Michael Smith-Grant is one of several Duelists here today trying to gain an edge on the most commonly played Decks by running a Deck that works best against them. His Dimensional Eatos Deck is designed to punish the Decks that heavily rely on their Graveyards by preventing any cards from going there. Once he establishes control over the Duel by shutting off his opponents’ Graveyard effects, he overwhelms his opponents with strong monsters like “Guardian Eatos,” “Thunder King Rai-Oh,” “Beast King Barbaros,” and “Doomcaliber Knight” to win the Duel.

(Check back for the Deck List after the event is over!)

Michael Smith-Grant prepared his Deck to take down the most popular ones out there. He has a favorable match-up against Blackwings, Twilight, and Zombie Decks thanks to his solid monster line-up and the Continuous Spell and Trap Cards he uses to shut them down.

The main purpose of Smith-Grant’s Deck is to close off his opponent’s Graveyard using “Dimensional Fissure” and “Macro Cosmos.” By using 3 copies of each, he optimizes his chances of drawing them. He also plays 3 copies of “Upstart Goblin” and 2 copies of “Cyber Valley” to help him draw them.

“Macro Cosmos” and “Dimensional Fissure” can both stop commonly played cards like “Mezuki,” “Blackwing – Vayu the Emblem of Honor,” “Honest” and “Blackwing – Kalut the Moon Shadow” by shutting down the Graveyard and preventing effects that can only be activated by sending a card there. Cards that require other monsters in the Graveyard to Summon them, like “Chaos Sorcerer,” “Judgment Dragon,” and “Dark Armed Dragon” are also hindered by “Dimensional Fissure” and “Macro Cosmos” since they make it tough to build up a Graveyard to remove from. Smith-Grant can also shut down most of his opponents’ Decks using “Skill Drain,” further limiting his opponents’ options. “Skill Drain” also functions to negate the effect of “Beast King Barbaros,” pumping it up to 3000 ATK without even Tributing a monster!

In addition to 3 copies each of “Macro Cosmos,” “Dimensional Fissure” and “Skill Drain” shutting down his opponent’s cards, Smith-Grant also uses 3 copies of “Dark Bribe,” 2 copies of “Magic Jammer,” and a “Solemn Judgment” to negate any cards that threaten his Spells and Traps. By protecting “Macro Cosmos” and “Dimensional Fissure” all game, Smith-Grant can be sure that whenever he draws “Guardian Eatos,” he can Special Summon it to beat down his opponent with a 2500 ATK monster.

Once Smith-Grant establishes control over the Duel by establishing and maintaining a “Dimensional Fissure” or “Macro Cosmos,” he can optimize the use of his “D.D. Survivor” to expand his advantage. “D.D. Survivor” becomes nearly indestructible with either of those continuous cards out. Smith-Grant can also combo his “D.D. Survivor” with “Cyber Valley” by removing them both from the game with the effect of “Cyber Valley” and drawing 2 cards. Then “D.D. Survivor” will return to his field during the End Phase.

“Thunder King Rai-Oh” and “Doomcaliber Knight” also help Smith-Grant limit his opponent’s options. While “Thunder King Rai-Oh” is on the field, his opponent can’t search his Deck using cards like “Black Whirlwind,” giving Smith-Grant a decisive advantage in the Blackwing match-up. “Doomcaliber Knight” also helps Smith-Grant lock down his opponent by negating monster effects. Since Smith-Grant will usually have a “Dimensional Fissure” or “Macro Cosmos” on the field prevent monsters from hitting the Graveyard, his opponent’s won’t be able to simply remove a “Necro Gardna” or “Mezuki” to destroy “Doomcaliber Knight” either. Smith-Grant’s opponents will have a much tougher time destroying it than most other duelists facing down a “Doomcaliber Knight.”

A lot of Duelists are playing Decks designed to take out the most commonly played Decks. To beat the other 1631 Duelists in the tournament, that might be exactly what Michael Smith-Grant needed to do.