Yesterday Mike brought you guys an article on four cards he thought would be good in the upcoming format. Today I’m going to bring you three sets of cards I think are seeing a bit too much play in the current format. I’d also like to go ahead and say that yes, new cards are coming out in April, but there are still two major events before their release. There’s no point in going that far ahead in the future when there are still relevant events coming up. Because of this, everything I’m going to talk about is for the card pool that we have now.
Gozen Match and Rivalry of Warlords
As regional decklists continue to come in from around the country I can’t help but notice that these cards continue to show up in the side decks of any deck that can support them. The only thing I can think of when I see this is “Why?”
What exactly are these cards supposedly stopping now? Wind-Ups are essentially nonexistent. Out of all the regionals last weekend, I think a total of 2 topped? Why are you going to waste cards on a matchup you’re not going to play against? On the very off chance that you do play against it, the deck is extremely watered down. You don’t really need a blowout card against them.
On the other hand, let’s take a look at what the expected top matchups will be. Fire can side both Gozen and Rivalry, so you certainly aren’t going to have it in your side for them. Water sides Gozen and Rivalry doesn’t particularly hurt them. Lastly you have Rabbit which they are decent against. If you’re playing Water and you have Gozen up against them, they can still Rabbit into Abyss Dweller through Kabazauls, a card that happens to be amazing against your deck. It’s also an awful draw after they have either Laggia or Dolkka already on the field.
Mind Crush
This card is certainly drawing a lot of attention and everyone seems to be forgetting many of the downsides associated with the card. The argument as to why this card is good is that because of all the Tenkis, Dragoons, Megalo reveals, and Dualities in the meta, you’re generally always going to know a card or two that your opponent has.
In fairness, I think Mind Crush has a lot more merit against Water than it does Fire, but I’ll come back to this. Against Fire, however, I think the card is incredibly overrated. Let’s say the card does exactly what it was supposed to and hits my Bear after I search it off of Tenki. The thing is, Mind Crush doesn’t actually stop my turn in the way most traps would. You Mind Crush my Bear. Awesome, I still have my normal summon for whatever other monster I have in my hand. Had that Mind Crush been an extra Dimensional Prison, you would have accomplished the exact same thing, but prevented me from making any further plays that turn.
What about when your opponent just summons Bear without having Tenkied it? Now they got an attack through and, sure, you can Mind Crush whatever they hit off that, but they’ve still got Bear on the field. You didn’t actually deal with the problem. It’s like Mind Crushing whatever they searched off of Factory. You got rid of a card they got for free at the cost of one of your cards. Again, an additional Dimensional Prison would have been much better in this situation.
Even when Mind Crush works, it’s just taking a card away from both players. You’re now getting into a much more simplified gamestate, the kind of gamestate where the better hand wins as opposed to the better player. I’d rather play cards that give me control over the game and allow me as many decisions as possible rather than force my opponent and I into a simplified gamestate where we both have 3-4 cards and whoever has the stronger 3 or 4 wins. Keeping that in mind, Fire thrives in a simplified gamestate. That’s the last deck I’d want to force into that kind of game.
Lastly, Mind Crush doesn’t help when you’re in a bad position. What happens when you draw it the turn after they Tenkied for Bear and summoned it? What about when you draw it after they have a Megalo on field? This is my biggest problem with the card against Water. It’s very easy to fall behind against that deck and once you do so it’s very difficult to regain steam. Mind Crush once you’ve already lost steam or they’ve started strong is not going to get you anywhere quickly. I really think Mind Crush has very little merit in the upcoming format.
Maxx “C” and Effect Veiler
Yesterday on the ARG Facebook page, we asked what you thought was better between Maxx “C” and Effect Veiler right now. I found the result to be quite shocking as there seemed to be an overwhelming consensus that Effect Veiler is somehow better right now. I completely disagree with this idea.
What exactly is Effect Veiler good against right now? Are you going to Veiler a Rescue Rabbit so they can set all their traps? Veiler was a -1, they’re going to Prison/Bottomless/Warning/Force/Fiendish etc for a 1 for 1 to get rid of your monster when you attempt to attack over it, and then make Laggia which is a +!. Instead of them being at a plus 1 in an extended gamestate, they’re at a plus 2 in a simplified gamestate and they have tempo.
The same can be said for Effect Veilering Megalo. Veilering Megalo or not is still going to result in a plus 1 for them either way. Veilering it is just going to simplify the gamestate when they have a beater on the field.
Perhaps you can Veiler a Bear when it attempts to pop something. Well that’s probably the best you’re going to get, but even then you didn’t actually deal with the problem. You’re now banking on your opponent not being able to stop you from getting over Bear in the very next turn. Again, if they Prison here, you’re in a simplified gamestate where you’re already losing. And once again, I’d rather just have a card that would just deal with the problem.
I don’t think Maxx “C” is particularly strong at the moment either, but I can say with a high degree of certainty that it’s better than Effect Veiler is. Maxx “C” is often times going to be a plus 1 against Water. This is great as the deck generates advantage so rapidly you’re going to need a balancing act. Additionally, it works to expand the number of cards you have rather than take one away from both players like Veiler usually does. More cards, more options. While it is a solid choice against Water, it’s utility in other matchups is severely lacking. Because of this, I’d consider Maxx “C” a solid side deck option, but wouldn’t have Veiler anywhere near my deck right now.
That wraps up this week’s article. Until next time everyone, play hard or go home!
Patrick Hoban
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