I've been playing around with them lately. Here's the shaky initial build.
//Monsters
2|Dt07|Dragunity - Primus Pilus
3|Dt06|Dragunity - Dux
3|Dt06|Dragunity - Legion
3|Dt06|Dragunity - Phalanx
2|Dt08|Dragunity - Pilum
2|Dt08|Dragunity - Corsesca
1|Dt07|Dragunity - Brandistock
1|Dt06|Dragunity - Black Spear
1|Mrd|Sangan
//Spells
3|Abpf|Cards of Consonance
2|Een|Pot of Avarice
2|Pgd|Book of Moon
1|Mrd|Heavy Storm
1|Mrl|Giant Trunade
1|Mrl|Mystical Space Typhoon
1|Tlm|Brain Control
1|Wc5|Mind Control
//Traps
2|Eoj|Icarus Attack
2|Lod|Bottomless Trap Hole
1|Lon|Torrential Tribute
1|Mrd|Mirror Force
1|Mrd|Solemn Judgment
1|Ddy2|Starlight Road
1|Psv|Call of the Haunted
1|Pgd|Trap Dustshoot
//Extra|Deck
1|Ha01|Ally of Justice Catastor
1|Tdgs|Magical Android
1|Ha01|Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier
2|Dt06|Dragunity Knight - Gadearg
2|Le16|Dragunity Knight - Vajuranda
1|Tdgs|Goyo Guardian
1|Csoc|Black Rose Dragon
1|Dt07|Dragunity Knight - Trident
1|Dt08|Dragunity Knight - Barchha
1|5ds1|Colossal Fighter
2|Tdgs|Stardust Dragon
1|Dt08|Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier
The ideal opening hand is Consonance and Phalanx, and either having or drawing into Dux. It's pretty hard to lose after dropping Gadearg on turn 1. After playing the deck, you'll notice it has a lot of cool combos; mid game, that Dux and Phalanx combo can turn into any other level 6 Synchro you see fit, or a level 8 by way of Vajuranda
Needless to say, Phalanx is a real champ and outclasses the rest of the Dragunity tuners by far, though Corsesca is really something, and Brandistock gets an honorable mention. Pilum is only really any good because you can drop Primus Pilus with it, and opt not to equip in favor of using Primus Pilus' effect instead. Beyond that, Pilum doesn't have a whole lot of merit. Black Spear hasn't been helpful at all.
That said, I'm dropping Black Spear for the third Primus Pilus, who isn't so bad. The deck, like every other, probably could use Gorz...
"Mind Control" hasn't been so hot thus far. "Icarus Attack" doesn't seem to suit the deck very well either since the winged beasts are either not expendable or not there. "Book of Moon" may be king of the meta, but it hasn't been exceptionally helpful, so I'm not sure if I'll keep them.
I'm generally at peace with the rest of the deck, though anything to buff consistency would be helpful. At least one "Gold Sarcophagus" seems to be a shoe-in for that reason.
Is there anything else I could use?
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Kevin's Mind Games
http://www.pojo.biz/board/showthread.php?t=823096
Okay, so from what I can deduce...
The new toad in TSHD is allegedly called "Ronintoadin" in the English TCG. I am amused.
"Spore" has retained its name for the English TCG.
Some new card in TSHD combos well with "Dandylion" and will be even more awesome after Duelist Revolution. Apparently it's called "Snyffus"... or at least, that's part of the name.
"Fabled Raven" won't be released for many moons. That could mean... anything really.
More Sabers... wow.
And... "Rose Bird" is getting a name change.
Okay, so from what I can deduce...
The new toad in TSHD is allegedly called "Ronintoadin" in the English TCG. I am amused.
"Spore" has retained its name for the English TCG.
Some new card in TSHD combos well with "Dandylion" and will be even more awesome after Duelist Revolution. Apparently it's called "Snyffus"... or at least, that's part of the name.
"Fabled Raven" won't be released for many moons. That could mean... anything really.
More Sabers... wow.
And... "Rose Bird" is getting a name change.
Monday, March 29, 2010
XX-Saber Boggart Knight
The sneak preview participation card for The Shining Darkness has been announced, and I have to say that I'm impressed.
XX-Saber Boggart Knight
Level 4/EARTH
Beast-Warrior/Effect
1900 ATK/1000 DEF
When this card is Normal Summoned, you can Special Summon 1 "X-Saber" monster from your hand. This card cannot be used as Synchro Material Monster, except for the Synchro Summon of a "X-Saber" monster.
"Marauding Captain" might not be anything special anymore, but Boggart Knight takes that concept and turns it up a notch for the X-Saber deck.
I'm not going to waste my time repeating what has already been said here:
http://www.konami.com/yugioh/articles/?p=1647
Just bear in mind that losing a card to Synchro Summon is not the best of moves; it's usually better to just flop down Boggart and Airbellum to reap the sheer advantage the play causes.
Boggart Knight will play a pivotal role in X-Saber decks as a solid beater, easy Faultroll setup, and general speed demon. He's a great card to fall back on should Cat ever bite the bullet.
XX-Saber Boggart Knight
Level 4/EARTH
Beast-Warrior/Effect
1900 ATK/1000 DEF
When this card is Normal Summoned, you can Special Summon 1 "X-Saber" monster from your hand. This card cannot be used as Synchro Material Monster, except for the Synchro Summon of a "X-Saber" monster.
"Marauding Captain" might not be anything special anymore, but Boggart Knight takes that concept and turns it up a notch for the X-Saber deck.
I'm not going to waste my time repeating what has already been said here:
http://www.konami.com/yugioh/articles/?p=1647
Just bear in mind that losing a card to Synchro Summon is not the best of moves; it's usually better to just flop down Boggart and Airbellum to reap the sheer advantage the play causes.
Boggart Knight will play a pivotal role in X-Saber decks as a solid beater, easy Faultroll setup, and general speed demon. He's a great card to fall back on should Cat ever bite the bullet.
Colossal Arms Hurt
Does your opponent control a monster with 1900+ ATK?
Can you Synchro Summon both "Colossal Fighter" and "Armory Arm" safely?
Will "Colossal Fighter" have less ATK than the opposing monster if that monster is equipped with "Armory Arm"?
Can you attack safely?
OTK your opponent, with style.
Can you Synchro Summon both "Colossal Fighter" and "Armory Arm" safely?
Will "Colossal Fighter" have less ATK than the opposing monster if that monster is equipped with "Armory Arm"?
Can you attack safely?
OTK your opponent, with style.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Ruling Corner - Random, (Most Likely) Unwritten Rules
#1. A card you control is a card on your side of the field. An effect you control is an effect you activated or applied, intentionally or not.
---
#2. You can never use cards your opponent controls to fulfill a cost or perform a summon unless a card explicitly mentions you can.
---
#3. Face-down cards do not have any verifiable properties beyond being "a monster" or "a spell or trap card."
Exceptions:
Tributing a monster for a cost, be it for a summon or a card like "Icarus Attack."
Performing the inherent special summoning method of a Fusion Monster using your own cards, such as "Chimeratech Fortress Dragon," "Gladiator Beast Gyzarus," or "Elemental Hero Air Neos." Note that this only extends to using your own cards, and as such your opponent's face-down machines cannot be used for "Chimeratech Fortress Dragon."
Performing a Fusion Summon. The method doesn't matter. Again, your opponent's face-down cards cannot be used for the likes of "Super Polymerization" if specific requirements need to be met for the Fusion Monster.
Performing a Ritual Summon.
As you can see, the tribute and fusion mechanics tend to be pretty lenient. Obviously, all these exceptions are void if the card in question asks you for face-up monsters.
---
#4. Unless they explicitly or implicitly say so themselves, or are ruled that way, monsters do not need to remain face-up on the field for their effects that have already been activated to resolve properly.
For example, "Mist Valley Soldier" explicitly states it must remain face-up for its effect to work. "Light and Darkness Dragon" implies it, since it needs to be able to alter its own stats. "Zombie Master" is ruled that way due to missing text in the TCG.
---
#5. Effects ALWAYS activate and resolve in the same place. There is no exception to this.
---
#6. Effects cannot be activated in the middle of a resolving chain. Mandatory effects will wait until the next possible opportunity to activate if their trigger was met in the middle of a resolving chain.
---
#2. You can never use cards your opponent controls to fulfill a cost or perform a summon unless a card explicitly mentions you can.
---
#3. Face-down cards do not have any verifiable properties beyond being "a monster" or "a spell or trap card."
Exceptions:
Tributing a monster for a cost, be it for a summon or a card like "Icarus Attack."
Performing the inherent special summoning method of a Fusion Monster using your own cards, such as "Chimeratech Fortress Dragon," "Gladiator Beast Gyzarus," or "Elemental Hero Air Neos." Note that this only extends to using your own cards, and as such your opponent's face-down machines cannot be used for "Chimeratech Fortress Dragon."
Performing a Fusion Summon. The method doesn't matter. Again, your opponent's face-down cards cannot be used for the likes of "Super Polymerization" if specific requirements need to be met for the Fusion Monster.
Performing a Ritual Summon.
As you can see, the tribute and fusion mechanics tend to be pretty lenient. Obviously, all these exceptions are void if the card in question asks you for face-up monsters.
---
#4. Unless they explicitly or implicitly say so themselves, or are ruled that way, monsters do not need to remain face-up on the field for their effects that have already been activated to resolve properly.
For example, "Mist Valley Soldier" explicitly states it must remain face-up for its effect to work. "Light and Darkness Dragon" implies it, since it needs to be able to alter its own stats. "Zombie Master" is ruled that way due to missing text in the TCG.
---
#5. Effects ALWAYS activate and resolve in the same place. There is no exception to this.
---
#6. Effects cannot be activated in the middle of a resolving chain. Mandatory effects will wait until the next possible opportunity to activate if their trigger was met in the middle of a resolving chain.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Future Fusion
The card is rigged as hell, seriously. "Foolish Burial" has proven to be troublesome enough as the graveyard has become more and more lively, but at its worst, "Future Fusion" acts as two of them. At its best, it's akin to "Painful Choice" in both acceleration and toolbox ability.
One could say it's the fault of the fusions for turning it into such a monstrosity. That's not untrue, per say, but when going down the list of fusions it becomes apparent that there are far too many of them that would need to take bans in order to allow "Future Fusion" to run around in multiples, and it just isn't worth it, especially if increasing diversity is a goal held high.
That said, "Future Fusion" is probably going to be sticking around for a long time to come since it hasn't done much harm to the meta at one.
In the mean time, abuse it in Dragons to see how truly bogus it can be. Other good places for "Future Fusion" include Machines, Worms (OCG), Elemental Heroes, Geminis, and... that's about all that comes to mind.
Friday, March 26, 2010
I Forgot How Fun This Was
Here are a couple more Jack-oriented Create-A-Cards I recently concocted.
Beckoning Archfiend
DARK/Level 4
Fiend/Effect
1700 ATK/1200 DEF
Tribute this card. During your next Standby Phase, by removing the appropriate Synchro Material monsters in your Graveyard from play, Special Summon one DARK Synchro monster from your Extra Deck (this Special Summon is treated as a Synchro Summon).
Sentipede
DARK/Level 4
Insect/Synchro/Effect
1900 ATK/1900 DEF
1 Tuner Monster + "Dark Bug"
When this card is Synchro Summoned, return all Set Spell and Trap cards your opponent controls to their owners' hands. If you returned two or more cards, inflict 1000 damage to your opponent.
I WOULD make a pun like that.
If you'd like, go check out the ideas other people have proposed, and maybe you could even join in on the fun yourself.
http://www.pojo.biz/board/showthread.php?t=822740
Beckoning Archfiend
DARK/Level 4
Fiend/Effect
1700 ATK/1200 DEF
Tribute this card. During your next Standby Phase, by removing the appropriate Synchro Material monsters in your Graveyard from play, Special Summon one DARK Synchro monster from your Extra Deck (this Special Summon is treated as a Synchro Summon).
Sentipede
DARK/Level 4
Insect/Synchro/Effect
1900 ATK/1900 DEF
1 Tuner Monster + "Dark Bug"
When this card is Synchro Summoned, return all Set Spell and Trap cards your opponent controls to their owners' hands. If you returned two or more cards, inflict 1000 damage to your opponent.
I WOULD make a pun like that.
If you'd like, go check out the ideas other people have proposed, and maybe you could even join in on the fun yourself.
http://www.pojo.biz/board/showthread.php?t=822740
...
Trying to solve computer troubles on your own will only make things worse - guaranteed.
Surprisingly, the router, modem, and so forth are in working order, and my laptop here connects to them just fine (and the laptop is fully functional).
The desktop computer is in much dismay, as am I for agreeing to help the old man do a bunch of unnecessary junk with it.
And all because he contracted Koobface.
Yeah, don't do that.
Surprisingly, the router, modem, and so forth are in working order, and my laptop here connects to them just fine (and the laptop is fully functional).
The desktop computer is in much dismay, as am I for agreeing to help the old man do a bunch of unnecessary junk with it.
And all because he contracted Koobface.
Yeah, don't do that.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Troubleshooting Ahoy
I've been helping my dad with computer issues for the past several hours... issues which probably have not yet been concluded. There might be some minor problems with mine too for all I know, but those are issues for another day (if they exist).
Allow me to sigh and express... animosity!!!
Allow me to sigh and express... animosity!!!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Gold Series 3 - Highly Relevant
http://www.yugioh-card.com/en/products/gs-gs2010.html
Wow. It looks like we're in for a real all-star lineup this time around!
The inclusion of "Blackwing Armor Master" and "Blackwing Armed Wing" truly put Blackwings in the hands of even the most budget of budget players if they're just willing to track the cards down at their locals and do some smart trading.
The Destiny Hero engine may be dead at the moment, but that probably won't be the case forever, so there isn't any reason not to snatch up common versions of "Destiny Hero - Malicious" and "Destiny Draw" while Gold Series 3 is on the shelves.
"Thunder King Rai-Oh" has been hard to come by lately since the manga that made it available in the first place has been out of production, and having being the kingpin of anti-meta strategies for awhile, this was well-deserved.
"Plaguespreader Zombie" and "Judgment Dragon" are showing up just as their decks have been kicked off their high-horse, but these two cards are still fantastic finds and will be among the most popular in the set.
"Infernity Archfiend" doesn't make a whole lot of sense when looking at what people have been using for the past year or two, but since the card is a 3-of staple in an up and coming deck that Konami really wants to push, it makes for a great marketing choice.
It's about time "Vice Dragon" made its debut! That's been kept from the TCG for how long? It's possible that "Vice Dragon" is here to make up for the lack of a SJCS prize card. Ironically, it doesn't do that very well, but fans of the anime will scoop them up anyway!
Amazoness cards in Duelist Revolution? The surprises just keep on coming!
Gold Series 3 seems like another product that is very much worth buying, and I don't say that very often.
Wow. It looks like we're in for a real all-star lineup this time around!
The inclusion of "Blackwing Armor Master" and "Blackwing Armed Wing" truly put Blackwings in the hands of even the most budget of budget players if they're just willing to track the cards down at their locals and do some smart trading.
The Destiny Hero engine may be dead at the moment, but that probably won't be the case forever, so there isn't any reason not to snatch up common versions of "Destiny Hero - Malicious" and "Destiny Draw" while Gold Series 3 is on the shelves.
"Thunder King Rai-Oh" has been hard to come by lately since the manga that made it available in the first place has been out of production, and having being the kingpin of anti-meta strategies for awhile, this was well-deserved.
"Plaguespreader Zombie" and "Judgment Dragon" are showing up just as their decks have been kicked off their high-horse, but these two cards are still fantastic finds and will be among the most popular in the set.
"Infernity Archfiend" doesn't make a whole lot of sense when looking at what people have been using for the past year or two, but since the card is a 3-of staple in an up and coming deck that Konami really wants to push, it makes for a great marketing choice.
It's about time "Vice Dragon" made its debut! That's been kept from the TCG for how long? It's possible that "Vice Dragon" is here to make up for the lack of a SJCS prize card. Ironically, it doesn't do that very well, but fans of the anime will scoop them up anyway!
Amazoness cards in Duelist Revolution? The surprises just keep on coming!
Gold Series 3 seems like another product that is very much worth buying, and I don't say that very often.
Machina Too Good
True story.
Gearframe is amazing; I'd argue it's actually better than Stratos at the moment. Sure, it can't get anywhere near as many things, but you can run 3 of it, and...
Peacekeeper leads right back into Gearframe! Floating like mad!
Fortress is a fantastic finisher and renders Stardust nearly useless due to being able to +1 by clashing with it in battle.
Limiter with union shenanigans...
Surprise "Roll Out!" on a Peacekeeper to protect Fortress...
A set or two of Gadgets to round things out.
The deck is just so consistent and has so many solid plays that other decks get exhausted in no time.
I rather like being able to play a card and not give a damn what happens to it.
Gearframe is amazing; I'd argue it's actually better than Stratos at the moment. Sure, it can't get anywhere near as many things, but you can run 3 of it, and...
Peacekeeper leads right back into Gearframe! Floating like mad!
Fortress is a fantastic finisher and renders Stardust nearly useless due to being able to +1 by clashing with it in battle.
Limiter with union shenanigans...
Surprise "Roll Out!" on a Peacekeeper to protect Fortress...
A set or two of Gadgets to round things out.
The deck is just so consistent and has so many solid plays that other decks get exhausted in no time.
I rather like being able to play a card and not give a damn what happens to it.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
This Barely Qualifies as a Post
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUBkui5R_R4
So sue me.
I really can't think of anything else to say for now. I'll probably post a build later.
So sue me.
I really can't think of anything else to say for now. I'll probably post a build later.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Oh Dear God
http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/7108/imgp0410.jpg
Blurry as hell, but...
"If you're not keen on using your "Hundred-Eyes Dragon," then arm yourself with "Infernity Barrier." "Infernity Barrier" is a world-premiere card in The Shining Darkness you can use if you control an Attack Position Infernity monster. This Trap Card lets you negate the activation and effect of any card your opponent controls, and destroy the card
..."
There are a few more words to complete that final sentence that aren't on in the image.
Wow. YGO just broke. Again.
Glad I was on the bandwagon in the first place.
Blurry as hell, but...
"If you're not keen on using your "Hundred-Eyes Dragon," then arm yourself with "Infernity Barrier." "Infernity Barrier" is a world-premiere card in The Shining Darkness you can use if you control an Attack Position Infernity monster. This Trap Card lets you negate the activation and effect of any card your opponent controls, and destroy the card
..."
There are a few more words to complete that final sentence that aren't on in the image.
Wow. YGO just broke. Again.
Glad I was on the bandwagon in the first place.
Predicting the Future: September 1st, 2010 Ban List
A bit soon to be making calls for this, I know, which is why I'm not going to try to draft an entire list, but...
Newly Limited:
"Des Frog"
"Fishborg Blaster"
"Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier"
Frogs are now fixed.
Prove me wrong?
Newly Limited:
"Des Frog"
"Fishborg Blaster"
"Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier"
Frogs are now fixed.
Prove me wrong?
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Best. Duels. Ever.
Excuse me if my posting rate drops off for awhile, but I played some inspirational games last night, so I'm in the process of pursuing the deck concept I've had on hold for... quite some time.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Bogus Weather, Breaking News
Well, this is depressing. I went to sleep at a decent time for a change with the idea of going to locals for the first time in a few months, but I wake up to find that it's SNOWING, and rather vehemently. This is after a few days worth of at least 60 degree temperatures.
On the flip side, Tewart spilled some highly relevant TCG information yesterday.
http://www.konami.com/yugioh/articles/?p=1622
What can be deduced from the article?
Hidden Arsenal 2, being released in July, contains the 60 new cards from the OCG DT03 and DT04 sets. Naturias, Jurracs, and the Fabled monsters will finally be seeing their TCG debut!
The OCG DT02 cards (the new cards in the first English DUEL TERMINAL set) are going to be scattered throughout other products this year. This is understandable; DT02 was rather underwhelming, it's not hard to find 30 spare card slots in so many products, and the end result is an easier to manage track of Hidden Arsenal releases.
There is a high probability that "X-Saber Wayne" will be replacing "Gaia Knight, the Force of the Earth" for the TCG version of the 2010 Starter Deck.
Common Malicious in Gold Series 3? Yes, please! Now everyone can build decks with one of the best free Synchro Material monsters in the game!
"Reese the Ice Mistress" makes for a solid common in GLD3 as well.
It's doubtful that anyone would want to pull "Ally of Justice Light Gazer" in a pack of The Shining Darkness... win some, lose some.
The other X-Sabers that are exciting everybody could feasibly be in any of these products (TSHD, 5DS3, GLD3).
Let's hope the rest of the year is this grand, eh?
On the flip side, Tewart spilled some highly relevant TCG information yesterday.
http://www.konami.com/yugioh/articles/?p=1622
What can be deduced from the article?
Hidden Arsenal 2, being released in July, contains the 60 new cards from the OCG DT03 and DT04 sets. Naturias, Jurracs, and the Fabled monsters will finally be seeing their TCG debut!
The OCG DT02 cards (the new cards in the first English DUEL TERMINAL set) are going to be scattered throughout other products this year. This is understandable; DT02 was rather underwhelming, it's not hard to find 30 spare card slots in so many products, and the end result is an easier to manage track of Hidden Arsenal releases.
There is a high probability that "X-Saber Wayne" will be replacing "Gaia Knight, the Force of the Earth" for the TCG version of the 2010 Starter Deck.
Common Malicious in Gold Series 3? Yes, please! Now everyone can build decks with one of the best free Synchro Material monsters in the game!
"Reese the Ice Mistress" makes for a solid common in GLD3 as well.
It's doubtful that anyone would want to pull "Ally of Justice Light Gazer" in a pack of The Shining Darkness... win some, lose some.
The other X-Sabers that are exciting everybody could feasibly be in any of these products (TSHD, 5DS3, GLD3).
Let's hope the rest of the year is this grand, eh?
Friday, March 19, 2010
???
Profit!
Excuse the meme, but I DID just finish loosely organizing my binder, and what a sad sight it is! I've got some decent enough cards, but none over $5 in value that come to mind that I'd be willing to trade.
Playing Infernity is one thing I want to do above all else, and if that means having an underwhelming binder, so be it. I guess I'm stubborn.
Hopefully I can find work soon to generate the money I'll need to make that wish come true.
Excuse the meme, but I DID just finish loosely organizing my binder, and what a sad sight it is! I've got some decent enough cards, but none over $5 in value that come to mind that I'd be willing to trade.
Playing Infernity is one thing I want to do above all else, and if that means having an underwhelming binder, so be it. I guess I'm stubborn.
Hopefully I can find work soon to generate the money I'll need to make that wish come true.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
A Few New Products
I assume everyone who actually bothers to read this blog hangs around Pojo, so this probably isn't a surprise, but I figured I'd put it here anyway.
Gold Series 3 has been confirmed.
That was expected, but then we have...
"Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon" card sleeves? That's pretty nice. While I'm not particularly excited about it myself, I'm sure there are a ton of fans out there drooling over it.
Gold Series 3 has been confirmed.
That was expected, but then we have...
"Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon" card sleeves? That's pretty nice. While I'm not particularly excited about it myself, I'm sure there are a ton of fans out there drooling over it.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Haven't Done This in Ages...
The Create-A-Card process is something of which I've been fairly fond in recent times, though my idea pool evaporated at some point along the way, so I haven't been cranking out fan creations like I used to.
Inspiration came, however, when I stopped by the Complete the Card Above You thread on Pojo earlier this morning, so I figured I'd post my results here for everyone's enjoyment (or disgust, I dunno).
The first is a Fusion with the intent of being used by Jack Atlas. It was inspired by the Synchro-Fusion concept in Duelist Revolution, with the stats and nature of the costs borrowed from the cover card.
Maldrake Shaman
DARK/Level 10
Dragon/Fusion/Effect
3200 ATK/2000 DEF
1 Dragon-Type Synchro Monster + 1 Fiend-Type Monster
This card cannot be Special Summoned from the Extra Deck except by Fusion Summon. If the only monsters your opponent controls are defense position monsters, you can remove 1 Dragon-Type Synchro Monster in your graveyard from play to allow this card to attack directly this turn. If the only monsters your opponent controls are attack position monsters, you can remove 1 Fiend-Type monster in your graveyard from play to allow this card to attack all of your opponent's monsters once each this turn.
I'm fairly confident that I didn't go overboard on this guy. The activation requirements for the effects are situational enough. I tacked on some easy costs out of fear that it might be too strong. All in all, it suits Jack's style and his deck as we know it.
Then we've got a trap designed to be a mirror of "Starlight Road" in the sense that it mimics the effect of "Red Dragon Archfiend" in a roundabout way and gives easy access to it.
Scarlet Sinkhole
Normal Trap
Activate when your opponent Sets a monster, or Special Summons a monster in face-down defense position. Destroy that monster. Then, you can Special Summon 1 "Red Dragon Archfiend" from your Extra Deck. Destroy it during the End Phase if your opponent does not control a monster at that time.
I did a lot of thinking about this one. It went through a lot of different names, different effects, balance checks, and so forth...
I think the end result is solid, perhaps a little underwhelming, but other limitations I thought of tacking on it would have either rendered it unusable or too strong for a player who was already winning.
That's it for now, but I imagine I could churn out more cards if given ideas upon which to build. *wink wink, nudge nudge*
Inspiration came, however, when I stopped by the Complete the Card Above You thread on Pojo earlier this morning, so I figured I'd post my results here for everyone's enjoyment (or disgust, I dunno).
The first is a Fusion with the intent of being used by Jack Atlas. It was inspired by the Synchro-Fusion concept in Duelist Revolution, with the stats and nature of the costs borrowed from the cover card.
Maldrake Shaman
DARK/Level 10
Dragon/Fusion/Effect
3200 ATK/2000 DEF
1 Dragon-Type Synchro Monster + 1 Fiend-Type Monster
This card cannot be Special Summoned from the Extra Deck except by Fusion Summon. If the only monsters your opponent controls are defense position monsters, you can remove 1 Dragon-Type Synchro Monster in your graveyard from play to allow this card to attack directly this turn. If the only monsters your opponent controls are attack position monsters, you can remove 1 Fiend-Type monster in your graveyard from play to allow this card to attack all of your opponent's monsters once each this turn.
I'm fairly confident that I didn't go overboard on this guy. The activation requirements for the effects are situational enough. I tacked on some easy costs out of fear that it might be too strong. All in all, it suits Jack's style and his deck as we know it.
Then we've got a trap designed to be a mirror of "Starlight Road" in the sense that it mimics the effect of "Red Dragon Archfiend" in a roundabout way and gives easy access to it.
Scarlet Sinkhole
Normal Trap
Activate when your opponent Sets a monster, or Special Summons a monster in face-down defense position. Destroy that monster. Then, you can Special Summon 1 "Red Dragon Archfiend" from your Extra Deck. Destroy it during the End Phase if your opponent does not control a monster at that time.
I did a lot of thinking about this one. It went through a lot of different names, different effects, balance checks, and so forth...
I think the end result is solid, perhaps a little underwhelming, but other limitations I thought of tacking on it would have either rendered it unusable or too strong for a player who was already winning.
That's it for now, but I imagine I could churn out more cards if given ideas upon which to build. *wink wink, nudge nudge*
Revolution? I doubt it...
http://www.pojo.biz/board/showpost.php?p=17271485&postcount=913
I had high hopes for Duelist Revolution after the initial few cards were revealed, but now that we know the bulk of the set is loaded with underwhelming anime cards, a filler archetype, and not nearly enough of the fusion support the set was supposed to be about in the first place... I can't say I'm looking forward to it all that much anymore.
Oh well. At least "Scrap Dragon" is cool.
I had high hopes for Duelist Revolution after the initial few cards were revealed, but now that we know the bulk of the set is loaded with underwhelming anime cards, a filler archetype, and not nearly enough of the fusion support the set was supposed to be about in the first place... I can't say I'm looking forward to it all that much anymore.
Oh well. At least "Scrap Dragon" is cool.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Okay, They Grew on Me
It's official: I like X-Sabers now. That's quite the change of opinion since my video about Ragigura, I know, but after seeing them top a Shonen Jump Championship, I couldn't turn a blind eye to them anymore.
So, I went with the good ol' "copypasta into YVD" routine to start learning the ropes. Took me a few duels to get the hang of how they play and another few to stop misplaying obvious moves, but...
I can safely say that Roy St. Clair's deck is amazing (remember that it also has "Brain Control" in it! Typos for the loss!).
Of course, decks over 40 cards really bug me, so I cut "Dimensional Prison" and one "Lightning Vortex" after awhile. I'll probably be trying out options like Gardestrike, Garsem, and so forth in the coming days. The side deck also needs retooling for the new format. "Nobleman of Crossout" is a fantastic choice, among others.
"Saber Hole" is pretty impressive, but a good opponent will eventually learn how to play around it, if their deck has the capacity to do so, anyway. It's just as well; the absence of "Solemn Judgment" was really getting to me. -1 Hole, +1 Solemn looks solid.
"XX-Saber Emmersblade" really did revolutionize the deck. Not only is it a recruiter, but it keeps the deck's themed options online while making it easier to Synchro Summon level 6 monsters (Anyone for "Underground Arachnid" tech?!).
Then we come to "Saber Slash." This spell is a valuable asset to the deck without question. Blowing away a bunch of cards at the small price of field commitment is great, since that's something the deck excels at doing in the first place. What's more, since it doesn't target and is able to hit any face-up card (including the Sabers themselves), it can never trigger "Starlight Road." It should go without saying that this is a match-up dependent card. Sometimes it'll be necessary to side in the third copy, while other match-ups demand siding out one or both of the copies in the main deck.
I don't think I need to explain the horrors that "XX-Saber Faultroll" and "Gottoms' Emergency Call" are capable of unleashing upon the masses.
The Synchros are top-notch cards as well.
And who can forget the Cat -> double Airbellum plays that have been around since the dawn of Synchros in general? The move is absolutely crippling when it succeeds.
Thankfully that full set of "My Body as a Shield" is there to let those power plays go off full swing!
The deck as a whole is fun, has its own unique flavor, and looks bad ass. Things are only looking up for X-Sabers in this new format where anything goes, and they're only going to be getting better. I believe Kevin Tewart mentioned there were going to be more X-Sabers in the TCG release of The Shining Darkness, too, so look forward to new possibilities!
So, I went with the good ol' "copypasta into YVD" routine to start learning the ropes. Took me a few duels to get the hang of how they play and another few to stop misplaying obvious moves, but...
I can safely say that Roy St. Clair's deck is amazing (remember that it also has "Brain Control" in it! Typos for the loss!).
Of course, decks over 40 cards really bug me, so I cut "Dimensional Prison" and one "Lightning Vortex" after awhile. I'll probably be trying out options like Gardestrike, Garsem, and so forth in the coming days. The side deck also needs retooling for the new format. "Nobleman of Crossout" is a fantastic choice, among others.
"Saber Hole" is pretty impressive, but a good opponent will eventually learn how to play around it, if their deck has the capacity to do so, anyway. It's just as well; the absence of "Solemn Judgment" was really getting to me. -1 Hole, +1 Solemn looks solid.
"XX-Saber Emmersblade" really did revolutionize the deck. Not only is it a recruiter, but it keeps the deck's themed options online while making it easier to Synchro Summon level 6 monsters (Anyone for "Underground Arachnid" tech?!).
Then we come to "Saber Slash." This spell is a valuable asset to the deck without question. Blowing away a bunch of cards at the small price of field commitment is great, since that's something the deck excels at doing in the first place. What's more, since it doesn't target and is able to hit any face-up card (including the Sabers themselves), it can never trigger "Starlight Road." It should go without saying that this is a match-up dependent card. Sometimes it'll be necessary to side in the third copy, while other match-ups demand siding out one or both of the copies in the main deck.
I don't think I need to explain the horrors that "XX-Saber Faultroll" and "Gottoms' Emergency Call" are capable of unleashing upon the masses.
The Synchros are top-notch cards as well.
And who can forget the Cat -> double Airbellum plays that have been around since the dawn of Synchros in general? The move is absolutely crippling when it succeeds.
Thankfully that full set of "My Body as a Shield" is there to let those power plays go off full swing!
The deck as a whole is fun, has its own unique flavor, and looks bad ass. Things are only looking up for X-Sabers in this new format where anything goes, and they're only going to be getting better. I believe Kevin Tewart mentioned there were going to be more X-Sabers in the TCG release of The Shining Darkness, too, so look forward to new possibilities!
Monday, March 15, 2010
Ruling Corner - Union Monsters
If you activate a Union monster's Ignition effect to equip it to another monster, and the targeted monster is no longer face-up on the field when resolving the Union monster's effect, the Union monster will still become an Equip Spell.
Since Equip Spells cannot exist without a face-up monster to continuously target, the Union monster (er... I guess, spell at this point :P) will be sent to the graveyard by game mechanics.
Since Equip Spells cannot exist without a face-up monster to continuously target, the Union monster (er... I guess, spell at this point :P) will be sent to the graveyard by game mechanics.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Something Positive
Note to self: stop sleeping so much. You know you hate it, anyway.
My posts thus far strike me as rather negative for some reason. That wasn't the goal I had in mind, so let's see if I can come up with something a bit more cheerful.
Oh hey, "Spore," what's up? I think I should leave talking about you for later...
Gah! I can't say no to that face! Alright, so for those who can't read it (don't worry, I can't make much of it either):
You can remove 1 other Plant-Type monster in your Graveyard from play to Special Summon this card from your Graveyard. Increase this card's Level by that of the removed monster. You can only use this effect once per Duel.
Free tuner once per duel (only once! It's the "Twin-Headed Behemoth" clause!) that requires a little deck dedication? Yes, please! Adorable and deadly. I don't think we've seen such a combination since "Rescue Cat!" Not that I'm comparing "Spore" to "Rescue Cat," mind you; "Spore" is actually more comparable to "Plaguespreader Zombie" in that it's fantastic within its own deck, but not so much in others.
Perhaps that isn't the best way to put it, either, though... I can already see Plants, Lightsworn, Monarchs, some Junk & Debris variants, and even Dark Synchro getting a kick out of this due to "Dandylion" and "Mystic Tomato" fitting in rather seamlessly.
I can't be sure if "Spore" will ever see a limit, but it's definitely up there with "Blackwing - Gale the Whirlwind" as one of the best general-use tuners in the game. Don't be surprised if "Spore" becomes a Super Rare or Ultra/Ultimate Rare for the TCG. It truly deserves the upgrade.
:3
My posts thus far strike me as rather negative for some reason. That wasn't the goal I had in mind, so let's see if I can come up with something a bit more cheerful.
Oh hey, "Spore," what's up? I think I should leave talking about you for later...
Gah! I can't say no to that face! Alright, so for those who can't read it (don't worry, I can't make much of it either):
You can remove 1 other Plant-Type monster in your Graveyard from play to Special Summon this card from your Graveyard. Increase this card's Level by that of the removed monster. You can only use this effect once per Duel.
Free tuner once per duel (only once! It's the "Twin-Headed Behemoth" clause!) that requires a little deck dedication? Yes, please! Adorable and deadly. I don't think we've seen such a combination since "Rescue Cat!" Not that I'm comparing "Spore" to "Rescue Cat," mind you; "Spore" is actually more comparable to "Plaguespreader Zombie" in that it's fantastic within its own deck, but not so much in others.
Perhaps that isn't the best way to put it, either, though... I can already see Plants, Lightsworn, Monarchs, some Junk & Debris variants, and even Dark Synchro getting a kick out of this due to "Dandylion" and "Mystic Tomato" fitting in rather seamlessly.
I can't be sure if "Spore" will ever see a limit, but it's definitely up there with "Blackwing - Gale the Whirlwind" as one of the best general-use tuners in the game. Don't be surprised if "Spore" becomes a Super Rare or Ultra/Ultimate Rare for the TCG. It truly deserves the upgrade.
:3
Shattered Dreams
I believe I was a silly little kid in middle school when I first beheld this card. The very thought of nuking EVERYTHING and proceeding to wienie beat someone into oblivion was just too enthralling. It's a deck concept that has never quite worked out as well as I'd like, and I've actually revisited it several times since it's such a fond memory, but...
Sometimes it's best to know when to stop beating a dead horse.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
They're Just Fan Translations, Guys.
Something has been irritating me lately, and surprise surprise, it's not limited to just Yu-Gi-Oh!!
Up front I should be clear that I sincerely appreciate the efforts of fan translators, especially since my understanding of other languages isn't even at a grade school level. What's getting to me are the people that take those fan translations as the "one and only absolute truth that couldn't possibly be wrong, and damn the professionals for fucking up the names/lines!"
Seriously? The professional translators are far more familiar with the involved languages. The professionals are far more experienced. The professionals actually know something of translation etiquette. It boggles the mind when people who know little to nothing about something start berating professionals for doing their job and doing it well.
Since Yu-Gi-Oh! is aimed at children in the United States, yes, there are times in localization, be it with card names or card art, where something is changed to make it more suitable for that audience. Censorship. However, let's keep any personal biases about that topic on the back burner for the moment, since there are certain aspects about translation and localization that need to be known.
Japanese and English are entirely different animals, being Eastern and Western languages respectively. English is more concrete, allowing one to convey exactly what they want to say in a relatively efficient manner, but it has a ridiculous learning curve due to inconsistent rules. Japanese is more abstract, though it sticks to its rules pretty well, and its simpler words and phrases are pretty flexible. Because of this, it's a language that's largely open to interpretation, and it's likely that there are multiple ways to do so (with each being perfectly valid).
When localizing something, it's best to not alienate the target audience. This is why most honorifics are dropped in English anime dubs (even subs), and it's also the reason that when something has a meaning, that meaning should be conveyed as accurately as possible in terms the audience would understand. There are times, however, where this isn't possible for whatever reason (lengthiness, for example), and transliteration is the way to go. In media, there are occasional run-ins with copyright, trademark, and other such laws, so something simply cannot be translated a certain way.
In Yu-Gi-Oh!, we run into another complication due to cards referencing other cards by name quite often. Advance planning helps here, and it's apparent that Konami has gotten better about it (been a long time since we ran into a "What's an Archfiend?" issue).
Such are the hurdles that need to be cleared on a regular basis.
Up front I should be clear that I sincerely appreciate the efforts of fan translators, especially since my understanding of other languages isn't even at a grade school level. What's getting to me are the people that take those fan translations as the "one and only absolute truth that couldn't possibly be wrong, and damn the professionals for fucking up the names/lines!"
Seriously? The professional translators are far more familiar with the involved languages. The professionals are far more experienced. The professionals actually know something of translation etiquette. It boggles the mind when people who know little to nothing about something start berating professionals for doing their job and doing it well.
Since Yu-Gi-Oh! is aimed at children in the United States, yes, there are times in localization, be it with card names or card art, where something is changed to make it more suitable for that audience. Censorship. However, let's keep any personal biases about that topic on the back burner for the moment, since there are certain aspects about translation and localization that need to be known.
Japanese and English are entirely different animals, being Eastern and Western languages respectively. English is more concrete, allowing one to convey exactly what they want to say in a relatively efficient manner, but it has a ridiculous learning curve due to inconsistent rules. Japanese is more abstract, though it sticks to its rules pretty well, and its simpler words and phrases are pretty flexible. Because of this, it's a language that's largely open to interpretation, and it's likely that there are multiple ways to do so (with each being perfectly valid).
When localizing something, it's best to not alienate the target audience. This is why most honorifics are dropped in English anime dubs (even subs), and it's also the reason that when something has a meaning, that meaning should be conveyed as accurately as possible in terms the audience would understand. There are times, however, where this isn't possible for whatever reason (lengthiness, for example), and transliteration is the way to go. In media, there are occasional run-ins with copyright, trademark, and other such laws, so something simply cannot be translated a certain way.
In Yu-Gi-Oh!, we run into another complication due to cards referencing other cards by name quite often. Advance planning helps here, and it's apparent that Konami has gotten better about it (been a long time since we ran into a "What's an Archfiend?" issue).
Such are the hurdles that need to be cleared on a regular basis.
March 2010 Pegasus League Format
New format: "DOUBLE DECK"
* Your Main Deck must contain exactly 100 cards.
* Your Extra Deck can contain up to 30 cards.
* You draw twice during your Draw Phase. (Draw 1 card, then draw 1 card again after that.)
* This Pegasus League uses the Advanced Format rules.
Trying to come up with a deck for it is driving me up a wall. Any semblance of consistency seems hopeless... not to mention the cost of constructing a deck for it must be astronomical.
Some things I figure:
- Back rows should be a little stronger. The power options to oppose them are still at their usual numbers, but they're harder to draw into now. "Trap Stun" is probably very viable.
- Cards that pull specific other cards out of the deck are more powerful than ever. I'm looking at you, Super Special Awesome Hamster.
- Strategies that depend on a specific card are significantly weaker.
- Hand control is not as reliable due to options getting replenished twice as quickly. "Trap Dustshoot", "Mind Crush", and so forth should still be good, but the X-Saber thought process of "kill off all their cards, win YGO" need not apply.
- 1 for 1 removal will be all over the place.
- Cards that are awful when drawn in multiples are more viable, as you are less likely to draw into multiples.
- Conversely, cards that have to be drawn in multiples to be effective are garbage.
- 3 copies of "Magical Merchant" seems like a must in anything.
- Cards with a discard cost are more manageable.
- You may never see that 1 "Tragoedia", but you're going to run it. No exceptions.
- "Secret Barrel", and perhaps burn in general, are looking pretty boss.
- The "discard down to 6" mechanic will be much more pivotal to success here.
Aaaand it's late. I can't think of much more.
But Hero format?
1 "Elemental Hero Stratos"
1 "Reinforcement of the Army"
3 "E - Emergency Call"
2 "Gold Sarcophagus"
3 "King of the Swamp"
3 "Debris Dragon"
3 "Polymerization"
3 "Miracle Fusion"
1 "Future Fusion"
3 "Elemental Hero Ocean"
3 "Elemental Hero Woodsman"
3 "Elemental Hero Wildheart"
...I dunno, maybe something along those lines.
* Your Main Deck must contain exactly 100 cards.
* Your Extra Deck can contain up to 30 cards.
* You draw twice during your Draw Phase. (Draw 1 card, then draw 1 card again after that.)
* This Pegasus League uses the Advanced Format rules.
Trying to come up with a deck for it is driving me up a wall. Any semblance of consistency seems hopeless... not to mention the cost of constructing a deck for it must be astronomical.
Some things I figure:
- Back rows should be a little stronger. The power options to oppose them are still at their usual numbers, but they're harder to draw into now. "Trap Stun" is probably very viable.
- Cards that pull specific other cards out of the deck are more powerful than ever. I'm looking at you, Super Special Awesome Hamster.
- Strategies that depend on a specific card are significantly weaker.
- Hand control is not as reliable due to options getting replenished twice as quickly. "Trap Dustshoot", "Mind Crush", and so forth should still be good, but the X-Saber thought process of "kill off all their cards, win YGO" need not apply.
- 1 for 1 removal will be all over the place.
- Cards that are awful when drawn in multiples are more viable, as you are less likely to draw into multiples.
- Conversely, cards that have to be drawn in multiples to be effective are garbage.
- 3 copies of "Magical Merchant" seems like a must in anything.
- Cards with a discard cost are more manageable.
- You may never see that 1 "Tragoedia", but you're going to run it. No exceptions.
- "Secret Barrel", and perhaps burn in general, are looking pretty boss.
- The "discard down to 6" mechanic will be much more pivotal to success here.
Aaaand it's late. I can't think of much more.
But Hero format?
1 "Elemental Hero Stratos"
1 "Reinforcement of the Army"
3 "E - Emergency Call"
2 "Gold Sarcophagus"
3 "King of the Swamp"
3 "Debris Dragon"
3 "Polymerization"
3 "Miracle Fusion"
1 "Future Fusion"
3 "Elemental Hero Ocean"
3 "Elemental Hero Woodsman"
3 "Elemental Hero Wildheart"
...I dunno, maybe something along those lines.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Hype is Horrible
Man oh man. You know that feeling you get when you see a new card that does something potentially useful that no other card has really done, that excitement that goes hand in hand with new possibilities? Yeah, we all hype cards we like. You do it, I do it, and I'd say that's totally natural, but...
Sometimes, hype will cloud your better judgment of how good a card actually is when placed into actual game play scenarios. You'll think about all those amazing combos, but sooner or later, you'll come crashing into the wall that is the card's drawbacks. That is to say, not every card is perfect. Some of them are relatively low in power, but reliable in a wide variety of situations ("Raigeki Break"). Others happen to be more situational, but more rewarding when their respective cases arise ("Starlight Road"). It's possible for a card to be terrible by itself while being absolutely brutal in tandem with others ("Blackwing - Kalut the Moon Shadow").
What I'm getting at is this: if you see a card you think has potential, you shouldn't be freaking out about how "amazing" or "broken" it is until after doing some testing to get an accurate measure on its true strength.
Of course, if you have experience, you get a lot better at judging cards at their face value without testing. It's still good to do so, however, if for no other reason to avoid being wrong. That's just embarrassing.
Sometimes, hype will cloud your better judgment of how good a card actually is when placed into actual game play scenarios. You'll think about all those amazing combos, but sooner or later, you'll come crashing into the wall that is the card's drawbacks. That is to say, not every card is perfect. Some of them are relatively low in power, but reliable in a wide variety of situations ("Raigeki Break"). Others happen to be more situational, but more rewarding when their respective cases arise ("Starlight Road"). It's possible for a card to be terrible by itself while being absolutely brutal in tandem with others ("Blackwing - Kalut the Moon Shadow").
What I'm getting at is this: if you see a card you think has potential, you shouldn't be freaking out about how "amazing" or "broken" it is until after doing some testing to get an accurate measure on its true strength.
Of course, if you have experience, you get a lot better at judging cards at their face value without testing. It's still good to do so, however, if for no other reason to avoid being wrong. That's just embarrassing.
Ohi?
Jumping on the blogging bandwagon, it's Elliot Gale! That's eGale for short, if you like. Oh yes, this alias isn't actually very far off from my real name. To tell you the truth, it was born as a result of stylization due to a lack of naming space in Megaman Star Force some years ago. It just... stuck, somehow.
I'm a quiet guy in person, and my spectrum of interests isn't very wide, but once you get me started on a topic with which I'm familiar, I can be hard to shut up. Maybe. I dunno.
Anyhow, in case you can't tell from the blog title, I'm pretty big on Yu-Gi-Oh!. I started playing back during the game's premier in the States, but being an ignorant kid with little money or ability to travel, I was never very competitive, and eventually I sorta just stopped playing for awhile.
In 2008, I was roped back in by 5D's. Damn Konami's brilliant marketing. This time was different, though. This time I started learning, and I learned fast. Learning how to properly play, learning what was hot on the tournament front, learning whatever I could to make the experience all the more enjoyable. As with anything to which I take a shine, I'm pretty meticulous about YGO. This comes with its ups and downs; I make for an awesome judge, but a horrendously slow deck builder. Oh well.
To be honest, I'm not entirely sure as to what the primary function of this blog will be. If I had to hazard a guess, it'd be the random YGO-related material that I can't be bothered to put up on my YouTube channel. Hopefully you get something out of it.
I'm a quiet guy in person, and my spectrum of interests isn't very wide, but once you get me started on a topic with which I'm familiar, I can be hard to shut up. Maybe. I dunno.
Anyhow, in case you can't tell from the blog title, I'm pretty big on Yu-Gi-Oh!. I started playing back during the game's premier in the States, but being an ignorant kid with little money or ability to travel, I was never very competitive, and eventually I sorta just stopped playing for awhile.
In 2008, I was roped back in by 5D's. Damn Konami's brilliant marketing. This time was different, though. This time I started learning, and I learned fast. Learning how to properly play, learning what was hot on the tournament front, learning whatever I could to make the experience all the more enjoyable. As with anything to which I take a shine, I'm pretty meticulous about YGO. This comes with its ups and downs; I make for an awesome judge, but a horrendously slow deck builder. Oh well.
To be honest, I'm not entirely sure as to what the primary function of this blog will be. If I had to hazard a guess, it'd be the random YGO-related material that I can't be bothered to put up on my YouTube channel. Hopefully you get something out of it.
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