INNOVATION. BY ALEX {{"THr3E-2Ø,, ++.. Don't you think it's innovative? This article will take you indepth into the game and outside of the box that the metagame is. Pathetic. People in other card games are original, so why don't you stop following and lead? I'll help you take your first steps if you read my article.. How strange the game has become. Once thought useless cards become great (Waboku?) and some cards that were considered great are now considered only decent (Swords of Revealing Light, anyone?) .. but .. then there are the innovators. The ones who try something new, to try and change the metagame instead of follow it. Being original and straying away from generic beatdown. I've been trying lately. Experimentation is always fun. People worry too much about winning, it IS, in fact, just a card game. (Sees lightbulbs come up) .. I've come up with a list of a few things I've been thinking of.. Sinister Serpent - Is he long forgotten? I never see him anywhere anymore, but his uses are so versatile. It could save you from a fatal Delinquent Duo, it saves you from Yata-Garasu, it gives you free Charity, Tribe-Infection, Dark Core/TTTD and Spell Shield bait, and it's hand and monster maintanance. The uses for this little bugger are limitless. Think up your own- this is the card with the most potential, imo. I don't know why he's so Sinister though. Book of Moon-- Very nice card. After playtesting, this thing saves my behind more than Mirror Force or Ring ever did (Ring, by the way, I have removed from my deck, along with Cylinder) .. the most reliable trap is Waboku. And the magic card that saves me often is Book of Moon. Going to attack that monster you need there? Flip the attacker F/D. Want to get an extra magic back with Magician? Use away. Jinzo? Ciao. It's catching on in my tournament area, but a lot more people need to start playtesting this. It's very fun to use, as well! Wee. (wee? eek. sorry about that) Painful Choice-- Gamebreaker. A lot of people look way too much at the downside than the up. If you are against a totally powered monster, and you have nothing-- and then you draw this, just go grab 5 things that can help you and your opponent can't do anything about it. Need to grab Serpent? Get some stuff you don't need as discard bait and get Serpent back.. A monster? Any kind of m/t? Trick your opponent w/ Jinzo but Reborn is in your hand? .. Very high potential. Extremely good card. Just use it. Marauding Captain-- He's used in a few beatdown decks I've seen, warrior staple, and a good protection idea (if you don't have one of your trusty Wabokus behind you *hinthint*) .. 1200 points can make all the difference. Possiblities will show up even more soon, but he is good now.. protects Zaloogs too, if you play any of them.. I ramble often, don't mind me. Just .. play 2 of him. Creature Swap-- This card saw a lot of play when LOD came out.. but play of it is declining .. imo .. every beatdown deck should probably throw in one. Getting your opponent's monster can be gamebreaking, especially if you give them crap (for them) like MoF, Cyber Jar, or Yata..in hand destruction it's deadly since you'll be using so many low attack monsters (Zaloogs, Yata, perhaps?) .. Very mean card. I play 2. Here's my Serpent .. Spell Canceller-- I do not use this! But I have had it used against me in the deck I made for my dad and it can be the most horrible, horrible card to see against you if the situation is right! Make sure your opponentshand is OK (Sentry) then summon and beat the opponent down till the game ends (Make sure to back him up .. Force, Ring?, Waboku).. the attack is a drawback though. You'd think a big old machine like that packed more than 1800. Dark Ruler Hades --What's the big deal about Parshath? He's nice, but not half the monster Dark Ruler Hades is. Witch/Sangan? A joke. Cyber Jar? Sorry. Magician? Nothing .. go into battle safely, leaving the field open for Geminis and Breaker (I know you have a Breaker, too) to attack away. Nice with Giant Orcs, too. Twice the monster Parshath will ever be. That cup is just awesome, too. Mystic Tomato-- Okay, so this one is still kind of mainstream at the moment, but playing 2 or 3 can give your deck huge perks. Witch/Sangan? Yours .. Zaloog .. present! .. another Tomato? Yep. 1400 LP saved! Yay. Might be better than Momonga? Result of battle, though. Oh well..Tasty looking, minus the eyes and tongue. HONORABLE MENTION Magic Drain-- Spellshield Type8 is just .. better. But this is by no means, bad. Drop-off--I can't tell you how many times I've lost Yata or Raigeki on this Mirror Wall--Actually very good! Nice w/ hand destruction. Robbin' Goblin-- I play one, but it's not great. Good in hand destruction monsty. Sick with Yata-Garasu (the best card in the game. yes, best. better than raigeki or feather duster. so, so mean if used right. i cannot recall a recent situation where I drew yata and was not succesful in a lock!) What about those over-played cards? Yes, cards do get overhyped. Yes, cards do get overplayed. It's really too bad because players' decks have more potential without them --in most decks. some decks fit them well-- (potential=favorite word to use in card game talks) .. here they are! Goblin Attack Force-- Obsolete! Giant Orc may even be better because he helps Ha Des out a little. 2300 .. isnt as big a threat as it was, with the effect too.. Wabokus own it, Spears trample it, and after the initial assault, it's pointless. ..stick to 1900 attackers. Ring of Destruction-- What is the big deal? It can help your opponent as much as it helps you. They might have needed just those LP.. so situational. Don't even bring up powering up a monster, attacking, then killing it, because out of the tens and tens and tens of times Ring has been played on me, that has happened ONE. SINGLE. TIME. See if you can count that on your fingers and toes. Magic Cylinder--Bad x45. Too much M/T removal. Most beatdowns pack HFD, Storm, 2-3 MST, Jinzo, and Breaker ..those are BOUND to be drawn sooner or later. Bad. Bad. Bad. I never got to use this thing.. bad card. Guardian Sphinx-- This was very, very popular a while back. I don't see what's so great. Hades over-runs it, equips, Jinzo evens it, magics work on it as usual. Too much effort for that effect. Airknight Parshath--Why does everyone like this thing? It's only 1900. Just use a Spear. The card-drawing can be done w/ Mirage, Charity or Pot. Spear Dragon--It's okay. Not great though, since it's not too reliable with the switch, which bugs me more and more every time I use this card. I'll stick to my Geminis, Breaker, and Skilled Darks (I have 3 Skilled Darks, how many do I use? ZERO. A big fat O. Too many good effect monsters lately) MY DECK! (hears stomping feet jumping for joy!) Wanna take a look-see? I play those innovation cards I listed above. And none of the overhyped (except one Spear Dragon. Just one.) .. E-Mail me if you are totally desperate. I'm up for online duels occasionally. No YVD, that thing gets on my nerves. Cheaters suck, too, so duel fair. I don't always LIKE to duel people though, keep that in mind, I'm not always in the dueling mood so to speak. Hope you enjoyed. Have fun innovating and changing the metagame from Rings, Spears, and Goblins to Books, Serpents and Captains.. or e-mail me telling YOUR original style. Originality is all the rage. - Alex / FUSiOn xpOwEr4@aol.com. E-Mail me, I love email. No deck h- elp, that's boring. Do your own deck.