Posts Tagged ‘Yu-Gi-Oh!’

There is a type of special monster card identified by a white border.  These are known as Synchro Summons.  All of them possess some form of effect, but unlike orange Effect monsters, these creatures are stored in the extra deck.  Up to 15 cards can be kept in the extra deck (this includes any Fusion monsters in there also), with each copy of a monster card limited to 3.  Note that some Synchro Summons are limited (restricted to 1 copy) or semi-limited (restricted to 2 copies) such as Goyo Guardian.

Summoning a Synchro Summon requires at least two creatures.  One is a Tuner monster, a special type of creature that works as a catalyst for the summon.  The other creatures can be any type of creature, whether it be Ritual, Fusion, Normal, Effect, or even another Synchro Monster so long as they are not a Tuner monster.  Only one Tuner monster is permitted in each Synchro Summon.  The total number of stars should equal to the star value of the Synchro Summon.  Also note that some Synchro Summons have restrictions on the monsters used to summon them, such as Mist Wurm(requiring 2 or more non-Tuner monsters) or Nitro Warrior(restricted to using Nitro Synchron as the Tuner monster).

Synchro Summoning at first looks like a bad idea, since spending two cards to produce one monster is usually card advantage.  While some Synchro Summons offer no chance of repairing card disadvantage, some do.  One example is this:

The mighty Black Rose Dragon can clear the board, destroying the field while leaving the rest of the turn for you to set up traps and spells.

Another technique used to create advantage with Synchro Summons is through the theft of your opponent’s creatures.  Cards such as Mind Control and Brain Control can be used to hijack an opponent’s creature to contribute your own Synchro Summon.  By doing so, you’re denying them one creature (and possibly shifting game momentum) to produce a creature of your own.  If your opponent invested in more than just the creature itself, then it’s even better.  Note that this is somewhat difficult, but a general rule is to expect at a level 4 monster from your opponent.

Stay tuned for more tips when dealing with Synchro Summons.

Get in the duel,
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As seen in my last post, card advantage is a key part of winning Yu-Gi-Oh!  Sometimes you’ll be giving your opponent card advantage to help your cause.  This is how you bribe your opponent.

Check out this card:

While you will be countering an opponent’s spell or trap (from now on, referenced as S/T) card, Dark Bribe replaces the spent S/T card with a new one from the opponent’s deck.  In a vacuum, you’ll be giving your opponent 0 card advantage while giving yourself -1 card advantage.

I consider this to be one of the most misplayed cards in the game since people counter the wrong spells.  Sure, Dark Bribe has a powerful effect, but it comes at a cost.  To use this card effectively, one of the following conditions should be met:

• The outcome increases the chance to win – If a countered spell tries to counter act the chance of you winning (ie Mirror Force), then that is an appropriate time to use it.  Don’t waste this card to counter a spell that doesn’t directly pose a threat, such as a draw spell.
• The outcome decreases the chance to lose should you be winning- There’s an important caveat I want to clarify here–not losing the game is not the same as winning the game.  For example, you could be stalling out a game with life gain or stall cards but not moving the game forward by utilizing a win condition.  If you Dark Bribe a card in this scenario, chances are you’ll still lose the game.  However, should you be on the road to winning, a well-timed Bribe (ie Card Destruction aimed at your hand of Exodia pieces) will clinch you the game.

The important concept to understand is inevitability.  Either your opponent will win the game, you will win the game, or the game will end in a draw.  Dark Bribe should be used to increase percentage of you winning.  That is, unless you like losing.

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