Mad Skillz - The Man
Hey all you YGO fans out there. This is my first tip for Pojo, and I hope to do many more.
 
For my first article I will talk about Skill Drain decks.
 
Skill Drain
Continuous Trap
Pay 1000 life points. As long as this card remains face-up on the field negate the effects of all face-up effect monsters on the field.
DCR Rare
 
Skill Drain. One of my favorite trap cards. As soon as I pulled one I knew a killer deck could be made. These decks, however, don't see much play because of the feared Jinzo, as well as the S/T killers. So how does one build a successful Skill Drain deck?
 
(Note: If Jinzo hits the field before SD, SD is negated. But, if SD comes out first, Jinzo's beloved effect is negated. Hehehehe...)
 
Monster cards that are needed in a SD deck are quite obvious. Big attacks, four stars, and bad effects, e.g. GAF, Giant Orc, Armor Exe. That last one is down right dangerous in a SD deck:
 
Armor Exe
Light/Rock
ATK/ 2400 DEF/ 1400
This card cannot attack in 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.
MFC Rare
 
As you can see, it is screwed over by its own effect. However, a well timed SD can change this shoe box card into a no-tribute, Jinzo-and-Slate-Warrior-rivaling monstrosity.
 
Searchers, such as Witch, Sangan, and Sinister Serpent still get their effects with SD on the field because their effects activate in the graveyard, but flip effects will not activate since they are activated on the field.
 
If you want, you can include a magical scientist. By paying a few thousand life points you can summon Ryu Senshi and Dark Balter the Terrible. Then activate SD and that could spell game as you get effect negation, spell negation, and trap negation. Just be sure not to run out of life points.
 
For those of you who are confused right now, the effects of Ryu Senshi and Balter will not be negated because they are not considered effect monsters but fusion/effect monsters. That is why the cards are violet instead of orange (read the rule book).
 
Berserk Gorilla is a good investment for this deck, too, because if your SDs go down you won't be left with such terrible double-sworded monsters. 
 
An SD deck should be able to get away with no tributes, but if you really want one I suggest Summoned Skull (woah, what's that card?).
 
Spells are also an easy part of the deck. They are basically the same ones as for a regular beatdown (and this deck is technically beatdown). I do not suggest a Heavy storm as you will be nuking your SDs, but that may be just because I never liked the card anyways.
 
Even thoguh equips slow you down, if you want big monsters you can use United We Stand and Mage Power. The former will be really powerful in the Scientist combo mentioned above by summoning two extra fusions. Also, a Big Bang Shot could be devastating, too. Think of it on an Armor Exe. A no-tribute, 2800 attack trampler? Broken.
 
Remember, speed is key in this game, so pack Painful Choice, Pot of Greed, Graceful Charity, and Mirage of Nightmare (be sure to set a MST with MoN).
 
Traps are the most important part of the deck because they house the SDs and protection for them as well. Protection includes Imperial Order, Magic Jammer, and Magic Drain. You could use a Judgement of Anubis, although its second effect will hardly ever go through. Most duelists will play Spells first, then monsters. And if they do play monsters they will most likely be facedown with your big beatsticks on the field.
 
A Solemn Judgement could be useful also, though I don't like the hefty price.
 
Here is an example of a Skill Drain deck. This deck is not in accordance with the upcoming banlist. If you do decide to run this deck remember to test it out and fine tune its weaknesses according to your current playing environment, or just ditch it completely.
 
Mad Skillz (44)
 
Monsters (17)
 
1x Summoned Skull
 
3x Armor Exe
 
3x Goblin Attack Force
 
3x Giant Orc
 
3x Berserk Gorilla
 
1x Witch
 
1x Sangan
 
1x Sinister Serpent
 
1x Magical Scientist
 
Spells (16)
 
1x Pot of Greed
 
1x Graceful Charity
 
1x Raigeki
 
1x Dark Hole
 
1x Harpie's Feather Duster
 
1x Change of Heart
 
1x Monster Reborn
 
1x Snatch Steal
 
1x Painful Choice
 
1x United We Stand
 
1x Mage Power
 
1x Premature Burial
 
1x Mirage of Nightmare
 
3x Mystical Space Typhoon
 
Traps (11)
 
3x Skill Drain
 
2x Magic Jammer
 
1x Magic Drain
 
1x Call of the Haunted
 
1x Mirror Force
 
1x Imperial Order
 
1x Ring of Destruction
 
1x Waboku
 
Fusion Deck (12)
 
3x Thousand-Eyes Restrict
 
3x Ryu Senshi
 
3x Dark Balter the Terrible
 
3x Dark Flare Knight
 
Good Side Deck Choices:
 
Big Bang Shot, Judgement of Anubis, Card Destruction, another Magic Jammer and/or Drain...
 
So there you have it. My first Pojo tip. Chances are, this won't be the last.
 
Loved it? Hated it? Hate me? email me at good_livin2000s@yahoo.com