It’s almost time for the North American World Championship Qualifier! Duelists everywhere are picking out their favorite tech cards to use in their Decks in order to gain the edge in the competition. Check out some of tech cards that are going to be popular!

1.)    Soul Taker

Soul Taker was a popular Spell Card at YCS Philadelphia, and it’s likely to remain popular going into the World Championship Qualifier. At first glance, Soul Taker may not look like much. It destroys a monster and gives an opponent 1000 extra Life Points. It appears to be outclassed by simple destruction cards like Smashing Ground and Fissure.

But crafty Duelists use that “gift” of 1000 Life Points to their advantage. Since Soul Taker destroys an opponent’s face-up monster and then gives an opponent 1000 Life Points, your opponent cannot use any “When… you can…” optional effects that would ordinarily activate when his monster is destroyed.

Popular monsters like Elemental HERO The Shining and Lightpulsar Dragon can’t use their effects when destroyed by Soul Taker. Use Soul Taker to take one of them down, and your opponent will gain Life Points right after his monster is destroyed. That’ll leave his monster’s effect unable to activate. Your opponent won’t be able to return 2 Elemental HERO monsters to his hand or Special Summon a DARK Dragon from his Graveyard.

2.)    Gaia Dragon the Thunder Charger

Gaia Dragon the Thunder Charger quickly became most popular tech cards from Galactic Overlord. Although it’s technically a Rank 7 monster, you can also Xyz Summon Gaia Dragon the Thunder Charger just by placing it on a Rank 5 or Rank 6 monster. It’s easy to Summon and easy to put to good use.

Gaia Dragon the Thunder Charger inflicts piercing Battle Damage to opponents whenever it attacks a Defense Position monster, making it the go-to Xyz Monster when an opponent has a weak monster like Spirit Reaper in Defense Position. Plus, its 2600 ATK is an upgrade from some of the monsters that you can use to Xyz Summon it, like Hieratic Dragon King of Atum.

But there’s also another cool use that Duelists have found for Gaia Dragon the Thunder Charger. Take control an opponent’s Rank 5 or Rank 6 monster with Mind Control or Enemy Controller, and then use his monster to Xyz Summon Gaia Dragon. Duelists also use a similar trick to take control of an opponent’s Number 39: Utopia and upgrade it to make their own Number C39: Utopia Ray. Now that you can use Gaia Dragon in your Extra Deck, even more of your opponent’s Xyz Monsters are susceptible to treason.

3.)    Temtempo the Percussion Djinn

Temtempo the Percussion Djinn is a Rank 3 Xyz Monster that has slowly been making its way into more Extra Decks. Temtempo is easy to Summon with Level 3 monsters like Tour Guide From the Underworld, and it helps to defeat the most popular Xyz Monsters.

Once per turn, Temtempo can detach an Xyz Material from an opponent’s monster and then give all of your Djinns a permanent 500 ATK boost. Temtempo’s Quick Effect can be used on your opponent’s turn too, so you can detach 1 Xyz Material from an opponent’s monster on the turn you Summon Temtempo, and then detach another Xyz Material from your opponent’s monster as soon as your turn ends. Temtempo has been most popular for taking Xyz Materials off of Wind-Up Zenmaines without triggering its effect, but it’s great against other Xyz Monsters too, especially ones with negative consequences for having no Xyz Materials.

4.)    Maestroke the Symphony Djinn

Maestroke the Symphony Djinn has also been making its way into more Extra Decks lately. Maestroke is a Rank 4 Xyz Monster with an effect that is unmatched by any other Rank 4 monster. It can use an Xyz Material to protect itself (or protect another Djinn) from destruction, or it can use an Xyz Material to flip an opponent’s monster face-down to make it more vulnerable. Maestroke the Symphony Djinn increases the strength of Duelists’ Extra Decks by giving them a chance to replicate the offensive ability of Book of Moon whenever they need it.

Those are just a few of the tech cards that you can expect to see at the upcoming World Championship Qualifier. We’ll check out some more as the tournament gets closer!