JAELOVE's Smooth Journey

Article #6: A BAD Look: Overrated Cards Exposed

            In today's day and age, cookie cutter decks run rampant. People scour the internet for other people's decks, then say "oh well, I better include that card!" Why do they do it? Because Yu-Gi-Oh! is a very difficult game to master. The principles of deckbuilding and counter-strategy is a difficult one for many to grasp, leading to outright copying and stealing of other people's efforts.

            The point isn't to assail those who copy and learn from other's decks. The point is to cry out for originality, and hope that everyone will learn from articles such as these that the herd mentality is a dangerous one. No card is a staple in this game; if everyone had a unique but effective deck, it would be foolish to argue that a certain card belongs in EVERY single deck. Therefore, I will attempt to weed out certain overrated cards that see far too much play in decks that could use better alternatives.

1. Candidate #1: Mirage of Nightmare

Analysis: Mirage of Nightmare is a card that can lead to drastic advantages, but just as often leads to horrible situations depending on luck. Many factors go into its use. The current practice by many players is to set their whole hand down and play mirage, foolishly leaving themselves susceptible to an opponent's Mystical Space Typhoon. Another favorite tactic is to blindly wait for a lucky Mystical Space Typhoon draw. Unfortunately, bad luck can kill the unskilled/intermediate Mirage of Nightmare player. The correct play is to wait until your hand naturally burns itself out; then, and only then, will this card be effective. Regardless, playing Mirage of Nightmare leaves you more susceptible to traps (because you're wasting your own MST), and can force you to be a slave to luck.

Advantage F/H: This card does not affect the field. However, it can net you either 2 cards, or one card depending on how you use it. Unfortunately, it can also hurt you (less if you have sinister serpent in your deck). The advantages can be enormous, but are also counterbalanced by the danger. The game-breaking advantage it can give gets a 9/10.

Best Draw for the Situation: This is an excellent card to draw when your hand is running low on options. Unfortunately, it's a horrible topdeck if you need a monster, it's a horrible draw if you have 2-3 mystical space typhoons already in the graveyard, and it's a horrible draw if you get bad luck. Slightly lower than baseline: 6/10.

Attributes/Effect: This card will swing the momentum of duels, either in your favor or against your opponent. The effect is very powerful, but it can bite you as well. Higher than average though, because its effect is so unique and powerful. 9/10.

Dependability: This is the point at which Mirage of Nightmare gets roasted by the system. Its usage is wholly based on either 1) Mystical Space Typhoon or 2) Set Imperial Order. A Mirage of Nightmare user should also use sinister serpent. No card can do what it does(provide such a steady drawing engine), but it's hardly a dependable card effect (hence its power). A weak 4/10.

Pojo's Card of the Day Average Rating(Lowest Score Tossed Out): 8.5/10= 8.5/10.

A BAD Score: 28/40= 7/10.

LOW COST ALTERNATIVE: Graceful Charity, Pot of Greed

2. Candidate #2: Ring of Destruction

Analysis: At first a card that was used in nearly every competitive tournament deck, ring of destruction is beginning to be taken out in certain decks. With magical scientist, confiscation, delinquent duo, premature burial, imperial order, and Chaos Emperor Dragon taking large chunks of life, it becomes hard to justify the usage of more cards that burn life points. Other chainable cards such as scapegoat and waboku are better suited for some. Ring of Destruction is a card that will help in certain decks, but is also placed hastily into decks that should seriously consider life point costs and danger.

Advantage F/H: Ring of Destruction will usually help your field advantage, at the cost of one card. At heart, it's basically a one card swap to destroy one of your opponent's(or your own) monster. The true advantage is tactical; usually, you hope to leave their field open for a direct attack next turn, or use it to whittle their life points down to zero. Regardless, ring will rarely turn into a two for one advantage, so the rating is a 8/10.

Best Draw for the Situation: Like all life point cost cards, ring of destruction often becomes a dead draw near the endgame. It is a good card to draw in the opening hand, to set up future options, and is an effective mid to end game tool. However, any point where your life points sink below 2000 makes its use hard to justify. In addition, it won't change your prospects much if your opponent has more than one monster. Finally, it won't help versus Jinzo/Vampire Lord. The rating is a 6.5/10.

Attributes/Effect: Ring combines life point damage with monster removal in one healthy package. The effect isn't godly like mirror force or magic cylinder, but the trap is chainable. It IS one of the better traps in the game, but decks with high lifepoint costs should consider better alternatives. The rating is 8/10.

Dependability: As a chainable trap, Ring of Destruction WILL get off its effect. It comes second to only waboku and scapegoat, because it can still be destroyed before your opponent gets a monster out. It is highly reliable though: 9.5/10.

Pojo's Card of the Day Average Rating: 9.6+8+9+9= 8.9/10

A BAD Score: 32/40= 8/10.

LOW COST ALTERNATIVE: Book of moon, Waboku, Scapegoat

3. Candidate #3: Mirror Force

Analysis: Considered by most to be the best or second-best trap in the game, Mirror Force is perhaps the most overrated card of all time. Possessed of a field clearing effect, Mirror Force does admittedly boast one of the most powerful effects in the game. Due to its value, it has become the Holy Grail for the beginner and intermediate players (Hey look dude! I have a mirror force!). Unfortunately, closer analysis shows that it is far from a trap staple, or even one of the best traps in the game.

Advantage F/H: Most people see its field clearing potential and forget to remember that, at best, Mirror Force will kill 1-2 monsters. Because of the heavy amount of magic/trap removal running around, it would be unwise to simply absorb an attack and wait for more monsters to come out. Thus, mirror force has to be used on the first available opportunity. You're basically using a trap card that will kill 1, or rarely 2, of your opponent's monsters 50% of the time. However, because it has the potential to lead to huge field/card advantages if used right, it gets an 8.5/10.

Best Draw for the Situation: Mirror Force is a card that can swing the duel, and help save your hide. The only problems are: 1) Your opponent may have Jinzo on the field, 2) Your opponent may have magical scientist in hand 3) Your opponent may have breaker the magical warrior in hand 4) Your opponent may have Spell/Trap removal in hand or on the field. You also don't want to risk using it in the opening hand, making it a better mid-game/late-game choice. 8.5/10.

Attributes/Effect: It does have the best trap effect in the game, next to perhaps Imperial Order. Its unchainable nature, however, brings it down a few notches. 9/10.

Dependability: Mirror Force will be used, in the hands of a skilled duelist, 50% of the time it is set. There are simply too many counters to traps in today's environment. Unchainable traps are not dependable, and the baseline score for each is 6/10.

Pojo Card of the Day Average Score: 9.8/10.

A BAD Score: 32/40= 8/10.

LOW COST ALTERNATIVE: Sakretsu Armor(horrible), waboku, scapegoat

4. Candidate #4: Magic Cylinder

Analysis: Mirror Force's twin. The initial debate was over which card was better. Both cards have gamebreaking effects, and are the two most powerful trap cards in the game. Unfortunately, Magic Cylinder suffers from all of the same negative effects.

Advantage F/H: This card is solely used for psychological and lifepoint advantages. It does not affect the field in any way, except for saving your monsters. However, because it has the potential to destroy your opponent in the mid to late game, it gets a 7.5/10.

Best Draw for the Situation: Magic Cylinder is a card that is excellent in every situation. In the early to mid game, you can lay a crushing blow on your opponent's life points, AND preserve your own monster. In the end game, it can possibly kill your opponent. Highly effective either way; it's only problem is if your opponent has a Jinzo, or has 3-4 monsters on the field(highly unlikely in a skilled duel). 9/10.

Attributes/Effect: Its effect cannot be compared to Mirror Force because they accomplish two entirely different things. Regardless, both are killer supreme when it comes to trap cards. Its unchainable nature is the only thing that keeps it from getting a perfect score. 9/10.

Dependability: It's another unchainable trap card, getting a baseline 5/10. It will likely set off 50% of the time.

Pojo Card of the Day Average Score: 9.4/10.

A Bad Score: 30.5/40= 7.60.

LOW COST ALTERNATIVE: Waboku, Scapegoat

5. Candidate #5: Magical Scientist

Analysis: This card is an excellent card that is highly deserving of its use in tournament play. But every deck? Even decks with Injection Fairy? Even decks without waboku and such to support him? Do life points matter any more? We probe.

Advantage F/H: Magical Scientist is great because he will lead to field advantage all by himself. No matter the obstacles in your way, any of his four fusions (Dark Balter the Terrible, Ryu Senshi, Thousand-Eyes Restrict, Dark Flare Knight) will change the field circumstances into your favor. Unfortunately, there are two problems to his use. One, you're giving up life point advantage. Two, you're not REALLY getting field advantage because you're leaving a 300 attack point monster out there next turn. He's a supplement, meaning you want to stack his powers onto a field you already control. 8/10.

Best Draw for the Situation: He would be more accurately described as the best search for nearly any situation. As a draw, he's not too great in the opening hand, not too great in the endgame, but fabulous in the midgame. You always want him when your opponent is dominating the field. He is also usually the first monster you'll want to search. However, you do NOT want him when life is running low, giving him an 8/10.

Attributes/Effect: Magical Scientist is the most versatile card in the game, next to Pot of Greed and Graceful Charity. Nobody can dominate the field like he does, or negate traps, or negate monster effects. If he's not a 10/10, nothing is.

Dependability: Unfortunately, Magical Scientist's usage should depend on a host of other factors. One, do you have traps to protect him. Two, are your life points high enough. Three, do you have a lot of life point burning cards in your deck already? Once Scientist is on the field, you have priority to use his effect. Unfortunately, he has 300 attack, meaning you'll pay 1000 life points and then probably take upwards of 1000 again next turn. You can't really depend on him for more than a turn, which is sometimes all you'll need.                 7/10.

Pojo's Card of the Day Average Rating: 8+8+9.2+8+9.5+10+9= 8.8/10.

A BAD Score: 33/40= 8.25/10.

NO LOW COST ALTERNATIVE(Scientist is a common).

Conclusion: I've just gone and analyzed 5 cards that are seen in nearly every tournament deck or sidedeck. The point was to show that even the best cards (and these 5 cards ARE the best cards) shouldn't go into every deck.

Mirage of Nightmare belongs in decks that need to replenish hands, such as warrior decks or pure-control decks. You don't just throw it into any deck and hope it works.

Ring of Destruction is a card that does not belong in decks that have too many life point costs. Waboku and Scapegoat can be far better alternatives.

Mirror Force and Magic Cylinder should be put into decks that use a lot of Spell/Trap removal bait, such as Wabokus, Scapegoats, and Ring of Destruction. Otherwise, their powerful effects will be wasted. Every e-mail sent to me shows a desire for a mirror force; trust me guys, it's not THAT great.

Magical Scientist is a fabulous card, but it too must be used with great care. Please do not stick it blindly into some deck just because this year's world champion will use it.

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I hope this article helped challenge everyone's sense of originality and creativity. Search within your own decks, and find cards that you "just put in" but deserve some examination and scrutiny! As always, e-mail me with decks, questions, comments, and cards to review at pojojaelove@yahoo.com. We'll get back to deckbuilding in a few.