Without a doubt Nisekoi is sitting as one of the best sets to play right now. With how well Nisekoi can close out games, even when they are behind, players have to learn to deal with it’s crazy end game and consistency rate it has right now. We will be exploring some of the few ways Nisekoi looses out and a few of it’s bad match-ups.

Exploring the Flaws

Though Nisekoi in some ways seems like this unbeatable monster right now, there are a few things most meta builds have problems with. The deck’s level 0 and 1 game can be extremely lack luster and can cause a lot of problems for them. Most Nisekoi decks set up their level 0 game as utility with ways to keep up hand advantage. Due to this, depending on the build, these decks have problems sitting at level 0 for too long. You can slowly build some advantage or even play a couple cards in front at 0 and swing away. If they cancel too much, you will be just gaining advantage each turn. Though this is more of a luck of the draw type of situations, it’s good to at least be able to recognize this. What really causes problems is their level 1 game.

One of the reasons Nisekoi goes for the 1/0 6K clock encore at level 1 is handsize. Nisekoi is the type of set that needs to keep it;s hand size at a decent level between 5-6 cards at the start of attack step so it can transition well into it’s end game. With this in mind you can abuse their level 1 game by having a decent power level 1 game (7.5K-9.5K). this causes your opponent to consistently clock encore or run in their characters to maintain some kind of field and handsize. Though these decks run the 1/1 3K counter pendent to try to compinsate for their lack of power on defense. Not only does a power level 1 game work in your favor it also causes their 1/0 Marika Climax Combo to fail miserably at level 1. What makes this card such a strong card is that it keeps your handsize up while letting you play a Climax. Being able to salvage a character of your choice to set up your later game is a strong ability to have at level 1.

Though having a strong level 1 game can help you out a lot in this match up, it does let the Nisekoi player have the option of getting to level 2 sooner for their Early Onidera game to come out and cause problems for you. Even if you push them a head they can swing it around with being able to play 2-3 Level 3s at level 2 to have a wall of 2 soul beaters to catch up on the damage front. The only thing that can help here is you can counter their level 3s and cause them to lose out on having their early level 3 beater.

When putting it down it does feel like you’re hopeless when it comes to dealing with the meta build on the field. Nisekoi does run a lot less healers than normal (around 2-3 normally) so at least when you get damage in you do know it will most likely stick. Heading into level 1 if the Nisekoi player doesn’t get a pendent off and you notice 2-3 pendents in the waiting room, You might want to try to push them to an early level 3 to cause stock problems for them. Stock is something Nisekoi likes to use freely and each turn they would ideally like to have at least 4 stock to play with, especially heading into their level 3 game.

Match ups

There are a few match-ups for Nisekoi that can be tough for them to close out a game either due to an ability or card effect. These sets are Little Busters!, DC, and Kantai Collection. Though there might be more tough match ups for Nisekoi I’m just going to lightly touch on some of the cards and sets for this section.

Right now these series are some of the tougher sets for this match up while at the same time being a tier 1 deck right now. These sets carry a lot of strong abilities while carrying a card that counters the end game for Nisekoi very hard.

Money makes all problems go away!

The ability to give your opponent’s character the ability to be unable to deal player damage puts a big hamper on Nisekoi’s end game plan. Yes they are able to get one burn off, but they are now unable to restand and deal and damage to you. this will usually buy you at least 1 turn to end them or delay their game plan. Sometimes it could be in your favor to only counter the 2nd time after they have paid the cost to restand Marika so they lose out on 2 stock and 3 cards, though it’s highly unlikely for this to be an optimal play.

On top of that these sets either have a very strong way to set up their game plan, for example Little Busters! right now has one of the best toolbox games in my opinion. Their set has a decent amount of good abilities and cards that are worth searching out while they have a level 0 searcher that finds level 1 and lower, but also they have a great level 1 Climax combo that searches out level 2 and higher characters letting them set up their end game, which can be one of the more aggressive end games available right now compared to Nisekoi.

End game requiring on reverse effects, Nisekoi is highly susceptible to these type of enders, like clock shooters, or burn on reverse, or even their own Marika. Due to how tight packed the deck can be, it’s hard for them to fit any real counters into the deck. IF you’re hitting over 15K you really have no fear of them beating you out, especially if they already have a few of the pendent counters in memory.

Well, hopefully some of this helped you guys out having trouble dealing with this set in tournament play. I will be surprised if this set doesn’t get hit whenever the next ban list gets released. Unless Bushiroad is planning to push the power creep up to the next level. Expect sets coming out in the future to have some silly abilities or game changing effects.

Also be on the look out for a new tier list coming out soon. I’ll be working on one and releasing it probably within a week or 2 from this post.