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I.Q. - A Score Guy

Declaring a Tokui-Waza???

                "If you declared a Tokui-Waza....." is a line that we get to see in a lot of cards nowadays, but is declaring a Tokui-Waza really worth it?  You get a +1 Power up Rating (PUR), a mastery but that's about it.  Is it really worth sacrificing the ability to use a lot of the more powerful cards out there like Red Shatering Leap, Saiyan Battle Terms, and Black Fore Fist Punch?  Let's take a close look at what we're sacrifing and what we're gaining... let's look at the trade off... yeah that's right!!  Even I picked up some words in high School o_0

The Good

                We get a nice litle +1 PUR that makes a lot of characters with a PUR of 1 playable, a lot of characters out there wouldn't be playable due to low PUR unless you declared a Tokui-Waza. The +1 PUR also helps you strenghten your Main Personality (MP), specially when that litle bonus happens to double your current PUR or even reach that wonderful four PUR on your level one.  What's a Tokui-Waza with out a Mastery?  Scary enough, I've seen some of those decks but lets not get int to that right now. A mastery will help you throughout the entire game helping you focus on your deck. I believe the Mastery cards are the biggest reason to declare a Tokui-Waza because the +1 PUR by itself just doesn't do it for me. We got the Masteries in Trunks Saga but no other reasons to declare a Tokui-Waza until Androids Saga was released. Androinds Saga gave us wonderful cards such as Black Searching Technique, Sayan Destiny and the wonderful Blue Betrayal. The only Tokui-Waza decks out there before AS were black and red.

                The “if you declared a Tokui-Waza” cards work really well with the mastery of that specific style. Every style got a litle bit of power with those wonderful cards, but wich ones are the best ones? What style has the best “if you declared a Tokui-Waza” cards? and which style needs to have more? These are three really good questions and the least I can do is try to answer them... in other words is time for another of those style analysis thingies ^_^

Black

                Black got all sorts of goodies when those “if you declared a Tokui-Waza” cards appeared. Black got a nice little touch of disruption with cards like Black Searching Technique, Black Gut Wrench, and the good old Black Side Thrust. Black also got a couple of nice little effects with cards like Black Draining Aura, which allows you to gain 5 power stages, and Black Power Up - a non-combat card that allows you to power upto full and end combat at the same time. It was all these new cards in combination with the Black Style Mastery and cards like Black Fore Fist Punch that made Black a dominant deck for a long time.... way too long for my taste >.<

Blue

                Blue was not left behind either, it actually got some power to make up for the bad mastery that it received in the Trunks Saga. Blue recived cards like Blue Betrayal, Blue Rush, Blue Terror and the random Blue Battle Readiness. With these four cards Blue gained the power to destroy allies and non-combat cards, end combat, search your deck and discard pile for allies and bring them into play, and even the ability to search the life deck for any one card and place it in your hand. Blue went from being the style with the really bad mastery to being the style with a lot of good cards and a really bad mastery... Take that Score guys '>.<'

Namekian

                Namekian got the Namekian Elbow Smash - a physical attack that deals +4 power stages, powers you up to full; and Namekian Forearm Smash - a wonderful Physical attack that deals six life cards, costs three power stages and allows you to place the top card of your discard pile at the bottom of your life deck. What else did Namekian get you ask? I don't know, lets ask one of those hot shot Score guys...

Me: So Score guy, what else did Namekian get in the Androids Saga to support the Mastery?

Score Guy: well it got.... it got... see the thing is that.... that.... *Score guy runs away*

Will you look at that, I couldn't have said it better myself... you go Score guys and please get me some of whatever you’re on!!! *_*

Orange

                Wanna talk about getting really good, powerful stuff? Don't look any further, this is the style you were looking for. Wow... where to start? *Takes a deep breath*Let's start off with the ability to search your life deck for any two drills and bring them into play while performing a physical attack.... yes I am talking about Orange Searching Maneuver.  Granted it is a physical attack, but this is THE physical attack for Orange. Let's move on to Orange Stare Down - an energy attack that removes a non-combat or ally in play from the game. If you don't like that one you will surely love these next cards. They happen to be none other than Orange Uppercut and Orange Fist Catch.  These cards say “I will stop two of your physical attacks” and “I will perform a physical attack that deals +4 power stages and allows me to search my life deck for a Energy Combat card and place it in my hand”.  What else can we give Orange?... How about some anger?... sure why not? So Orange got Orange Rage, a wonderful Energy attack for 5 life cards of damage that also raises your anger 2. 

Red

                Did you ever notice that the Red style is the style with the shortest name? Let's try to keep this short to match the name. hmmmm... Red got.... There I'm done, really I am... I kid you not - I'm really done... not joking here, that was it. That's exactly what Red got to support the Red Mastery, not a single thing... it did get Red Knee Bash - a physical attack doing +4 power stages and if you declared a Tokui-Waza you gain one whole anger, but this amazing card was balanced off with Red Lifting Kick a physical attack doing +6 power stages and lowers your anger one. That was it!! If it wasn't for red's ability to gain anger when declaring a Tokui-Waza this style simple wouldn't be around.... and people complain about red players only winning by the anger victory *gives Score evil eye* O.0

Saiyan

                What does Saiyan get if you declare a Tokui-Waza? hmm...I think it will be easier to answer what Saiyan doesn't get if you declare a Tokui-Waza. We all know how the Saiyans are all about bomb rushing your opponent but my god... cards like "stop a physical attack. Opponent loses three power stages" how about "Physical attack doing +3 power stages of damage”. This card stays in pay to be used one more time" Saiyan simple got a lot of really... really powerful cards, when these cards are combined with the Saiyan style mastery it equals.... I'm sorry but there's no word that can describe what Saiyan can do when it declares a Tokui-Waza... lets try good old simple math.

Really good attacks + offensive blocks + ability to draw cards while making opponent lose power stages + ability to remove non-combat cards in play and keep non-combat cards from coming into play (incase you don't know what I'm talking about look at SS cards 197 and 198) = *shake your opponents hand and say "good game, thank you for playing"* ^_^

We've seen what the styles can do when they declare a Tokui-Waza and how well Namekian can do... not really but it proves my theory about Score guys disliking the power of "the green team". All the styles got their secret tech (fancy word for cool stuff) and each style can focus really well thanks to the 12 masteryes we have.... Tokui-Waza = really goo cards + plus one PUR + Mastery card (gota love simple math) n_n

The Bad

                We've seen all the cool stuff one gets when declaring a Tokui-Waza... now let's look at the bad, the dark side of the Tokui-Waza, it's evil twin... MUWHAHAHA!!! sorry about that, kinda got a little carried away. ~_~

Spoon Feeding

                That was a term used a lot during the Mask block in Magic the Gathering because decks were given to one... is kinda hard to explain but what happens was that with the new sets you were told what decks to play, there were cards that worked so well together that one had to build certain decks. It was a good thing for all the new players but the more experience players were a little upset because their decks were being built for them by good old Wizards of the Coast... or that was the opinion of most players at the time. The point I'm trying to make is that with the masteries you have to play a certain deck... your opponent knows what type of deck you're playing the second you bring your Mastery into play. We have been given two different Masteries... that gives us a total of two different decks per style, if that. Are we being tide down to play a certain deck by declaring a Tokui-Waza? Think about it.... I know thinking hurtzz and all that but let's try it... don't hurt yourselves now @_@

Staples

                Yet another wonderful gamer's term... a staple is a card that has to go in a certain deck unless you don't have the card or are simply.... well, not very bright (notice I used a nice word to avoid saying s.... I mean... silly 0_0) that was a close one, anywayz there are staples in DBZ and we all know about them... you don't believe me huh?.... seriously... the second you declare a Tokui-Waza you're limited to a certain card pool.... in that card pool you'll find cards that you just have to use... still don't believe me huh?.... Fine I'll do another one of those wonderful and long per style thingyes, but this one's going to be short because this is getting a little too long... I know it's a lot to read but I'll make it worth your while... besides you'll find some rather interesting news if you read the entire thing.... I promise *crosses fingers* *_*

Blue

I said I wasn't gona write much so let's just make a list....

Blue Terror - any deck that declares a Blue Tokui-Waza simple needs to have three of this card.

Blue Diving Punch Drill - *burts into laughter* sorry about that but I just had to mention that great card *continues laughing*

That's all that comes to mind besides the Cell Saga Blue Style Mastery.....

Black

Black Style Mastery from Cell Saga - is simple a +4 to all your black attacks, the new one is ok but is not as relaiable.... let's face it... it's not

Black Fore Fist Punch - card translates to pay 2 power stages to deal 8 life cards of damage and 5 power stages... yeah!! that's 2 power stages for a total damage of 13 O_O

Black Searching Technique - this card is simply amazing, allows you to look through your opponent’s deck and take out power cards. This is a card that you play even if you're using City in Turmoil.... I'm not kiding is just that good *drools over the card* is not even a limit one per deck!!! *continues to drool*

Black Energy Web and Black Defensive Burst - two attacks that if not stopped can shut down Orange Energy and Saiyan Physical beatdown decks, respectively. 

The Black list can continue but this are cards that simply go in every black deck... there are others like Black Turning Kick and Black Knife Hand Strike but who wants attakcs that can Block your opponent's attacks if need it? *I was being sarcastic*

Namekian

Namekian Style Mastery (TS) - let's face it... the new one allows you to draw a card if you meet certain requirements but this one says draw a card from discard pile and maybe power up to full.

Piccolo or Nail - How great is it when a not so good style makes you use two really weak personalities compared to everyone else? You want to use a villian?... guess what? You're stuck with Piccolo whether you like it or not. You can't even make a Dende deck just for laughs..... We don't hate Namekian... Bah!!! *trying to control himself* Namekian limits you to 2 whole characters, is the style with the fewest cards, most of the cards simply s.. are not that good and you can only use Piccolo if you want to be a villian.... BTW that's thanks to a rule, otherwise you just couldn't have a villian Namekian deck.... there I said it... needed it to get that off of my chest... my hat's off to those that can actually win a game with a Namekian deck because even the Namekian Regeneration decktype is easily stopped with a Breakthrough Drill.... some day Namekian will be a playable style... I hope ;_;

*NOTE: Now Namekian Style is also useable by Cell, but that’s another story. 

Orange

Orange Searching Maneuver - don't care what type of Orange deck you're playing... you are using this card wheater you like it or not.

Orange Fist Catch - is almost a Vegeta's Physical Stance, but look!! is not a named card.

Krillin - wheather we like it or not we have to realise that Krillin simply works really well with Orange... guess that's why the Krillin in the Cell Saga does cool stuff if you declare a Blue Tokui-Waza *slaps forehead* what were you thinking Score? What were you thinking?

Red

Red is anger or physical beatdown.... either wayzz you use the anger cards because they work well with both options.

Red Blocking Hand - Stop a physical and gain 2 anger (and 2 power stages)... who wouldn't want such a card?

Red Energy Shield - One of the few if not only energy blocks, plus it's a red card that powers you up to full

Red Back Kick - This old card has been forgoten by many... this card is great against Orange.... besides it helps a style that lacks energy blocks.

Saiyan

Here we go again.... *takes a deep breath*

Saiyan Destiny - two physical attacks doing +3 Ooooo... yeah!!!

Saiyan Wrist Block - A physical block that can inflict 3 life cards, that is simply yummy.

Saiyan Lightning Dodge - yet another really good block.

Saiyan Power Kick - A physical attack possibly doing +8 power stages

I could keep going but I'm running out of air... the Saiyan decks are practically built for you... look for good beatdown cards and you will see the Saiyan decks put themselves together right infront of you. Not to mention that to declare a villian Saiyan Tokui-Waza you have to use Vegeta because those other two Saiyans from the SS are way too weak for a style that focuses on physical beatdown.

*NOTE: Now Saiyan Style is also useable by Cell, but that’s another story. 

                I've made my point on how every style limits you to one of two decks... once you choose one of those two decks you have to use certain cards plus the list of staples..... your decks are almost build for you... It's just no fun for a gamer that's looking for a challenge when it comes to deck building.... then again this is just the opinion of the lead playtester and game designer.

The Weird

                I alwayzz like weird stuff but is the following weird stuff good or bad? For the weird I decided to talk about Krillin and Android 19 from the Cell Saga... these two characters introduce the new mechaninc in the Cell Saga (personalities that are “if you declared tokui-waza cards”) and is kinda cool if you ask me.... but is it another limitation to what decks you have to build?  It would be really uncool if they only worked when one declared that Tokui-Waza but the way they are works for me.... they don't tie you down to any style but do get better when you use that style... I will wait until I see the reaction of players, but it is weird stuff none the less n_0

                The Tokui-Waza is a huge part of the game, like it or not.  While Cell Saga toned it down, it introduced the idea of personalities related to that game mechanic.  An experienced deck maker might have his hands full, but he can experiment with new types of decks in each style (except maybe Red...Bah).  Maybe Namekian will get some better cards in the new sets coming out this year, but either way play the decks you wanna play -- don’t be restricted by the Tokui-Waza. 

This article has been brought to you by IQ

 

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