Article #74: Raging Meta

To bluntly said, the metagame right now is dominate as "Synchro" or "anti-Synchro". To go back in some time, ever since the release of the Synchro monster in TDGS, Synchro monsters becomes an integral part of a deck.

So now comes to this set, the first impression looking at some of the cards is that of "wow, this card would kill XXX deck(s) really badly". It is true, but of course there are more than those types of cards in the set.

As usual, the following articles goes into my first impression of the set. Again, the set theme is examined, so is the deck idea and the useful card list. In the end, of course, my futility award. Plus also my discussion on "how much can a card affect a deck".

Card Trends and theme:
The main theme of this set is that there is not really a specific theme. There are a LOT of anime cards in this set: cards used by Yusei, Aki, Crow, Jack, Rua, Kiryu (Earthbound God), D Carly, Ushio, etc.

The biggest meat of this set is the 6 Core-Chimair monsters. The monsters each have a degenerating effect that can get itself destroyed if certain requirements are not met. They centered around few things: revolve around the main card [Steel Core of Core-Chimair], a relatively high attack for level 4 effect monsters, and the effect that negate or destroy Light/Dark attribute monsters or M/T cards.

Otherwise, the rest of set give boost to some expected theme: like Psychic type, Aliens, and some unexpected theme, namely Sea-Dragon type monsters and Normal monsters (it's been a WHILE since there WAS a Normal monsters in the main set series!). Of course, the rest is filled up with either random cards or cards that are pretty much specific to KILL a certain deck (and I do mean "certain"!)

This set, the "Gladius tribute" card goes to [Golem], as tribute to Space Golem.

Deck Types:
Here are some of the new deck types that I think people could create after this set, competitive or not.
- Core-Chimair theme
- Power Tool Equipment
- Earthbound God abuse

For deck types that get boosts:
- Plant
- Sea Dragon/Water
- Dragon
- Normal Monster
- "Anti-Meta"
- Deformer
- Black Feather
- Rock, Alien, etc.

Not a long list, but consider the amount of anime cards in this set, the list is not that bad. There are pretty much few cards for everything, which may be better than just one card each.

Useful cards :
Well, as usual, I would write a list of cards that I think that can be considered to be play. Of course, sometimes this list gets a little long since a whole theme itself maybe good.

Here we go...anyway, as usual, in numerical order.

- Strong Wind Dragon (if anything, yet another pure attacker for Dragons)
- Guard Hedge
- Black Feather - Blizzard of North Pole
- Black Feather - Qalat of Moon Shadow
- Black Feather - Elfen of Pitch Black (but seriously, this card is bad outside of its high attack)
- Earthbound God - Aslla Piscu
- Earthbound God - Ccapac Apu
- 6x Core-Chimair monsters (Valafar is really good even with drawbacks, the other can be EASILY stay on the field)
- Golem
- Enhanced Human Psycho
- Master Jeeg (this card is just...godly)
- Gigastone Omega
- Alien Dog (if not a decent effect, also a good art)
- Diva of Deep Sea (this card = auto Gishilnodon)
- Top Soldier of Dragon (the effect is situational like hell...but can get big)
- G.B. Hunter (yes...it just like kill Gladial Beast)
- Black Feather - Arms Wing
- Power Tool Dragon (at least fun to play with)
- Dark Dive Bomber (YES...I did missed this card...I add this in like later!)
- Divine Leviadragon - Gishilnodon (hey...it IS a Sea Dragon type monster after all!)
- Magic Planter (although a tad slow...)
- Black Whirlwind
- Junk BOX (although Deformers still suck)
- Double Tool D&C
- Deformer Repair Unit (man...Deformer get good supports, but they seriously still suck)
- Steel Core of Core-Chimair (LOL, this card is need for the Core-Chamair monsters)
- Psychopath (a.k.a. Psycho Salvage)
- Natural Tune (hey, any cards that suddenly give you the chance to Synchro something out is good)
- Over Dead Line (ehh...1000 boost is not joke, when it can boost more than 1...)
- Delta Crow - Anti Reverse
- Trap Stun
- Deformer Bind (well, you can do some Deformer burn or something)
- Advance of Cornered Rat (if there is no limit...that is)
- Graveyard of Super-Ancient Creatures (a.k.a. "fuck you, Synchros")

Now, of course, my choice of worst card in the set...and it is?

Crimson Hellflare - It's not that this card is useless...but it is kind of useless. Seriously, I thought with all the E-Heroes support that we had seen, we would see the worst of the worst of the support cards. Maybe not...because this card is just purely useless and waste a slot. It's just that...ehh, there are just not much pure Magic/Trap cards that would deal damages to something anymore. If people want to burn, they use [Dark Dive Bomber], they use [Wave Motion Cannon] (which this card cannot countered). Chain Strike?? I don't know....

How much a CARD can fight against a DECK?
Well, I just want to type out this discussion since there is the G.B. Hunter card in this set...

Well, one thing people can notice from some of the effect of cards in this set is the screaming of "use me to stop XXX deck". For example, G.B. Hunter is the anti-Gladial Beast, Golem can be considered the anti-Lightlord, GoSAC is like "the" card to slap the Synchros in the face.

There are other older cards...people put in Kaiku to anti-Chaos, Wanghu for the now anti-Tuner (and used to be Gadget?), Banisher of Light/Radiance for the anti-Frog strategy, Crow for GY control purpose, etc. Really, how much a card can fight against a deck?

The answer is...not really a chance. However, do combining them work? Well, it depends on how it is combine. One thing is, there is always the existance of the so-called "Meta Beat" deck which include all sort of cards to counter any strategy that the deck will face. But really, just say if your metagame is dominated by Gladial Beast deck (not that it will happen now...), would you, the non-GB user, splash just the card? Maybe...side deck? Who knows?

In conclusion to a not-very good discussion...really, a card can certainly beat a deck on paper, but in reality, not exactly. Does it mean you should not use GoSAC...no...it you feel like it, use it, but I can guarantee opponent should be able to bring out those Goyou Guardians or Brionacs way faster than you activating GoSAC.

Either way, have fun playing with the set. Next article should be in a week or so on the ban/restriction list.

- Baron, 2/14/2009 (Happy Valentine for those who care...because I don't)

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