Extra Options

Every now and then I come across a player that’s recently gotten back into the game. Most of them share one thing in common, and that is an adversity to newer game mechanics. It’s understandable, however, given the number of options one has to consider and the Extra Deck is a prime example.

With the vast selection of Synchro and Xyz Monsters released the Extra Deck has transformed from the epicenter of a rarely used game mechanic into a toolbox of outs to take care of almost any situation.

And therein lies the problem: how does one determine the right cards to make the cut?

There was time in which I filled my Extra Deck with every generic Synchro Monster I could get a hold of. Even without a Tuner in the Main Deck with cards like Monster Reborn and Mind Control anything was doable.

When Xyzs came along the process became more straightforward as you no longer needed to accommodate Tuners to access your toolbox, although you still could.

It really boils down to practicality and personal preference.

I may find running the second Wind-Up Zenmaines more desirable than a Rank 3 I’m not already running.

I may want to run less Synchro Monsters so that Evilswarm Ophion won’t hinder my plays.

I may run a second Elemental Hero Absolute Zero because Mermails are a commonly played deck in the meta.

Recently I’ve tried teching Foolish Burial, Blackwing – Zephyros the Elite, and Diamond Dire Wolf into different decks (Geargias, Inzektors, Heroes). I like the results I’m seeing thus far.

But what works for me may not work for you. Ultimately the choice is yours.

Until next time, you stay classy Planet Earth.

Too Good

I’m not afraid to post videos of me losing, but in my defense Dragons have it way too easy. I’d post more but I’m in the process of looking for better video recording software.

Prophecies cannot OTK you, or at least not without having multiple High Priestesses.

Evilswarm rely too much on their Xyzs, especially Ophion. And if your deck lacks high level monsters it’s hardly an issue.

Hopefully the next banlist will return some sanity back into this game.

Until next time, you stay classy Planet Earth.

That Feeling

Whether you like it or not, we’ve all been on the receiving end of Number 11: Big Eye at least once this format.

Until next time, you stay classy Planet Earth.

A Bug’s Life (Part I)

If it hadn’t already been obvious to you from looking at my username I play Inzektors, and I have been ever since their debut in Order of Chaos. Many people like discredit the deck after the last few banlists, but as a fellow player I can tell you the deck is still more than capable.

It’s true the deck lost a lot of steam when Inzektor Hornet and Inzektor Dragonfly were limited back in September 2012, and even more so after Sangan was banned the following March. However, these hits only forced the Inzektors community to try out other alternatives. I’ll be discussing a few of them today.

Inzektor Ladybug
Back when Inzektor Hornet was at 3, there were few who gave this card a second thought. The ability to adjust levels was great for Xyz plays but 3 Hornets was usually enough to control the flow of the game in your favor. At worst you could pop your own cards to get searches off of Inzektor Dragonfly or Inzektor Centipede. After Hornet got hit (lol) Ladybug offered a viable means to search for your combo pieces before going off.

Summoner Monk & Armageddon Knight
Lavalval Chain is the reason this duo is used and rightly so. Getting this combo off on your first turn ensures a Dark Armed Dragon on your second. This added versatility sets it apart from Inzektor builds. Just keep in mind you’ll have to ditch your precious spells to use Monk’s effect.

Insect Imitation / Transtarn
In an Inzektor deck these cards essentially do to the same thing, although Transtarn is the more restrictive of the two. Using these cards effectively requires careful selection of the monsters used in the deck, and for this reason cards like Maxx “C” and Inzektor Hopper are staples in such builds.

Ninja Grandmaster Hanzo & Ninjitsu Art of Transformation
You can use the Ninjistu Art to “transform” Hanzo into any Inzektor you’d like, or you can chain it to your opponent’s removal and it becomes a pseudo-Foolish Burial. Personally I find it too gimmicky, but there are a few fans of “Ninzektors”.

There are other alternatives you can use to speed up your deck but they don’t always work for everyone.

Tour Guide from the Underworld still allows 1-card Rank 3 plays but drawing into your second copy without Sangan to fall back on is a liability.

Upstart Goblin allows you to dig for your combo pieces faster but sometimes takes your opponent out of OTK range.

Cardcar D is a useful deck thinner but it raises the cost of the deck significantly.

A bug’s life is hard, but ultimately very rewarding. You just need to choose wisely.

Until next time, you stay classy Planet Earth.

Geargias of War

When I first saw the Geargia archetype I immediately thought of them as Machine-type Gravekeeper’s, which I’ve come to realize is a vast understatement. Both decks try to win by out-resourcing their opponent’s, but they achieve this in different ways.

Gravekeeper’s focus on maintaining Necrovalley and exploiting its anti-meta effects on gameplay. Cards like Royal Tribute and Gravekeeper’s Descendant poke at the opponent’s resources, while others like Gravekeeper’s Spy and Gravekeeper’s Guard help maintain field presence.

Geargias function a little differently, however. While it’s true Geargiarmor fulfills a similar role in the deck to Spy in Gravekeeper’s, the Geargia archetype focuses more on accumulating resources to outmuscle the opponent. This is achieved mainly by spamming Xyz Monsters after enough hand advantage is obtained.

Which brings me to today’s topic.

If you look at the members of the Geargia family you’ll notice two oddities: Geargiano and Geargiano Mk-II. These monsters are Level 3 and not 4, meaning that you couldn’t use them to summon their ace: Gear Gigant X.

“FISTBUMP!”

While it’s true that the “Geargianos” still could be utilized to some extent in the deck, overall they were far too situational for any significant use. In fact, you were better replacing them with Machines from other archetypes like Genex Ally Birdman or Karakuri Watchdog mdl 313 “Saizan” which at least offered access to Synchro Monsters and synergized well with Geargiaccelerator.

That’s of course, until Konami gave us this little gem:

“We need Megazord power, NOW!”

Most players shrug it off when they learn it only works with the Level 3 Geargias but Geargiagear allows for some amazing plays in the deck.

Aside from being able to get off Gear Gigant X‘s second effect, which other Machine decks like Gadgets were never able to utilize, harder to summon Xyz Monsters like Number 16: Shock Master become a cinch to bring out. And since Geargiagear doesn’t negate the monster’s effects you swap a Geargiano for another Level 4 Machine from your Graveyard if need be.

All in all, Geargiagear is wonderful support for a promising archetype.

Until next time, you stay classy Planet Earth.

Brumation

Every time an attribute (or type) gets support I always wonder how much better (or worse) that card would be for another.

Would Limiter Removal be limited if it worked for Plants and not Machines?

Would Allure of Darkness be too overpowered if you needed to banish a FIRE and not a DARK?

Would Emergency Teleport be busted if it could only summon Aquas and not Psychics?

All of this ultimately depends on the card pool available.

Take Reptiles for instant. While they’re currently not the least supported type they lack the right card pool to take advantage of the few good options they have.

Reptiles have less support than Winged Beasts, which is why you never see people complain about Offering to the Snake Deity as opposed to Icarus Attack.

They even have their own Gear Gigant X in the form of King of the Feral Imps. In fact, I’d argue that King is better than Gigant solely for the fact it search ANY level Reptile as opposed to a level 4 or lower Machine. Instant Evil Dragon Ananta anyone?

“One day I will destroy everything you love.”

And can you believe that King of the Feral Imps is a COMMON? Gear Gigant X is SECRET Rare.

“If Feral Imp is a Fiend, how’s his king a Reptile?”

Of course it doesn’t matter if an attribute or type has one or two good cards; that alone isn’t enough.

Existing archetypes like Aliens, Reptiliannes, and Worms simply can’t compete with Tier 1 decks.

Here’s some food for thought:

• Imagine if Fire Kings and their support were Reptile-based.

OR

• Imagine if Evolsaurs didn’t exist and you only needed Reptiles to summon the Evolzars.

Let that sink in for a minute.

You done?

See much more of a concern the decks would become?

Right now Reptiles are a sleeper type. All they need now is the right deck to abuse them.

Until next time, you stay classy Planet Earth.

Secret Ingredient

Fancy flavors cannot hide poor cooking.

Those were the words that crossed my mind when a good friend of mine asked me to co-blog with him.

That’s not to say I think badly of his writing skills; quite the contrary. In fact, while his methods may be unconventional, I find his thoughts to be the most insightful of anyone I’ve ever met.

Perhaps I’ve gone off on a tangent.

My name is ZECTMAN; you can call me ZECT. I was asked to join Project Kadare to offer my insights in the realm of competitive Yu-Gi-Oh!—a task I initially had reservations about.

This isn’t my first time blogging. I’ve done another blog under a different name a few years back. It was a good run, but I eventually got too caught up in other things to bother updating it.

So why was I so against joining Kadare you ask?

I was the founder and de facto leader of a gaming group at the university I recently graduated from. About a year ago I envisioned a group blog with contributions from various members. However, while many promised their input and even provided introductory posts, none followed up on their promises. I ended up blogging by myself for several months before scrapping the idea altogether.

This time a bit different as each of Kadare’s authors specialize in different fields and I’m not constantly competing to find new content to write about.

As long as I am wanted, destiny will always be at my side.

Until next time, you stay classy Planet Earth.