Dark Fire - The Power Behind TER and Lava Golem - Nemesis
Dark Fire
The Power Behind TER and Lava Golem
A small tip by Nemesis

Thousand-Eyes Restrict and Lava Golem are two cards I ever hear much of (except as of recent), but I think with the new ban list, may see more play in today's metagame. I think the gamble quality of the cards deter a lot of players from using them; that, and probably lack of knowledge on using them properly. However, revolving an entire deck to support these two beasts would ensure a few advantages:

Monster Removal: You opponent has a Jinzo and Black Luster Soldier on the field? Suck up their ATK and DEF, while negating their debilitating effect, with TER. Or summon Lava Golem, knock them both out, and play that Mask of Restrict that Jinzo was negating.

Burn: Not only their LP using Lava Golem, but with TER, as Battle Damage is shared with the opponent. They also burn their deck as they search for a magic card to get rid of TER (seeing that placing a monster on the field would only feed a TER and negate any of their crucial Flip Effects).

Control: Instant field stasis using TER; no changing positions, no attacking, hesitation in Summoning/Setting monsters. Lava Golem also has a control/disruptive effect. His two monsters for a monster you have established counters and combos with within your deck.

Stall: Nuff said with TER, but even with Lava Golem at the right time and with the right combination.

I would strongly recommend anybody to try a deck incorporating these two monsters. Especially since many of the cards that greatly expose their weaknesses are being banned. The two monsters together are flexible and can be effective against any deck type; from the feared Chaos Deck to the mainstream Beat Down.

Here are some combos to consider when building a deck around these two monsters:

(1) Thousand-Eyes Restrict + Lava Golem - Tribute two of the opponent's monsters, freeze the field and have a 3000 attacker that attacks under Gravity Bind (not like you'd need one but evil), along with damaging your opponent at least 1000 LP his next turn. (Can you say 'doh!')

(2) Lava Golem + Ameba + Creature Swap - Tribute two of their monsters, Creature Swap for a 3000 attacker and give 2000 LP damage by Ameba's effect. Then attack with Lava Golem = 4700 LP damage in one swipe.

(3) Ojama Trio + Lava Golem + Change of Heart + Metamorphosis - Tribute two of the Ojama Trio tokens for Lava Golem, doing 600 damage, use Change of Heart on the third token and Metamorphosis for TER, and follow the #1 combo.

(4) Lava Golem + Mask of Restrict - Your opponent's going to have to either waste a card destroying a monster on his side of the field, waste a card destroying an annoying Trap, or take 1000 damage to his LP each turn... you really don't leave your opponent much an option.

(5) Magical Scientist + Metamorphosis + TER - Good combination to use against a swarm (i.e. Warrior deck). Pay the 1000 LP to suck up one opponent's monster with TER and destroy another. Use Metamorphosis on Magical Scientist to bring out another TER and suck up a third monster. (Caution: Neither of your TER's would be able to attack in that situation.)

(6) Lava Golem + Ring of Destruction + Barrel Behind the Door - I'm sure this has been brought up time and time again, but once again, you take away two threats on your opponent's side, take 3000 LP to deliver 6000 LP. If you can do this after combo #2, more power to you with a devastating 10,700 LP damage.

(7) Lava Golem + Scapegoat + Inferno Tempest + TER - I'm not sure about the ruling on Inferno Tempest (specifically the rule that if an opponent cannot draw a card on the draw phase, your opponent loses) but here goes... Summon Lava Golem and activate Scapegoat. Attack Lava Golem with a Scapegoat token, take the 3000 LP, activate Inferno Tempest, suck up Lava Golem, and own the field.

Other support cards to consider (other than the ones mentioned in the above combos):

Cyber Jar - At the very worst, you'll have a 1:34 chance (your turn first) of both you and your opponent drawing out food for Lava Golem or Thousand-Eyes Restrict.

Scapegoat - Great stall card, even better TER fodder.

Opti-Camouflage Armor - Turn your enemy's strength into his weakness. In other words, equip TER with this and attack his LP directly with the attack of any monster he throws at you.

Curse of Darkness - Your strongest threat in any deck when playing with Lava Golem or TER are Spell cards. Your opponent is going to pack  on average a third of his deck with these, and you might as well make him pay for playing them.

Questions? Comments? Throw them at cepeda617@comcast.net.