With every new format, the hand trap lineup changes in response to the decks and the technology seeing play. Now that the current format has developed well enough, we should discuss the better hand traps and what makes them good right now. From Ghost to Gamma, here are the Top 6!
The following list is arranged in no particular order. These are my personal picks for what I believe are the better hand trap choices for players to use this format.
Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring
The multi-purpose Swiss knife of hand traps, was a very underwhelming choice the previous format, but now it is back to its useful, reliable self. In such a diverse, yet not-so-diverse format, Ash is a good pick for many reasons. First of all, it is quite decent against the Adventurer Token engine, which most decks tend to run right now. It can stop both from adding to hand and from adding to hand.
Apart from its ability to counter this engine, it is also good against and the P.U.N.K. engine, while also being very decent against cards such as , which is now rising in popularity, along with being a pre-emptive answer to by stopping from resolving. It can also stop cards in many other decks, such as the first Prank-Kids summon of , the effect of , and is generally good against the Swordsoul matchup.
However, Ash is better being paired with a second hand trap, as with the way decks are developing, you need multiple hand traps to stop your opponent from making plays. Personally, I would only include it if my deck had space for multiple hand traps.
Dimension Shifter
With almost all the decks this format relying on the graveyard in some form or another, is that one card that makes players sweat. So far, only the Floowandereeze deck is able to take full advantage of the card. However, once it does actually drop, it is quite impactful. Dropping it against Prank-Kids, Phantom Knights or D/D/D would simply prompt a long pause and an "I pass turn".
It is a fantastic card, but with most decks currently being graveyard-reliant, it is difficult to find many competitive decks that could take advantage of it. Surely, there are many casual decks that can utilize it, but on a competitive level, that honor is only bestowed on the flock of Floowandereeze.
Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit
One hand trap that is seeing a resurgence this format is . Unlike most hand traps, it is not only limited to being activated from hand, but can also be activated from the field. With now unlimited, having a hand trap you can summon from deck as a threat, or simply to use as a tuner, is not something to take lightly. Furthermore, the card is great against the Adventurer Token engine since it can hit . It can also get rid of as long as you bait it to activate its negation effect first.
The card is not necessarily great as it might be less useful if the opponent is not playing the Adventurer Token package, but overall, it is a decent card that is worth being considered to be picked for the main deck, especially in higher-tier tournaments.
Droll & Lock Bird
is somewhat like in the sense that it is probably useful against almost every deck. It is good against the Adventurer Token engine since it would stop from adding Gryphon and if used on Enchantress. Also, it shuts down the P.U.N.K. engine and the Virtual World deck in general since it is very reliant on drawing and searching. It is also decent against Swordsoul and causes Floowandereeze to end their turn.
If your deck has space for additional hand traps, it would not be a bad idea to experiment with Droll in your line-up since it is universally good against most decks this format.
PSY-Framegear Gamma
If you run a deck that prefers to go second or one that activates a lot of off-field monster effects or even spell/trap effects before committing to a summon, then is a perfect card for you. Tri-brigades and Dragon Link would be very good contenders to run this deck. It can stop any deck that lacks decent follow-up. Without proper protection, Prank-Kids and Floowandereeze would suffer from a single Gamma.
Gamma is the hand trap that other hand traps fear. Since this format is big on interruption and negation, it is worth considering if your deck allows it.
Ghost Belle & Haunted Mansion
is probably one of the better cards on this list, maybe if paired against something else just to ensure that it will go through. Belle can stop Water Enchantress from resolving, so it is generally good against the Adventurer Token. It is also terrific against and , Prank-Kids, Phantom Knights, D/D/D,… and the list goes on as most decks this format rely on the graveyard in different ways, shapes and forms.
Stopping graveyard-related effects is huge this format. While it is a hard once-per-turn, it is an incredible card this format that deserves consideration for a spot in the main deck.
Honorable Mentions
will always be a good hand trap, but drawing it as your sixth card after your opponent already established their board, or having it as your only hand trap is simply not good enough in today's meta. is another hand trap with tremendously high impact. However, this format, there will almost always be a negate before the fifth summon, whether it is Apollousa, Gryphon, or . Pairing it with another hand trap will probably help, but on its own, I would argue that it is generally helpless this meta.
The last honorable mention goes to . On paper, it is very powerful especially against Floowandereeze and Virtual World, but its problem is that it might be too late already by the time you resolve it against certain matchups. The only way for it to be currently good is to activate it preemptively to stop Enchantress, Tenyi variants, and probably Phantom Knights since they have chainable cards such as .
Which of these hand traps do you believe are the most impactful? Which of these are you running currently and which others are you debating to include? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
Opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily Cardmarket's.
