Howdy, folks.

I just thought I'd stop by and give you my latest article on those ever wacky characters, the Toons. You know, a lot has changed since I wrote my first article. Back then, we didn't have cards like Toon Gemini Elf or Toon Table of Contents. We only had a few cards to choose from, and, for the most part, they sucked, because they either didn't have the high stats to compete with regular beatdown monsters (Toon Mermaid), or were just plain unfeasible (Manga Ryu Ran). As a matter of fact, the only worthwhile Toons back then were Blue Eyes Toon Dragon and Toon Summoned Skull, and they really caused some serious headaches for your opponents (What? 3000 DIRECT? DAMMIT!!)

Now, us Toonatics have a wide variety of cards to choose from and enhance our decks. We have Toons that don't come with that nasty handicap of needing Toon World on the field, as well as being able to hold their own against staple beatdowns (Toon Gemini Elf and Toon Goblin Attack Force.) We even got a few cards that not only sped up the deck, but can be used in other decks as well (Toon Table of Contents and Toon Cannon Soldier, anyone?)

The recent ban list was both a blessing and a curse for Toon decks. We lost Cyber Jar (which was handy for mass Toon summoning, sometimes, without the turn handicap), but we also gained the upper hand when Dark Hole left and D.D. Assailant got restricted to one (minimizing your Toons getting banished to the Shadow Realm). Magician of Faith is back at two, which means more use of Toon Table of Contents and even Toon World when you need them. The recent boosters also gave us some decent cards, the most recent giving us the only Class B Toon in the Sneak Preview (Toon Dark Magician Girl).

So, now, I hereby begin my review of the Toons!

As the saying goes, times change, and my opinion about cards which should and should not go into a Toon deck has, too. So, here are some cards you should include in your Toon Deck:

Toon World - Well, DUH. Toon World is basically the card you're building the deck around, after all. This card comes at a price of 1000 LP, but it brings out the potential of all of your Toons (heck, some of them can't even be played without it...) the most frequent after effect being your (Class C) Toons being able to attack your opponent's LP directly. However, unless you have a Toon that can use it out already, this card is a horrid topdeck, comes with no other effects, and can easily wipe your field clean of any Toons once it gets nuked. With Toon Table of Contents in play and Toons being able to come out without Toon World, I don't recommend you pack more than 1 in your deck. Yes, I'm dead serious. Unless you want an increased chance of a dead draw in your deck (which should be around 40-ish, anyway), keep this card at one, because of the numerous disadvantages with playing it (and the ease of searching it out with TToC, anyway...)

Toon Table of Contents - You NEED to be smacked in your head if you even THINK  about running a Toon deck without this card. What's so bad about searching for any card with 'Toon' in its' name? Nothing. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. This increases the speed of the Toon deck, and can fetch vital cards for you in a pinch. On top of that, it encourages deck thinning, which is always a good thing. Run 3, no less.

Toon Gemini Elf - 1900 ATK and a Spirit Reaper-like effect are VERY nice, but be wary of Dark World, which can seriously RUIN you if you are careless. VERY handy with Toon World, and one of the best Toons overall. Run 3.

Toon Goblin Attack Force - 2300 ATK makes for a very solid attacker (especially when it's a Direct attack), but the dropping asleep part afterwards irks me to no end. I'd advise you keep this as a wall until you're certain it's safe (and feasible) to attack with. Run 2 or 3, it's really your call here, but I find this to be a notch below Toon Gemini Elf, at times.

Toon Cannon Soldier - Probably the most versatile Toon there is, all because he possesses the effect of the original Cannon Soldier AND can be sussed out by Toon Table of Contents. If we only had Exchange of the Spirits, he'd see more play, but, until then, he belongs in a Toon deck. Works well with Brain Controlled monsters and Sangan, and burn's always handy. Just don't forget he has priority with his effect. However, with his low attack, I only recommend putting 1 in your deck. If you think he can be of more use to you in multiples, run 2.

Toon Summoned Skull - With 2500 ATK, he can stand up to all of the Monarchs, Jinzo, and the Dark World monsters.You mightn't think this is much, but, believe me....your opponent has to play careful once he hits the field and reconsider a few things. Probably the only feasible Class A Toon left, because BETD is to costly to bring out for only 500 more ATK, and Manga Ryu Ran and Toon Mermaid are next to useless now. Run 1 of him as one of your Tributes.

Toon Dark Magician Girl - Before, I recommended that this card isn't really worth putting in a Toon deck, but, seeing as how she's the fastest Toon (the one that can attack in the same turn it's summoned), I may have changed my mind. You'll never use the second effect (not unless you're certifiably NUTS), but 2000 ATK on your opponent's LP is SWEET. Run 1 in your deck.

And now, here are some cards I don't recommend you place in your Toon Deck, despite the theme:

Manga Ryu Ran - Ick. NO. Two Tributes for a wall is not going to do at all. Not when Toons were meant to attack. Toon Summoned Skull outclasses this in so many ways, as does the superior Blue Eyes Toon Dragon. Don't waste your time...there's a reason he was so common compared to the other Toons back in the day.

Toon Masked Sorceror- In a Messenger of Peace style Toon deck, yes. The DEF is more than feasible enough to allow that. In a normal Toon deck? NOOOOO. Contrary to what others say, 900 ATK will get creamed before you get the effect. You'd be better of running the original, if that was the case, because at least he can attack in the same turn. Run 2 in a Messenger of Peace Toon Deck.

Toon Mermaid - See above. Toon Mermaid was good back in the heyday for its mass summoning potential, but now? We have Cyber Dragon. In a Messenger of Peace Toon Deck, this card shines, because, at 1400 ATK, all your opponent can hope to do is knock it out head on with another 1400 ATK to stop it from continuously hitting his LP for a loop. Run 3 in the Messenger of Peace style Toon Deck.

Toon Defense - WHY run this card when Astral Barrier does the same freaking thing for ALL monsters? ZERO, okay? Don't run ANY.

Vengeful Bog Spirit - Placed here because a lot of people recommend putting this in any Toon deck, to handicap your opponent in the same way as you with your Toons. I don't recommend you put this in a beatdown Toon deck, because it's hard to fit in a deck of 40-ish cards. The Messenger of Peace Toon deck, definitely, because stalling is your game here.

And now, some other cards that may prove handy:

Cyber Dragon - Summon him, then a Toon. At least he can attack the same turn he's summoned, and can facilitate a first turn summon of a Toon Summoned Skull or Toon DMG. 2100 ATK is nothing to sneeze at, either.

Scapegoat - Toons are the only monsters that can be summoned by offering the Sheep Tokens as a Tribute. Don't ask me how that's even possible, because I've explained it TOO MANY TIMES. Go look it up. Stalling also helps in a pinch.

Messenger of Peace - In a stall style Toon deck, VERY yes, because some of the Toons work well with this card (Toon CS and Toon Mermaid both have 1400 ATK, and Toon Masked Sorceror has 1400 DEF). Consider this in a beatdown style Toon deck also, because you can stall a bit if needed cards are out of your grasp.

Royal Decree, Jinzo - I hereby Decree that your Magic Cylinder and Mirror Force be BANISHED from yon sight, lest my Toons leap over there and kick you in the gonads! ;)

Spirit Reaper - Handy to stall with, and a staple in most decks. What's not to run? (Until Marshmallon comes out, that is...)

Now, I'm going to offer up not one, but TWO decks. One is a beatdown style Toon deck, while the other more or less facilitates stalling while chipping at LP. Whichever you choose to run is up to you, but both can be pretty fun to play.

TOON WORLD BEATDOWN

Monsters (21):

1 x Jinzo

1 x Toon Dark Magician Girl

1 x Toon Summoned Skull

3 x Toon Gemini Elf

2 x Toon Goblin Attack Force

1 x Toon Cannon Soldier

2 x Cyber Dragon

2 x Magician of Faith

2 x Spirit Reaper

1 x Sangan

1 x Morphing Jar

1 x Treeborn Frog

1 x Tsukuyomi

1 x Exiled Force

1 x Breaker the Magical Warrior

Spells: (16)

1 x Toon World

3 x Toon Table of Contents

1 x Heavy Storm

1 x MST

1 x Giant Trunade

1 x Graceful Charity

1 x Book of Moon

1 x Scapegoat

1 x Swords of Revealing Light

1 x Snatch Steal

1 x Brain Control

1 x Premature Burial

1 x Lightning Vortex

1 x Nobleman of Crossout

Traps (5)

1 x Mirror Force

1 x Torrential Tribute

1 x Waboku

1 x Call of the Haunted

1 x Sakuretsu Armor

DECK SIZE: 42 CARDS.

NITPICKY TOON DECK

Monsters (20):

3 x Toon Mermaid

3 x Toon Cannon Soldier

2 x Masked Sorceror

2 x Magician of Faith

1 x Morphing Jar

1 x Tsukuyomi

1 x Treeborn Frog

2 x Spirit Reaper

1 x Mask of Darkness

2 x Gear Golem the Moving Fortress

1 x Exiled Force

1 x Breaker the Magical Warrior

Spells: (17)

3 x Toon Table of Contents

2 x Toon World

3 x Messenger of Peace

1 x Graceful Charity

1 x Premature Burial

1 x Snatch Steal

1 x Swords of Revealing Light

1 x Book of Moon

1 x Heavy Storm

1 x MST

1 x Lightning Vortex

1 x Scapegoat

Traps (4)

1 x Mirror Force

1 x Torrential Tribute

1 x Call of the Haunted

1 x Royal Decree

DECK SIZE: 41 CARDS.

So, that's basically it.

If you wish to contact me, my e-mail address is neweraoutlaw@hotmail.com or neweraoutlaw@gmail.com.

Until then.....see you guys around.