One Drop’s stuff is so reliably great, but there are still outliers one way or the other. If you had to rank the entire One Drop catalog, what order would you put them in… and what would you say is their best? Here’s the full history of releases in chronological order:
2007 - 2009
Project (2007)
MM Project (2008)
M1 (2008)
Project 2 (2009)
Dingo (undersized, 2009)
2010
Sovereign (Ti)
Y Factor
MM Next
54
2011
Wooly MM
Code 1
Dietz
CafeRacer (undersized)
Dang
Burnside
2012
Code 2 (2012)
Cascade (2012)
2013
Yelets
Sakura SE
Summit
Chik!
Rally (plastic)
Format:C
2014
Valor
T1
Gradient
Markmont Classic
Summit
2015
Downbeat
Citizen (Ti)
Rebirth
Terrarian
Vanguard
2016
Gauntlet
Top Deck
Kuntosh
Cabal (Delrin)
Marquis
Prescription
Kraken
2017
Kuntosh 5000QV
Mantis
Parlay
Dang2
Deep State
2018
SK
Overture
VTWO
Eclipse
2019
Fire Devil
(I excluded benchmarks here.)
I have not tried all these but I’ve tried a lot. Much of their 2010 and earlier stuff I have definitely not picked up, though I do have Cascade, Summit, Code 2, Dang1, 54. Of this list, I’d pick a top “clearly their best releases” as follows… not in any particular order, mind you:
MC aka MMC (2014)
Kuntosh / QV (2016/2017)
Top Deck (2016)
Terrarian (2015)
Deep State (2017)
I feel like quite a number of earlier models are clearly subsumed by later designs which took those concepts and unambiguously improved on them, like Dang → Dang 2, Code 2 → Terrarian, Cascade → Top Deck, Format C → VTWO for example.
As for the 2018 and 2019 releases … I dunno. I am not feeling Overture, Eclipse is fun but not exactly essential, SK is … well, it’s the SK… I might venture that VTWO could eventually be considered one of their best? I avoided this one because I find plain Vs kinda boring but I’ve heard very good things from a lot of folks.
I will admit also kinda have a grudge against releases that don’t support the Side Effects system. I frickin’ love Side Effects both from an aesthetic and technical standpoint.
You’ll note that zero 2018 releases supported side effects and neither does the first release of 2019.
I haven’t played a ton of their yo-yos, but these are absolutely rock-solid designs and are arguably some of the best in the market. Legendary, if you will
Cabal and Prescription are honorable mentions.
I’d still like to try a Rebirth, since it’s basically the latest and possibly final model in the project lineup. Seems like they really got that design dialed in nice and tight.
I don’t think there can be a definitive order seeing as it is based on preference. I only have 6 one drops, and of those my favorite is definitely the Overture. Second being Kuntosh. As of late, I don’t care for the Terrarian at all, aside from it looking really, really cool.
I think I would love the Parlay and Markmont Classic if I get my hands on one someday tho.
Terrarian is an absolute sales monster though. It literally changed the game, thanks to its association with er… the actual Terrarian game. More than 55 different colorways were released! I also think it’s also an outstanding W shape design.
I thought the VTWO was the updated Valor (both being Kiss signatures). Is this not true? The Format:C has yet to be subsumed since there is no other pure W-shaped yoyo being made by them at this time (that I’m aware of).
I believe I have a healthy One Drop collection now. Gradient, Parlay, Top Deck (coming tomorrow), VTWO, Kuntosh, Markmknt Classic, Deep State, 2016 Benchmark V and O. I have considered the Terrarian. However, I thought it was cery similar to the Kuntosh. How do they compare, is there a benefit to having both?
AND it’s another non side effects yo-yo … they still haven’t released a single side effects compatible yo-yo in 2018 or 2019, to date. I think that 7075 terrarian will be one though, and that should be out soon-ish… but eh, it’s a QV style clone of the terrarian, not really a new yo-yo.
and neither does the first release of 2019.
… they still haven’t released a single side effects compatible yo-yo in 2018 or 2019, to date. I think that 7075 terrarian will be one though, and that should be out soon-ish… but eh, it’s a QV style clone of the terrarian, not really a new yo-yo.