September 2007

A Tribute to a Friend - That Guy

Did you ever look through your cards to find a card that had a great potential but nobody was playing it? Was it that, that stopped you from unleashing something better? Or did you just think the format would destroy it and forgot about it the next day?
The card I speak of was released in Pharoh's Servant and the combo continued throughout Legacy of Darkness. I was a big fan of the monster but its type and the deck itself had no support at all. It may have been a lucky thing because I stumbled upon a better deck, but sometimes I think what could've happened.
Cyber Dragon, Card Trooper, Dekoichi, machines just kept on coming. And to top it off, they finished on top in the previous format. Machine beatdown with its sacred combo, Troop, Dupe, Scoop. But with it gone, an old friend has risen to take its place and keep the machines on top. What would you say if you could bring out 2-3 monsters on one turn, each ranging an attack between 2000-5000. Without tribute, all in one turn, this was the perfect OTK.
This monster does not have the best stats, but it only takes 1 field clearer and a good equip to cover up for that in a finishing blow. Light/Machine/4/1200/800, it is back.

A Tribute to Gradius

Monsters

Gradius x3
Gradius's Option x3
Cyber Dragon x3
Card Trooper
Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive x3
Jinzo x2
Shining Angel x3
Roulette Barrel
Marshmallon

Spells

Cyclon Laser x2
Premature Burial
United We Stand
Mage Power
Axe of Despair
Limiter Removal
Heavy Storm
Mystical Space Typhoon
Giant Trunade
Swords of Revealing Light
Book of Moon

Traps

Mirror Force
Torrential Tribute
Magic Cylinder
Trap Dustshoot
Mask of Restrict x2
Dust Tornado
Call of the Haunted

Now for the explaining. But before I begin, if you think this is a waste of your "valuable" time, then stop in the name of That Guy and leave. So anyway, Gradius is the main monster of this deck, thus its name in the deck name. Gradius's Option is a special summoned monster with the limits of needing a Gradius on your field. Easy, considering he's a 4 star and Shining Angel or either revival (if you use it on him) can bring him out. Gradius's Option is a tricky card. With its new errata, the current atk and def of the chosen Gradius will stay and the difference that United We Stand makes will not boost the Options' power. But at the same time, if MST is played or Heavy Storm, the Options stay strong. The main focus of this deck is to bring these guys out with a field clearer. Cyber Dragon for a start would be ideal, thus maxed out. Then if you need the trample of Cyclon Laser on Reaper or Marshmallon, use it. Play the Dragon, Gradius and equip it with all you got, say United We Stand and Cyclon. Summon the Option and Gradius is now at 3900 while Option is 3100. Now if you get a second and third, you have your Dragon at 2100, an Option at 3100, 3900, and 4700 to top it off with a Gradius with a whopping 5500. If you get lucky, Axe it with Mage Power and with the trample, it's an OTK. Jinzo at 2 is a big move. Stop the threatening traps before they get a chance. Dekochi and Trooper add speed to the deck and top it off with that big defense of Roulette Barrel, a card that can rid you opponent's field's frontline. 1 for a Seer if there, 2 for Apprentice, 3 for Trooper, 4 for a lot, 5 for Cyber Dragon, and 6 for opposing Jinzos or Monarchs. Marshmallon finishes the deal, a good defense and tribute fodder.
The spells I haven't explained are self-explained. And for traps, Mask of Restrict is the one that is questioned. This deck, if you count the Cyber Dragons, uses 5 tributes, 2 if you don't. Considering Trooper might dump something in, revival is there. If Mask is out but you need your in hand Jinzo, find a way with Trunade, Storm, Dust, or MST.
That is the explanation. This deck is designed to swarm the field and can win without Gradius on the field so don't worry. Dead draws are very rare, usually when you are in the lead because you should always have a monster in hand and equips to deal with stronger foes. This deck does have its weaknesses, but what deck doesn't. So if you want to try it out with index cards, knock yourself out.

On another note, my next article will talk about my deck. You won't want to miss it and the interesting, inspirational, yet true story it holds.

So the usual: bamoon518@yahoo.com or AIM: Thatguytotheleft
Until Next Time...