A Wiseman Once Told Me...

Wiseman's Chalice (Normal Spell)

If you control no monsters, Select 1 monster in your opponent's Graveyard. Special Summon it. During the End Phase of this turn, give control of that Special Summoned monster to your opponent. The monster cannot be Tributed, or used as a Synchro Material Monster, while it is face-up on the field.

Like the case with Mind Control before it, stocks of Wiseman's Chalice have literally sold out over night. Why? Blame Exceeds.

Mind Control used to be a terrible card a few years back because there weren't many ways of capitalizing on the stolen monster. Synchro Monsters changed that, which is why the card is now limited. The same logic can be used on Wiseman's Chalice, except you'd use it to bring out an Exceed Monster instead of a Synchro.

Better start grabbing as many copies as you can now, before prices skyrocket.

Remember players, the game ends with you.

Respect My Prioritah!

A friend of mine contacted me this morning about a supposed rule change to be implemented on March 19, 2011, so I go and check it out. Apparently it was about how players could no longer call priority on Ignition Effects. I thought it was a bit strange, but the source was legit, so I came here to notify my readers about the change. 

...That was, until I looked at my blogroll and noticed that 8/20 of the blogs I follow already posted about it. Word travels fast I suppose. 

And anyway there's no mention of when this ruling would be implemented in the TCG. So until then make good use of your Ignition Effect guys, while you can. *Ominous music plays*

Remember players, the game ends with you.

P.S: I suppose this justifies why Book of Moon was limited, and why Bottomless Trap Hole is still semi'ed. The latter of which just got a heck of a lot better.

No More Heroes

This new banlist has really put me at a loss, not only have I lost a copy of Dandylion and Debris Dragon in my Plant Deck, but an Honest and two copies of Book of Moon in my Hero Deck. And to make matters worse I lost my sole Card Trooper in an ante. *sigh* Anyway this was the build I was previously testing:

ABSOLUTE ZERO BARRIER (SEPTEMBER 2010)

MONSTERS (20)

1 Gorz the Emissary of Darkness

2 General Raiho of the Ice Barrier

3 Elemental Hero Neos Alius

1 Elemental Hero Stratos

2 Elemental Hero Prisma

1 Elemental Hero Wildheart

2 Elemental Hero Ocean

2 Honest

2 Elemental Hero Voltic

1 Neo-Spacian Grand Mole

1 Glow-Up Bulb

2 Effect Veiler

SPELLS  (15)

3 Book of Moon

3 Miracle Fusion

3 E – Emergency Call

2 Mystical Space Typhoon

1 Dark Hole

1 Cold Wave

1 Future Fusion

1 Monster Reborn

TRAPS (5)

1 Mirror Force

1 Torrential Tribute

1 Call of the Haunted

2 Bottomless Trap Hole

I'm too broke to afford Solemn Warnings, hence the Bottomless Trap Holes, and I'm still tinkering with the Extra Deck, but this build showed a lot of potential against a variety of decks: Blackwings, Gladiator Beasts, Macro, Chaos, and Six Samurai (to an extent), at least from my testing.

Replacing an Honest and Cold Wave is simple enough as there are many alternatives with similar effects, Shrink and Giant Trunade being among them. However, Book of Moon is a bit more difficult since the alternatives won't always be as helpful as the original.

• Enemy Controller won't stop Blackwings from getting a search off Black Whirlwind.
• Compulsory Evacuation Device won't save you when your opponent chains Trap Stun or has Royal Decree active.
• Forbidden Lance was originally praised for its ability to counter Book of Moon, but with the latter being restricted to one, it's bit more limited in it's use.
• Effect Veiler will negate a monster's effect, but it's still useless during the Battle Phase and won't protect you from receiving damage.

I guess this is just one of those things that needs to be solved through trial and error. Guess I'll be proxying Pot of Dualities and Solemn Warnings in the meantime. ^_^

Remember players, the game ends with you.

P.S: Yes, I understand that General Raiho of the Ice Barrier is not legal in the TCG as of yet. So what? He's still a sexy beast. (No homo, lol.)

Exceeding Expectations

So a lot of news has been circulating within the past few days. The March 2011 Banlist for one thing, but Exceed Monsters have also finally gotten their mechanics explained. What will this mean for the game? Well the first few packs that released Synchro Monsters produced most of the staples people still use today. 

Duel Terminal 01 - Synchro Awakening:

• Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier
• Ally of Justice Catastor
• Mist Wurm

The Duelist Genesis:

• Stardust Dragon
• Goyo Guardian (Recently Banned)
• Red Dragon Archfiend
• Thought Ruler Archfiend

Starter Deck 2008:

• Colossal Fighter

Now that it' known that Duel Terminal 12 - Exceed Startup, Generation Force, and Starter Deck 2011 will introduce Exceed Summons into the game, I'd expect most of our staple Exceed Monsters to make their debut. 

Speaking of which, it's definitely starting to look like Konami is trying to phase-out Synchros completely what with Goyo Guardian getting banned out of the blue and one of the first cards in Generation Force (Gagaga Magician) already stating it can't be used for Synchro Summons.

Some players fear that popular archetypes like Scraps, Karakuri, and Watts will no longer receive support now that Exceed Summoning will become the focus of upcoming sets, but this may not exactly be true. If DT12 is any indication we may start seeing Exceed Monsters being made for existing archetypes like how Vylons received Vylon Disigma.

Remember players, the game ends with you.

Always Use Protection

It's always amusing to see players wish for support for underdog archetypes, because it can often be months (or even years) before it comes to fruition. Some of them, like Iron Chains, are probably destined never to receive support again. So when I saw the art on Safety Zone in the recently released Extreme Victory (OCG) I thought Gradius fans would finally find some solace. That was of course until I actually read its effect.

Safety Zone (Continuous Trap)

Select 1 face-up Attack Position monster on the field. It cannot be targeted or destroyed by your opponent's card effects, it cannot be destroyed by battle, and it cannot attack your opponent directly. When this card is removed from the field, destroy that monster. When that monster is removed from the field, destroy this card.

Had Safety Zone been restricted to work with just Gradius and the other spaceships, it would have been a decent card. However, the fact that it's generic support is what allows it to truly shine. Imagine having a Naturia Bamboo Shoot, Shooting Star Dragon, or Gravekeeper's Visionary under it's protection...a frightening prospect indeed.

Sure not being able to attack directly can be irritating, but as I've learned from experience, when your opponent has a nigh untouchable monster out winning a game becomes extremely difficult. You can even chain Safety Zone to it's own destruction to take out one of your opponent's monsters such as Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress or Breaker the Magical Warrior, among others.

Recently I'd been trying to obtain a Forbidden Lance for it's similar versatility, but seeing that people are valuing it too high I think I'll wait for Safety Zone instead.

Remember players, the game ends with you.

UPDATE: Found this video while looking up the old Gradius games:

Don't Judge a Card by It's Picture

Harpie Lady Sisters
(Winged-Beast-Type/WIND/Level 6/ATK 1950/DEF 2100)

This card cannot be Normal Summoned or Set. This card can only be Special Summoned by the effect of "Elegant Egotist".

Cyber Shield (Equip Spell)

Equip only to "Harpie Lady" or "Harpie Lady Sisters". It gains 500 ATK.

Card Rulings:

- You can equip this card to monsters like Cyber Harpie Lady that are considered to be Harpie Lady.
- Even though there are 3 Harpie Lady Sisters, Harpie Lady Sisters is 1 monster and gains only 500 ATK from Cyber Shield.

Does Konami really think that players of this game are that stupid?

Remember players, the game ends with you.

He's the Man!

There are generally two types of archetypes: those that are good, and those that are not. Ice Barriers, unfortunately, fall into the latter category. Believe me, I'm not trying to be pessimistic. I've tried so many times to make them work and they just have no legitimate win condition. Flamvells can swarm, Naturias can negate, and Ice Barriers do absolutely NOTHING.

Oh sure they have a few tricks up their sleeves, having a couple of lock combos, but other than that they're just another failed archetype. The best thing about them are probably their Synchro Monsters, three of which (Brionac, Dewloren, and Trishula) are restricted in some form.

But of course all themes have at least card that can shine even outside their own deck. 

General Raiho of Ice Barrier 
(Warrior-Type/WATER/Level 6/ATK 2100/DEF 2300)

When the activated effect of an Effect Monster your opponent controls resolves, your opponent can discard 1 card. If they do not, negate the Effect Monster's effect.

The other day I went with some friends of mine to try our luck at Duel Terminal 4 and I was fortunate enough to get a hold of some Ice Barrier cards. While testing the new Ice Barriers today I realized just how terrible most of they were. General Raiho, however, did produce some interesting results, enough to make me consider teching a copy or two in my Hero Deck as another Fusion Material Monster for Elemental Hero Absolute Zero. After trying it out I have to say:

"IT WORKED WONDERS!!!" 

When I played against Macro today I used a pair of Voltics alongside a pair of Raihos, and it completely shut my opponent down. He couldn't make big pushes without losing hand advantage and I was still able to get all my Heroes back. It was hilarious! ^_^

Remember players, the game ends with you.

Samurai vs Gravekeeper's

A recent article regarding the match-up between Six Samurai and Gravekeeper's caught my attention. While I have no doubt that Samurai could easily overpower Gravekeeper's, the combination of Royal Tribute and Necrovalley could cost them a game or two.

The solution?

Without Necrovalley to worry about players are safe to recover fallen Samurai. The extra Bushido Counters are just a bonus. Of course I wouldn't expect anyone to Main Deck it, but it is a decent Side Deck option.

Remember players, the game ends with you.