NeoGoat Forbidden Pact Tournament Report (Replays)

The Forbidden Pact event challenged duelists to test their creativity and deckbuilding skills by allowing each player to include one Forbidden card, while banning all the usual Limited and Semi-Limited staples. The result? One of the most unpredictable and strategic NeoGoat tournaments so far.

• Date: November 11th, 2025

• Players: 23 duelists

• Rounds: 5 Swiss rounds

The environment quickly proved that the absence of classic spell and trap removal changed the entire pace of the game. Cards like Heavy Storm, Mystical Space Typhoon, and Breaker the Magical Warrior were either off the table or locked behind each duelist’s single “Pact” slot — and that created major issues for aggressive decks that rely on clearing backrow.

A Slower Battlefield

Without fast removal, stall and control decks gained the upper hand. Continuous traps and defensive monsters could hold the field much longer than usual, forcing players to find unconventional ways to deal with sustained pressure.

🔥 Deck Diversity

Despite the restrictions, the event showcased a vibrant mix of ideas:

• Gadget and Monarch decks remained popular, showing solid consistency even under the new rules.

• Fire decks brought explosive OTK potential and creative use of burn cards.

• Harpie decks leveraged elegant swarming tactics and spell trap removal.

• A daring Relinquished build made a surprise appearance, catching many off guard.

• Spellcaster strategies also surfaced, proving their adaptability in longer duels.

Every round showed just how much the meta could shift when classic staples disappear and one Forbidden card can define a deck’s identity.

Round 1: Fire Pyro vs Gadgets 🏆

Round 2: Undefined deck vs Gadget Monarch 🏆

Round 3: PACMAN deck vs Gadgets 🏆

Round 4: Burn 🏆 vs Fire Burn

Round 5: Gadget Monarch vs Gadget Monarch 🏆

Note: One finalist duelist was found to have included Gozen Match, a card not part of the event’s legal card pool. Although the duel had concluded normally, the player was disqualified after review, maintaining the integrity of the tournament. The incident served as a reminder of how important it is to double-check deck legality in special format events.

🏆 Final Thoughts

The Forbidden Pact format turned out to be an excellent experiment in balance and innovation. Duelists who adapted to slower tempo and resource management found the greatest success, and the event sparked lively discussions about which Forbidden cards truly deserved their ancient seals.

With 23 participants and 5 rounds of diverse dueling, Forbidden Pact Special Event has set a new standard for creative competitive play in the NeoGoat community.