A scared Yugi-boomer wanting advice

[An R Key5993]

So I'm really into Speed Duel format (essentially Duel Links but a bit more reserved and only fusion summons as of now), and really really really want to get into Advanced Format but just get scared and demotivated when hearing other "top?" players complain about the format.

I'm not opposed to all the new summoning mechanics and from what I've played of Link summons it actually looks pretty darn cool, what scares me is the apparent rampant omni-negates that exist.

Just wanting to extend an olive branch and ask if its REALLY that bad or if top tier/meta decks are really just mostly omni-negate strategies.

I'm all for git gud, and am not here to complain that BLUE EYES CAN'T CARRY ME TO DIAMOND! Not trying to be a meta slave either just wanting to play competent decks as long as the format isn't just nothing but omni-negates.

[Helgrind369]

Sadly most of the format is mainly omni negate and tributing your opponents board. If you stay down in gold rank you get a lot more variety and can have a lot more fun with random decks not just using meta. I went up to diamond 1 when it was released and to me its much more fun staying in gold and enjoying a few turns not just whoever goes first wins.

[Glennard]

at the lower ranks it isnt bad once the season has progressed, but you could also join a casual discord where you set up privare casual games

[HeraldOfOpera]

There's also the occasional floodgate spam, but that's just a different flavor of bull!@#$. Oh, and then there's Crooked Cook Exodia. It's not meta, but it's such an absurdly evil deck that it doesn't matter. Its entire game plan is to have a monster that's immune to card effects and can't be destroyed by battle and then just assemble Exodia one Draw Phase at a time.

[An R Key5993]

Thanks for the advice.

Seems like I'll just play casually and enjoy all the new support for archtypes of yesteryear.

Again never opposed to learning the game or figuring out new mechanics I just really don't think I'd have fun playing or going against omni-negates/tributing others board.

[Hexi]

It's not all decks that spam out omni negates, its only a handful of decks and these decks get complained about all the time. There are plenty of other powerful decks at the top that don't use omni negates and do other powerful things like prank-kids board wiping and eldlich using floodgates and slowly overwhelming with resources. Spamming out omni negates isn't the only viable strategy like some frequent complainers here make it out to be. If you are really worried about dealing with powerful meta decks and omni-negate decks, you can hang around in lower ranks where most people play decks they enjoy rather than what is the best meta deck this week.

[Helgrind369]

If konami would wise up and do a real ban list it will be much more playable but as of now I'm the same way. Locals to play competitive this game to just relax and try to enjoy the game

[An R Key5993]

Originally posted by gameing:

It's not all decks that spam out omni negates, its only a handful of decks and these decks get complained about all the time. There are plenty of other powerful decks at the top that don't use omni negates and do other powerful things like prank-kids board wiping and eldlich using floodgates and slowly overwhelming with resources. Spamming out omni negates isn't the only viable strategy like some frequent complainers here make it out to be. If you are really worried about dealing with powerful meta decks and omni-negate decks, you can hang around in lower ranks where most people play decks they enjoy rather than what is the best meta deck this week.

I'm not trying to complain I really don't mind if this is how the game is now, I'm having fun with Speed Duel and enjoy the pace at which its going, I just would LIKE to get into advanced but again the omni-negate playstyle just isn't fun to me either as the player or opponent.

If the meta IS more than just omni-negates and there is other ways to play I'd be more interested, again I know there are very many Yugi-Boomers who get aggressive very quickly and I'm not trying to be like that. I'm more than happy playing my Eternal Duelist Souls and locally playing Speed Duels, Master Duels doesn't need to change for me.

I just was curious about the actual presence of omni-negate decks and if it really was as bad as I hear.

[Aldain]

My recommendation? Run like hell and don't look back because the bar is only going to get lower.

But my opinion is that YGO is the best card game that is the worst when played against other people, so take it with a grain of salt.

[An R Key5993]

Originally posted by Aldain:

My recommendation? Run like hell and don't look back because the bar is only going to get lower.

But my opinion is that YGO is the best card game that is the worst when played against other people, so take it with a grain of salt.

I agree with this and it sucks.

I have a ton of fun playing even competitively Speed Duel (which I understand is baby Yugioh to a lot of people here) I just don't think I can get into omni-negate meta.

I've played every other major card game over the years (old man Millennial rant) and something about Yugioh is always the most "fun" to me even though its balance may not be the most finely tuned (opinion not fact).

[Aldain]

Originally posted by An R Key5993:

even though its balance may not be the most finely tuned (opinion not fact).

It's actually very well known that YGO is balanced solely to make Konami money, that's like the one thing most people around here agree on more often than not.

The root problem is where the matter of opinion comes in, some like me would take a "scorched earth" approach with the F/L list, others would be more judicious, there's a few crazies who actually like tier-0 formats where there's only one deck worth a damn, and of course the ever present argument over if Maxx C is a problem or not (it is and the OCG is just in denial about it imo).

[Silyon]

Originally posted by An R Key5993:

So I'm really into Speed Duel format (essentially Duel Links but a bit more reserved and only fusion summons as of now), and really really really want to get into Advanced Format but just get scared and demotivated when hearing other "top?" players complain about the format.

This. This right here is why I want nothing more than all the ranters to actually follow through on their threats to "quit the game forever". The incessant complaints and drawn-out flame wars do nothing but discourage new players from participating, and I for one would like some new blood to play against.

All I can say is to remember that any group you see talking about a thing online is a minority group at best; the overwhelming majority of players are either too busy actually playing the game to pay attention to the forums or discords, or else choose to ignore them because of the cesspits they often are.

Can also say that hitting high ranks in Master Duel is a meaningless metric, as it is in most (if not all) of these kinds of card game simulators. Play enough duels in a given month with a deck that's baseline functional, your rank will drift towards Diamond regardless. Such is the nature of best-of-1 formats, luck ends up meaning more for your score than skill and even the best decks barely pull off 65% winrates. Disregarding surrenders of course, people are way too surrender-happy in this game.

Bottom line, if you want to try it out then do so. Don't be afraid to ask for questions and tips, just flag and disregard the trolls that'll crop up.

Originally posted by An R Key5993:

I'm all for git gud, and am not here to complain that BLUE EYES CAN'T CARRY ME TO DIAMOND! Not trying to be a meta slave either just wanting to play competent decks as long as the format isn't just nothing but omni-negates.

Fun fact, Blue eyes is (dare I say) "not bad" with the new support that just released. Dictator and Jet Dragon, while clearly anime-bait, are also legit good and actually offer some opening lines to play. Stuff that's not been seen in Blue-Eyes since Sage and Spirit Dragon were brought in. Still dies to Necrovalley and Ash, but what doesn't?

[TormentedSalad]

Originally posted by An R Key5993:

So I'm really into Speed Duel format (essentially Duel Links but a bit more reserved and only fusion summons as of now), and really really really want to get into Advanced Format but just get scared and demotivated when hearing other "top?" players complain about the format.

I'm not opposed to all the new summoning mechanics and from what I've played of Link summons it actually looks pretty darn cool, what scares me is the apparent rampant omni-negates that exist.

Just wanting to extend an olive branch and ask if its REALLY that bad or if top tier/meta decks are really just mostly omni-negate strategies.

I'm all for git gud, and am not here to complain that BLUE EYES CAN'T CARRY ME TO DIAMOND! Not trying to be a meta slave either just wanting to play competent decks as long as the format isn't just nothing but omni-negates.

Its not all omni negates theres a handful of relevant omni negate boss monsters but the latest pack introduces branded fusion and branded dont really throw up omni negates at all we can probably give a pass for the odd aleister theres a single big omni negate spam deck thats super relevant because they are basically the same deck with different starters

[Yerc2]

You don't need to rely on the newer mechanics unless you're aiming for the top ranks, and Blue Eyes has a ton of support that can carry it pretty nicely.

Meta decks are absolutely based around preventing your opponent from doing /anything/, and it seems like these decks have near a 100% chance of popping off on the first turn.

If you appreciate deck building and don't want to chase the top tier ranks, you can still enjoy this game, IMO.

[BoD[6-4]]

Originally posted by An R Key5993:

as long as the format isn't just nothing but omni-negates.

Unfortunately it is

[Papa Smurf]

The Master Duel meta and banlist is so busted that you can honestly make literally any deck you want work by filling it with a bunch of broken cards and engines. Personally I find that quite fun, but it does make the game very coin-flippy. If you want an easy time getting into the game then either play a control deck (Eldlich, Floo are probably the best ones) or a going second deck (Crusadia, Numeron, Plunder Patroll etc). They're easy to pilot and you'll figure out how other people's decks work by playing them and how to break them. I have a cool going second Plunder Patroll list if you're interested in trying that out, it's a pretty fun deck.