Showing posts with label yugioh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label yugioh. Show all posts

23 September 2015

First European Yu-Gi-Oh! Extravaganza in Ghent, Belgium

Oh, hey. Didn't see you there. Is it another blue moon?

Just wanted to drop it to you that the first European Yu-Gi-Oh! Extravaganza is happening this upcoming weekend... here in Ghent, Belgium (my home region, lol).

And it is happening during F.A.C.T.S., the biggest convention of the BeNeLux area (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg, FYI).

So obviously, I will be joining to see what it's going to be like... and so should you!

What is the Yu-Gi-Oh! Extravaganza?

I have no idea!

Lol, just kidding. Until a few days ago, it was still kind of vague for us Europeans, because it only has occurred in the states.

But this is the definition found on the yugioh website:

A Yu-Gi-Oh! Extravaganza is a fun-filled weekend for Dueling fans of all ages. The entire weekend is comprised of Public Events and activities, such as Win-A-Mat tournaments, WCQ: Regional Qualifiers and Sealed Pack Play tournaments. Duelists can also take part in fun Yu-Gi-Oh!-themed activities and compete for a chance to win a Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series prize card.

No seriously, WHAT can you do?

In reality, this means a big 2-day event (which is part of the FACTS convention), where you can do participate in all sorts of public events, you would otherwise see at a YCS.

Giant Card, Structure Deck tournament, Regionals, Win-a-mats, Dragon duel and Sealed Pack events are organized all weekend long.

And during the event you can gather points in order to participate in the final play-off to obtain Minerva, the Exalted Lightsworn

And the convention?

Seriously, just check the website of facts: http://www.facts.be/.

Several guests and artists will be coming, including John Rhys-Davies, Christopher Lloyd, Alfie Allen, Peter Mayhew, Ernie Hudson and more.

Also, lots of boots, games, cosplay events, and other regular convention stuff.

What else can we do in Ghent?

So the convention closes and you still want to do something? No problem.

Starting Point: Korenmarkt

There's lots of places to go to in Ghent, but for most of them, the starting point, or the point of orientation is de city Center, the "Korenmarkt".

Getting there isn't difficult. Take the tram from the convention area and it'll stop automatically there (about half an hour ride).

From there on out, there's tons of restaurants and pubs within walking distance.

Within ten minutes of walking, you can go to:

  • the "Dreupelkot", thé place to experience the Flemish Jenever (liquor in many flavors);
  • the "Dulle Griet", thé place to experience over a hundred different Belgian (and foreign) beers (try the Kwak);
  • the "Kastart", a famous student restaurant serving Pasta with a special home-made sauce;

... and many other places.

Playing cards or games after the convention

So you still want to play (card)games after the convention ends? No problem. The gathering point for Yugioh players (and other cardgame/boardgame/videogame people) in Ghent is the Outpost Ghent.

To get there, take the tram from the convention to the train station and take a walk to the Ottergemsesteenweg 13 (just google-maps it!).

The place is open until after midnight. You can also get drinks and snacks here (or nearby), so you won't starve.

Picking up a movie

Sure, why not, though it's quite some distance. By car, it's best to parc at the "Sint-Pietersplein" parking and go the last few hundred meters by foot.
Yes, you CAN park your car at the movie theater, but it's usually crowded and there's a chance the parking area is full.

If you're not by car, your best options are to take the tram to the station and then take bus lines 34, 35, 36, 58 or 70.

If you're more into alternative movies, there's also 2 alternative movie theaters with "limited release" movies.

The first one is the "Sphinx" theater, at the korenmarkt (just take the Tram to the Korenmarkt).

The other is "Studio Skoop". Easy to reach by car, quite a long distance by public transportation (take any bus or tram that goes to the "Zuid" area).

I'll be there... and you?

Yeah, as the title says. Since I've been going to FACTS every year (safe the year it almost coincided with London MCM comic-con and I went there instead), I'll be going this year as well. But this time I'll take my deck boxes along with me (lol).

So, see you there?

Otherwise, until the next time.
V out.

4 February 2014

Cyber Dragon SD, manga/Jump Promo, Legacy deluxe Edition and other Yugi-news

Lots of Yugioh-related product updates in the past few days, so let's recap it for you!

Cyber Dragon Structure Deck Content revealed

The Cyber Dragon Structure Deck is coming out this Thursday (non-US TCG) or Friday (US), so it was kind of obvious that the content would become leaked this week.

And so it did. Only 2 changes compared to its OCG counterpart, but what for changes. Heavy Storm and Transmodify are removed from the set and Machina Armored Unit plus Light of Redemption are added instead.

Glad for the removal of the forbidden Storm, but Transmodify being removed is a sad thing (though kind of expected, considering Lolkonami). Transmodify is still one of the money cards from Judgment of the Light (even though the only competitive deck that uses it is Infernity).

But look at it from the bright side: Another common reprint of Dimensional Prison, Trap Stun and Super Polymerization. Budget players will be pleased.

For the full content, see the Wiki page.


Nope! You won't see this one in this structure deck!"

Next manga/Jump Promo revealed

Last week (or so), the card effects of the next manga promo's were revealed.

  • The next Zexal Manga (volume 6) promo will be Number 52 Diamond Crab King. Its effect is kind of meh. It's a possible 3000 beat stick that can place itself to defense position after it attacks (and then becomes a 3000 defense wall). But with all the effect negation, this card might as well be a 0-attack attack target.
  • The next 5D's Manga (volume 7) promo will be Moon Flower Dragon - Black Rose (the manga counterpart of Black Rose Dragon). This card is a little more interesting. "When this card is Special Summoned OR when a Level 5 or higher monster is Special Summoned to your opponent's side of the field: Target 1 Special Summoned monster your opponent controls; return that target to the hand. You can only use the effect of "Moon Flower Dragon - Black Rose" once per turn.".
    So instead of blowing everything to smithereens like its anime counterpart, this is a bouncy dragon. Interesting against synchro decks; less interesting when facing XYZ based decks, though.
  • Also, the next OCG V-Jump Promo's effect is revealed. It was already revealed to be a (legal) Dark Magician xyz (Dark Magician of Illusions). Now it's effect has been (partially) revealed. It's a rank 7 xyz, requiring 2 Spellcasters. By detaching an Xyz material, you can special summon a vanilla Spellcaster from your hand or deck. Also, when a Vanilla Spellcaster declares an attack, you can banish an opponent's monster. It's been clearly restricted to prevent abuse by Prophecies/DRulers, but now it's kind of a "meh" effect.
  • And (last but not least) for the TCG, the next Jump Promo is revealed. It's the long awaited Alternate Art of Blue-Eyes White Dragon, with original art by Kazuki Takashi. Some like it, others find it a waste of promo. I personally don't mind.

Nice new promo card artworks

First reveals for Premium Gold and Dragons of Legend

Last weekend Konami was at the International Toy Fair in Nurnburg (Germany) and a picture was taken of their upcoming products, including the next Gold Series and that highly speculated set, Dragons of Legend.

Not much on the Gold Series, safe the given name of the set (King of Bling, LMAO) and the fact it would once more contain the Egyptian Gods. People who are hoping for a shiny gold Quasar reprint, prepare a shot (#Quasarwaitinggame).

The Dragons of Legend has people hoping for the 3 Dragons from the "Waking the Dragons" story arc to see a legal print. And the cover of the booster really gets people revved up. It's nothing less than Dark Magician Girl, the Dragon Knight (seriously?).

How Konami is going to integrate these three dragons (Timaeus, Critias, and Hermos) in the game while they were only used as fusion material monster (with monsters, spells and traps none the less), I have NO clue. But I guess we'll see as more details are revealed.

Note: For people thinking Shooting Quasar Dragon is also a "Dragon of Legend", prepare a shot (#Quasarwaitinggame).


"Woo, I'll be a REAL Dragon Rider soon!"

Legacy of the Valiant Deluxe Edition

In a month, the Deluxe Edition of Legacy of the Valiant will be released. One box will be with Evilswarm monsters; the other will have Gravekeeper artworks.

And last week, a (blurry) picture was leaked that showed the foil cards inlcuded:

  • From Legacy: Sylvan Peaskeeper & Ghostrick Jackfrost (good choices!)
  • From Primal Origin: Sylvan Sproutcolyte and Bujin Decisive Battle (I dunno? They don't seem too good to me?).

Soon...?

  • No updates on Star Pack 2014, but considering its predecessor, it's better not to get your hopes up (no, certainly not Quasar. Though, if you still think so, prepare a shot (#Quasarwaitinggame)).
  • Astral Pack Four has been announced to be released this month. no clue about its content or its exact release date as of yet. But if I can predict a few card: any card that has a text that can be reworded into "Excavate". And who knows, another foil Lonefire Blossom? Or Quasar (lol, as if). You know the drill by now, right? (#Quasarwaitinggame).
  • And in a few weeks, Primal Origin will be released in the OCG (our May booster). Right now, about half of the set has been revealed; with the other half (and the frigging OCG World Premiere Cards) still left.

For those that didn't knew yet: The Quasar Waiting Game:
For each possible reprint that did NOT happen, take a shot.
#Quasarwaitinggame

Afterword

I'm still busy with my post about the YCS last weekend (are there any more posted decklists, safe those of ProWinston?). But you can still expect one this week.

Until next time, V out.

27 September 2013

Card ruling updates – Are there any noteworthy changes in Astral Pack 3?

It took several days, but all new cards from Astral Pack 3 have been scanned and updated on the Yugi wiki. Time to take a closer look at them and see if there are noteworthy changes in card rulings.

But honestly, there aren't that many changes in here. I can put the cards in a few categories:

  • New cards in TCG: Curtain of the Dark Ones & Kamionwizard.
  • Foil reprints of wanted cards: Atlantean Marksman, Fire Formation Tenki, Mermail Abyssgunde, Spellbook Star Hall and Library of the Crescent.
  • Reprint, just for the sake of Problem-solving Card text (PSCT): Pollinosis, Wall of Thorns, Jowgen the Spiritualist, Des Lacooda, Vampire Dragon, Gladiator Beast's Battle Archfiend Shield, Deck Lockdown (sadly enough) and Heavy Slump.
  • Cards that did not stated they targeted, now officially target in their PSCT: Falling Down, Swarm of Scarabs, Swarm of Locusts and Archfiend’s Roar.

But there are a few other cards in the set, with a specific reason for reprint.

Superfluous “face-up” is removed

In the first version of Problem-Solving Card Text, there was an often-used “face-up” in the card texts, even if it was not necessary. If you compare the card texts of the cards where these two words were removed, you’ll notice that the words were superfluous. There were already a few updates in the previous Astral pack. This pack, this change involves the following cards:

  • Maestroke the Symphony Djinn: It’s impossible to protect face-down Djinn monsters anyway, so “face-up” is removed from his protection effect.
  • Noble Arms Gallatin & Arfeudutyr: These two cards are equip spells, so they obviously can’t be equipped to face-down Noble Knights, but the original cards stated it anyway.
  • An extra part on Gallatin was that the original text of the re-equip stated that its effect could only be used once per turn… like once for both players together (which was not true). The text has now been updated that both players can use it once per turn (important ruling for mirror matches).

"I used my sword this turn, you can't use yours... right?"
"Obviously NOT right!"

Cards need to remain in the grave in order to resolve their effect

Due to the difference between cards that resolve in the grave and effects that keep lingering after they’re sent to the grave, a few extra words have been placed on the following cards:

  • Serene Psychic Witch: She has to remain in the grave in order to special summon the banished target. Was already like that in the rulings, but now this is stated on the card text.
  • Imprisoned Queen Archfiend: The boost only happens when she remains in the grave while Pandemonium remains on the field (until after her effect resolves). Her effect is now also updated that she’s destroyed if you cannot pay her maintenance cost (was already in rule).

"Talk about a Gold Digger. She eats your money/lifepoints away.
And if you don't have enough left, she's gone."

Super Solar Nutrient

The last card in this set is Super Solar Nutrient, which is a different kind of update.

This card now states that the level that matters is the level the tributed monster had on the field. For example, if you tribute a Lv. 2 Spore (special summoned by its own effect), the special summoned monster can be of Lv. 5 or less; not 4 or less (if you would consider Spore’s level when it hits the grave).

This is an interesting text update that Konami might consider putting on Ninjitsu Art of Super-Transformation as well, because the level of the special summoned monster often causes many (unnecessary) discussions.

Afterword

Mostly, the updates in this pack is clarifications on already existing rules, or foil reprints to make it a wanted pack in general.

And yes, this pack is turning out to be quite wanted due to its foil reprints and those new cards. I personally liked the addition of Kamionwizard (it's an Instant Fusion target) and I'm not the only one (this common is about 20$).

However, I disliked the fact that Deck Lockdown's update is so... insignificant. Tewart mentioned the card text was horrible, but I didn't realize he meant the usage of proper English instead of the ruling issues (*facepalm*). There's still no clarification on the card whether or not it syncs with Master Key Beetle (on a side-note, the answer on that is: "no, it doesn't"). Come on, Konami. Please put a differentiation between conditions and card effects on your cards already!

And a last thing... Certain reprints are easy to get. Archfiends is due to the Archfiend support in JOTL; Zombies is due to the support in Shadow Specters; The Flip effect trio (Locusts/Lacooda/Scarabs) is due to their sync-potential with the Ghosttricks. But the Plant support reprints? Will there be more plant support in Shadow Specters? Or is that for the Shinra's already (in Legacy of the Valiant)? I guess we'll see when Shadow Specters is released in November.

Until next time, V out.

26 June 2013

Card Rulings - Psi Blocker

Prohibition has always been one of my favorite cards in my side-deck. It's like an out to any rogue deck you have a bad match-up to. And since a month or so, Psi-Blocker (the monster version of this card) is seeing an increased use in play.

With the return of this card, ruling questions obviously rise on what you can or cannot do with cards declared by the effect of Psi-Blocker.

So without further ado, here's the Psi-Blocker list


"People also call me Cock-Blocker!"

What you cannot do with a card declared by Psi-Blocker:

The declared monster name...

  • cannot be normal summoned or set.
  • cannot be special summoned (inherently).
  • cannot be used as fusion, synchro or XYZ material.
  • cannot attack.
  • cannot manually change its battle position.
  • use its effect, if it is an effect that starts a chain (this includes mandatory effects).
  • cannot apply its continuous effect.
  • If cards like Phantom of Chaos or Elemental HERO Prisma copied the name of the declared monster name, they cannot battle/use its effect, because they became the declared monster name.

The declared Fusion, Synchro, Ritual or XYZ monster...

  • Cannot be fusion/synchro/ritual/or xyz summoned properly.
  • For the rest, the same rules apply as regular monsters.

The declared Spell or Trap card...

  • cannot be activated or apply any of its effects.
  • cannot apply any of its continuous effects (if it's already active)
  • Cannot be set manually.

What you can do with a card declared by Psi-Blocker:

The declared monster name...

  • Can be used to pay a cost (example: Trade-in, Enemy Controller, Sacred Sword of Seven Stars, etc).
  • can be added to your hand from any card location by legal card effects (example: Reinforcement of the Army, Eclipse Wyvern, etc).
  • Can be special summoned (from any location) by other card effects (example: monster reborn, Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon, Spellbook of Life, etc).
  • Can be used with Future Fusion (regular fusion doesn't work, though).
  • can be used to summon an other monster (tribute summon, special summons, etc).
  • can change its battle position by card effect (example: Book of Moon, Photon papilloperative, etc).
  • Can apply still lingering effects (example: Shock Master's already active effect).
  • can chain its effect to the activation of Psi Blocker's effect, if possible (example: Photon Strike Bounzer, Light and Darkness Dragon, Maxx "C").
  • doesn't matter much if it's Exodia the Forbidden one. The victory condition of Exodia still applies.

The declared Spell or Trap card...

  • can be used as a cost (example: Summoner Monk, Cursed Seal of the Forbidden Spell, etc).
  • Can be added to the hand by other card effects (example: Ninja Grandmaster Hanzo, Spellbook of Secrets, etc).
  • Can be set by card effect (example: Alchemic Magician, Fire Fist - Tiger King, etc.).
  • can be evaded by using other cards that copy the effect of the declared card (example: Spellbook of the Master's target).
  • can apply its still lingering effect (example: the still lingering effect of Spellbook of Power).
  • can be chained to the activation of the effect (if possible).

General things you should know:

  • Psi Blocker can affect cards that are already on the field. This is a textual difference with Prohibition. Psi-Blocker does not have an equivalent to Prohibition's last sentence.
  • With Prohibition, if you declare a card name that is already on the field, and the affected card is sent to the grave, or it's banished, it will continue to be unaffected by prohibition, until it enters another location. Example: The first effect of Eclipse Wyvern will apply if it is sent from the field to the graveyard. Its second effect (return the banished monster to the hand) CANNOT be applied if you banish Wyvern afterwards.
  • You can only declare cards that are legal card names in the TCG (so no using OCG names, fanboys). This also extends to cards that alter their original name. For example, "Harpie Lady 2" cannot be declared. You must declare "Harpie Lady", since "Harpie Lady 2" alters its name to "Harpie lady".
  • If your opponent DID intentionally set the mentioned card and is later revealed, you may call a judge (penalties will occur). But please make sure your opponent knows that he cannot set the mentioned card.
  • "End of the opponents turn" means the literal end, not just the end phase! So no activating mentioned quick-play spells!
  • The effect of Psi Blocker is Lingering. This means that even if you get rid of the card (or place it face-down), the effect still applies.

Afterword

That's it for now. Until next time, V out.

Note: This list is unofficial as far as the TCG goes, but is a useful reference. As it currently stands, there are no rulings from a TCG official source regarding Prohibition or Psi-Blocker. In the event this does change, any differences will be updated, but you should use the one provided by Konami before this one.

PS: This list is taken from the Yugioh Judges facebook group with some small clarifications of my own. If you spot a mistake, please mention it.

7 June 2013

List of Nationals / Continental Champs and decklist links (if available)

Let's keep this post informative for everyone. This is the list of National Champs all over the world and continental representatives.

I'll keep this post updated every week with all new info available. If you can fill in the blanks, please let me know.

Europe

DateCountryWinnerDeck used Decklist
April 20IrelandJonathan WatersMono Mermail Decklist available
May 5AustriaNoko ProkicDark World Creator Turbo Decklist available
May 18-19BelgiumBernard Jean-LouMono Mermail Decklist available
May 18-19GermanyTran DucChain Burn Decklist available
May 18-19United KingdomTom PaineMono Mermail Decklist available
May 18SwedenAdam AskMermail N.A.
May 19NetherlandsRafael NevenMermail Decklist available
May 25-26FranceAlain LyDragon Rulers N.A.
May 25SloveniaMiha FlisekMermails Only finals video
June 1-2ItalyStefano Lenti LivraghiDragon Rulers Decklist available
(scroll down)
June 1-2SpainRodrigo TororesDragon Rulers Decklist Available
June 1SwitzerlandRoman KieserDragon Rulers Decklist available
June 2BulgariaMarino KunchevUnknown N.A.
June 8-9Czech Republic
June 8-9DenmarkMads MikelsenEvilswarm Decklist Available
June 9MaltaRyan DyerUnknown
June 9NorwayChristopher ReyesUnkown
June 15-16PortugalHélio BaboDragon Rulers Only finals report
June 15CroatiaUrh KovačićDragon Rulers Decklist Available
June 15LithuaniaŽilvino VolskoGladiator Beasts Only finals video
June 15FinlandTom ThuresonEvilswarm Decklist Available
June 16PolandPrzemysław StrzałkaDragon Rulers Decklist Available
June 23GreeceVassilis StamatiadisProphecy Decklist available

Central and South-America

DateCountryWinnerDeck used Decklist
May 18-19Costa RicaTomas JimenezProphecy Decklist available
May 18-19MexicoLéonardo SanchezKristya Dragon Rulers Decklist available
May 18ArgentinaNicolas GodoyDragon Rulers Decklist available
May 18ChileSebastian MoraDragon Rulers Decklist available
May 18JamaicaUnknownMermails N.A.
May 18VenezuelaEdwin RodriguezDragon Rulers Decklist Available
May 19ColombiaJuan CujiaDragon Rulers N.A.
May 19Dominican RepublicYorguin MedinaProphecy Decklist available
May 19GuatemalaAlejandro CañasMermails Decklist available
May 19HondurasLeonel OrtegaFire Fist Decklist available
May 19NicaraguaAllan ZepadaProphecy Decklist available
May 25-26BrazilIvan Ferreira de Lima JuniorDragon Rulers Decklist available
May 25BoliviaAaron BeltranDragon Rulers N.A.
May 25EcuadorIvan FiallosDragon Rulers Decklist available
May 26El SalvadorFrank ArceDragon Rulers Decklist Available
May 26PanamaRolando GordonKarakuri OTK Decklist Available
May 25-26PeruGerardo DelgadoDragon Rulers Decklist available

Africa

DateCountryWinnerDeck used Decklist
May 25South-AfricaJivesh DhanrajProphecy #

Asia - Middle-East (TCG)

DateCountryWinnerDeck used Decklist
May 16thIsraelIdo M.Evilswarm Decklist available
May 26TurkeyMurat BıçakçıEvilswarm Decklist available
(register on forum)

Oceania

DateCountryWinnerDeck used Decklist
April 27New ZealandChris DaltonTele-Karakuri Decklist available
June 8-9AustraliaMarcus WheelerProphecies Decklist available

Asia (OCG)

DateCountryWinnerDeck used Decklist
May 26ThailandWeerapun Suebyoubol "Pink"Dragon Rulers Decklist Available
June 15PhilippinesIrwin ArogoDragon Rulers Decklist Available
June 23South KoreaPark Jin WooDragon Rulers Decklist available
June 23SingaporeWilliam OhDragon Ruler Decklist available
June 29-30MalaysiaZack TeohDragon Rulers Decklist available
June 30Hong KongCheung Wing HoDragon Rulers
June 29Japan - TokyoJokerDragon Rulers Decklist available
July 6Japan - OsakaAtsushi Blue-Eyes Prophecy Decklist available
July 7TaiwanShi-En HuangDragon Rulers

Continental Championships (TCG)

Date Continent Location Winner Deck used Decklist
June 10OceaniaPenrith, Australia Chris MatiskeDragon Rulers Decklist available
June 28-30 Europe Frankfurt, Germany Chris BountaloudisProphecy Decklist available
June 28-30 South America Guayaquil, Equador Carlos Andres Perez PadillaDragon Rulers Decklist available
July 5-7 Central America Monterrey, Mexico Alejandro Vivaldo Reyes SuarezDragon Ruler
July 12-14 North America Chicago, USA Patrick HobanDragon Rulers Decklist available

Notes

  • Luxembourg (Europe) did not have Nationals. The link on Konami's website referred to the Belgian Nationals.
  • Cyprus (Europe) did not have Nationals. The link on Konami's website referred to the Turkish Nationals.
  • While Turkey and Israel are officially part of Asia, they play the TCG instead of the OCG. Because of this, they're part of Europe in terms of qualifiers.
  • Since there is no African WC Qualifier, South-Africa tags along with Europe in terms of Qualifiers.
  • If you know of information that's not in the list yet, put it in the comments below. All help is appreciated.

Updates

  • Update 07/06: Updated Venezuela, Equador and Argentina thanks to Carlos Julio - Source: http://kabras-yugiohtcg.blogspot.com
  • Update 2 (same day): Also found and added the information of Italy, Peru, El Salvador and Dominican Republic.
  • Update 9/06: Mike from High-Level Gaming gave us the info on who became the Aussie champ.
  • Update 10/06: Updates - Added info of Danish and Swiss Nationals and Oceanian Continentals
  • Update 11/06: Added the decklist of the Australian Champ, thanks to High Level Gaming (FB).
  • Update 12/06: Added the decklist of the Oceanian champion, thanks to HLG.
  • Update 15/6: Added information on the Turkish winner, added Philippine representative.
  • Update 20/6: Updated nationals of Croatia, Poland, Finland. Also added the decklist of the Philippine winner (link to his blog).
  • Update 24/6: Added info on Greece, the champs of Singapore (thanks to YGO-Singapore on FB & High Level Gaming) and Thailand, and the (correctl) schedule of OCG-qualifiers (last part thanks to the "Road of the King" blog).
  • Update 26/6: Found a Konami article with the Latin American champs (This post), also found the Swedish champ (google translate helps). And via analyzing the updated qualified list of Europe I found the names of the Bulgarian, Maltese, Norwegian and South-African champs. Also found the Portuguese champ thanks to Troza. And Yu-Gi-Oh! Edition Singapore (fb) posted the link to the South-Korean decklist.
  • Update 30/6: Added winners of Tokyo, Hong Kong and Malaysia.