Dueling Legacy

Browsing Shriek's tourney decklists and saw LGQ commenting. LOL you so free ah.

Tim Urban should have gone out last night. I guess this shows how big a part young girls play in the voting of a person to remain in the show. BTW, do head over to Youtube to hear Aaron Kelly's studio version of Angie. Its so good. My favourite song from the Rolling Stones, cun cun he do it somemore.

Looks like all the decks there are still LightLord and BF. All hail BF. Saw a Hero deck. was quite happy and surprised. Might try the build out. Snowman Eater FTW. Its an awesome card. The 1900 defence is what makes it awesome. Ram Laquari into it. Die. Ram any BF card into it. Die. There's still a wall left after that. Opponent will waste cards and put in extra effort to destroy it.

Compulsory Evacuation Device is pretty crude and awesome this format. Synchros are high and CED works pretty well. You need to pretty much control the field. If one piece of the combo gone, your pretty much in deep shit as your opponent can just take control of the game next turn. CED works very well. Can return your cards back to hand too if you need to re use them, if you know what I mean.

Today'a article concerns Heroes and are for players who want to play them this format, or start playing them. For other players, you can still read on, as this article could give you new insight and maybe even convert you to the Hero cult.

First of all, Heroes need no introduction and the builds that can work this format are:

Tier 1
1) FusionGate Heroes
2) Fusion Heroes

Tier 1.5
1) Shining Zero
2) Bahamut Heroes (ANB)
3) Chain Material Heroes

What I can say about Hero decks that use polymeriZation is that it loses advantage quickly IMO. Because you waste 2 monsters and a polymerization to bring out a monster thats waiting to die. Its a -4 waiting to happen. If it was Shining, you can still get a +2 and if 1 of them was Airman you get +3. Anyway, the odds of you having no cards removed from play could be quite high too.

If you chose to play Absolute Zero, its still safe to say that you can garner advantage. But remember, Smashing Ground is rampant at 3 this format, and people have gotten their TCG Starlight Roads. At most, you are lucky to destroy one or two of your opponent's monsters, but is that such a big deal? You have lost so much more cards. Lets say you are matching against BWs. You destroyed that lone Bora or maybe a Shura. That player still has plenty of cards in hand, and he/she has probably searched one from Black Whirlwind, and gaining a +1 in that sense.

And Shining, and Ab Zero are the most advisable Hero fusions to play as they garner the most advantage. If its already such a bad idea playing them, what more the other Heroes?

So, the bottom line is Polymerization Heroes are a bad idea. Dumping King of the Swamp and tuning your deck to fit Debris Dragon for Gungnir is pretty good but Gungnir is pretty expensive now.

So, with these bad critics, are Heroes a bad deck to run this format? The answer is NO. A big part relies on the player himself.

Now, in playing a Hero deck, the best opening move is to have a Calling Army/ E-Emergency to search out Airman. Then play Fusion Gate and make Shining.

I've played against BlackWings before and all I can say is :

The advantage generated by Shining can win games.
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The Shining is so good in the sense that when it returns Airman and another Hero back to the hand, its very possible to make another Shining to annoy the opponent. This move greatly reduces your opponent's card resources. When I play The Shining, I always wish for a Torrential or a Bottomless Trap Hole.

The effect of Shining to return the Heroes can also be used during the damage step, which is good.

Fusion Gate directly removes your fusion materials so that it is automatically retrivable by Shining. The other awesome thing about Fusion Gate is that the monster summoned cannot be negated by Solemn Judgment of Horn of Heaven.

The effect of Stratos is so good because it can search you into any Hero out there. Shining into Airman (returned because it was removed from play.) So, whether you take Great Tornado or Absolute Zero, it produces versatility and more variety in card choices.

If you're down to your last Shining, and you have 2 in your graveyard, remove the 2 for Miracle Fusion to play your last Shining. When the last Shining dies, return the other 2 removed from played Shinings to the deck for recycling. Damn fun i tell you. Opponent emo and headache confirmed. 3200 attack is no laughing matter either.

Playing your Zeroes Conservatively
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As we know, Zeroes are extremely scarce this format. Explained above already, we need to play Zero to its full advantage. So, when do you play Zero?

We can play Zero when the opponent has searched many combo pieces enough for you to know that he/she is going to make a big play. if you see Blackwing searh a tons of cards, zero is a good card to play because he or she will be taking a huge risk to play around Zero.

Of course, when you stare a field of 3 to 5 monsters, Zero is the best reliable monster to play. The only 2 cards that can stop its effect from going off is Divine Wrath and DoomCaliber Knight, but they aren't mained anyway outside Stun decks. In any circumstances, that full field of monsters is bound to go down and everyone knows that.

Zero is very versatile and you can only have 3 zeroes in a deck, although its arguable that Shining can recycle him. But a deck usually runs 3 to 4 water monsters (1 Ocean and 3 others like Snowman eater,Yomi Ship, Blizzed, Seer and such)

Remember to play the Hero deck conservatively
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In the Hero deck, remember to pack lots of monster removal. It may take you a few turns to set up the field. But do note that you musn't waste card removal. Its true that you have tons, but don't let that mentality ruin you. Make sure to evaluate each card properly before you choose to remove it from play for Bottomless or Prison.

Torrential Tribute is very extra good this format. Never waste it to destroy 1 monster only. Or play it early game to bait your opponent. You're gonna regret that.

Conserve Gemini Sparks!
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Everyone knows G Spark is one of the best removal card in the game as it lets you destroy any card. I've seen many players play it anyhow just to destroy any card they wish. Tsk Tsk. What a waste of good removal.

Always save Spark to destroy the lone card that you really need gone. Do let your Another Neos to destroy many monsters before activating it. A very good player would wait for Another Neos to be destroyed by a card effect then he baru chain Spark. That way he has destroyed one card and wasted the opponent's removal. And netted himself a +1. He has lost 2 cards in the process, and wasted 2 resources and drawn a card.

And...Hero Blast too!
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Hero Blast is also one of those cards that are very extremely versatile because it can destroy any monster with 1900 attack and below. Reminds me of DDVirus abit, IMO and it should be used to destroy TUNER monsters. Remember do not use it to simply clear a card on the opponent's field just so you can oush for damage. It aint worth it, if you can get rid of it attacking with your beatsticks. The deck is meant to be played slowly, controlling the game, simplifying it card for card to put your opponent in a rush. Its not a Rush Attack deck that aims to deal damage only. Tuner monsters lead to synchros. Certain Synchros are extremely hard to deal with against Heroes so your Blast should be used to stop synchro summoning. Raiou should also be used to thwart synchro summons only.

The card that Heroes Hate most:
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Hands down, Brionac. Discarding a card to return your Shining back is so freaking annoying as you garner no advantage. It makes it seem so effortless. Curse it. The only card that can take it down easily is Absolute Zero. But most of the time, you will be caught up in making Shining plays to generate advantage till you will emo when they drop Brionac.

Matchup against the top meta decks
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Blackwings- BWs are fast and powerful. You could say they are the toughest matchup among all the meta decks as they are slick and powerful, and on par with the Hero deck. Play it conservatively, smartly, and you can win easily. BlackWings is also the deck that can bring out Brionac the easiest, and its possible to wreck your plays easily. Run Burdens to make the BlackWing so small. Burden is extremely good this format and it will waste your opponent's GodDamn Bird Attack. It also reduces targets in Black Whirlwind.

Side in an extra Starlight Road or 2 in 2nd game. Opponents are bound to side out GodBird Attack in 2nd game in fear of you siding in Starlight Road, they may side in one for one removal.

Lightlord- LOL no problem. Seriously, no joke.

Infernity- Destroy those key cards early!!! Even Trishugay-sama is scared of Zero. Remember that Infernities are only a one trick deck so you have plenty of ways to play it out.

GB- This deck COULD be a problem. Nevertheless, just use your removal on those GBs and send them to hell. Play Shining alot as it will make them lose card presence while you yourself gain.

Remember to keep in mind the concept of Card Economy, Card Advantage while playing the deck. Always think to yourself: "Is this a worthwhile play? What good would come out of this play? Would it guarantee control if I played this? Would this generate advantage for me or work adversely?" Regularly, each turn, count the number of cards in your hand and on your field and compare them to your opponent's.

At the same time, do not be too caught up with Card Advantage and focus on the game. Pay good attention to the board. Heroes are one of the hardest decks to play hand down and requires plenty of skill. Its not a one shot deck that you can learn to master over night. As time progresses, you will find new plays, new possibilities, and adjust yourself completely to the deck. Switch in cards that you are comfortable with, that can suit your playstyle.

Its one of those decks that can teach a beginner or an intermediate player good skill. It can teach a player card economy, and the ability to make better and more precise reads as well as trickery to play around with the opponent's mind.

Try it out sometime, and you will see what difference it brings to you as a duelist.