Ok so headin to a tournament and looking at my side deck.

Decided to swap out some things let me know what you guys think

2 D.D. Warrior Lady
2 D.D. Crow
1 Dark Panther
1 X-Saber Uruz
1 Royal Oppression
2 Malevolent Catastrophe
2 Light-Imprisoning Mirror
2 Shadow-Imprisoning Mirror
2 Trap Hole

My area has alot of the decks which are bad matchups for X-Sabers namely: Monarchs, BW, and G-beasts, along with any other antimeta type deck that is run. Would you guys say that this is a fair lineup for the Sidedeck?

btw for reference this is the Deck lineup

3 XX-Saber Faultroll
1 XX-Saber Gardestrike
1 X-Saber Galahad
3 X-Saber Airbellum
2 XX-Saber Garsem
3 XX-Saber Fulhelmknight
3 XX-Saber Emmersblade
1 Rescue Cat
2 XX-Saber Ragigura
1 Tragoedia
1 Gorz, Emissary of Darkness

2 Saber Slash
2 Book of Moon
1 Cold Wave
1 Heavy Storm
1 Brain Control
1 Mind Control
1 One for One

3 Saber Hole
2 Gottoms' Emergency Call
2 Bottomless Trap Hole
1 Mirror Force
1 Solemn Judgement
1 Trap Stun (new tech)

Any help would be greatly appreciated

This is what I posted on the X-Saber tactics thread. The only other thing I can add is that I don't really like Shadow Imprisoning Mirror against Blackwings. It just doesn't do enough against the deck since they can still easily drop beat sticks. I think Consecrated Light is all around better against Blackwings.

new deck edit:

1 Rescue Cat
1 Summoner Monk
1 XX - Saber Gardestrike
2 XX - Saber Ragigura
2 XX - Saber Garsem
2 XX - Saber Fulhelmknight
3 XX - Saber Emmersblade
3 X - Saber Airbellum
3 XX - Saber Faultroll

1 Saber Slash
1 One for One
1 Smashing Ground
1 Brain Control
1 Mind Control
1 Cold Wave
1 Giant Trunade
1 Heavy Storm
2 My Body as a Shield
2 Book of Moon

1 Mirror Force
2 Gottom's Emergency Call
2 Bottomless Trap Hole
2 Compulsory Evacuation Device (can also be Dimensional Prison)
3 Saber Hole


Compulsory is just so fluid it's hilarious. Bounce an enemy monster back to the hand, or Bounce Faultroll for more Saber shenanigans.

Side deck

2 Consecrated Light
2 D. D. Crow
1 XX - Saber Garsem
1 Saber Slash
2 Light-Imprisoning Mirror
2 Malevolent Catastrophe
2 Trap Hole
1 Royal Oppression
2 ??

Consecrated was a great call btw Den. Brings the BW match-up down. Plus it's funny with 1-4-1 lol. Still looking for 2 more side deck cards. Been looking at Mirror of Oaths (also works great in the Mirror), and Forbidden Chalice. Any other thoughts?

Thanks again, I'll make sure to return the favor.

after some changes here's the build I got.

1 Rescue Cat
1 Summoner Monk
1 Sangan
1 XX - Saber Gardestrike
2 XX - Saber Ragigura
2 XX - Saber Garsem
2 XX - Saber Fulhelmknight
3 XX - Saber Emmersblade
3 X - Saber Airbellum
3 XX - Saber Faultroll

1 Saber Slash
1 One for One
1 Brain Control
1 Mind Control
1 Cold Wave
1 Giant Trunade
1 Heavy Storm
2 My Body as a Shield
2 Book of Moon

1 Mirror Force
1 Torrential Tribute
1 Solemn Judgment
1 Dimensional Prison / Compulsory Evacuation Device / Trap Dustshoot
2 Gottom's Emergency Call
2 Bottomless Trap Hole
3 Saber Hole

Dropped Smashing for Solemn and tossed Sangan in for a 41 card deck. Dropped both Compulsory for the Prison/Dustshoot/CED and a TT. I may change for Mind Crush instead since that can be useful even late game. Thoughts on the new look?

oh and Side

2 Consecrated Light
2 D.D.Crow
1 Neo-spacian Dark Panther
2 Soul Release
2 Malevolent Catastrophe
2 Trap Hole
2 Royal Oppression
2 Compulsory Evacuation Device

Well, a lot of what I would suggest would be mere preference, overall the build looks solid, except for one single thing : why on earth are you running two book of moons ? This deck hates face-down cards. A pair of smashing would suit the gameplan much better. And with as many X-sabers as you are running, how is it you only play one saber slash ?

U know what? That is a valid arguement, I think I'll try either E.Con or 1 more Slash and Smashing.

Slash is a card I feel is good but not that playable. Now though, I think I can try 2 Smashing, 1 Slash or 2 Slash, 1 Smashing. I may go with 2 Slash since its more reliable and allows for more Saber Shenanigans.

And its only going to get more reliable when we get palomuro in July. And you can't chain starlight road to saber slash ... I find that usually at worst its as good as a smashing ground, except you get to choose the monster to destroy. But its fun to play, ask for a response, and if they pass, then you choose what to kill. Downside is they can of course chain a PWWB, spin your only x-saber and your slash will fizzle, but in terms of advantage that evens out ...

So I went with E-Cons and went to a Regional. Went 5-3 and was decently impressed. My version has a heavy time against G. Beasts, the decision is made by who goes first. I go first I win, G-Beast goes first, they win. One of my losses was to a G. Beast, the other two were some anti-meta thing and Great White Hope (Loss to Burst Stream of Destruction wtf).

I have liked the idea Belgian used, tossing 2 Cydras in and making it full on Aggro. Trying this out in the meantime

3 X-Saber Airbellum
3 XX-Saber Emmersblade
3 XX-Saber Faultroll
2 XX-Saber Fulhelmknight
2 XX-Saber Ragigura
2 XX-Saber Garsem
1 XX-Saber Gardestrike
1 Summoner Monk
1 Rescue Cat
1 Sangan
2 Cyber Dragon

1 Cold Wave
1 Heavy Storm
1 Mystical Space Typhoon
1 One for One
1 Mind Control
1 Brain Control
1 Smashing Ground
2 My Body as a Shield
2 Saber Slash

3 Saber Hole
2 Bottomless Trap Hole
2 Gottoms' Emergency Call
1 Mirror Force
1 Torrential Tribute

Synchros
3 XX-Saber Hyunlei
2 XX-Saber Gottoms
2 X-Saber Urbellum
1 Stardust Dragon
1 Red Dragon Archfiend
1 Black Rose Dragon
1 Goyo Guardian
1 Brionac, Dragon of Ice Barrier
1 Mist Wurm
1 Arcanite Magician
1 Armory Arm


Side
2 Consecrated Light
2 G.B. Hunter
1 XX-Saber Garsem
2 Soul Release
1 My Body as a Shield
1 Giant Trunade
2 Trap Hole
2 Swallow Flip
1 Solemn Judgment
1 Malevolent Catastrophe

This is my new Version. It's alot more Aggro based now. Props to BBlue, his touches have changed my view of Sabers. Swallow Flip = Win against G. Beast... period.

Any thoughts?

2 Garsems seems like a lot. If GB are still giving your problems, you may wish to consider something mained, like I do, that helps, like an LJM or something. And side in 3 instead of 2 Swallow flip, its not like Saber Hole does a whole lot against GB anyway.

Have you had to play against synchro hamster-cat builds ? They are the next big thing apparently, taking 4 slots in the top 8 this weekend at a big international PS3 Tournament in Antwerp. I personally find I struggle a bit against facedowns.

On the Garsem topic, 2 May be a bit much so I have looked for other alternatives. I may go back to 1 Garsem and put back 1 Galahad. Galahad answers alot of the problems of Synchro Hamster, namely killing off that pesky Hamster.

Speaking of which, Hamster flopped over here at my regional. I think it was the people playing it, but that deck brings alot of problems... unless you Mind Control their Hamster. Facedowns are a pain, but handled by stalling with Hole.

And siding nobleman. Galahad isn't even an option now that we have boggart knight. Granted that it can't kill a spy, but its too good not to play three. So no room for galahad.

Boggart is a godsend, we finally can match the summoning speed of Samurai, and pass them. I'm even considering dropping Garsem for that beast, it really is too good to not run 3 of. I've already gotten a draft of a build with it in, I can't believe we got that card. More on that later

Oh and I'm trying out this new technique, super moderation. Instead of using 3 of stuff, just using 2. A teammate and I discussed how this format is the format of 2. Its interesting to see it in play, since it works well

Imagine samurai having a card like emmersblade, that's what this is aching to. I'd definitely run three and drop Garsem.

Cards run in two's or one's are for decks that can access them. For instance, running two ragi's is the same as running three and no one for one. With emmersblade I agree you can play a lot of the cards in ones and twos, but emmers, boggart and faultroll, which can't be searched without garsem, are necessary in threes. The rest is fairly open to playstyle and specific needs.

interesting tech update time

I've decided to bring out an X-Saber who may play a huge role this meta, X-Saber Uruz. His ability to not only freeze the opponent from their deck, but also prevent a grave-based play (which is increasing with every day in this meta) has gotten me thinking about running him all over again. Here's my current Sample draft

3 XX - Saber Faultroll
3 X - Saber Airbellum
3 X - Saber Uruz
3 XX - Saber Boggart Knight
2 XX - Saber Emmersblade
2 XX - Saber Darksoul
2 X - Saber Pashuul
1 XX - Saber Ragigura
1 Rescue Cat

2 My Body as a shield
2 Saber Slash
1 Smashing Ground
1 Brain Control
1 Mind Control
1 Mystical Space Typhoon
1 Heavy Storm
1 Giant Trunade
1 Cold Wave

2 Phoenix Wing Wind Blast
2 Compulsory Evacuation Device
2 Gottoms' Emergency Call
2 Saber Hole
1 Solemn Judgment


rates, comments, suggestions are always welcome. Thanks for taking the time

problem with uruz, apart from the fact that he only has 1600 ATK and has to tribute himself for the effect, effectively -1'ing yourself and getting a saber off the field when you should be keeping one on the field, is that he sends the monster to the graveyard first and then the top of the deck. And among things he can actually kill, there isn't a whole lot I'd like to do that with, considering sangan and dandylion, and running into ryko isn't too pleasant either. recruiters also get there effect and so on and so forth. Uruz is bad, very bad.