How tf is masked hero lower than dark magician and blackwing? Especially now that the first one is nerfed? It can roll right over these even going first at times if you know how to play it right.
-Blackwing searcher untouched and still consistent.
-DM might be got nerfed, but the hit aren't as severe as Crystron or Cydra. Turn one banishing is still often for DM, so i dont think it is affecting that much.
No matter how you see it, mask change can't be searched and that matter a lot.
They essentially only lost 1 Navigation searcher. They still have 2 searcher left, plus anyone running DM will run 3 Navigation anyway. They still have a very good chance of getting Navigation.
They aren't the top against shiranui and witchcrafter. But the best vision masked hero build can usually set up the combo to get a fusion going turn one and set up the grave for celestial and/or wait to summon malicious. So it is incredibly consistent even without a searcher for masked change, chances are you will have milled through your deck enough to get it quickly.
DM- between stratos and cosmic, it is easy enough to get rid of the circle early, and even if you can't, they rely too much on that one "pop" of the board to ruin everything, and there are definitely ways around that with a good hero deck when you have enough reserve waiting like master of fusion, masked change, plasma. You could even tech in a raigeki break.
Lots of dm matches start without both the circle and navigation on their first turn. I also play the deck and use Balance to try making it consistent as possible. Think having rod at 2 won't hurt? You'd be surprised. Even before the nerf, I would find myself using illusion on rod before its effect goes off in a attempt to mill my deck enough by getting 2 dms to my hand.
Blackwings- going first? You. Lose. Against Heroes, that usually happens. Trinity can get past ancient pixie dragon, too. Heck, once in the 2nd stage of KCGT, I even still won after a misplay against that same deck with zephyros, necrovalley, pixie dragon, etc. I do still think they are better against masked heroes than DM, though. Masked Heroes aren't tier 1, but they should be tier 2 and not 3.
I made a new account (already have kog on other)got 3 circle 3 nav and go KoG with like a 80% win rate. Yes it can brick but generally you'll be okay. DON'T play eye of timaeus it's a trap.
I think it is still really good too even though I still like my hero deck better. I know what you mean about eye of timaeus. Sometimes it is not good. I also have the ritual version with Master of Rites and a synchro one with night's end sorcerer. The only thing I am on the fence about is a predaplant version.
You have to compare each deck with existing meta, such as Hero against aleister. If you had a hard time against it, it make sense both Blackwing and DM on upper tier than hero.
Btw, blackwing can use Necrovalley even in their first turn which can disrupt most meta.
Necrovalley isn't really that bad for heroes with everything they have to get rid of it. The real problem is witchcrafters. And I wouldn't say it is horrible against shiranui, but not great either. And then shadow game can be a real 🔥 to it. It's still good against a lot of other things. I think it fell because it isn't as versatile as it was before witchcrafters and just less people using it.