Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Tournament Results: Sports Card World, Adelaide 28/09/13

Jamie - 1st Place

Monster: 17

3 Destiny Hero - Malicious
2 Tragoedia
1 Elemental Hero Stratos
1 Destiny Hero - Disk Commander
1 Destiny Hero - Plasma
1 Dark Magician of Chaos
1 Dark Armed Dragon
1 Chaos Emperor Dragon - Envoy of the End
1 Thunder King Rai-Oh
1 Magician of Faith
1 Cyber-Stein
1 Gorz the Emissary of Darkness
1 Witch of the Black Forest
1 Sangan

Spell: 19

3 Destiny Draw
1 Allure of Darkness
1 Pot of Greed
1 Graceful Charity
1 Painful Choice
1 Reinforcement of the Army
1 Monster Reborn
1 Premature Burial
1 Dimension Fusion
1 Metamorphosis
1 Scapegoat
1 The Forceful Sentry
1 Delinquent Duo
1 Confiscation
1 Harpie's Feather Duster
1 Snatch Steal
1 Raigeki

Trap: 4

1 Crush Card Virus
1 Trap Dustshoot
1 Ring of Destruction
1 Imperial Order

Extra: 15

2 Naturia Exterio
1 Cyber End Dragon
1 Cyber Twin Dragon
1 Cyber Ogre 2
1 The Last Warrior from Another Planet
1 Ryu Senshi
1 Dark Balter the Terrible
1 Darkfire Dragon
1 Flame Ghost
1 Thousand-Eyes Restrict
1 Photon Strike Bounzer
1 Inzektor Exa-Beetle
1 Leviair the Sea Dragon
1 Wind-Up Zenmaines

Side: 15

3 Effect Veiler
2 Droll & Lock Bird
1 Maxx "C"
1 Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning
3 Mystical Space Typhoon
1 Giant Trunade
1 Dark Hole
1 Dimensional Fissure
1 Macro Cosmos
1 Royal Oppression

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Tournament Results: Sports Card World, Adelaide 14/09/13

Jamie - 1st Place

Monster: 17

3 Destiny Hero - Malicious
3 Necro Gardna
2 Plaguespreader Zombie
1 Elemental Hero Stratos
1 Destiny Hero - Disk Commander
1 Destiny Hero - Diamond Dude
1 Dark Grepher
1 Cyber Jar
1 Fiber Jar
1 Gorz the Emissary of Darkness
1 Dark Magician of Chaos
1 Dark Armed Dragon

Spell: 19

3 Destiny Draw
1 Allure of Darkness
1 Pot of Greed
1 Graceful Charity
1 Card Destruction
1 Mirage of Nightmare
1 Painful Choice
1 Reinforcement of the Army
1 Dimension Fusion
1 Monster Reborn
1 Premature Burial
1 Emergency Provisions
1 Burial from a Different Dimension
1 The Forceful Sentry
1 Harpie's Feather Duster
1 Snatch Steal
1 Raigeki

Trap: 4

1 Return from a Different Dimension
1 Ring of Destruction
1 Crush Card Virus
1 Imperial Order

Extra: 15

1 Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier
1 Stardust Dragon
1 Colossal Fighter
1 Dark End Dragon
1 Scrap Dragon
1 Dark Strike Fighter
1 Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier
1 Goyo Guardian
1 T.G. Hyper Librarian
1 Lavalval Chain
1 Number 39: Utopia
1 Blade Armor Ninja
1 Steelswarm Roach
1 Leviair the Sea Dragon
1 Wind-Up Zenmaines

Side: 15

2 Maxx "C"
2 Effect Veiler
2 Droll & Lock Bird
3 Mystical Space Typhoon
1 Heavy Storm
1 Dark Hole
1 Royal Oppression
1 Solemn Warning
1 Bottomless Trap Hole
1 Torrential Tribute

Monday, July 1, 2013

Quick Article #7: Scientist Control

I’ve been having some interest in the Scientist Control deck I’ve been posting in my latest tournament reports, both online and in person. One player in particular emailed me directly to ask me some very good questions regarding how the deck plays, combos, match-ups, siding, and then some queries about specific card choices (such as Number 56: Gold Rat and Evilswarm Ouroboros). Since I don’t think it’s too much of stretch to assume there are more people interested than just the few who have talked to me, I’ve decided to use the quite detailed answers to the aforementioned player for the basis of this short article, describing how I play deck.

Its main goal is to get out Scientist – the heavy tendency in the construction towards drawing, searching and Special Summoning is primarily geared towards finding Magical Scientist and putting him on the field. For a first turn play, I’m going to be trying to lock the opponent out of their first turn (a second turn play will obviously be more intent on creating the best possible response to the opponent's first turn set up); depending on what the opponent is using (that is, what their Spell/Trap/Monster ratio is like, what their play patterns and possibilities are, etc.), and depending on what I’m able to find and create, some combination of Number 16: Shock Master, Photon Strike Bounzer or Evilswarm Ouroboros, backed up by my Spells and/or Traps – Imperial Order, Crush card Virus, Delinquent Duo, etc. – and/or Effect Veilers, is going to be my final set up. The aim, again, is to lock the opponent out of their turn, so the pilot needs to be able to read what they're playing, and what they'll be trying to, and able to, accomplish.

That said, though, the deck has many other options. The Chaos monsters, as well as being discard/removal fodder for the draw engine, can also be Summoned when needed. By the same token, Light and Darkness Dragon, again primarily a discard target, is also a very powerful option to be Summoned when Scientist isn't available, and is quite easily done with all of the Special Summon options. Other Monsters make Crush Card Virus live, the Extra Deck does contain a couple of Synchro Monsters which can be summoned with Effect Veiler, the Magical Scientist/Dark Strike Fighter FTK is possible, and even just Elemental Hero Stratos with some control cards can be a decent opening play. It all depends on the opening hand – the pilot will need to be able to gauge the amount of stuff he or she can do, which only comes with experience. When I play the deck, I can see my final set up from my opening six cards, and plan what I'm going to do anywhere from the second possibly play up to the twentieth possible play in advance.

If I’m going to be playing against FTKs, I'll need Hand Traps; Effect Veilers are already Mained, so the Side Deck will generally consist of Droll & Lock Birds, Hanewatas, Neko Mane Kings, Maxx "C"s, Elephant Stature of Disaster, depending on what I expect to play against. Battle based matchups are quite good, although I may want to Side more battle based cards – Snatch Steal, Dark Hole, Heavy Storm and Harpie's Feather Duster, that sort of thing. Also, some Hand Traps, such as Maxx "C" and D.D. Crow, can be good for battle based match ups – Dark World, heavy Special Summoning strategies – so I’ll consider Siding those, as well. The Side really depends on what I expect to play, and then changes accordingly. My Side, even for the same deck, is different at every tournament.

On the subject of Number 56: Gold Rat: during my turn, I quite often end up with Destiny Hero – Disk Commander and Magical Scientist on-field, and, in this scenario, rather than making a few exceeds (which obviously cost Life Points with Scientist) and leaving those two, low ATK Monsters susceptible to attacks, I summon Thousand Eyes Restrict and overlay the three for Gold Rat. I then get to draw another card, shuffle back a dead card (or my second Malicious, always helpful), put Disk Commander (by detaching him to activate Rat's effect) back into the Graveyard for another revival and draw, and have a LIGHT target if Rat hits the Grave. It seems like an odd choice, and I got a bit of crap for it at the time, but it really is very good here.

Evilswarm Ouroboros is for when I have Imperial Order. If I've drawn the Trap Card, I don't want to Summon Shock Master and call Spells – I'll already be cutting out Spells with Imperial, and doubling up on effects, except when making a fancy surprise combo, is useless. Therefore, unless I need to cut out Monster effects (which I'm most likely going to be doing with Photon Strike Bounzer or Effect Veiler anyway), I'll make Ouroboros to take another card from the opponent's hand instead.

I hope this clears up some questions that might have formed around this deck, especially since I unfortunately never got around to writing any others pieces about it.

Monday, May 20, 2013

Tournament Results: Sports Card World, Adelaide 18/05/13

Jamie - 1st Place

Monster: 15

3 Effect Veiler
2 Light and Darkness Dragon
2 Destiny Hero - Malicious
1 Destiny Hero - Dogma
1 Destiny Hero - Disk Commander
1 Elemental Hero Stratos
1 Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning
1 Chaos Emperor Dragon - Envoy of the End
1 Dark Magician of Chaos
1 Gorz the Emissary of Darkness
1 Magical Scientist

Spell: 23

3 Destiny Draw
3 Trade-In
3 Upstart Goblin
1 Allure of Darkness
1 Card Destruction
1 Pot of Greed
1 Graceful Charity
1 Painful Choice
1 Reinforcement of the Army
1 Confiscation
1 Delinquent Duo
1 The Forceful Sentry
1 Monster Reborn
1 Premature Burial
1 One for One
1 Mystical Space Typhoon
1 Raigeki

Trap: 2

1 Crush Card Virus
1 Imperial Order

Extra: 15

3 Darkfire Dragon
1 Dark Blade the Dragon Knight
1 Twin Photon Lizard
1 Koalo-Koala
1 Ryu Senshi
1 Thousand-Eyes Restrict
1 Photon Strike Bounzer
1 Inzektor Exa-Beetle
1 Number 16: Shock Master
1 Evilswarm Ouroboros
1 Number 56: Gold Rat
1 Black Rose Dragon
1 Dark Strike Fighter

Side: 15

3 Droll & Lock Bird
2 Maxx "C"
2 Mystical Space Typhoon
2 Smashing Ground
1 Dark Hole
1 Giant Trunade
1 Prohibition
2 Royal Decree
1 Royal Oppression

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Tournament Results: Sports Card World, Adelaide 20/04/13

Michael - 1st Place

Monster: 19


3 Uniflora, Mystical Beast of the Forest
3 X-Saber Airbellum
3 Key Mouse
2 Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter
2 Neko Mane King
2 Summoner Monk
1 Elephun
1 Wind-Up Dog
1 Wind-Up Kitten
1 Rescue Cat

Spell: 18

3 Upstart Goblin
3 Magical Mallet
2 Symbol of Heritage

2 Instant Fusion
1 Pot of Greed
1 Graceful Charity
1 Premature Burial
1 Monster Reborn
1 Last Will
1 Card of Safe Return
1 Harpie’s Feather Duster
1 Pot of Avarice

Trap: 3
 

1 Imperial Order
1 Royal Oppression
1 Solemn Judgment

Extra: 15

1 Fusionist
1 Karbonala Warrior
1 Ally of Justice Catastor
1 T.G. Hyper Librarian
1 Naturia Beast
1 Formula Synchron
1 Armory Arm
1 Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier
1 Naturia Barkion
1 Stardust Dragon
1 Shooting Star Dragon
1 Shooting Quasar Dragon
1 Black Rose Dragon
1 Dark Strike Fighter
1 Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier

Side: 15

3 Droll and Lock Bird
3 Effect Veiler
2 Maxx “C”
2 Gemini Imps
3 Mystical Space Typhoon
2 Royal Decree

Chris - 2nd Place

Monster: 6

1 Makyura the Destructor
2 Armageddon Knight
3 Broww, Huntsman of Dark World

Spell: 27

1 Pot of Greed
1 Graceful Charity
1 Painful Choice
1 Soul Release
3 Upstart Goblin
3 Into the Void
1 One Day of Peace
3 Cup of Ace
3 Hand Destruction
3 Dark World Dealings
1 Allure of Darkness
1 A Feather of the Phoenix
1 Card Destruction
2 Pot of Duality
1 Reinforcement of the Army
1 Foolish Burial

Trap: 7

3 Legacy of Yata-Garasu
3 Reckless Greed
1 Exchange of the Spirit

Side: 15


3 Droll and Lock Bird
3 Effect Veiler
3 Prohibition
(+6 filler)


Sunday, April 14, 2013

Tournament Results: Sports Card World, Adelaide 13/04/13

Jamie - 1st Place

Monster: 15

3 Effect Veiler
2 Light and Darkness Dragon
2 Destiny Hero - Malicious
1 Destiny Hero - Dogma
1 Destiny Hero - Disk Commander
1 Elemental Hero Stratos
1 Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning
1 Chaos Emperor Dragon - Envoy of the End
1 Dark Magician of Chaos
1 Gorz the Emissary of Darkness
1 Magical Scientist

Spell: 23

3 Destiny Draw
3 Trade-In
3 Upstart Goblin
1 Allure of Darkness
1 Pot of Greed
1 Graceful Charity
1 Painful Choice
1 Reinforcement of the Army
1 Confiscation
1 Delinquent Duo
1 The Forceful Sentry
1 Monster Reborn
1 Premature Burial
1 One for One
1 Mystical Space Typhoon
1 Snatch Steal
1 Raigeki

Trap: 2

1 Crush Card Virus
1 Imperial Order

Extra: 15

3 Darkfire Dragon
1 Dark Blade the Dragon Knight
1 Twin Photon Lizard
1 Koalo-Koala
1 Ryu Senshi
1 Thousand-Eyes Restrict
1 Photon Strike Bounzer
1 Inzektor Exa-Beetle
1 Number 16: Shock Master
1 Number 39: Utopia
1 Steelswarm Roach
1 Number 56: Gold Rat
1 Dark Strike Fighter

Side: 15

3 Droll & Lock Bird
1 Thunder King Rai-Oh
1 Doomcaliber Knight
1 Maxx "C"
2 Mystical Space Typhoon
2 Smashing Ground
1 Dark Hole
1 Giant Trunade
2 Royal Decree
1 Royal Oppression

Don't forget, if anybody gets, or can get, results of Traditional Format tournaments, I would love to publish them. I can be contacted through e-mail, Facebook, or the comments section of the blog.

Sunday, January 6, 2013

A New Blog (and a Better Pojo)

A few weeks ago, I was contacted by Pojo member Paul Bang (username: paulbang111); he wanted to discuss some aspects of the Traditional Format with me. Like most of the people who send me e-mails or befriend me on Facebook (for the record, I quite like it when players do this), he knew what he was talking about and our conversation was lively and informative, giving me hope that the Traditional Format is most definitely alive and well, if only on a small scale. I was then, however, rather surprised to discover he had started his own blog, a very pleasant surprise indeed. He tells me he's going to be focusing on individual cards and their usefullness in Traditional; he already has a couple of articles up, and you can find his blog here: The Traditional Format Blog.

In addition to this, Paul and a few other members have been trying to increase the viability of the Traditional Format sub-forum of Pojo, starting various discussions and debates (which have been, again, very lively) on particular decks, tech cards and so, and even trying to start an online tournament and league system. While I don't post all that often on Pojo myself these days, and severely dislike playing online, I'm very pleased to see such attempts to improve this aspect of the game and to know that I'm no longer alone in my quest for a respected Traditional Format.