Monday 29 March 2010

The Format so Far: Which Decks Have Made an Impact?

We are almost a month into this brand new format, so I thought it would be interesting to compile a list of the decks that have made a splash at the largest tournaments of the format so far. Below is what I found, enjoy!

Top Decklists (84 in total) from 10 Tournaments

22 Cat Synchro Variants (of which 18 Flamvell Cat) (26%)
14 Blackwing (17%)
14 Gladiator Beasts (17%)
11 Gadget Variants (of which 9 Machina Gadgets) (13%)
6 Lightsworn Variant (7%)
5 Stun (of which 1 Gemini Stun) (6%)
2 Dark Variant (2%)
2 Burn (2%)
1 Flamvell Variant (1%)
1 Ben Kei (1%)
1 Six Samurai (1%)
1 Light and Darkness Dragon (1%)
1 Gravekeeper’s (1%)
1 Dragons (1%)
1 Lightsworn-Zombie-Blackwings (1%)
1 Elemental Heroes (1%)

Generally it seems to be a fairly healthy, diverse format. Synchro cat seems to be the most successful deck, yet it still only accounts for a quarter of the playing field. I hope for a good, competitive meta in the next few months!

You can find all the decklists from above at Duelistgroundz.com* (see links below)

March 27th/ 28th
Las Vegas Regional

March 20th/ 21st
The Hague Regional (Netherlands)
Tampa Regional
Maplewood Regional

March 13th/ 14th
Greenville Regional
Mobile Regional
Paris, Dark Leeroy Tournament (France)

March 6th/ 7th
Greensboro Regional
Jacksonville Regional
Fargo Regional

* Registration is required

Saturday 27 March 2010

How to be a Yugioh Pro

Chris Bowling has put up a great video on Youtube, explaining the thought processes that many 'pro' players go through when playing the game. Hopefully you should find the tips really useful, I know I did.



For more videos from Chris Bowling, visit his Youtube channel here.

Friday 26 March 2010

Gold Series 3

Gold series 3 is confirmed, with cards such as Infernity Archfiend, Judgment Dragon, Thunder King Rai-Oh, Plaguespreader Zombie, Blackwing Armor Master, and Blackwing Armed Wing all being reprinted! See the news on the official Konami website here.
Gold Rare Cards are back for another round, with Gold Series 3! Gold Rares are the shiniest, rarest, and most blinged-out cards you can get. And Gold Series 3 brings some flash and flair to more of your favorite cards.

This time around, you can get your hands on Gold Rare versions of cards like Infernity Archfiend, Judgment Dragon, Thunder King Rai-Oh, Plaguespreader Zombie, Blackwing Armor Master, and Blackwing Armed Wing.

As a super-special bonus, Gold Series 3 is the first place you can get a hold of Jack Atlas’ Vice Dragon monster – available for the first time, AND as a Gold Rare!

If you’re looking to hop on board the latest and hottest Decks, Gold Series 3 can help get you started. The 32 Common Cards in Gold Series 3 include most of the Blackwing monsters from 2009, so it’s easy to get your Blackwing Deck together just with Gold Series 3 and the new Blackwing cards available in The Shining Darkness packs.

Gold Series 3 also includes most of the Amazoness cards, originally released way back in 2003, so you can take advantage of the new Amazoness monsters in August’s Duelist Revolution booster set.

Other Common Cards in Gold Series 3 include Destiny Hero – Malicious, Goblin Zombie, Destiny Draw, and many more.

Each box of Gold Series 3 contains 25 cards from this elite 50-card set.

Gold Series 3 Contains:
18 Gold Rare Cards
32 Common Cards

Wednesday 24 March 2010

Infernity Barrier

Activate only when your opponent activates a Spell Card, Trap Card, or Effect Monster's effect, if you control a face-up Attack Position "Infernity" monster and have no cards in your hand. Negate the activation and destroy that card.
Infernity Barrier is a powerful new piece of support for Infernities coming out as a TCG exclusive in the Shining Darkness. Infernities have already been heavily hyped due to their OTK potential, and this card will act as a devastating Solemn Judgment-esque card in the deck, allowing you to make massive pushes with relative security.

For those interested in how Infernity decks work, Cesar Gonzalez gave a great explanation about the deck on his Youtube channel here.

Monday 22 March 2010

Looking forward: Ally Genex Crusher

Ally Genex Crusher DT08-JP019
Dark
****
Machine
1000/2000

Trigger Effect: Once during either player's turn, when a monster of the same Attribute as this face-up card you control is Normal Summoned to your side of the field, you can select and destroy 1 card your opponent controls.
Ally Genex Crusher is an interesting card that has recently been released in the OCG. The ability to destroy ANY card on the field is extremely versatile, and the card has great synergy with cards like black salvo and mystic tomato. As well as this, Crusher has a hefty 2000 defense, which means it will often be able to stall out your opponent for a few turns until you manage to pull off its effect.

In summary:

+ Has an effect with the potential to net you huge advantage, and eliminate the majority of common threats in the game.

+ Highly accessible from your deck using mystic tomato and Sangan

+ Dark type, so it can be used in conjunction with Allure of Darkness and contributes to the summoning condition of Dark Armed Dragon

+ Machine type, so it can be special summoned using Black Salvo

+ Has great synergy with cards like Ultimate Offering

Friday 19 March 2010

Dark Leeroy Challenge Top 16 Decklists


13 March 2010 - Paris - 315 Players

5 Blackwings (31%)
4 Cat Synchro (25%)
3 Gadgets (19%)
2 Gladiator Beasts (13%)
2 Lightsworn (13%)

Find all the decklists on Metagame.be here.

Wednesday 17 March 2010

New Local Tournament Mat


Konami have started handing out mats at local tournaments, as confirmed by Julia Hedberg on Pojo.
This is available as an incentive to tournament stores, to be used in local level events. It isn't fake.

For those interested, the mat is being sold on ebay here.

Friday 12 March 2010

Adapting to the New Format: Blackwings

3 Blackwing - Sirocco the Dawn
3 Blackwing - Shura the Blue Flame
3 Blackwing - Bora the Spear
3 Blackwing - Kalut the Moon Shadow
2 Blackwing - Blizzard the Far North
2 Blackwing - Vayu the Emblem of Honor
1 Blackwing - Gale the Whirlwind
1 Dark Grepher
1 Dark Armed Dragon
1 Morphing Jar

2 Black Whirlwind
2 Book of Moon
1 Allure of Darkness
1 Heavy Storm
1 Mystical Space Typhoon
1 My Body as a Shield
1 Brain Control
1 Gold Sarcophagus

2 Icarus Attack
2 Royal Oppression
2 Bottomless Trap Hole
1 Mirror Force
1 Torrential Tribute
1 Solemn Judgment
1 Trap Dustshoot


Of all the top decks of the previous format, Blackwings were arguably the least hit - only losing a single black whirlwind and a single allure of darkness (which will be compensated by the release of Black Feather Treasure in a few months). Naturally, this has led to a buzz of hype surrounding the decktype in the upcoming weeks.

Above is a build of Blackwings I have been testing recently, and after removing the newly limited cards, I considered how to strengthen the deck to keep it on par with how it ran throughout the previous format.

The first card I opted to add to the deck was Dark Grepher, coupled with a second copy of Blackwing - Vayu. This switch aimed to add more raw attack power to the deck, which was cut slightly with Black Whirlwind limited.

I opted to keep Royal Oppression at two in the deck, as it has a plethora of uses in the new format. I forecast a large amount of Cat variants and Gladiator Beast decks in the upcoming weeks, and Royal Oppression is a perfect counter to those decks. As well as this, Royal Oppression is able to completely negate Starlight Road (which helps Icarus Attacks go off), as well as Battle Fader (a popular card in monarchs and stall decks).

Due to the problem of Starlight Road, I chose to cut Icarus Attack down to two copies until the meta becomes more defined. As is the case when any new card is released, everyone is jumping on the bandwagon to run Starlight Road. As a result Icarus Attack has become a risky card at times. Although the chances of running into a Starlight Road are relatively low, the consequences of when it does happen can be devastating.

Morphing Jar is a great card in the deck, not only compensating for the lost draw power in Allure of Darkness, but also allowing you to dump excess Vayus and Siroccos, enabling you to Grave-synchro. As well as this, Morphing Jar has great synergy with Trap Dustshoot, a combo which can heavily swing a game in your favour instantly. Morphing Jar is even a one-card-out to Consecrated Light (Morphing Jar is an earth monster), which even makes Jar slightly more versatile than before.

Finally, I decided to add a lone copy of Gold Sarcophagus. Gold sarcophagus fits perfectly with the new, slower format. In a deck like Blackwings the card can be game changing, allowing you to reach you Heavy Storm, Dark Armed Dragon and Black Whirlwinds much earlier in the game. Once again, Gold Sarc helps compensate for the draw power lost in Allure of Darkness, and the reduced availability of Black Whirlwind. Gold Sarc has proved to be an excellent addition to the deck, and has ended many games.

Sunday 7 March 2010

March 1st Regional Decklists

A first glance into what the upcoming meta will look like; enjoy.

3 Gladiator Beasts (38%)
2 Flamvell Cat (25%)
1 Blackwings (13%)
1 Lightsworn (13%)
1 Light and Darkness Dragon (13%)

Greensboro, NC 03/06/2010

Garon Williams - Gladiator Beasts
Main Deck

2 Gladiator Beast Laquari
3 Test Tiger
1 Gladiator Beast Darius
1 Gladiator Beast Retiari
1 Gladiator Beast Hoplomus
1 Gladiator Beast Secutor
2 Gladiator Beast Samnite
1 Rescue Cat
2 Gladiator Beast Equeste
1 Gladiator Beast Bestiari
1 Elemental Hero Prisma
1 Gladiator Beast Murmillo

2 My Body as a Shield
1 Enemy Controller
3 Smashing Ground
3 Gladiator Beast Respite
3 Book of Moon
1 Heavy Storm
1 Mystical Space Typhoon

1 Trap Stun
1 Trap Dustshoot
2 Bottomless Trap Hole
3 Gladiator Beast War Chariot
1 Solemn Judgment
1 Mirror Force
1 Torrential Tribute

Side Deck
2 Dragonic Knight
2 Cyber Dragon
2 Blackwing - Sirocco the Dawn
2 Dimensional Fissure
2 Nobleman of Crossout
1 Brain Control
2 Trap Hole
2 Waboku

Extra Deck
1 Ally of Justice Catastor
1 Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier
3 Gladiator Beast Gyzarus
1 Goyo GUardian
1 Black Rose Dragon
2 Chimeratech Fortress Dragon
2 Stardust Dragon
1 Colossal Fighter
2 Gladiator Beast Heraklinos
1 Mist Wurm


Rickie Cashwell - Gladiator Beasts

Main Deck
1 Elemental Hero Stratos
1 Rescue Cat
1 Gladiator Beast Bestiari
2 Gladiator Beast Samnite
2 Gladiator Beast Laquari
1 Gladiator Beast Hoplomus
2 Gladiator Beast Darius
1 Gladiator Beast Murmillo
1 Gladiator Beast Retiari
2 Elemental Hero Prisma
3 Test Tiger
1 Gladiator Beast Equeste

1 Reinforcement of the Army
1 Heavy Storm
1 My Body as a Shield
1 Cold Wave
1 Smashing Ground
1 Gladiator Proving Ground
2 Book of Moon
1 Mystical Space Typhoon

1 Torrential Tribute
3 Gladiator Beast War Chariot
2 Bottomless Trap Hole
3 Waboku
1 Trap Dustshoot
1 Call of the Haunted
1 Mirror Force
1 Solemn Judgment

Side Deck
1 Phantom Dragon
3 Consecrated Light
1 D.D. Crow
1 Blackwing - Gale the Whirlwind
2 Legendary Jujitsu Master
1 Royal Oppression
2 Mirror of Oaths
2 Dust Tornado
1 Trap Hole
1 Brain Control

Extra Deck
2 Gladiator Beast Gyzarus
1 Gladiator Beast Heraklinos
1 Goyo Guardian
1 Stardust Dragon
1 Mist Wurm
1 Blackwing Armor Master
1 Colossal Fighter
1 Magical Android
1 Ally of Justice Catastor
1 Black Rose Dragon
1 Red Dragon Archfiend
1 Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier
1 Thought Ruler Archfiend


Diego Valdivia - Gladiator Beasts

Main Deck
3 Test Tiger
1 Elemental Hero Prisma
1 Gladiator Beast Retiari
1 Gladiator Beast Bestiari
3 Gladiator Beast Laquari
2 Gladiator Beast Samnite
2 Gladiator Beast Equeste
2 Gladiator Beast Darius
1 Gladiator Beast Murmillo
1 Gladiator Beast Secutor
1 Gladiator Beast Hoplomus
1 Rescue Cat

3 Book of Moon
2 My Body as a Shield
1 Brain Control
1 Smashing Ground
1 Gladiator Proving Ground
1 Heavy Storm

1 Mirror Force
1 Solemn Judgment
2 Gladiator Beast War Chariot
2 Bottomless Trap Hole
2 Dimensional Prison
2 Waboku
1 Torrential Tribute
1 Call of the Haunted
1 Trap Dustshoot

Side Deck
2 Thunder King Rai-oh
2 Legendary Jujitsu Master
2 Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer
2 Dimensional Fissure
1 Lightning Vortex
1 Mystical Space Typhoon
2 Mirror of Oaths
2 Light-Imprisoning Mirror
1 Dust Tornado

Extra Deck
2 Gladiator Beast Heraklinos
3 Gladiator Beast Gyzarus
1 Stardust Dragon
1 Black Rose Dragon
1 Red Dragon Archfiend
1 Thought Ruler Archfiend
1 Goyo Guardian
1 Blackwing Armor Master
1 Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier
1 Ally of Justice Catastor
1 Mist Wurm
1 Colossal Fighter


Russell LaParre - Flamvell Cat

Main Deck
3 Flamvell Firedog
3 Flamvell Magician
3 Super-Nimble Mega Hamster
3 X-Saber Airbellum
3 Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter
1 Sangan
1 Rescue Cat
1 Summoner Monk
1 Whirlwind Weasel
1 Gorz the Emissary of Darkness

3 Book of Moon
3 Rekindling
2 Pot of Avarice
1 Mystical Space Typhoon
1 Heavy Storm
1 Brain Control
1 Mind Control
1 Smashing Ground

2 Dust Tornado
2 Bottomless Trap Hole
1 Torrential Tribute
1 Mirror Force
1 Royal Oppression
1 Trap Dustshoot

Side Deck
3 Consecrated Light
2 D.D. Crow
2 Cyber Dragon
2 Pulling the Rug
3 Mirror of Oaths
2 Tuner's Scheme
1 Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World

Extra Deck
1 Ally of Justice Catastor
1 Magical Android
1 Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier
1 Goyo Guardian
1 Arcanite Magician
1 Black Rose Dragon
1 X-Saber Urbellum
2 Stardust Dragon
1 Thought Ruler Archfiend
2 Colossal Fighter
1 Red Dragon Archfiend
1 Mist Wurm
1 Chimeratech Fortress Dragon


Jeffrey Daniels - Flamvell Cat

Main Deck
3 X-Saber Airbellum
3 Flamvell Firedog
1 Des Koala
1 Summoner Monk
3 Super-Nimble Mega Hamster
3 Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter
1 Sangan
3 Flamvell Magician
1 Rescue Cat

3 Book of Moon
3 Rekindling
1 Heavy Storm
1 Brain Control
1 Mystical Space Typhoon
2 Pot of Avarice
1 Mind Control
1 Smashing Ground

1 Torrential Tribute
1 Solemn Judgment
1 Mirror Force
1 Royal Oppression
2 Bottomless Trap Hole
1 Dust Tornado
1 Dimensional Prison

Side Deck
2 Cyber Dragon
2 Dust Tornado
2 Trap Hole
2 Legendary Jujitsu Master
1 Doomcaliber Knight
1 Lightning Vortex
1 My Body as a Shield
2 Consecrated Light
1 Royal Oppression
1 Mirror of Oaths

Extra Deck
1 Magical Android
1 Arcanite Magician
1 Thought Ruler Archfiend
1 Goyo Guardian
1 Black Rose Dragon
1 Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier
2 Colossal Fighter
1 Mist Wurm
1 Red Dragon Archfiend
2 Stardust Dragon
1 Ally of Justice Catastor
1 X-Saber Urbellum
1 Ancient Fairy Dragon


Tai Wu - Blackwings

Main Deck
1 Gorz the Emissary of Darkness
1 Dark Armed Dragon
1 D.D. Crow
3 Blackwing - Kalut the Moon Shadow
3 Blackwing - Sirocco the Dawn
3 Blackwing - Bora the Spear
3 Blackwing - Shura the Blue Flame
1 Blackwing - Gale the Whirlwind
2 Blackwing - Blizzard the Far North
1 Blackwing - Vayu the Emblem of Honor
2 Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer

1 Brain Control
1 Mystical Space Typhoon
1 My Body as a Shield
1 Lightning Vortex
1 Heavy Storm
2 Black Whirlwind
1 Allure of Darkness

1 Royal Oppression
1 Torrential Tribute
1 Mirror Force
2 Bottomless Trap Hole
2 Trap Hole
3 Icarus Attack
1 Call of the Haunted

Side Deck
1 Delta Crow - Anti Reverse
2 Dimensional Prison
2 Mirror of Oaths
2 Threatening Roar
2 Light-Imprisoning Mirror
1 Royal Oppression
1 Dust Tornado
1 D.D. Crow
1 Twister
2 Soul Release

Extra Deck
2 Stardust Dragon
2 Blackwing Armor Master
2 Blackwing Armed Wing
1 Magical Android
1 Blackwing - Silverwind the Ascendant
1 Black Rose Dragon
1 Thought Ruler Archfiend
1 Goyo Guardian
1 Colossal Fighter
1 Mist Wurm
1 Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier
1 Ally of Justice Catastor


Luke Patterson - Light and Darkness Dragon.dek

Main Deck
3 Battle Fader
2 Light and Darkness Dragon
2 Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch
1 Treeborn Frog
1 Chaos Sorcerer
3 Cyber Valley
2 Dandylion
2 Dimensional Alchemist
1 Plaguespreader Zombie
1 Sangan
1 Shining Angel
1 Gorz the Emissary of Darkness
2 Caius the Shadow Monarch
1 Tongue Twister

1 Allure of Darkness
1 Mind Control
1 Brain Control
1 Foolish Burial
3 Soul Exchange
1 Mystical Space Typhoon
1 Heavy Storm

1 Torrential Tribute
1 Mirror Force
2 Phoenix Wing Wind Blast
1 Divine Wrath
2 Bottomless Trap Hole

Side Deck
2 Mirror of Oaths
1 Mind Crush
2 Dust Tornado
2 Trap Hole
2 Light-Imprisoning Mirror
1 Lightning Vortex
1 D.D. Crow
2 Brain Golem
2 Legendary Jujitsu Master

Extra Deck
1 Magical Android
1 Red Dragon Archfiend
1 Black Rose Dragon
1 Ally of Justice Catastor
2 Stardust Dragon
1 Thought Ruler Archfiend
1 Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier
1 Colossal Fighter
1 Goyo Guardian


Mark L Johnson Jr. - Lightsworn

Main Deck
2 Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter
2 Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress
1 Card Trooper
2 Judgment Dragon
2 Wulf, Lightsworn Beast
1 Garoth, Lightsworn Warrior
2 Celestia, Lightsworn Angel
1 Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner
2 Honest
1 Chaos Sorcerer
1 Aurkus, Lightsworn Druid
1 Tragoedia
1 Plaguespreader Zombie
1 Ehern, Lightsworn Monk
1 Gorz the Emissary of Darkness
1 Necro Gardna

1 Brain Control
1 Heavy Storm
1 Gold Sarcophagus
1 Cold Wave
3 Solar Recharge
1 Reinforcement of the Army
1 Pot of Avarice
1 Foolish Burial
1 Charge of the Light Brigade

1 Trap Dustshoot
1 Beckoning Light
2 Bottomless Trap Hole
1 Torrential Tribute

Side Deck
1 Mobius the Frost Monarch
1 Malevolent Catastrophe
2 Breaker the Magical Warrior
2 Threatening Roar
2 Royal Decree
2 Thunder King Rai-Oh
1 Shiny Black C
2 Lightning Vortex
1 Legendary Jujitsu Master

Extra Deck
1 Ally of Justice Catastor
1 Mist Wurm
1 Goyo Guardian
2 Stardust Dragon
1 Colossal Fighter
1 Black Rose Dragon
1 Red Dragon Archfiend
1 Ancient Fairy Dragon
1 Tempest Magician
1 Gaia Knight, the Force of the Earth
1 X-Saber Urbellum
1 Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Boundary

Wednesday 3 March 2010

Changing Trends: March 1st


Cyber Valley

A card I feel will grow in popularity throughout the format. Draw power has been severely cut with Destiny Draw and Allure of Darkness limited, and many decks will search for alternative means of speed. Valley is a great balanced card, providing far more consistency than alternatives such as Reckless Greed. Cyber Valley's battle phase-ender effect allows it to slide under gladiator beasts, which will no doubt be heavily played, as well as allowing you to stall until you have the right cards to make a game changing play. Finally, Valley has great synergy with Brain and Mind control, further increasing draw power and taking out a plethora of common threats such as Synchros.


Legendary Jujitsu Master

A card which is already seeing a lot of play, due to its ability to dramatically stall your opponent's strategies by setting them back a turn. Jujitsu master is a great counter to gladiator beasts and Blackwings, which have both been heavily hyped to be popular decks this format. Slowing down your opponent is a great strategy for winning, and Jujitsu Master offers just that, as well as being the best counter available to Gladiator Beasts.


Nobleman of Crossout

A slower format and new support will inevitably lead to a rise in slower paced decks such as Monarchs and Gravekeepers and even Cat Synchro. Nobleman of Crossout is a great answer to these decks, and removes vital monsters from their decks such as Gravekeeper's Spy, Super-Nimble Mega Hamster and Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter. Nobleman is a great card, and is able to cripple many slower paced decks this format.

Shonen Jump Nashville Top 16 Decklists


The Shonen Jump Nashville Top 16 decklists have been released!

Find all 16 decklists on the official Yu-Gi-Oh website here.

7 Lightsworn (44%)
3 Zombie Lightsworn (19%)
1 X-Saber (6%)
1 Blackwing (6%)
1 Zombie (6%)
1 Chaos (6%)
1 Light Beatdown (6%)
1 Gladiator Beasts (6%)