Article 8: Cheap and Effective Part 1, building a beginner's deck

This article will start off my series of "Cheap and Effective" articles. What I mean by "Cheap and Effective"? As the name said, it is articles where I would explain how to built a deck...of course, cheaply (or, not wasting many money on nothing), and, effective (which means...to win). This time, I would shift the article to beginner's deck.

I have been a beginner myself, and it's not long ago anyway...(not even 2 years yet that I start wasting money on this game...) I remember my deck being so stupid (I buy Structure, and get cards because it got 100 attack point over of what I have) that really, only wins one time when I'm lucky enough to pull off [Android - Psycho Shocker] on my opponent, when his hand is all clog up by useless Traps. Oh well, that's history, anyone knowing me would know how much I have improve now...

So, you would ask, what's the best general deck type for Beginners??

Most people would instantly answer "Beatdown", where you just use brute power to beat monsters and monsters, use numerous monster removals, and attack and attack, and equip and equip, and win. Well, as much people thinking a Beatdown deck is a "no-brainer" deck, I'm sorry, I really want to say that...

YOU GUYS ARE WRONG!!

So, what's the best for Beginners?? In my view, a deck where, you could win, yet, learn about the game more. It seems impossible, but now...I'm going to built one.

Monsters (LV5 or Higher): 2
Android - Psycho Shocker
Guardian Sphinx (or Heaven Knight - Persues, which is little bit more expensive)

Reasoning: Most beginners mixed up the fact that more power = better. So they would start using Tribute like [Demon Summon] (or...Summoned Skull), etc. Well, first fact I would teach ANYONE is, Orange card is ALWAYS better than Yellow card NO MATTER WHAT. On the choice of monster, both APS and Sphinx could be find in Structure Deck vol. 2, and really, they're not that expensive to be grab (I recommand people starting off with Joey Structure Deck vol. 2 (SJ2) and Marik Structure Deck (SDM). APS, for obvious, would help the beginner to learn about "using the right card at right time" (You think APS is easy to use, think again...), and, help the winning ratio higher. For Sphinx, it basically could teach beginner the "flipping face-down/reversed summon effect" mechanic (although it's not a common mechanic). At last, my choice of Heaven Knight would over Sphinx for 2 reasons. First, Persues would teach the beginner the fact that "the searchable monsters are most likely better than the non-searchable ones", and, secondly, teach the beginner the "Trample" mechanic that was more boardly use.

Monsters (LV4 or Lower): 16
Dark Jelliod x2
Dimensional Warrior
Enraged Minotaur x2
Bershek Gorilla x3 (if that person have money, replace one with Magical Warrior - Breaker from 303)
Igzarion Universe
Nyudoria
Critter
Black Forest Witch
Magician of Faith
Exclusivity Virus
Killer Snake
Initiate Troops

Reason: On the low level choice, it seems interesting, right?? Well, the standard of a true Beatdown deck in my opinion. There're only two things that the new person need to think about (and I have no idea why I did that...but...), one is Dark Jelliod, which must be use at the right time, and the others is Killer Snake, which kind of teach "how to manage your hand wisely". Yes, more Trampling, it's the most basic mechanic in the game (and actually, the best), so...

Magic: 17
Black Hole
Jar of Greed
Angel's Gift
Tempest
Theft
Cyclone x3
Mirage of Nightmare
Power of Teamwork
Scapegoat
Enemy Controller
Emissary of Obliteration
Hurricane
Shrink
Early Burial
Earth Crush

Reasoning: As you see, the Magic Choice is just, Staples in most of the deck in my viewpoint of the metagame. When the top 6 on the list is consider 100% "staples" (or cards that much be in a deck for those who don't know what I'm talking about), all the others are just, basis of a "Standard" deck. When Power of Teamwork would teach a beginner the fact of "that's the only great Equipment card", and Scapegoat would lead to more stalling/combo. [Scapegoat] + [PoT] or [Scapegoat] + [Enemy Controller] would be fun, and really, make the beginner learns them so they could think of more combo themselves as they learn more about the game.

Trap: 5
Holy Barrier - Mirror Force -
Destruction Ring
Cry of the Living Dead
Forced Ejection Machine
Magic Cylinder (Replace with Tidal Wave from DL3/BE1 if that person really have...money)

Reasoning: The top 3 Traps are "standard traps", or, really, no deck should missing them unless someone is running an "One-Turn Kill" deck (come on...for beginners reading this article, just ignore it...). [Forced Ejection Machine] was a nice bounce card, to just teach again, to activate card at right time. At last, Cylinder is a nice card, and since it's a common, why not??

In conclusion, you would see that, building a "first" deck is not an easy job, but really, once any person learns more, they would know what suit them and etc. Just remember the fact that, DON'T EVER ADD RANDOM CARDS INTO YOUR DECK!!

Webmaster: Gilford(Baron) and DarkNecrophia(Spikes)
Copyright 2004 Twins Production, ALL RIGHT RESERVED!
Site version v. 4.0 beta