I decided on Friday that I would be playing Fire Fists, no matter what. I spent the majority of the day playtesting and experimenting thoroughly. I noticed that this deck completely loses to Mermails, which was kinda scary. It has good or decent match-ups against everything else, though.
The variant I brought to Locals wasn't much different than normal variants. I played 3 Vorse Raider and 3 Gene-Warped Warewolf because I played 2 Rescue Rabbit, and because strong monsters are good. I also decided to incorporate 3 Forbidden Lance. Every decklist I've seen utilizes 2, and I don't see why you wouldn't want to play 3. It has so much utility with Bear and Gorilla, and they can save you from basic spells/traps. Anyway, onto the Local report:
Round 1 vs Patrick (Lightsworn)
1 - I opened with 3 Vorse Raider and 1 Warewolf, as well as 2 traps. If he wasn't such a bad player, he probably would've been able to overcome what I had. Those 4 monsters made me a Tiger King with the first 2, and the other 2 made a Steelswarm Roach, to lock down his double Judgment Dragon plays.
2 - I just raped him with Bear shenanigans. I didn't need to make Roach to lock him down because I beat him so quickly.
2-0
Round 2 vs Anthony (Dark World)
1 - He became monster locked early on. I eventually made an Abyss Dweller for when he did have plays...
2 - This was pretty much the same as game 1...
2-0
Round 3 vs David Bui (Mono Mermail)
1 - I opened with Rescue Rabbit and summoned 2 Warewolf. Then I played Tensu and normal summoned my other Warewolf. I made Shock Master declaring Monster effects. On my next turn, I reduced quite a bit of his life points. On his next turn, he used Abyssphere to summon Abyssleed, and attacked over Shock Master. I attempted to weaken it with Forbidden Lance, but he responded with Solemn Judgment. Monster effects were still negated so he ended his turn. I used Bear's effect to destroy Abyssleed, and attacked for game, courtesy of Horn of the Phantom Beast.
2 - I don't remember the details, but he won because he eventually rushed me, and he already eliminated my answers with other cards.
3 - I lost because I didn't draw a single monster...
1-2
Round 4 vs Rori (Dark Worlds)
1 - He won because of ridiculous Dark World plays, and ripping almost my whole hand apart in the first 3 turns.
2 - His options were limited because of what he drew. I chose to use Solemn Judgment a crucial discard outlet, and that won me the game.
3 - He didn't have too many discard outlets, but he did have enough to do what he needs to do best... Fortunately I had answers, Dimension Fissure put in work. It ended up being a top-decking war, and I won by drawing a monster to make Gagaga Cowboy and burn for game.
2-1
Top 4 of this tournament was myself, David Bui, Kyle (Hunders) and Ryan K. (Karakuri OTK).
Round 5 vs Ryan K. (Karakuri OTK)
1 - He won the die roll and ended up making 2 Bureido, Stardust and Naturia Beast. He set Trap Stun, so the traps I set to help survive the onslaught were negated...
2 - I go first, and I have the traps to stop him from doing anything crazy.
3 - This was very similar to game 1, only he didn't make Stardust. So I set Fossil Dyna and 3 Backrow. On his turn, he switched Buerido's battle position and he drew 2 cards, then attacked into Dyna which killed everything. However, with the help of Trap Stun, he exploded again and I had nothing that time.
1-2
At this point, I decided to split with Kyle for 3rd and 4th. Then, I went home. I got ready for Regionals during the next 6 hours, then we left for Montreal.
During the car ride, I was having second thoughts about playing Dino-Rabbit, because Laggia and Dollka are too good. So I decided at the very last minute to do something completely crazy... I adjusted my deck and threw in 3 Sabersaurus and 3 Jurrac Guaiba, and threw in 1 Laggia and 1 Dollka into the extra deck. I tried some sample hands in the car and I enjoyed what I saw. So I took Dino-Fire Fists!
The Regional consisted of 161 players, and there would be 8 rounds with Top 24 receiving an invite. Onto the report:
Round 1 vs Ryan K. (Karakuri OTK)
Really... A Belleville player right off the bat...
1 - I won the die roll, and I summoned Rabbit, then 2 Sabersaurus, and I made Laggia and set 4. On my next turn I summoned Bear, and I won the turn after.
2 - He went first and exploded. I tried to fight it, but in the end, there was nothing I could do.
3 - I opened with Rabbit and made another Laggia with some set traps. Next turn, I followed up with Bear. I won shortly after.
2-1
Round 2 vs Karakuri Machina
1 - We spent this entire game trading resources, and then it turned into a topdecking war. I topdecked Tenki, and searched Bear. I won that war.
2 - He OTKed me turn 2 with Karakuri Plays.
3 - I opened Thunder King and kept control of the entire game. Playing those 3 Lances really came in handy this game...
2-1
Round 3 vs Heroes
1 - He summoned Beast King Barbaros and set 1 backrow. I set 2 and ended, because I had nothing if he had Skill Drain set. He draws, and flips Skill Drain, then plays Heavy Storm destroy my 2 traps. He summoned Thunder King and attacked for 4900 total, then set 1. I play Tenki and search and summon Bear. I attack over Thunder King with the assistance of Forbidden Lance. I searched another Tenki and set it. I use bear's effect to destroy Barbaros. He sets a lot of backrow and passed. I spent the rest of the game attacking with 2 Bears, since he didn't draw any monsters after all.
2 - He summoned Thunder King and set 2 backrow. I summon my Thunder King and killed his with my Forbidden Lance. He summoned Neos Alius, then he played Miracle Fusion and made Shining, which killed Thunder King. I summon Dragon, and activate Tensu. I used Dragon to set Tenken. I additional summon Gorilla, and Gorilla destroys one of the traps he had. I made Diamond Dire Wolf, and destroyed itself along with his Shining. After that, I killed him after a few turns because I drew Tenki, which got me a Bear...
2-0
Round 4 vs Alexander St. Louis (Mono Mermail)
1 - He opens Heavy Storm and proceeds to OTK me..
2 - This game I only drew 2 monsters. They were both normal monsters, and he got rid of them easily. Yeah...
0-2
At this point, the rounds of Swiss for half-completed. In order to get another invite, I would have to win 3 of the 4 rounds. However, I wanted to win the next four rounds and make Top 8 for the first time ever. I wasn't giving up now!
Round 5vs Steven Nepali (Chaos Dragons)
1 - He started with Tour Guide into Zenmaines, and he set one backrow. I summon Rabbit and make a Dollka. I attack over the Zenmaines, set a few backrow, and Dollka negates Zenmaines. He tribute the Zenmained for Darkflare Dragon, and I decided to use Bottomless on it, reading Dark Armed Dragon. He passed. I beat him down over the next few turns and won. At the end, he revealed his hand which contained Dark Armed Dragon, Chaos Sorcerer, Light Pulsar Dragon and BLS.
2 - I don't quite remember specifics of this game. I know that I opened Dimensional Fissure, and it remained on the field the entire game. This limited his options with his boss monsters, and I answers for the few he summoned.
2-0
Round 6 vs Unifrog Control Sea Lancer
1 - This shit was scary. He attacked me directly with a Unifrog, and hit for a good chunk of damage. I was able to comeback because I saved my Bear, but fuck...
2 - He won because he had Sea Lancer, and the Oh Fish! for when I attempted to negate its effect with Dollka.
3 - I open with Dimensional Fissure, and I have answers for his Unifrog and Sea Lancer plays.
2-1
Round 7 vs Spellbooks
1 - He opened mediocre, with no way to get a Spellbook of Secrets. I beat him down with Dragon and Bear the entire game. His biggest play was summoning High Priestess, using Spellbook of Power on it and attacking my Dragon, to add the Spellbook of Secrets. Fortunately, I weakened his monster with Lance, and strengthened Dragon with Tenses. I just beat the High Priestess, and that was the crucial winning point.
2 - He opened pretty crazy for the deck. Inevitably, he started spamming High Priestess everywhere...
3 - I open Thunder with 4 backrow. He passed. I summon Sabersaurus and pass. He sets a monster and passed. I summon another Sabersaurus and make Dollka. He eventually scooped because most of his hand was locked by Thunder King.
2-1
At this point, I'm X-1. I just received my second invite, which was definitely at par with my intentions and goals. However, the ultimate goal was one match away: Top 8.
Round 8 vs Hieratics
1 - We started with a deck-check, which added more suspense to everything. Afterward, he goes first and passed. I summoned a monster, set a backrow and ended. He special summoned Tefnuit, and activated Wingbeat of Giant Dragon. He proceeded to OTK me.
2 - I open with Rabbit, and he has the Veiler. I set 3 backrow and ends. He special summons Cyber Dragon and attacks, and I respond with Fiendish Chain. He summons Genex Ally Birdman and synchro summons Scrap Dragon, and I have Bottomless Trap Hole in response. Next turn, I made Dollka with Rabbit, and summon Thunder King. He scooped on his next turn.
3 - He draws, sets 1 and passed. and passes. I summon Bear and he has the Veiler. I attack anyway, then I set 2 backrow and end my turn. He immediately activates Royal Decree... He proceeds to explode a little, ending with a full-powered REDMD and a Photon Strike Bounzer, and attacks for a lot of damage. During my turn, I use Dark Hole, then Monster Reborn to summon Bear. I attacked for 1600, and set Tenki. On my Main Phase 2, I activate Tenki to search Gorilla. I summon it and send Tenki to the grave to destroy Decree. I make Steelswarm Roach and passed. He draws and passes. I summon Fossil Dyna and attack for 3100, which drops him to 1700 life points. He plays Heavy Storm, then Dark Hole. He normal summons Eset, then tributes it for Su, which summons Luster Dragon #2. Fortunately, since he REDMD was already used, he couldn't OTK me with an Atum play. He summons Force Focus and attacks for 2800, which almost kills me. I activate Tenki and search Bear, then I summon it and destroy Force Focus with Bear's effect and then attack directly. He draws and sets a backrow. I draw and attack for game.
2-1
At this point, I'm quite excited that I made Top 8, finally. I came in 4th overall after Swiss rounds, and no one went X-0. I received my mat, and then played my Top 8 match.
Round 9 vs Mono Mermail
1 - He goes first, summons Diva, then special summons Heavy Infantry, and he made Gachi-Gachi. Then, using Abyssmegalo, Abyssteus, and Abyssgunde, he ended up make Abyssgaios. I had nothing on Abyssgaios, and that card one the game.
2 - I only drew one monster, summoned it and set 2 backrow. He plays Heavy Storm, and deals a lot of damage. I can't recover so I lose.
0-2
Even though I loss, I'm just happy to finally make Top 8. Raymond did a lot of trading today which is really helpful. Overall, it was a great day for cards!
My next post will discuss my decklist, and just my thoughts on Fire Fists in general, after playing with them at a Regionals.
No comments:
Post a Comment