LEGENDARY SIX SAMURAI
The biggest hit to this deck is limiting of Gateway, hence makes them less explosive and more control oriented. The Gateway swarming strategy used to be the heart of the deck, but now this deck has turned into a more balanced version. The power of this deck is mostly due to their consistency and speed over all other deck. 3 copies of Shien Smoke Signal and 1 copy of RotA makes running low monster count (11-14) affordable without any problem. The ace of this deck named "Legendary Six Samurai Shi-En" is one of the contributor to the strength of this deck. The ability to negate opponent's spell or trap card as well as being a 2500 beater is a pure awesomeness. Once 3 Shi-En hit the field, it is game over as the opponent can do nothing against them. Musakani Magatama serves as a protective barrier to protect Six Samurai monsters from destruction effect. This deck has everything it needs to be competitive and it is. But, the budget for this deck is quite high. Hence, not affordable by the poors.
GLADIATOR BEAST
I, myself play this deck and I think that it has the great chance to become competitive again. This deck was not hit by the ban list. In fact, the biggest hit to this deck is limiting of Book of Moon. But it does not matter as this hit other deck as well. We can see that in the past format, every decks in Japan runs 3 Book of Moon due to its versatility. Semi-limiting of Solemn Warning is another minor hit to this deck as Gladiator Beast player would like to run 3 copies of Solemn Warning. It's not a problem at all for Gladiator Beast players as 3 Forbidden Lance can be a good replacement. The worst match-up of this deck, Blackwing is hit severely by the ban list which helps this deck to compete better. Gyzarus play is still viable for this deck. Besides that, this deck is not affected by the new priority ruling at all which is a great thing to look at. Moreover, the introduction of exceed monsters also helps this deck greatly. Most of its monster are Level 4, which speed up exceed summoning. Darius play into instant Emperor Hope is pretty easy.
BLACKWING
Blackwing was hit the hardest by the ban list. The biggest hit to this deck is obviously semi-limiting of Kalut. Kalut can be used in offensive and defensive way while being highly searchable and has good interaction with other cards in this deck. Hence losing 2 copies of Kalut makes Blackwing players cry hard. However, Vayu Turbo still managed to top in Japan. I do believe that Vayu Turbo is the new built of Blackwing. In fact, this variance is not affected by the ban list at all. Vayu Turbo uses Dark Grepher, Armageddon Knight and Card Trooper to load the graveyard and swarm the field with Armed Wing.
SAMPLE DECK
SIX SAMURAI
Monsters (14)
[2] Grandmaster of the Six Samurai
[3] Kagemusha of the Six Samurai
[3] Legendary Six Samurai - Kageki
[3] Legendary Six Samurai - Kizan
[2] Legendary Six Samurai - Mizuho
[1] Legendary Six Samurai - Shinai
Spells (15)
[1] Gateway of the Six
[3] Shien's Smoke Signal
[3] Six Samurai United
[1] Giant Trunade
[1] Monster Reborn
[2] Mystical Space Typhoon
[1] Reinforcement of the Army
[3] Upstart Goblin
Traps (11)
[2] Dimensional Prison
[2] Double-Edged Sword Technique
[1] Mirror Force
[3] Musakani Magatama
[1] Solemn Judgment
[2] Solemn Warning
GLADIATOR BEAST
Monster(14)
[2] Gladiator Beast Laquari
[2] Elemental Hero Prisma
[2] Gladiator Beast Darius
[2] Gladiator Beast Equeste
[1] Gladiator Beast Bestiari
[1] Gladiator Beast Retiari
[1] Gladiator Beast Murmillo
[1] Gladiator Beast Hoplomus
[2] Test Tiger
Spell(13)
[3] Gladiator Prooving Ground
[3] Forbidden Lance
[2] Mystical Space Typhoon
[1] Reinforcement of the Army
[1] Dark Hole
[1] Monster Reborn
[1] Book of Moon
[1] Sword of Revealing Light
Trap(13)
[2] Solemn Warning
[2] Bottomless Trap Hole
[2] Dimensional Prison
[2] Compulsory Evaculation Device
[2] Gladiator Beast War Chariot
[1] Solemn Judgement
[1] Torrential Tribute
[1] Mirror Force
GRAVEYARD BLACK WING
Monster(18)
[1] Dark Armed Dragon
[1] Blackwing - Zephyros the Elite
[3] Blackwing - Sirocco the Dawn
[3] Blackwing - Vayu the Emblem of Honor
[1] Blackwing - Gale the Whirlwind
[2] Dark Grepher
[3] Armageddon Knight
[2] Card Trooper
[1] Necro Gardna
[1] Plaguespreader Zombie
Spell(11)
[3] Pot of Duality
[2] Mystical Space Typhoon
[1] Allure of Darkness
[1] Book of Moon
[1] Monster Reborn
[1] Dark hole
[1] Burial from Different Dimension
[1] Reinforcement of the Army
Trap(11)
[2] Bottomless Trap Hole
[2] Solemn Warning
[2] Dimensional Prison
[2] Icarus Attack
[1] Mirror Force
[1] Torrential Tribute
[1] Solemn Judgement
