What’s up duelists! It’s been awhile since I’ve been able to write an article rather than post a vlog about something.  With that in mind, let’s get started! I’ll be covering the current trends and the state the game is currently in.

YCS Atlanta: Gravekeeper’s are back?!

            This was to say the least, a huge shock to players everywhere. A deck that pretty much every competitive player considered to be tier 3, worthless, uncompetitive and overall a waste of time to toy with took three out of the top four spots at YCS Atlanta. Gravekeeper decks may have finally gotten the boost they so desperately needed with the recent release of a couple cards, such as Gravekeeper’s Descendant and Gravekeeper’s Recruiter. The release of Descendant was big in itself because it began to see play in Cat Synchro decks last format. Typically you would set spy turn 1 and either flip it yourself or get the Descendant from an opponent’s attack, then tribute it off to destroy a card on their field, summon Rescue Cat and the rest is history. With the release of Recruiter, that combo has become even more broken. Depending on your hand you can set up the play I just mentioned or search out a Recruiter with Spy and just summon the Descendant next turn, giving you two targets to tribute off with Descendant while at the same time getting another Recruiter to your hand, only fueling your plays for next turn.

            Two other cards that make the deck itself a real pain for people to play against are Necrovalley, and Royal Tribute. Opening both of these can cause an opponent to give up, even before they get to turn one! If you think about it, any GK deck can run in essence six copies of Necrovalley! Gravekeeper’s Commandant allows you to add a Necrovalley to your hand from your deck and also doubles as a monster! And if you try playing Terraforming, that’s like nine Necrovalley in one deck! On top of being able to access Necrovalley so easily, if you’re someone out there that owns a playset of Pot of Duality that can allow you to obtain the combo pieces also. There is no sure fire way to get a Royal Tribute into your hand, so Duality seems like a good fit for the deck. Some toying with the deck shows that a tech copy of Gold Sarcophagus can even help things out a bit. Bottom line is, Gravekeeper’s are here and back with a vengeance!

MST or no MST, that is the question…and no more Heavy Storm?!

            Have you noticed lately that most decks aren’t really using two copies of Mystical Space Typhoon (or MST to be brief)? I feel the reason for this is basically there are too many “better” cards and options for decks today, that overall any of those choices seem better than just running a copy or two of MST. The banning of Heavy Storm is something that has completely changed the current state of the game. Players can now set way more backrow cards than ever before. The fear of the opponent opening Storm in their opening hand is now a thing of the past. Konami has decided that giving players a second copy of MST essentially “balances” things out. Well… it doesn’t. Some games are now decided simply by whoever wins the die roll! If I open Solemn Judgment, Solemn Warning, Bottomless Trap Hole, Mirror Force and a monster or two, enjoy the uphill battle you’re going to face.

            Players have now had to adapt and figure out new methods to deal with such problems. Some decks now main deck Giant Trunade and/or Cold Wave in combination with other cards such a getting a good XX-Saber Hyunlei on the field with Cold Wave active. Same as getting a Black Rose Dragon from a Debris Dragon play. Many answers are out there, it just depends on the deck you’re playing. I for one like the ban of Storm. It forces players to strategize on a whole different level, while at the same time if you’re not careful you can be punished by one well timed Cold Wave or Trunade.

            I feel one of the main reasons Gravekeeper decks did so well at YCS Atlanta was due to the lack of main deck MST’s. Debris Dragon can’t get a monster from the grave if Necrovalley is active for example. With two less answers in the main deck to deal with a card that effect 90% of decks in the current Meta, the deck had a chance to surprise and catches many players off guard and overall control the tempo of the game to their liking. That and if they are able to pull off a turn one Royal Tribute, most likely the game is already over for you. But now that decks are more likely to main deck a copy or two of MST, I think Gravekeeper’s will still be good, but not as good as they were at YCS Atlanta.

The future of the game

            As of now X-Saber, Plant/Debris decks, Gravekeeper’s, Quickdraw and Blackwings are the top decks in the Meta. After next set though, we will be introduced to the True Samurai’s. These guys generate so many +1’s its ridiculous. Hopefully Konami will put a quick halt to them and do something about them on the March 2011 banlist. Scrap decks also may see a rise in play depending upon that list as well. Infernity is still around, but I doubt will ever be tier 1 again due to launcher being at 1. In my opinion Infernities are one of the most skillful decks in the format because every turn must be precise, and one misplay can spell defeat for that player. Unless Pot of Duality sees a reprint anytime soon, it will without a doubt remain one of the best cards in the game. If you’re lucky enough to have a playset of these, I would hold on to them as long as possible.  

            I hope you all enjoyed this article and at least learned a little something from it. My next article I write I will discuss what a players side deck should look like for competitive play, and discuss the extra deck and how that too has now become even more crucial to a players chance of winning.

Until then thanks, and play every game like its game 3!

-          Nick Curtis

-          Youtube.com/wwncd

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