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JAELOVE's Smooth Journey
Article 33: Constructing the Blue Eyes White Dragon Deck
April 19, 2005

Thanks for bearing with me during my long absence. I figured since the ban list was to be released on April 1^st anyways, there was no point on constructing pre-ban decks that would go out of style within a few short weeks. So I took an extended break, churning out these articles and playtesting for the Shonen Jump Championships. After all, a lot of fans have been waiting for Blue Eyes White Dragon and Ancient Sanctuary Agent decks for a long time; I wanted to make the best ones possible.

So here we are, anxious to see the beginning of a new wave of Smooth Journey Deck Constructions; over 6,000 of you turned out to vote in my last poll, and I am fully intent on honoring the results of that poll. In the next two weeks, we’ll rapidly construct the Blue Eyes White Dragon (today), Exodia, and Ancient Sanctuary Agent decks. Then we’ll begin a new wave of polls that will cover everything under the sun, including LV decks, Gearfried decks, and everything else requested in e-mails (which I answer still!)

So without further ado, let’s begin round three of Deck Construction—we’ve done 7 under the pre-ban days, 6 under the October ban list, and 1 as of today. The Blue Eyes White Dragon Deck, presented by Pojo.com’s JAELOVE’s Smooth Journey to you the dear reader.

Unleashing the Power of Blue Eyes (Kaibaman or Paladin of White Dragon?):

To the hardcore Blue Eyes White Dragon fans out there, who want to run this deck competitively AND stay true to the power of everyone’s favorite “engine of destruction”, the first question is always the one helpfully bolded for you above. Should a deck focus on Kaibaman as the primary form of Blue Eyes White Dragon’s summoning? Or is the quicker Paladin of White Dragon the better option.

Clearly, you’ll have to go with one or the other. The two-tribute resource cost of BEWD is frankly too steep for a normal monster, even one with a monstrous 3000 attack that remains unbested by all but the choicest nomi and ritual cuts; no normal monster has an attack equal to or greater than 3000.

Paladin of White Dragon will cost two resources: Manju (who serves as both the 4 star monster tribute and as either the Ritual Monster or Spell search, and either the Monster/Spell you don’t have). The advantage to this method is that he will immediately take out a face down monster, he will search out the Blue Eyes White Dragon from the DECK (which is essential), and the negative stipulation has great synergy with Burst Stream of Destruction.

Kaibaman will bring him out for one resource cost with no drawback; however, he has weak stats and is generally worthless without a Blue Eyes White Dragon in hand. The in hand part is bolded, because while you can search out Kaibaman relatively easy (Last Will, Shining Angel, and Reinforcements of the Army), BEWD itself is NOT searchable. Going the Kaibaman approach entails creating a deck of weak monsters with ineffective uses (Shining Angel can search into Roulette Barrel and one D.D Warrior Lady); After careful deliberation, the Paladin of White Dragon approach is deemed optimal.

PURPOSES OF THE BLUE EYES WHITE DRAGON RITUAL DECK:

Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands is the best way of getting out Blue Eyes White Dragon. Basically Manju + either the spell or the monster card for Paladin of White Dragon equals a special summoned Blue Eyes from the deck. Once he hits the field, the parts are in place to dominate.

STRENGTHS OF THE BLUE EYES WHITE DRAGON RITUAL DECK:

Being able to put a 3000 attack monster immediately onto the field will force your opponent to make reactive moves, which weakens his/her strategy. Also, Burst Stream of Destruction (henceforth referred to as White Lightning) acts as a Raigeki.

WEAKNESSES OF THE BLUE EYES WHITE DRAGON RITUAL DECK:

The great cost of resources invested in a single monster (BEWD) is somewhat mitigated by the fact that Manju constantly creates card advantage, but the weakness is still there. This deck will definitely have slow starts.

NOTABLES:

Blue Eyes White Dragon
Dragon/LIGHT/Normal/8/3000/2500

+ Provides Field Control
- -Weakens On-Field Presence, Resource Replenishment.

This card is simply the centerpiece of the deck. It packs 3000 attack and is easily special summoned; outside of that, it’s pretty much garbage.

Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands
Fairy/LIGHT/Effect/4/1400/1000
When this card is Normal Summoned or Flip Summoned, you can select 1 Ritual Monster Card or 1 Ritual Spell Card from your Deck and add it to your hand.

+ Provides Resource Management

Manju is unquestionably the best Fairy monster in the game, mainly because it is to Ritual decks what Exodia the Forbidden One is to Exodia decks. A ritual deck needs 3 copies of Manju to stand a chance, so calling it a staple is not overstating its power.

Paladin of White Dragon

Dragon/LIGHT/Ritual/Effect/4/1900/1200
This monster can only be Ritual Summoned with the Ritual Spell Card “White Dragon Ritual”. You must also offer monsters whose total Level Stars equal 4 or more as a Tribute from the field or your hand. When this monster attacks a face-down Defense Position monster, destroy the face-down monster immediately with this card’s effect without flipping it face-up or damage calculation. You can Special Summon 1 “Blue-Eyes White Dragon” from your hand or your deck by offering this card as a Tribute during your Main Phase. (Blue-Eyes White Dragon cannot attack that turn.

+ Provides Field Control, Flip Effect Management,
- Weakens On-Field Presence, Resource Management (slightly)

This card inherently weakens presence because it is a ritual monster, meaning it won’t hit the field until the requisite elements are in place. Nevertheless, once it hits the field it’s a monstrous force, with 1900 attack and the negation of any effect monsters that are face down. The card is also a great way to bring out BEWD, since it’s basically a 2 for 1 for a 3000 attack monster that’s also special summoned. This is a pretty great Ritual monster, definitely one of the best in the game. It will be our primary means of bringing out the White Dragon.

Spear Cretin

Fiend/DARK/Effect/2/500/500

FLIP: After this card is flipped, when it is sent to the Graveyard, both you and your opponent select 1 monster from your respective Graveyards and special summon it on the field in face-up Attack Position or face down in Defense Position (no Tribute is required for monsters of Level 5 or more)

+ Provides On-Field Presence
- Weakens On-Field Removal

Here’s a nifty little common that’s been forgotten for quite a while. Spear Cretin basically brings out a Blue Eyes White Dragon or Paladin of White Dragon quite easily. It’s a pretty solid card for this type of deck.

Magical Merchant

Insect/LIGHT/Effect/1/200/700

FLIP: Pick up (not draw) cards from the top of your Deck until a Spell Card or Trap Card is picked up. Add that card to your hand. Any other cards picked up are sent to the Graveyard.

+ Provides Resource Management
- Weakens from Field Control, On-Field Presence

Magical Merchant allows for manipulation of spell/trap resources, by basically trading a monster on the field for a spell/trap from deck. This thins the deck and leads to more balanced ratios in your hand. If your hand is clogged with monsters, this is a great card to see. We’re obviously running it because it helps search out those ritual spells.

Big Eye

Fiend/DARK/Effect/4/1200/1000

Flip: See the top 5 cards from the top of your Deck,  Arrange them in any order desired and replace them on top of the deck.

+ Provides Resource Management (slightly)
- Weakens Field Control

Big Eye is yet another underrated common that’s been ignored by the majority of duelists. This card will combo with Magical Merchant and others, allowing you to pick and choose what you will draw next. Since Manju is the most essential draw (because of the advantage it creates), Big Eye will serve you well indeed.

Burst Stream of Destruction- Normal Spell

You can only activate this card when there is a face-up "Blue-Eyes White Dragon" on your side of the field. Destroy all monsters on your opponent's side of the field. "Blue-Eyes White Dragon" cannot attack during the turn you activate this card.

+ Provides On-Field Removal
- Weakens Resource Management 

This is the second theme-specific spell that we’ve covered. This one is even better than Dark Magic Attack, mainly because of its synergy with Paladin of White Dragon. See, Paladin’s effect makes BEWD unable to attack in the same turn; obviously, Burst Stream’s drawback stacks right on top of that one. You can wipe out at least two of your opponent’s monsters with this card’s effect.

Spells

-- We’ll begin with the holy trinity of Yu-Gi-Oh resource management: Graceful Charity, Pot of Greed, and Delinquent Duo.

-- Spell/trap removal will be taken care of with a Heavy Storm and a Mystical Space Typhoon.

-- We’ll need 3 copies of the ritual spell card White Dragon Ritual.

-- To help summon Blue Eyes White Dragon, throw in a Snatch Steal and a Premature Burial.

-- The theme specific Burst Stream of Destruction will be thrown in as well.

-- 2 copies of Scapegoat will control the tempo and allow us to conserve resources.

-- 2 copies of Metamorphosis will clear the path to easy tributes and monster removal.

-- 1 copy of My Body as a Shield will protect your Blue Eyes when they hit the field.

-- 1 copy of Big Bang Shot will prevent your opponent from stalling with Scapegoats and such, while also creating a 3400 attack monster with trample.

Traps

-- We’ll begin with the three best traps in the game: Call of the Haunted, Mirror Force, and Ring of Destruction.

-- Next we’ll add two copies of Dust Tornado, in order to protect your Dragons.

Have fun playing this deck; it tested quite well!

FORCE Presents the Blue Eyes White Dragon Deck:

Here is a legend of the elements that are referenced.

F- Field Control                        f- Flip-Effect Management
O- On-field Removal                o- On-field Presence
R- Removal (Spell/Trap)          r- Resource Management                                            
C- Counter-Defense                  c- Counter-Disruption
E- Enemy Disruption                e- Energy

Submit your Blue Eyes White Dragon decks this week!

1. Black Luster Soldier                        + F f O o E e     - o C
2. Blue Eyes White Dragon                  + F                   - o r
1. Jinzo                                                + F R c             - o C E
3. Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands  + r                               
2. Magical Merchant                            + r                    - F o                 
1. Magician of Faith                             + r                    - F o                            
2. Paladin of White Dragon                 + F f                 - o r
1. Tribe Infecting Virus                        + F O E             - r
1. Sinister Serpent                               + o r C              - F
1. Breaker the Magical Warrior            + F R c
1. Spear Cretin                                    + o                   - O
1. Big Eye                                            + r                    - F
1. Sangan                                            + r
1. Pot of Greed                                    + r
1. Graceful Charity                               + r
1. Delinquent Duo                                + E                   - e
1. Snatch Steal                                    + F O o E          - e
1. Heavy Storm                                    + R c E
1. Mystical Space Typhoon                    + R c E
1. Premature Burial                            + F o                - e       
2. Scapegoat                                        + o C e             - r
2. Metamorphosis                                + F E                - r
3. White Dragon Ritual                        + F f                 - r
1. Burst Stream of Destruction             + O                   - r
1. My Body as a Shield                          + o R c             - e
1. Big Bang Shot                                  + F e                - o r
1. Call of the Haunted                          + F o
1. Ring of Destruction                          + F O C E e      - e
2. Dust Tornado                                  + R c E 
1. Mirror Force                                     + O C E

Thanks for tuning in this week. We’ll have a Blue Eyes White Dragon deck constructed by a lucky fan next week. Don’t forget to e-mail those decks in! I’m still answering every e-mail at JAELOVE@gmail.com. Also, make sure to vote in the poll found here:

http://www.pojo.com/yu-gi-oh/FeaturedWriters/JAE/2005/2-24-2.shtml

The second and third leading vote getters will be constructed next!