Hello March Goodbye Windups

Wooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhh! It's March, I'm sorry for the late greeting, it's because I've been caught up in this online game I'm playing.

So what does the new format have for us except for the lost of Windups. So far, there are 4 decks that are above all else or somewhat stirring up the pressure on the minds of many duelist.

• Flaming Stars
• Verz
• Magicals
• Mermails

Those 4 are mainly the powerforce of the current YGO(atleast in my perspective). Three of them have already shown their capabilities why they are a force to be reckoned with and the other one is gathering interests from a lot of players because of its new gotten spell support.



Flaming Stars / Fire Fists

We all know why they are strong and creepling already. The ability to destroy a monster and inflict damage then set a spell card in the form of Bear is a menacing force to reckon with. Also the ability to surprise opponents with Tensen in the Damage Step and to protect them with Tenken from Spell and Traps is an added burden.

Another form of their power is by using the effects of the Triple-Axes. These are the level 3 monsters that can give you an instant plusses. The Triple-Axes consists of Choten(Spirit), Tawkei(Chicken) and Taihyo(Panther). I will explain how this level threes can destroy your opponents' moral. Given that you have Spirit and Panther in hand:

1. Normal Panther
2. Panther eff, get Tensu, activate Tensu
3. Extra Summon Spirit, get Panther, Synchro to Horse
4. Horse eff, Special Chicken
5. Chicken searches Fire Fist, replace Tensu with Tenki
6. Activate Tenki, get Fire Fist
7. End up with Horse and Chicken plus a Tenki.

But of course those are only 2 cards, imagine if you have more of them. I've seen this play so much since my baby brother pilots a Fire Fist deck and he did this so many times that he sometimes end up with Horse and Lion plus another Fire Fist monster. Truly a not so pretty sight from the other side of the field.

Verz / Evilswarms

Verz became a fan favorite when it was legalized last November when it was reprinted along with Constellars. With the addition of Kerykeion to their arsenal, they suddenly got a boost with the help from the grave and another source of extra Normal Summon.

But what really gives them the edge among other decks is their boss card Verz Ophion. As long as this card has a material, level 5 or higher monsters cannot be summoned that can prevent a lot of decks such as Mermails, Karakuris and Machiners. Although we can kill it with effects, Verz have their exclusive Forbidden Lance to protect Ophion from danger and they also main Forbidden Garment to protect themselves from Ryko and Snowman Eater.

Basically, Verz' main strategy is to protect Ophion as long as possible to overpower the opponent.

Magicals / Prophecy

The Magicals have been garnering attention ever since the release of Divine Judgment of the Spellbooks in LTGY. With Divine Judgment, the deck thinning and the search for needed Spellbooks are no longer a problem and it also speed things up for them. The thought of facing Magicals right now is a pain in the ass thus forcing people to side or main Droll & Lock Bird.

I managed to fight one last Friday and I only managed to beat him 1 out of 3 rounds and I only one because I Solemn Judgment his Divine Judgment, so as long as you can, stop Divine Judgment at all costs. Although fighting him gave me trauma. Basically this is what he does to me:

1. Activate Divine Judgment, activate as many Spellbooks at least 4.
2. End turn, add Spellbooks, Special Summon Justice.
3. Justice eff, get Spellbooks and Junon.
4. Carnage next turn.

And that is how he beats me everytime. And I think Junon and Batel will get more expensive in our country.

Mermail, Sea Emperors / Atlanteans

Last but not the least, the Mermail Atlanteans. They have brought great terror from the deep with Megalo and the discardable Atlanteans and the search ability of Dragoon that stacks up the advantages against the opponent. It also has OTK capabilities that surprises the opponent from time to time.

In my point of view, Mermail Atlantean is the most balanced out of the 4 decks I mentioned, although along with Genex, they become more powerful with the plusses it brings along making it a more advantageous. So far I don't have Genex so I'm only using Mermail Atlantean but I still manage to win. Simply said this is how I win most of the time:

1. Special Megalo, get Equip Spell and Equip.
2. Given that you have Armsman and Marksman, Summon Armsman, Extra Summon Marksman, or with only Diva in hand, Summon Diva, Special Markman.
3. Megalo eff, tribute Diva or Armsman.
4. Megalo double attack with Equip card.
5. Markman attack.
6. Special Dragoon and attack.
7. 5600 + 1400 + 1800 = 8800 win

So what would be your deck this format?

Last note: I changed Card of the Week to Card of the Month due to Academy and soon to be Work issues.