Cybernetic Revolution (CRV) in Goat Format

When we're talking about how to play a Yu-Gi-Oh! format that's over 14 years old, there are naturally a lot of questions that come up. One of them is whether or not Cybernetic Revolution (CRV) should be allowed as part of Goat Format. We will explain why the Goat Format community has chosen to play without Cybernetic Revolution (CRV) in its card pool.

The Need to Pick One Standard for Goat Format

In the grand scheme of gaming, Goat Format is a small community. We want to bring people together under one standard rather than divide them up. If there are two or three different rulesets that Goat Format players are playing by, this does a lot more harm to the community than good.

The Goat Format community has almost universally decided to play under the 2005 Nationals/SJC Seattle/SJC Indianapolis standard, under which The Lost Millennium (TLM) was legal but Cybernetic Revolution (CRV) and Exarion Universe were not legal. Note that, historically speaking, there was no time period in which Exarion Universe was legal for play but Cybernetic Revolution (CRV) was not legal for play. To see the full list of cards that are legal in Goat Format under this standard, check out our card pool.
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Historical Reasons for Barring CRV in Goat Format

The time period that is considered to be "Goat Format" is from around mid-May 2005 (when the battle position ruling was changed) until September 30, 2005, when the next forbidden/limited list brought an end to Goat Format. Cybernetic Revolution (CRV) became legal on September 1, 2005. This means that it was legal for only about 22% of the time that was considered to be "Goat Format."

Importantly, it was legal for one premiere event in Goat Format, SJC Boston. Despite being legal, cards from Cybernetic Revolution (CRV) were extremely under-explored and sparsely used at the event. This means that although Cybernetic Revolution (CRV) was technically part of Goat Format for a period of time, the historical Goat Format never got the full Cybernetic Revolution (CRV) experience. In hindsight testing, some of the cards from Cybernetic Revolution were absolutely game-breaking and warp the format beyond what is desirable.
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Power-Level Reasons for Barring CRV in Goat Format

Goat Format already allows many powerful cards like the trinity (Pot of Greed, Graceful Charity, Delinquent Dou) and decks that can kill as early as turn 1 or 2 like Reasoning Gate Combo. Adding Cybernetic Revolution into the mix would've introduced way too many powerful combo cards that would've certainly turned Goat Format into one in which fast aggro and combo decks were the majority of the field, which goes against the reasons that most players enjoy the format.
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Cyber Dragon

From the time of its release until more than two years later, Cyber Dragon was one of the most widely hated cards throughout Yu-Gi-Oh!'s history. As a level 5, light, machine monster with 2100 attack, Cyber Dragon completely redefines the format. Did we mention that 3 Limiter Removal is legal in Goat Format?
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Cyber Twin Dragon

With Metamorphosis and Cyber-Stein, Cyber Twin Dragon enables a slew of OTKs. Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning with Metamorphosis is the most common way to summon it, and turning Black Luster Soldier into an even more powerful card is not a good thing. In addition, it turns Cyber-Stein into 6300 points of damage, which is almost lethal.
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Cyber End Dragon

Yep, it's another Cyber Dragon card. With 4000 points of piecing damage, Cyber End Dragon turns Cyber-Stein from a low-tier OTK deck into a disgustingly consistent one (as seen in 2006). It and Twin even allow for Cyber-Stein to be teched into a normal deck as a 1-of for random OTKs. And yes, both 3 Giant Trunade and 3 Limiter Removal are legal in Goat Format.
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D.D.M. - Different Dimension Master

D.D.M. - Different Dimension Master seems innocuous, but it's a huge boost to Reasoning Gate Combo (as are the other cards on this list). This is because it's a level 5 light monster that can be used to abuse the banished pile (specifically Dark Magician of Chaos) even more than it is already abused.
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Magical Explosion

Magical Explosion is one of the most notorious OTK cards in Yu-Gi-Oh!'s history, which led it to eventually becoming limited in the TCG and banned in the OCG. In Goat Format, Magical Explosion could be used with Reasoning and Monster Gate to deal more than 6000 damage per Magical Explosion. This is not the kind of game that most people want to play.
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In Summary

Due to the history of the format and the inherent power within Cybernetic Revolution (CRV), our standard and the general status quo is to not allow Cybernetic Revolution (and hence also Exarion Universe) to be used in Goat Format. You are feel free to make your own choice and play the format as you and your friends most enjoy it. However, you should be aware that these cards are not what most people think of when they say "Goat Format." This article is not intended to spark a debate on legality but rather to inform and educate people on why Goat Format is played how it is.