Nordics are back, and better than ever! With Debris Dragon now Limited and the Lonefire Blossom engine taking a hit from the new Advanced List, a handful of Duelists are exploring Tanngnjostr of the Nordic Beasts once again, getting easy access to high-Level Synchro Monsters.  When Tanngnjostr is changed from Defense Position to Attack Position, it Special Summons another Nordic Beast from its controller’s Deck, and the prime candidate is the Level 4 Tuner monster, Guldfaxe of the Nordic Beasts.  Tuned to Tanngnjostr, Guldfaxe unleashes Black Rose Dragon to wipe the field, or Ancient Sacred Wyvern to strike for huge damage.

But the Nordic Deck takes on a new tone in the September 1st Advanced Format.  For many Duelists, competition today often comes down to one simple factor: who can get to Stardust Dragon first.  An early game Stardust Dragon means protection for your Spell and Trap Card Zone, allowing you to Set plenty of defense to ward off attacks.  And when a Nordic deck can ward off attacks, it’s free to use Super-Nimble Mega Hamster and Tanngnjostr of the Nordic Beasts to keep Special Summoning monsters.  Special Summon Guldfaxe; Tune it to Reborn Tengu or a Flip Summoned Hamster; and you can Synchro Summon Stardust Dragon or Scrap Dragon, practically for free.  Once the combos start flowing they’re really hard to stop, and that’s what makes this Deck so dangerous.  Here’s Saberian’s build:

Sorosh Saberian’s Nordic Beasts – 40 Cards
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This Deck is all about consistency. Super-Nimble Mega Hamster, Sangan, and Gleipnir, the Fetters of Fenrir all let Saberian search Tanngnjostr of the Nordic Beasts straight from his Deck, making it super-easy to get to the strategy’s best plays.  Gleipnir is especially powerful: with so many Duelists playing Heavy Storm and a full three copies of Mystical Space Typhoon, there are plenty of opportunities to draw out a piece of removal into a Gleipnir.  When a Typhoon or Storm is activated to destroy Gleipnir, Saberian can Chain it, getting a Nordic Beast from his Deck while his opponent wastes their card.  On its own, a little play like that might not be a big deal.  But combined with the swarming power of Tanngnjostr, Hamster, and Tour Guide from the Underworld, a first-turn Gleipnir drawing out a Typhoon can be the first decisive step on the path to victory.

And oh, that Tour Guide!  All the normal Tour Guide tricks apply here; she allows Saberian to Xyz Summon Leviair the Sea Dragon or Number 17: Leviathan Dragon; she Special Summons Sangan to search out Effect Veiler, Tanngnjostr, or Hamster; and she loads the Graveyard with DARK monsters for Black Luster Soldier – Envoy of the Beginning.  But she accomplishes many other goals here, too.  For instance, if Saberian Normal Summons Tour Guide to get Sangan, and isn’t used for an Xyz Summon, Tour Guide invites an immediate attack from the opponent.  When they attack into her, it’s a prime opportunity to Special Summon Tanngnjostr with its from-the-hand Summon effect.  And since Tanngnjostr is a Level 3, you can use its effect to bring out a Guldfaxe, then stack the spent Tanngnjostr with Tour Guide for an Xyz Summon.  It’s a really flexible, multi-purpose card in this strategy, and since it can bring out Sangan, it’s another layer of consistency in getting to Tanngnjostr.  This deck does what it’s designed to do, virtually every game.

With the ability to quickly, consistently, and economically Synchro Summon Stardust Dragon, Saberian goes all-in with Starlight Roads and a heavy Trap lineup.  Controlling the number of attackers the opponent has means that Saberian can either Set and then Flip Summon Tanngnjostr, or he can let a monster be destroyed and then Special Summon Tanngnjostr from his hand, secure in the knowledge that successive attacks won’t destroy the Nordic Beast before it can be shifted to Attack Position next turn.  Clearing the field and stopping attacks also means that Ancient Sacred Wyvern becomes a stronger card: it gains Attack Points equal to the difference between your Life Points and your opponent’s when you’re winning.  Protecting yourself from attacks keeps Wyvern’s ATK high, and keeping the field clear means that Wyvern can deal maximum damage.  All that removal furthers the Nordic strategy, while disrupting some of the most popular strategies in today’s field.

This Deck is seeing very little buzz today, but it could make a big impact.  With tremendous consistency and a set of beguiling plays that most Duelists won’t be ready for, Saberian’s strategy is a serious threat.