YCS Charleston Tech Update 2!
With such a diverse format filled with so many powerful strategies, Duelists have had to come up with some pretty unique ways to give them an edge above the rest of the field. Let’s take a look at some of the strongest choices:
Now that we’ve had some more time to look around and see what’s successful, there is a ton of new stuff to talk about. Duelists have delved deep to find some of this sweet tech, but we’ll have to see what will make the cut for Top 32 and what will be forgotten:
De-Fusion
We have seen De-Fusion in the past being a good way for Duelists to answer opposing Fusions such as El Shaddoll Winda and El Shaddoll Construct about as cleanly and efficiently as possible. While that still holds true, Masked HERO Dark Law is the new big bad Fusion on the block needing an answer. Its effects that hinder the opponent’s Deck from functioning the way it would normally gives any Deck using Mask Change or Mask Change II a huge edge, so having access to a Side Deck card that answers both a popular strategy and one of the break out cards of the tournament is a big win.
Emergency Teleport
Qliphort has been such a popular strategy that Duelists have delved pretty deep in ways to beat it, the seemingly best being Naturia Beast. Obviously a Deck using a bunch of Spell cards, because Pendulums are counted as spells when placed on the Pendulum Scales, would fold pretty hard to a Naturia Beast; the question is though: How do you go about Summoning it? Well Qliphort players have begun using Emergency Teleport to Special Summon Re-Cover, a Level 1 EARTH Psychic Tuner that is perfect with pairing a Normal Summoned Qliphort to Synchro for Naturia Beast. Even Duelists using Mathematician can Special Summon Psychic Jumper and Synchro away for the win condition.
Good & Evil in the Burning Abyss
Having another card that is good to mill is always nice, and Good & Evil in the Burning Abyss basically fills that role. Not only is it good to be sent to the Graveyard itself, but it also allows a Cagna, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss who is sent to the Graveyard have more value than it would otherwise. Sending a Fire Lake of the Burning Abyss via Cagna, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss’s is alright, but sending Good & Evil in the Burning Abyss is fantastic as a way to gain additional advantage the following turn. Most Burning Abyss Duelists are using it without Malacoda, Netherlord of the Burning Abyss so they just want it in the Graveyard as soon as possible. If you happen to draw it, Virgil, Rock Star of the Burning Abyss is the best way to send it to the Graveyard by discarding it for its effect.
Magnum Shield
Finding a good out to Apoqliphort Towers is kind of hard because it typically means you won’t always have access to it. Some Duelists have begun using Magnum Shield, a card that really hasn’t seen any play. By equipping to Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss, you get a massive 5000 total ATK Points while it is in Attack Position, more than enough to run over Apoqliphort Towers. What makes it even better is that you can search it with Hidden Armory, so after Side Decking you can have an additional target to search other than Snatch Steal.
Mischief of the Gnomes
Burning Abyss is a tough Deck to beat; it can consistently Summon a couple copies of Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss which pose the problem of gaining more advantage even if they’re destroyed, meaning that you need a plan even after you get rid of them. Mischief of the Gnomes is an awesome choice because you can get multiple uses out of it, and even if you happen to send it to the Graveyard via your own Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss you can banish it later as if you had drawn it. Most Burning Abyss Duelists don’t use Rank 2 Xyz Monsters in their Extra Deck, so when you activate Mischief of the Gnomes the best case scenario for your opponent would be having Rubic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss along with two other Malebranches so they can Synchro Summon Virgil.
Threatening Roar
The fact that Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss can switch itself to Defense Position after it has declared an attack is pretty powerful, but some Duelists have actually begun using that aspect of the effect as its downfall. Threatening Roar provides a way to make sure that Dante not only gets to destroy anything by battle, but also cannot even attack so it switches to Defense Position. This typically leaves the Dantes in Attack Mode with only 1000 ATK Points and therefor easy picking. Similarly, the huge damage pushes that both Qliphort and Shaddoll are capable of in addition to what Burning Abyss can accomplish also makes Threatening Roar a good option to make sure you survive an additional turn.
