If I could sum up the entirety of this format so far with one word, it would be “explosive.” In many prior formats, players attempted to win by eliminating their opponents’ options as methodically as possible. Slowly but surely, they’d drop cards from their opponent’s field or hand faster than their own. It didn’t matter who took damage as long as it wasn’t lethal. Eventually one player would run out of ways to protect him- or herself and be destroyed. This style of play worked primarily because of Scapegoat. Losing the game in one swift blow wasn’t as likely as it is now, because Scapegoat would block damage on multiple turns.

This format couldn’t be more different. Even if you have 8000 life points and a pair of monsters on the field, your opponent is fully capable of winning that turn. The scariest thing? He or she does it with a combination of consistent cards intended for other purposes. Cards like Cyber Dragon, Brain Control, Snatch Steal, and Ring of Destruction add up to game over if you’ve got something as easy as Cyber Dragon and Card Trooper on the field.

This is the success that drives decks like Perfect Circle, Monarchs, and T-Hero to the Top 16 time and time again. The ability to put a lot of ATK power on the field in one turn and swing in for a game shot cannot be underestimated. Cards like Gravekeeper’s Spy, Destiny Hero - Malicious, and Brain Control put these decks above the rest of the pack. Some decks even play explosive cards like Machine Duplication and Injection Fairy Lily.

This was the idea behind Korey Stoner’s recent success story. He finished in the Top 16 at SJC Phoenix with a 7-2 record using this Earth-powered aggro deck:

Monsters: 19

3 Cyber Dragon

2 Exiled Force

3 Elemental Hero Wildheart

2 Gigantes

2 Raiza the Storm Monarch

3 Card Trooper

1 Treeborn Frog

1 Sangan

1 Elemental Hero Stratos

1 Morphing Jar

Spells: 14

2 Brain Control

2 Enemy Controller

2 Reinforcement of the Army

1 Confiscation

1 Lightning Vortex

1 Pot of Avarice

1 Mystical Space Typhoon

1 Nobleman of Crossout

1 Heavy Storm

1 Snatch Steal

1 Premature Burial

Traps: 9

3 Trap Dustshoot

1 Mind Crush

1 Mirror Force

1 Magic Cylinder

1 Torrential Tribute

1 Ring of Destruction

1 Call of the Haunted

Although this deck doesn’t play Cyber Phoenix, the similarities between it and the Machine beatdown build are many. The greatest strength of Machine beatdown is its ability to get in multiple shots with Cyber Phoenix before the opponent can successfully deal with it. Trap Dustshoot is a big part of this, sending the monsters that could destroy Cyber Phoenix in battle back to the owner’s deck. That can add anywhere from 1200-4800 points of damage by itself. Factor in a Card Trooper and you’ve got 3100 damage per turn.

This damage can add up pretty fast, and suddenly turns Brain Control, Snatch Steal, or Ring of Destruction into a win condition. Stoner takes this theory to the next level, adding Enemy Controller into the mix for another outlet of damage. Controller can steal monsters or allow Stoner’s monsters to break through defenders like Treeborn Frog or Scapegoat tokens.

Stoner also plays Magic Cylinder and Lightning Vortex to further the cause. Cylinder deals direct damage and protects Stoner’s monsters from being destroyed. This leaves them available to attack next turn. In addition, they can also be stolen with Brain Control or Enemy Controller. Lightning Vortex, on the other hand, can remove even the biggest walls of monsters from the field, paving the way for a final attack.

This deck takes a different approach to the Cyber Phoenix/Trap Dustshoot lockdown philosophy. Instead of playing the Phoenix, which can’t be searched for by many playable means besides Sangan and UFO Turtle, Stoner plays Elemental Hero Wildheart. Instead of negating targeting cards, Wildheart is safe from all trap cards. This means you give up the protection from Brain Control but gain protection from Torrential Tribute and Mirror Force. Wildheart is also easy to search for, benefiting from Reinforcement of the Army and Elemental Hero Stratos.

Stoner also plays Gigantes for even more potential ATK power. The purpose of Gigantes is usually to remain in the hand until he can punch through 1900 damage, usually on the game-winning turn. His secondary effect can be used to destroy continuous cards like Snatch Steal, Premature Burial, or Call of the Haunted to boot. Imagine if your opponent has a Raiza the Storm Monarch brought back via Premature Burial and has stolen your Cyber Dragon with Snatch Steal. You drop Cyber Dragon, Card Trooper, and Gigantes, then send the Gigantes into the stolen Cyber Dragon. The result is the destruction of Raiza and the return of your monster. You’re then free to attack for 5900 damage. This is actually a likely scenario, since many players will save these cards for the late game, where card presence is minimal and defense is rare.

Raiza the Storm Monarch made the cut for this deck for the same reason Max Suffridge played it in his build. It gives a practical purpose to Brain Control during the early game, and can absolutely tear apart an opponent with a monster-clogged hand. Furthermore, when you know the entire contents of your opponent’s hand thanks to Trap Dustshoot, Raiza gives you more options to play with, knowing your opponent is not going to topdeck an answer next turn.

Exiled Force and Morphing Jar are excellent cards for this deck as well. In addition to bearing the Earth attribute, both greatly further the cause of an explosive turn. Exiled Force paves the way for more damage, clearing nosy copies of Gravekeeper’s Spy or Spirit Reaper out of the way before being tossed to the removed-from-play pile for Gigantes. Morphing Jar, on the other hand, gives Stoner five new cards to work with. Five cards is usually all it takes, especially when both players have developed fields and lower life points than they did at the start of the game.

The format has definitely changed. The top players are no longer looking to win the game with long, careful duels, but hope to steal wins away from lengthy-game-oriented duelists by surprising them with a flood of monsters. Without a reliable form of defense always at the ready, more and more players are realizing the strength of this strategy. Korey Stoner is just one of many players who have benefited from this, and he was rewarded with a Top 16 finish.