainly viable in the current meta, even at very competitive events.
Anyway, onto the tier list!
Tier List
Tier 1
Emerald/Steel Bucky Discard
Bucky's days are almost up. The last major tournament where Bucky will be legal is the Disney Lorcana Challenge event in Bologna, Italy next week. After that, Bucky will be no more. The deck has certainly dominated the meta, nearly half of the decks in Texas were some variation of Bucky Discard, although it continues to fall just short of winning it all at these DLCs.
Here was the highest placing Bucky deck in Fort Worth. Piloted by Danxor, this deck managed to come in 3rd place.
Amethyst/Ruby Bounce Control
Amethyst/Ruby Control may not be garnering the high meta share that Bucky is holding down, but it continues to win these DLCs. It just has a very good matchup spread and is never really super unfavored. With the right pilot, there is always a chance for the Bounce deck to take the match.
Here was the winning deck list from DLC Fort Worth. Congrats to Edmond Chiu on a great deck and great performance!
Sapphire/Steel Ramp Wheel
Sapphire/Steel Ramp Wheel keeps on providing solid performances at these DLCs. One Sapphire/Steel deck finished the tournament in the top 8, with two others just missing out at 11th and 15th place. The deck is probably the best deck against Bucky Discard, which may mean it will fall off here soon, but for now it is doing well.
This was the Sapphire/Steel deck that ended up in the top 8 of DLC Fort Worth, list from BadVegas.
Amber/Steel Steelsong
Steelsong has moved up into tier 1, after spending all of the Ursula's Return meta so far down in tier 2. Some recent changes to improve the deck's matchups against the field have helped. But also what has helped is Ruby/Sapphire losing steam and falling out of favor. As Pawpsicles have fallen, Steelsong has risen.
This Steelsong deck from kri5 was 2nd place at DLC Fort Worth. It's great to see Sleepy's Flute back in the meta and helping Steelsong make it to the finals at big events again.
Tier 2
Ruby/Sapphire Pawpsicle Control
It's been tough going for Ruby/Sapphire. The deck looked so dominant out of the gate in Ursula's Return but is really struggling now. The problem is its matchup into Amethyst/Ruby Bounce Control is very bad and with that deck rising in popularity each time it wins another DLC, it is pushing out Ruby/Sapphire.
This deck from s4iler was the top performing Pawpsicle deck in Texas, ending the tournament in 12th place. Crazy to see Maui - Hero to All not being a 4-of for once, with 2 copies of 004-109 included instead. It just goes to show how difficult The Queen's Castle - Mirror Chamber can be to deal with.
Amber/Emerald Discard
The Amber/Emerald Discard deck took home a somewhat surprising top 8 at DLC Fort Worth. The deck can certainly hold its own against the top decks in the meta. It will be interesting to see how it performs once Bucky is gone and the new set arrives.
Here was the list that came in 8th place at DLC Fort Worth. This list from Jous highlights the deck's very effective combined discard and bounce package.
Amethyst/Emerald Tempo
Amethyst/Emerald did not have a good showing in Texas, with none of their decks making it into the top 64. I still think the deck is one to watch out for though. The look of the new set seems to indicate that strong tempo is going to be key in the future metagame and Amethyst/Emerald can certainly compete in that world.
This list from Marc Levy came in the top 8 of a 49-player Set Championship event in the US this past week. The deck is the only competitive list right now running 004-058, so if you want to flex with some Enchanted Ursulas that you've won, this would be the deck to do it with.
Amber/Ruby Red Mufasa
Mufasa finds himself at the bottom of tier 2, which is probably about right, to be honest. There weren't a lot of people playing Mufasa in Texas, but it had some representation. It's hard to see the deck improving in the future though, as Shimmering Skies reveals so far have not shown any helpful new additions to the archetype.
This was the best performing Mufasa deck at Fort Worth. This list from Nicodk1990 came in 22nd place overall, which is an impressive showing for a deck that is barely clinging to tier 2 status.
Tier 3
Amethyst/Steel Tempo
I have to admit I'm a bit surprised that no Amethyst/Steel decks made it into the top 64 at DLC Fort Worth. Yes, it is a tier 3 deck right now, but it's one that has had good results in the past and is mostly made up of cards that you find in other tier 1 decks. I guess the meta really is not friendly to this build at the moment. Perhaps that changes with the new set or with Bucky gone.
For now, I wanted to highlight this Amethyst/Steel deck from Gavin Ditchey, which came in 3rd place at a 32-player Set Championship in the US. 004-059 with 004-048 and 004-185 is a nice little Broom sub-package, which gives the deck some early aggression and card draw.
Amber/Amethyst Hyper Aggro
I have high hopes for aggro in Shimmering Skies. New cards such as Daisy Duck - Donald's Date should give the archetype a bit more resiliency in the early game, making it harder to slow down. There's also the new Legendary, 005-014, which could make its way into "go wide", aggro lists.
For now though, the deck still struggles against the field. Its best matchup is probably Ruby/Sapphire Pawpsicle and with that deck falling off, it's hard to see Hyper Aggro moving up the ranks between now and next set release. However, one Amber/Amethyst Hyper Aggro deck performed admirably at DLC Fort Worth and that was this list from treyb, which made the top 64 cut.
And that does it for the meta report this week. With DLC Fort Worth in our rearview, we have one more Lorcana Challenge left with the current meta in tact. Bologna will be the swan song for Bucky and the last DLC before the hobby store release of Shimmering Skies!
While that set won't be legal for competitive events until September, we should start to see the new meta taking shape well before then. The card reveals so far have been exciting and seem certain to shake things up. I'm looking forward to the full set reveal, when I can start working on our set review posts. So stay tuned for our Shimmering Skies set review!
Until next week, good luck and have fun!
