Earthbound Immortals: The Condor

As I announced yesterday, I will today focus on building a deck around an Earthbound Immortal.
Let me introcude you today's star of the show:

Wiraqocha Rasca was played by Rex Godwin in the series and is cosindered as the most powerful Earthbound Immortal. In the series, his effect allows you to skip your Battle Phase to decrease an opponets life points to 1.




Of course, this card would have been to strong if it would realy have gotten that effect in reality (ever killed an opponet with Sparks?)

So, we chose to play Wiraqocha Rasca. Let's first look at his stats....he's a Dark, so we can try running Allures in our deck. He's a winged beast, so we could tribute him for Icarus Attack if we're really desprate. He has 100 ATK and 100 DEF before his effect activates, so he won't be affacted by Bottomless Trap Hole and can be searched with Sangan. He's Level 10, so we need to tribute 2 Monsters to bring him up.
Now let's look at his effect:

There can only be 1 face-up "Earthbound Immortal" monster on the field. 
Would anyone try to summon 2 of those? o0

If there is no face-up Field Spell Card on the field, destroy this card.
Okay, so we need to find a fitting field spell for him.
Your opponent cannot select this card as an attack target.
Translated to player's language: No Honest or Kalut!
This card can attack your opponent directly.
Pretty decent.
When this card is Normal Summoned, return up to 3 cards you control to your Deck, except this card, and discard the same number of cards from your opponent's hand at random. This card gains 1000 ATK for each card discarded by this effect.

So it goes up to 3100, can not be affected by BTH, can not be attacked and can attack directly, while also limiting your opponet's options by stealing up to 3 cards in his hand.

Well,there's only one problem: We need to send three of our own cards bakc to our deck. We also just tributed two Monsters to summon Wiraqocha Rasca. So we have to give up major field control to gain hand advantage. Another problem is that we have to run a Field card. So let's just think...is there any Field Spell in this game that would work with Wiraqocha Rasca?

In fact, there is!

Black Garden gives us tokens we can tribute to summon Wiraqocha Rasca use for his effect. So Black Garden gives us a Field Spell that helps summoning him while not even touching his ATK! Remember, Black Garden only halfes the ATK when he's summoned. He will still get the full amount of ATK from it's effect!

So after finding a Field Spell that works with him, let's start building the deck:

2 Earthbound Immortal Wiraqocha Rasca

1 Sangan

3 Black Garden

2 Terraforming

1 Solemn Judgement

That's what I would add until now. Now,let's look at Wiraqocha Rasca's weaknesses:

While he can not be attacked and because of that doesn't have to fear Honest or Kalut, he is still affected by effects. DAD, Brionac, Monarchs, Gyzarus, Celestia and all thier friends will kick him off.

Noticed something? Most of these effects tartget. And what card very well prevents targeting effects?

Tributing a Plant to negate and destroy DAD, Gyzarus, Brionac and all those? No problem! As often proofed in the past, Black Garden also works with Tytannial very well. To have an easier way to access Tytannial, we can and should add 2 Lonefire Blossoms to our deck. Dandylion also brings more tribute fodder, while he can also be searechd with Lonefire Blossom and tributed for Tytannial's effect.

Now let's also add some staples like Call, Space Typhoon, TT,BTHs and Mirror Force. We won't play Storm, as killing our Field Spell is also killing our Immortal. 

2 Earthbound Immortal Wiraqocha Rasca

2 Tytannial, Princess of Camellias

2 Lonefire Blossom

1 Dandylion

1 Sangan

3 Black Garden

2 Terraforming

1 Brain Control

1 Mystical Space Typhoon


2 Bottomless Trap Hole

1 Solemn Judgement

1 Mirror Force

1 Torrential Tribute

1 Call of the Haunted

Until now, we have a very low numer of monsters, right?
As we want to get out our Black Garden as soon as possible, we need more speed in our deck, so we can add Morphing Jar and 2 Cyber Valleys. The last ones especialy work well with the Garden. For more speed, we can play Reckless Greed along with a pair of Mask of Darkness. Reckless Greed is a very good card when the Earthbound comes down. Sending back three cards is not a cost, so you can target your face down Greed, cahin them, and your opponet still has to discard for each Greed you targeted. As we now play 3 Flip-Effect monsters, we can add 2 Book of Moon. 2 Tomatos can get out our Sangan faster,while they are also searchable with Lonefire Blossom. As an additional target to summon for Tomato, we can also throw in Spirit Reaper,which can also buy us some time.
With now 8 Darks,we can also add Allures. We don't want to remove Wiraqocha Rasca for it, but I will still count it as target. Besides, did you notice all our Darks have below 1500 ATK? We can add Dark Eruption to reclycle them (even the Immortal!):

2 Earthbound Immortal Wiraqocha Rasca

2 Tytannial, Princess of Camellias

2 Lonefire Blossom

2 Mystic Tomato

2 Mask of Darkness

2 Cyber Valley

1 Morphing Jar

1 Dandylion

1 Sangan

3 Black Garden

2 Terraforming

2 Book of Moon

2 Dark Eruption

1 Brain Control

1 Mystical Space Typhoon




3 Reckless Greed
2 Bottomless Trap Hole

1 Solemn Judgement

1 Mirror Force

1 Torrential Tribute

1 Call of the Haunted

5 Slots left.

I think 8 Darks are enough to run Dark Armed Dragon, even if it will sometimes only have 1400 ATK, we still can use it's devastating effect. I also think 2 copies of Dark Bribe and one copy of Polinosis as additional possibility to counter opposing cards. (For OCG People: Just play 3 Starlight Roads). For the last slot, let's add one Mark of Rose to get additional tribute/Valley fodder.

So this is the final decklist:

2 Earthbound Immortal Wiraqocha Rasca

2 Tytannial, Princess of Camellias

2 Lonefire Blossom

2 Mystic Tomato

2 Mask of Darkness

2 Cyber Valley

1 Morphing Jar

1 Dandylion

1 Sangan

1 Dark Armed Dragon

3 Black Garden

2 Terraforming

2 Book of Moon

2 Dark Eruption

1 Brain Control

1 Mystical Space Typhoon
1 Mark of Rose


3 Reckless Greed
2 Bottomless Trap Hole
2 Dark Bribe
1 Polinosis

1 Solemn Judgement

1 Mirror Force

1 Torrential Tribute

1 Call of the Haunted

Like always, this deck was build while I wrote this article, so rate the deck an help me to make it better ;)

I think I will feature more of the Earthbound Immortals within my next articles.

Oh,and about my Tuner-Articles: I chose not to write any more of those, as I think everyone knows by himself which ones are good and which ones are not. Also, there are too many Level 2 or 3 Tuners out there,listing them all would be to much xD

The Champions: Norman Wilde "D-Flamvell-Synchro"

There were two events in Germany this weekend: Santas Christmas in Duisburg and Card Wars Vol. 5 in Zeitz. I attended in Duisburg with Zombies, but dropped at 1:3 . I Also got my first Featured Match there, but lost it because I'm dump xD.
Today, I will show you the deck that won the event in Zeitz:
It's Norman Wilde's D-Flamvell-Synchro:




3x Destiny Hero - Defender
2x Destiny Hero - Malicious
2x Cyber Valley
2x Flamvell Magician
2x Mystic Tomato
1x Elemental Hero Stratos
1x Summoner Monk
1x Plaguespreader Zombie
1x Flamvell Firedog
1x Dark Armed Dragon
1x Sangan


3x Destiny Draw
2x Allure of Darkness
1x Heavy Storm
1x Mind Control
1x Brain Control
1x Gold Sarcophagus
1x Lightning Vortex
1x Rekindling
1x Reinforcement of the Army


3x Skill Drain
2x Bottomless Trap Hole
1x Mirror Force
1x Torrential Tribute
1x Trap Dustshoot
1x Phoenix Wing Wind Blast
1x Solemn Judgment
1x Trap Stun


When you look at this decklist,you will first think that this is an ordinary Skill Drain Synchro,but when you look closer, you will see that Norman replaced the far outdatet Rose with Flamvell Magician and added one copy of Flamvell Firedog and one copy of Rekindling.
Those changes made a major diffenrence I how the deck works. First, It has more OTK potential. Rekindling can bring up 2 level 8 Synchros all by itself if you already control a levle 4 monster (a fact that some Lightsworn players also tried to use). This deck can bring all 3 Flamvells to the graveyard very easy, as you can search the Magicians with the Firedog, Sangan and Summoner Monk (last also works on Firedog if you're realy desperate). You can see what explosive power lies in this deck in Norman's Top 16 Featured Match (for the less of you who don't understand German, he ended the first game with 3 Colossals and a Stardust Dragon on his field). He can also get to his one copy of Rekindling with Gold Sarcrophargus. A single Trap Stun in his deck let's him bring his own effects even if he's under the effect of Skill Drain, while it can also shut down most Meta-Beats for one whole turn (in which you should usualy be able to OTK or at least gain major control over the game).
Norman also chose to play the full three copys of Skill Drain. That first seemes wierd in a format where Zombies are getting stronger and stronger, but if you think about it, what are the best cards in a Zombie-Deck right now?

• Deep Sea Diva
• Tragoedia
• Caius
• Brionac

Now, combine these cards with Skill Drain. Diva becomes a single tuner. Tragoedia turns into a 0 ATK monster. Caius can't remove anything. Brionac is still able to discard, but won't be able to break your defense with his effect. This is why I think Skill Drain realy hurts Zombies more than most people expect.
As I don't think the rest of the deck realy needs to be explained, I will now shortly focus on his Sidedeck:




3x D.D. Survivor
2x Legendary Jujitsu Master


3x Dimensional Fissure
1x Lightning Vortex
1x Mystical Space Typhoon


2x Royal Oppression
2x Trap Hole
1x Trap Stun


His side gives him the possibility to change his strategy completely. He can change to (Skill-Drain-)Dimensional-Synchro or Oppression-Synchro if he likes. This gives him an even better matchup against Lightsworns, Gladiators and Zombies.
I think the weakest point in this deck realy is the Blackwing matchup, especialy if you meet a deck with triple Icarus. You only have one lonely Solemn and your Stardust Dragon (which will mostly be killed by Kalut) to protect you backrow, while you will also have to deal with their maindecked Oppressions. He could add more negation to his dekc by adding Flamvell Counter, but he realy needs all his Flamvells in his graveyard, so this would be a bad choice. He instead added a second copy of Trap Stun to his side, so he would be able to deal with the black birdie's tricks.


To end this article, I would like to greet Piyal Peiris, who again failed in the finals in Duisburg. I also want to say something to who-ever stole my teammate's deck before his Top 8 Match: I hope you someday see yourself how pathetic you are.


In my next article, I will show you some attempts to play Earthbound Immortals!

Tournament Report Gießen 6th December

Hey guys
After a long time without real posting, I'm back here with a tournament report of yesterday's PS3 event in Gießen.

=================================================================
Preparations:
=================================================================

At first, I wanted to play Lightsworns so badly. There only was one problem: I didn't have JDs, I can't afford to buy them at the moment, and nobody could borrow them. So I first thought I had to play my Blackwing deck, but when I saw Dale Bellido presenting his brother's Zombies on his YouTube channel, I thought I could also try this, as I didn't want to play Blackwing any more. I made some modifications in the sidedeck and kicked Gorz from the main for the second Tragodia, so this is what I played:

Monsters:

2 Mystic Tomato
2 Pyramid Turtle
2 Goblin Zombie
2 Mezuki
2 Caius the Shadow Monarch
2 Krebons
2 Tragoedia
1 Dark Armed Dragon
1 Sangan
1 Plaguespread Zombie
1 Zombie Master
1 Spirit Reaper
1 Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer

Spells:

2 Allure of Darkness
2 Burial from a Different Dimension
1 Heavy Storm
1 Mystical Space Typhoon
1 Emergency Teleport
1 Brain Control
1 Lightning Vortex
1 Gold Sarcophagus
1 Book of Moon
1 My Body as a Shield
1 Creature Swap

Traps:

2 Bottomless Trap Hole
1 Torrential Tribute
1 Mirror Force
1 Solemn Judgment
1 Call of the Haunted
1 Dust Tornado
1 Phoenix Wing Wind Blast

Side Deck:

1 Kycoo the ghost Destroyer
2 Legendary Jujitsu Master
1 Breaker the Magical Warrior
1 D.D. Crow
1 Smashing Ground
3 Light-Imprisoning Mirror
2 Trap Hole
2 Dust Tornado
1 Caius the Shadow Monarch
1 Grave Robber

====================================================================
The Journey:
====================================================================

We started of at 8 o'clock in the morning, and went all the way to Gießen (2,5 hours) by car.
As we arrived at the location at 10:30 we saw it wasn't opened yet, and searched for a shop were we could buy something to breakfast. When we retunred we still had to wait for 10 minutes, while other people like Michel Grüner and Soner Güngör also arrived.
I also got the last cards I needed for my deck, so I was ready to start.

====================================================================
Round 1:
vs. Sascha Senne (Zombiesworn) (1-2) ====================================================================
I build up constant advantage in the first game, but he topdecked JD.
In the second game, I make the right reads and remove 1 Goblinzombie and 1 Ryko with Caius. The third game was quite depressing. I opened with a face-down Sangan, but he summoned his side-decked Thuner King (lol!). I lose from there on.

====================================================================
Round 2:
vs. Roland Gress (Blackwing) (2-1) ====================================================================

I first thought this would be a joke when I read the parings. I get a depressing lose in the first round just to face our national champion?
In fact, I could do like nothing in teh first game, he had total control. The second game was quite balanced, but I could manage to make a big move for game thanks to Tragodia. I took his Goyo Guardian with her effect and took control over the game.
The third game was an easy one for me, I had the perfect answer to all of his cards.
He opened with Bora and 3 backrow cards, I lured out his Icarus by setting Goblinzombie and a random spell or trapcard. He plays Blizzard to brign back his Bora and attacks, I summon Tragodia. He endes after setting one more back row card. I first play Vortex,discarding the Mezuki I searched with Goblin Zombie to make him play Solemn, then I tributed Tragodia for Caius. He activates Shadow-Imprisoning Mirror, I chain MST. He blocked my attackwith mirror force, but didn't draw anything, so he could only attack with Bora. I still had Krebons in hand and Mezuki and Goblinzombie in my graveyard, I think you can imagine the rest....


====================================================================
Round 3:
vs. Thorsten Kattler (Lightsworn) (2-1) ====================================================================

This match also was a quite easy run. I hit Necro Gradnas and Rykos with Caius and he had to protect his Lumina with Honest when I attacked with Pyramid Trutle, Tomato or Goblin Zombie. My maindecked Kycoo also blocked his 2 Gardnas that would have protected him in the first game. Main Kycoo,he roxx!

====================================================================
Round 4:
vs. Joshua Gielessen (Twilight) (2-1) ====================================================================

I hate it to face teammates that early in a tournament. I don't know how the first game proceeded, but I know I lost it. In game two, he decked himself out because I had Tragodia to stop his OTK, and in the third game I activate Call for Kycoo at the end of his turn while he had 2 Gardnas in his grave...

====================================================================
Round 5:
vs. Jörn Schmidt (Lightsworn) (1-2) ====================================================================

Lost to Tempest Magician.....don't remember the rest of the match....

====================================================================
Round 6:
vs. Julian Gaitzsch (Antimeta) (2-0) ====================================================================

When I saw his Thunder King, I thought this one was over,but in fact, this was a quite easy match. As he didn't paly Dimensional Fissures, I could bring out big monsters with my Turtles (Mezuki and Zombiemaster can realy be big ones if your oppenet does only play Thunder Kings to get them off the field). After baording my third Caius, Trap Holes and Dust Tronados, he didn't stand a chance.

====================================================================
Top 16:
vs. Christopher Wenge (Gadgets) (2-0) ====================================================================

I think this was the easiest match of the whole day. Green Gadget? Go for double kill with Tomato. Yellow Gadget? Go for double kill with Pyramid Turtle. My maindecked Dust Tornado and Vortex also were a sake for this match.

====================================================================
Top 16:
vs. Thorsten Hutzl (Zombies) (2-0) ====================================================================

This would be my first mirror match today!
Whizzy already cangratulated me for reaching the Semifinals before this match xD
Thorsten was playing Reckless Greed and flipped two of them in his second turn,so he had 9 cards in hand....which were all blocked by my maindecked Kycoo xD
I the second game, I build up control with Caius (I consider maining the third one, he's god in the mirror).

====================================================================
Top 4:
vs. Piyal Peiris (Anti) (2-1) ====================================================================
This was the best match of this tournament. I lost the first game as he did +4 with Morphing Jar, but the second and third game were two of the most intense games I ever played. The second game was balanced, but I could manage to go for card advantage with Caius plays. The third game was also very intense, but a Storm from my backrow on his full backfield without any countertrap hit him too hard.

====================================================================
Finals:
vs. Michel Grüner (Zombies) ====================================================================

When I arrived at the table, he offered me a pricesplit. We arranged that he would get the PS3, while I would get 100 Euros and two Mezukis along with 10 Turbo Packs from him. I pulled JD and Doomcalibur out of those, so we both went home with a big plus in our bags.


====================================================================
Conclusion:
====================================================================

On our way home, I invited my three mates, who waited for me for about 7 hours, to a meal at McDonalds. We arrived at my house at about midnight, and I went to bed instantly as I was looking forward to a History classtest today....
In the end, I was quite happy I didn't play Lightsworn. I think I would never have made it that far with them...