From: GUYOBRAINS@aol.com [mailto:GUYOBRAINS@aol.com]
Sent: Monday, April 24, 2006 9:01 PM

Subject: The Rant to End All Rants, Part 2: Card Advantage

Okay...I'm gonna say some final words about my articles on staples...those were all opinions (obviously). But take my advice (given in the "combo and ranting" tip)...build decks based on theme first...then, fill in the gaps with staples. Not the other way around.

Anyway, as promised, this one will be about card advantage.

I'm sure most of you know what I'm talking about...you know, all the "1-for-1", "+1", "-2", and all that kind of stuff...well, that too is a lie.

Okay, here's an example. Raigeki Break. People on Pojo would call it a -1 because you lose one card from your hand and the card itself to destroy one card on the field...usually the opponent's card.

Really, it's a 1-for-1. How so? Well, think about this. Don't consider using the card itself as part of the equation...after all, the card is pretty much only for the effect it provides. It's...difficult to explain.

Once the card has been played on the field, it immediately becomes the -1 it would have been when considering the card advantage it provides (or denies). So it's inevitable that the card will decrease card advantage...so just ignore playing the card itself.

Instead, think about the effect of the card. For example, Raigeki Break...it's essentially a 1-for-1 when you activate it's effect. (Discard one card to destroy one card on the field.)

Then again...there's also the occurrence of monsters or continuous S/T's that remain on the field but don't provide immediate card advantage. Let's take a look at Ritual monsters...

For the most part, Ritual monsters are considered, at the least, -2's. You give up the Ritual spell and the monster you offer...that's why people generally don't play Ritual monsters.

But think about this...what if you manage to keep the monster out for some time? What if you keep it out long enough to provide greater card advantage than what you gave up? Then, it was worthwhile, wasn't it?

See, it's not like all cards immediately go to the graveyard once they've been used...if you can keep something out long enough, it can provide a rather decent advantage.

That's all I really have to say about card advantage...in short, think about the final result, not the immediate one. Have patience...your moves may pay off in the end...

Any questions, comments, deck themes, etc. can be sent to GUYOBRAINS@aol.com.