Welcome to the eighteenth installment!

Well, I finally did it; I reached my $1k goal in 2013 local winnings.  It took 19 tournament tops to reach the $1,033 mark.  Sadly, I fell off the face of the Yugi-map afterwards due to exams.  While I do find a little time each week to play some Yugioh, I can’t grind properly for premier event training the way I did earlier in the year.  Oh, to have past luxuries.

Since I last attended a local, the ban list has taken effect, and the meta has started to settle.  Like oil and water, the format was violently shaken by the list, and the top decks have gradually surfaced.  The cool thing is that even though Dragons and Books are still the top decks, there are more competitive decks this format than last format, which gives me more toys to play with when I write deck articles.

With baby dragons out of the picture, the elemental rulers are now being splashed into various element-oriented decks.  Today we will look at how Dragons can splash into Heroes, as well as a Fire Fist deck using their latest addition, Coach Soldier Wolfbark.

As always, send your deck ideas to the Deck Doctor fan page:

https://www.facebook.com/ArgDeckDoctor

Please write your decklist out fully.  Use the deck lists in this article as an example.  Thanks!

Anthony’s Dragon Heroes

Main Deck: 40

Monsters: 20

3 Blaster, Dragon Ruler of Infernos
3 Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls
3 Redox, Dragon Ruler of Boulders
3 Tempest, Dragon Ruler of Storms
3 Elemental HERO Neos Alius
2 Elemental HERO Heat
2 Elemental HERO Wildheart
1 Elemental HERO Ice Edge

Spells: 17

3 Fusion Gate
3 E-Emergency Call
2 Sacred Sword of Seven Stars
2 D.D.R Different Dimension Reincarnation
2 Super Polymerization
2 Parallel World Fusion
1 Miracle Fusion
1 Terraforming
1 Dark Hole

Traps: 3

3 Royal Decree

Extra Deck: 15

1 Number 11: Big Eye
1 Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack
1 Master of Blades
1 Hieratic Sun Dragon Overlord of Heliopolis
1 Elemental HERO Escuriadao
2 Elemental HERO the Shining
2 Elemental HERO Great Tornado
2 Elemental HERO Gaia
2 Elemental HERO Nova Master
2 Elemental HERO Absolute Zero

Discussion

Ok, so I know I seem to cover Heroes pretty often.  I promise it’s not bias!  The deck just has a lot of variations…and we get lots of Hero deck submissions on the facebook page.  The submission we have today takes advantage of Heroes and Dragon Rulers both being element-based.  Fusion Gate banishes fusion materials in order to summon power hard-to-get-over monsters, and Dragon Rulers come in four different elements while replacing themselves when banished.  Talk about synergy!

This gives us a number of routes to play:
-We can pitch dragons along with Heroes or other dragons to gain their unique ignition effects
-We can banish dragons to summon dragons and make rank 7 plays
-We can banish dragons and Heroes to summon Heroes with Fusion Gate, answering problematic scenarios with Absolute Zero of creating a wall of floatation (card advantage) with The Shining
-We can banish Heroes to summon dragons
-We can banish Heroes and Dragons to summon Heroes with Miracle Fusion
-We can returned banished monsters to summon Heroes with Parallel World Fusion
-We can try to hold the fort with normal summoned Heroes in the meantime

We have a colorful pallette in this list, but there are a few guys I would cut.  Hero Heat, Wildheart are not too needed in duplicates here, and they have a difficult time replacing themselves outside of another anti-meta grind matchup.  Cards like DDR, Super Poly, Parallel World, D.D.R., and Miracle Fusion are certainly powerful, but we don’t want to overload on late-game cards - we need a way to open strong as well.  This is where Pot of Duality, which is now at 3, shows promise.

There are a number of good traps we could consider in the place of Decree, but Decree isn’t a bad idea either, as it simplifies the gamestate and allows you to focus on clearing opposing monsters.  Even with Decree mained, there is still little reason to exclude Return from the Different Dimension, which probably wins the award from most-complained-about power card since the September list hit.

Stratos to zero certainly detracts from the promise this deck showed, but it was a necessary hit, as its versatile effect has been central to too many powerful strategies over the years.  Alius’s LIGHT attribute is difficult to synergize with outside of The Shining plays, but perhaps Gemini Spark could add a layer of utility to the monster.

-1 Hero Heat
-1 Wildheart
-1 D.D.R.
-1 Super Poly
-1 Parallel World
-1 Dark Hole
+1 Sacred Sword
+3 Pot of Duality
+1 Gemini Spark
+1 Return

Final List

Main Deck: 40

Monsters: 18

3 Blaster, Dragon Ruler of Infernos
3 Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls
3 Redox, Dragon Ruler of Boulders
3 Tempest, Dragon Ruler of Storms
3 Elemental HERO Neos Alius
1 Elemental HERO Heat
1 Elemental HERO Wildheart
1 Elemental HERO Ice Edge

Spells: 18

3 Fusion Gate
3 E-Emergency Call
3 Sacred Sword of Seven Stars
3 Pot of Duality
1 Gemini Spark
1 D.D.R Different Dimension Reincarnation
1 Super Polymerization
1 Parallel World Fusion
1 Miracle Fusion
1 Terraforming

Traps: 4

3 Royal Decree
1 Return from the Different Dimension

Extra Deck: 15

1 Number 11: Big Eye
1 Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack
1 Master of Blades
1 Hieratic Sun Dragon Overlord of Heliopolis
1 Elemental HERO Escuriadao
2 Elemental HERO the Shining
2 Elemental HERO Great Tornado
2 Elemental HERO Gaia
2 Elemental HERO Nova Master
2 Elemental HERO Absolute Zero

As with any new creation, it takes more time in the lab to find the right balance of card ratios.  I’ve significantly cut the number of late game cards in favor of opening the elements you need earlier on.  This idea can be taken further with cards like Upstart Goblin, Gold Sarcophagus, Dragon Ravine, Foolish Burial, and additional Terraforming.  However, if you are interested in less consistent openings in favor of hitting heavier and going for style points, keeping the number of fusion spells in deck higher will be the path you want to take.  Chain Material gets special mention here, since it can combo with Fusion Gate if you opt to run Gustav Max.

Koty’s Fire Fist

Main Deck: 40

Monsters: 15

3 Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Bear
1 Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Boar
3 Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Dragon
2 Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Gorilla
1 Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Rooster
3 Coach Soldier Wolfbark
2 Effect Veiler

Spells: 13

1 Dark Hole
2 Fire Formation - Gyokkou
2 Fire Formation - Tenki
3 Fire Formation - Tensu
1 Forbidden Lance
2 Mystical Space Typhoon
2 Pot of Duality

Traps: 12

1 Bottomless Trap Hole
1 Compulsory Evacuation Device
2 Dimensional Prison
2 Fire Formation - Tenken
3 Fire Formation - Tensen
2 Mirror Force
1 Solemn Warning

Extra Deck: 15

1 Black Rose Dragon
1 Crimson Blader
1 Stardust Dragon
1 Abyss Dweller
1 Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Cardinal
3 Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Tiger King
1 Diamond Dire Wolf
1 Evilswarm Ouroboros
1 Gagaga Cowboy
1 Maestroke the Symphony Djinn
1 Number 39: Utopia
1 Number 50: Blackship of Corn
1 Number C39: Utopia Ray

Discussion

Fire Fist started out as a stun deck in the TCG and something in between a combo and stun deck in the OCG.  The difference was the result of Wolfbark being an OCG exclusive when the archetype was released worldwide.  The more recent Spirit and Horse Prince version of Fire Fist plays quite differently from the original control-based deck.  To distinguish the two, we call the combo-oriented, level 3-centric version 3-Axis and the control-oriented, level 4-centric version 4-Axis.  An axis is a line around which revolution (the geometric kind, not the political kind) takes place.  Axis joined Yugioh terminology from the OCG (I believe shriek first used the term).  It is likely to have been a translation-related “error” (that is, the Japanese term was intended to be something other than “axis”).

This list is pretty solid, but we will make a few changes to maximize its potential as a stun deck.  Rooster and Spirit did great things together before the ban list, but we have to table that strategy for now since Spirit went to 1, rendering Rooster ineffectual.  The monster lineup is otherwise great, except Fiendish Chain will do more for us here than Effect Veiler.  Veiler is generally better suited to the boss monster decks that do not fear attacks quite so much, with some exceptions.

Whether to run Gyokko depends on your local environment.  If you are in a field of dragons, consider cutting this card, or a copy of it.  I will cut at least one because MST is an all-around better card, since chainability is crucial.  Lastly, while Dimensional Prison was previously very good coverage for the dreaded Mermail matchup, it currently does extremely little over Mirror Force.  It is outclassed by Compulsory, which is at 1 sadly.

Outside of the main deck, we will want a few other rank 4s, such as Crazy Box because it gives you a strong tool under Skill Drain (which is now common) and can be tributed for EEV.  In addition to EEV, I strongly recommend Maxx “C” and Imperial Iron Wall to level the playing field versus Dragons games 2 and 3.  Soul Drain, Debunk, D.D. Crow, Needle Ceiling, and Dimensional Fissure are some other options to consider as you ponder the decks you wish to counter with your sideboard.

-1 Rooster
-1 Effect Veiler
-1 Gyokko
-2 Dimensional Prison
-1 Utopia
-1 Utopia Ray
-1 Stardust
-1 Black Rose
+1 Pot of Duality
+1 MST
+3 Fiendish Chain
+1 Pearl
+1 Armades
+1 Crazy Box
+1 Cardinal

Final List

Main Deck: 40

Monsters: 13

3 Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Bear
1 Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Boar
3 Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Dragon
2 Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Gorilla
3 Coach Soldier Wolfbark
1 Effect Veiler

Spells: 14

1 Dark Hole
1 Fire Formation - Gyokkou
2 Fire Formation - Tenki
3 Fire Formation - Tensu
1 Forbidden Lance
3 Mystical Space Typhoon
3 Pot of Duality

Traps: 13

1 Bottomless Trap Hole
1 Compulsory Evacuation Device
3 Fiendish Chain
2 Fire Formation - Tenken
3 Fire Formation - Tensen
2 Mirror Force
1 Solemn Warning

Extra Deck: 15

1 Ally of Justice Catastor
1 Armades, Keeper of Boundaries
1 Crimson Blader
1 Abyss Dweller
2 Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Cardinal
3 Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Tiger King
1 Diamond Dire Wolf
1 Gagaga Cowboy
1 Maestroke the Symphony Djinn
1 Number 50: Blackship of Corn
1 Gem-Knight Pearl
1 Number 85: Crazy Box

Thanks for your submissions.  Keep sending us decks!  Time to go back to suffering-I mean studying…

Until next time,

Play Hard or Go Home.

Sincerely,

Johnny

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Johnny Li

Houston, TX

Latest posts by Johnny Li (see all)

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