Lanista and Nova Master

Finally the effects of both Gladiator Beast Lanista and Elemental Hero Nova Master have been confirmed.

Ya al fin los efectos de Gladiator Beast Lanista y Elemental Hero Nova Master han sido confirmados!

First off, Lanista's effect/Primero, el efecto de Lanista

When this card is Special Summoned by the effect of a "Gladiator Beast"monster, you can select 1 "Gladiator Beast" monster in your Graveyard.Remove it from play and this card's name becomes the name of the monster you removed from play until the End Phase. At the end of the Battle Phase, if this card attacked or was attacked, you can return it to the Deck to Special Summon 1 "Gladiator Beast" monster from your Deck, except "Gladiator Beast Lanista".

While I'm a bit relaxed that Lanista isn't treated as Bestiari at all times (as rumored), it still holds a lot of potential for two main reasons: Icarus Glads are more playable and secondly, it gives birth to a whole new playstyle for Glads (that is, if my idea catches on).

Mientras estoy relajado que el efecto de Lanista no lo trata como Bestiari en el campo (como se estaba rumorando), todavia tiene un gran potencial, ya que hace el deck Icarus Glads mas funcional y da a crear un nuevo estilo de juego a los glads (eso es, si mi idea llega a algun lado).

Lanista's ability to remove a Gladiator Beast in the graveyard from play and take it's name can be quite useful for when Equestes is already down or for an emergency Gyzarus/Heraklinos play.

La habilidad de Lanista para remover cualquier gladiador y coger su nombre es bastante util cuando Equestes ya esta fuera de uso o para una jugada emergencia involucrando Gyzarus/Heraklinos.

Having 1800 attack is also a nice boost, since it can stand on it's own if drawn early game. And as mentioned before, having it be a Winged-Beast gives it much more support for Icarus Attack.

Teniendo 1800 de ataque es bueno tambien, ya que puede manejar por si mismo en el campo si lo tienes temprano en el juego. Y como mencionado, le da mas ayuda a Icarus Attack por ser Winged-Beast.

The other idea for Lanista is yet to come...because it involves a deck with this other new card...

La otra idea para Lanista todavia falta en revelar...posiblemente porque involucra un deck con esta otra carta...

Elemental Hero Nova Master

Warrior/Fusion/Level 8/Fire

1 "Elemental Hero" monster + 1 FIRE monster This monster cannot be Special Summoned except by Fusion Summon. When this card destroys an opponent's monster by battle, draw 1 card.

Finally a hero to fuse with fire. Gemini City gets another nice card to add to it's arsenal. Not only can it run Absolute Zero with Gemini Lancer and/or Snowman Eater, but now Evocator Chevalier gives us access to Nova Master and still serves as great support for Gemini Spark.

Por fin un heroe que se puede unir con fuego. Gemini City recibe otra carta buena en su arsenal. Ya se puede combinar con Snowman Eater/Gemini Lancer para Absolute Zero, pero ahora Evocator Chevalier nos da acceso a Nova Master y todavia recibe gran ayuda de Gemini Spark.

And while this is great in Gemini City, it also adds some synergy to Prisma Glads. Now, while it's very rare for players to use the E-Hero fusions in Glad decks, Absolute Zero, Gaia, Great Tornado, and now Nova Master are all accessible in Prisma Glads.

Y mientras es bueno tenerlo en Gemini City, tambien añade una gran ayuda a Prisma-Glads. Y aunque es bien raro por jugadores usar fusiones de Heroes en sus decks gladiadores, cartas como Absolute Zero, Gaia, Great Tornado y ahora Nova Master son accesibles en Prisma-Glads.

This is where the new concept involving both Nova Master and Lanista comes into play...

Aqui es donde mi nuevo concepto usando ambos Nova Master y Lanista entra en juego...

Heroes of Rome / Heroes de Roma

Monsters: 16
Gladiator Beast Laquari x2

Gladiator Beast Bestiari

Gladiator Beast Lanista x2

Gladiator Beast Equestes x2

Gladiator Beast Darius x2

Gladiator Beast Murmillo x2

Gladiator Beast Hoplomus

Gladiator Beast Samnite

Elemental Hero Prisma x2

Elemental Hero Stratos

Spells: 15
Gladiator's Proving Ground x2

Reinforcement of the Army

Miracle Fusion x2

Parallel World Fusion x2

Book of Moon x2

Giant Trunade

Dark Hole

Monster Reborn

Cold Wave

Mystical Space Typhoon x2
Traps: 9
Gladiator Beast War Charriot x2

Trap Stun x2

Bottomless Trap Hole x2

Dimensional Prison x2

Torrential Tribute

Now then, let me explain why this deck has and doesn't have certain things:

Ahora a explicar por que el deck tiene y no tiene ciertas cosas:

No Test Tiger / La ausencia de Test Tiger

This deck just didn't have room for it, mostly since it's meant more as a fusion utility deck rather than just a full Gladiator deck. They can be added if you want, but this is what I have for now...

El deck no tenia espacio para el tigre, mayormente por la estrategia enfocada en fusiones y no tanto la estrategia tradicional de los gladiadores. Se puede añadir al deck, pero esta es la idea que tengo por ahora...

Miracle Fusion/Parallel World Fusion

Here's where Lanista comes in handy. While taking the names of other gladiators helps for fusions on the field, it also helps prepare the removed from play monsters for Parallel World Fusion. Parallel helps recycle all those monsters lost by either Miracle Fusion, Lanista's effect, or any other reason and replenishes the Graveyard for future Equestes and other fusion plays. In a way, it keeps recycling itself to keep the fusions coming.

Aqui es donde Lanista entra a su gran uso. Mientras su habilidad de coger el nombre de los otros gladiadores ayudan a fusionar en el campo, tambien prepara la zona fuera de juego para una jugada de Parallel World Fusion. Parallel ayuda reciclar esos monstruos perdidos por Miracle Fusion, el efecto de Lanista o alguna otra razon, y ademas vuelve a llenar el cementerio para jugadas futuras involucrando a Equestes y para mas fusiones.

And last but not least, the Extra Deck...

Y ultimamente, el Extra Deck...

Gladiator Beast Gyzarus x2

Gladiator Beast Heraklinos x2

Elemental Hero Absolute Zero x2

Elemental Hero Gaia x2

Elemental Hero Great Tornado x2

Elemental Hero Nova Master x2

Dragon Knight Draco-Equiste (with Super Polymerization in side deck)

Chimeratech Fortress Dragon (via Cyber Dragon in side deck)

That's probably all for this week...

Esto es todo por esta semana, o por lo menos pienso...

New Fish Deck: "ChacuCanth"

I have brought back an old form of my Fish deck which involved one of the Earthbound Immortals in it's key strategy. It didn't have a name before, but it's now called "ChacuCanth"

He vuelto a revivir una variación de mi deck Fish cual involucraba uno de los Inmortales Terrestres en su estrategia principal. Antes no tenía nombre, pero ahora se conoce como "ChacuCanth"

The basic concept of this deck: bring out Coelacanth or Chacu Challhua as quickly as possible with both Mausoleum of the Emperor and Gold Sarcophagus. While it still has the basic Coelacanth OTK in the deck, it revolves around a different aggro strategy that can have both big Fish attacking. The swarm now serves as support, but will occasionally be used as the classic OTK.

El concepto basico del deck: traer a Coelacanth o Chacu Challhua lo mas rapido posible por medio de Mausoleum of the Emperor y Gold Sarcophagus. Mientras el OTK clasico sigue en el deck, no es el fin principal, ya que tiene una estrategia agresiva cual coge ventaja de ambos peces.

Monsters: 18

Coelacanth x2

EBI Chacu Challhua x2

Royal Swamp Eel x3

Nimble Sunfish x3

Oyster Meister x3

Golden Flying Fish x2

Fishborg Blaster

Phantom of Chaos

Sangan

Spells:16

Pot of Avarice x2

Moray of Greed x2

Mausoleum of the Emperor x2

Terraforming

Giant Trunade

Mystical Space Typhoon x2

Book of Moon x2

Dark Hole

Monster Reborn

Gold Sarcophagus x2

Traps: 6

Fish Depth Charge x2

Trap Stun x2

Torrential Tribute

Call of the Haunted

Archfiend Empress

Well, regionals didn't go as well as planned. Dropped after being 2-3 due to exhaustion (no place for lunch nearby and was feeling bad), but oh well...that stuff happens.

However, today's other topic is a new card I discovered upon getting back home.

Archfiend Empress...the STBL sneak promo.

Level 8/Fiend/Dark

2900/2100

If exactly 1 face-up DARK Fiend-type monster on the field would be destroyed except this card, you can remove 1 DARK Fiend-type monster from your Graveyard instead. If this card is destroyed and sent from the field to the Graveyard, you can select 1 Level 5 or higher DARK Fiend-type monster in your Graveyard, except "Archfiend Empress" and Special Summon it.

Well, this is certainly an interesting card for Fiend decks.

Protect your Caius, Dark Ruler, Dark Necrofear, or any other Fiend (perhaps Infernities) from any single destruction, but that's a rare thing.

What makes this card interesting is that when it's destroyed you bring back a high level fiend from the graveyard in exchange. Now, Dark Necrofear would be my prime candidate (gotta check the rulings, not sure at the moment), as well as Ambitious Gofer, Dirg the Dark Monarch, and Gorz.

Something fun to keep an eye on.

Regionals: Slight Preparation Tips

Heading off to Regionals soon, but first I thought I would share some quick tips for those who are going to their first regional (whether it's today or any other time).

1. Have a good breakfast: Regionals last almost all day, sometimes without lunch break. So be sure to get a good meal and bring some extra snacks and drinks if you want.

2. Bring only the essentials: Don't bring too many things to the tournament. Don't take too much stuff, or else you might lose something (whether it's misplaced or stolen).

3. Keep your sportmanship: I cannot stress how important this is. I see people sometimes flip out over something simple or become enraged when they argue with the judge. It just makes you look bad...

4. Don't yell at the judges: From experience, it's very irritating. It complicates the explanation of rulings when you are being yelled at.

5. Don't rush any plays: Take your time (but don't stall) when thinking a move. Consider all possible scenarios before acting.

6. Locate nearby food establishments: If you need a quick lunch, locate them before you enter the tourney.

7. Bathroom breaks are golden: Go after every round. I dont know why, but it helps with concentration.

8. Just have fun with it: Remember, it's still a game. So go out there and give it your best shot.

Fossil Dyna

In preparation for this saturday's Regional, Diva-Spy has been getting a few tweaks here and there. However, it might just lose the Divas that day in favor of Fossil Dyna.

Why Fossil Dyna? It has brought me good luck in all my regionals. It has helped me turn the tide.

I can flip it to destroy a post-swarm Saber/Blackwing play, help control the field with Necrovalley in play, prevent Gorz/Fader plays, keeps Heralds at bay, and then some.

Still don't know whether to make this change or not, but I will be testing during the week.

Hoping to get some regional coverage videos as well...

My 2 Decks for 10/9 Regionals

Well, it's that time again! Time to prepare for an upcoming regional. And this time I'm trying to decide between my Blackwings or my Diva-Spy deck...but I can't decide on which.
First up: DrainWings

Monsters: 19

BW Shura x3
BW Sirocco x3
BW Kalut x3
BW Bora x2
BW Vayu x2
BW Blizzard x2
BW Gale
Thunder King Rai-Oh x2
Dark Armed Dragon

Spells: 9

Black Whirlwind
Book of Moon x2
Mystical Space Typhoon x2
Giant Trunade
Allure of Darkness
Dark Hole
Monster Reborn

Traps: 12

Skill Drain x2
Bottomless Trap Hole x2
Icarus Attack x3
Trap Stun x2
Torrential Tribute
Delta Crow
Royal Oppression


Next up: Diva-Spy
Monsters: 17

Deep Sea Diva x3
Reese the Ice Mistress
Gravekeeper's Spy x3
Gravekeeper's Descendant x2
Gravekeeper's Assailant x2
Gravekeeper's Commandant x3
Malefic Stardust Dragon
Thunder King Rai-Oh x2

Spells: 11

Necrovalley x3
Gravekeeper's Stele x2
Royal Tribute x2
Book of Moon x2
Mystical Space Typhoon
Giant Trunade

Traps: 12

Dimensional Prison x2
Bottomless Trap Hole x2

Compulsory Evacuation Device x2
Torrential Tribute
Solemn Judgment
Dark Bribe

Seven Tools of the Bandit
Deck Devastation Virus
Royal Oppression