Thank you for taking the time to check out this article. This is the first in a mini-series that I am creating to aid all duelists to find solutions against the current metagame. So many people post there decks only to see staples being added to them, some of which don't actually fit the style of deck, but might be enough to force those duelists to return to cards that are currently used by everyone else. I am hoping this mini-series of article about 'Shaking the Metagame' will give all duelists, including myself, the ability to look beyond the current metagame and to try our hardest to come up with solutions against the decks that always seem to win. One thing I would like to say before beginning, there are answers out there somewhere, all we need to do is look, and playtest (that includes myself as well).
To begin these articles, I have looked at two cards, one of which has hardly had much mention and has quite possibly been forgotten to the depths of peoples binders for all time, gathering dust. Lets brush the dust off of these cards and get them out into some fresh air.
Both cards have the same ability of stopping targetted Spell card effects against monsters on the field (note on the field, this means you can use it against your opponents monsters and your own, but remember this is for monsters, not monsters that have become equip spell cards) that are in face up or face down positions. One thing that I should point out above anything else with these cards is that both effects of negating targetted Spell effects are free. Thats right, free (other than Spell Shield Type-8s spell negating effect which requires the discard of a spell card to negate and destroy it); meaning that you can stop these cards without giving up any hand advantage at all, how sweet is that. The majority of decks are using far more targetting spell cards of recent which means both these cards are starting to have more use. Their time is coming. Lets list some of the cards that these two can stop (this applies to both Advanced and Traditional games.
Change of Heart
Snatch Steal
Brain Control
Book of Moon
Nobleman of Crossout
Metamorphosis
Enemy Controller
Nitro Unit
Legendary Black Belt
Offerings to the Doomed
Dark Core
Tribute to The Doomed
Book of Taiyou
Impenetrable Formation
Gift of the Martyr
Double Attack
Back to Square One
Ballista of Rampart Smashing
Flint
Necklace of Command
Fusion Weapon
Ritual Weapon
I've included quite a few cards, but listed the most popular at the top of the list and it's those that tend to be the most used in the current metagame. Seven cards (Six for advanced if you miss out Change of Heart) is a lot to negate for free and couple of these are sometimes run in 2's meaning it will be easier to stop them. Now here are a list of cards that the above cannot stop (except for Spell Shield Type-8 which can stop some of these but need the discard of a spell card to do it)
Dark Hole (Non-Targetting)
Raigeki (Non-Targetting)
Monster Reborn (Graveyard target)
Premature Burial (Graveyard target)
Lightning Vortex (Non-Targetting)
Smashing Ground (Non-Targetting)
Fissure (Non-Targetting)
Creature Swap (Non-Targetting)
Mystical Space Typhoon (Targets Spells/Traps not monsters - SST8 only)
Heavy Storm (SST8 only)
The second effect of Spell Shield Type-8, is not so popular at present, it's ability to negate and destroy a spell card by simply discarding from your hand mirrors Magic Jammer in almost everyway. However, the fact that it has to be a Spell card is what makes this card less unplayable. It seems Spells are very valuable to players out there. Other than that, the ability to negate a tragetted effect for free and having the option of stopping any spell card out there has got to be worth something.
The only cards that let these 2 down are Smashing Ground, Fissure and Creature Swap. These are played in a lot of the top tier decks and are essentially free monster destroyers. They can apply their effect to a single monster on the field and the only way to stop these is to use an effect similar to Spell Shield Type-8 spell discard negation and destroy. Currently I am still looking for effective methods to stop these and it seems the best free way is Book of Moon (except for Creature Swap which applies to face up and face down cards). If anyone has any opinion on how to stop these cards please post as I am sure it will be helpful to everyone.
Riryoku Field was forgotten almost immediatly, at the time of release there were not too many spells cards available that warranted it's use. The same goes for Spell Shield Type-8, both are great cards but ahead of their time for the Metagame. Banished to the binders in peoples houses, Riryoku and Spell Shield Type-8 were forgotten until just recently when Spell Shields effect was mentioned and it has had some sort of a mini return, all thanks to the structure decks Fury of the Deep and Blaze of Destruction. Riryoku can be acquired as a common from Structure Deck Kaiba Evolution.
Thank you for reading this whole article, if you did get this far. I hope you have found the information useful and helpful. Please vote on the poll to tell me how you felt about the article and provide any comments of your own. Much appreciated.
To begin these articles, I have looked at two cards, one of which has hardly had much mention and has quite possibly been forgotten to the depths of peoples binders for all time, gathering dust. Lets brush the dust off of these cards and get them out into some fresh air.
Riryoku Field
Group: Trap Card
Type: Trap
Icon:Counter
Negate the activation of a Spell Card that designates 1 monster on the field as a target and destroy the Spell Card.
"¢ This card cannot be used against "Monster Reborn" or "Premature Burial" since they do not target a monster on the field.
"¢ This card cannot be used against "Fissure", "Smashing Ground", or "Dark Hole" because these cards do not target.
"¢ [Re: Black Pendant] If this card's activation is negated, such as with "Magic Jammer" or "Riryoku Field" it does not do damage to your opponent.
"¢ [Re: Creature Swap] The opponent cannot chain "Fairy's Hand Mirror", "Riryoku Field", or "Shift" to "Creature Swap" because it does not target. For the same reason, "Lord of D." does not prevent Dragon-Type monsters from being selected, and "Freed the Matchless General" will not negate the effect of "Creature Swap".
"¢ [Re: Curse of Royal] You can use Curse of Royal against cards like "Magic Jammer", "Seven Tools of the Bandit", "Solemn Judgment", "Curse of Royal", "Mystical Space Typhoon", "Dust Tornado", "Magic Drain", "Riryoku Field", "Judgment of Anubis", etc.
Spell Shield Type-8
Group: Trap Card
Type: Trap
Icon:Counter
Select and activate 1 of the following effects: "¢ Negate the activation and the effect of a Spell Card that designates 1 monster on the field as a target and destroy the Spell Card. "¢ Discard 1 Spell Card from your hand to the Graveyard to negate the activation and the effect of a Spell Card and destroy it
"¢ Discarding a Spell Card for "Spell Shield Type-8" is a cost.
"¢ Follow the rulings of Riryoku Field for the targetting effects of Spell Shield Type-8
Both cards have the same ability of stopping targetted Spell card effects against monsters on the field (note on the field, this means you can use it against your opponents monsters and your own, but remember this is for monsters, not monsters that have become equip spell cards) that are in face up or face down positions. One thing that I should point out above anything else with these cards is that both effects of negating targetted Spell effects are free. Thats right, free (other than Spell Shield Type-8s spell negating effect which requires the discard of a spell card to negate and destroy it); meaning that you can stop these cards without giving up any hand advantage at all, how sweet is that. The majority of decks are using far more targetting spell cards of recent which means both these cards are starting to have more use. Their time is coming. Lets list some of the cards that these two can stop (this applies to both Advanced and Traditional games.
Change of Heart
Snatch Steal
Brain Control
Book of Moon
Nobleman of Crossout
Metamorphosis
Enemy Controller
Nitro Unit
Legendary Black Belt
Offerings to the Doomed
Dark Core
Tribute to The Doomed
Book of Taiyou
Impenetrable Formation
Gift of the Martyr
Double Attack
Back to Square One
Ballista of Rampart Smashing
Flint
Necklace of Command
Fusion Weapon
Ritual Weapon
I've included quite a few cards, but listed the most popular at the top of the list and it's those that tend to be the most used in the current metagame. Seven cards (Six for advanced if you miss out Change of Heart) is a lot to negate for free and couple of these are sometimes run in 2's meaning it will be easier to stop them. Now here are a list of cards that the above cannot stop (except for Spell Shield Type-8 which can stop some of these but need the discard of a spell card to do it)
Dark Hole (Non-Targetting)
Raigeki (Non-Targetting)
Monster Reborn (Graveyard target)
Premature Burial (Graveyard target)
Lightning Vortex (Non-Targetting)
Smashing Ground (Non-Targetting)
Fissure (Non-Targetting)
Creature Swap (Non-Targetting)
Mystical Space Typhoon (Targets Spells/Traps not monsters - SST8 only)
Heavy Storm (SST8 only)
The second effect of Spell Shield Type-8, is not so popular at present, it's ability to negate and destroy a spell card by simply discarding from your hand mirrors Magic Jammer in almost everyway. However, the fact that it has to be a Spell card is what makes this card less unplayable. It seems Spells are very valuable to players out there. Other than that, the ability to negate a tragetted effect for free and having the option of stopping any spell card out there has got to be worth something.
The only cards that let these 2 down are Smashing Ground, Fissure and Creature Swap. These are played in a lot of the top tier decks and are essentially free monster destroyers. They can apply their effect to a single monster on the field and the only way to stop these is to use an effect similar to Spell Shield Type-8 spell discard negation and destroy. Currently I am still looking for effective methods to stop these and it seems the best free way is Book of Moon (except for Creature Swap which applies to face up and face down cards). If anyone has any opinion on how to stop these cards please post as I am sure it will be helpful to everyone.
Riryoku Field was forgotten almost immediatly, at the time of release there were not too many spells cards available that warranted it's use. The same goes for Spell Shield Type-8, both are great cards but ahead of their time for the Metagame. Banished to the binders in peoples houses, Riryoku and Spell Shield Type-8 were forgotten until just recently when Spell Shields effect was mentioned and it has had some sort of a mini return, all thanks to the structure decks Fury of the Deep and Blaze of Destruction. Riryoku can be acquired as a common from Structure Deck Kaiba Evolution.
Thank you for reading this whole article, if you did get this far. I hope you have found the information useful and helpful. Please vote on the poll to tell me how you felt about the article and provide any comments of your own. Much appreciated.