In case you missed it, Konami announced a new format for the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG called Yu-Gi-Oh! Genesys. Genesys is aimed at a lower power level than the main advanced format and takes a page from Magic: The Gathering's Highlander format by using a point distribution system. Decks can have up to 100 points between the main deck, extra deck, and side deck. Strong staple cards, floodgates, consistency cards, and cards that promote FTK or OTK strategies have been assigned points, whereas most other cards are at 0 allowing for tons of flexibility in deck-building. The other main difference is that Genesys does not use Link or Pendulum monsters. This paves the way for a ton of strategies that maybe don't shine in the advanced format to make leave their mark on Genesys format. Let's look at 5 decks that may be some of the top contenders for Genesys.

#1 - Fire King

Fire Kings have actually been a decent contender in the Yu-Gi-Oh! advanced format and have seen tournament tops. However, it seems like the strategy has only been slightly weakened for Genesis with Fire King Courtier Ulcanix costing 20 points per copy, Fire King High Avatar Kirin costing 10 points, and Legendary Fire King Ponix costing 10. Players may consider dropping some of their consistency to mix in a Jurrac package to provide strong disruption on your opponent's turn. Fire King High Avatar Kirin can destroy Jurrac Megalo in the hand, which will send Jurrac Astero from the Extra Deck to the GY. Then on your opponent's turn you can use Astero's GY effect to banish itself and the Megalo to "Synchro Summon" Jurrac Meteor, wiping the board. It's a tricky strategy to play around and definitely worth playing if you like Fire Kings. Of course, you won't have any link climbing strategies to fall back on in this format.

#2 - Exosister

Exosisters are another strategy that up until recent years was strong. Being able to banish multiple of your opponent's cards in a single turn is usually a death sentence no matter the matchup. The deck's weakness has been lacking a good going second option on already established boards. However, with Genesys, perhaps the lower power level of the format is enough for these exorcising nuns to shine. Exosister Pax and Exosister Mikailis at 10 points each are the only in-archetpye cards have point values assigned to them leaving much of the 100-point budget open for cards like stables, board breakers, and the like. Plus, Exosisters have been getting small consistency boosts over the years through the spirit cards like Aratama, Sakitama, and the new Ichiki Sayori-Hime. Whether you choose to run traditional hand traps or cards like Dimension Shifter that will ruin your opponent's day is up to you.

#3 - Odion/Tomb Keeper

Fresh off a win at YCS Lille we have the Odion/Tomb Keeper deck. Odion debuted earlier this year in Maze of the Master. It's throwback to the Yu-Gi-Oh anime's Battle City arc makes it a fan favorite deck, but that's not why it makes it on this list. Like Exosister, the Tomb Keeper cards have no points assigned to the cards in the archetype. Its small engine count allows you to fill the deck with extra powerful trap cards that the deck lends itself to such as the Dominus cards, Iron Thunder, or Destructive Daruma Karma Cannon. It's also a deck that can win without the use of the extra deck in some cases so players can build a more budget-friendly deck if they choose.

#4 - Ice Barrier

Ice Barriers have only small hits to the main strategy in Genesys. Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier is the only monster with a point value, but it's just worth 3 points. You're still able to Synchro Summon into Lancea, Ancestral Dragon of the Ice Mountain then bring out your floodgate monsters on your opponent's turn such as General Raiho of the Ice Barrier or Warlock of the Ice Barrier. Ice Doll is a new consistency piece for the deck since it allows you to discard a water monster to search for Revealer of the Ice Barrier, your main combo starter. Also, if you happened to discard Mirror Mage of the Ice Barrier to activate that effect, you've now triggered its effect in the GY to extend your plays. The deck does lose access to the Link 2 Marincess Coral Anemone but it still very competent without it.

#5 - Artmage

Artmage shows it worth in the Genesys format as a deck capable of spamming out monsters and providing disruption through its many strong monster effects. Unlike some other decks whose starter and consistency cards were hit on the point list, Artmage has its main field spell and other searches untouched. This makes it easy to summon Medius the Pure and his friends to lock down your opponent's board. Nerva the Nerva the Power Patron of Creation has a small 5 point cost attached to it, but that leaves plenty of deck-building freedom to work with. Artmage may not get to run the Fiendsmith package in Genesys, but it still gets the job done.