Yugioh Post #2: The Metagame Extra Deck, Part 2

Continuing with my post about the most common extra deck monsters found in the current metagame, this post will go over what are generally considered the most useful synchro monsters.

Part 2: Synchro


5. T.G. Hyper Librarian

1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters
If a monster is Synchro Summoned: Draw 1 card. This card must be face-up on the field to activate and to resolve this effect.

Hyper Librarian has recently gained popularity in low-level, synchro swarm decks, as it offers enormous draw power.  At a level 5 with no summoning conditions, it is also relatively easy to summon, with these types of decks.  However, Hyper Librarian is still not as widely seen as some of the other monsters on this list, as its relatively low level can make it a hassle to summon for many of the current metagame decks, which are primarily composed of level 4 monsters.

4. Goyo Guardian

1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters
When this card destroys an opponent's monster by battle and sends it to the Graveyard: You can Special Summon that monster to your side of the field in Defense Position.
Goyo Guardian was banned for the longest time, and for good reason.  Its effect allows you to basically grab any good monster your opponent has, as long as Goyo can kill it by battle.  However, with the advent of pendulum monsters, this effect got nerfed somewhat, as it requires the monster to go to the graveyard to activate, and pendulums go to the extra deck.  So........Goyo is back.  Expect to see it around in the new meta, especially in B.A.

3. Black Rose Dragon

1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters
When this card is Synchro Summoned: You can destroy all cards on the field. Once per turn: You can banish1 Plant-Type monster from your Graveyard, then target 1 Defense Position monster your opponent controls; change that target to face-up Attack Position, and if you do, its ATK becomes 0 until the end of this turn.

Black rose used to be the best option for a field nuke.  However, with the advent of pendulums, dark hole and raigeki came back, so black rose got nerfed somewhat, but black rose is still highly viable due to its capability of destroying spells/traps.  Watch out for artifacts, and black rose dragon can completely turn the tables of a duel.

2. Stardust Dragon

1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters
During either player's turn, when a card or effect is activated that would destroy a card(s) on the field: You canTribute this card; negate the activation, and if you do, destroy it. During the End Phase, if this effect was activated this turn (and was not negated): You can Special Summon this card from your Graveyard.
Stardust isn't particularly powerful on its own, but it's great for protecting your trump cards.  In addition, the fact that it's level 8 means that it is easily summoned using the most common level 4 metagame decks.  These two factors, combined with the addition of Starlight Road, have led it to become one of the most dominant synchro monsters in the current metagame.

1. Star Eater

1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters
Must be Synchro Summoned, and cannot be Special Summoned by other ways. This card's Synchro Summon cannot be negated. When Synchro Summoned, cards and effects cannot be activated. If this card attacks, it is unaffected by other card effects until the end of the Damage Step.

Star Eater's most notable feature is its unique level.  At level 11, Star Eater allows for a great deal of versatility, using high-level monsters that wouldn't normally be used for a synchro summon.  In addition, its effect guarantees that it will hit the field and be able to attack without fear of cards like mirror force and dimensional prison.  these factors combined are what make Star Eater one of the most dominant synchro monsters in the game.

Yugioh Post #1: The Metagame Extra Deck, Part 1

There are some monsters that are seen in nearly every competitive player's extra deck.  This post goes over some of them and why there are so popular.

Part 1: Xyz

#5: Hieratic Sun Dragon Overlord of Heliopolis

2 Level 8 monsters
Once per turn: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; Tribute any number of monsters from your hand and/or your side of the field (minimum 1), then destroy an equal number of cards on the field.

At least he  has a hell of an effect to compensate for that ridiculously long name.  This card used to be very popular (when hieratics were good), but has slipped somewhat into the lesser-used part of the extra deck.  However, it is still viable, due to its relatively easy summoning conditions and its powerful effect.  Given that you have enough monsters, this card could be a more controlled Black Rose Dragon.  Also, since the card tributes, it can be used to pull off crazy combos in hieratic decks, but it is nevertheless still very powerful in other high-level decks, such as Galaxy.

#4: Number 50: Blackship of Corn

2 Level 4 monsters
Once per turn: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card, then target 1 face-up monster your opponentcontrols with ATK less than or equal to this card's; send it to the Graveyard, and if you do, inflict 1000 damageto your opponent. This card cannot attack the turn you activate this effect.

Ok, to be honest, I was originally quite unintimidated by Blackship, partly because it has a ridiculous name, and partly because galaxy was never particularly afraid of it.  Now that I'm playing the current meta, Blackship is something to be aware of. It's not the biggest threat, but its effect doesn't destroy, making it a very viable easily summoned rank 4.  It's only catch is that what you can kill depends on your attack, and at a mediocre. 2100, this severely limits Blackship's ability.

#3: Number 11: Big Eye

2 Level 7 monsters
Once per turn: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card, then target 1 monster your opponent controls; take control of that monster. This card cannot attack the turn you activate this effect.

This card is probably one of the best. Great effect, simple summoning conditions, no major drawbacks, except one: most people don't play decks with a lot of level 7s, so this may not be a viable option for some players, but if you do, this card can be very dangerous.

#2: Evilswarm Exciton Knight

2 Level 4 monsters
Once per chain, during your Main Phase or your opponent's Battle Phase, if your opponent has more total cards in their hand and their side of the field than you do: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card;destroy all other cards on the field, also your opponent takes no further damage this turn (this is a Quick Effect).

Exciton Knight, the table-turner.  If your opponent activates an effect and has more cards then you, and you don't like that, you chain exciton.  This card takes a bit more care for players to realize when to play.  Although the card is very destructive and can turn duels upside down, summoning this at a wrong time could result in the loss of a trump card and possibly the duel.  Otherwise, this is arguably one of the best cards in the game.

#1: Number 101: Silent Honor Ark

2 Level 4 monsters
You can detach 2 Xyz Materials from this card, then target 1 Special Summoned monster your opponent controls in face-up Attack Position; attach it to this card as a face-up Xyz Material. You can only use this effectof "Number 101: Silent Honor ARK" once per turn. If this face-up card would be destroyed, you can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card instead.

Ark is, without a doubt, one of the most popular and useful xyz monsters in the game.  You conditionlessly take control of one of your opponent's monsters and attach it as xyz material, then detach it to save your monster if you have to.  This effect is very good because it neither destroys nor sends monsters to the graveyard, and very few monsters have effects that trigger when they are attached as xyz material.  This card can easily rid your opponent of that pesky ace monster without triggering its effects, then attack for a decent amount of damage.

k, thats it for xyzs.  Plz check back tomorrow for synchros!

Let's begin, shall we

So sometimes when I'm playing a game, or just thinking about my strategies, I come up with things that I just want to write down or talk about with someone.  Thus, I decided t take my friend's example, and make a blog to discuss my gaming strats (however bad they may be), among other things.  Please note that I am in general a casual player.  Although I try to stay up-to-date with any "metagame ", the majority of the things here will probably end up being about strategies I like to play, regardless of their effectiveness of competitive play.

K here goes