Wow. Okay. So it's been forever since I've been here. I actually left the game a few years ago, only to have a friend drag me back in. And after getting handed my walking papers challenging a Rainbow Neos deck this past weekend, I think this old school player needs some new school tactics...

So. I run a Spellcaster deck. But, after getting my hands on a few plant cards, I find myself to be playing with them just for fun. So new generation, any suggestions for this older player to catch up to the new players? What's the metagame like? And any tactics that deal with Spellcasters, Plants, and even a occasional water deck would be nice.

Hopefully you guys can help me out.

The top decks of the moment are Lightsworn, Zombies, Twilight (Lightsworn with Dark Monsters) and Lightsworn Zombies. A little below that but still competitve are Blackwings and to some extent Gladiator Beasts.

The format is set to change again on March 1st so I don't think it's a great idea to start sinking a ton of money into a deck when you don't know what cards will be banned, limited, etc.My advice to you would be to stock up on the Synchro monsters that are generally run in your Extra Deck right now. Ultimately the deck you play will have some influence over what you run in your Extra Deck but if you start off getting these you should be able to fill out the majority of it and then just sprinkle in the theme dependent Synchros.

1 Mist Wurm
1 Stardust Dragon
1 Colossal Fighter
1 Black Rose Dragon
1 Goyo Guardian
1 Ally of Justice, Catastor
2 Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier
1 Red Dragon Archfiend
1 Thought Ruler Archfiend
1 Arcanite Magician

Out of the top decks Lightsworn have a lot of cards available as Commons or cheap reprints so the only really expensive thing in the deck right now is a pair of Judgment Dragons and Plaguespreader Zombie. The expensive Zombie cards are Mezuki and Plaguespreader Zombie. The really only expensive Blackwing card is Blackwing - Vayu the Emblem of Honor.

It looks like Gravekeepers are getting a boost from the next set so hopefully it will be enough to make them competitive. They are Spellcasters after all so maybe that will be up your alley.

http://www.ccgrealms.com/forum/showt...ighlight=Plant

http://www.ccgrealms.com/forum/showt...ighlight=Plant

http://www.ccgrealms.com/forum/showt...ighlight=Plant

http://www.ccgrealms.com/forum/showt...ht=Spellcaster

Hmm. Interesting. I've seen allot of those synchro cards that you mentioned. In fact, I've got my hands on a Black Rose Dragon. It's in a plant deck that I've been screwing around with. Maybe I'll post it up so you guys can see it.

I'm looking into that Arcanite Magician and Tempest Magician. That looks rather interesting. It might be a nice change of pace from my old Magician's Divinity. But, I think I'll wait until after March to look into buying any. Good to know. Anything else I should know about the current metagame?

Thanks for the links

Eh, not really aside from future Booster Sets and stuff which is in General Discussion. Otherwise, it's all about speed, speed, speed a lot of the time x_x.

I'd check out the Shonen Jump Championship coverage on Konami's website if you want more detailed information on the plays each of the big decks makes.

And, of course, the Deck Depot in the competitive section as well for some general ideas.

Turbo speed in fact. This meta likes to get a full field of X monsters on the 2nd turn. Beat that non-top meta!

Yeah...I said that...over a week ago, lol.