EB-01 Sakazuki Ranked Gameplay (Top 15 on ladder)

Some Sakazuki ranked gameplay on the OPBounty ladder.
I recommend watching my in-depth Sakazuki guide before or after this video: • EB-01 Sakazuki guide (...
Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction
0:28 Game 1 - Soro & Sanji
5:43 Game 2 - Gecko Moria
19:16 Game 3 - RP Law

[@BrianLee-wk3ph]

Can you explain your thought process on deciding when to take damage in a game? Generally, I feel it's ok to take the first attack. But at what point would it be ok to take damage from a 5k swing, and when should I consider countering with a 2k or 1k during a 5k swing?

[@LaSpiderTCG]

Sure! I pretty much always take the first hit. This deck relies a lot on answering whatever your opponent plays and having extra cards in hand is very important to find your cost reducers and removal at the correct times. FIrst hit and in most matchups second hit you can take without worrying too much about it. The only decks you should be a little more scared to let the first hit go through are Yamato and RPLaw. For Yamato you only want to get hit if they are commiting their entire turn to hit you (like with an 8k or 9k swing). For RPLaw first hit is fine, but if your hand is good (like double eruption, sword, moria and rebecca) you can use your 1k or 2k counters for small swings even to defend first life. Any other deck I pretty much always take the first two lives and then only counter if I can only commit one card to defend. Knowing when to get hit and when you are supposed to counter is hard and really dependant on board state and what you have in hand, but generally speaking following this advice you are probably going to be ok in most cases

[@BrianLee-wk3ph]

@@LaSpiderTCG Awesome thanks for the detailed explanation! another question would be if you have a brannew, tashigi, or rebecca in hand. Which would you prioritize pitching for 1k?

[@LaSpiderTCG]

​@@BrianLee-wk3ph That depends a lot on the stage of the game. Early turns brannew is the best card on the deck because he can flip lucci, helmeppo and hina netting you a lot of advantage. Later in the game he gets worse because you need to find specific cards, which tashigi is better at doing. Rebecca also becomes amazing lategame because she can get back sabo for a 9 don double blocker turn to stall or just grab a kuzan/borsa from the trash to get your hand filled back up. TLDR: first two turns pitch rebecca for counter. Mid game probably pitch tashigi while your hand is still full but you are not at 10 don yet. Later in the game pitch brannew.