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Tech Update: Round 2
Sure enough, we’re just two rounds into today’s tournament and we’re already seeing some updated Deck tech.
Mirror of Oaths:
Every Side Deck I’ve seen today is running at least 2 copies of this. It was a popular tech choice for many Duelists at the Canadian Championship (played by half of the Top 8). Gladiator Beasts also made the Top 8 at that event, and “Mirror of Oaths” is a great Side Deck card against them, offering a cost-free answer to Gladiators’ best moves while replacing itself with a free draw. Lincoln Lindo’s Top 8 entry at the Canadian Championship didn’t play “Solemn Judgment” or “Cold Wave,” so if Gladiator Beast Duelists follow suit this weekend they’ll be especially vulnerable to “Mirror of Oaths’” effect.
Of course, the Mirror can also destroy monsters Special Summoned by “Rescue Cat,” so it’s useful in that matchup too. However, the Synchro Cat strategy still Main Decks “Cold Wave” and “Solemn Judgment,” and can throw down “Arcanite Magician” without needing “Rescue Cat” (giving the Synchro Cat Duelist a chance to destroy the Set “Mirror of Oaths” before it can be activated) , so those factors make the Mirror a bit harder to use in that matchup. Still, watch for it to be the number one tech pick in Day 2, and if “Mirror of Oaths” is widely played today, Gladiator Beasts could have an especially difficult time here as a result.
Mind Crush:
Another Trap Card has been gaining momentum over the past several months, as Duelists look to counter predictable play trends and pre-empt two of the most feared cards in the format: “Honest” and “Blackwing – Kalut the Moon Shadow.”
Neither monster’s effect can be activated until the Damage Step is reached, so when a Lightsworn Duelist makes an underpowered attack with a weaker monster into a stronger one, “Mind Crush” can be activated in response to the attack declaration to rob the Duelist of their “Honest” or Kalut. When that happens, they’ll lose the chance to boost their Attack Points, and their smaller monster will be destroyed by battle. It’s a great tactic that has been proven successful for weeks now in Regional Qualifiers.
While Blackwings are the most popular Deck of the format, they’re also one of the most predictable, telegraphing their moves before they’re made and revealing in-hand cards through the use of “Black Whirlwind.” A Blackwing player’s choices with “Allure of Darkness” and Whirlwind reveal information that you can use to make your choices with “Mind Crush,” and then your follow-up attacks can build on the momentum “Mind Crush” allows. Even without those cards giving you free information about hand contents, the Deck’s popularity works against it: it’s usually pretty easy to tell when your opponent has “Blackwing – Gale the Whirlwind” in hand because every practiced Duelist knows how the Deck works.
One of the big qualities setting an experienced Duelist aside from a less experienced competitor is their knowledge of Decks beyond the one they’re playing themselves. “Mind Crush” lets a Duelist capitalize on that knowledge, and in a field like today’s it should be a popular choice.
My Body As A Shield:
A from-the-hand solve-it-all for threats like “Mirror Force” and “Torrential Tribute,” it can also be Set to devastate monsters like “Arcanite Magician,” “Gladiator Beast Gyzarus,” “Dark Armed Dragon,” and “Judgment Dragon.” It’s a hugely flexible card that counters the top monster cards in every major Deck right now, and while it saw a bit of play over the past weeks it seems to be far more popular this weekend. It can be splashed or Side Decked in virtually anything, and we’re seeing as many as 3 copies Main Decked in Lightsworn and Blackwings this morning.
Trap Eater:
Largely seen as a counter to “Skill Drain,” this card is also an effective countermeasure to cards like “Light-Imprisoning Mirror” and “Royal Oppression.” “Light-Imprisoning Mirror” is gaining momentum this weekend, suddenly being adopted by Lightsworn players for the mirror match. It’s a Side Deck choice that mirrors the use of “Royal Opression” in Gladiator Beasts and Teleport / Dark Armed Dragon in the past. We’ve yet to see how well that’s going to work, but with the Mirror seeing more use, “Trap-Eater” could follow with multiple Day 2 representations.
Those are the frontrunner tech cards so far today, but as the competition grinds on we’re sure to see new innovation rise to the top. The best of the best are pulling out all the stops in their bid to win a trip to Tokyo! Stay with us for more tech updates over the course of the day.
Jason Grabher-Meyer
