Subject: Card metagame strategy for tournament by Aqua Lord of Umi The metagame has recently drastically changed, it is now useful to reflect on the current metagame to see what type of decks.(the metagame is which deck played and how each works against each other) are there, how each works what their weakness is and how to counter that weakness if you are playing against or with a deck. This essay will follow a against and a with type. This also a guide to choose a deck First we must reflect on the classical types, Exodia can your deck handle exodia , if no add a heck load of counters to your sideboard ( I.E imperial order, magic jammer , Solemn judgement, magic canceler, (sure the lat one is not a counter per say but it will still kill exodia on its own), because it can't work if you counter cards add cards such as noblemen of crossout, imperial command and others because without flip effects or destroying their monsters by combat instead shoot them with magic or attack , also use sasuke samurai . Also use Drop off as a slow down card If you're playing exodia be conscious against this type of sideboard but exodia still has an advantage and for additional stall gravity bind / MOP is uuseful Gravity bind/ Messeenger of peace Stock on 3 heavy storm, 3 MST, 3 dust tornado This is all you need unless you prefer to add strong level 3 ( karate man and other cards that work similarly, If playing gravity bind do not forget to add cards that protect your m/t Such as Tutan mask, fake trap and others that protect magic or traps Classical beatdown All know the deck 3 MEB , 3 dark elf , 3 Gaf, 3 gemini elf. In essence if your deck can't beat this deck deck there is clearly something wrong. Major Newer decks (more or less) Machine Decls( 3 limiter removal , 3 x-cannon, 3 gradius choice, 3 gradius ) This deck has gain so much power recently, it now has the power to double any machine deck multiple times with 3 limiter removal, 3 MOF, three types cards have come strongly to mind prohibition which would allow you to say limiter removal, waboku to stop their attack and kuriboh to stop all damage ( kuriboh is the most effective because it can't I repeat can't be countered, also noblemen of crossout to destroy MOF would be useful, mirror wall is useful, counters are necessary. OTTD amd raigeki break are necessary to either kill jinzo, magic canceler and if they play gradius then gradius choice you kill two cards with one. Machine decks are not control decls they are one shot decks litterally they are like a one shot deck if your opponent dodges you lose, its is a power decks so it is probably most useful to have board removal such as Giant trunade , heavy storm and fairy duster, dark hole, to remove it, gradius and gradius choice with a few equip magic easily win the game. (Gradius(1200)+equip on gradius(+800 if united we stand) + plus a gradius choice(2000)) x 2= 4000x2= 8000 probably the easiest second turn victory in the game. Hand control deck (spirit reaper, Don Zalloon, white magical , masked sorcerer) the goal is to draw cards while discarding your opponent hands. The easiest way to counter this deck is forced requisition and the cards that say whenever your opponent draws a card you can draw two cards, reallly on a one to one basis monster Vs monster the hand disruption loses if it is weaker. Monster removal is key to winning with this deck Spellcarster : It is relatively very powerful with destructive effects , this deck is dangerously powerful, it is a control deck the best way to handle this deck, is to analyse every card and see how to deal with each one of them . I believe that the best way to counter that deck is not to play countinuous cards and to play one shot m/t also look at the stong cards and see how to counter each of them . The next types are generalization of types Ante Script(opposite of P.S) Monster types although Spellcater and machines are some of these, the rreson that those were put in previous sections was because they will be dominant metagame types. Monster type(fiend ,Dragon, gravekkeper, water(easily considered one type)) Look at each of these and say what is the weakness and how to abuse it, Gravekkeper are weak without Necrovalley for example, Dragons are rarely staunch attackers and are easily broke, it is also necessary to look at their strength, Dragons have Lord of D so it is necessary to destroy him and flute of summoning is extremly rapid. Water has Umiruaka or legendary ocean and the fishermen. Advice look at your deck is there a card of that type that is not useful. conmbo deck I'd be careful when playing against these try to wipe out major part of the combo. If possible try to counter the combo by letting them activate a card and in response destroy another card that is necessary to the combo. Usually imperial order/ jinzo/ magic canceler/ imperial commnand are all effective When playing a combo deck be careful if your combo fails you better have a major backup plan (fiber jar is nice) General advice To improve a deck follow this process, first ask yourself what is your deck weakness. Then look for cards of other types or cards that do not necessarily fill your deck type that might fill in this weakness, then look at which decks and cards are your deck weakest to and strongest against. Try to create a sideboard that stops as many of those cards that you can . Also (this is contrevorsial) play cards that might be only good in a specific situation in your deck but might allow you to win.(Dark dust spirit, bottomless shifting sand, abit doll To improve your deck playing skill follow this process, if you know you will lose the first match try to see exactly which cards your opponent has then check which sideboard cards can deffeat those cards Consider these two creature destruction Otttd= kill any monster , no next draw but quickplay (very useful non-trap killer for jinzo and other monster types that are beyond the scope of other removal. Fissure : does not actually target, so monsters that can't be destroyed by targetting them are easier to kill. any comment E-mail me at samuel_ran@hotmail.com _________________________________________________________________ Frustrated with dial-up? Get high-speed for as low as $29.95/month (depending on the local service providers in your area). https://broadband.msn.com