Most Popular deck choice for YOTSG 2015

Hey guys, sorry for not posting for a long time, but since YOTSG 2015 has just ended, its high time that I update this blog with some inspiration on what would be good to post at times.

Lets take a look at the most popular deck choice for now. Referring to the reports in which Akira from Road of the King has compiled in here for YOTSG 2015.You can check out on which are the decks which remained as the top choices for players to use in this current metagame.

Also, Akira has also compiled popular deck choices in which players will be using for the metagame starting April 1st, right here.





The deck choice I would be evaluating is the most popular deck choice currently favored by players due to the simplicity of the deck and being an amazing toolbox to most situations that it is able to provide a solution with.

HERO

Being the most effective deck to set-up lock-down strategies towards your opponent really fast proves to be a big advantage against other decks such as the next favorite choice, Atlanteans. HERO decks are able to perform a first turn set-up towards a field of [Masked Hero Dark Law] as well as having a partner in lock-down such as [Number 16: Shock Master] or even [Cyber Dragon Infinity].[Masked Hero Dark Law] prevents cards which relies heavily on the grave or sending cards to grave for setting up their combos, such as Atlanteans. Whereas its partner being usually either Shock Master or Infinity is responsible for protecting your lock-down field against possible counterattacks.

Even in unfavorable conditions to perform a 3 material Xyz summon also proves to be devastating
to have a 2 material Xyz summon for a quick responsive monster to be on the field such as [Planetellarknight - Ptolemaios] to do timely "rank-ups" to other rank 5 monsters which could turn the tables, such as [Constellar Pleiades] or even [Stellarknight Constellar Diamond].

How about having unbeatable and higher-powered monsters that could threaten the stability of the lock-down field? Example of monsters such as [Apoqilphort Towers] whose immunity effects renders it impossible to defeat unless through battles. Or also towards mirror matches against another HERO deck in which the same lock-down field is being applied to you as well?

YZ08-JP001
Number S39: Utopia the Lightning
Light/Warrior/Xyz/Effect
ATK 2500 / DEF 2000
3 x Level 5 LIGHT monster
You can also Xyz Summon this card by using a Rank 4 "Utopia" monster you control as the Xyz Material. (Xyz Materials attached to that monster also become Xyz Materials on this card.) Cannot be used as an Xyz Material for an Xyz Summon. If this card attacks or is attacked, your opponent cannot activate cards or effects until the end of the Damage Step. If this card battles an opponent's monster while it has a "Utopia" monster as an Xyz Material, during damage calculation (in either player's turn): You can detach 2 Xyz Materials from this card once per battle; this card's ATK becomes 5000 during that damage calculation only.

Due to the emerging of this card, monsters that used to be having a spot in the extra deck of HEROs, such as [Heroic Champion - Excalibur], has seen a dropout in popularity. Why is that so? Utopia the Lightning, being a possible 5000 ATK powerhouse to overrun most monsters also has a built-in effect of making its attack even more deadly. As it renders your opponent to be unable to activate any effects in response towards Utopia the Lightning's attack declaration.

It counters cards such as the above mentioned [Apoqilhport Towards], or even lock-down field candidates such as [Cyber Dragon Infinity] which makes it pretty safe to get rid of. Not only that, Utopia the Lightning also prevents the activation of grave related effects belonging to monsters such as [Mermail Abysslinde] and [Elemental Hero - Shadow Mist],  or any [Shaddoll] monsters for their flip effects.


Next,

We also do know that rank 4 monsters have various unique effects to turn the tables around to your favor. Monsters such as [Abyss Dweller] has seen much more popularity after the rise of Atlanteans, this card is widely use in many rank 4 decks and will be seen as a threat even if HERO decks has run out of [Masked Hero Dark Law], in order to maintain control towards opponent's grave effects.

What if you lost the priority of being first against an Atlantean deck and your opponent has the privilege of going first to build up the famous 1st turn [Deep Sea Diva] and [Neptaabyss the Atlantean Prince] combo. This can result in any decks who faced off against this combo to only be starting off with only a 4 card resource in their hands after being crippled by [Moulinglacia the Elemental Lord]. [Evilswarm Exciton Knight] proves to be one of the only ways for quick comeback with minimal card usage. A simple [Tinplate Goldfish] or [Goblindberg] with any other level 4 monster will make these Xyz summon a walk in the park.

Credits to Yu-Gi-Oh! Wikia for usage of pictures and Akira from Road of the King for reports and relevant data.