Notes & Combos

Started the season off by trying out @XtraptriX 's S24 build of Vern/Zoo/Traptrix. It did alright. Got to D3 pretty quickly, but sputtered around until I deranked to D4 after 38 games (from D5->D3->D4). Probably a bit due to my unfamiliarity of playing with a similar list, a bit due to my playstyle and converting it over to the build, and just some misplays/not thinking of later Vern sends well enough.

After that, I went back to my prior season's list and basically just added in 3 Bystials over Fenrir + Planet, as Branded... is horrible to play against. (60 card builds opening easy lines to Branded Fusion and opening Grass more consistently than 40 card decks) It was ok, but didn't really help me against Branded at all. It also gave me more bricks when I went up against stun/non-dark/light decks.

Following that, I went to the list I have here after SHS dropped. It still doesn't do great against Branded/VS and other problem decks, however, it did well enough to get me to M5 from the bottom of D2.

As for the deck itself, I still hate Shifter. I open it against things like Exosister/Kash often enough and I do love drawing Shifter as my 6th card after I already used 1 or another handtrap.

With the current build, I certainly did brick time to time with too many handtraps. Nib came in useful once against SHS after I used Droll on them.. but then I couldn't get a starter, so I ended up losing. Other times, Nib was a dead draw when I saw it. (Tear/Synchro when I went first, Purrely, VS, stun) Not sure of something better to use though other than Maxx C (which I'll stay off of still for now)

Never opened Pank and the only time I saw it was in the SHS game where I couldn't get started. Since I was stuck with a Gameciel and my opponent never got more than 1 monster out, I never had a chance to summon him until.. my opponent got out the rank 12 SHS that draws up to 3 cards after your opponent uses an effect. So with that and both pend scales.. and Pank being my only card, I had no chance. Maybe Fenrir can be here instead, however, I wanted something to play nicer into having 3 TT in the deck. A single Fenrir is just a waste of a card if you need to TT him without having gotten any use out of him prior.

As for other meta decks, Scareclaw/Mannadium variants are a pain too. Even going first against them, unless if I can resolve Droll, they can sometimes have too much gas to just keep going and going and going.