Well guys thanks for the flood of support, it was refreshing. Anyway, back on topic. The last couple of days I’ve been tinkering in the back of my mind with this Radget idea, and I’ve hit on some sweet ideas, but first I’m going to talk about the Phoenix.

 

The Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys is , for lack of a better word, awesome in this format, and I’m surprised no one’s stepped up and decided to start using it. In the format where Ring of Destruction is back, Exiled Force use is at an all time high and Chaos Sorcerer has been discarded into oblivion Phoenix should be having the time of its life, I know it is in my deck. What started as a random inclusion into a semi-warrior deck turned into the main focus almost instantly, its just that powerful and easy to use. But I think the most shocking thing about Phoenix’s use is just how simple Phoenix is to fit into a deck. At the most it takes 3 card slots, one of which is Phoenix itself. Besides that there’s the must of 1 Hand of Nephthys (generally I’ve found it should be one hand per Phoenix, and since she’s restricted to 1.…) and the optional Apprentice Magician. Phoenix can work without, but I like having Apprentice there just to search Magician of Faith occasionally. And I might add that Treeborn Frog, arguably the BEST monster out there this format has more synergy with Nephthys than you could ever imagine. This is why I’m incorporating these cards into this deck, and most likely all future decks if I can. They’re that cool.

 

With that in mind, lets talk about Giant Rat. As searchers go, I’d say that this one is probably ranked 2nd when it comes to the searcher monsters we have available to use in terms of sheer volume of uses, only marginally beaten by Mystic Tomato. Giant Rat has so many targets these days its not even funny, besides the Gadgets, there’s ;

 

Exiled Force ;

 

Quickly becoming a must this format, Exiled Force is a solid monster and is one of the best monsters out there for removal, hitting  both face up and face down threats without flipping them face-up. Staple here, and besides the Gadgets is the best search target really.

 

Injection Fairy Lily ;

 

To be honest, I nearly forgot about her, but Lily is VERY good as a Rat target. With only 400 attack points which at a drop of a hat can be jumped up to 3400 , she’ll certainly make the opponent think twice about attacking you. She can take out pretty much every monster threat there is, or roughly half the opposing lp in one shot. You can’t really argue with that.

 

Mystic Swordsman lv2

 

This lil guy can do no wrong, and can be a beast when the opponent relys heavily on face down flips, which happens frequently these days.  900 attack is near respectable, and combined with Phoenix he can make life hell for the opponent.

 

DD Warrior ;

 

I can’t really make this deck without mentioning this guy, awesome as removal, being allowed multiply, but since he’s just so rare, I can’t really put him in. Still, if you get one it’s worth the squeeze.

 

Other than that, there isn’t so much that jumps out at me that would suit this deck. Now onto the Gadgets.  For those of you unfamiliar  with how they work, or even what they are, prepare to get very much acquainted with them very soon. Here’s a sneak peak.

 

Green Gadget
Earth/Machine/4/1400/600
When this card is summoned or special summoned, find the "Red Gadget" in your deck and add to your hand.

 

Yellow Gadget
Earth/Machine/4/1200/1200
When this card is summoned or special summoned, find the "Green Gadget" in your deck and add to your hand.

 

Red Gadget
Earth/Machine/4/1300/1500
When this card is summoned or special summoned, find the "Yellow Gadget" in your deck and add to your hand.

 

At first glance, a few things are noticeable. 

 

1 : The Gadgets have the potential to SWARM like crazy. Just one summoning from these guys gives you a straight up +1 . Combo that and keep it going and you’re jumping up the game’s tempo incredibly.

 

2 : Gadgets are WEAK ! Statistically that is. But that is as much a blessing as it is a curse, for instance it allows them to be searched out via Giant Rat, however it also makes them very easy to blow up, so why is  everyone eager to use, as well as terrified of them?

 

Well the truth of the matter is that whilst they are easy to destroy in battle , their advantage gaining mechanic just completely out weighs that., and for that reason alone they have  proven to be incredibly powerful and ULTIMATELY consistent in Japan for years. So obviously those clever folks in Japan have found a way around the negatives of the Gadget theme. Well actually, it’s not the clever really.

 

Basically, they jammed their decks up with 1~4~1’s so that eventually everything would blow up and the Gadgets can attack , fearless of anything that an opponent can throw at them, all the while gaining cards with their constant summoning. Yummy, just like my favourite format we just took a YEAR to heal from. Fantastic.

 

Anyway, I’ve decided not to go down that route, well at least not entirely. I’ve already said that I want Treeborn Frog to go in, and he can’t exactly pull that off with an Armada of s/t’s in your zone now can he?  That’s why I’m going to be clever about what I stick in, but I’ll get to that bit in a minute.

 

First, I just want to say that the Gadgets have other downsides when they’re played like this, the main one being clogged hands. If for instance you run the whole hog of 9 Gadgets, there’s every chance you’ll draw into them multiply, effectively make them useless, or at the very least annoying. That’s why you’ve got to be clever with them. For the sake of the experiment I’m jamming them all in, but whatever.

 

Also, you need a back up plan. One 9 are gone, you could be if you don’t play your cards right. Gadgets are a swarm / deck thinning strategy, and need to be treated as such, otherwise you’ll just have a load of cards and not do anything with them.

 

Ok, now lets get clever again shall we? My least favourite thing about the Gadgets is also my Phoenix’s greatest strength, how cool is that? Besides the obvious flaw of bottomless trap hole, Nephthys will revel in the wake of over -used Smashing Grounds and Sakurtsu Armours, and will actually serve to eliminate such threats with her revival storm effect. But that’s just the first clever bit.

 

To fight against the Bottomless trap holes that would threaten my pretty birdie, I’m sticking in two classic monster, Mobius the Frost Monarch, and Jinzo. This gives my deck the same Tribute set up as the one I’m currently using by the by, substituting warriors for Gadgets. The Gadgets also lighten the load of Hand of Nephthys ‘ requirements, making for even more fun.

 

While I’m at it, I’m going to squeeze for 2 Cyber Dragons. Combine this with Jinzo, and of course those Mechanised menaces the Gadgets and we’re pushing a machine deck here. I doubt I’ll find room , but will tackle that when we come to it.  The Cyber Dragon’s could be perceived as a little contradictory, after all the whole point of the Gadgets (and Treeborn frog) is to keep popping up which would just render Cyber Dragon useless. I obviously realise that, but I’ve this nagging feeling that if all goes wrong that Cyber Dragon will be able to reconcile the difficulties. Call it fate or just logic, but Cyber’s going in.  He’s also sweet for pulling off the Hand of Nephthys .

 

Last will is a great card since its re-doing , and perfect for this deck, what with all the mini monsters in it. I’m currently having great success with it. Another must is Limiter Removal .

 

Now for the REALLY clever bit, actually first, I’ll introduce you to Pot of Avarice.

 

If my sources are correct, them Pot of Avarice will be making an appearance in the same deck as the Gadgets. This is a perfect addition to the advantage gaining team , recycling the burnt out Gadgets back into the deck as well as drawing 2 cards. Not bad huh?

 

Ok, NOW for the clever bit. With everyone and their mother running Monarchs (you know those guys with the repeating stats of 2400, 1000) well they will get their heads bent by these guys, firstly because their “floater” status will be removed by not paying for their own summon thanks to the Gadgets already paying for THEIR own summoning, and secondly because of my brainwave card - Enemy Controller.

 

This is the real genius bit for me. Enemy Controller is a quality card, quickplay, chainable, effective and utilising of the Gadgets strengths. How so I hear you ask? Well this about it.

 

Gadgets mass multiply fairly easily. They are fairly weak, but they are substantial in terms of attack scores.  Combine this with Enemy Controller’s tribute control ability and you’re laughing. Basically, zap up a Gadget when you’re up against a wall, and steal one of their monsters to use as a human shield for the turn. Maybe not as good as outright killing the monster , but you’re Gadget would have died anyway, and at least you’ve bought yourself a turn without taking damage. This combo was revealed to me many a time by a sneaky friend of mine, and is partly what opens up the true genius of the combo.

 

The bit where I come in on this is with Enemy Controller’s alternative ability. Since the Monarchs (and lets face it, most things) have 1000 defense  these days, and the Gadgets have over 1000 attack, well you do the maths as to how effective changing things to defense would be.

 

The really beauty comes from how this compliments the deck so much.

 

Being quickplay, it can get under Jinzo whilst he’s locking down the Armada of trap’s your be facing.
It combo’s beautifully with Treeborn Frog , being chainable, and able to Tribute control with him.
It’s allowed in 3’s
Best of all, IT’S IN THE DECK THAT THE GADGETS ARE IN !!! Destiny that, it has to be.

 

Using Enemy Controller in this deck will keep you one step ahead of the opposition all the time. It will protect your Gadgets as well as empower them. Use it wisely.

 

Now to go about making the most difficult and volatile deck I’ve ever considered implementing :

 

“Radget Phoenix “

Monsters ; 28

 

Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys
Jinzo
Mobius the Frost monarch
Cyber Dragon (x2)

 

Green Gadgets (x3)
Yellow Gadget (x3)
 Red Gadget (x3)
Giant Rat (x3)
Treeborn Frog
Hand of Nephthys
Mystic Swordsman LV2
Exiled Force (x2)
Injection Fairy Lily
Sangan
DD Warrior Lady
Breaker the Magical Warrior
Magician of Faith
Spirit Reaper

 

Spells 13

 

Premature burial
Graceful Charity
Heavy Storm
Nobleman of Crossout
Scapegoat
Mystical Space typhoon
Book of Moon
Enemy Controller (x3)
Pot of Avarice
Limiter Removal
Last Will

 

Traps  6 :

 

Ring of Destruction
Torrential Tribute
Mirror Force
Call of the Haunted
Waboku
Dust Tornado

 

And there you have it, 47 cards, enormous. Obviously this can’t be the finished product, but it just goes to show that Gadgets are going to mean change, for instance on the deck ratio and size. Huge amounts of monsters are needed for success.

 

To tell you the truth, I don’t expect much success with this deck, at least not in this form. For instance that trap set-up is abysmal, but it doesn’t matter. I’m going to be fixing this deck up as I go along, finding  out how it works, it’s tweaks, its twitches, whether or not I need to shove a load of monster removal in or not , and just how good the Gadgets are, I’m a n00b when it comes to them , as are we all really, but this is the direction I’m going to be taking. I’ll be following Deathjester’s results with eyes wide open , and I suggest you do the same. I guess all of the featured writing staff will be putting their stamp on this subject, and I think we should learn from each other on this one, I know I’ll be paying attention.

 

This deck might not work as is, but I have no doubt that the ideas in it will surface up in its Beta version and most likely other Gadget decks if people even bother to read this. Enemy Controller  is a good idea. Pot of Avarice is a good idea. Phoenix is a GREAT idea, but whatever.

 

 

Merry Christmas Guys, Have a good one.