Shadow Engulfs the Sunshine State

After weeks of debate and careful testing, we’ll finally see what the best of the best have managed to make out of Shadow of Infinity in Orlando. Treeborn Frog is bound to be everywhere on Day 1, but will it match the high expectations that duelists have for it? What other new cards will see success, and how will the incredibly slow environment of Shonen Jump Championship Durham be reflected in this event? The October 2005 Advanced format has almost expired, but it’s certainly going to go out with a bang!

See all the fireworks for yourself bright and early Saturday morning, as Metagame.com brings you live round-by-round coverage. We’ll be showing you the best decks, tech, and feature matches all weekend long, and you’ll be able to witness the development of the post–Shadow of Infinity environment as it emerges, moment by moment.

It all goes down this weekend, and Metagame.com is your exclusive source for all the action!

Yu-Gi-Oh! GX Starter Deck Debuts New Tournament-Level Monster

The new Yu-Gi-Oh! GX Starter Deck started hitting stores across the nation last week, and while both 40-card sets are geared towards new players, veterans got an unexpected surprise when the full decklist was revealed.

Skelengel, a long-awaited card that’s similar to Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive, can be found exclusively in the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX Starter Deck. Softening the potential impact of Nobleman of Crossout and supporting Chaos decks with another highly-playable Light monster, Skelengel is bound to see competitive play in the highest tiers of Yu-Gi-Oh! tournament play.

Available as a standalone deck with a rulebook and beginner’s guide, or as part of a deluxe set with an instructional DVD, the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX Starter Deck is packed with valuable play experiences for new duelists. Long-time players will want the new alternate art holographic version of Elemental Hero Sparkman, and truly ambitious players will definitely want to add a playset of Skelengels to their arsenal. Check it out at retail and hobby stores in your area.

Enemy of Justice Sneak Preview Promo Revealed

While the next round of Sneak Preview events is two months away, the new promo card to be given to attendants has already been released. After years of waiting, and plenty of demand from old-school Yu-Gi-Oh! fans, Toon Dark Magician Girl is finally arriving on North American shores!

Filling an important spot in the Toon ranks that has long remained empty, the new promo card is a nice nod to anime and manga fans from the pre-GX days.

Enemy of Justice Sneak Previews will run all weekend long on May 13 and 14, so mark it on your calendar and start making plans. With some of the best art to see print in the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG, it promises to be one of the most playable expansions ever made.

This Week on Metagame.com

We’ve got an action-packed week as Metagame.com prepares for Shonen Jump Championship Orlando.

Mike Rosenberg starts us off today with an in-depth profile of Treeborn Frog. He takes a long, hard look at what it is, what it isn't, and what it might mean for the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG’s future. How does it stack up to Sinister Serpent? Who should use it, and who definitely shouldn’t? Mike sheds light on the controversial issues surrounding this hot new card.

Jerome McHale ups the amphibian ante tomorrow, when he shows off his latest creation: an entire Frog deck. No, it’s not a deck that uses Treeborn Frog, but a deck that explores the full depths of all Frog-kind! Jerome creates a control variant that’s heavy on draw manipulation and capable of generating huge swings in momentum. Plus, it runs some of the cutest monsters since Rescue Cat. If you’re looking for something to play in the last few weeks of this format, be sure to check out Jerome’s column!

Check out mine, too! On Wednesday, I take on the daunting task of fixing a Sacred Beast deck. While many duelists have experimented with the use of a single Sacred Beast, my contributor for this week tries to run all three. Can multiple Sacred Beasts co-exist in a single deck? Check in with us on Wednesday for the answer.

Curtis Schultz sets his sights on Magical Dimension this week. This card is the driving force behind the Spellcaster archetype, and its ability to destroy a monster regardless of that monster’s position has never been more valuable. But how does it really work? Curtis explains the sequenced structure of the card’s text, and outlines what that sequencing means for the everyday duelist. Can a monster like Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV8 be tributed for Magical Dimension? How does the card interact with Mask of Restrict? Does Dimension target the monster it destroys? Curtis will answer those questions and more!

On Friday, Julia continues her series showing you how to get even more fun (and play experience) out of the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG. Ever played Booster Draft? You’ve probably done it once or twice, or at least seen a Booster Draft in progress. But did you know there are plenty of alternate formats that offer completely different play experiences? Julia will show you another one when she introduces you to the “Solomon” Draft format. Trust me—you won’t want to miss it.

On Saturday, Jae Kim looks at Exodia decks, past and present. There’s more than one way to win with this iconic card, and Jae will help you look at this old school favorite from all the proper angles.

James Pennicott kicks off his monthly column with us here at Metagame.com this week. Entitled “Beating the Format,” it’s focused on the analysis of current trends in gameplay and the forces that can counteract them. He’ll look at one card, one combo, and one deck that techs the expected field, and in the aftermath of Shonen Jump Durham, there’s plenty to discuss!

Speaking of which, I’ll investigate the intricacies and ramifications of Shonen Jump Durham in the latest State of the Game article. Our last Shonen Jump Championship was a huge turning point for the current format, cementing a shift from swift aggression to slow conservative play. I’ll look at the impact of tempo on the Shonen Jump Championship, and then I’ll examine how it will affect the format as a whole.

Finally, we’ll throw the Limelight on Ryan Hayakawa, California’s two-time Shonen Jump Champion! Discussing his past successes, defeats, and future aspirations, Ryan sets the record straight on his status in the game. With plenty of commentary about his team, his friends, and the current format, this one’s sure to please the hardcore crowd.

Whew! What a week. Be sure to hit us up every day for new articles, and don’t forget to block off Saturday to experience all the live coverage from Shonen Jump Championship Orlando. Just when the Advanced format should be winding down, it’s heating up to an explosive finale!

—Jason Grabher-Meyer

Contributing Editor, Metagame.com