The Shining Darkness Previews

I just realized that it's Sneak this weekend, so it would have been time to write my previews. I just forgot about that the last two days,and when I checked the spoiler today I saw there is NO fu**ing card that Konami didn't review yet. As I don't want to copy their reviews, I won't do any preview this week. But be prepared for a long Nationals report in about 2 weeks and a Qualifier Report by one of my team-mates ;)

Cat-Synchro: Best Deck for Nationals?

Just a month after the new banend list, the format seems to be clear (at least until Shining Darkness will be released): Balckwings, Machina Gadgets and Cat Synchro seems to be the best decks, with Cat Synchro at the lead for many players.
I also played Cat Synchro at many events now, and I want to show you why I don't think it will be as dominant as many people think.
At first,let's outline the facts that make this dekc so strong:
- Easy access to Arcanite Magician, which is one of the most powerfull Synchros ever released.
- Fast Advantage genration with floaters like Ryko and Spy
- Ability to disturb your opponets hand with Airbellum

Now, let's look at the different matchups:

Blackwing:
Blackwing is quite simple to counter. Just stop the normal summon, and they die. They also can't get over most of our Flipp-monsters without wasting a Kalut. Last but not least: Caius makes them cry.

Machina Gadget:
Good, I hate this deck. Machian fortress is a f***ing beast. Arcanite? Lose one Card. Caius? Lose one Card. The only way to deal with this guy without taking a loss of card advantage is Spell an Trap Removal. Still, as we main Cyber Dragons, and their Gadgets and Geaframes can't get over our Hamsters and Spys, this should be an easy machtup.

So we have positive Matchups against both other dimonant decks. Where's the problem?
The worst Matchup is in fact the mirror match.

I tested many different Cat Builds, and the result in the Mirror didn't change: It keept 50:50. This is quite simple to explain: The one who gets the first turn is the one who wins.
If you start and have an avarage hand you will be bale to set Hamster, Ryko, Spy or whatever first, and you will be the one to take advantage trought thier effects first. Think about it:
Ryko kills the set monster your opponet started with. Spy gets Descendant and kill the monster he set. Hamster doesn't kill the monster immediatly, but it's a plus 1 and cna be tributed for Caius, which also kills your opponets monster.

Conclusion: Are you realing willing to enter your Nationals with a deck that loses 50% of the mirror matches because you won't start? I think I won't, how about you?


 

Lightsworns in the next format

As I announced some days ago, I will deal with Lightsworns in the March 2010 Format today.

To start,let's see how our deck looks now:

1 Plaguespreader Zombie
2 Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress
2 Judgment Dragon
1 Garoth, Lightsworn Warrior
1 Aurkus, Lightsworn Druid
1 Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter
1 Jain, Lightsworn Paladin
1 Ehren, Lightsworn Monk
1 Archlord Kristya 
3 Honest
3 Celestia, Lightsworn Angel
3 Wulf, Lightsworn Beast
3 Necro Gardna
3 Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner

1 Brain Control
1 Gold Sarcophagus
1 Mystical Space
Typhoon
1 Heavy Storm
3 Solar Recharge
3 Charge of the Light Brigade

1 Mirror Force
2 Beckoning Light
1 Torrential Tribute
1 Royal Oppression


(Stephen Silverman, Shoen Jump LA Winner)


Even if all of you should know, I will quickly  summarize what functions of the cards hit by the list:

Necro Gardna: Protect our monsters and stop OTKs

Honest: Protect our monsters and remove opponets problem monsters like Stardust Dragon or Heraklinos.

Lumina: Swarming

Charge: Get the key Lightsworns from our deck as well as mill some cards,mostly used for Lumina +Garoth opening

Okay, we lose protection and speed.I think we don't realy need to replace the "stop OTKs" function of Necro Gardna. For protection, there is an even better possbility:

Klick for free Judgment Dragon

Now,why is this card even better?
Simple: Blackwings will be a big pick in the next format, and as we lost a Honest and 2 Necor Gardnas, we are more vunerable to Kalut. Shield Warrior is removed when your monster would be destroyed. This means You can just attakc into a small Blackwing, and if you opponet drops Kalut, you just remove Shield Warrior. Yes, you can do this even during your own Battle Phase.
Shield Warrior only has 2 big disadvantages: It doesn't stop Gladiators from tagging out, and you need a monster to use it. Even though, I still think that it will be a good replacement for the 2 missing Gardnas.

Now, the factor of speed:

To repalce 2 Charges, we play Rota and Sarcopharg. Rota can sreach for Garoth, Jain, Ehren, Necro Gradna and Shield Warrior (the latest 2 for discard costs), while Sarcopharg gets us our JDs or Beckoning Lights, or even the now-limited Charge of the Light  Brigade.
To bring some additional milling effects, we can add Card Trooper.

Now,this would be my list for Lightsworns from monday:

3x Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter
2x Judgment Dragon
2x Celestia, Lightsworn Angel
2x Wulf, Lightsworn Beast
2x Honest
2x Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress
2x Shield Warrior

1x Jain, Lightsworn Paladin

1x Garoth, Lightsworn Warrior
1x Ehren, Lightsworn Monk
1x Plaguespreader Zombie
1x Aurkus, Lightsworn Druid

1x Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner
1x Necro Gardna

3x Solar Recharge
2x Gold Sarcophagus
1x Smashing Ground
1x Foolish Burial
1x Pot of Avarice
1x Heavy Storm
1x Reinforcement of the Army
1x Mystical Space Typhoon
1x Charge of the Light Brigade



3x Threatening Roar
2x Beckoning Light
1x Mirror Force
1x Torrential Tribute


Feel free to rate ;)

The Champions: Andrew Tan - WTF Gladi

I just remebered that there was the UkayPro Championship this weekend, and checked The Irish Duelist for the couverage. My first article to read was the Final Featured Match.
I was realy happy when I saw Gladiators against Blackwings as both aren't considered as top-decks at the moment. Both palyers made some creative choices in their decks, the Blackwing player ran Gorz, and the Gladiator player played this:

Monsters: 14
3 Gladiator Beast Laquari
3 Gladiator Beast Andal
1 Gladiator Beast Equeste
1 Gladiator Beast Bestiari
1 Gladiator Beast Murmillo
3 D.D. Warrior Lady
1 Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer
1 Neo-Spacian Grand Mole

Spells: 11
1 Smashing Ground
1 Mystical Space Typhoon
1 My Body as a Shield
2 Book of Moon
3 Gladiator Proving Ground
3 Dimensional Fissure

Traps: 15
1 Solemn Judgment
1 Mirror Force
2 Dimensional Prison
2 Bottomless Trap Hole
3 Gladiator Beast War Chariot
3 Dark Bribe
3 Royal Oppression




Extra Deck: 15
3 Gladiator Beast Gyzarus
3 Gladiator Beast Heraklinos
1 Ally of Justice Catastor
1 Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier
1 Thought Ruler Archfiend
1 Black Rose Dragon
1 Goyo Guardian
1 Colossal Fighter
1 Stardust Dragon
1 Red Dragon Archfiend
1 Magical Android

Side Deck: 15
3 Breaker the Magical Warrior
2 Zombyra the Dark
1 Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer
1 My Body as a Shield
1 Lightning Vortex
1 Heavy Storm
3 Compulsory Evacuation Device
2 Trap Hole
1 Torrential Tribute

My first thought when I saw this Deck was "What the f*** is this?"
Ultimately, I called it "WTF Gladiators" because "Dimensional-Royal-Oppression-Gladiator-Beasts" was to long for my taste xD

The first thing you see when you look at this decklist is 3 Laquai along with 3 Gladiator Beast Andal



Andal is quite simple to explain: It is the biggest Gladiator out there. It will run over every other Level 4 Monster out there without beeing summoned by an effect.

After some 0-8-15 bla, you read " 3 D.D. Warrior Lady"


This is the realy most inovative choice I saw in this deck. DDWL just takes out every bigger problem you could have.

The Kycco and the Mole are quite obvisous choices, Kycco can kill Lightsworns on it's own, and Mole will take care of your opponets Synchros.

In the spell Lineup,you can see that Tan choose to add Dimensional Fissures. This is also a more obvisious choice, as this card also disturbes the top 2 decks.
The last realy inovation is also the last card on the list: 3 Royal Oppression.
This card makes Andal's 1900 ATK realy worthful. If you just put down Laquari and D-Fissure /Oppression, there are still soem monsters that can run over your Gladiator and leave you without defense. If you put down Andal, there is only one single monster that can destroy your Gladiator by attacking: Jain.
If you can setup with one of your 2 anti-meta cards, a strogn Gladiator and a Chariot, your opponet will be in a realy close position if he wants to beat you.
Sounds like a rare opening?
You play 3 Laquari, 3 Andal and 3 Proing Ground
You play 3 Dimensional Fissures and 3 Royal Oppressions.
As we know from the "Ten Numbers To Make You A Better Duelist" article by Jason Grabher-Meyer, the chance to open with a large Gladiator and one of your Metakillers is realy high (65%), abou 2 of 3 games. The same article says that the chance to open with one copy of a card we play 3 copies of is 39%, about 2 of 5 games.

Basicly,this means you open with a big Gladiator, a Metakiller and a Chariot about once each two matches in you first 6 cards. The probability of having it in the first 7 or 8 cards is much higher, I would guess about 2 of 3 games.

I was looking forward to see more inovation in Tan's side, but the only think that made me think "What the f***" were the 2 copies of Zombyra.
Am I think only one out here who realy has absolutely no idea what this card is useful for? =(

The Infernity Hype

As you should all know, The Shining Darkness will bring a HUGE push for the Infernity Archtype.
For all of you who didn't see the cards yet, check the article on YugiWiki or the following Videos:

Machina Gadgets VS Infernities - Game 1

Machina Gadgets VS Infernities - Game 2
Machina Gadgets VS Infernities - Game 3

Handless Combo

Since those Videos were published, there was a big hype around the Infernity Monsters:

Konami said the would be "sure to be the next big thing", many people said they would be the no1 pick for the next format, and Infernity Archfiend rised up to 25$ per card on eBay.

Today, I want to show you why Infernitys will NOT be as overpowered as many people think they would.

Let's just analyse the combo:

When you have no cards in your hand, you special summon Infernity Archfiend, then you search your deck for Infernity Gun. You play Infernity Gun and send it to the Gaveyard to Special Summon up to 2 Infernities from your Gaveyard, one of them is Infernity Archfiend, so you can start all over again.

Now, the red written points are the points where you can destroy the whole setup.

• You need to have an empty hand. This is a VERY high risk. If you opponet can stop you, you will have to rely on topdecking.

• The whole Combo is all about Special Summoning. Oppression, Pachy, Vanity and all their friends kick your ass.

• You search your deck for the Gun...Thunder King doesn't like that ;)

• Your Infernity Gun can be destroyed by MST, Dust Tornado and all those things before you can send it to the Graveyard.

• You have to send the Gun to the Graveyard. Cosmos and Banisher kicks your ass.

• You target an Archfiend in your Graveyard. D.D. Crow kicks your ass.

•  You want to do Synchro Summons to kill your opponet. Book of Moon kicks...you know...

•  If you should be able to bring it up to here, you can still be stopped by Battle Fader, Gorz and Tragoedia (In the OCG area,there's Trishula to get around those, guess why some people call it Trishula-OTK)

All in all, you need to kill you opponets S/T Zone, you eventualy have to destroy annoying monsters and you have to make sure your opponet won't just drop D.D. Crow and destroy your beautiful OTK.

In fact, you need a godlike hand to perform the "Handless Combo".

Playing an OTK in a more slow paced format might seem a very good option, but this deck realy can't do anything else than just stupid OTKs. If your attempt gets stopped, you're toast.

One of my next articles will deal with Lightsworns in the next format (No, it is not as dead as many of you might think!).