I haven't actually played Yugioh in 2 weeks (and I will play later today), but I just wanted to share Yugioh-related things that I have been thinking about recently. There are two topics that I want to touch.
The first is the new format and the recent Toronto YCS that showed results from the new ban list. Oppression and Decree are actually being Mained or Sided in GB, cards that used to be considered detrimental to the control toolbox game that is GB. Oppression I can understand, since it is a cheaper version of Solemn Warning and can help in a pinch, but War Chariot is needed in most match ups. Decree shuts down the control aspect of GB that comes from D. Prison, War Chariot, and CED. Proving Ground is also seeing more play, seeing as Rescue Cat is gone; Samnite has consequently lost its usefulness. Swords of Revealing Light also saw play in Josh Graham's GB build. This is pretty interesting. His reasoning is that not many people played S/T removal, so most of the time he was able to sit and stall for the full 3 turns, and by then he would have enough answers to defeat his opponent. Jake Mattern now mains 2 Cyber Dragons, which I have now done as well, since it does so well against so many different match ups. It baits out Bottomless Trap Hole, has more than decent ATK, and can be used against Machine decks to bring out Chimeratech. Effect Veiler and Solemn Warning are undoubtedly useful in the Main deck, but I wouldn't know since I don't have the money (read: don't want to spend the money on Yugioh cards).
The second thing is something that TCG players consider to be a mainstay in GB: Test Tiger. OCG players tend to sway away from Test Tigers, probably because Test Tiger offers no real advantage (unless you send out Secutor, of course). The thing is, Test Tiger is technically a -1. You tribute the Test Tiger to tag out a GB into another GB, activating the new GB's effect. The advantage comes from the GB, and you basically break even if you can get the effect off. Attacking with the GB then nets you more advantage, but rarely is that the case. The thing is, there are many ways to counter a Test Tiger play. Book of Moon or CED chained to Test Tiger's effect targeting the GB effectively causes Test Tiger's effect to disappear. If you do successfully tag out, Solemn Warning, Effect Veiler, Bottomless Trap Hole, and the like all await you. If you do successfully Summon the monster and are ready to attack, there's still that chance of D. Prison or Mirror Force. Of course, good players don't actually perform Test Tiger plays without some form of protection whether it be a Trap Stun, Solemn Judgment, or Cold Wave, but if you're in a tough situation with only a GB and Test Tiger in hand with no protection for a Test Tiger play, you're screwed. In that situation, having 2 GB monsters in hand would be much more useful if you have back row cards that can help you survive for a turn. My argument is probably moot, but I definitely see why OCG players play without Test Tiger.
I might post again later today.
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