My immense number of readers will have come to realise that I have not write anything for quite some time. This is for several reasons: personal life, lack of inspiration, exploring other games and such. However I do not plan leaving this Blog. That being said, I will start soon the 12th Grade which in my country is a very intense and hard year since in the end of it await a series of very high level of tests that determine access to public universities. As such this blog will enter a year of hiatus, maybe sporadically interrupted by some mini-articles. I plan to make use of this time by writing several series of articles: higher in quality than my previous work. These articles require time for both research and writing and will cover topics from Theory-Oh to History of the Game.
Thank you.
Thursday, 14 June 2012
Friday, 13 January 2012
Number 1! Top 10 Cards of 2011
And finally after two weeks we have been brought here, discussing the Top Card of 2011, which is none other than Tour Guide from the Underworld.
This little girl came as an TCG Exclusive in Extreme Victory making really small impact and now, about six months later the whole competitive scene of Yu-Gi-Oh! is centered around her. The deciding factor for her advent was obviously the release of Xyz Monsters but also gained a lot of fame from a temporary yet bad ruling decision of Konami that stated that Overlayed Xyz Materials still count as being on the field. This essentially meant that when cards like Reborn Tengu and Sangan get their effects. Hence Tour Guide was an instant Rank 3 Xyz along with a search from Sangan. This made her price spiked up to 250$ per copy if my memory serves me well. But the ruling changed and Tour Guide fell from glory for a day or two.
And then Generation Force came in with the first two good Rank 3 Xyz Monsters, Number 17: Leviathan Dragon and Leviair the Sea Dragon followed by then even better Wind-Up Zenmaines. Essentially by now, Tour Guide is an one card combo to bring out:
As you can see one card can be used to counter all sort of differnet situation and it is almost never dead. And as the expensive Engine is in almost any competitive Deck due to it's amazing capabilities, the core of this Engine, Tour Guide from the Underworld herself is the Best Card of 2011.
Fun Fact: All of the Top 10 of 2011 is Monster Cards so it is no surprises that this year the fields are dominated by poweful Monsters.
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| Number 1: Tour Guide from the Underworld |
This little girl came as an TCG Exclusive in Extreme Victory making really small impact and now, about six months later the whole competitive scene of Yu-Gi-Oh! is centered around her. The deciding factor for her advent was obviously the release of Xyz Monsters but also gained a lot of fame from a temporary yet bad ruling decision of Konami that stated that Overlayed Xyz Materials still count as being on the field. This essentially meant that when cards like Reborn Tengu and Sangan get their effects. Hence Tour Guide was an instant Rank 3 Xyz along with a search from Sangan. This made her price spiked up to 250$ per copy if my memory serves me well. But the ruling changed and Tour Guide fell from glory for a day or two.
And then Generation Force came in with the first two good Rank 3 Xyz Monsters, Number 17: Leviathan Dragon and Leviair the Sea Dragon followed by then even better Wind-Up Zenmaines. Essentially by now, Tour Guide is an one card combo to bring out:
- A free Sangan to get the search you want.
- A 2500 ATK beater.
- A 1800 ATK beater with the ability to Special Summon a Level 4 or lower banished Monster.
- A 2100 DEF defender (with also decent 1500 ATK) with three lives and a free destruction every time he use his first two shields.
As you can see one card can be used to counter all sort of differnet situation and it is almost never dead. And as the expensive Engine is in almost any competitive Deck due to it's amazing capabilities, the core of this Engine, Tour Guide from the Underworld herself is the Best Card of 2011.
Fun Fact: All of the Top 10 of 2011 is Monster Cards so it is no surprises that this year the fields are dominated by poweful Monsters.
Thursday, 12 January 2012
Number 2! Top 10 Cards of 2011
In the second place for this year's Top Cards Countdown is the one and only... Reborn Tengu!
Tengu due to his ability to keep field advantage is an extremely powerful card that has been considered by may to be "broken" while in truth is just... Well it's "broken" but not the unbelievably-powerful-instant-game-winning kind of broken but more of a really-good-card-to-see-in-almost-any-occasion kind. By this I mean (since my verbiage didn't made any sense) that it is not the card that it is not a card that ruins the fun from the game by being extremely powerful but a card that helps you in almost all occasions and in a majority of Decks.
Through Tengu is associated with the Tengu Plant Synchro that ruled the top tables since Tengu's release, Tengu is able to help in a majority of Decks like Anti-Meta, Monarchs, random Synchro Decks and many many others. Due to this it resembles me of Pot of Duality that many where calling broken but it is in truth not only a very balanced card but also one very healthy for the game since it helps many Decks and encourages creativity since these cards are generic and not limited to an Archetype. Plants themselves are a proof of this fact (even though I am sick with that immortal Plant Engine, ban Dandylion and Spore and let Plants go to hell, leaving some room for something else in the top tables) being completely independent from any Archetypes while being a highly consistent and powerful Deck.
For these reasons I consider Tengu in one of the most powerful Cards of the year, earning him the second spot in the Countdown.
Tengu due to his ability to keep field advantage is an extremely powerful card that has been considered by may to be "broken" while in truth is just... Well it's "broken" but not the unbelievably-powerful-instant-game-winning kind of broken but more of a really-good-card-to-see-in-almost-any-occasion kind. By this I mean (since my verbiage didn't made any sense) that it is not the card that it is not a card that ruins the fun from the game by being extremely powerful but a card that helps you in almost all occasions and in a majority of Decks.
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| Number 2: Reborn Tengu |
Through Tengu is associated with the Tengu Plant Synchro that ruled the top tables since Tengu's release, Tengu is able to help in a majority of Decks like Anti-Meta, Monarchs, random Synchro Decks and many many others. Due to this it resembles me of Pot of Duality that many where calling broken but it is in truth not only a very balanced card but also one very healthy for the game since it helps many Decks and encourages creativity since these cards are generic and not limited to an Archetype. Plants themselves are a proof of this fact (even though I am sick with that immortal Plant Engine, ban Dandylion and Spore and let Plants go to hell, leaving some room for something else in the top tables) being completely independent from any Archetypes while being a highly consistent and powerful Deck.
For these reasons I consider Tengu in one of the most powerful Cards of the year, earning him the second spot in the Countdown.
Wednesday, 11 January 2012
Number 3! Top 10 Cards of 2011
Finally the Top 3 of this year's best Cards. And the bronze goes to... the third sealed dragon: Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier! The long awaited Synchro has arrived to take it's place as the staple Level 9 Synchro in every Extra Deck.
With an effect that banishes from three different places heavily damaging the opponent's resources, Trishula is always fearful when she comes forth. Despite her kind of difficult conditions Decks where made especially to bring this Synchro forth and in some cases like the Infernity or the Frog loops they could do it an unlimited amount of times. So in order to stop these combos some Trishula was limited after September '11.
Not much really to say about Trishula, wicked artwork, strong body, awesome effect, generic summoning conditions: what's not to love? Definately one of the best cards of this year and one of the best weapons to any Duelist's Extra Deck Armory.
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| Number 3: Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier |
With an effect that banishes from three different places heavily damaging the opponent's resources, Trishula is always fearful when she comes forth. Despite her kind of difficult conditions Decks where made especially to bring this Synchro forth and in some cases like the Infernity or the Frog loops they could do it an unlimited amount of times. So in order to stop these combos some Trishula was limited after September '11.
Not much really to say about Trishula, wicked artwork, strong body, awesome effect, generic summoning conditions: what's not to love? Definately one of the best cards of this year and one of the best weapons to any Duelist's Extra Deck Armory.
Tuesday, 10 January 2012
Number 4! Top 10 Cards of 2011
In the 4th place for the Countdown of the Best Cards printed in TCG during 2011 we have actually 3 different cards that despite each one of them can be used in other ways it was together that they made the impact in the Meta. Basically today's card is Rescue Rabbit but this card would have been pretty bad if Evolzars Laggia and Dolkka haven't been released. But that goes the other way too: if Rescue Rabbit was never released Laggia and Dolkka would have been in a couple of mediocre Decks like Jurracs and Evols, never seeing the competitive scene. So at least for now, those cards fates are inextricably connected with each other, ergo they share the 4th place.
As about everybody should know by now, Rescue Rabbit can be banished to bring two Normal Dinosaur Level 4 Monsters from Deck (usually Kabazauls or Sabersauri) in order to Xyz Summon in any of the two Evolzars. Since this combo can be easily pulled off in the first turn, the Dino Rabbit Deck has an extremely strong opening.
By the time you read their effects, I believe that as everyone you would have been appealed more to Laggia, bigger attack, more things to negate, all in all a Solemn Judgment in legs. But since he is the powerhouse of the Dino Rabbit Deck, most people side Deck cards are sided in to either beat Laggia or stop the Summons that lead to the Evolzars (Rabbit/Normal Dinos). Fossil Dyna Pachycephalo and Snowman Eater are examples of the first. They obviously are good to side against this since they counter the early first turn beginning of the Rabbit Decks even after Laggia's succesful Summon. But they have a big disadvantage: they are all stopped from Dolkka.
When you read Dolkka's effect it does not have the sparkle as the one of Laggia's. I mean what are two negations of only a monster's effect compared to the negate of almost everything else. I mean a Smashing Ground and Dolkka has gone to hell but it proves that in truth Dolkka is more often than not more powerful. Everybody fears a first turn Doomcaliber Knight with a couple of back rows: preventing your Deck to take off while you have to do something to deal with him or he will beat you down. Dolkka is just like that, only about a hunderd times better since not only it does two negations instead of one, survives even after and it has 2300 ATK. Plus he arrives from a Normal Summon essentially. However the reason Dolkka is so powerful is the construction of the Top Decks right now:
Dino Rabbit Deck: Approximately 20 Monsters
Synchro Plant Deck: Approximately 23 Monsters
Agents Deck: Approxiamtely 28 Monsters
Dark World Deck : Approximately 20 Monsters
Karakuri Deck: Approximately 22 Monsters
Each one of them has 20 or more Monsters, meaning that half or more of their Deck is essentially shutted down (and in cases like Karakuris and Plants so are their answers in the Extra Deck). My point is that Dolkka with the right setup is more powerful than Laggia and if I had the money to make a Dino Rabbit Deck I would center it more around Dolkka. However the power of this Deck ability to switch between these two bringing the most optimal for the situation. So as Dino Rabbit is currently in a clash with Plants for the title of the Top Deck of the format, it's core engine definately deserves a high spot in this countdown.
As about everybody should know by now, Rescue Rabbit can be banished to bring two Normal Dinosaur Level 4 Monsters from Deck (usually Kabazauls or Sabersauri) in order to Xyz Summon in any of the two Evolzars. Since this combo can be easily pulled off in the first turn, the Dino Rabbit Deck has an extremely strong opening.
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| Number 4: Rescue Rabbit and Evolzars Laggia & Dolkka |
By the time you read their effects, I believe that as everyone you would have been appealed more to Laggia, bigger attack, more things to negate, all in all a Solemn Judgment in legs. But since he is the powerhouse of the Dino Rabbit Deck, most people side Deck cards are sided in to either beat Laggia or stop the Summons that lead to the Evolzars (Rabbit/Normal Dinos). Fossil Dyna Pachycephalo and Snowman Eater are examples of the first. They obviously are good to side against this since they counter the early first turn beginning of the Rabbit Decks even after Laggia's succesful Summon. But they have a big disadvantage: they are all stopped from Dolkka.
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| Evolzar Laggia |
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| Evolzar Dolkka |
When you read Dolkka's effect it does not have the sparkle as the one of Laggia's. I mean what are two negations of only a monster's effect compared to the negate of almost everything else. I mean a Smashing Ground and Dolkka has gone to hell but it proves that in truth Dolkka is more often than not more powerful. Everybody fears a first turn Doomcaliber Knight with a couple of back rows: preventing your Deck to take off while you have to do something to deal with him or he will beat you down. Dolkka is just like that, only about a hunderd times better since not only it does two negations instead of one, survives even after and it has 2300 ATK. Plus he arrives from a Normal Summon essentially. However the reason Dolkka is so powerful is the construction of the Top Decks right now:
Dino Rabbit Deck: Approximately 20 Monsters
Synchro Plant Deck: Approximately 23 Monsters
Agents Deck: Approxiamtely 28 Monsters
Dark World Deck : Approximately 20 Monsters
Karakuri Deck: Approximately 22 Monsters
Each one of them has 20 or more Monsters, meaning that half or more of their Deck is essentially shutted down (and in cases like Karakuris and Plants so are their answers in the Extra Deck). My point is that Dolkka with the right setup is more powerful than Laggia and if I had the money to make a Dino Rabbit Deck I would center it more around Dolkka. However the power of this Deck ability to switch between these two bringing the most optimal for the situation. So as Dino Rabbit is currently in a clash with Plants for the title of the Top Deck of the format, it's core engine definately deserves a high spot in this countdown.
Monday, 9 January 2012
Number 5! Top 10 Cards of 2011
Fifth in the Countdown for the Top Cards of 2011 is a card that I have reviewed before: Legendary Six Samurai - Shi En.
To make long story short, after the limitation of Gateway of the Six, Six Samurai Decks of March '11 format became focused on this particular Synchro. Giving them a very solid first turn opening while being a target of Double-Edged Sword Technique giving some late game shenanigans, this card is the reason that Six Samurais was the dominant Deck during the first half of March '11 format and a Tier 1 Deck for the rest of it. But this card got hit in Septembers format marking the downfall of Samurais. Anyway you can read more about this card here.
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| Number 5: Legendary Six Samurai - Shi En |
To make long story short, after the limitation of Gateway of the Six, Six Samurai Decks of March '11 format became focused on this particular Synchro. Giving them a very solid first turn opening while being a target of Double-Edged Sword Technique giving some late game shenanigans, this card is the reason that Six Samurais was the dominant Deck during the first half of March '11 format and a Tier 1 Deck for the rest of it. But this card got hit in Septembers format marking the downfall of Samurais. Anyway you can read more about this card here.
Friday, 6 January 2012
Number 6! Top 10 Cards of 2011
In the sixth place of the Countdown for the Top Cards of 2011, we have the ever-threatening Master Hyperion.
This card seems strong in paper but not all that game changing, yet this game is not just theory. The Deck where Master Hyperion acts as a boss, Agents (in all their variants) focus in making the opponent wasting resources to cards like Gachi Gachi Gantetsu before they start swarming the field with multiple bosses like Archlord Kristya, Master Hyperion and Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning. Of these three bosses Kristya at the right time is the most devastating and BLS is the most powerful card in the game right now when summoned. But to be honest Master Hyperion is the one that I fear most. Obviously the first reason for that is that Hyperion has an Unlimited Status unlike the other two, which makes him the most common threat.
But the second reason is the primary one: he is the most difficult to counter. Kristya can be countered by almost any commonly played Trap Card in the game (Solemn Warning & Judgment, Bottomless Trap Hole, Dimensional Prison, Mirror Force etc.) plus it can be destroyed next turn by cards like Fossil Dyna Pachycephalo and Smashing Ground before it can cause any real harm unlike Hyperion which is succesfully stopped only by the Solemn Brigade and a couple of other cards. BLS is also kind of easy to stop in several situations since it needs Darks in the grave and all Agent Variants but the Chaos one run few Darks making cards like Dark Smog, D.D. Crow and Transmigration Prophecy perfect cards to stop him. But Master Hyperion isn't like that. He can brought forth in an instant almost always, even in the first turn of the Agent Player. If the Agent Player does not have an Agent on the Grave (something rare since their early game consists of summoning Venus and Earth) he can just summon him by banising an Agent from his hand. And with Priority still active in the TCG he can just blow up a card before being destoryed by something like Bottomless. Also since Master Hyperion has 2700 ATK Stardust Dragon is never safe against Agents unless he is supported by back row.
All in all Master Hyperion is a devastating card, almost always a plus one or in the very least it forces out a Solemn Card. Plus he is extremely easy to summon in the right Deck. A game-winning card and deifinately one of the best cards of 2011.
This card seems strong in paper but not all that game changing, yet this game is not just theory. The Deck where Master Hyperion acts as a boss, Agents (in all their variants) focus in making the opponent wasting resources to cards like Gachi Gachi Gantetsu before they start swarming the field with multiple bosses like Archlord Kristya, Master Hyperion and Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning. Of these three bosses Kristya at the right time is the most devastating and BLS is the most powerful card in the game right now when summoned. But to be honest Master Hyperion is the one that I fear most. Obviously the first reason for that is that Hyperion has an Unlimited Status unlike the other two, which makes him the most common threat.
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| Number 6: Master Hyperion |
But the second reason is the primary one: he is the most difficult to counter. Kristya can be countered by almost any commonly played Trap Card in the game (Solemn Warning & Judgment, Bottomless Trap Hole, Dimensional Prison, Mirror Force etc.) plus it can be destroyed next turn by cards like Fossil Dyna Pachycephalo and Smashing Ground before it can cause any real harm unlike Hyperion which is succesfully stopped only by the Solemn Brigade and a couple of other cards. BLS is also kind of easy to stop in several situations since it needs Darks in the grave and all Agent Variants but the Chaos one run few Darks making cards like Dark Smog, D.D. Crow and Transmigration Prophecy perfect cards to stop him. But Master Hyperion isn't like that. He can brought forth in an instant almost always, even in the first turn of the Agent Player. If the Agent Player does not have an Agent on the Grave (something rare since their early game consists of summoning Venus and Earth) he can just summon him by banising an Agent from his hand. And with Priority still active in the TCG he can just blow up a card before being destoryed by something like Bottomless. Also since Master Hyperion has 2700 ATK Stardust Dragon is never safe against Agents unless he is supported by back row.
All in all Master Hyperion is a devastating card, almost always a plus one or in the very least it forces out a Solemn Card. Plus he is extremely easy to summon in the right Deck. A game-winning card and deifinately one of the best cards of 2011.
Thursday, 5 January 2012
Number 7! Top 10 Cards of 2011
Seventh in the Countdown for the Top Cards of 2011 there is a card that even though it was released for the greater part of the year it gained a lot of fame only during the last three months. The card of course is Maxx "C", the last addition to the hand trap arsenal.
As it's predecessors, D.D. Crow, Effect Veiler, Battle Fader etc., Maxx "C" has little to no use in the field but it is great in the hand in order to disrupt the opponent's plays. Specifically Maxx "C" has the ability to be chained to a Special Summon and from there to net you a free card every draw every time your opponent Special Summon something. So unlike the other Hand Traps this one is at least a plus zero while thinning your Deck AND restricting the opponent plays, for massive pluses from a Maxx "C" are extremely difficult to handle.
Anyway this card did not saw any play until Billy Brake won it's first YCS gaving shape to the new age plants running double Maxx "C" and after this everyone ran Maxx "C" at triples (including Billy in his second won). I am kind of depressed about this card to be honest, since right after it's release I was supporting it but I finally agreed with everyone else. WROOOOOOOOONG! And now that the trend has change and everyone thinks it's awesome, I have no copy and it's price has spiked up. Anyway Maxx "C" is definately a great card that has changed the Meta and it is one of the reasons for the different gameplay of OCG and TCG.
As it's predecessors, D.D. Crow, Effect Veiler, Battle Fader etc., Maxx "C" has little to no use in the field but it is great in the hand in order to disrupt the opponent's plays. Specifically Maxx "C" has the ability to be chained to a Special Summon and from there to net you a free card every draw every time your opponent Special Summon something. So unlike the other Hand Traps this one is at least a plus zero while thinning your Deck AND restricting the opponent plays, for massive pluses from a Maxx "C" are extremely difficult to handle.
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| Number 7: Maxx "C" |
Anyway this card did not saw any play until Billy Brake won it's first YCS gaving shape to the new age plants running double Maxx "C" and after this everyone ran Maxx "C" at triples (including Billy in his second won). I am kind of depressed about this card to be honest, since right after it's release I was supporting it but I finally agreed with everyone else. WROOOOOOOOONG! And now that the trend has change and everyone thinks it's awesome, I have no copy and it's price has spiked up. Anyway Maxx "C" is definately a great card that has changed the Meta and it is one of the reasons for the different gameplay of OCG and TCG.
Wednesday, 4 January 2012
Number 8! Top 10 Cards of 2011
In the 8th place of the Top Cards for 2011 we have the leader of the most overhyped Archetype of last year, Grapha, Dragon Lord of the Dark World.
Boasting the enormous Attack of 2700 and three powerful effects to assist him, occupying a spot to this list is no surprise. When Grapha is in your hand he can be used as discard fodder while it destroys a card with his first effect. This makes him compatible with the rest of the Dark World Arsenal, making him a target for Dark World Dealings, The Gates of Dark World, Dark Smog, Dragged Down into the Grave etc.
But unlike the rest of Dark World Monsters, when he has use his first effect he is the most useful. By returning a Dark World Monster from the field to the hand you can Special Summon him to the field. A powerful beater with 2700 Attack (3000 if The Gates from Dark World is active). So essentially he is a 2700 ATK that gives you a plus 1 every time you bring him forth. He combos incredibly well with Tour Guide which can be used to summon Leviair, which can be used to Special Summon a banished by Gates Dark World, say Broww. Then you return Broww to hand and bring Grapha forth. Plus 2, like that.
Even though Dark Worlds didn't exactly keeped up with the expectations (they were hyped so much, that one would have thought they were a Tier 0 Deck), they are a very decent Deck with consistent Tops in the last YCS's and Grapha is the card that holds the Deck together. Ergo Grapha is the 8th Card in the Countdown of the best Cards of 2011.
Boasting the enormous Attack of 2700 and three powerful effects to assist him, occupying a spot to this list is no surprise. When Grapha is in your hand he can be used as discard fodder while it destroys a card with his first effect. This makes him compatible with the rest of the Dark World Arsenal, making him a target for Dark World Dealings, The Gates of Dark World, Dark Smog, Dragged Down into the Grave etc.
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| Number 8: Grapha, Dragon Lord of the Dark World |
But unlike the rest of Dark World Monsters, when he has use his first effect he is the most useful. By returning a Dark World Monster from the field to the hand you can Special Summon him to the field. A powerful beater with 2700 Attack (3000 if The Gates from Dark World is active). So essentially he is a 2700 ATK that gives you a plus 1 every time you bring him forth. He combos incredibly well with Tour Guide which can be used to summon Leviair, which can be used to Special Summon a banished by Gates Dark World, say Broww. Then you return Broww to hand and bring Grapha forth. Plus 2, like that.
Even though Dark Worlds didn't exactly keeped up with the expectations (they were hyped so much, that one would have thought they were a Tier 0 Deck), they are a very decent Deck with consistent Tops in the last YCS's and Grapha is the card that holds the Deck together. Ergo Grapha is the 8th Card in the Countdown of the best Cards of 2011.
Tuesday, 3 January 2012
Number 9! Top 10 Cards of 2011
A bit closer to the Top Card of 2011, the 9th place goes to a Rank 3 Xyz Monster of Generation Force with awful stats and a unique ability. I am talking of course about the infamous Leviair the Sea Dragon.
Leviair is one of the reasons why Tour Guide from the Underworld is so great. Simply putted with Tour Guide Levair is a 1800 Normal Summoned beater with the ability to Special Summon a Banished Monster from either player's banished pile.
This essentially helps all of the current Top Decks and many rogue strategies:
In Dino Rabbit, Leviair plays a big role since it helps revive Rescue Rabbit for a second turn Evolzar Laggia or Dolkka.
In Synchro Plants it can bring back Monsters banished by cards like Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning and Spore.
In Agents, Leviair can be used to Special Summon any Monster banished from BLS and Master Hyperion.
In Dark World is also especially useful since they ban A LOT though The Gates of the Dark World.
Leviair is also very powerful in any Deck that uses Dimensional Fissure and Macro Cosmos like Diemnsional Eatos. Also it adds verastility to the upcoming Inzektors since they all are Level 3 and also use Tour Guide.
Resting in the Extra Deck and able to be brought forth anytime, when it's effect is most needed enhancing the abilities of a simple Normal Summon of Tour Guide, helping to make that card one of the most powerful engines of the game. For that reason, Leviair is the 9th best Card of 2011!
Leviair is one of the reasons why Tour Guide from the Underworld is so great. Simply putted with Tour Guide Levair is a 1800 Normal Summoned beater with the ability to Special Summon a Banished Monster from either player's banished pile.
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| Number 9: Leviair the Sea Dragon |
This essentially helps all of the current Top Decks and many rogue strategies:
In Dino Rabbit, Leviair plays a big role since it helps revive Rescue Rabbit for a second turn Evolzar Laggia or Dolkka.
In Synchro Plants it can bring back Monsters banished by cards like Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning and Spore.
In Agents, Leviair can be used to Special Summon any Monster banished from BLS and Master Hyperion.
In Dark World is also especially useful since they ban A LOT though The Gates of the Dark World.
Leviair is also very powerful in any Deck that uses Dimensional Fissure and Macro Cosmos like Diemnsional Eatos. Also it adds verastility to the upcoming Inzektors since they all are Level 3 and also use Tour Guide.
Resting in the Extra Deck and able to be brought forth anytime, when it's effect is most needed enhancing the abilities of a simple Normal Summon of Tour Guide, helping to make that card one of the most powerful engines of the game. For that reason, Leviair is the 9th best Card of 2011!
Monday, 2 January 2012
Number 10! Top 10 Cards of 2011
2011 is over and it was an exciting year in every possible way, Yu-Gi-Oh! and not. Now we have an new year ahead of us with many great events about to come and many new cards, some of them known, most of them not that are bound to change the flow of the Game.
I have been absent for a long time from this blog due to a variety of reasons. Mainly it was the exam period and a long part of my time was going to study. Also despite having a variety of different Deck ideas only a couple of them proved to be useful plus I was trying out the upcoming Archetypes like Inzektors, Wind-Ups, Ninjas,Chaos Dragons, Verz and also Karakuris.
But since 2011 is over, I will do as I planned the Countdown of the best cards printed in TCG during the 2011. And so we begin, with a card prined in Extreme Victory in Common Rarity and was able to single-handedly get (my currently favorite Deck) Karakuris from a local fun Deck to one of the most competitive strategies in this format with consistent tops in the last 4-5 YCS. I am talking of course about Karakuri Komachi mdl 224 "Ninishi".
Having the classic abilities of all non-Synchro Karakuri Monsters of attacking if able and changing battle position when attack along with a high 1900 DEF it is a solid shield even if summoned in face-up Attack Position. But what makes this card so great is it's effect and of course it's status as a Tuner. The effect states that once per turn you can Normal Summon an additional Karakuri Monster (this effect can be used once per turn no matter how many Ninishi you summon, this is to prevent this card from being too broken considering the effects of Karakuri Synchros).
First of all I have to say that if Ninishi stated that you Special Summon instead of Normal Summon it would not have been half as good for two reasons. First it would make Karakuris highly vulnerable to Maxx "C" and second Karakuri Merchant mdl 177 "Inashichi" would not get his effect when summoned through Ninishi. And that second play is one of the most devastating that Karakuris can perform, allowing for a first turn cost-free Naturia Beast, backed up by several backrow sets. It also can be paired with
Karakuri Ninja mdl 919 "Kuick" or Karakuri Soldier mdl 236 "Nisamu" to summon an Naturia Landoise (for negation) or Black Rose Dragon (for destruction) or Karakuri Shogun mdl 00 "Burei" (for swarming), giving access to all sort of plays.
All in all Ninishi is a great card, balanced and designed to help only it's theme greatly without being broken or too powerful. An excellent piece of card design. Plus I like it's artwork, it's wierdly funny. I have to say though that I was debating till the last minute to see if I should include in the 10th place Ninishi or Wind-Up Zenmaines but in the end I had to go with the first due to the better design, since Zenmaines is a hit or miss (the opponent might lose to him but a well timed Caius, Brionac or Cyber Dragon can get over him easily) plus it has yet to show it's true potential.
I have been absent for a long time from this blog due to a variety of reasons. Mainly it was the exam period and a long part of my time was going to study. Also despite having a variety of different Deck ideas only a couple of them proved to be useful plus I was trying out the upcoming Archetypes like Inzektors, Wind-Ups, Ninjas,Chaos Dragons, Verz and also Karakuris.
But since 2011 is over, I will do as I planned the Countdown of the best cards printed in TCG during the 2011. And so we begin, with a card prined in Extreme Victory in Common Rarity and was able to single-handedly get (my currently favorite Deck) Karakuris from a local fun Deck to one of the most competitive strategies in this format with consistent tops in the last 4-5 YCS. I am talking of course about Karakuri Komachi mdl 224 "Ninishi".
Having the classic abilities of all non-Synchro Karakuri Monsters of attacking if able and changing battle position when attack along with a high 1900 DEF it is a solid shield even if summoned in face-up Attack Position. But what makes this card so great is it's effect and of course it's status as a Tuner. The effect states that once per turn you can Normal Summon an additional Karakuri Monster (this effect can be used once per turn no matter how many Ninishi you summon, this is to prevent this card from being too broken considering the effects of Karakuri Synchros).
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| Number 10: Karakuri Komachi mdl 224 "Ninishi" |
First of all I have to say that if Ninishi stated that you Special Summon instead of Normal Summon it would not have been half as good for two reasons. First it would make Karakuris highly vulnerable to Maxx "C" and second Karakuri Merchant mdl 177 "Inashichi" would not get his effect when summoned through Ninishi. And that second play is one of the most devastating that Karakuris can perform, allowing for a first turn cost-free Naturia Beast, backed up by several backrow sets. It also can be paired with
Karakuri Ninja mdl 919 "Kuick" or Karakuri Soldier mdl 236 "Nisamu" to summon an Naturia Landoise (for negation) or Black Rose Dragon (for destruction) or Karakuri Shogun mdl 00 "Burei" (for swarming), giving access to all sort of plays.
All in all Ninishi is a great card, balanced and designed to help only it's theme greatly without being broken or too powerful. An excellent piece of card design. Plus I like it's artwork, it's wierdly funny. I have to say though that I was debating till the last minute to see if I should include in the 10th place Ninishi or Wind-Up Zenmaines but in the end I had to go with the first due to the better design, since Zenmaines is a hit or miss (the opponent might lose to him but a well timed Caius, Brionac or Cyber Dragon can get over him easily) plus it has yet to show it's true potential.
Friday, 11 November 2011
Number 1! Top 10 Synchro Monsters Level 5 or less
After two weeks we have here the Number One Synchro Monster in the Level 5 or less Category: T.G. Hyper Librarian.
His Generic Requirements along with extremely powerful effect that allows multiple pluses especially when used along with Formula Synchron made him a target for the Ban List only a few months after it's intial release. Just an example to see how broken it was last format: You Special Summon Treeborn Frog and follow with Fishborg Blaster, you Normal Summon Rescue Rabbit and activate it's effect to bring 2 Water Normal Monsters. Tune the first with Fishborg for a Librarian, revive Fishborg again and Synchro for a Second Librarian in the process. Next revive Fishborg again and Tune it with Treeborn for Formula Synchron drawing 3 Cards (!) and then Synchro Formula and the 2 Librarians for Shooting Quasar Dragon claiming game in the majority of occasions.
There are many other combos that Librarian made possible or easier in a variety of Synchro heavy Decks like Plants, Infernities, Fish, Flamvell etc. but I believe that the previous one is the most obvious example of the brokeness of Librarian. However I believe that in Limited Status he is good, useful in some Decks and not useful in others (especially now that Xyz start having their own Decks) and I disagree with those that want him to enter the Ban List. No matter what he is a great Synchro and the Best in his category.
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| Number 1: T.G. Hyper Librarian |
His Generic Requirements along with extremely powerful effect that allows multiple pluses especially when used along with Formula Synchron made him a target for the Ban List only a few months after it's intial release. Just an example to see how broken it was last format: You Special Summon Treeborn Frog and follow with Fishborg Blaster, you Normal Summon Rescue Rabbit and activate it's effect to bring 2 Water Normal Monsters. Tune the first with Fishborg for a Librarian, revive Fishborg again and Synchro for a Second Librarian in the process. Next revive Fishborg again and Tune it with Treeborn for Formula Synchron drawing 3 Cards (!) and then Synchro Formula and the 2 Librarians for Shooting Quasar Dragon claiming game in the majority of occasions.
There are many other combos that Librarian made possible or easier in a variety of Synchro heavy Decks like Plants, Infernities, Fish, Flamvell etc. but I believe that the previous one is the most obvious example of the brokeness of Librarian. However I believe that in Limited Status he is good, useful in some Decks and not useful in others (especially now that Xyz start having their own Decks) and I disagree with those that want him to enter the Ban List. No matter what he is a great Synchro and the Best in his category.
Thursday, 10 November 2011
Number 2! Top 10 Synchro Monsters Level 5 or less
In the second place for the Top Synchro Monsters Level 5 or less
there is the most commonly used Synchro of this category due to it's
Generic requiremnts and to it's always good effect, Ally of Justice
Catastor.
Ally of Justice Catastor has a very good effect that allows him to destroy any non-Dark Monster in which he attacks at the start of the Damage Step. He cannot destroy face-down Monsters with his effect but he still is a great answer to almost anything. Personally I consider him as the only staple Level 5 Synchro in any Deck.
Nothing more to add. Any player knows how great Catastor is and he does not need me to confirm.
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| Number 2: Ally of Justice Catastor |
Ally of Justice Catastor has a very good effect that allows him to destroy any non-Dark Monster in which he attacks at the start of the Damage Step. He cannot destroy face-down Monsters with his effect but he still is a great answer to almost anything. Personally I consider him as the only staple Level 5 Synchro in any Deck.
Nothing more to add. Any player knows how great Catastor is and he does not need me to confirm.
Wednesday, 9 November 2011
Number 3! Top 10 Synchro Monsters Level 5 or less
For the 4th place of our Coundown we have a powerful Synchro that dominated the Duels duirng the previous format till it's Limitation by the Septemeber 2011 Ban List. I am talking about the infamous Legendary Six Samurai - Shi En.
With a body of 2500 ATK points, Shi En stands out from most other Level 5 Monsters. This, paired to his two awesome effects equals a Monster that is extremely hard to bring down. His first effect allows one free negation of Spell or Trap Card per turn while the second allows you to destroy another Six Samurai in his place. Easily summoned by a simple Kageki-Kagemusha play and protected from destruction when being in the field with cards like Legendary Six Samurai - Kizan or Grandmaster of the Six Samurai, this card was a pain in the ass to get rid off when he was at three. Now he is much more easier just activate Solemn Warning and he is gone for the rest of the Duel.
I have seen a lot of arguements debating whether Shi En is superior to Naturia Beast or the opposite. My opinion is that even though Naturia Beast has a by far better negating effect it loses to Shi En to everything else. He has a bigger body of 2500 ATK in contrast to the small 2200 of Beast and he has a second protection effect. But his biggest advantage is the synergy he has with cards like Musakani Magatama, Double-Sword Edged Technique and Six Samurai United while Beast has very limited useful support. For these reasons Legendary Six Samurai - Shi En is the Number 3 in our Countdown.
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| Number 3: Legendary Six Samurai - Shi En |
With a body of 2500 ATK points, Shi En stands out from most other Level 5 Monsters. This, paired to his two awesome effects equals a Monster that is extremely hard to bring down. His first effect allows one free negation of Spell or Trap Card per turn while the second allows you to destroy another Six Samurai in his place. Easily summoned by a simple Kageki-Kagemusha play and protected from destruction when being in the field with cards like Legendary Six Samurai - Kizan or Grandmaster of the Six Samurai, this card was a pain in the ass to get rid off when he was at three. Now he is much more easier just activate Solemn Warning and he is gone for the rest of the Duel.
I have seen a lot of arguements debating whether Shi En is superior to Naturia Beast or the opposite. My opinion is that even though Naturia Beast has a by far better negating effect it loses to Shi En to everything else. He has a bigger body of 2500 ATK in contrast to the small 2200 of Beast and he has a second protection effect. But his biggest advantage is the synergy he has with cards like Musakani Magatama, Double-Sword Edged Technique and Six Samurai United while Beast has very limited useful support. For these reasons Legendary Six Samurai - Shi En is the Number 3 in our Countdown.
Tuesday, 8 November 2011
Number 4! Top 10 Synchro Monster Level 5 or less
Today's card is a powerful Synchro that has not seen lots of play due to it's hard summoning requirements. Naturia Beast is the Number 4 in our list.
Since Beast requires Earth Monsters as it's non-Tuners the Decks he can be summoned are kind of limited: X-Sabers, T.G.s, Karakuris, Six Samurais, Gadgets(with Glow-Up Bulb) and obviously Naturias are the primary Decks that can fulill easier this cards requirements. However he worths the effort since he is able to negate a huge part of the opponent's Deck by completely locking the Spell Card while he mills the Deck (which more often than not is good).
The downside to him is that he has a small body of 2200 ATK and no sort of protection other than his effect. So he like other cards like Steelswarm Roach shines in Decks with heavy Trap Line-Ups that are able to protect him from opposing threats while he locks the opponent with his effect. Without the Trap Support he is not all that hard to get rid off with a decent hand even though he still can cause some problems.
All in all he is a balanced card with decent effect and I am kind of glad he is not splashable everywhere since some Decks where gonna love him. I believe that Synchros like him that are limited to the Type or Attribute instead of the Archetype or the Generic ones are those that are good to the game since they are splashable to a lot of Decks but not everywhere causing problems.
Since Beast requires Earth Monsters as it's non-Tuners the Decks he can be summoned are kind of limited: X-Sabers, T.G.s, Karakuris, Six Samurais, Gadgets(with Glow-Up Bulb) and obviously Naturias are the primary Decks that can fulill easier this cards requirements. However he worths the effort since he is able to negate a huge part of the opponent's Deck by completely locking the Spell Card while he mills the Deck (which more often than not is good).
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| Number 4: Naturia Beast |
The downside to him is that he has a small body of 2200 ATK and no sort of protection other than his effect. So he like other cards like Steelswarm Roach shines in Decks with heavy Trap Line-Ups that are able to protect him from opposing threats while he locks the opponent with his effect. Without the Trap Support he is not all that hard to get rid off with a decent hand even though he still can cause some problems.
All in all he is a balanced card with decent effect and I am kind of glad he is not splashable everywhere since some Decks where gonna love him. I believe that Synchros like him that are limited to the Type or Attribute instead of the Archetype or the Generic ones are those that are good to the game since they are splashable to a lot of Decks but not everywhere causing problems.
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