Problems with Agency:

Structural

1) Utter lack of 2-1s in the low cost bracket (the closest thing is Government Exorcist, admittedly one of the top efficient characters in the game).

2) Low displacement ability due to lack of terror (under usual circumstances can displace only 1 character per story without using additional cards by winning the C struggle) hinders rush.

These two points exacerbate each other to the situation where, if one player uses agency, he just keeps losing steam in prolonged games.

Situational

3) Current metagame is chockfull of cards which hose the top agency choices really well.

Good things in Agency:

1) Excellent low cost character selection

2) Great metagame tools: there are few points during the year when current cardpool almost dictate to use agency. Too bad that by the time big tourneys roll around it becomes always a second string choice.

One thing we have to remember is that this game is always in flux. Some factions will be at the top, others will be at the bottom. For the first 2 years of LCG Agency was undeniably the top overall faction. By year 3, it was regulated to mid-range, possibly top end of the mid-range. Now, it’s towards the bottom.

Agency’s strength was its’ versatility in that could deal with nearly any threat, rather inefficiently at times but capable none the less. Now, it’s that same inefficiency is what is bringing it down. To further explain, very few of Agency’s cards aren’t 1 for 1+. Aka, my opponent loses/I get 1 card for 1 or more of my cards. Take “A Small Price to Pay.” This was/is a staple for Agency. I have to drain 1 for it, send one of my guys insane (or wound) to deal just 1 wound (or send one guy insane). While it is cheap, it’s not efficient in terms of card advantage. Based on today’s speed, just being cheap isn’t enough anymore to make up for its’ inefficiency.

The above is common throughout Agency’s card pool.

Now, as far as my concern for it at worlds. 1) I’m not the only person to figure out than Agency’s versatility isn’t worth as much as it used to be. So, I predicted that I was unlikely to see any Agency decks. 2) There are, maybe, a handful cards that are even a threat to my deck and they all do a poor job of actually stopping the deck I played. 3) My guys were bigger, I was playing them much faster, and I had answers for the problem cards.

Agency was an easier matchup for the deck I used.  Simple as that. Arguably… in terms of mono-matchups, it was probably my easiest matchup.

Having said all of that. Agency is still very much a threat. It still has answers to many situations and is still competitive. It isn’t top dog anymore, but that doesn’t mean it can’t win.