Yugioh's Magic Number for Sept 2011 format: 3

I think it all started with Synchro Monsters. In the beginning, Dark Dive Bomber was such a powerful card that can end games and it was a level 7. Everybody had to make one and it was soon banned. Soon after, Brionic was the most sought-after and it is a level 6. Before I stop playing, it was Trishula, a level 9 and it is an absolutely overpowered card. Now, in the XYZ era, I think the magical number this time is 3 because of this card.

It brings back removed from play monsters with their effects unnegated. This combos with Cards for Black Feathers, Cards from the Sky, Gold Sarcophagus, Allure of Darkness, Master Hyperion, Gate of the Dark World, Dark Armed Dragon, Black Rose Dragon (yes it has a second effect), Spore, Plaguespreader Zombie, Mezuki and these are some of the cards I can think of. Particularly in zombies, the TeamPurplePanda build even forgoes Burial from the Different Dimension and I think it is because of it, unless the card was forgotten...

Personally, I think this is the single reason Tour Guide of the Underworld is good. It's probably the number one choice Rank 3 XYZ summon. It has been tested to work well in Dark World by the people in Pojo in TCG before the Structure deck was released but I think the TCG ruling about XYZ material monsters does play a small part in making it even better. It is also fits very well in Agents (check out my previous post), Lightsworns and Zombies. However, in OCG, there are no Tour Guides and also a different ruling about the XYZ materials but I think Leviair is still too good to pass up. There definitely will be ways to summon it but it will be slower compared to Tour Guide who brings it out instantly.

Lightlords have probably the closest instant summon with Lumina and Arkus and a banished Honest is a very good target to bring back. Other ways to summon Leviair are from my guesses after looking at this Dark World deck list by Banebu that came in third. I think he uses Spirit Reaper to stall until a second 3 Star summon like Broww, Sangan or the Fabled Raven and Tragoedia (using their effect). In his side-deck, there is also Snowman Eater which is a 3 Star wall.

In short, I think OCG decks should still try to have some setup to summon Leviair even without Tour Guides for rewarding plays. Beware of leaving your 3 Star monster out for a turn as it might get Mind Controlled...

Side-note: The 2011 Collector Tins are out and they contain Pot of Duality. Those interested in building a TCG Agent deck will want the Zenmeister tin as it also contains Kristya.

Revision to OCG Tier 1 prediction

- Agent Angels

- Lightlords

Cards that I'm consider important:

- 1 BLS

- 1 Sangan

- 2 Effect Veiler (or Skill Drain for Dark World)

- 2 Tragoedia

- 1 Gorz

- Mind Control

- Heavy Storm

- Monster Reborn

- Dark Hole

- 2 Pot of Duality

- 2 MST (3 only if your decktype's cards do not have enough back rows destruction, like Agents)

- Torrential Tribute

- Trap Dustshoot

Update: I check out the Dark World deck from shriek.twoday.net and it states it is 2 Doomcaliber Knight instead of 2 Spirit Reaper... oh well... Konami's official TCG site actually states that Rank 3 are using to XYZ summon and I think it is solely due to Tour Guide.

Edit: Ok, maybe first choice is Revise Dragon if there are no removed from game monsters =p...

Lucky Number 13?

I've been checking out shriek's tournaments and seeing all the decks. Agent Angels are aplenty. Offering Gadgets seems to be the best exceed deck and I've seen a few variants running Deep-sea Divas. I think Divas benefit from Gachi Gachi Gentetsu. It used to be pretty dead when you draw it with only a Diva left in the deck and no monsters in the field to synchro. The other exceed deck I noticed are Gravekeepers and Dark World.

I read in the comments that the TCG exclusive coming in Extra Pack 4 called Gravekeeper's Recruiter is going to boost the deck-type. Gravekeeper's Spy are excellent 4 Star Exceed summons. Perhaps Diva can splash into Gravekeepers but I've yet to see a version. Gravekeepers'(GK) key card, Royal Tribute is kinda like a Crush Card Virus and Recruiter will aid in getting Commandant to get Necrovalley, making Royal Tribute a live card.

As for Dark World (DW), the structure box cover already specifies Zexal which should signal the dawn of the XYZ age. However, most of the DW decks are using Demon God Raven as a tuner for synchros. Most of them also do not use Dark World Dealings and I guess it is in fear of mirror matches. The main point I brought up about this 2 decks is because of a particular player that runs both these decks.

Google for "site:shriek.twoday.net efu"

I noticed his deck in that search result list always pack 13 monsters only. I can understand for GK as it synergies well with Royal Tribute. I'm not too sure about DW and its mechanics and looking at the trap, I guess the point of the deck is to cycle through the deck and OTK with an Return from the Different Dimension? His decks also seem to focus on exceeds and I wonder if 13 monsters is a winning formula or his personal preference.

There are a couple of other decks that can work with 13 monsters that I can think of: offering gadgets, gladiator beasts and infernities. You will have to force yourself to choose 13 of the best themed monsters mixed with the most 1 splashed monster like Sangan. Be sure not to run Allures in the dark decks!

September is around a month away and the banlist is coming. Newcomers might want to stray building the current top tier decks as they might get hit and limited. In my opinion, DW should be safe as it has not dominated as much as Agent Angels going from the Nationals (It's not allowed in SG Nationals) and OCG tournaments but I keep my fingers crossed nevertheless!

Will you be running 13 monsters in your deck?

Update: I think it works because of 3 pots of duality. The 13 monsters can still act as reference as the base monsters.

Dark World Anaylsis

This deck is more recent and I actually liked it more than the Agents because I find that the cards have more synergy with each other and can mostly function well alone whereas the Agents have a couple of cards that require the Angel's field spell in order to have its second ability. The Dark World's field spell has a much better stand-alone effect compared to the Angel's field spell. Adding in the available powerful dark monsters, spells and traps and you have a very powerful deck. This is one of the few decks that can run Eradicator Epidemic Virus! Once you use it, you will be able to target with Mind Crush.

My Dark World staples (33)

Monsters (18)

3X Grapha, Dragon God of Dark World

3X Snow, Magician of Dark World

3X Broww, Huntsman of Dark World

3X Sillva, Warlord of Dark World

1X Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World

1X DAD

1X Tragoedia

1X Sangan

1X Morphing Jar

1X Zephyros the Elite

Spells (11)

3X Dark World Dealings

3X Gate of Dark World

2X Dark World Lightning

1X Allure of Darkness

1X Card Destruction

1X Giant Trunade

Trap (4)

3X Eradicator Epidemic Virus

1X Mind Crush

There are only 7 slots left and you will want to fill them up with as many Banlist cards as possible:

Spells (7)

2X MST

1X Dark Hole

1X Monster Reborn

3X Pot of Duality

Giant Trunade and Zephyros are simply to bounce and reuse Gate of Dark World. This deck can also run Deck Destruction Virus and Skill Drain well. Unlike the Agents, there isn't much space for variation. Mike of Duelinglagacy.blogspot.com uses Breakers while the HK National Champion, Liu Hoi Ki ran Rykos and Charge of the Light Brigade.

Edit: Just saw how Rykos can be used in Dark World by the HK Champion. It fills up the Graveyard for to help fulfil Gate of Dark World's requirement of banishing monsters. Video of play courtesy of DuelistCodex.wordpress.com