Introduction to Earth Machine (2024) - Gearframe Variant
Introduction to Earth Machine (2024) - Gearframe Variant
Overview
EARTH Machine is a deck that mixes several archetypes that share the EARTH attribute and Machine type. Generally, a deck labelled "EARTH Machine" will focus on Machina, Infinitrack, and Trains (Railway), with other archetypes splashed here and there.
Playstyle
Going first, EARTH Machine aims to build a decent - but breakable - board, disrupt the opponent's turn, then have enough follow-up to OTK on turn 3. Going second, it aims to OTK with a similar gameplan to Railway, using Loading... to plow through the opponent.
It is usually not run as a blind second deck. If you want that, then either Ancient Gear or Railway is for you. (refer to the Ancient Gear guide or Railway guide for more of those).
There are three major variants to the "Machina/Infinitrack/Trains" lineup: (Machina) Gearframe, (Machina) Metalcruncher, and Superheavy Samurai. A Gearframe build focuses more on combo and has the stronger end board. Metalcruncher is an older build, with more consistency but a lower ceiling. Superheavy Saumrai builds have stronger combos than either of those, but the SHS archetype prevents strong spells like Loading... from being used. This guide will focus solely on Gearframe decks.
What the deck is and isn't:
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It is a rogue deck.
- It is not particularly resilient against handtraps. A well-timed Ash/Imperm can end your turn more often than not. Like most rogue decks, Loading... ends your turn, unless you get Regulus out early, or if it hits the wrong part of the combo.
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It is closer to a "combo deck" than a "control deck". With a weak hand, you might perform a long combo to end on 1 negate + a Loading... effect, but on a good day, the end board can be quite respectable.
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It has a decent level of consistency. A standard Gearframe build has 11-12 starters, 9 being 1-card combos. While many of the "1-card" combos (namely those opening with Infinitrack Harvester) don't do well without extenders, this deck does have plenty of them; most of your engine can act as extenders if drawn.
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It has giant machines with high ATK!!!
Main Deck
Infinitrack
Infinitrack Harvester (2x - 3x)
One of the two main normal summons of the deck. On summon, Harvester searches out any Infinitrack monster: usually search Brutal Dozer, or if you already have Dozer, search Road Roller.
Its second effect targets a Machine monster in order to turn itself and the target's level into their combined level. You can use this on Regulus to make Harvester a level 10, on a level 10 monster to create Zeus, on Machina Fortress to get a rank 9, and so on.
Infinitrack Brutal Dozer (1x - 2x)
All level 5 Infinitracks can special summon themselves by tributing an EARTH Machine. When Dozer is special summoned from the hand, it can summon an Infinitrack from the deck. This can be used with any level 5 Infinitrack to create River Stormer, or to make a link 2. Note that Dozer's latter ability locks you into EARTH Machines, so you can't summon things like Loading... , Loading... , or Zeus after using it.
Running 1x is mandatory. Having 2x can be fine to play around handtraps.
Infinitrack Trencher (1x)
Trencher can banish itself from the GY to summon another main deck Infinitrack from the GY. Useful as an extender / combo piece.
Infinitrack Tunneller (1x)
Tunneller can banish itself from the GY to target 5 EARTH Machines, shuffle them into the deck, then draw 2 cards. Our turn 1 combos will revolve around getting enough monsters into the GY to use Tunneller effectively.
Note: Unlike Loading... , if a machine is moved out of the GY before Tunneller revolves, the draw 2 still works, so long as at least one monster is shuffled.
Infinitrack Road Roller (0x - 1x)
Road Roller summons itself from hand/GY when an EARTH Machine is tributed or banished, but is banished when leaving the field (unless it becomes Xyz material first). Also, when attached to a Machine Xyz, it forces the opponent's monsters into Defense and gives them -1000 DEF. This effect can be useful against certain decks like Mikanko and Tenpai Dragon (when it releases), though watch out if you're trying to OTK.
Road Roller acts as an extender, discard fodder, and search target when you have any level 5 Infinitrack in hand. E.g. with Trencher in hand, you can use Dozer's effect to summon Roller, then tribute Roller for Trencher, then you have Roller in the GY that can be summoned again. I recommend running it at 1x, though cutting it is technically possible.
Note: unlike in the TCG, in Master Duel, you can not chain block Harvester/Dozer/etc. with Road Roller.
Ancient Gear Box (1x)
Gear Box Box is used to search Infinitracks. When added from the deck/GY (by Loading... , Loading... , or sometimes Bullet Train on turn 2/3), it searches out an EARTH Machine with 500 ATK or 500 DEF. Valid targets include Trencher, Tunneller, and (the rarely run) Anchor Drill. You don't want to see it in your opening hand.