With the launch of the latest card pack, the second season of Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond kicked off! I’ve been diving into high-level ranked matches since day one, enjoying fierce battles against skillful players. Anticipation was high even before the new season began, thanks to the power level of the newly revealed cards, and now, just one week later, the meta is already shaping up.
In this post, I’ll take a look at how the ranked meta has evolved so far and highlight some of the standout “power cards” that are defining early Season 2 ranked matches.
Meta Overview (as of July 23)
Right now, the most prominent decks in Master-ranked (Diamond/Sapphire) matches are:
- Control Swordcraft
- Spell Runecraft
- Aggro and Control Abysscraft
Control Swordcraft, in particular, is rising in popularity at an amazing rate. Definitions of “Tier 1” can vary, but if we’re going by popularity and usage rate, these decks are clearly leading the meta.
Aggro Abysscraft, which dominated in the earliest days of the season, has dropped off slightly due to effective counter-strategies and the rise of unfavorable matchups. Still, it remains a presence in the meta. Among the top three (Control Sword, Spell Rune, Control Abyss), deck power is closely matched, any of them is a decent choice to play in the current ranked matches.
If you’re just getting into Worlds Beyond or looking for a new deck to try, these decks are highly recommendable.
4 “Power Cards” in the New Meta
Let’s talk about the cards that make you stop mid-match and think: “Wait… how is this fair?”
Here are 4 of the most powerful new cards shaking up ranked matches right now. Let’s see if the list matches your thought.
1. Odin, Twilit Fate (Neutral)
A true meta staple. You’ll see this card in nearly every deck, control or aggro. Odin delivers 4-7 points of Storm damage and can banish anything, even Amulets, with no conditions. This makes him not just a finisher, but a versatile removal tool as well. Reliable, flexible, powerful, everything you want is in this card. Odin is undoubtedly one of the strongest additions of the season.
2. Ginsetsu & Yuzuki, Twin Calamities (Abysscraft)
A lot of players initially saw this card negatively as over-costed and underwhelming when the card information was revealed for the first time. However, this card skyrocketed in value once the season began. With the meta evolving increasingly toward control and longer games, its ability to destroy four enemy followers without using an evolve point and heal for 4 has proven incredibly powerful.
The massive board presence Ginsetsu can create, especially against Runecraft, is game-changing. Without this card, Control Abyss wouldn’t be where it is in the current meta.
3. Norman, Adamant Alchemist (Runecraft)
With his fanfare and evolve effect that heals for up to 8, Norman is a nightmare for any aggro decks. On top of that, he can create a solid Ward board, all for just 6 play points. This card eliminates the vulnerability to opponents’ aggro moves that Spell Rune struggled with in the last season. When paired with Sagelight Teachings (from the previous card pack), Spell Rune can now heal for a total of 36, theoretically. In Japan, players even joke that Runecraft now has “56 HP.”
4. Gildaria, Anatheme of Peace (Swordcraft)
This card is simply overpowered. When evolved, Gildaria clears the opponent’s board while summoning two token followers. And when the rally count is 20, she super-evolves without an evolve point.
Imagine you’re up against Swordcraft. They’re already out of evolve points, and you think it’s a chance for you to give them some pressure and make a strong board. However, they completely wipe it with a 7/7 super evolved follower, and she is standing intact on the board along with some other followers.
Frankly, Gildaria is such a powerful card that I’m concerned that she could break the entire game balance someday. It’s no coincidence that Swordcraft is topping the popularity charts in the current ranked matches. This card is a big reason why.
What do you think? Did the list match your predictions?
If you’ve got a card you think deserves a spot on this list, let me know in the comments. I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Image Source: Shadowverse Worlds Beyond Official Site
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