Playing in major events as a team is smart in any TCG, but in one as fast-paced as Yu-Gi-Oh!, it’s even more important. In a game where tables can be turned at the drop of a dime, duels can be won by a single topdeck or lost from a single mistake. The environment of any major Yu-Gi-Oh! tournament is highly unpredictable, and as a result a player can easily improve his or her chances of earning top prizes by teaming up with others and agreeing to split the loot: if one person has a bad day they can still win some of the cool prizes, or if just one goes all the way the entire team can reap the rewards.

The only thing more shocking than Team Comic Odyssey’s success is the fact that nobody put together a killer team before.

Representing Pasadena’s Comic Odyssey comic shop, “impressive” doesn’t begin to describe the team’s track record. With five of the game’s eight Cyber-Steins under their belts, Comic Odyssey is the Yu-Gi-Oh! equivalent of the gambling world’s MIT Blackjack team. They work like a finely tuned machine, running what they see to be the most consistent decks and using as many of the elite members from their ranks at each event possible to overcome luck. They often do the complicated math necessary to calculate things such as the odds of taking separate brackets in the Top 8 of an event, and they never leave anything to chance. A deep understanding of the statistics driving events like the SJC is arguably their biggest strength, and though they might not have the innovation Team Savage brings to the table, they have experience and odds on their side.

More than a dozen members of Comic Odyssey were competing at SJC LA, and we managed to get to know twelve of them a little better. Here’s the rundown on some of the top members of Yu-Gi-Oh!’s number one team.


Name: Juan “The Job Is Done” Cardenas
City of Residence: Los Angeles
Previous Tournament Achievements: I placed sixth at the Anaheim SJC, and at the San Diego regional I placed fifth, letting Dwayne Nunez by in our Top 8 match. I did the same for Kevin Hor in one of the Florida Regionals, again taking fifth. I won in Las Vegas [in a Regional], and took fifth again in Long Beach, due to some bad hands.
Why you joined the team: Most of us were friends before the team came up. So when the team was assembled I was in the initial group.
How many SJCs have you attended: I’ve been to four so far.
How many Regionals for this year’s season have you attended: I’ve been to every one so far in Las Vegas, South California and Florida.
Are you focusing on SJCs, Regionals, or both equally: Both equally, but sometimes I forget to take my medication before SJCs.
Favorite card and why: My favorite card is definitely Airknight Parshath, because it has trample and it gives you card and hand advantage. It also feeds into the Light monsters in the graveyard for Black Luster Soldier – Envoy of the Beginning and thins out your deck.
What do you think the top three decks are and why: Warrior Chaos because Black Luster Soldier is too good; Beast, because everyone plays Scapegoat and the trample will ruin it; Zombies are good too, because they still have their Monster Reborn [in the form of Book of Life] and two Vampire Lords are broken.
Deck you played today and why: I played Warrior Chaos because it is still the best deck overall. BLS should have been banned.


Name: Eric Wu
City of Residence: Los Angeles
Previous Tournament Achievements: I won a Regional tournament.
Why you joined the team: I joined because I’ve played at Comic Odyssey for 4 years now.
How many SJCs have you attended: Two.
How many Regionals for this year’s season have you attended: I’ve competed in all the California and Las Vegas Regionals.
Are you focusing on SJCs, Regionals, or both equally: Both equally.
Favorite card and why: Dark Magician, because of the TV show.
What do you think the top three decks are and why: My first pick is Zombie, because of the two Vampire Lords. Then Beatdown decks—they have the Berserk Gorillas to take out Vampire Lord. My third pick is a metagame-oriented deck with a stall engine.
Deck you played today and why: Dark Magician deck, because it is my favorite deck.


Name: Theeresak “Turrasic Park” Poonsombat
Previous Tournament Achievements: Second place at the Anaheim Regional, fifth place at Las Vegas, first place at Pomona, fifth place at the Florida SJC, sixth place at Long Beach, fifth at the Las Vegas SJC. US National Champion 2004.
Why you joined the team: The team just formed on its own, basically. Just some friends getting together to compete.
How many SJCs have you attended: All four so far.
How many Regionals for this year’s season have you attended: All Southern California and Nevada Regionals.
Are you focusing on SJCs, Regionals, or both equally: I focus on both equally, but there’s definitely more of a rush playing in the SJCs.
Favorite card and why: Emergency Provisions, because it combos well with lots of cards like Mirage of Nightmare and Premature Burial. It can be a game winner and a game saver.
What do you think the top three decks are and why: Chaos/Warrior control, because it’s been in so many Top 8s. Beast/Earth Beastdown as it has the raw power to overwhelm other decks.
Deck you played today and why: I haven’t even decided yet, but I’ll probably go with some sort of Chaos variant.


Name: Christian “Legend Killer” Martinez
City of Residence: Los Angeles Glendale
Previous Tournament Achievements: Las Vegas Regional Top 8.
Why you joined the team: All my buddies are on the team and they told me to join!
How many SJCs have you attended: Just one, the one at Gen Con So Cal.
How many Regionals for this year’s season have you attended: I’ve been to all of the Regionals in Southern California.
Are you focusing on SJCs, Regionals, or both equally: We all tend to focus on both equally.
Favorite card and why: Watapon.
What do you think the top three decks are and why: I like Beasts first, then Warrior Chaos. Beatdown is my third pick.
 

Name: Nirut “The Manager” Poonsombat
City of Residence: Monterey Park
Previous Tournament Achievements: None
Why you joined the team: To make sure we win.
How many SJCs have you attended: I’ve been to Anaheim, Florida, and Vegas
How many Regionals for this year’s season have you attended: Too many to count.
Are you focusing on SJCs, Regionals, or both equally: Both equally.
Favorite card and why: Pot of Greed, because it always seems to show up right when you need it.
What do you think the top three decks are and why: Burn, because it’s cheap and effective; Beast, because it’s a fast Beatdown; and Chaos, because it uses the most powerful cards in the game.
Deck you played today and why: Chaos Soldier. Warrior Chaos is the best deck overall and I have the most fun playing it over any others.


Name: Patrick “Sweetness” Wu
City of Residence: Los Angeles
Previous Tournament Achievements: I won a Regional tournament.
Why you joined the team: I joined this team because I sought one that was nice, kind, and peaceful—also because of the improved competition.
How many SJCs have you attended: Two.
How many Regionals for this year’s season have you attended: All California and Las Vegas Regionals.
Are you focusing on SJCs, Regionals, or both equally: Both equally.
Favorite card and why: Blue-Eyes White Dragon, because it was in the first booster I ever purchased.
What do you think the top three decks are and why: Chaos, because they are the easiest to build; Warriors, because Reinforcement of the Army gives easy access to a lot of good tricks; and Zombies, because the format change lets you run two Vampire Lords.
Deck you played today and why: I went with a Chaos deck because they’re easy to build.


Name: Dwayne Nunez
Previous Tournament Achievements: I won a Regional, and I made Top 4 at the Ohio SJC.
Why you joined the team: Because they needed one black guy in their team!
How many SJCs have you attended: Two.
How many Regionals for this year’s season have you attended: I’ve been to most of the California Regionals, and all of the Vegas ones.
Are you focusing on SJCs, Regionals, or both equally: Mostly the SJCs.
Favorite card and why: D.D. Assailant, because he’s good.
What do you think the top three decks are and why:Zombie, because it has so much search power. Warriors, because Black Luster Soldier is broken. I like Spellcasters/Chaos/Phoenix Control too, because it’s good.
Deck you played today and why: Warriors—I think it is still the best.


Name: Michael Fukuyama
City of Residence: Los Angeles
Previous Tournament Achievements: Top 4 in the San Diego Regionals.
Why you joined the team: To have fun and play with the best players in North America!
How many SJCs have you attended: Two.
How many Regionals for this year’s season have you attended: Four.
Are you focusing on SJCs, Regionals, or both equally: SJCs.
Favorite card and why: Breaker the Magical Warrior, for the cool artwork.
What do you think the top three decks are and why: Chaos, because Black Luster Soldier is too good; Burn, because I like the direct damage; and Beatdown, because it’s fast.
Deck you played today and why: Chaos, because Black Luster Soldier is awesome!


Name: Augusto Muig
City of Residence: North Hollywood
Previous Tournament Achievements: I made Top 8 at several Regionals, including Orlando.
Why you joined the team: Because they recruited me and I needed friends.
How many SJCs have you attended: Three.
How many Regionals for this year’s season have you attended: Every single Regional in So Cal and Vegas, as well as one in Florida.
Are you focusing on SJCs, Regionals, or both equally: I’m focusing on both equally. A man needs his Nationals!
Favorite card and why: The rare Tribe-Infecting Virus because it costs less! Newdoria was a close second, as it’s a mini D. D. Warrior Lady.
What do you think the top three decks are and why: Chaos, Zombie, and Beast/Trample, because they have the most support in the game.
Deck you played today and why: A One-Turn Kill Scientist deck without Scientist, because he’s broken. Seriously, though, probably a Zombie control with Phoenix.


Name: Kevin “K3nzo” Hor
City of Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Previous Tournament Achievements: I took second place in three Regionals in the current season, and I won the Cyber-Stein for side events in Florida.
Why you joined the team: I joined the team because I was asked. I played here and there, and Comic Odyssey saw potential in my skills.
How many SJCs have you attended: Two SJCs.
How many Regionals for this year’s season have you attended: Four Regionals, and I took a qualifying position in three of them.
Are you focusing on SJCs, Regionals, or both equally: All kinds of tournaments.
Favorite card and why: Harpie Girl!
What do you think the top three decks are and why: Every kind of deck can be good in my opinion. It’s the player that counts.
Deck you played today and why: Still haven’t decided.


Name: Wilson Luc
City of Residence: Los Angeles
Previous Tournament Achievements: First place at the Las Vegas SJC, third place at the Columbus SJC, eighth place in the Las Vegas Regional, first place in an Orlando Regional, and second place at the Orlando SJC side events.
Why you joined the team: I joined this team because . . . well, I really don’t know. The team was formed and people just asked me to be a part of it, it happened very suddenly.
How many SJCs have you attended: I have been to all four Shonen Jump Championships.
How many Regionals for this year’s season have you attended: I’ve been to ten Regionals and SJC events total this year, including most of the So Cal Regionals.
Are you focusing on SJCs, Regionals, or both equally: I’m focusing mainly on SJCs right now, as I am not motivated to win a Regional where the first place prize is just a box.
Favorite card and why: My favorite card is Black Luster Soldier, because all my friends’ favorite cards are Dark Magician and I need something to kill it. I run Black Luster Soldier in every deck I make.
What do you think the top three decks are and why: The top deck right now is Zombie, I believe it is much better than Chaos at the moment. The tier two deck would be Chaos/Warrior, and the tier three deck would probably be Beast.
Deck you played today and why: The deck I played today is Zombie Chaos. I played this because I feel it is the best deck in the post-April 1 format.


Name: Fernando “Bazoo” Rios
City of Residence: North Hollywood
Previous Tournament Achievements: Top 4 in Vegas Regional
Why you joined the team: They recruited me.
How many SJCs have you attended: Two.
How many Regionals for this year’s season have you attended: Every single one in So Cal and Vegas.
Are you focusing on SJCs, Regionals, or both equally: Both equally.
Favorite card and why: Bazoo the Soul Eater—underrated card.
What do you think the top three decks are and why: Chaos Warrior, Beast, and Burn. Deck you played today and why: Berserker Beatdown.