How to beat #2: Facing Macro Rabbit

Macro Rabbits have won YCS Barcelona, probably picking up a hype around the world. Facing a good deck backed with macro Cosmos can be a pain, but there are a few tricks to counter them.

Royal Decree, Trap Stun & 7 Tools of the Bandit

What's the most annoying thing about Rabbit decks? The defensive style of playing (boss monsters that negate, macro cosmos & enormous back row). But you can get a Rabbit player on his nerves with a mere face-up Royal Decree. If they're out of luck (and don't have materials left on Laggia or a set Solemn Judgment), they have to wait until they draw a MST or Heavy Storm to counter you. With a trap-heavy deck like Macro Rabbit, that can cause a game loss...

But if you don't want to make your own traps useless, a well-timed Trap Stun or Seven Tools of the Bandit can do the work just as well. Just make sure you don't use your Trap Stun on the activation of Macro Cosmos, because it remains on the field, even if it IS stunned for a turn.

Say, That's a nice Macro Cosmos you have there. What does it do?...
Nothing, that's right.

Forbidden Chalice

Forget Effect Veiler or Maxx "C" when facing a Macro Rabbit deck. Most of the times Macro Cosmos is going to be active when the opponent summons the bunny, effectively putting a stop to your hand traps. What card can save you at that point? Forbidden Chalice is the only thing, really. Neither Skill Drain or Fiendish Chain can stop Rescue Rabbit, but Forbidden Chalice can.

Also, since Chalice works both turns (unlike Veiler), a well-timed Chalice can negate the effects of Laggia and / or Dolkka, allowing you to active your spell/trap or monster effect.

This card may be the holy grail you're looking for...

Solemn Warning

This sounds weird, right? Why would I promote Solemn Warning during an age where everyone shifts to Bottomless Trap Hole?

Actually, it's pretty simple. Solemn Warning can counter both Starlight Road AND Macro Cosmos!

Starlight Road allows you to summon Stardust Dragon, while Macro Cosmos allows you to summon Helios - The primordial Sun. While Stardust Dragon is somewhat used nowadays, nobody uses Helios. Therefore, that secondary effect kind of gets forgotten. But if a trap or spell has an optional special summon effect, Solemn Warning can negate it, even if you don't use the monster mentioned on the card.

You use my trap, but not me? That's not fair!

Again, no deck is unbeatable. You just have to find the right tricks to face it.

Until next time, V out.

Deck Tests - Rabbit is a Beast!

Ever since Rescue Rabbit came out, I wanted to do something with it; something that was no classical Dino Rabbit.

With Rabbit coming out in the tins and the release of Abyss Rising in the TCG, I came up with the following EARTH Rabbit deck (or Beast Rabbit, whatever floats your boat).

Deck Choices

There may be some weird choices in here, but each card has its purpose.

• Chain Dog: Ever since XYZ came out, this card has become a Beast (and not only literally). When you use Rabbit to get 2 Beasts out, you can revive Chain Dog and turn an XYZ with 2 materials into an XYZ with 3 materials (Shock Master, Vylon Disigma). And since his effect is unlimited, you can revive him as many times, as long as you have 2 Beasts (Daigusto Emeral helps with this).
• The Vanilla picks for this deck are Mad Dog of Darkness (DARK Beast) and Soul Tiger (EARTH Beast), together with Sabersaurus (EARTH Dino). Mad Dog can be overlayed for Evilswarm Nightmare if necessary; Sabersaurus needs no explanation and Soul Tiger has value because its attack is below 1000...
• Tannhauser Gate: 2 monsters with 1000 or less attack become pimped. 2 Tour Guides can be turned into Photon Strike Bounzer. 2 Soul Tigers are turned into Thunder End Dragon.
• Naturia Cherries: When popped by your opponent, you get two more! And if you follow that up with Rabbit, you can sync into either Mist Wurm, or a Hyper Librarian + Naturia Beast/Catastor. Both ways out give you an advantage.
• Spiritual Earth Art - Kurogane: Nothing says surprise more than Kurogane. The moment you figure out what monster your opponent has, you can swap it with another monster from your grave. Did your rabbit get Solemn'd or veiler'd, swap it back, because it's EARTH!

Still playtesting with it, so the deck might end up changing a bit. But this is how I like it at the moment.

When I have more time, I'll give you some more deck tests :-)

Until then, V out.

Banlist RQ analysis Day 4+5: Near done & Beware the fake banlists

After analyzing multiple blogs, youtube channels and forums for possible banlist predictions, I've filled a list with 91 users and their choices/requests/predictions for the upcoming banlist.

Tonight (or tomorrow), I'll round it up at 100 lists and publish the results. Out of those results, I will post the wishlist of the people for the September 2012 format.

Some results may surprise, others will not. I mean, it will hardly surprise anyone to see cards like Future Fusion, Inzektor Dragonfly or Rescue Rabbit getting "top results" on this list.

Beware! The fake lists are coming

Yeah, since a few days, the first fake lists are appearing on the net. Don't let them fool you and take the following tips into account:

• The official V-Jump with the official forbidden & limited list will be in Japanese shelves on August 21. Only in the week before that release, REAL leaked images may appear. So, basically: everything that pops up on the net before August 15 can be considered fake.
• If the hits are too unrealistic, it's fake (cards like Change of Heart will never return).
• If the lay-out/artwork of the page looks old, looks fitting with a previous Yu-Gi-Oh anime or looks too much like one of the previous F&L lists, it's fake.
• If old manga or old cosplay characters appear on the page, it's fake. Only those from Zexal can appear (and even then it's not certain they will appear).
• And never forget. Konami makes the rules, not us. No matter how weird the real list looks like, you'll have to deal with it.
• However, if you do get your hands on that V-Jump early, take a picture of the list, together with the promo card + a picture of the V-Jump cover + the promo card, just to ensure you do have the real deal. FYI: the Promo card is Bahamut Shark, a rank 4 XYZ.

So, don't let some crazy list fool you and be patient. The list only goes into effect on September 1 anyway.

So until next time

V out.