Judging in Long Beach

Wow, I didn't think I would be a judge for such an important event. Even though it is a normal YCS (Yugioh! Championship Series), I think it will be a huge event because of the things that are given out to the players and after all, it is the 100th one being set out in the YGO community. I've talked a lot about being a judge with my local TO (Tournament Organizer) and other various RC-1 qualified and other judges around my locals. It was interesting. Not only that, people started noticing me that I was a judge and a reliable source of information. That is not how I wanted it to go since I did get back into YGO last year (2 formats) and I have just gotten back into YGO from a 4 year break. I think I need to get myself accommodated to the huge database of cards out there before I can do something about it.

From the current experience in locals, I've learned that a lot of casual players do not read the card text that is in front of them and that aggravates me. The problem solving text is right there in front of them. There are game mechanics that a lot of people don't know like how optional effects and mandatory effects fall in a chain (e.g. Catastor vs Grand Mole) that I can understand, but where as can I special summon this from my hand, that's a different story, that is based on text and what was activated on the field.

Hopefully, this will carry over into the Judging experience in Long Beach because if I can see a YCS as a large locals rather than any thing else. The only thing I feel sorry for is the amount of people that might be playing Inzektors or Wind-Ups because their opponent will cry a lot because they might as well lose first turn to Wind-Up or lose turn 2 to Inzektors. The Inzektors are an aggressive type of deck and the wind-up as well, but they thing is that if the wind-up goes second, it can hardly make a come back if they have some sort of back row. With wind-up out, it really depends on who goes first that will determine who wins the match rather than who has more skills.

Until another post about my YGO adventures and blogging. Hmmmm, maybe something that will help you guys out next time. :P

Plant Synchro Deck Profile

With the acquirement of Tour Guides, I am finally able to play plant synchro deck. It's a format late and soon to be two formats late, but sometimes, when a duelist has a chance at these "tier 1" decks, we play it and see how it goes. It went well to say the least. My friend and I talked about how the deck is a mix of random cards in a deck, but it works so well because it has the random +1s and the random answers to the opponent's cards. The Tour Guides are always an aggressor in any deck and in this deck, it makes it 10 times more aggressive. Not only that, it's also dark material for the BLS. Spirit Reaper is when the poop hits the fan and we need to set or become the aggressor as well. Well, anyways, here's the deck profile:

MONSTERS [22]

1x B.L.S. - Envoy of the Beginning
1x Caius
1x Dandylion
2x Effect Veiler
1x Glow-up Bulb
1x Gorz
1x Lonefire
2x Maxx "C"
3x Reborn Tengu
1x Sangan
1x Spirit Reaper
1x Spore
3x Thunder King Rai-oh
3x Tour Guide

SPELLS [13]

1x Book of Moon
2x Creature Swap
1x Dark Hole
2x Enemy Controller
1x Foolish Burial
1x Heavy Storm
1x Mind Control
1x Monster Reborn
1x Mystical Space T.
1x Pot of Avarice
1x Scapegoat

TRAPS [5]

3x Dimensional Prison
1x Solemn Judgment
1x Torrential Tribute

SIDE [15]

2x Cyber Dragon
2x D.D. Crow
2x Kycoo the Ghost D.
1x Spirit Reaper
2x Smashing Ground
2x Bottomless Trap Hole
1x Mirror Force
1x Chimeratech Fort. Dragon

EXTRA [15]

1x A. of J. Catastor
1x Armory Arm
1x Black Rose D.
1x Brionac
1x Formula Synchron
1x Gaia Knight
1x Orient Dragon
1x Scrap Dragon
1x Stardust Dragon
1x T.G. Hyper Librarian
1x Trishula
1x Leviair
1x No. 17 Leviathan
1x No. 39 Utopia
1x Wind-up Zenmaines

Monster line up is quite normal, I do not have a third Maxx "C" as it is too out of my budget. As for why I do not run the these cards, Debris Dragon, One for One, and Solemn Warning.

Debris Dragon - must synch into a dragon, monster 500 attack or less, attack mode reborned monster, Maxx "C" would stop play, therefore would rather synch, causing your opponent to plus off a possible Maxx "C" as most players play 3 Maxx "C"s or just make a side deck of anti special summon.

One for One - Same issue, possible pluses for opponent's Maxx C but also, if I don't have a good discard outlet, I won't have a monster to special summon nor do I have a follow up after the level one tuner I just summoned.

Solemn Warning - What can I say? I just like my life points too much to waste it on a summon. Also, if the deck has so many outs to cards, what's an issue with one monster summon? Would rather save that 2000 LP for something else.

As for the side, I wanted to hit those pesky backrows (Vanity's Emptiness, D. Fissure, etc. etc.) And I think Dino Rabbit is a big issue for the plant deck because they can run some cards that normally a plant synchro can't (Vanity's Emptiness, D. Fissures, etc. etc.) It' another control deck.

I chose to replace the above named cards for Creature Swaps instead. This is typically a surprise for a lot of people as the Plant Synchro deck can take enough hits to OTK them the next turn. And with them over extending so far, C. Swap can turn the game in your favor in one turn. Also chose to have a 40 card deck rather than a 41(or some random number) card deck because that's just the way I grew up with. The less cards in the deck, the higher the chance to draw the cards. Not too big of a difference, but it's just good to be concise about the deck.

Anyways, hope you enjoyed this deck profile of mine. (enter catchy end phrase here)