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!