Gradius And B.E.S. Explained in 31 Minutes [Yu-Gi-Oh! Archetype Analysis]

[@naknampucha5236]

Man, this architype needed a link monster on their arsenal.. I could wish for a Simorgh like boss monster from them that slowly special summon Gradius monster from the deck every turn. That would be fun.

[@streetgamer3452]

I just love that boss rush goes right in the face of the deck since many of their cards only activate their effects on normal summon. Shows that Konami apparently doesn’t get at all what the deck wanted to do

[@balisticemerald8512]

One important thing about Honest is that the boost lasts untill the end of the turn. So if u attack with Lord British and use Honest, u can attack again with the boosted attack. Also since Lord British isn't a once per turn, u can attack as long as u can destroy monsters Modern Gradius decks are usually built around this interaction, with more attack boosting cards like Limiter Removal, Psychic Fervor, Psychic Blade, United We Stand etc

[@redroC171]

I just knew there was gonna be an Ulitma joke when you got to Lord British, and you did not disappont

[@TerraEmperor1]

Always enjoy when you review these old and obscure archetypes

[@nightzebra]

Same

[@yofyo]

I ABOLUTELY LOVE YOUR BONUS SECTION I had no idea that the fire snake was a gradius reference! thanks for putting so much love into your videos!

[@kringe700]

I liked the asthetics of the Gradius monsters (B.E.S included). Shame that they doesn'y have any synergy even within its own archtype, plus with a mostly terrible stats. Well, at least I can use some Big Core as a weird tech in Earth Machine or Cyber mashup, I guess.

[@zeusalternative1270]

Fun fact: All the B.E.S monster have unnamed counters so if you place a unnamed counter via other means is considered a different counter so it doesn't protect them. B.E.F Zelos should have "as per that card's effect" to make the counter work, but I think that the current rulling is that it actually works bc Konami said so.

[@roetemeteor]

This is one deck theme that could bear a complete 100% errata rework and update to bring all versions of the card to a modern power level. Make the B.E.S cards all operate the same and deal with proliferation better, add in more themed monsters that operate similar to 'wow, I wish that was on theme.' Add in more spells and the like that syngergize better. Something like a trap card that Lets you bring in a card of your choice from your deck with 1 counter on it, or lets you bring back a light monster from your graveyard with two effects already active. Not really anything nutty, just something that lets you keep pace with the modern meta... or just bring the meta down again.

[@johnnysizemore5797]

Interesting thought: the B.E.S. uses generic counters, so if you added some counter generation spell card's to their Deck, you could keep them on the field for a lot longer(examples: Spell Mastery & Spell Power Grasp, Crusader of Endymion, either of the Power core traps, etc.)...

[@JamesNintendoTurd]

Spell Counters are not the same as the unnamed counters B.E.S. uses, so you cannot use Endymion stuff to give them more counters.

[@johnnysizemore5797]

@@JamesNintendoTurd read Crusader of Endymion (he's the Gemini one), it just says "put a Counter on one of your cards". It's a very generic counter generator. I know there's other generic counter generators out there, so it's a perfectly viable plan...

[@JamesNintendoTurd]

@@johnnysizemore5797 Maybe you should read Crusader of Endymion (I added the caps for emphasis): "This card is treated as a Normal Monster while face-up on the field or in the GY. While this card is a Normal Monster on the field, you can Normal Summon it to have it become an Effect Monster with this effect. ● Once per turn: You can target 1 face-up card on the field that you can place a SPELL COUNTER on; place 1 SPELL COUNTER on it, and if you do, this card gains 600 ATK until the end of this turn." Again, Spell Counter != Counter.

[@spyro2002]

unnamed counters are still treated as different between them they've confirmed this

[@boredlazy1676]

They actually do have a normal spell that generates counters on a B.E.S. monster called Shield Recovery. It and another monster (Armored Core) seem to only be available in Duel Links.

[@EduardoVouken]

23:43 Correction: You can, in fact, not activate Boss Rush in the same turn that you performed a normal summon or set. This doesn't work in neither EDOPro or Master Duel.

[@boredlazy1676]

You missed one monster and a normal spell card. They are both in Duel Links. The spell is Shield Recovery which has the effect to target a B.E.S. monster on the field and put 3 counters on it. The monster Armored Core is always treated as a B.E.S. monster and can special summon itself if only your opponent controls a monster but lacks the counter utilization effect of the others.

[@godzilla1335]

Pretty sure the duel links cards you’re talking about are anime only. Duel links has some anime only cards mixed into their card pool.

[@masterofthelag8414]

Blue Thunder is unironically my fav monster in this whole game, I love the little fighter! Just big enough that his effect often gets to go off (especially when supported by T301) and then follow up with the attack from the token, I know it isn't great but I just really like it! Also Jade knight works wonders for quickly searching T301, but yeah it's trap effect *very* rarely does anything. Luminous spark I have actually used and it works fine in this deck, Gravity Cannon is also quite good if you do need an equip.

[@ASavageEye]

BEs cards are fun to play with if you know what you are doing and they have more support than you might realise. Their ability to stay on the field against bigger monsters is their greatest trick, allowing you to stall a bit until you can get two for an XYZ or Link. The rulings on the BES cards state that ANY counter placed on them will work, although to be fair there are not a lot of cards which work for this. There is one good way to use them however and that is in Alien decks. You place the BES on your opponents side of the field using Interdimensional Warp and then load it up with A-Counters, reducing its ATK to zero and then walk all over it with your big monsters. It will remove an A-Counter each time its hit and slowly regain its ATK but with just 2-3 big monsters you can still wipe out your opponents LP before that matters. Its janky and slow but its fun to play in a casual setting...if you can pull it off.

[@willkimbrell3436]

There are a handful of good synergy cards that you missed for both archetypes, and for B.E.S. specifically I would suggest Limiter Removal, Malefic Cyber End Dragon, and Iron Draw. Limiter Removal has obvious synergy with any Machine deck while enabling easy OTKs off the back of some of the beefier B.E.S. monsters, and Malefic Cyber End Dragon is a similarly easy fit into any Machine deck so reliant on its field spell to function. As for Iron Draw, with Zelos special summon + the B.E.S. monsters that can either normal summon without tributing or special summon themselves it is nearly always live in my experience while adding some much needed consistency / draw power to the deck. The downside of only 1 more special summon isn't great, but as B.E.S. isn't really a swarm deck it doesn't hurt too much and helps dig for your OTK enablers. In a more aggressive, OTK-based Gradius list in addition to the obvious Limiter Removal inclusion I love running Inferno Reckless Summon combined with cards that tutor Vic Viper T301 to the hand / graveyard for absurdly quick kills (Mathematician, Foolish Burial, Gear Gigant X, Heavy Armored Train Ironwolf, etc). Combo with special summon cards like Silver / Gold Gadget, Call of the Haunted, Monster Reborn, etc and IRS summons all 3 copies of T301 at 2400ATK each while buffing the rest of your board as well and giving you all copies in play for resummoning from the grave on future turns assuming you didn't already win with your 2 card enabled, roughly 9000 damage field. For both decks I include a Kaiju package to finish things off to generally reliable success. In B.E.S. its use is fairly straightforward; Interrupted Kaiju Slumber offers a board wipe as well as tutoring more Kaiju for future turns, the Kaiju monsters do their usual Kaiju disruption things to remove problematic opponent monsters, Jizukiru is a Machine type for Iron Draw / Limiter Removal OTK synergy, and with Zelos on the field almost all of your B.E.S. monsters can attack over the opponent Kaiju with little issue. In Gradius, the fact that Jizukiru is specifically a LIGHT Machine monsters makes for a beautiful cherry on top, as your T301 fleet can buff it to a potential 6900ATK with all 3 copies themselves at 2400ATK for a total board size of 14100ATK without even needing Limiter Removal or other monsters! I love both of these archetypes and I'm happy to see you cover them like this! I have lists for both decks that I used to run on Master Duel and even managed to pilot to low Platinum ranks back in the early days of the game's release. I'd be happy to share them here if there is enough interest from viewers. (DISCLAIMER: I haven't played Master Duel since about a month after its release. The decks haven't been updated for any of the new cards added since launch that may offer additional synergies, and neither list is perfectly optimized since I struggled to keep up with the ridiculous in-game currency issues that prevented me from including all of the staples that I'd normally want to include if price wasn't an issue.)

[@dakotastein9499]

this series (since its technically not an archtype) DESERVES more support

[@7sonicmario]

Finally. I haven't been this excited since the fossil video.

[@xaldreca3403]

I liked the little flourish on the Patron Week announcement

[@Magikey]

I keep dreaming of the day someone will Play a B.E.S. Turbo deck versus my Alien counter deck.

[@pneumomask4359]

Me and my brother did that recently on Master Duel 😁

[@Magikey]

@@pneumomask4359 who won? Aliens or the spaceships

[@robervalbacci2223]

It reminds me of when I went to play all the games yu-gi-oh game on the ds and when i see that the world championship 2008 had tri-horned dragon in the starter deck i decided to make tri-horned dragon turbo and i ended up that the deck crushed the npcs

[@fishyfinthing8854]

All Gradius may have low attack but you can use attack boost such as equip spell or limiter removal. Once they have enough attack, it's very quickly to see opponent monster dying as they continue to roll out more tokens. Other way to support these Gradius is to use Iron Blacksmith Kotetsu to search for the right equip card. Equip them with Axe of Despair for great attack boost, or Twin Swords of Flashing Light - Tryce for double attack. Wicked-Breaking Flamberge - Baou can also add some more insurance in case the opponent monster have some nasty effect. You can also use Heavy Mech Support Platform/Armor for extra protection. HMSP or HMSA can sacrifice itself to prevent Gradius from dying, which mean you can throw a Dark Hole, or any board wipe or Limiter Removal and still keeping your Gradius alive.

[@magestic_seal2297]

GoldenNova can you make a Monarch archetype explained video please. Monarch is really interesting yet simple but some monarchs are better than others and I would like to know what you think of Monarchs and the vassals. I also wonder what goes good with monarchs. right now I’m using 1 linkuriboh in my extra deck (to send edea to the grave a use the banish effect to get back a banished card like pantheism) and card advance (for more tribute summons).

[@gossiperzoroark9629]

“Farming simulator decks like Aromages” Hey! I… yeah I use Cauldron of the Old Man, it does kinda feel like my turn is farming lp so I can see what new stuff Old Man cooked up when I get back from having my opponent still refusing to read my cards

[@stone3706]

As a kid, when I pulled B.E.S Covered Core I became obsessed with completing the set. Thanks to Master duel I can assemble them all together.

[@Dz73zxxx]

Have a fun game mate! Throw dark ruler no more and get them metas beaten by spaceships

[@patdav56]

fun fact, one of these suggestions for BES doesnt actually work in Master Duel. the idea of Skill Drain with Zelos still putting another token on your monsters just in case? yeah, Master Duel refuses to put Zelos's counter on the cards, and if they already had counters, they no longer will. i think it would still work in the TCG and OCG just cuz the counters arent the monster's effects, its the field spell's, but still something weird i noted

[@patdav56]

a couple days late, but a couple other tech picks for B.E.S.: Field Barrier is indepsensible for protecting Zelos from destruction, though keep in mind you wont be able to reactivate it if its bounced, so keep an MST or Tetran on hand to blow up your own barrier in case Machina Defense Perimeter's first effect might not come into play, but its second is GODLY, returning a destroyed BES to your hand after being destroyed and sent to the GY. and since it was still sent to the grave that turn, Boss Rush still triggers, meaning you just traded one monster for 3 on the following turn Speaking of Machina, Fortress and Ruinforce are both really good cards for the deck, especially Fortress being able to toss itself and basically any BES to summon itself and have spot removal on battle destruction, which would still trigger Perimeter, and grab you another BES from the grave

[@drakofox1362]

You know if only this archtype had a alien style archtype to battle

[@ianr.navahuber2195]

Probably the best part of this archetype, is that Duel links basically considers this (especifically, the Gradius card) as one of Duke Devlin's Official Decks. Given all the lines he has with them 15:38 SO THAT'S what the B.E.S. Stand for

[@OnyxRanger09]

hey Nova, keep up the good work man. you are one of the hardest working yugitubers around! i hope you get some downtime to challenge Elden Ring. its a great game

[@superskrub4209]

BES Covered Core is the best one!

[@mill_ania]

Honestly, gotta love the power imbalance between Gradius and B.E.S. On one hand, Gradius, which tech picks are just cope jank cards. And then B.E.S. basically recruit an isekai protagonist and their full party to carry them to victory. Also, funny small ass detail on Space Mambo. You can actually see Space Manbow in the background of Mambo. It's kinda cute.

[@Dz73zxxx]

Aww yiisssss this is what i've been waiting for. Your analysis is great for a rogue/novice duelist like me. Time to get another salt and challenge ze meta again

[@blitzer25blitz62]

i love how u suddenly change accent when it comes to LORD BRITISH🤣

[@michelecastellotti9172]

I dunno, i have seen some wacky B.E.S. combos out there, nothing that could win championships, but still surprisingly rffective

[@fabianbeteta5795]

A double archetype video nice 👌 excellent job GoldenNovaYugioh 👏 👍 👌

[@duke3327]

I can't think of parodius without thinking about Game Grumps with Arin sharting himself

[@MMAddict39]

I tend to run Inferno Reckless Summon in my Gradius Deck to instantly drop all three copies of T301. It fetches from both deck and graveyard and you can just xyz summon with them to avoid losing one to its own banish effect if you don't OTK your opponent.

[@PokeMasrerJ]

I'm confused about Nova mentioning Chaos Draft. That's been over for a bit now.

[@s7121n9s]

I use to run a Flintlock loop deck back in the day which would annoy anyone who wasn't playing it lol so satisfying

[@willpomeroy164]

Pinpoint landing is a good one with zelos.

[@SomeKindaHero117]

"It's all Greek to me!" I see what you did there. Clever little bugger

[@jksanrio]

Oh this is definitely not meta relevant but watching your videos on old archetypes are just so much fun!

[@EthanKironus8067]

You could always Infernal Reckless Summon the Vic Viper T301, giving that 3600 point boost in the damage step. Throw in Honest and you've got game for sure. For that matter, since Lord British's effect isn't OPT in any way, throw it at an enemy, use Limiter Removal, chain Honest, Honest resolves before Limiter Removal and now you've got a level four front-row wipe.

[@endofuwu2146]

Nova became Bri’ish when talking about Lord British. SMH my head

[@oussamalasfer4860]

Starship Spy Plane not related?

[@zimattack9994]

Back in the day of caveman play ground yugioh Gradius was my boss monster equipped with United we stand and mist body plus option good time good times.

[@phitowns]

Kind of wish this architect was called bullet hell because it made more sense

[@aldrinflores4531]

Ah B.E.S. The kick-start the meme of Rata becoming Nostradamus of Yugioh

[@DiuLei619]

26:17 is my favorite XD Dang kinda rare to see a YugiTuber make fun of those -tsu Monsters XD

[@vastoking3419]

imagine gradius or viver with power of the gaurdian, they just need more protection

[@idongesitusen5764]

As an RPG card fan, Yu-gi-oh needs to get back in yo be making good ones

[@renaldyhaen]

I hope Konami gives more protection or backup plan to deck that very relying on their Field Spell. Kyoutou Waterfront & Generaider Boss Stage are good examples. Kyoutou has destroyed protection and not OPT. And Boss Stage has a backup plan with their Boss Fight. So, those decks will not lose from 1 single MST. . Anyway, for LIGHT Machine Gradius family, maybe Konami can give them gimmick with Equip spell because they can summon Token or another LIGHT Machine. The equip will give ATK boost because most of their ATK are 1200 or less, and the equip will give more useful effect to old space ship and their token. And a Field Spell to search other LIGHT Machine and give an equip cards from deck or GY.

[@joeybull9073]

I'm curious to know what a photon delta wing also falls into this

[@GoGoIkuzo]

I was so ready to see Solidarity as a silly tech pick

[@jk844100]

I’m surprised you didn’t mention the Flint Lock FTK. If you can get 2 Flint Lock on the field you can burn your opponent, pass the the flint to the other Flint Lock, burn the opponent, pass the flint back and so on.

[@nightzebra]

Could delta tri return a token for the card draw?

[@holayoseremi1788]

Can we have a D/D/D explained soon?

[@yusheitslv100]

3:28 Gradius may be out of playability, but he's not out of options!

[@Troll_vs.]

I really wanna see kozmo for the space follow up

[@agunemon]

I remember when I never got to beat this guy with a BES deck using my old zombie deck hehehehe twas still fun.

[@dihzmahl7032]

I feel like you're missing one but I can't remember the name for the life of me. It has Cyber in the name, and it's a big machine shaped like a dragon head.

[@scorp-ion-battery]

xexex: if you reduce their life points to 0, you win the duel no... really? no way thats too broken

[@danielramsey6141]

Man, I tell ya, these decks suffer from some really Terrible card designs. But I’m glad their later Additions help to fix the deck issues on both sides.

[@tyresesummers6417]

YES THANK U THIS HELPS ME SO MUCH

[@JangoFox]

I hope Konami gives the spaceships some retrains and gives ties them together better. XD

[@gloomba3312]

when your mom tells you we have Kozmo at home

[@captianblitz]

SPACESHIP!

[@jackmist]

Lego movie?

[@Ironnerd63sChannel]

So, you can win a best of 3 or best of 5 outright with Xexex? Wow

[@uaeoaeoeoi]

Unless the opponent surrenders, which they can do as you are in the process of attacking explicitly as a counter to stop that effect, that is the reason nobody would actually play any of the Victory Dragon effect clones if they were all made legal for tournament play.

[@wallycastagnir]

Funfact in greek it was normal zo have your wife you "loved " but an best bro you regulary had sex with and actually were in love with

[@nunyabiznes33]

Duke have skills for BES in DL and even anime cards for them but they still ain't good.