Curran's Second Sight: Taking into Consideration

Thinking Ahead

Hey everyone,

Curran here with another update.

This is going to be another ramble update, so steer off if you don't want to hear what i got to say.

I'll have another deck-list up soon so if you're looking for that you'll have to wait a bit longer.

But for those who do want to hear me ramble on about stuff,

please be my guest.

Curran's Preference

While running through some of my deck ideas (this being Wemko and Gem-Box), there is one card that caught my eye(s).

If you control a face-up monster that was Tribute, Ritual or Fusion Summoned: Until the end of your opponent's next turn, neither player can Synchro or Xyz Summon, Synchro and Xyz Monsters cannot attack, also their effects are negated.

Being a MTG player, the artwork immediately caught my eye. (it certainly has a Innistrad feel to it eh?-)

But what caught my eye more was the ridiculous effect.

This card alone can shut down a big percentage of decks running around currently for a turn (2¿),

and the duration effect this card lingers on is ridiculous.

Now, this card really only applies to the decks that can utilize this effect.

This being:

- Hero

- Gishki

- Gem-Knight

- Monarch

- Glads

- Steelswarm¿

And any deck i had forgotten to mention.

While testing through some of my ideas, while extensively play-testing this card, there were things that stuck out the most that made it such a potential tech for me:

Usually, after going off this and passing turn, this card can set your opponent in a more awkward position than usual.

Not only do they have to deal with the [Fusion, Ritual, Tribute monster] in question (this excluding any other monsters put on board), your opponent has to find a way to 'evade' through the effect without using cards from their extra deck.

They can still special, but usually players don't leave their field open with monsters that don't exactly pose much threat(s) 

This is excluding potential back-row and other issues 

I've been in a number of duels where you flip this on their draw and they sit contemplating for sheer minutes trying to find an out they could weed through.

If they can't do that, they ultimately either waist resource just to stay alive, or they lose

And even if you're going turn two this card can still put up quite a position, basically forcing your opponent to sit for a rough two turns.

Though, to go with the goods of this card, there is obviously downsides to combat.

-This card is a trap, and with that, it's already too slow. An end-turn space or a previous field wipe leaves this card useless if drawn into.

- This card can potentially effect you also

- Most prefer Veiler over a potential -1

- This card is 'Meh' when winning. And the worst when drawn into 

These are merely some of the things people said to combat against the card.

Though there have been some instances where it does prove a minus, it goes to say that i find this card an exception in my book regardless of what people say about it.

Its the players who become so accustomed to the norm that decks use,

this falling into the category of 'formatted decks' players become comfortable with, and rather stick to something they're used too then try something not of the norm.

But, also proven, 

its those who went against this norm that topped, making impact on the game. (Alexander Thomas? Paul Blake? these only being the currents that come to mind.)

And when you fall under that category of norm, you lose my interest.

There's barely any pizzazz in this game,

and when something 'not of the standard' you're presented with, you talk down of.

Of course, this isn't pointed at all the players in the game, but there is a wide range that follow this unspoken rule blindly.

Im not saying to run the card, 

but take it into consideration and try something different

Each face-up monster on the field loses 2 Levels, until the End Phase. You can remove from play this card from your Graveyard to select 1 face-up monster and reduce its Level by 1, until the End Phase. This effect cannot be activated the same turn this card is sent to the Graveyard.

One other card that caught my attention was Yokai.

Running through a couple of builds with this card (mainly being Lightsworn/ChaosDragons), Yokai has proven to be another thought i had to test about.

Yokai can stop a lot of things when your opponent tries to go off, being able to reduce your opponents monsters for a turn just to halt their explosive plays.

Curran-sama, we already went through this.

Its a trap 'and' it doesn't effect cards that are placed after its effect.

True, but bad is always accompanied with good.

I cant give a multi-subjected statement on this card since i haven't had an extended test through running this

-This being roughly 30 duels accompanied with side

But the card is holding up to what i expected it.

because of it being a trap, it can be used on your opponents turn (this being the graveyard effect),

since this effect is spell speed 2.

While milled through in my Chaos deck idea (which i will upload soon), this card can put a hindrance on your opponents plays, either getting them to push more [extending their hand], or halt their plays,

either which is a plus in my opinion.

But this is only in a deck which involves milling the card out into the grave then using it, so im not going into much detail here.

I'll make sure to test through this card more extensively for the upcoming year, 

but keep in mind this card can be a potential threat in the future.

Q&A

Whats up Curran?

Nothing much, deck building and testing as usual.

Will we see any new decks soon?

Of course.

I have a few decks in the works for the moment, these all being the dumb ideas i come up with.

Can we get a hint to one of them?

Omega

-Pertaining to the Gem-Box deck posted recently

Hey Curran,

Ive noticed while testing through the deck i've run into some issues.

usually whenever i go off i wipe my board more than my opponents, i know the deck is still in testing but any tips on how you use it?

Sorry for not posting my usual strategy for the deck.

Usually you want to use armadillo to search for either Lazuli or Obsidian, this reason being Box gets the normals out of your deck, so searching for them really hurts the plays.

This ensures that when you go off you use monsters in hand *and* field, usually you resulting in getting back those same normals with Lazuli/Obsidian. 

If you have Obsidian in hand already you usually want to search for Lazuli for comfort, and if all else fails you want to search for Amber.

This ensures box always has a target unless you draw into them/expend them through her effect.

Always remember, 

Obsidian/Lazuli  and armadillo will always equal zirconia, this ensures that, when fusion, you'll always get back a normal.

Box has a way of expending the deck really fast, so keep in mind that in the reality of the situation you'll most likely get her effect off only 2 times in a duel.

well peeps,

Currans got to work through some more ideas so ill see you around.

I'll try to post another deck tomorrow or the day after, im probably going to be extending my testing with Divine Grace so ill be pretty busy.

Also, check out the Facebook page if you want to speak with me directly,

I'll take any question into consideration and will correct some ruling issues if you ask.

until next update.

Curran out-

Budget Deck: Skill Drain Archfiend

Skill Drain Archfiends

Hey everyone,

Curran back with another deck list for you.

With the release of the new ban list for January here, I've taken into account some deck ideas i had that couldn't get off the ground due to some consistency issues, be it 1 card or multiples.

With Tour Guide off the List, I've been able to test around with archfiends a bit more due to her search power, something that was hindered due to her being at 2 in the previous list.

Enough chit-chat, on with the deck:

monster line-up:

3x Archfiend Cavalry

3x Archfiend Emperor, First Lord of Horror

3x Archfiend Heiress

2x Archfiend Commander 

2x Trance Archfiend 

3x Tour Guide From the Underworld

2x Effect Veiler

2x Maxx "C"

2x Tragodia

spell line-up:

2x Falling Down

2x Forbidden Lance

2x Mystical Space Typhoon

2x Creature Swap

1x Dark Hole

1x Allure of Darkness

trap line-up:

3x Skill Drain

2x Archfiend's Roar

1x Escape from the Dark Dimension 

1x Call of the Haunted

1x Threatening Roar

extra deck:

1x Abyss Dweller
1x Downered Magician 
1x Evilswarm Thanatos
1x Number 66: Master Key Beetle
1x Number 101: Silent Honors Ark Knight
1x GaGaGa Cowboy
1x Maestroke the Symphony Djinn
1x Number 85: Crazy Box
1x Photon Papilloperative 
1x Number 107: Galaxy-Eyes Tachyon Dragon
1x Number 49: Fortune Tune
1x Mechquipped Angineer
1x Leviar the Sea Dragon
1x Temtempo the Percussion Djinn
1x Wind-up Zenmaines 



the deck:


For someone who has never played archfiends before, it took a bit for me to get used to the deck. It seemed simple enough, use Cavalry to get back bigger archfiends that are in the grave through his effect when he's popped off, then using Satan to sit for days until they scoop because of a 3k beater they couldn't get over late game.
As Simple as this seems, it took a bit of time for me to get used to this idea of grave reliance. Adding Skill Drain to the equation just made my troubles that much more annoying when i only had so many options to go through during turns.
Or at least, that's what i thought for a while.
But eventually, i've gotten used to this idea, and eventually growing a liking to the deck.
Playing around skill drain was a big thing this deck is capable of if played correctly, which made it that much more fun.
Lets look at the star of the deck:

If this card is sent to the Graveyard because of a card effect or being destroyed by battle: You can add 1 "Archfiend" card from your Deck to your hand, except "Archfiend Heiress". You can only use the effect of "Archfiend Heiress" once per turn.

As simple as this card seems, The plays you're able to pull out of this card is phenomenal.

Since its searchable through Tour Guide, getting Heiress out the deck then utilizing her effect are a prime reason i chose this deck.

The search power heiress has isn't limited to Archfiend monsters, But also the trap in the deck, which can be a game-changer if used at the correct time.

One thing i see players try to combat is when heiress is detached from an xyz.

To clear this up, lets look at heiress' effect:

"If this card is sent to the graveyard because of a card effect"

This simple wording can make a difference if heiress' effect will activate when detached as an effect, or detached as a cost.

2 Level 3 monsters
During each of your Standby Phases: Gain 500 Life Points. This card cannot be targeted by card effects. If this face-up card would be destroyed, you can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card instead. When this card is sent from the field to the Graveyard: Target 2 Level 3 monsters in your Graveyard; shuffle them both into the Deck, and if you do, return this card from your Graveyard to the Extra Deck. You can only use this effect of "Number 49: Fortune Tune" once per turn.

2 Level 3 monsters
Once per turn, during either player's turn: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card, then target 1 face-up Attack Position monster you control; change it to face-up Defense Position, and if you do, it cannot be destroyed by battle or by card effects this turn.

There is one Crucial difference between these cards.

Angineer states that: 'you can detach 1 xyz material from this card,'

which means that this is a cost in order to activate this effect.

But, 

Fortune Tune states that: 'if this face-up card would be destroyed, you can detach 1 xyz material from this card instead.'

This effect, being a continuous effect, which heiress is able to activate off of.

Also, being an archfiend card, you're able to use cards like Falling and roar when you need them.

Satan allows for easy beating under skill drain,
but unlike most cards that are effected by the trap, his effect to destroy himself still applies at the end phase.
Its safe to keep that in mind to help get back with Calvary.

Overall the deck is fun to mess around with.
One thing to note is you want to do your silly shenanigans before skill drain is flipped,
the deck isn't hindered much under skill drain, but popping off things with emperor is a must before you lock the field down.


Q&A:



Why not two call of the haunted and one roar? seems to work a bit better for Cavalry.
This was just a personal preference, nothing between the two. You could easily swap between them.
I just chose with 2 roar because in some occasions i won't be able to get back a monster with cavalry, so i'd rather have him on the field as protection.


Favorite card in the deck?
Heiress hands down,
love the artwork.


What brought this deck about?
Just some ideas i had, nothing big behind it.





also i got a Facebooks now, would love to see ya there.



until next update.
Curran out-

Long awaited:Ninja Deck

Ninja Deck

Hey everyone, Curran back with my long awaited Ninja deck.

excuse my apparent absence, Blogger wouldn't let me upload some posts for a while so things got delayed quite a bit. But in my disappearance i did happen to get some testing and ideas running, and i might upload another deck today if given the chance (but don't hold it against me.)
so, on with the deck list ay?

Monster line-up:

3x Ninja Grandmaster Hanzo
2x Masked Ninja Ebisu
2x Upstart Golden Ninja
2x Tour Guide from the Underworld
2x Red Dragon Ninja
2x White Dragon Ninja
2x Effect Veiler 
2x Tragodia
1x Lady Ninja Yae
1x White Night Dragon

Spell line-up:

1x reinforcements of the army
1x mind control
1x dark hole
1x book of moon
2x mystical space typhoon
2x forbidden lance

Trap line-up:

3x ninjitsu art of super-transformation
2x ninjitsu art of transformation 
1x ninjitsu art of shadow sealing
2x mirror force
2x call of the haunted
2x dark bribe
1x compulsory evacuation device

Extra Deck:

1x ally of justice catastor
1x armedes,keeper of boundaries 
1x Sirius the blue wolf star
1x black rose dragon
1x crimson blader
1x mist wurm
1x blade armor ninja
1x heroic champion-excalibur
1x maestroke the symphony djinn
1x gagaga cowboy
1x constellar ptolemy M7
1x number 11: big eye
1x number 49: fortune tune
1x leviair the sea dragon
1x mechquipped angineer



the deck:

Ninjas revolve around disrupting your opponents plays with cards like their super-poly and other problem solvers. But of course, you all knew this, so just getting that out the way.
This deck is meant to set back your opponent as much as possible and using that as a window to kill him/her.
Stratos gets your ninjitsu arts, and he's a recruiter when special which is really needed in this deck. I made a previous Blog post about me testing around with this deck, but in this section i'll go over some cards a bit more thoroughly for those wanting to test out.
Unlike a degree of ninja decks, most i know of don't run Red Dragon. I've had quite a few people express their 'un-liking' of Red Dragon, but he stands an over achieving piece in my build.
lets take a look at him:

When this card is Summoned: You can banish 1 "Ninja" or "Ninjitsu Art" card from your Graveyard to target 1 Set card your opponent controls; reveal that Set card, then return it to either the top or bottom of the Deck. Your opponent cannot activate the targeted card in response to this effect's activation. You can only use the effect of "Red Dragon Ninja" once per turn.

red stands a star of the deck. With shadow specters out and new sets like Ghostricks and Tanukit, it seems setting cards is going to be apparent nowadays, including heavier back row with cards like heavy gone.

Most people freak out about his effect:

you have to 'target,' and he doesn't negate cards like blue does.

Is usually what i get from players, old and new.

Lets go through some notable rulings for red that not many people know about:

-Banishing a ninja is a cost

-Red can miss timing

-If his summon is not negated, his effect activates immediately.That means your opponent can chain cards only after red has chosen a target through his effect. If the card targeted is Torrential, Bottomless or other cards that can activate in response to him, they cannot activate due to reds effect(be it book of moon,or anything of the sort.)

-If red isn't face up on the field on chain resolution(book of moon,) the effect to bounce a card still resolves properly

This knowledge is explosive when dueling players who aren't used to seeing him in play.

He's basically a night beam/chidori for ninjas, who can be used along with the ninjitsu arts just in case things do not go as planned.

Note: cards CANNOT activate in response to him if they are the ones targeted.

I constantly have to put it in players heads that you cannot chain the card targeted to his summon due to his effect. And also that you cannot activate cards until After he's chosen a target if his summon is not negated. 

also, being a Ninja monster, you can keep this chain going if your opponent has an out to your effect with cards like transformation and shadow sealing.

lets have a look at one more card in the deck:

During either player's turn, when a Spell/Trap Card that targets this card is activated: Negate the activation, and if you do, destroy it. When a face-up monster you control is targeted for an attack: You can send 1 Spell/Trap Card you control to the Graveyard; change the target to this card.

jumping straight into his rulings before i give my reasons of using him:

-the effect to change an attack target is a trigger effect

-sending a spell or trap card is a cost

-the effect to change a target does not cost

-as long as you can pay the cost,you can activate the effect to negate multiple times a chain

-the effect to negate is a quick effect

I mainly use white night to get over a lot of cards nowadays that can cause quite a problem.With him able to use up useless ninjitsu arts for negation is really powerful. And redirecting your opponents to attack him instead insures your ninjas can keep board until you can use your ninjitsu and get around issues.

Plus with the ninjitsu arts in the grave, they fuel Red Dragon for his effect if you're not so sure on banishing ninjas instead.

Due to some of my blatant rant-Esq expression on some plays in my old ninja post, I won't be over viewing much more of this deck. I can say that you need quite some skill to learn to bluff out your opponents space's and other cards that can disrupt you and not them.

most of the time i use some of the most random of plays to offset my opponent to where they have no idea to what would happen if they make a move.

I also have a a friend who would like to partner with me if that's the right phrase. Check out his channel @MyArmados  and give him some support.

he's also given me the green flag to upload some of my duel vids to his channel,so if you want to see curran fail, be glad to check it out.

Until next update.

Curran out-

follow me on instagram:http://instagram.com/curranjudgement 

Psy-Gusto:Power in numbers

Gusto:Top Local Decklist

I seemed to have topped my locals recently with gustos. I rarely get anywhere above 7th place out of roughly 30 players,so this was a big thing for me.

i got first place,winning 5 straight games until my streak was broken by Elemental Dragons.

took final game against elemental dragons by a Starlight Star bright and Axon. It was basically scoop after that.

lets get onto the decklist and analysis:

monster line-up:

3x winda,priestess of gusto

3x gusto gulldo

3x gusto egul

1x caam,serenity of gusto

1x reeze,whirlwind of gusto

3x serene psychic witch

2x silent psychic wizard

2x esper girl

2x psychic commander

1x hushed psychic cleric

2x maxx c

2x effect veiler

2x tragoedia

spell line-up:

3x emergency teleport

1x dark hole

1x mind control

2x miracle synchro fusion

2x mystical space typhoon

1x pot of duality

trap line-up:

2x psychic overload

1x psychic rejuvenation 

extra deck:

2x ultimate axon kicker

1x daigusto gulldos

1x daigusto eguls

1x daigusto sphreez

1x ally of justice catastor

1x t.g hyper librarian

1x magical android

1x naturia beast

1x naturia barkion

1x psychic lifetrancer

1x thought ruler archfiend

1x scrap dragon

1x mist wurm

1x star eater

the deck:

the deck is really,really hard to use if you don't know how to properly save your key cards for late game pushes.of course,there might not be a late game,

so taking that precaution can be quite a hinder.

half of the time i drew egul with no kind of support,which can be really bad in a format where everything is popped or banished.

but thanks to the curiosity of players,attacking set monsters is a kind of right of passage,thinking its either ryko or some other kind of easy card to get around,setting off my toolbox.

you cant just winda=gulldo=egul=caam in this deck,since you're only running the sole caam.

randomly specialing caam when you feel you can go off is still a double sided coin.

i love her to death,but bottomless and other removal are still in the game, limited or not.

one good thing about some of the gusto monsters are that psychic,which means they are compatible with E-tele and food for some of the synchros (lifetrancer,android,axon,ect.)

lets take a look at the raining VIP of the deck:

1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner "Gusto" monsters
When this card is Synchro Summoned: You can target 1 "Gusto" card in your Graveyard; add that target to your hand. Your opponent takes any Battle Damage you would have taken from battles involving a face-up"Gusto" monster you control. This card cannot be destroyed by battle.

this baby is 2damn good.

She alone won me a few matches doing the gusto loop on high attack monsters.

her trigger ability is also Very nice,able to get back any gusto in the grave.this effect includes 'daigusto' monsters,since they still count as gusto.

and just like the rest of the daigusto synchros,she states that she needs a Tuner(note she just says tuner,not a gusto tuner,) and a gusto monster.

caam+esper girl

redirecting damage is an amazing effect,making your opponent rethink some of their plays and waist resources to get her off the field.

she,as well as all the other daigusto synchros,are psychic.this means she's compatible with:

-silent psychic wizard

-hushed psychic cleric

-axon kicker

-lifetrancer(though i recommend not to)

-magical android

and also a target for caam when in the grave.

you just don't know the satisfaction when you normal a wizard and banish her,then just synchro up into something and get her back.

keeps the opponent annoyed and you safe for a turn or two.

now for the runner up of the deck:

Once per turn: You can return 1 card from your hand to the bottom of the Deck to target 1 monster your opponent controls and 1 face-up "Gusto" monster you control; switch control of both monsters.

to tell the truth,i didn't like this card at first.shes a lvl 5 that needed to send a card back to switch.

until one day i was testing and i saw the plays she can pull out,and the seemingly infinite synergy she had with the deck.

she alone can turn around some really shitty situations.

switching her with a dracossack or big eye is so fulfilling in life.

ya there may turns where she has to be tributed or some other tedious play to get her out on board,but there's one card that makes her such a wonderful piece of ass.

Serene Psychic Witch:

When this card on the field is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard: You can banish 1 Psychic-Type monster with 2000 or less ATK from your Deck. During the next Standby Phase, if this card stays in the Graveyard:Special Summon the monster banished by this card's effect.

i had to re-read serene to make sure i wasn't tricking myself.

serene alone searches all the decks psychics,and even get out whirlwind from the deck.

that equals one less card i have to worry about,and i got a switching option next turn.

Also to note, serene doesn't care how she's destroyed,just as long as she was on the field when it happens (except banishing her,that's an issue.)

a scrap dragon for serene and a back row was a play i had fun with,getting the cards out of the deck i needed while letting scrap take care of anything i don't like.

im a big control junkie,

so she is an absolute must.

of course,this deck wouldn't have been as successful without the (indirect) help from the moderator of The Gusto Tribe.

So thanks mate,for the amazing info on some of the cards,

i tip my hat to you sir.

i also got my FIRST shout out,from a DN friend masseur Francisco Lake.

please check out and sub to his channel,really cool dude and deserves (all the) credit for helping me with the previous Budget deck Post.

im so glad to have made the deck,and the success its been showing so far.

ill make sure to keep this deck up to par,and update you on it whenever i can.

much love for the gust.

until next update.

Curran out-

follow me on instagram:http://instagram.com/curranjudgement