Discussion: V5 Format in Large Tournaments and Crypt Contesting.

Hello everyone, Tazz here. I’ve been a VTES player in Chile since 1998 (yes, old school), creator of @anarch.free.press, and the 2024 National Champion.

I wanted to share an opinion and spark a discussion regarding the V5 format in large tournaments (25+ players).

For those unfamiliar, V5 is a limited format allowing only 5th Edition precons, New Bloods, and select promo cards. Discussing this with fellow players, we’ve realized that the V5 metagame feels somewhat constricted. We consistently see the same decks: Gangrel, Hecata, Malkavian, Brujah, Banu Haqim, and Toreador. It is generally known that competitive crypt options are very narrow; there is often only one "optimal" crypt lineup per clan, leaving little room for diverse deck building.

This month in Chile, we are hosting "Lilith's Call" a V5 tournament with over 30 participants. In our discussions, we talked about the high probability of Crypt Contesting. I know contesting is part of the game, but it raised some questions:

A "No Contest" Rule: There was talk of implementing a house rule for "No Contest" on crypt cards. Do you think this would be a good solution for this specific format?

Player Experience: Does contesting actually bother you in limited formats like this, or is it just part of the strategy?

Looking forward to your thoughts!