Majestic Mech – Ohka: Appearing at plenty of top tables in single copies or even in pairs, this little kamikaze beatstick has been everything that duelists hoped and more. Rampaging over Cyber Dragons and trading off with Jinzo and Zaborg the Thunder Monarch when needed, it’s a topdecker’s dream in the late game. While we haven’t seen it run in Skill Drain decks today (since there haven’t been any), it’s made significant appearances in Chaos Return, Monarch Control, and Creature Swap. In Chaos Return it offers a free, big hit that gives quick fodder for summoning Chaos Sorcerer. It’s also massive when returned to the field with Return from the Different Dimension, dishing out 1000 damage more than other commonly Returned cards like Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive.

In Monarch Control, it’s a fast offensive when your infrastructure isn’t up and running, and another monster to tribute Treeborn Frog for once everything’s going to plan. Its ability to bash Chaos Sorcerer is especially valuable here, turning what is usually a slightly unfavorable matchup into something a bit more even. It’s perhaps at its sweetest in Creature Swap, though. Summon it, attack something, and then give it to the opponent with Swap to take another one of his or her monsters. Like a Creature Swapped Asura Priest, the opponent is left with nothing and you get a monster for the cost of your used Spell card. Everybody from Team Overdose and Scoop to Team Kamikaze are using it.

In addition, because it’s a Machine-type monster, it can even combo with our second tech card of the day . . .

Cyber Phoenix: Appearing all over the place, most duelists using the Phoenix are doing so in order to protect Cyber Dragon from cards that would target it. Special summoning Cyber Dragon, followed by the normal summon of Cyber Phoenix, has been a popular play today and is absolutely brutal in the right conditions. The over-extension is a safe one barring Torrential Tribute or Mirror Force, because even if you lose the Phoenix in battle the following turn, you’ll still get to draw a card for its second effect.

Snatch Steal, Book of Moon, Sakuretsu Armor, Enemy Controller, and Brain Control are all shut down by this clockwork wonder. Not only can you keep all of those frustrating cards off of Cyber Dragon, Snatch Steal is of special significance, since Phoenix keeps it off of Jinzo. That’s easily one of the most frustrating plays any opponent can make, taking your Jinzo and leaving you without much recourse, so preventing that from happening with Phoenix is a great idea. Expect to see it get more and more play as the 2006/2007 season gets into swing!

Asura Priest: There’s not much to say about Asura Priest that hasn’t already been said, save for the fact that this card is absolutely everywhere today. The only thing more scary than the amount of Creature Swaps appearing at tables from the top of the tournament on down is the number of Priests. Royal Decree users run it to reliably wipe the opponent regardless of their defensive traps. Creature Swap players run it to have something to Swap to the opponent, and Return players use it to clear the field and get another Light monster into its ranks. It’s especially nice to clear the field before a Return, shunting out wins that would otherwise be impossible. It wrecks Tomato Control (since it, you know, wrecks Mystic Tomato), and it techs against Scapegoat like crazy.

Asura Priest: It’s awesome, and people are using it. Next card.

My Body As A Shield: My Body As A Shield is one of those cards that drifts in and out of popularity all the time. With Zaborg the Thunder Monarch taking precedence over Mobius the Frost Monarch in just about any deck that has the option of running either, it’s a hot pick for many duelists here.

Mirror Force, Torrential Tribute? Yeah, those are pretty good cards to negate. The current format is incredibly focused on momentum and field presence, and that’s exactly what My Body As A Shield allows you to trade life points for. Protecting your investments when you make tributes, or just keeping your offensive maneuvers flowing, it protects resources. No, not cards: cards are a given, and shouldn’t be thought of as resources on the highest level. I’m talking about normal summons as resources, since they’re a limited on a per-turn basis just like resources in any other TCG. Once you can view summons from that perspective, you can see how great My Body As A Shield really is.

It’s not a fact that’s been lost on duelists here today.

That’s it for tech for this event! The Top 8 will be announced any minute, so get ready to find out who’ll be playing for the title and the four trips to Tokyo tomorrow morning!