Anti-Meta is filled with Tech, none of while has a perfect spot in any deck, but can work very well at stopping mechanics which drive the top decks. In my first Tech - Update blog is a go over of a few key Anti-Meta cards, what they do and what they exectly dont. The key to picking tech is to know what they do and why they do it well.
Doomcaliber Knight
Before LS came to be, DCK (Doomcaliber Knight) was the best Negation card in the game. Yes, Solemn Judgment could stop spells and traps, but DCK was far better at stopping monsters. With a mandatory effect, it could hurt you, but came down to good playing. The ability to use up to three in a deck is why it was good. You could stop a set-up or a big monster itself to instantly gain control of the game. In essence, it was the perfect simplification card. More over, it worked under Skill Drain, and according to judge rulings common effect stopping card Book of Moon could not stop its negation effect. What this ment was simple, it was the perfect resource waster. If you wanted a card to remove DCK, you had to give up a play establishing of game pushing monster, or waste one of few resources which could handle it.
DCK was a simplification and a complication card. It complicated game play, and gave your opponent something to stop or they could not win the game. This either allowed you to have an open window the following turn or to build advantage. Either way, no other card in the game was like it.
Then LS came to be, and unlike other previous decks, LS had one win condition outside of JD, and ample support. What that did was essentially give a deck with only two main win conditions atleast ten outs (Of monsters you dont need to win) to DCK. Add in Necro Gardna and cards which are summoned back from the field from the grave and/or only serve the purpose of simple beatdown monsters or simplification/anti-meta effects, it easily handles DCK, making it a wasted summon. Even as a resource waster, it did so in a bad way for the format due to effects which activated in the grave for LS, thusly not serving a real/good purpose.
Even against other match-ups, like Zombies, the format give it ample ways to force the activation of DCK. With a plethora of recruiters and play set up potential, it may not even set back the OTK push a whole turn. Thusly making DCK a bad card in the realm of Anti-Meta tech. Maybe in the side-deck for lower tier decks, but even then you should have better solutions sided. The beauty of DCK is the fact it will become better with the next ban-list unless LS dont get hit. Even if they dont, Zombies will get hit, making it a better main-deck option and a much better blanket card for the side-deck. Its a simple, gamebreaking card which takes skill to play correctly. Not much better tech than that.
Kycoo and Banisher.
These two cards are the gold standard of Anti-Meta. Removing from the grave allows you to prevent Special Summoning, DAD, Zombie OTK's, JD, and most recusion. But both work under/through different methods of handling this. Yes, they both remove from the grave, and have different stats, but the level of control varies.
Kycoo is bigger, dark attribute, and allows you to pick what is removed. It can dive back into the grave and selectively remove threats. Banisher removes anything from the summoning point foreword, is a tad smaller, and is light, giving it less actual support. These differences are small, yet huge in terms of which is superior for a deck to run. At face value, with one being continous and the attack difference being only 200, most would assume Banisher is better, but this is false.
Kycoo can remove two LS or two Dark monsters to make a OTK push by DAD or JD respectively impossible. It also lets you remove protection from LS, and OTK set-ups from Zombies. The beauty of Kycoo is you can use it at any point in the game rather than it being needed to draw early. What is also does is prevents your opponent from removing cards from the grave. Which makes the Zombie OTK push dead reguardless, which in this format is ideal.
Dont count Banisher out though. Banisher is better Early game. LS can pump monsters in the grave in a turn, meaning Kycoo can't always stop the JD play. Sure, it requires more skill/luck, but it still happens. If your deck can support banisher then its a better option. But enough support and getting it out early is the problem Banisher has.
Banisher needs ample support, more than any TCG decks offers. Gadgets do not run enough support. Let me say this again, GADGETS DONT RUN ENOUGH PROTECTION. The OCG hasnt had many decks with enough protection. The Meta-Beat deck design only rarely runs enough. Thats why the Stun-esque decks dont all even run three Banisher. The original breed of Stun/Meta-beat did main-deck three Banisher but it also had over fifteen traps, atleast ten of which being protection, and of the eight or so spells, BoM was atleast two slots. Thats over a fourth of your deck being protection. Meaning you could drop Banisher and keep him out long enough to get a lock card or something which more directly impacted strategy.
Outside of such conditions, Banisher is easy to run over as the 'beat-stick' strength of this format is 1800. Banisher can be better if searched out and you can get another monster out, like a special summon, protecting the other monster from being destroyed. But thats a situational occurance most decks cannot support now. Slower format, the main-decking of protection/Gold Sarco, then Banisher is better than Kycoo. For now, it simply is not with Meta trends. Splashability is a key factor, you cannot always re-tool a deck for one card.
D.D. Assailant
Why on earth would I pick a feature of DDA over DDWL? Well, the next format and rogue decks make DDA better in many respects. DDA removes Stardust, is bigger, and is mandatory. But thats not the beauty of the card. If you read it, you should be able to tell why its great. Heck, a small child can tell you why. It must hit something bigger. Set-up monsters dont waste its effect. Its not one of the gold standard 1800 beaters we all have come to love, but its just under that. So any set-up monsters easily gets run over, and if so occuring the plays goes.
What happens when the big play is made? DDA will then remove the big monster. Synchro's, especially Stardust, is easily handled. But the best match-up for DDA is the battle against GB's. In a slower format GB's will be huge. Thats a given. Next format will change for sure as top decks will be hit, leaving room for a viable tier two deck to make waves at early events. DDA is easily side-decked to beat GB's.
But the arguement against DDA is simple, plays can still go off, making it bad. Right? Wrong. Against GB's I would rather beat a smaller GB by battle and allow a bigger monster to come out, or a contact fusion to occur, which DDA would then remove. Lower tier and GB type decks dont have a lot of extra resources to handle such threats. Making DDA the perfect match-up.
In the past this card has been over and under hyped. Dont make this card into something its not. Its a decent size beater. Its effect is great against specific occurances only. And it allows resources to be wasted to prevent a big monster play later when you dont have resources. But its not a card with depth, so take this tech card at face value alone.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
State of the Metagame: Outlook of March - 2010
Its fitting that I start this blog with an outlook upon what can be, especially as a complete over-view of an upcomming format. Some themes will be hit in March via the ban-list. Generally speaking, Light Sworn have been bled dry, Zombies are far too explosive, and most other decks dont need to be hit here in the TCG. The OCG on the other hand has some cards hit whic we dont, like Brionac, so expect those changes. The OCG Meta is not that different now, in terms of some explosive deck. So, down to the meat and potatoes, what to expect from the Ban list?
Zombies
What can I see being hit? Either Mezuki or Plague. Odds are limiting Mezuki and Brionac will be enough, and the easiest way to cripple the deck. It will still work, but will struggle to OTK, and have the ability to like that of BW's. Plague on the other hand is splashed everywhere, is the key to the deck and its OTK explosion. But, its not broken. What worries me is how easily splashed it is. Any deck can run it, which is why I would believe Konami would be inclined to ban it. That would kill Zombies as far as I am concerned. They would not have access in theme to the synchro deck. I can understand this occuring, but dont see it occuring. More like Mezuki and some card like Burrial/Brionac being limited. Makes much more sense.
Light Sworn
Yeah, about the deck which can OTK with a single top-deck, has two main in-theme win conditions and is packed with monsters which gives the theme enough depth to counter nearly any obstacle with the likes of beaters, one for one's and Anti-Meta monsters. Did I mention how it wins with a single top-deck? And is a luck sack deck? And you cant play out of it, but rather you need sheer luck? All in all, this theme is bad for the game. It makes advanced play that for children. Its who can get out JD first. I have only seen a very select number of players use it in an advanced level. One is John Moore who has used the deck to beat Gadgets in resource wars when simplification occurs to drop JD. But that does nothing but prove how broken the deck/theme is. A deck built for advantage and simplification cant stop LS in the hands of a decent player.
What can get hit? JD or Charge. Not much else needs to be hit. With a lot of dead cards if draw, and inconsistant milling, without JD you lose one of two win conditions, and JD is the 'Broken' one. Charge gives you a +2 in terms of theme advantage. You get any card to answer an opponent's push and you mill which is a set up for your win condition. Thats broken and can easily be hit to balance the deck.
Twilight
LS have yet to win alone, but Twilight (French Twilight, or Teched LS if you will) has. Trag and a few dark monsters make the theme work. LS are inconsistant by nature, so splashing in another engine which can answer OTK's or more consistant decks push's is an issue. Due to this, I can easily see Trag being Semi-Limited. At two, you wont be able to top deck into it as often, and effectively limit the Twilight 'amazing' resource pool. I also think most players think Krista should/can be hit, but its not on the same level as my aforementioned cards.
GB's, Anti-Meta, BW's
First obvious lower tier deck to advance would be GB's. They are a solid deck still, and without any more support or help, the limiting of other top decks will give the deck room to top. It has AMAZING synergy, which is unlike any theme deck. They can be played out of interms of bad hands and have easy resource searching as well as solid mechanics. They are hard to play around in general. Expect big things out of them if Zombies and LS get hit at all.
As for Anti-Meta, they are getting Starlight Road, which stops any mass destruction card and gets you a free Stardust Dragon. In the OCG its a staple at two for most Anti-Meta decks. I think its over-hyped though. If LS and Zombies get hit like they should, we wont have nearly enough broken floaters around to max this at more than two. But, its still great and if LS and Zombies are hit they still will see play, so its a sure side-deck card. Infernities may alllow it to see play as they can one card OTK, but, it has consistency issues as well. For now, I just dont see it.
Now for BW's. Vayu is not good enough, and without an easier OTK option normal BW's cant cut it. I do see Black whirlwind being hit to balance it out due to BW's sheer advantage aspect. They can and do get mass advantage each and every turn, and destroys any deck slower than it, so with Zombies and LS being hit, BW do have room to fill the void much like GB's. I hope they get hit, but odds are slim to do that. Its a solid choice for the upcomming format.
Infernities, Gravekeeper's and Absolute Zero
Hype, Hype, Hype. Its all I need to say. GK's arnt good enough from face value, and because I dont have them in hand and will not until the sneak peak I will stick with my opinion that it is hype. Infernities on the other hand is both. Its hype, but it does have the ability to spam out level 6, 7, and 8 synchro's. Possibly a level 9 to replace Brionac if you catch my drift. Its inconsistant like LS though, so for now it will struggle against 'Pro' players at a large event, but like BW can sweep local and regional events IMO. If some broken hybrid comes out that abuses themes efficiently, like Twilight, it may be more than hype.
As for Ab-0, its a lot of hype. It does have greater deck depth and the ability to spam with Diva then reuse, which gives the deck great speed, and with the D-Hero engine not being hit in March being a sure thing, its shapping up to be a solid deck. But I consider it to be in the league of LaDD PC. Its great, requires a bit of skill and needs work for the monster line-up. Besides that, its still over-hyped. Zombies are much better now, and if only Brionac gets hit should be better. I have yet to see a great player run it, and am not egotistical to tape myself playing Yugioh and reviewing it later yet, so I dont know about its plays in that effect yet, so I am not stable on how it will do.
Other list changes.
I could also see BTH, E - Tele, Solemn, and Cyber Dragon comming back up if the other top-decks get hit. It will allow for more simple aggression, new synchro options, other answers to pushing, and better ways to stop the meta. I cant see much else occuring. I can see about 5 banned cards comming back like Magician of Faith, Graceful Charity, and CCV. None are really broken now, and force players to play smarter or give generic support to the game. I know your complaining about CCV, but, with Infernities being so big, and the option of LS, Zombies and Ab-0 being alive still it could be a solid addition to each deck due to the reprint. CCV is the least likely, but it still has chances to come back.
Thats all for now. I may do another when we get an official list.
Zombies
What can I see being hit? Either Mezuki or Plague. Odds are limiting Mezuki and Brionac will be enough, and the easiest way to cripple the deck. It will still work, but will struggle to OTK, and have the ability to like that of BW's. Plague on the other hand is splashed everywhere, is the key to the deck and its OTK explosion. But, its not broken. What worries me is how easily splashed it is. Any deck can run it, which is why I would believe Konami would be inclined to ban it. That would kill Zombies as far as I am concerned. They would not have access in theme to the synchro deck. I can understand this occuring, but dont see it occuring. More like Mezuki and some card like Burrial/Brionac being limited. Makes much more sense.
Light Sworn
Yeah, about the deck which can OTK with a single top-deck, has two main in-theme win conditions and is packed with monsters which gives the theme enough depth to counter nearly any obstacle with the likes of beaters, one for one's and Anti-Meta monsters. Did I mention how it wins with a single top-deck? And is a luck sack deck? And you cant play out of it, but rather you need sheer luck? All in all, this theme is bad for the game. It makes advanced play that for children. Its who can get out JD first. I have only seen a very select number of players use it in an advanced level. One is John Moore who has used the deck to beat Gadgets in resource wars when simplification occurs to drop JD. But that does nothing but prove how broken the deck/theme is. A deck built for advantage and simplification cant stop LS in the hands of a decent player.
What can get hit? JD or Charge. Not much else needs to be hit. With a lot of dead cards if draw, and inconsistant milling, without JD you lose one of two win conditions, and JD is the 'Broken' one. Charge gives you a +2 in terms of theme advantage. You get any card to answer an opponent's push and you mill which is a set up for your win condition. Thats broken and can easily be hit to balance the deck.
Twilight
LS have yet to win alone, but Twilight (French Twilight, or Teched LS if you will) has. Trag and a few dark monsters make the theme work. LS are inconsistant by nature, so splashing in another engine which can answer OTK's or more consistant decks push's is an issue. Due to this, I can easily see Trag being Semi-Limited. At two, you wont be able to top deck into it as often, and effectively limit the Twilight 'amazing' resource pool. I also think most players think Krista should/can be hit, but its not on the same level as my aforementioned cards.
GB's, Anti-Meta, BW's
First obvious lower tier deck to advance would be GB's. They are a solid deck still, and without any more support or help, the limiting of other top decks will give the deck room to top. It has AMAZING synergy, which is unlike any theme deck. They can be played out of interms of bad hands and have easy resource searching as well as solid mechanics. They are hard to play around in general. Expect big things out of them if Zombies and LS get hit at all.
As for Anti-Meta, they are getting Starlight Road, which stops any mass destruction card and gets you a free Stardust Dragon. In the OCG its a staple at two for most Anti-Meta decks. I think its over-hyped though. If LS and Zombies get hit like they should, we wont have nearly enough broken floaters around to max this at more than two. But, its still great and if LS and Zombies are hit they still will see play, so its a sure side-deck card. Infernities may alllow it to see play as they can one card OTK, but, it has consistency issues as well. For now, I just dont see it.
Now for BW's. Vayu is not good enough, and without an easier OTK option normal BW's cant cut it. I do see Black whirlwind being hit to balance it out due to BW's sheer advantage aspect. They can and do get mass advantage each and every turn, and destroys any deck slower than it, so with Zombies and LS being hit, BW do have room to fill the void much like GB's. I hope they get hit, but odds are slim to do that. Its a solid choice for the upcomming format.
Infernities, Gravekeeper's and Absolute Zero
Hype, Hype, Hype. Its all I need to say. GK's arnt good enough from face value, and because I dont have them in hand and will not until the sneak peak I will stick with my opinion that it is hype. Infernities on the other hand is both. Its hype, but it does have the ability to spam out level 6, 7, and 8 synchro's. Possibly a level 9 to replace Brionac if you catch my drift. Its inconsistant like LS though, so for now it will struggle against 'Pro' players at a large event, but like BW can sweep local and regional events IMO. If some broken hybrid comes out that abuses themes efficiently, like Twilight, it may be more than hype.
As for Ab-0, its a lot of hype. It does have greater deck depth and the ability to spam with Diva then reuse, which gives the deck great speed, and with the D-Hero engine not being hit in March being a sure thing, its shapping up to be a solid deck. But I consider it to be in the league of LaDD PC. Its great, requires a bit of skill and needs work for the monster line-up. Besides that, its still over-hyped. Zombies are much better now, and if only Brionac gets hit should be better. I have yet to see a great player run it, and am not egotistical to tape myself playing Yugioh and reviewing it later yet, so I dont know about its plays in that effect yet, so I am not stable on how it will do.
Other list changes.
I could also see BTH, E - Tele, Solemn, and Cyber Dragon comming back up if the other top-decks get hit. It will allow for more simple aggression, new synchro options, other answers to pushing, and better ways to stop the meta. I cant see much else occuring. I can see about 5 banned cards comming back like Magician of Faith, Graceful Charity, and CCV. None are really broken now, and force players to play smarter or give generic support to the game. I know your complaining about CCV, but, with Infernities being so big, and the option of LS, Zombies and Ab-0 being alive still it could be a solid addition to each deck due to the reprint. CCV is the least likely, but it still has chances to come back.
Thats all for now. I may do another when we get an official list.
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