All articles for...

Posts Tagged ‘deck analysis’

Deck Analysis: Matthew Heath’s Wind-Up Deck

March 20th, 2012

Nine of the Top 32 Duelists from YCS Atlanta played Wind-Ups, a nasty Deck that can devastate the opponent’s hand and  Xyz Summon repeatedly.  With intricate combos that can branch off in different directions, Wind-Ups can grow just two monsters into a packed field.  Most Wind-Ups don’t have high ATK, but they’re really good at Xyz Summoning.  They’re a serious competitor right now, so let’s review their strengths:

Wind-Up Hunter lets them attack the opponent’s hand.

-Make many Rank 3, Rank 4, and even Rank 5 Xyz Summons, thanks to Special Summoning effects and level manipulation tricks.

-Use the search power of Wind-Up Factory and Wind-Up Magician to adapt your tactics on the fly, and hit your combos consistently.

Out of all the Wind-Up Decks that made the Top 32 at YCS Atlanta, Matthew Heath’s stood apart.  While a lot of the Top 32 ran Tour Guide from the Underworld, Heath opted to play more Wind-Up monsters and more draw power instead, creating a more combo-heavy version of the strategy.  Here’s what it looked like.

Read more…

Written by:
Categories: Special Tags: ,

YCS Columbus Top Deck Analysis: Robert DiMartino’s Gladiator Beasts

November 17th, 2011

Gladiator Beast Duelists command a toolbox of tricks: when one Gladiator makes a successful attack, it can tag out back to the Deck to Special Summon another Gladiator Beast, and each has a unique effect.  Since there are lots of different Gladiator Beasts, there are lots of different abilities, but a few were especially useful at YCS Columbus.  With Decks like Synchro Summon, Master Hyperion, and Dark World all making powerful plays with monsters from the Graveyard, Gladiator Beast Retiari’s ability to banish cards is more powerful than ever before.  Most Decks wield powerful monster effects, so Gladiator Beast War Chariot is extremely good.  And the wrecking-ball of the Gladiator strategy, Gladiator Beast Gyzarus, wreaks havoc against Duelists who play just a few Trap Cards.  The result is opportunity: Gladiator Beasts are back, and Robert DiMartino has the Top 32 finish to prove it.

Read more…