Expert: Skye Hayes - 6/20/2007

Question
I have two decks that I would like you to rate.

First,my dearest prized deck, the Spellcaster (Dark Magician) deck. I very rarely loose with this deck, and I come in second or third place whenever I go to the tournament. Of course, that was about a year ago when was able to go to the tournament... and It has since somewhat changed. Any who, here's the deck list, I ask that you rate it.

Without Bans:
Monsters, including fusion
Dark Paladin
2x Gemini Elf
2x Double Coston
Magician's Valkyria
Chaos Command Magician
Spirit Reaper
Dark Magician of Chaos
Injection Fairy Lily
Dark Magician Girl
2x Skilled Dark Magician
Exiled Force
2x Dark Magician
Buster Blader
Sorcerer Of Dark Magic

Spells:
Dark Magic Attack
Monster Reincarnation
Double Spell
Heavy Storm
Brain Control
Swords of Revealing Light
Mystical Space Typhoon
Polymerization
2x Magical Dimension
NIghtmare's Steelcage
Premature Burial

Traps:
Gravity Bind
Negate Attack
Royal Decree
Torrential Tribute
Ring of Destruction
Solemn Judgment
Jar of Greed
Trap Jammer
2x Magic Drain
Call of The Haunted
Draining shield
Magic Cylinder

With Bans:
The above cards and

Monsters:
Witch of the Black Forest
Cyber Jar
Magician of Faith
Breaker the Magical Warrior
Chaos Emperor Dragon-Envoy of the End

Spell:
Graceful Charity
Raigeki
Harpie's Feather Duster

Traps:
A Rival Appears
Imperial Order

That is my Spellcaster deck. I usually play without bans.

And, this is a deck I built for my girlfriend. I'm not sure what kind of deck it is, but if i had to guess, I'd say beat down. I've only lost one duel with this deck. But however, i just recently made it a few weeks ago, and I play this deck without bans, except one....

Monsters, with fusions:
Dark Flare Knight
2x Dark Magician
2x Berserk Gorilla
2x Dark Mimic LV 1
Dark Magician Girl
Chaos Command Magician
Sabersaurus
Thunder Nyan Nyan
Familiar Possessed-Eria
Familiar Possessed-Hiita
Gemini Elf
Slate Warrior
Dark Magician of Chaos
Chainsaw Insect
Guardian Sphinx
Silent Swordsman LV 5
Mirage Knight
Yata-Garasu

Spells:
Mystical Space Typhoon
Metamorphosis
Sage's Stone
Card Destruction
Bait Doll
Lightning Vortex
Magical Mallet
Heavy Storm
Premature Burial
Swords of Revealing Light

Traps:
The Spell Absorbing Life
Covering Fire
Torrential Tribute
Gravity Bind
Call of the Haunted
Hallowed Life Barrier
Dust Tornado
Threatening Roar
Curse of Royal
Magic Cylinder
Needle Ceiling
Draining Shield
Magic Jammer


And that's all the decks...well, at least the ones i want you to rank. I have a few more decks...An Aqua, A draw out/burn deck, A zombie deck, And a Satan (fiend) Deck. You gotta love Satan.

Answer
Although i dont give deck ratings (based on the subjectivity of ones decision compared to another) i will tell you how this deck would stack against today's decks.

Even for it's day. The spellcaster deck could use some major changes. Ever more so to compete at today's tournament level. The deck is not bad it just it needs to evolve to the current standards. I would reccomend puttting in more searcher cards along with apprentice magicians. Also try to get your hands on a miracle restoring. As a last note, the spellcaster deck runs at a speed typical of all decks. That has to change. TOdays deck's- perfect circle monarch, DDt, etc- run through so quickly. I would highly suggest you find some way to mazimize your draw power or at least ensure that the card advantage retained by your opponent is not too great.

The second deck being aggro needs to be fixed more. Capatilize on the high attack power. Offernse is your best defense. KNock out your traps and replace them with 3 royal decrees andi torrential tribute and 1 mirror force.
FOr your spells, replace all the cards with staple and plenty of 1 for 1 cards, 3 fissure, 3 hammershot, 3 smashing.Fix your monster lineup with dark 1900 attack monster
augument those with mystic plazma zone.
That deck could wreak some havoc.
The biggest peice of advice i can give you so your deck could be i guess a "10" would be to find some way to mazimize draw power. TOday;s deck's focus on that and oer that is the deciding factftor. ALl in all your decks are fine.