Clifftrapremover is back again to tell all you pojo readers on the hidden powers of spell casters. Now as we’ve all seen, yugi runs an altered spell caster deck. Now for a while all decks imitating him were abysmal failures. Now it is possible to build a powerful tournament worthy deck using some of yugi’s favorite cards. There are two versions of this deck: one for a rich person and one for the “less wealthy” individual. We’ll start with the cheaper version (this version is advised for casual play).
Casual Spell caster deck: Ok this deck all revolves around one card: the Dark Magician. The main point here is to get him out quick and pummel your opponent (like yugi). Ok that’s not completely true: this deck will want to get a powerful spell caster out and pummel your opponents. Now things called spell counters will make your deck. These things can be removed using other cards, which will give you nice effects. Miracle Restoring is a card like that. It says that by removing 2 spell counters on your side of the field you can special summon 1 Dark Magician from your graveyard. You must be thinking now, “How can I get spell counters on my side of the field?” well cards like Pitch-Black Power Stone will do that. It says that after activation, 3 spell counters get put on it. Now there are a few powerful cards out that will add power to your decks that use spell counters. Mega Ton Magical Cannon allows you to remove 10 Spell Counters on your side of the field and destroy all cards on your opponent’s side of the field. That is very nice combo for any deck, let alone a none expensive one. If you’re opponent doesn’t notice you building up spell counters on your side of the field you can surprise them with a powerful megaton blast, which can easily give you the win. (End rant) Now an extremely powerful card in your deck is a monster called Magical Marionette. He says that each time you or your opponent activates 1 Spell Card put 1 Spell Counter on this card. Increase the ATK of this monster by 200 points for each Spell Counter on this card. Also you can remove 2 Spell Counters from this card to destroy 1 monster on the field. Now he is powerful! Kill a monster by removing 1 spell counter will be a piece of cake for this deck and will give you major field control. If that weren’t enough every spell counter on him gives him a boost. To stop your opponent from gaining the upper hand by those pesky magic cards the card Anti-Spell will cure that. It says that if you remove 2 Spell Counters on your side of the field, it negates the activation of a Spell Card and destroys it. Now that cost isn’t so bad. Now there is a monster called Armor Exe, which says that he cannot attack the same turn it is Normal Summoned, Flip Summoned, or Special Summoned. During each of your and your opponent’s Standby Phases, remove 1 Spell Counter on your side of the field. If you do not do so, this card is destroyed. Now I don’t really like this guy but he tend to grow on some people so try him if you want to. Now if you want to buster blader can be used in the deck. I again don’t advocate him but he can be used very effectively in this type of deck. Emblem of Dragon Destroyer let’s you search for him in your deck and graveyard so that will add speed and give you more spell counters. The spell card gather your mind will allow you to search your deck for more of this card for the purpose to gain spell counters. Now these cards will give you a fine spell caster deck. If you have the money you can add cards from the next paragraph to power up your deck.
Expensive spell caster deck- The power of this deck will not come from spell counters but powerful monsters. Now one of my favorite cards is a monster related to Dark Magician named Skill Dark Magician. His effect says that each time you or your opponent activates 1 Spell Card, put 1 Spell Counter on this card (max 3). You can Special Summon 1 “Dark Magician” from your hand, Deck, or Graveyard in face-up Attack or Defense Position by offering this monster with 3 Spell Counters as a Tribute during your Main Phase. To sweeten the deal Skill Dark Magician has a 1900 attack power, which makes him an awesome monster. His counter part, named Skill White Magician, has a def on 1900 but allows him to special summon Buster Blader when he has 3 spell counters on him. Now these two monsters with the a few Gemini elf’s will make a strong body to your deck. T Now the deck could just be built as Dark Magician and Buster Blader as beat sticks but one monster can make the deal even sweeter: Dark Paladin. He is a fusion between
Dark Magician and Buster Blader and has the effect that As long as this card remains face-up on the field, you can negate the activation of 1 Spell Card and destroy the Spell Card by discarding 1 card from your hand. The ATK of this card increases by 500 points for each Dragon-Type monster on the field and in either Graveyard. Now that’s a strong monster. With a built in magic jammer and a boost effect that you can use to boost up your own monster. Now if you want to run him you will want to use Emblem of Dragon Destroyer to get Buster Blader in your hand. A fusion substitute monsters will make him come out easier. Breaker the Magical Warrior is a great monster for this type of deck also.
The deck can be made as a beat down with out paladin or with him. Ether one is strong but just as a note Dark Paladin is really fun to use. If you want to make the beat down spell caster deck without the paladin a new monster called Magician of Black Chaos makes the deck stronger. He works great in this type of deck and with the card called Dedication through Light and Dark. That allows you to special summon Magician of Black Chaos by sacrificing Dark Magician. Now I’ll leave it at the fact that Magician of Black Chaos is a good monster BUT he should not be used in a Dark Paladin because the deck is being spread to thin if he is put in there. Magician of Black Chaos is great in a beat down spell caster deck though.
Structuring a- Dark Paladin deck. Now first you should run 3 Skill Dark Magician and 2 –3 Skill White Magician to add speed to get those pesky fusion material monsters out. Now 2-3 Gemini elves will help with a little beat down. Now have 3 spear dragons to give a boost to Dark Paladin when you get him out. Use 2-3 Dark Magicians and 2-3 Buster Bladers. Now have 2-3 paladins in your fusion deck. No this is a personal choice of whether to run fusion gate or polymerization. Ether fusion gate, which allows you to get more than 1 Dark Paladin easily, but removes the fusion material monsters. Some people like polymerization because it allows you to recur the fusion material monsters. Now toss in some fusion substitutes like Versago the destroyer and the deck is structured pretty well to get paladin out. Now use 1-2 Emblem of Dragon Destroyers to get Buster Blader in your hand and it could add a spell counter on your side of the field. Add breaker the magical warrior, Injection fairy Lilly, and yata for more power. That will give you around 16 monsters. Well the rest of the deck can be built around your personal choice but I advise axe of despair and fissure as counter producer.
Endnote: newer cards like thousand knives do add power to casual decks but should NOT be used in competitive decks. And now the final note that some of you new players must be asking: “What about Dark Magician Girl?” Well kids she is horrible for now. Don’t waste your time getting her. She could be fun is casual play but you will soon see that she is bad.
Pro- Can be a very fast deck. In my experience these decks are fun to use. Magical Marionette and Mega Ton Magical Cannon are actually very effective when used properly. Dark Paladin can be an almost unstoppable force when brought out with a little protection. With out paladin the deck still boasts a Dark Magician and Buster Blader, which can be brought out easily for a powerful strike.
Cons- The major flaw with a spell counter deck is that if the counters are gotten rid of the game can stall for the duelist. Anther problem is the deck can be a horrible at top decks. Drawing a useless spell counter card in a top draw can cost you the duel. A tournament spell caster deck can just be over powered by other beat downs which is a let down. It is horrible to see a well-built Spell caster deck be shot down by a beat down just because of the speed or sheer power. Dark Paladin decks are the saddest stories. They can be slow. The can be stopped by a simple Imperial Order and if they can cant get a powerful monster out soon the deck can fall apart from sheer lack of power. I like these decks but if the deck is stalled and over powered the deck can crumble with almost nothing that the duelist can do. It really is a shame.
Conclusion- What strength! With a high spell counters a duelist can unleash a lot of power on there opponents. The combination of Dark Magician and Buster Blader can shut down an opponent quick. Dark Paladin is one of the best monsters in the game and getting him on the field can give many people the duel. The only problem is that right now these decks just can’t compete in speed and strength and crumble. Maybe when the banned list hits the Americas these decks will gain popularity. We can only wait and see.
THESE DECKS SHOULD HAVE ALL THE BASIC STAPLES IN THEM TO MAKE THEM BETTER BUT STILL WORK FINE WITHOUT THEM IN CASUAL PLAY. (Nothing is guaranteed to work in tournaments.)
Well that’ll do it for this deck. Now this deck is fun to play. The problem is it might have some problems working in the Meta game. I hope this helps you. If you have any ideas to add then email me. Disagree email me and tell me why. PS: I would love it if people would send me deck ideas that I could write about.
Author: Abhinav Kumar Email: clifftrapremover@aol.com