Locals... or not

I guess I took a break from locals this week because I'm tired of this format. There aren't any Frog FTK decks at my locals (that I know of... thank God), but the Cold Wave Cat combo is just getting old. School has started too, and thankfully it's my last year of high school. There's a lot to look forward to in September: the new ban list will be implemented, the new tins with super rare DAD comes out, Black Ops multiplayer will be revealed, and Halo: Reach will be released.

Good times.

Yugioh is srs bsns, gais

Locals today sucked. There isn't a real tournament on Sundays, and at one point I played this extremely cocky X-Saber player. His attitude basically ruined the rest of the day for me.

So game 1 he opens up with Fulhelmknight and a face-down since he went first. Next turn I MST and decide to go into Murmillo with a Test Tiger play since I didn't want to deal with the chance of him Synchro Summoning. I then set CED and some random card. On his turn, he summons Airbellum and activates Saber Slash. Here is where he went all pissy-pissy. I wanted to CED my Laquari, which should force him to destroy his Airbellum, right? I know this is the case, since I played at a WCQ public event where a judge ruled that that is what happens. However, he argues that Saber Slash targets at activation and all of this random crap. My friend backs me up, and when he ends and I start my turn, he scoops, saying that he doesn't want to put up with this GB crap and he'll end it in the next two games.

He starts game 2 with just a Boggart Knight and a set card. In his carelessness and rage (lol), I saw that the face-down was Dust Tornado. I sided in a lone Cyber Dragon, and happened to draw it. I summon that and a GB and attack with both, then tag into Bestiari and set a card during my MP2. He says something along the lines of "I'll rape you next turn." He goes Summoner Monk into Cat and tributes it for 2 Airbellum after using Giant Trunade. He then drops Faultroll, Synchro Summons into Arcanite, blows up my field and attacks with 2 Airbellums and a Faultroll, discarding a Test Tiger and Cat from my hand. He questions whether or not he should go into Gottoms, and decides not to for some odd reason. Next turn I bring out Laquari to attack into an Airbellum and get Darius to fuse into Gyzarus. I set 2, and next turn when he summons a monster I pause to consider whether or not to TT the field (at which point he would be top-decking), and he just decides to scoop. He says that he'll destroy me with Infernity, and I just refuse to play him.

I hate dealing with players with bad attitudes. Also, why do people hate playing against Gladiator Beasts? Sure they've been around for a long, long time, and turns take a little bit longer when GBs tag out, but that doesn't mean that it requires less skill to play than some luck-sack, stupidly broken deck like X-Sabers. In fact, GB is by far one of the hardest decks to play correctly...

It would be pretty sweet if...

...they made an "Infernity Inferno" for Flamvell. That would be amazing...

NEW BAN LIST

Banned:
Heavy Storm
Brain Control
Substitoad
Rescue Cat

Limited:
Monster Reborn
Dark Hole
Black Whirlwind
Royal Oppression
Infernity Launcher
Trishula

Semi-Limited:
Mystical Space Typhoon
Chaos Sorcerer
Snipe Hunter
Ojama Trio
Magic Cylinder

Unlimited:
Black Rose Dragon
Goblin Zombie
Cyber Dragon
Treeborn Frog
Royal Decree
United We Stand

This actually helps me a lot. I've recently realized that I shouldn't be afraid of setting a lot of cards in fear of Heavy Storm. Now that it's gone, I'm going to continue to set conservatively. I always set a Book/Compulse with another protection card, because I know that whether or not both get destroyed I'm going to -1 off of the card anyway. I don't know where I'm trying to go with this...

Anyhow, here are the changes that I will make to my current deck come September:

-1 Heavy Storm

-1 Rescue Cat

-1 Gladiator Beast Samnite

+1 Dark Hole

+1 Monster Reborn

+1 Mystical Space Typhoon

I might even start running more Prisma in place of some Spells or Traps, depending on how the new format turns out.

Flamvell Zombie Plant Merchant Turbo

Awwwwwwwwwwww yeahhhhhhhhhhhh

Monsters: 35
3x Magical Merchant
3x Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter
1x Wulf, Lightsworn Beast (lol)
3x Caius the Shadow Monarch
1x Gorz the Emissary of Darkness
1x Tragoedia
3x Flamvell Firedog
3x Flamvell Magician
2x Flamvell Poun
1x Flamvell Dragnov
1x Flamvell Grunika
1x Flamvell Baby
1x Flamvell Archer
2x Goblin Zombie
1x Zombie Master
1x Mezuki
1x Plaguespreader Zombie
1x Spirit Reaper
1x Card Trooper
1x Treeborn Frog
2x Dandylion
1x Spore

Spells: 5
3x Rekindling
1x Heavy Storm
1x Mystical Space Typhoon

Generic Extra Deck, with notable cards being Stardust Dragon, Colossal Fighter, Mist Wurm, and Goyo Guardian

No Side Deck yet, but all of it should be dedicated to Spell and Trap hate

Saturday Swiss Rounds 8/14/10

So today was a pretty good day...

I finally got some Consecrated Light for my Side Deck, which will make the BW match-up a lot easier. I didn't get them until the end of the day, but that didn't matter since I went undefeated all 5 rounds of the tournament... which is pretty surprising considering the fact that I haven't been playing much. However, improvement in my game is definitely showing. I didn't run into any X-Saber or Infernity decks today, which was definitely an advantage. I got 1 pack for my $4 entry fee and 2 packs for winning. Not bad in today's economy.

Round 1: Machina Jinzo Returner

I won the dice roll (I won all but one today), so I started off by setting a GB (bluffing Hoplomus is fun) and setting Trap Dustshoot and Bottomless Trap Hole. My opponent had two Gearframe in hand as his only monsters, so I sent one back. I saw no S/T removal, so my BTH was able to remove the Gearframe that he summoned. Surprisingly, I was unable to draw any War Chariots (which was a trend throughout the day), but I was able to win 2-0 with strong field presence and endgame Heraklinos.

Round 2: Cloudian

This match was stupidly easy. I went into Gyzarus once each game and easily won 2-0 even without being able to draw into my Chariots.

Round 3: Zombie

First game was easy. I was able to bring out a Gyzarus after he pushed with Synchros without any back row protection. The second game clearly shows that I am still new to this game. I sided out Giant Trunade and three Dust Tornado for two Crevice and two D-Fissure, forgetting that Rescue Cat cannot be used when D-Fissure is out on the field. That almost lost me the game when I had a full back row with D-Fissure and only Rescue Cat in hand. I was brought down to 1700, but a well-timed Solemn allowed me to regain field advantage and win the match 2-0.

Round 4: Fabled/Dark World

The player wasted his hand first game by repeatedly using Honest to get over my monsters with Lurrie (lol). After I was able to get rid of Lurrie, I basically won. He drew a better hand second game and started with a Thunder King and a few set cards. I forgot how, but I eventually got rid of it and a Stardust Dragon to win game two.

Round 5: Blackwing

I hate Blackwings. I came back to win game one after my opponent made a big second-turn push. I was sitting at around 1500 LP. I lost game two when my opponent opened with both Skill Drain and Oppression. I was able to MST Drain, but next turn my opponent made a push with Sirocco and two Bora after he used Heavy Storm. Game three was purely luck, since my opponent was unable to draw into any monsters all game bar DAD and Gale.

I got first, being the only one to go 5-0 in the group of 17. There were surely better players than the ones that I've played, but unfortunately I was never matched up with them today.

LOL

I'm missing the Sneak Peek to play some paintball. Ohhhhh yeahhhh

Sudden Realization / Decklist

It's obvious that no one, except maybe one or two people if I'm lucky, will read my posts since this blog is new. So I'll just waste time and post the decklist that I am currently using:

Monsters: 18

1x Gorz the Emissary of Darkness

2x Gladiator Beast Laquari

2x Gladiator Beast Equeste

2x Gladiator Beast Samnite

1x Gladiator Beast Hoplomus

1x Gladiator Beast Retiari

1x Gladiator Beast Bestiari

1x Gladiator Beast Darius

1x Gladiator Beast Secutor

1x Gladiator Beast Murmillo

1x Elemental Hero Prisma

3x Test Tiger

1x Rescue Cat

Spells: 6

3x Book of Moon

1x Mystical Space Typhoon

1x Heavy Storm

1x Giant Trunade

Traps: 16

3x Dust Tornado

2x Gladiator Beast War Chariot

2x Compulsory Evacuation Device

2x Dimensional Prison

2x Bottomless Trap Hole

1x Mirror Force

1x Torrential Tribute

1x Solemn Judgment

1x Starlight Road

1x Trap Dustshoot

Extra Deck:

3x Gladiator Beast Gyzarus

2x Gladiator Beast Heraklinos

1x Stardust Dragon

9x (filler Synchros that I never use)

Side Deck:

2x Dimensional Fissure

2x D.D. Warrior Lady

2x Trap Hole

2x Cyber Dragon

2x Smashing Ground

2x Crevice Into the Different Dimension

2x Enemy Controller

1x Brain Control

Yeah... I still need Consecrated Light. The deck runs very well, but I'm considering taking out Gorz because I never seem to be able to make good plays with it. If [and when] Rescue Cat gets banned next format, I might try a Tiger-less build with Respites.

Rarity Upgrades Are Upsetting...

I'm a budget player (which is why I play Glads competitively), so it's great when I see good common cards that I want to play that are currently released in the OCG, like this gem:

Solemn Warning is a great card that I hope to run only one of. Paying 2000 Life Points is a hefty cost, and running two or three would be just too much in a deck that relies on the Battle Phase to gain advantage. But this card negates so much, considering the fact that so many meta [and non-meta] decks love to Special Summon.

Now, to my understanding, someone has opened a box of TCG DREV early and has discovered the rarity changes and unknown exclusives (as usual). It was revealed that Solemn Warning is Ultra Rare. In this case, it doesn't matter too much since I only plan on running one and the hype for Solemn Warning isn't too high. I just really hope I pull it when I go to my first Sneak Peek this weekend...

Beginnings of a New Blog / Strongest Card!

Today marks the start of my new brainchild.

This newfound interest technically started summer of '09 when I rediscovered the game of Yugioh. I was a fanatic back in fourth grade, collecting the cards and playing against fellow students. However, it hasn't been until recently (6-7 weeks ago) that I have started to try playing the game competitively.

And this is where this blog will begin.

Starting today, I will make notes on strategies and techniques that I have learned as I try to improve my game. I test new decks for fun every once in a while, but I found a deck type that I enjoy playing competitively the most: Gladiator Beasts. It is my first and only meta deck that I have used, and it will be the only one I ever use for several reasons. The deck is cheap. The deck is hard to play. The deck's engine allows me to pull out basically any monster I need from the deck. All in all, the deck is a great way for me to learn the mechanics of the game.

This first post will be about a card that I have learned to be the best card in a Gladiator Beast deck. It's not War Chariot (although it's up there). It's not Heraklinos. It's not Gyzarus. It's not even a Gladiator Beast card.

It is Book of Moon.

From a non-player's perspective, this card does little to make it shine. Its one-liner simply reads "Flip 1 face-up monster into face-down defense position." It does nothing to hinder an opponent's "physical" advantage, meaning that your opponent does not lose cards due to this card's effect. Simply put, this card is what players call a -1. But, of course, Book of Moon is quite arguably the best -1 in the game.

Why is this? It is because Book of Moon is so versatile (probably an understatement). Against any deck, Book of Moon effectively stops an opponent's monster from attacking for one turn, allowing you to attack over it with a Glad next turn and gain advantage through tagging. Book of Moon also prevents cards like Kalut and Honest from being able to defeat your Glad in battle by flipping the Blackwing or LIGHT monster face-down. Using Book on a tuner prevents the opponent from performing a Synchro Summon. Book on a Stardust Dragon allows for a pumped Laquari to run over it, for a Gyzarus to destroy it, or better yet, for a Secutor to attack into it to bring out Murmillo and Equeste. The strength of Book of Moon comes from its face-down factor. Turning a monster face-down effectively eliminates it for a turn, since a face-down card has no identity on the field. This can help in several match ups. For example, Book of Moon on the X-Saber that Boggart Knight Special Summons prohibits the opponent from bringing out the dreaded Faultroll. Turning a Blackwing monster face-down prevents the opponent from searching with Black Whirlwind. Book of Moon is not the only amazing card in a Gladiator Beast deck, but it surely stands out with its ability to control. Book doesn't necessarily wins games; it dictates games.

This is only my first post. I'll be sure to talk about weekend matches, Side Deck decisions, other match ups, and anything else that I might have forgotten. Until next time.

P.S. I really like my blog title.