December 2008

Redesigning Perfection: Tele-DAD Control?

While I cannot argue the fact that Tele-DaD has undoubtedly become the most consistent (and powerful) OTK since Cyber-Stein, I still believe that there are many ways in which Tele-DaD could yet be improved.

Rather than trying to improve upon the OTK elements that make Tele-DaD so powerful, I have instead chosen to transform Tele-DaD into a powerful Control Deck which I previously called "Tele-Kuriboh" but whose current incarnation is more appropriately named - Tele-Queen Control

Before I get into the specifics of this deck, I must first point out that this deck is still in its experimental stages, and as such - there is much more room for improvement upon the basic design until it hits the wall of near-perfection that Tele-DaD and Lightsworn are striking their draconic heads against in frustration.

Here is the deck list as it currently stands:

Tele-Queen Control: 42 cards

Monsters: 20
3x Krebons
3x Destiny Hero - Malicious
2x Volcanic Queen
2x Caius, the Shadow Monarch
2x Necro Gardna
2x Winged Kuriboh
1x Destiny Hero - Diamond Dude
1x Dark Armed Dragon
1x Hanewata
1x Dark Grepher
1x Junk Synchron
1x Exodius the Ultimate Forbidden Lord

Spells: 17
3x Allure of Darkness
3x Emergency Teleport
3x Destiny Draw
1x Owner's Seal
1x Monster Reborn
1x Brain Control
1x Mind Control
1x Heavy Storm
1x Reinforcement of the Army
1x Card Destruction
1x Burial from a Different Dimension

Traps: 5
2x Threatening Roar
1x Waboku
1x Torrential Tribute
1x Spiritual Fire Art - Kurenai

At a glance, this deck looks dis-jointed and at odds with itself. That is, until such times as you remember that this deck was designed as a control-based variant, (rather than as a dedicated OTK), at which point the inherrent synergies of the deck when used as a control-based strategy begin to make themselves apparent.

Damage Request: Denied.
Unlike most control decks which seek to control an opponent's ability to Summon (and control) monsters, this deck instead seeks to control the Battle Phase much like Gladiator Beasts did previously. To that end, this deck runs the equivalent of five "Threatening Roars" (in additon to "Necro Gardna") with upto 3 additional copies in the side-deck (2 Flute of Summoning Kuriboh, & 1 Threatening Roar).

With 1/7 of the deck devoted to shutting down the opponents Battle Phase, the remainder of the deck seeks to control the damage caused by my opponents monster effects.

These cards have Explosive Personalities......
Two of the most important monsters in this deck are "Black Rose Dragon" and "Volcanic Queen".

The former makes her explosive appearance in a number of different ways, the easiest of which is by a combination of Malicious + Hanewata, where-as the latter stands as the ultimate answer to any monster under your opponents control.

Not happy with that opposing Stardust Dragon, Judgement Dragon, Colossal Fighter, or Thoughtruler Archfiend......Volcanic Queen is your answer to all of them (and more).

The synergies with this card are even more devious once you consider how few of this decks monsters are ever Normal Summoned, and the ease with which this deck can shut down opposing Battle Phases.

The synergies only run deeper once you factor in the fact that Volcanic Queen is a Level 6 monster with only 1200 Defense, and the ease with which the deck can reclaim her (Brain Control, Monster Reborn, Owner's Seal, Mind Control, or Goyo Guardian), destroy her when she is in her more vulnerable Defense Position, or mitigate the damage of her drawbacks (hanewata).

Sometimes they Come Back....
Just like the Steven King novel of the same name, sending monsters to the graveyard is no way to guarantee they will not be returning for a second performance.

Both "Junk Synchron" and "Exodius" deserve special mention in this deck; the former being able to revive a spent "Krebons", "Hanewata" or "Winged Kuriboh", while the latter can spin all three cards and/or extra copies of "Malicious" to the deck where they will again become live targets for that otherwise dead copy of "Malicious", "Destiny Draw", "E-Teleport" or "Kuriboh Flute".

Finally, as the deck runs both "Exodius" and "Necro Gardna" I can justify a single copy of "Burial from the Different Dimension", in order to return spent copies of "Malicious" and "Necro Gardna" to the Graveyard whereby they can either be re-used, or spun to the deck with "Exodius".

In Conclusion:
If this article has broadened your understanding of the untapped potential to which Tele-DaD is capable of should we try adapting the deck to playstyles other than the narrow-minded OTK we see today, then I have done my job properly.

Please send all comments and criticisms to kalanijasmine@hotmail.com
 
Kalani Vernon
Owner of Talisman Games
Creator of the "Lethal Game System"