The Format

TLDR: just take me to the summary. 

The Obsidian Heresy is an alternative format for Legend of the Five Rings LCG. It has a short ban list, no restricted list, and some rule changes.

After 4 years of cards being published, L5R released more than 1300 cards. But it also accumulated a sizeable ban list. The most liberal of its formats was Imperial, with 43 restricted cards: so whenever deckbuilding, 42 cards are out of reach. The most played format is the Emerald Legacy, a format with a lot more restrictions, and some extra rules on what is allowed where, totaling 69 restricted cards and 23 semi-restricted cards: something between 68 and 75 cards out of reach. We understand those restrictions were made as an attempt to reach clan balance in the game, but in Obsidian we take another approach. Obsidian embraces the madness.

The Obsidian Heresy believes in the airy traits of change and wit. We embrace the learnings from the Jade Edict, and from the Emerald Legacy. Cards released by the Emerald Legacy are valid in Obsidian. The Rally keyword works normally, but cards with rally do not take up any deck space - meaning your deck must be valid without the rally cards, 40 to 45 non-rally cards + as many rally cards you feel like playing. Characters cannot have more than one copy of the same attachment, as it works in Emerald Legacy. After all those changes we embrace, Obsidian brings a new change: max 2 copies of each card per title. This brings fluidity by making all decks less consistent - the matches become more diverse, the strategies gain extra depth as players need to bring a plan A, but also a plan B and C to the table. This also helps balance the return of some powerful cards, as players have fewer of them, and must be witty to use them when it counts and when they are protected. The wit is also reinforced during deckbuilding, with lots of extra options on the table, deckbuilding becomes more challenging.

The Obsidian Heresy believes that balance is achieved in the fluidity of water. Balance is the result of a meta game constantly shifting as strong strategies draw attention, counter strategies emerge as challengers and push down the old champion, then the counter strategies draw attention themselves and the meta shifts yet again against them... while some other good strategies can operate under the surface by being solid but never drawing enough hate to become targets

The Obsidian Heresy believes that fire can be fought with fire. Most powerful plays can be fought with other powerful plays. We encourage the players to absorb the power plays from each other. Most strategies in the game can be absorbed via splashing, and with the use of "Support of the Clan" roles, big chunks can be absorbed.

The Obsidian Heresy believes that the solid foundations of the game must be protected. To protect those foundations, the Heresy maintains a list of banned cards. The list of banned cards must be short, and focused on protecting the fundamentals of the game. The decision to ban a card should have almost universal agreement from the community. To enforce the brevity of the list, and the universality of it, the ban list must always be 13 and only 13 cards. Any debate about a new card that should be banned, must also address which banned card should be freed. Why 13? First because it represents 1% of the card pool, second because the numbers pleases the mad obsidian spirits. There is no restricted list, and it will never be implemented.

The Obsidian Heresy believes that self-expression and the road to mastery are united in fun. The largest card pool and the enhanced variety in deckbuilding unlock each player to build and refine their style, bringing together plays that were never possible before. The wider playing field from diverse strategies, and the deeper tactical level caused by the 2x rule push play further into skill development as each board and then each meta becomes a puzzle. We encourage the players to play Obsidian matches in a best of 3 way.

Join the Heresy. Play Obsidian.

Summary

  • Max 2 copies of each card
  • Covert rules from Imperial/Jade. (e.g. 2 characters with covert can evade 2 different characters when attacking)
  • Attachment rules from Emerald. (e.g. each character can only have max 1 copy of each attachment, per attachment owner)
  • Rally works. When checking your card count, do not count the rally cards, neither for the minimum nor the maximum deck size.
  • 13 cards are banned. Everything else is free, no splash bans. Check the ban list here.