Try this on for size - Sam Spade

I'm an avid visitor to Pojo.com, and I constantly read the tips, reviews, all of that, and it seems to me that a lot of people are having beefs with peeps that run Beatdowns, or run into nearly the same deck everytime. You know what I mean; you play against 4 different people, each with a 40-card deck, but 25 of their cards are the same. Now, personally, I can't stand the similarities of most decks, because to me, it shows lack of originality and variety. However, I'm not gonna hate on them, but if that's what works for them, then so be it.
 
Now I know most of you have heard, from one source or another, about the updated restricted list in Japan, and most of you (me included) are cringing because you know that at some point, it's gonna make its way to the states, meaning no more Raigekis, Harpie's Feather Duster, Change of Hearts, the reset button (fiber jar), none of those. Here is what I suggest you do to "cope", so to speak.
 
In your local area, why not try dueling with that "restriction list" in place, and see how it fares for you. Not only will that make you a better duelist by forcing you to work with other cards and be more diverse, it will prepare you for when the list makes it over here, because IT WILL.
 
Let's take a look at some suitable replacements for a few cards:
Change of Heart:
there are a few monster cards that give the same effect, such as Jowls of Dark Demise, Invader of the Throne, and u still have Snatch steal.
 
Raigeki:
Well, in all honesty, there isn't a card that can truly replace the sheer brokeness of Raigeki, but you might try Offerings/Tribute to the doomed, even revert back to Fissure if u have to.
 
Yata-Garasu:
By far, IMO, THE CHEAPEST card in the game, which is why his ATK is so weak. But, u can utilize Time Seal for the same effect.
 
Harpie's Feather Duster:
This ban was the one that hurt me the most, seeing as how I went through hell and high water to get this card. But, you still have your MST's, Dust TOrnado's, Giant Trunades, Armed Ninjas, Trap Masters, and the like, so this one shouldn't hurt TOO MUCH...
 
This is just a start. I run an all-LIGHT-based deck, with a few exceptions, of course (spirit reapers) but for the most part, with the restrictions and bans, it allows us to use cards that were once though deck-space wasters. Try it out!
 
--Sam Spade
samspade596@aol.com