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MelosWoodlanders
03-24-2005, 09:46 PM
3.22.05 Article 5: Deck Analysis: Yata-Garasu Control
Updated for the October 2005 Restriction List
It has been nearly two months, but I’m back again with a new article. This article discusses about the overplayed Yata-Garasu Control Deck in the Traditional Format. The Yata-Garasu Control Deck is the most common Control/Hand Disruption Deck played in the Traditional Format.

Control and Hand Disruption usually mean the same thing, but Control has multiple uses. Hand Disruption Decks tend to control what their opponents can do by limiting the amount of cards they have. If your opponent is stuck with two cards, they will have to use them. If your opponent has one move they can make, you can usually counter it with minimum loss of resources or without worry of a decoy. Control Decks are generally Hand Disruption Decks, but can be also named for Decks that control any part of the game. Field Control Decks can prevent your opponent from getting anything on to the field. Monster Control Decks use cards like “Snatch Steal” and “Jowls of Dark Demise” to use your opponent’s monsters against them.

The Yata-Garasu Control Deck was once the king of the Traditional Format, until Chaos Decks took the throne. The Yata-Garasu Control Deck is still probably one of the strongest Decks in the Traditional Format. This article discusses about the basic Yata-Garasu Control Deck, what it needs to function properly, and what you can do to help counter it.

Since the release of Legacy of Darkness, the Control Deck has become a popular and favorite Deck theme for many. Legacy of Darkness brought with it one very important card for the Traditional Format Control Deck. Yata-Garasu! If you haven’t seen a “Yata-Garasu” in your life, you’re lucky…

Yata-Garasu
Spirit Monster (Fiend / WIND / 2 Stars / ATK 200 / DEF 100)
This card cannot be Special Summoned. This card returns to the owner's hand during the End Phase of the turn that it is Normal Summoned, Flip Summoned or flipped face-up. When this card inflicts Battle Damage to your opponent's Life Points, your opponent skips his/her next Draw Phase.

Almost all Traditional Format Hand Disruption Decks use “Yata-Garasu”. This little bird is the scariest creature many have played against, before Chaos Decks came into the world. “Yata-Garasu” may seem weak, but can be very deadly in the right situation… “Yata-Garasu” has 200 ATK, which won’t kill a whole lot. This allows “Yata-Garasu” to attack while “Messenger of Peace” is on the field. 100 DEF will only stop a small handful of Monster Cards without being destroyed. Your opponent should (and hopefully will) never attack with anything with 100 ATK or less... “Yata-Garasu” is a Spirit Monster, so he has all the advantages and disadvantages of one. Being a Spirit Monster is actually beneficial to “Yata-Garasu”, because his pathetic stats won’t keep him alive on the field. Being Level 2, “Yata-Garasu” can attack while “Gravity Bind” and “Level Limit - Area B” are on the field, which can be helpful.

The power of “Yata-Garasu” comes from his game-breaking effect. When “Yata-Garasu” inflicts Battle Damage to your opponent's Life Points, your opponent skips his/her next Draw Phase. If your opponent cannot stop “Yata-Garasu” from attacking directly, you can simply summon and attack with “Yata-Garasu” each turn. Your opponent will be unable to replenish his/her hand, as long as you continue your “Yata-Garasu” turn-by-turn onslaught. You will continue to draw, until you are prepared to deliver an unstoppable, finishing blow to your opponent. This famous tactic is known as the Yata-Lock.


Deck Example
The following is a Yata-Garasu Control Deck that I have made and found to be very destructive, in the Traditional Format. “Yata-Garasu” is currently on the Forbidden Card list in the Advanced Format, so I cannot make/play an Advanced Format Yata-Garasu Control Deck. Please keep in mind that this Yata-Garasu Control Deck is not perfect, but should give you an idea on how a Yata-Garasu Control Deck should look.

The Curse of Yata-Garasu
Traditional Format
Deck Size: 40
Monster Cards: 16
Spell Cards: 16
Trap Cards: 8

Monster Cards (Level 5+)
x1 Jinzo

Monster Cards (Level 1-4)
x2 Berserk Gorilla
x1 Breaker the Magical Warrior
x2 D.D. Assailant
x1 D.D. Warrior Lady
x2 Don Zaloog
x1 Magical Scientist
x1 Sangan
x1 Sinister Serpent
x1 Spirit Reaper
x1 Tribe-Infecting Virus
x1 Witch of the Black Forest
x1 Yata-Garasu

Spell Cards
x1 Change of Heart
x1 Confiscation
x1 Dark Hole
x1 Delinquent Duo
x1 Graceful Charity
x1 Harpie's Feather Duster
x1 Heavy Storm
x1 Monster Reborn
x1 Mystical Space Typhoon
x1 Painful Choice
x1 Pot of Greed
x1 Premature Burial
x1 Raigeki
x1 Snatch Steal
x1 Swords of Revealing Light
x1 The Forceful Sentry

Trap Cards
x1 Call of the Haunted
x3 Drop Off
x1 Imperial Order
x1 Mirror Force
x1 Ring of Destruction
x1 Torrential Tribute

Fusion Deck
x3 Dark Balter the Terrible
x3 Dark Flare Knight
x3 Dragoness the Wicked Knight
x3 Empress Judge
x1 Thousand-Eyes Restrict

Side Deck
x1 Dust Tornado
x3 Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer
x3 Magic Drain
x2 Nobleman of Crossout
x3 Soul Release
x3 Time Seal

Control Decks win by controlling what your opponent’s options are. “Jinzo” helps control what your opponent can play. They are unable to play Trap Cards while “Jinzo” is on the field. “Jinzo” can easily be brought out on to the field in the Traditional Format, by a number of ways. A popular tactic is to discard “Jinzo” with “Graceful Charity” and revive him with “Monster Reborn”.

I use “Berserk Gorilla” in this Deck as a beast of war. “Berserk Gorilla” can overcome the majority of Level 4 monsters, which are extremely common in the Traditional Format. The beast can be very useful, even with his horrible effect. 2000 ATK can also take out one-fourth of your opponent’s Life Points.

Next, I have “Breaker the Magical Warrior”. This Spellcaster-Type monster can be very useful. Destroying 1 Spell Card or Trap Card on the field can help clear the way for a brutal onslaught. You can also use him as a 1900 ATK beatstick, if you don’t need to use his Spell Counter. “D.D. Warrior Lady”, “D.D. Assailant”, and “Tribe-Infecting Virus” provided excellent monster removal in this Deck. There will be times when you can’t kill your opponent’s creatures. “Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning” can be a real pain without these monsters.

“Sinister Serpent” is a great card. This little snake is great for protection, discarding, and sacrificing. “Sinister Serpent” works dreadfully well with “Tribe-Infecting Virus”. “Magical Scientist” provides monster removal, temporary field advantage, as well as a multitude of other things. Just don’t use him too much, as he costs a hefty amount of Life Points. I use “Sangan” and “Witch of the Black Forest” to help maintain a constant hand. They also provide me certain monsters I need, such as “Yata-Garasu”.

“Spirit Reaper” is a very powerful zombie. This petite specter can protect you from an army. “Spirit Reaper” is also useful for a tribute, if you have “Jinzo” in your hand. You can also use “Spirit Reaper” to discard cards from your opponent’s hand. This can be very useful, for creating a perfect situation for a Yata-Lock. “Don Zaloog” is also useful for his 1400 ATK, being searchable by “Sangan” and “Witch of the Black Forest”, and his discarding effect. Control Decks thrive when their opponents have few options to choose from, if anything. Discarding cards from your opponent’s hand helps with that.

For Spell Cards, you have the staples and near staples. You will need “Call of the Haunted”, “Change of Heart”, “Dark Hole”, “Graceful Charity”, “Harpie's Feather Duster”, “Imperial Order”, “Mirror Force”, “Monster Reborn”, “Pot of Greed”, “Premature Burial”, “Raigeki”, “Snatch Steal”, “Swords of Revealing Light”, “Torrential Tribute”. Most of them are vital in the Traditional Format.

Next are the three Pre-Negaters. I use “Confiscation”, “Delinquent Duo”, and “The Forceful Sentry” for their powerful hand discarding effects. Control Decks thrive on limiting your opponent’s options. Hand advantage is a big role in the popularity and power of the Control Deck. Each of them can provide an awesome advantage against the majority of Decks played. “Drop Off” is also useful for playing the role of hand depletion. “Drop Off” is often replaced with “Time Seal”, for both have the same job. They just do it a different way.

“Heavy Storm” and “Mystical Space Typhoon” are used to destroy unwanted Trap Cards. “Painful Choice” can be great at times. The monsters that are thrown into the Graveyard are candidates for the revival cards like “Monster Reborn”. You can always toss out cards from your Deck that you don’t want to draw too. Deck thinning is good!

In the Side Deck, I have “Dust Tornado” to help out against Stall Decks. “Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer” is useful against the ever popular Chaos Decks. “Soul Release” is needed to help eliminate Chaos threats. The extra “Magic Drain” allow me to stop more Spell Cards, if I ever need them. “Nobleman of Crossout” kills Decks that use too many Flip-Effect monsters. I can switch out “Drop Off” for “Time Seal”, if I ever need to do so. “Drop Off” has the potential of eliminating cards like “Fiber Jar” and “Raigeki”, but can also give an extra LIGHT or DARK monster in the Graveyard. Or worse; my opponent can get a “Sinister Serpent”.


Modifying the Deck
There are many ways to make your Yata-Garasu Control Deck different from all of the others. These can be low budget fixes, or simply putting your personal touch. You should always make your Deck your own. The following are some ways you can modify your Yata-Garasu Control Deck…

If you really want, change the theme of the Deck. There are many kinds of Decks out there, and you can easily build a different kind of Control Deck. Try out “Cold Wave”, “Non Aggression Area”, etc. You can make a Chaos Control Deck, Cold Wave Control Deck, Zombie Control Deck, etc. so there are many possibilities out there for your Control Deck.

If you prefer, use 3 “Berserk Gorilla”, 3 “Don Zaloog”, or even 3 “White Magical Hat” in your Control Deck. If you feel you need more brute force, the extra “Berserk Gorilla” can help. If you cannot get your hands on “Don Zaloog”, or prefer Level 3 Spellcaster-Type monsters, “White Magical Hat” is a good replacement. If you need more hand destruction, a 3rd “Don Zaloog” can help you in that goal.

If you want, you can change this Deck so it is playable in with the Advanced Format. Changing the Deck for the Advanced Format is totally different. There are many cards you can use to change the Deck for the Advanced Format, but “Yata-Garasu” is banned in the Advanced Format.

I’ve seen a few Control Decks that do not use “Yata-Garasu”. If you prefer not to use certain cards, don’t use them! Run your own set of Monster, Spell, and Trap Cards if you want. Make your Side Deck your own as well, by having cards that work great in your area. If you absolutely want to use “Forced Requisition”, then use it!


Strengths
The Yata-Garasu Control Deck uses hand disruption to limit your opponent’s options. Your opponent can make more moves if they have a larger hand. If you limit their hand to the minimum, they will have to play their cards your one way. If you properly keep their hand in check, you will be able to easily counter or be ready for their only move. With a successful counter, they would be incapable of stopping your offense. A simple Yata-Lock has taken down many Duelists, because they did not keep monsters in their hand. Your opponent will have a tough time dealing with constantly maintaining a hand, and still play with their Deck’s full efficiency. With the help of the many field removal cards, such as “D.D. Assailant”, and hand disruption cards, such as “Delinquent Duo”, your opponent will fall victim to the curse of Yata-Garasu.


Weaknesses
Hand control is the key to the survival and success of the Hand Disruption Deck. If your opponent manages their hand effectively, they can save their resources for a brutal finishing blow. Most monsters in the Deck do not have high ATK, so strong monsters can overcome them. If your opponent uses protective cards for their monsters, or even cards that negate the many monster effects you use, you may lose. Cards like “Dark Ruler Ha Des” can really be a problem as your “D.D. Assailant” won’t help. “Skill Drain” can really be nasty, as many of your monsters lose their useful effects. If your opponent can make a swift counter attack when you lack monster removal, you can find yourself defeated very quickly.

Due to the lack of monster ATK, this Deck uses a lot of monster removal. “Imperial Order” naturally crushes this Deck, because many of the powerful support are lost. If your opponent doesn’t rely on monsters, you may have a hard time successfully countering them. Other Control Decks can be tough as well. If you lose your hand, you will be under their control. You must always keep a constant hand presence.


In conclusion, the Yata-Garasu Control Deck is a fun and very competitive Deck to play. The Yata-Garasu Control Deck limits your opponent’s hand, which limits what your opponent can do. If you have the cards or like to play a very competitive Deck, try this type of Deck out. You may like it.


Want to give me feedback? Just post it here :).

Until next time…
-Melos Woodlanders

Previous Articles
Article 1: More Fiery Support? (http://www.pojo.biz/board/showthread.php?p=1043817#post1043817)
Article 2: Spell Security (http://www.pojo.biz/board/showthread.php?t=106179)
Article 3: Deck Analysis: Skill Drain (http://www.pojo.biz/board/showthread.php?t=109024)
Article 4: Deck Analysis: Zombie (http://www.pojo.biz/board/showthread.php?t=120570)

MelosWoodlanders
04-11-2005, 10:19 AM
I've updated all of my Deck Analysis for the new Restriction List. Enjoy!

UnKn0wn F3ar
04-16-2005, 12:37 PM
good, but no one uses Tarditional.

Milkyway13
04-16-2005, 03:49 PM
Very informative article Melos.

fusion duelist
04-16-2005, 08:41 PM
good, but no one uses Tarditional.

Some people do. I think it's fun to play traditional every so often.

MelosWoodlanders
04-21-2005, 09:48 AM
Thanks everyone for the feedback. It seems like fewer people play the Traditional Format (at least on Pojo), but many people have to play in the Traditional Format in their area. In my meta, the Advanced Format is looked down upon somewhat, so Traditional Format Decks are running rampant. At the local card shop I go, they only play in the Traditional Format. Some say that the owner doesn't want to lose his Staples lol.

I can play at another card shop, not too far away, but their prizes suck and it costs too much. It costs somewhere like $10 to enter, but you get a booster (so what...) and it is aways packed. You have to call them days ahead of time to keep a spot, or they won't have enough space. You only get a box of boosters if you get 1st place; 2nd is nothing. The last thing I need is more common cards, or even cards I'll never use.

At the card shop where I normally play, it's Traditional Format. It costs like $7, you get a booster, but there is prizes for the top 3-4 (depending on how many go). The prizes range from like $20 to a booster pack (or $5). They also hold pracitice tournaments, where it costs $1 but if you get in the top 3-4 you can duel the owner for a booster pack. For the most part, I duel for fun.

3vi1 1337 DJ
04-21-2005, 10:49 AM
I'd say replace the Dark Flares with Dark Blade the Dragon Knight. Other than that, nice article. I'm thinking of starting my own series...

MelosWoodlanders
04-22-2005, 09:15 AM
I'd say replace the Dark Flares with Dark Blade the Dragon Knight. Other than that, nice article. I'm thinking of starting my own series...

Thanks for the feedback :). It wouldn't hurt me to put in "Dark Blade the Dragon Knight" and other Fusions. Good luck with your new series 3vi1 1337 DJ! I would love to read it :).

MelosWoodlanders
09-25-2005, 02:51 PM
Updated for the October 2005 Restriction List

mech-hound
11-11-2005, 01:14 PM
Time seal instead of drop off.

MelosWoodlanders
11-11-2005, 01:21 PM
Time seal instead of drop off.
I have 3 "Time Seal" in the Side Deck, so I can always swap it with "Drop Off". "Drop Off" allows me to kill "Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning" and "Chaos Emperor Dragon - Envoy of the End" permanently though.

burger917
11-11-2005, 05:41 PM
add decree not jinzo. +spell canceler +lightning vortex

MelosWoodlanders
11-12-2005, 05:33 PM
This is Traditional Format, so "Lightning Vortex" is not needed at all. This Deck uses "Dark Hole", "Raigeki", "Tribe-Infecting Virus", etc. "Jinzo" is much better than "Royal Decree" in this Deck, as you can time when you summon it. Also, 2400 ATK is nothing to laugh at and will only last on the field for a couple of turns max. "Royal Decree" is more likely to backfire than "Jinzo". "Spell Canceller" isn't worth it in this Deck either.

UFOroidFighter
11-12-2005, 06:00 PM
Time seal instead of drop off.
Why? :cool:

MelosWoodlanders
11-12-2005, 07:22 PM
Time Seal vs. Drop Off

Why Team Seal?
Your opponent will not be able to revive that card, if it was a "Jinzo", etc. It doesn't go to the Graveyard, so they cannot remove it for "Gigantes", "Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning", or even "Skull Lair".

Why Drop Off?
You can get rid of "Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning" and "Yata-Garasu". You can get rid of "Mirror Force" and "Raigeki" instead of delaying it.

There are many other reasons, pros and cons too.

tylerG
11-25-2005, 08:01 PM
Great Article, but I don't play traditional :(

MelosWoodlanders
12-11-2005, 02:32 PM
Great Article, but I don't play traditional :(

Thanks for the feedback.

MelosWoodlanders
12-14-2005, 10:31 PM
Thanks everyone for reading my articles . For those of you that would like to read my 6th article, come to Article 6: Deck Analysis: Lord of D. (http://www.pojo.biz/board/showthread.php?t=237946).

kingPoonDragun
12-16-2005, 12:57 AM
Wow. that was a truly detailed and organized look at your deck as well as where it may fit in the meta. 10/10!
Drop off does leaves B.L.S. open however to warrior returning alive, wich is slim but not permanant. :p


this may not seem all that unfamiliar, but here goes.

Tributes:5
B.L.S. envoy
C.E.D. envoy
Jinzo
Airknight Parshath x2

Monsters:16
YATA-GARASU! ...duh
Tsukuyomi
Don Zaloog x3
Spirit Reaper x3
Sangan
Witch of the Black Forest
Magician of Faith x3
D.D. Warrior Lady
Blade Knight
sinister serpent

Spells:17
Dilenquent Duo
The Forceful Sentry
Painful Choice (There it is!)
Metamorphosis (magical is side-decked, from what ive observed you need like 60 card fusion to run properly... not gonna do that.)
Graceful Charity
Pot of Greed
Scapegoat
Swords of Revealing Light
Creature swap x2
Harpies Feather Duster
The Warrior Returning Alive
Heavy Storm
Change of Heart
Raigeki
Monster Reborn
Premature Burial

Traps:
Time seal x2 (just can't quite seem to squeeze a third in, remove scapegoat?)
Torrential Tribute
Call of the Haunted
Ring of Destruction

Fusions:
Thousand-Eyes Restrict
Reaper on the Nightmare x3<---This is a good key to some MAJOR disruption
Dark Baltar the Terrible x3
Gatling Dragon x3
Cyber Twin Dragon x2

Darkriku3
12-16-2005, 02:49 PM
traditonals, bah, if I wanted to play an unfair setup, i'd play tradtionals, sure, advanced is in CC mode (though I am WAY out there with my dark world deck right now) tradtionals will always be dubbed, the most unfair card game meta in the history of metas.
i mean do I really have to put them all down, ALL of the broken cards that are just plain EVIL.

Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning
Butterfly Dagger - Elma
Change of Heart
Chaos Emperor Dragon - Envoy of the End
Delinquent Duo
Fiber Jar
Graceful Charity
Harpie's Feather Duster
Imperial Order
Magical Scientist
Makyura the Destructor
Mirage of Nightmare
Mirror Force
Monster Reborn
Painful Choice
Pot of Greed
Raigeki
Ring of Destruction
Sinister Serpent
The Forceful Sentry
Tribe-Infecting Virus
Witch of the Black Forest
Yata-Garasu

god I HATE these cards, well, most of them anyways, it makes for a very unstable game if your opponents hand looks like this
Rigeki/darkhole
heavy/feather
yata
dilenquint
-random filler after this

i mean thats it, you lose, they win!
and with yata being searchabe by sangan and witch, and there being pot, graceful, and painful choice here, do you REALLY think this is a fair game?
no, and it shouldn't be looked apon as such, most of these cards were banned for a reason, because 1) cards became to abusable, or (and this is the usual with the idiots that run this game) 2) they failed to see the abusabilty of these cards and banned them after they were abused, hiding them on traditionals, or as I call it "konami's mistake list".

who even TALKS about traditionals anymore, I mean, I thought it was understood that playing in tradtionals was about as fun as kicking your own ass, and usually ended up very much so.
sorry, Melo's, I just can't understand how you play this man, its crazy, your a braver (or dumber, you being the decider here) man than I'll ever be.

Chaos-Kycoo
12-16-2005, 08:44 PM
For this Yata Lock Technique you will need the following cards(On the Field or Hand):
Drop off [2]
spirit reaper[1]
Yata garusu [1]
Heavy Storm [1]
dark hole or Final destiny [1]

1st : Play Dark hole and Heavy storm to clear the field then summon spirit reaper.

Your opponents turn: He draws and you activate drop off. Since he cant do any thing its your turn again.

2nd: now summon Yata and start the yata lock. Attack with yata until you win.