JUNE 2008

The Next Generation of Deck Building - Cloudians - Ice-eyes

This deck is the second deck that I made. It is a Cloudian deck and is having trouble with battle damage, speed, and power. I would like to add more speed to this deck so that I can draw Cloudians and summon them easily. I would also like for it to go against popular deck types such as Samurai, DAD, and Lightsworn somehow if you can make it. Thank you... Here's my deck.

 

Paul’s Stratospheric Friends – 42 Cards
Monsters: 21
1 Cloudian –  Eye of the Typhoon
3 Cloudian – Cirrostratus
3 Cloudian – Acid Cloud
2 Cloudian – Altus
2 Cloudian – Nimbusman
3 Cloudian – Ghost Fog
2 Cyber Dragon
1 Neo-Spacian Grand Mole
1 D.D. Warrior Lady
1 Morphing Jar
1 Marshmallan
1 Sangan

Spells: 15
1 Mystical Space Typhoon
1 Heavy Storm
1 Premature Burial
1 Monster Reborn
1 Smashing Ground
3 Hammer Shot
2 Summon Cloud
3 Cloudian Squall
1 Brain Control
1 Swords of Revealing Light

Trap: 6
1 Dimensional Prison
2 Bottomless Trap Hole
2 Waboku
1 Ultimate Offering

Side deck: don't have one but want one that can go against popular deck types or a one that changes the deck type :)

Oh yeah, I don't mind changing this deck completely; it just has to follow the theme. Please email combos available from the new deck so I know how to use it. Thank you once again.

-Paul

 

Paul, I see you have put together a nice deck based around the Cloudian theme. However, it seems unfocused and the deck needs to have purpose. Contrary to popular belief, you can’t just throw together all of the support cards from an archetype and hope it’ll work.

I think that by realigning the deck to what Water decks do best – hand and field control – we can circumvent your problems. Damage? Well, I’ll be adding some cards to help you on that front, but we’ll be mostly hoping to keep the opponent defenceless, unable to destroy your cloudians (I’ll explain that later) and taking little shots every turn. Should the cards come out right, you’ll be able to swarm quite nicely, however. As for speed, you don’t need it. What the deck will be geared to do is slow your opponent down to a pace at which your deck thrives and theirs is stifled.

With this in mind, my main goal is to make the deck more focused and consistent on a control theme.

First, the monsters. I’ll need to thin these down. Cloudians keep insane field presence with their indestructibleness and so both Cyber Dragons are unnecessary. I’ll also cut the Eye of the Typhoon – he won’t be necessary and there’s too much removal around these days to double-tribute for anything which doesn’t replenish at least one of the cards upon summon. Neo-Spacian Grand Mole will also go – we’ll need our normal summon for other things.

I’m also going to cut two copies of Acid Cloud and one Cirrostratus – the fog counters on the field will be used for other things, so one and two respectively will be adequate. Marshmallon will also be cut – almost all your cloudians will be equally invincible, so he’s not necessary.

As for the spells, I’m going to cut Swords of Revealing Light – too much s/t removal around to take it out for free – and a copy each of Smashing Ground and Hammer Shot. Two pieces of monster removal is enough with Cirrostratus, and the space is needed for other things. Brain Control also serves little purpose except for Nimbusman tribute, so that gets cut too (space issues are making me take out cards I think are reasonable, but can’t fit).

As for the traps, I’m selecting the lone copy of Dimensional Prison (good luck resolving it this format), both copies of Waboku and the Ultimate Offering. Waboku isn’t necessary in relation to a brutal combo I’ll add later.

Total Cuts: 16

-2 Cyber Dragon

-1 Cloudian – Eye of the Typhoon

-1 Neo-Spacian Grand Mole

-2 Cloudian – Acid Cloud

-1 Cloudian – Cirrostratus

-1 Marshmallon

-1 Swords of Revealing Light

-1 Smashing Ground

-1 Hammer Shot

-1 Dimensional Prison

-2 Waboku

-1 Ultimate Offering

 

That leaves us with a nice skeleton to build from. I’m going to start with three copies of Cloudian – Storm Dragon and two Fenrir. These will provide a good source of fog counters and control respectively while also allowing you to special summon monsters at the tipping point where you start attacking after amassing enough removal and smashing your opponent’s options. A third Altus is key to the control theme. That’s a nice finish to a reasonably thin line-up.

As for the spells, I’m merely going to add two Terraforming and three the Sanctuary in the Sky. This is the perfect combo with Cloudians – they sit there, indestructible, amassing counters and destroying your opponent without you taking any damage.

For the traps, I’ll just add the ultimate Water Control card; Spiritual Water Art – Aoi. Three of those will provide great synergy with your clouds. That’ll keep you at 40 cards nicely.

Total Additions: 14

+3 Cloudian – Storm Dragon

+2 Fenrir

+1 Cloudian – Altus

+2 Terraforming

+3 The Sanctuary in the Sky

+3 Spiritual Water Art – Aoi

 

As a side deck, I’d recommend three copies of both mirrors – both Shadow- and Light-Imprisoning. For Gladiators, the worst matchup here, I’d side three Legendary Jujitsu Master, and indirectly, though they could help in other matchups, three Solemns and three Divine Wrath.

 

That leaves the final deck like this.

 

Cloud Control – 40 Cards

Monsters: 20
2 Cloudian – Cirrostratus
1 Cloudian – Acid Cloud
3 Cloudian – Altus
2 Cloudian – Nimbusman
3 Cloudian – Ghost Fog

3 Cloudian – Storm Dragon

2 Fenrir
1 D.D. Warrior Lady
1 Morphing Jar
1 Marshmallan
1 Sangan

Spells: 15
1 Mystical Space Typhoon
1 Heavy Storm
1 Premature Burial
1 Monster Reborn
2 Hammer Shot
2 Summon Cloud
3 Cloudian Squall

2 Terraforming

3 The Sanctuary in the Sky

Trap: 5
2 Bottomless Trap Hole

3 Spiritual Water Art - Aoi

Side Deck: 15

3 Light-Imprisoning Mirror

3 Shadow-Imprisoning Mirror

3 Legendary Jujitsu Master

3 Solemn Judgement

3 Divine Wrath

 

This build is great fun for you to play; not so much for your opponent – getting beaten down by Cloudians is kind of embarrassing. If you’d like your deck reviewed, e-mail me at ice-eyes@live.com. More details can be found here.