I believe...

... that right now, Proving Ground is much more useful and aggressive than a Test Tiger play. Proving Ground gets Bestiari at any time to contact into Gyzarus, and Book of Moon aids that play more so than it would Test Tiger plays. Test Tiger just seems more prone to counters in my eyes... not to mention top-decking a Proving Ground is much, much better than top-decking a Test Tiger.

Lanista...

...sucks? It was expected. The rumored effect that said that its name on the field is Bestiari, paired with the CED-like effect, was beyond broken. Gyzarus could have been Summoned twice a turn. A build that included triple Lanista, triple Equeste, and triple Icarus would be decent if BfaDD was still at three. hmmmm...

Crazy New Card Choices for the Crazy New Format

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.

Weekend Locals 9/4 9/5

I had fun today.

The X-Saber guy who was pissy a few weeks ago played Lightsworn today and apologized to me. We played two matches and started a third; we split the first two matches 2-0 both times, and I was leading the third 1-0. I was playing a lot better today... the 2 Dust Tornado that I decided to put in fits my play-style really well, so that's a keeper. Lightsworns hardly have any defense, but it's hard to come back when they Trap Stun/Cold Wave and then JD the field. BoM laughs at Honest though, so it's all good. There was also a Gemini City build that I was able to 2-1, but I lost to this experienced player using SalvoDAD. That deck is really consistent... I sided in N. of Crossout and Cydras but was unable to draw them. I also played Machina Gadget, losing 2-0. I don't know how people say it's so easy, since I was unable to bring out Heraklinos both games. I still need a third Cydra and Chimeratech Fortress, so maybe that's the problem. I also need to be more aggressive against that deck, since I'm afraid of their 1-for-1 removal. I didn't draw into my Trap Stuns at all that match, so I'm going to blame my fear on that...

Saturday was pretty lame though. I went 1-2 and scrubbed out, with my only win being Blackwings. They're pretty much a joke now, with Oppression and Whirlwind both at 1. I lost a mirror match that mained Effect Veiler and a Gemini City deck. Both matches I could have definitely won if I played my hands differently. There was one point during the Gemini City match that I can recall... he had Neos Alius and a set S/T on the field, and my best play that I could make was Prisma/Tiger into Gyzarus. I made the mistake of thinking that no one would run Starlight Road this format, and I was punished. I got rid of the Stardust pretty easily, but that was a wasted resource that I could have avoided. Sucks...

Anyways, here are a couple of things that I learned this weekend.
- BoM wrecks even more so now that many people run Trap Stun.
- When Gyzarus is the only choice and there is only 1 monster and 1 S/T on the opponent's side, target only the monster.
- Stratos is pointless for the deck... Samnite will be tested next week.
- Starlight Road is still somewhat useful mained, and if worst comes to worst, there's always the option of triggering your own Starlight Road.
- Dark Hole should definitely be mained... I don't know why I was stupid in thinking that I don't need it.
- Monster Reborn is broken and shouldn't be in the game. Why the hell is it back?
- Bluffing Hoplomus by setting Test Tiger loses games, but it's still fun and gives you a free turn, lol.
- I need a third Cydra and Chimeratech Fortress.
- Gemini Spark is extremely good this format.
- Effect Veiler and Solemn Warning are both amazing (understatement).
- I'm poor, so no Veiler or Warning yet...
- Tag into Equeste as often as you can, unless something else takes priority..

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...

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.

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.