Subject: FWD: Help with Exodia-Shaddy

---------- Original Message ----------------------------------

From: Shaddymaze@aol.com

Date:  Tue, 16 Mar 2004 13:52:57 EST

In this article I will discuss the original OTKO (although not necessarily in the first turn). I remember when Exodia was just another way to possibly win, but today, Exodia can mop the floor with most opposing decks.

The main goal for an Exodia deck is to of course have all five pieces of Exodia in hand. However, the second most important point, which helps to accomplish the first, is to thin the deck out. I don't have to tell you how tight an Exodia deck has to be, barely scrapping that 40 card limit can be difficult, but it is possible to thin the deck to around 20 cards in no time.

First off we'll include the 5 pieces. Besides drawing all 5 in first hand, the best situation is with the Head of Exodia near the bottom, you don't want this guy being used as Card Destruction bait, or the victim of Don Zaloog. You can easily get back the other pieces with Backup Soldier, of which 2 would be a good idea.

Card count:7

Next we have the drawing cards of Pot of Greed, Graceful Charity, Upstart Goblin, Painful Choice, Witch of the Black Forest, and Sangan. You don't care about opponents lifepoints, so Upstart won't be a problem. Painful Choice is amazing at thining that deck out take out those useless magics, which I'll discuss next. Witch and Sangan are your best friend since they get the pieces for you with no problem. Hint: don't take the Head of Exodia with Witch or Sangan unless it's the last piece.

Card count:13

Some boosters have included some cards that help to thin the deck even more, and some are kinda underatted for this purpose. Thunder Dragon, sure it's a Tribute monster, but it's effect is worth the three spots he'll take up. You can send one Thunder Dragon from your hand to place any number of Thunder dragons in your hand from your deck. Not only thins your deck, but when your opponent sees you're running Exodia and won't attack your Witch, simply sacrifice her for this guy to get her effect. You can also use a little known card called Different Dimension Capsule. Magic card, pick any card from your deck and remove it from play for two turns. After those two turns are up put it in your hand.

Just pick another Different Dimension Capsule, and if they stop it, whoopdy-freakin'-do, you still get to remove it from play, thinning your deck. Troop Dragons just don't go away, three of these fellas and your opponent will get sick of attacking or using Ragieki or Dark Hole or Exiled Force or whatever on those little Troop Dragons, which come directly from your deck. Similarly, Nimble Momonga will do something like Troopy, plus you gain life points. "It's win-freakin'-win, baby." Later in other sets "Toon Index" can be used in place of Different Dimension Capsule. Focus Your Mind was made especially for Exodia, which can go a little quicker than Different Demension Capsule, but is more limited if you draw two of them. Your choice...or rather, your Painful Choice...OH!

Card Count: 28

On to the emergency stuff, protection is key with stalling for Exodia, so a few back up cards will be needed.

2 Solumn Judgements can stop anything...except an attack. 2 Messenger of Peaces and Gravity Binds are excellent at keeping your opponents monsters at bay.

If you're having trouble getting these two, good substitutes are Vengeful Bog Spirit and Dark Door, which don't really prevent the opponent from attacking, but they do limit their options. Torrential Tribute, if you find that your suicidal Witch or Sangan is doing very good at suiciding itself, Torrential will help that along. A Cannon Soldier would also do well for this purpose.

Premature Burial and Call of the Huanted to get those two martyrs back. But what if they reborn one of your pieces or Cyber Jar one in? Well, Penguin soldier not only provides good recycling defense, but can return you precious pieces. Also, IOC came out with the rare card Compulsory Evacuation Device. It's a trap and returns a monster on the field to its owners hand.

Card Count: 40

This is just a composite to show you a possible Exodia deck. There are plenty of other great Exodia cards that are perhaps a little more situational, but can still get the job done. Like Mystic Tomato to get out Witch or Sangan quicker. Or a combo using a Giant Rat to get out the pieces and then using Compulsory Evacuation Device to return them. Using Magician of Faith to get back those drawing cards. IOC came out with some support for Exodia as well. Heart of the Underdog, continuous magic, if you draw a normal monster show it to your opponent and draw another card. Sacred Crane, when it's special summoned the owner draws one card. Spirit of the Pot of Greed, when it's in face up attack position any player who activates a Pot of Greed draws an additional card. Sure there is Exodia Necros with its all too impossible combo to get out. Good luck with it if you get it to actually work. I'd say concentrate on getting all pieces back while using Necros as a wall. Perhaps even putting in a Scientist would be a good idea

P.S. My friend used to run Exodia, and just to be a complete prick-hole he'd already have Exodia in hand and just wait for me to do some cool move that might win it for me, and he'd just show his hand right then. You can not do this.

The official rule says that if you have it at any time you instantly win, so you can't wait to show it, you must show it when you have it.

Talk Yu-Gi-Oh! with me, Shaddy, at Shaddymaze@aol.com Zombies!