For Sparta!
 
One of the hardest things about the game is choosing what goes in your side deck. Some decks do not need a complicated Side Deck (such as Lightsworn or Hieratics) and others need some severe thought to be put into them (Dino-Rabbit or Wind-Up). There are however, a few cards that should at least be considered for many decks, and these will be the ones that I will go over with you today. Of course there will be cards that are not on this list, but these will be the most splashable, effective and easiest to get a hold of for most people.
 
Kinetic Soldier- This used to be a stasple for most decks due to Samurai running rampant, but it is still as effective as always against HERO cards and Samurai, both of which are as popular as ever. A side for locals or Regionals should at least consider two of these as these decks are very common at these events.
 
D.D. Crow- This card stops so many decks it isn't even funny. It slows down Wind-Up, Synchrocentric, Dark World and can even be super effective against Lightsworn decks. In a higher brow tournament scene (YCS) you would be wise to side a pair of these, as many decks can be disrupted and/or halted by a well timed D.D. Crow.
 
Skill Drain- This card can be very good for decks whose effects activate in the Graveyard or Hand (Dark World, Fabled and Synchrocentric) and is often mained in HERO decks in order to make up for their monsters relative weakness. It is very effective against Wind-Up, Inzektor and Samurai and can even provide you with an edge if you side it in a deck that your opponent doesn't expect to see it in. Use carefully though, it can truly be a double edged sword.
 
Thunderking Rai-Oh- Many decks cannot find main-deck room for this card, but you should at least consider siding some of these very powerful cards. They are relatively easy to get and cheap now as commons. They stop all out decks and can just lock down a whole strategy that doesn't have the right tools to deal with them. TKRO is one of my top favorite cards for a side deck, and he should defnitely be on most players hot list.
 
Dimensional Fissure/Macro Cosmos- These cards are really two parts to the same coin, depending on your playstyle. Most players prefer Dimensional Fissure, as you reap the benefits immediately and some strategies need their spells or traps in the graveyard. On the other side Macro Cosmos is more powerful, but takes a turn to set. In the old days, players even played Grand Convergence and Helios the Primordial Sun to gain tons of card advantage. I would only side a playset of either, as they tend to be dead when drawn together, so decide before the tournament which cards you are going to play. These cards stop so many decks it isn't even funny, eating through Synchro, Dark World, Inzektor and even to a certain extent Wind-Up. Many effects you would normally be able to activate are stopped under these effects, so read your cards carefully to determine if siding these cards is right for your deck.
 
Consecrated Light- With LIGHT cards seeing as much or more popular play than DARK cards, siding these cards can truly be a blessing. It will shut down Blackwings, Gravekeepers, Dark World, DARK decks, Inzektor and even key cards of other strategies. Hieratics, Lightsworn, Fairies  and Wind-Up will find this a solid card in their side deck, as most players do not have an answer to this card without hoping for a Torrential, or a Solemn Warning off the bat. Played correctly, this will destroy an opponent.
 
Shadow/Light Imprisoning Mirror- Thought these cards are not the power houses they used to be, they can still destroy an opponent who is unprepared for them. Most decks will play a few LIGHT or DARK cards to balance out their other themes, so it is a solid choice. Right now I would say Light Imprisoning Mirror is better, and more likely to be sided. I feel that Consecrated Light does a better job of shutting down DARK cards, even though it is a monster and easier to kill.
 
Effect Veiler- Though it is a staple in most decks, this card is effective in the side deck as well. I will often see players maining 2 Veiler and siding a third in order to play against decks that rely on specific effects going off at specific times. Hieratic, Wind-Up and Dino-Rabbit are especially vulnerable to this card followed up with a counterattack. It can also sometimes stall off a Battle Phase which would be disastrous and is Black Luster Soldier- Envoy o fthe Beginning's worst enemy.
 
King Tiger Wanghu- This card again is one of hose cards that can shut down an entire deck. Synchro, Wind-Up, Inzektor, Frog and many other decks use smaller monsters to make bigger ones (the theme of 5Ds and Zexal) and this card will kill ANYTHING summoned with under 1400 ATK. Note that it will not destroy a dodged Wind-Up Rabbit that is returning to the field. It is a monster and very easy to destroy, but if you can protect it with Lances, Bribes and monster control, most decks will die a long and painfull death under this beastie.
 
Cyber Dragon/Chimeratech Fortress Dragon- These cards are in here for the mass of Geargia, Ancient gear and Machina decks that are plagueing the top tables of events. The idea is to promote your opponent into an attack and then countering with a Special Summoned Cyber Dragon the next turn to clear their field for usually a 2000 beater. Often a player will intentionally fuse their own Chimeratech Fortress in order to stop yours. Just the threat of this card makes people shudder. Cyber Dragon itself is also a great beater, and and can easily make great level XYZ and Synchro monsters. Often I have shown opponents a Chimeratech-free Extra deck to lure them into a false sense of security only to side it in on them (Yes you can side-deck extra deck cards). And that's a nasty little trick!
 
Well, that is it for this article, I am sure I left cards out, but not to spite them, they are just ahrder to find and not as effective against multiple decks as these are. If you have any questions, ideas, deck fixes or article requests, please let me know at alarbios@live.com as pojo gets very upset if he gets my mail, and I don't waqnt to lose my other leg over it!
 
Thanks for Reading!
 
GZ