X-Sabers were one of the top Decks of the Summer. The explosive speed of XX-Saber Faultroll combined with Rescue Cat made them a deadly threat.  But with Rescue Cat now Forbidden in the Advanced Format, and Duelists Setting more cards with no fear of Heavy Storm, the X-Saber strategy has changed.  Lazaro Bellido’s victory at YCS Toronto showed that X-Sabers are still one of the fiercest strategies in Dueling, but to stay competitive, they had to evolve.

Last Format’s X-Saber Decks got faster and faster, and most Duelists played to out-speed their opponents: it was all about using Gold Sarcophagus and XX-Saber Darksoul to put together those Rescue Cat / Faultroll / Cold Wave combos as fast as you could.  But with the Cat gone, and more defensive Trap Cards to deal with, the X-Saber Deck has taken on a new tone.  X-Sabers are still fast, but their real strength now comes from their defense; their ability to Special Summon monsters from the Graveyard; and the destruction of opposing cards.

With more emphasis on controlling the Duel, these cards are more important than ever before.

X-Saber Airbellum used to be really important to X-Saber Duelists: using Rescue Cat to Special Summon Airbellum and Darksoul was one of the Deck’s strongest plays.  But with no more Rescue Cat, a different Level 3 Tuner is taking center stage – XX-Saber Fulhelmknight.  Fulhelmknight’s ability punishes opponents for having Defense Position monsters. Iff you can destroy 1 in battle with Fulhelmknight, you’ll get to Special Summon a Level 4 or lower X-Saber from your Graveyard at no cost.  Grab XX-Saber Darksoul, and you can Synchro Summon a Level 6 Synchro Monster in Main Phase 2: it’s like trading Fulhelmknight for a Synchro Monster, and you’ll get to search your Deck for another X-Saber with Darksoul’s effect.  That’s huge, and it’s a good reason to run 3 Fulhelmknight.  Gottoms’ Emergency Call is similar, letting you Special Summon 2 X-Sabers with just one card.  Plays like that really put the pressure on your opponent.

XX-Saber Hyunlei is even better now than she was before.  Many Duelists are happy to Set 3 Spell or Trap Cards at a time, and Hyunlei can take them all out with her effect.  Sure, cards like Solemn Judgment and Solemn Warning can stop Hyunlei in her tracks, but Trap Stun and Cold Wave can keep your opponent from using them.  Some X-Saber Decks have evolved to play 3 copies of Trap Stun, guaranteeing that they can make the most of Hyunlei.

Together with Solemn Warning, Saber Slash and Saber Hole give X-Saber Duelists unparalleled control over monsters.

One of the key strengths of the evolved X-Saber Deck is that it’s really good at destroying your opponent’s monsters.  Solemn Warning can fit in almost any Deck, but X-Sabers also have 2 cards that are unique to their theme: Saber Slash and Saber Hole.  Saber Hole is like a super-poweredBottomless Trap Hole that you can activate when you control a face-up X-Saber monster: it can negate any Summon, except for Summons that are part of an effect (like Monster Reborn).  We saw it played to a Top 16 finish at YCS Toronto.  Saber Slash destroys 1 face-up card for every face-up Attack Position X-Saber you control, so it can eliminate groups of opposing monsters all at once, or even destroy cards like Royal Oppression and Solidarity.  The slower format we now have makes it easier to use both cards, because you have more time to build a field of X-Saber monsters.

These monsters are new to X-Saber Decks, and are doing really well in big tournaments!

Creative Duelists are looking beyond the back row to try and get an edge.  Effect Veiler protects its controller from monster effects, shutting down everything from Monarchs to Black Rose Dragon; it’s a tough card for opponents to play against, because you can activate it from your hand without any warning.  Super-Nimble Mega Hamster can block attacks while Special Summoning X-Sabers like Darksoul and Airbellum, or other Beasts like Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter.  And Debris Dragon was played by YCS Toronto Champion Lazaro Bellido: he used it to Special Summon Darksoul from his Graveyard, unleashing Black Rose Dragon.  That combo destroys everything on the field, while letting you get an X-Saber from your Deck for next turn.

X-Sabers remain one of the toughest Decks in Dueling!  If you’re an X-Saber Duelist yourself, take a look at your Deck, and see how you can evolve it to beat your opponents.