War Rocks- Failed Cards, Archetypes, and Sometimes Mechanics in Yu-Gi-Oh

[@TheSpiralCurse]

"Have you heard of the battle centric earth warriors based on a primitive tribe?" I've heard of Amazoness yes

[@StrategicLemon]

I think they're supposed to be based on cavemen while Amazoness is just the typical jungle tribe.

[@ThatOneWeirdFlex]

​@@StrategicLemonI hate that they're not just called Amazon, the -ess suffix is redundant and unnecessary.

[@StrategicLemon]

@@ThatOneWeirdFlex It's probably a portmanteau of Amazon and goddess which would translate to "Warrior Goddesses of the jungle" (but that's just my opinion) Yu-Gi-Oh sometimes does have a habit of combining names to sound cooler. If it was just straight "Amazon" it would probably sound boring.

[@Lucario1121]

@@StrategicLemonPlus there'll be so many memes of them and the website Amazon itself

[@GatorRay]

Yeah. This feels like a bad spiritual successor to that archetype..

[@WlmaAlexender-zl6nx]

"Somewhere, a Runic player is laughing at this statement" I love that you acknowledge the exceptions, and point them out as such.

[@tamag0_channel]

In Master Duel, Back in the Tearlaments meta. I saw Japanese KZbinr manage to climb to Master 1 with this deck. Respect to that Giga Chad.

[@DirtCheapFU]

Lot of people climbed with War Rocks. Wasn't just some singular savant JPN player lol

[@tamag0_channel]

@@DirtCheapFU Multiple Giga Chad then

[@laidbackkodiak]

Can't lie I got mad respect for anyone who isn't a meta sheep who only play what KZbin tells them too. I swear sometime you can tell people are watching the vids as they play the exact same play every time.

[@MarioMastar]

@@laidbackkodiakThis! Can't stand when people act like only top meta cards are worth playing and that all other decks "suck because they can't deal with Tears" or "Sprights" or whatever is meta this month. It introduces blatent power creep in a game that really doesn't need it anymore and people then stop actually coming up with out of left field strategies and instead every game is a boring mirror match decided on the first draw.... and people complain about gamble cards when the whole duel is a gamble....

[@RunicSigils]

​​​@@laidbackkodiakmost combo decks are intended to play in the same way because there is an optimal way to play. You wouldn't use line 2 if you have line one just because you're afraid someone might think you watched a video from a dude you've never heard of. Especially on turn one you're generally going to do the main combo line or play in an attempt to get to the main combo line. It has nothing to do with videos it's just how we build decks.

[@big_gammy9379]

I would let you know that War Rock is actually a really competent deck. It can even sometime stole a game against Goat Control

[@phorchybug3286]

Stole?

[@StellaEFZ]

@@phorchybug3286 Won

[@monkfishy6348]

Steal @@StellaEFZ

[@Practitioner_of_Diogenes]

Wow, didn't know Goat is synonymous with full power Tearlaments.

[@od222]

Everything works sometimes in the right situations

[@nophion2-electricboogaloo647]

War Rock Mountain is such an awkward reminder of the time where so many archetype were built around 3× the field spell + 3× Terraforming.

[@DirtCheapFU]

No. It's just been thing for last year or so most new decks and deck support has been given a powerful F/S thats part of its engine. Visas F/S's. Rikka. Traptrix. Purrely. Lab. More.

[@YourWaterBoii]

​@@DirtCheapFU you forgot about ABC's with Union Hanger. That was in 2016. Definitely not within the last year or so. Been around a long time.

[@DirtCheapFU]

​@@YourWaterBoiiI never played a Union Hangar but I will always put that F/S as one of the best.

[@olyviermonteau4300]

@@DirtCheapFU no not really, it doesn't place on activation. not best spell but it is good. their fusions don't banish from the hand unlike gate guardian's new support.

[@christianjericho82]

As a Libromancer player, I cannot properly function without my field spell.

[@Rossco1010]

As a returning yugioh player with Master duel, I honestly had no idea War Rocks were this new, I had assumed they were a deck from like 2014/2015 at the latest, not 2021 with the way their effects work and are so battle phase focused.Who thought a deck that looks like it could have been released 2011 with no changes was a good idea to release a decade later.

[@isaiah1417]

Yeah same here. I thought they were old asf

[@ajayusspiritus6955]

Blame tcg

[@DirtCheapFU]

I hope this video was a jinx and War Rock receive some more support. They and Myutants have only gotten 1 card since the OCG World Premiere.

[@Frencydark]

I'm going to join the copium train. Please Konami release more War Rock cards 😢

[@DirtCheapFU]

I dont ride that train often. But I like this underdog deck.

[@LinusIslamTips]

Use Magnum shield my brother. It surprises Meta players and let's you go full ungabunga on them.

[@kookou13]

They don't need new support. They need a new deck

[@cephgawd]

More myutant support!

[@rainbowdragon168]

I’m surprised that War Rocks didn’t get an Extra deck monster but I guess it probably wouldn’t have been good

[@lightdragoon88]

You know what would of made a good extra deck monster? That dragon they seem to be fighting and the form the fire takes in medium.

[@DirtCheapFU]

They don't need a extra deck target. They need a bridge for a Turn 1 Meteoragon and Medium.

[@DirtCheapFU]

@@lightdragoon88 That or an effigy of it. Kinda like a Rock of the Vanquisher. But main deck target.

[@lightdragoon88]

@@DirtCheapFU heck have it be like Magical Musketeer. A link 1 bridge. Say it that flame like dragon with this effect: At the start of the battle phase: (quick effect) tribute this card to special summon 1 "war rock" monster form hand, deck, or gy. The monster summon by it cannot be destroyed by battle for this turn and you take no damage from battle involving that monster.

[@SeraSmiles]

Idaten the conqueror's star is pretty much the closest thing

[@superkubultra8047]

It was a bit awkward running into a war rocks player in diamond on master duel. I was just playing vanquish soul with slifer for fun and i see this man play 2 monsters set 2 backrow and pass. I popped one of his backrow and he deadass disconnected before the card could enter the graveyard.

[@bamboobridge-of8yd]

why would he put any cards in the backrow if every magic card of this archetype can be activated from your hand tho

[@ThatOneWeirdFlex]

​@@bamboobridge-of8ydbecause traps cant

[@rangingaway92]

The only use War Rock has in duel links is to confuse the hell out of me when I search for "Rock" inside the filters.

[@ianr.navahuber2195]

0:57 the funniest part is that, OCG Konami learnt from TCG's mistake, and their attempt at making Battle Phase cool again (Bestowed Dragon) at least gives them some sort of protection against negates, and the ability to special summon themselves. It might not give relevance to the Battle Phase again, but certaintly feels like "War Rock but done better" 13:11 Wonder if Bestowed is doomed to eventually end here in this section or not

[@forsetimaster0689]

Back when I first played Duel Links (my first time playing any sort of modern format) War Rocks were the very first deck I ever built. Good or not, they were a phenomenal stepping stone from the slower Goat Format duels I was used to and will always have a special place in my heart.

[@TaLeng2023]

This basically me but with Digi Bugs. I used an Amazoness starter and was stupid enough to try build Hieratics coz they look cool. I ended up not finishing that and played Digi Bugs from the same box instead. It sucks with Links now but hey, it's a deck of only Rs and Ns.

[@LeAndre_McCoy]

Simple. Just make a Quick-Play that reads: Proceed to the turn player's next BP. Battle damage is halved for the rest of the turn. Call it War Rock Hunt, so it's searchable. It can be used to set up your turn 1 board or disrupt enemy plays by instantly ending M1 and on turn 3, it can give you a second BP.

[@Matheusbn09]

I've been waiting for this video, as a War Rock player myself, I love the archtype as much as I can, but differently from Ursatics, I've accepted the trashness of my deck in todays format

[@dudono1744]

Both decks have a continuous spell that draws a lot and suck at the same time

[@Matheusbn09]

@@dudono1744 at least you get to draw with the Ursactics spell, War Rock Ordeal is quite literaly useless beign that it needs to DeSTrOy a MoNsTer in BATTLE of all things and even with all that, It needs to have 3 monster destroyed in battle to get the full draw.

[@olyviermonteau4300]

The amazoness monster had a BETTER spell trap removal than war rocks BEFORE their support.

[@Ramsey276one]

BETTER, you meant??

[@olyviermonteau4300]

yea, thanks@@Ramsey276one

[@olyviermonteau4300]

yea amazoness shaman btw. she just has to attack and survive and she destroys a spell/trap, and it can be face up or down. so yeah@@Ramsey276one

[@9Destra]

In order to make a battle focused archetype good, you need to make them direct attackers and have effects that search, summon and recycle to keep up the pressure while having protection outside of the battle phase

[@juksleo6257]

In order to make a battle phase deck good, they really need to make sure said monster *live* until the battle phase. And even then, you're probably not going to beat the 5+ interruption board your opponent set up going first

[@Ramsey276one]

Ambushers! There's the archetype name!

[@JackOfen]

Time for new Watt support!

[@Bezaliel13]

Like Watts or Earthbound Immortal! *JK*

[@9Destra]

@@juksleo6257 I made an archetype a long time ago called Steamruptors. They were an archetype of water pyro and fire aquas that could attack directly while in defense position. Most interruption was useless against them

[@magiccardmaster9921]

"Somewhere, a runnick player is laughing at this statement." Dammit that guy is me. I can't stop laughing now

[@BeaglzRok1]

The only way to get a deck like this playable would to give it some kind of Main Phase 1 card that shoves a Battle Phase after that phase, which would allow them to beat face going first and beat additional face going second. Even then, it's only presenting a battle phase threat that can be hand-trapped out of OTKing if you don't draw right.

[@DirtCheapFU]

It is actually playable lol It's just not top tier. Jesus Christ. Parrot much.

[@dudono1744]

Unga Bunga FTK ?

[@Theoneandonly-gy9fo]

​@DirtCheapFU Just because a deck is playable doesn't mean it able to be used reliably. Decks should be constructed to have some sort of a chance against the meta threats, that doesn't rely on gimmicky cards outside the archtype.

[@ZenoDLC]

So Savage Colosseum and Bamboo Swords?

[@streetgamer3452]

Everything is playable. They're obvuously saying better than cow dung.@@DirtCheapFU

[@christianbuffum-robbins8904]

As an Unga Bunga man myself, the fact that Ancient Gears are still better than this hurts Edit: "They're less Primal and more Flintstones" is a brutal burn. Whoever wrote this deserves a beer or two

[@Amsel_616]

OOGA BOOGA ULTIMATE POUND!

[@berserkhunter1981]

I wouldn't really compare War Rocks to Ancient Gear. They're more close to Gladiator Beast or Amazoness, at least before they got their new support.

[@Kel_po]

Dude, Amazoness are better than this

[@CocTheElf]

​@@Kel_po and even then Amazoness is dogshit.

[@berserkhunter1981]

@@Kel_po what about before their new support

[@randomprotag9329]

it was funny seeing farfa beat a modern war rock deck with a goat deck, when even then it was just relying on modern staples.

[@DirtCheapFU]

Honestly, Farfa didn't attempt to put thought into building that deck. That was just dogpile content for the wagon. WRs were used to net high view count.

[@randomprotag9329]

@@DirtCheapFU it was going against goat control. if a modern deck can not easily beat goat control (a lower powerdeck) thats a decent sign the deck is bad. even worst for it all the lp he lost was paid war rock had issues easily getting a single lp of battle damage in against goat control

[@olyviermonteau4300]

future players: tenpai dragions, bident/trident dragions

[@harryf9885]

The release of war rock ordeal instead of anything actually useful was an ordeal for war rock fans so at least the name is on point

[@otroweonllamadoseba]

Maybe but you can't deny that War Rock Dignity is too damn badass to activate in a critical moment.

[@nekipeh7373]

I actually run War Rocks with Star Warriors and DPE engine in Master Duel. Works alright and is pretty fun. Sadly for me to say, as a archetype only it does fail to do almost anything. In Duel Links i have it with Silent Swordsman and few Star Warriors, but havent really touched DL in months. Still alright to run.

[@protobass0451]

The only way that can fix War Rocks are floodgates. Something like "if you control a War Rock monster, your opponent can only use monsters effects up to the War Rock monsters you control" and "your opponent cannot respond" effects. We all hate floodgates, but it's the only thing that can save War Rocks

[@aureliodeprimus8018]

To answer your question at 13:03. I actually watch this series, because i am just interested in what archetypes and ideas there were over the years.^^

[@rakhmathadita3917]

the most insulting thing about war rock is they took SECRET RARE spot (mountain and meteoragon)

[@Lagbeard]

If the War Rocks and Amazoness cards weren't so restricted to just working with their own archetypes, they might actually pair together really well... Or another Earth attribute Warrior archetype that also wouldn't co-operate is Heroic Challengers. They don't have enough options and archetypes just lock each other out.

[@mariojordan9543]

I feel the 15 minute explanation shouldve at least hint the meta when War Rock was released: war rock was a go 2nd deck in a meta where the boards were so strong that it was a miracle if u could break the board

[@MarioMastar]

He covered it's better status in duel links which a lot of people appreciate because in Duel LInks, the deck is a lot better thanks to the pacing and we can better see what the deck is capable of. With comparing to the TCG, the problem is the TCG itself as "If it can't beat Tears.... it's a bad deck...." and that's just the sad reality of the TCG, not Duel Log's opinion as he does lament that fact sometimes.

[@u.a.perfectace7786]

Yeah....the Blazing Vortex, LIOV, and DIFO formats were brutal. No fucking way War Rocks would thrive on release and post support waves

[@GGrektberg]

I think Cloudians should be included in a series of archetypes that failed.

[@HotPikachuSex69]

You didn’t play in the era of how terrifying cloudians truly were, it seems

[@berserkhunter1981]

Chess Archfiend as well

[@MarioMastar]

I think the truly failed archetypes are definitely the ones where they run counter to their own gimmick or thier gimmick doesn't do anything at all but seems exclusive to them for some reason. Some cards do have tremendous potential if you really like the art enough to use them to the fullest, but some run into the ditch of "These cards gain advantage when they attack, but thier boss monster prevents them from attacking"

[@berserkhunter1981]

@@MarioMastar so Kaiju if you run them pure

[@terryliliana]

A failed archetype is the one that doesn't even work casually by itself, like early HEROes, ice barriers, roids, iron chains, etc.

[@f.b.iagent3971]

14:20 this was such an unexpected thrashing wtf?

[@otroweonllamadoseba]

I just found out that this deck is perfect to play against Stun deck...somehow this deck can do what meta decks usually can't.

[@Hamboarding]

If they made all the monsters unaffected by other cards' effects EXCEPT in the Battle Phase and then build protection for them for the battle phase, that would maybe be a way to make a Battle Phase-centric archetype like this

[@Ramsey276one]

What's a synonym for Duel? Like the "guns at dawn" type?

[@1stCallipostle]

​@@Ramsey276oneShowdown?

[@Ramsey276one]

@@1stCallipostle ...that can work!

[@Ramsey276one]

Okay, not saying what card TYPE these effects are for, but each is for a different (Monster/Spell/Trap), separate card. For the rest of this turn, Battle Phases cannot be skipped and attacks cannot be negated or prevented. This effect cannot be negated if all your Spell/Trap Zones are empty. During the end of a Main Phase, if your opponent controls a monster that can attack, you can Special Summon this card in Attack Position, then it becomes the Battle Phase.This effect cannot be negated if all your Spell/Trap Zones are empty. While you control this face-up card, your opponent must attack.This effect cannot be negated if all your Spell/Trap Zones are empty.

[@olyviermonteau4300]

bident dragons: "boi, do we have a deal for you: [HYPERLINK BLOCKED]"

[@azuredragoon2054]

I can think of an easy card to support War Rocks that would make them a potential Going 1st deck. War Rock Shammastra Level 7 Earth/Warrior/Effect 2400 ATK/2400 DEF You can Special Summon this card (from your hand) if you control 2+ EARTH Warrior monsters and no others. While this card is face-up on the field, your opponent cannot activate card effects before the Battle Phase of either player's turn.

[@sirknightjcb9310]

The Special Summon would help a lot, since "Meteoragon" is their to-go boss monster. But imo, the second effect it a bit redundant when they have access to "War Rock Medium".

[@DirtCheapFU]

Nope. Doesnt need some randomly high, extra deck target. What it needs a Turn 1 bridge for Meteoragon and Medium. Hopefully, minimizing in-hand cards needed so you can stack hand traps and board traps.

[@olyviermonteau4300]

@@DirtCheapFU bro he didn't even say it was extra deck monster lmao.

[@azuredragoon2054]

@@sirknightjcb9310 Medium is a double sided floodgate though, which is half of the problem. This card also forces opponents into playing around War Rocks specializing with battle phase effects. Furthermore, if you can get this card out, it'll mean the rest of your plays for turn 1 cannot be interrupted (since you can't go into the battle phase anyway).

[@azuredragoon2054]

@@DirtCheapFU The card isn't an extra deck monster though. It's quite literally an archetype Cyber Dragon that provides a one-sided flood gate that would allow the rest of their plays to go uninterrupted in Turn 1 and force the opponent to play cards after the battle phase, likely losing out on it entirely just to set up their board.

[@colinduchilio4052]

For what it's worth, War Rocks actually lend themselves VERY well to a slow as molasses control deck, as Fortia and Medium net you advantage every single turn. The fact that they all share type and attribute, dont summon a lot and dont really care about the GY means that you can run pretty much every floodgate sans TCBOO and Skill Drain with very little consequences (on top of the handtraps you can already play) In fact, this build has pretty much eclipsed any going second builds of the Deck at this point, because it just performs more consistently.

[@DirtCheapFU]

Theyre actually not that slow. If you building like a erdart. Then yeah, you definitely running 3 bricked engines with 1 conflicting goal to end your board on.

[@u.a.perfectace7786]

Floodgates got hit hard on the banlist. Gonna be harder to slow the game down for them War Rocks. Thanks Runick Stun lol

[@basty_gaming5750]

The TCG Exclusives highlights so far • Kaiju Towers • Ugabuga Cave“People” arcetype for the 5Ds kitchen tables • Spies violating your Deckʼs privacy the arcetype

[@terryliliana]

If you want a battle phase archetype that is still fun, go for Gladiator Beasts. Gladiator Beasts do what these guys want to do but way better. You can also make a case for six samurai and HEROes.

[@jshtng78]

They need a new generation of monsters that are ridiculously easy to summon and all share the effect that 'While this monster is on the field, players may only activate any card effect after declaring an attack on the same phase'. I think 'Ordeal' sums up why this archetype is one of the biggest flavor wins in recent YGO history: Their entire point is that they live to fight each other so of course that would weaken them so much that they can't fight anyone else. Unlike Visas who also exists to hit himself but does so with such viciousness that everyone else becomes collateral damage.

[@TwistedBOLT]

Keep in mind that their one decent card, dignity has an effect negate that's only usable during the battle phase but isn't an activation negation meaning you can't use it during the damage step.

[@DirtCheapFU]

That is the most wrongfully worded explanation of a card that could actually use an explanation. It can be used in what you think is the damage step, if you have priority that is. As in by design; Meteoragon swings, mandatory activation, CL2 Opp effect, CL3 Dignity for SS2 negate to Monster, spell and trap. I don't think you know what you're trying to explain. What exactly are you asking of Dignity to negate during the Damage Step? Because this might be a good example of people not knowing the damage step well enough to explain the negates during the damage step.

[@TwistedBOLT]

​@@DirtCheapFU Feel free to correct my wording if you think it's wrong. All I said is that you can't use their best card during the damage step which is true. It's funny to me that a battle phase archetype completely centered around the battle phase can't negate a simple damage step ATK change be it a card like droplet (not sending spells), honest or one of the other forbidden-quick-play-spells. Not that battle tricks see play in modern but it's just saddening how many needless restrictions war rocks have. Not sure why you're mentioning the on attack declaration effect if I'm talking about the damage step but you do you.

[@MICHAELTUMANGDAY]

This archetype is a really good one in Duel links.

[@sirknightjcb9310]

They certainly do better in Duel Links than it could ever do in TCG and OCG, and funny Skills like "Wave of Enlightment" help them a lot. But compared to every other competitive archetype out there, "War Rock" has a lot cut out for them when said archetypes do a lot more.

[@felixdaniels37]

I have yet to actually see a War Rock deck in Duel Links, and I've grinded up to KoG for the past two months now.

[@olyviermonteau4300]

Amazoness better.

[@caseyjarmes]

First deck I ever made in Duel Links. They’re bad but I like them

[@JoyBoy0606]

At my ots I go to, everyone kept pulling War Rock Mountain when Blazing Vortex came out. It was like a curse or something

[@metalmariomega]

Deck basically needs its own Kashtira Unicorn to be viable, it wouldn't even need to have similar effects, just a means to special itself out in MP1 so their new Misc equivalent of Medium is actually USABLE. Even better if it has the effect to set Spell/Traps from deck, in order to grab what you're missing out of Medium, Mountain, and Dignity.

[@StrategicLemon]

I built a war rock deck once and it just did not work. Idk why some people think it's good.

[@DirtCheapFU]

It's good in the sense of being a wild card deck. You can put some rage inducing cheese in the deck that can ruin a meta babies day. Like, Shifter/Macros. Claivolish. Or jumpscare Zoodiac. As much as I love the War Rocks. It's not a good deck. It's likable like an acquired taste. If someone say it's a good deck. They see trolling you. And feeding the hate wagon. But don't get caught slacking. They can 2 turn kill you. Call it Unga bunga. It's still a control beat down deck.

[@camarofan2008]

I'm late to the party, but the archetype may be based on He-man and not random cave men. Bashileos being based on savage he-man, Fortia is Teela, and Meteoragon is base he-man. Just my opinion though

[@gmradio2436]

I can answer the question of why people need a 15 minute video. I never knew this archetype existed and now I know why. Thank you for the explanation and break down.

[@DirtCheapFU]

I still say keep your eye out for this and Mytutants. One of these will get an accidental support that will make them playable.

[@phoenixcastro122]

This is my deck and it can give the opponent a run for the rank

[@HerKnightable]

I can answer why I watched a 15 minute video on why that archtype failed. I knew no one who did not immediately look at those cards and like me immediately thought. Nope. I was curious if there was ever some chance some of those failed cards would come back to bite me because I did not pay any attention to them when they came out. Multiple "Failed" archtypes had cards that all came back to bite me with non-future proofed cards. Konami releases a "Joke" card and ten years later it has a habit of becoming banned.

[@GammaAkutabi]

I love War Rocks and tried to make it work on MD. Even adding a continuous spell to skip main phase 2. I wish they get new monsters or an overhaul. Magnum shield quite helped them too.

[@kennydarmawan13]

To make battle phase archetypes work, make it a reward for actively playing the battle phase. I swear, a card that triggers Pot of Greed, Heavy Storm, or Delinquent Duo in the battle phase would be very worth it. In MtG, while slower being a contributor, combat phase archetypes still work as of today, with some cards, Waves of Aggression, Breath of Fury, and Moraug, Fury of Akoum, being desirable cards. Funnily enough, the reason why those combat phase cards work is by adding more of said phase and sometimes another main phase. 14:07 Nice shout-outs there. Didn't expect TheDuelLogs to be a man of culture.

[@GuardianGrarl]

Konami: War Rocks will be Bad. Players in that site with those cards: Fine. We'll do it ourselves.

[@pufnbal1744]

Honestly, looking back now. I kind of like war rocks. I still think when they released, they weren't too good. But they have grown on me a little bit these past few years.

[@ariavachier-lagravech.6910]

13:03 Really Mr. Logs? I thought by now you would have known people are willing to watch 15 min of worst archetype to use your voice as sleeping aid. Which reminds me, thanks for another 15 minutes of sleeping aid.

[@ThrillerKiller96]

Ik war rock isn’t the best deck ever but it’s one of my favorites cause it’s priceless to watch them snowball out of control against the right people

[@benjystrauss2524]

Update: Mirror Force and Magic Cylinder still have value on TCGPlayer. Even Wall of Disruption isn't a penny card yet.

[@zi0dyne]

I'm waiting for the twitter copium saying war rock is good if you replace 75% of the deck with something actually useable

[@DirtCheapFU]

No. It the twitter copium would ramp back up swearing that is what War Rock players want. You havent been around the War Rock hate wagon. You literally had everyone dogpiling the deck with no one caring to defend it. There's a youtube clip of burning War Rock Mountains. No one cared.

[@olyviermonteau4300]

@@DirtCheapFU "-swearing that [that] is what the war rock players want." - you mean: attention for 2 minutes and then back to them playing non-war rock decks. e.e

[@RandomAsFunk]

*squinty eyes * we had glad beasts why did we need these guys lol? I mean they look cool at least

[@danielramsey6141]

This deck can actually mesh well with A lot of Other Earth Warrior Deck. The Star Warriors, and now the Chess Warriors can all add cards to the deck that Help to Boost their Effectiveness!

[@Ramsey276one]

Cave Folk learn Chess and Astrology XD

[@kyte07]

A decent casual deck i made used earth puppets. Pawn techs into a decent search, rook forced battles and protection loops with sky. Queen handtrapped into king off pawns search with damage boost. Versylph spells gave some versatility. Wasnt overly strong but i had fun with it. If king and queen went off with bash or meteo you get an easy otk

[@kyte07]

The equip that raises atk and blocks destruction with counters after each atk makes meteo a beast in most situations.

[@residentgrey]

I still stan for Mammud. I still use that one, Gactos, and Fortia, in some decks on Duel Links. They still serve me well to this day in advancing some preferred combos.

[@supsup335]

Idea for a real battlephase architype: have them be unaffected by anything outside the battlephase. Now, make it part of their effect, make it a searchable card, or make it a fieldspell (even without terraforming they can still be searched). Like leo, but for battlephase

[@KuKuKlock123]

In order for the BP to be relevant, they need to make a Tearlament like archetype that would only work in the BP and make it so it won’t work with other archetypes. Quite literally breaking the game with OP cards.

[@Zetact_]

I think some of the War Rock cards were deliberately tuned down because instead of the archetype holding exclusivity, they had a bunch of effects that interact with EARTH Warriors instead of "War Rock" monsters. Which means there always is some sort of potential for unintentional cheese. It's similar to how Gemini/Spirit monsters get gimped because instead of just making an archetype with it as a play style, they make the support cards support the ENTIRE mechanic and make them weaker. But given Mammud just outright has a grab bag of mediocre effects taken from GX era archetypes it's possible the entire archetype was an elaborate prank. Maybe someone at the Konami offices heard the phrase "Caveman Yugioh" and took it to its logical conclusion. Though I also have not ruled out the possibility that they found a .txt file of possible archetype design on someone's computer and made it verbatim, and only after the cards were in the printing process realized "oh wait this file was created in 2005."

[@victhefoxygamer]

I wonder how each of these bad archetypes would match up against each other? I've noticed that they all have one of two themes, A) the deck is a "Goes First" but can't pop-off consistently B) the deck is a "Goes Second" but can't defend well enough to actually get set up It would be neat to see which is more detrimental and see which of these archtypes is the "best of the worst". My money is on Toons, but what do I know I only watch You-Gi-Oh content and have yet to play myself.

[@arielcevallos8188]

Only one Special Summon effect on War Rocks monsters (except for Bashileos, whose effect is only in Battle Phase). Meanwhile, other archetypes Special Summon as if there is no tomorrow, like Albaz and friends. Fair and balanced. 🙄

[@olyviermonteau4300]

Mans casually went up in nostalgia mode and mentioned boomerang: the flintstones

[@eug504ene]

Thanks for making me feel offended. Even though my puny caveman brain may not understand it. I enjoy playing with war monsters and Master Duel. And yes, I am a old-school type of player. I’m not a big fan of all of the sacral and link summons. Although I wouldn’t mind if they updated the war rocks🪨 monster starts with a few links summons. To bowl fighting power, kinda like plunder patrol..

[@princequincy5421]

You know what could have made this archtype interesting? Make them all share the effect that they can attack during the first turn of the duel, but that damage they deal that way is halved.

[@asafesseidonsapphire]

This sounds broken

[@sukumuieywang8058]

That wouldn’t be interesting that’d be unfair

[@princequincy5421]

@@sukumuieywang8058 not like they'd be able to put out 16000 attack on turn 1 anyways

[@sukumuieywang8058]

@@princequincy5421 Probably not, but there are so many versatile and diverse cards that I could see it being abused if someone finds a way. But either way, it’s kinda bs to be able to launch attacks when your opponent has had no opportunity to set up any board at all.

[@princequincy5421]

@@sukumuieywang8058 maybe, but it sells the Unga bunga it wants to go for, so ready to Unga they don't wait to bunga

[@biobroly9324]

War Rocks are fun as hell in Duel Links

[@Slayerthecrow]

I remember playing against this deck in Duel Links a lot, I can't count the times I lose to this deck with one hand.

[@hansgomez1317]

Answering your question, well i dont play anymore beyond the gx gba game on my comute to and from work, also a ds game sometimes, so i dont know much beyond the syncro era, at least i get know whats up with the game these days through your content and that of team aps as well

[@tatsu78]

The new Fire Dragon Battle Phase Archetype was Konami's apology letter for War Rocks downfall - I love the designs of War Rocks but it was more of a "damn" moment when you pulled them instead of other cards from the pack in which they debut.

[@mushythezombehkiller]

They took one look at Ancient Warriors that released 4 sets earlier, an Archetype that prides itself on ending the game via the battle phase quickly, but with control *and* consistency outside of it, and wondered how they could make it worse. It's a shame really, the deck is fairly alright art wise, and frankly being battle focused wasn't a big issue, it's the fact that it was *almost entirely* battle focused, this deck needed cards like Meteoragon or Mammud to be quick effects in the negation and removal, but alas, doomed to Duel Links goes the last relic of DM/GX era caveman yugioh.

[@humanoid251]

I thought there was gonna be a mention about how the new Tenpai/Sangen archetype is just War Rocks but with Wattuna’s synchro ability

[@Sealbinder]

While not what was intended Mammud is an important piece of the N/R format Chad Turbo deck. Though it being a level 5 earth warrior is the most important part.

[@mgbenz]

Medium needs a Level 7 OR HIGHER. That means you can also have Bashileos on the field to enable the effect.

[@iistonton]

I'd listen to a long explanation of how power creep "ruined" modern yugioh. Ruined in quotes because it's still a fun game but it's changed so much mechanically and what appears to be Konamis goal going forward. So I guess the failed card/mechanic would be game speed? Would be nice to listen to.

[@Zanmu]

honestly, I play war rocks in master duel and have had a lot of wins with them surprisingly. While war rocks aren't very good, you shouldn't underestimate them either.

[@KronosTheRevenant]

A lot of these failed archetypes and mechanics sound like they work against very incompetent players, ie anime protagonists playing against them for the first (and possibly only) time

[@agitpolat1061]

What often makes the Cards in these Videos sound worse than they actually are is that all of Logs' Scripts are always written under the assumption that you're playing against the average competitive Deck. Just look at his Morphtronic Video for the most blatant example of this; he kept mentioning *multiple times* through it that (paraphrasing) "Morphtronics are actually unironically good, they just couldn't keep up with the Meta".

[@MarioMastar]

I think as humans who know how to plan our decks and strategize, we kind of look for what can be done to make the archetype work. A lot of these fall into the camp of either: - the archetype is good but not good enough for today's meta (like this one) or - The archetype literally contradicts itself by having a boss effect that has nothing to do with the archetype, but requiring the archetype to set up in the first place. (like a spell counter deck that uses spell counters to get out thier boss monster...who's just a big beater and has no use for spell counters at all but wipes the board of them to be summoned in the first place). The first have potential in a lower level or slower paced game or can be mixed with similar archetypes for a chance at winning a casual match, but the second is where it gets really interesting cause it's a failure on Konami's part of over balancing a deck to make it unplayable even at release (like Malefics and the Egyptian God cards). The anime does show how you can use extreme strategies to eek out a win as well as how to use the new decks effectively to put yourself in a powerful position, but in the hands of competent players, the protags probably wouldn'th ave won half thier duels (I love TGS Anime's "Would he have won?" series cause it applies modern player knowledge to the duel assuming the same cards and deck was played to see if there were better options or the draw/deck was sour grapes from the start.)

[@SilverioFamilyforChrist]

This is precisely why I am looking forward to the new FIRE Dragon archetype (forgot the name) as a deck with a good old-fashioned aggro play style that is straightforward. All these negate effects are really tiresome and such a turn off for a returning player like me. It feels like it's a control match up every time (it's a simplification for sure but I play several other TCGs where negating card effects is generally a Control strategy). I like Aggro decks and I may give YuGiOh a better shot if there was something more like this that could actually perform on a competitive level.

[@RinaShinomiyaVal]

Thats just modern Yugioh in teneral. You have to learn matchups and puzzle solve to break opponents boards with Going 2nd decks otherwise YGO might not be the TCG for you.

[@SilverioFamilyforChrist]

​@RinaShinomiyaVal I would highly disagree as it's already fact that it didn't use to be that way. Meaning that it doesn't have to be now. Revamping could occur. And the community would be richer for it. Or it will face its inevitable downfall. Out of the 3 top TCGs YGO remains the worse in dissatisfied player base and that number only grows year by year.

[@LoreleiVieshvelle]

Honeslty looks like a fun deck that id build to go with my other 25 gimmick decks that are to slow for modern play

[@DirtCheapFU]

It's very gimmicky and rage inducing to your opp. You can play Shifter/Macro and Terminal World.

[@shigesohma]

One thing That should be pointed out about War rocks is that it reflects the change in design philosophy of yu-gi-oh. before, when an archetype was released, the main thought process went into the style of play of the deck (war rock being BP focused beaters, or trickstar being slow burn focused on punishing opponents for playing recklessly) with the current meta being an after thought. Now the main focus is towards how it compares to the current meta. (Can it play around these cards? or will it sell more than this?) which ends up leading to decks that have no real identity other than provide an alternative engine to the same generics. (just look at Dragonlinks and it's numerous different iterations as a prime example of this). You'd be hard pressed to find a new deck that gets released nowadays that doesn't focus on preventing the other player from resolving their cards because that's what works best right now. You can try to blame it on powercreep, but just remember that that cant happen unless you keep designing cards to match or outdo what's currently being played. Powercreep is shaped by card design not the other way around.

[@מירבגרסטנפלד]

I combined " war rock" with "amazoness" and "star" series and it was pretty good. i don't have all their cards nor hand trap but it's pretty good and it's fun to play

[@MarioMastar]

Given it only check for Earth Warrior monsters, that's a good way to mix and match. What can really help an otherwise mediocre deck is how well they sync up with similar cards outside it's archetype. Seems like it'd be a fun deck to pair with Amazoness since they want the opponent to attack to dish huge lifepoint damage back at them.

[@LinusIslamTips]

I go full ungabunga by equipping my Warrocks with magnum shield. Thats my only suprise and win con with this esp. if my opponent doenst assume me using it then gets otk by metearagon(s).

[@Netherwolf6100]

Listening to these effects and possible set ups, I wonder how an Archetype would work if it also functioned mostly off the Battle Phase, but stopped your opponent from preforming their Main Phase 2, forced all monsters they controlled to battle during their Battle Phase, gave all Archetypal monsters Honest-like effects for attack increase, had 0 Defense Points and would negate all other monster effects during the Battle Phase except their own. Would that be broken or lame?

[@ricardomora4531]

The worst part of war rock is that Konami printed them as ultra and secret rare cards

[@novashaven9132]

They are really good in EARTH Warrior decks, like Gouki or Amazoness, thanks to their generic effects

[@MarioMastar]

Yeah just being ANY Earth Warrior monster is textual gold. It can slot with other earth warrior archetypes for more coverage.

[@1stCallipostle]

Aren't those pretty stone age themselves?

[@olyviermonteau4300]

fair but there are better optimal, some even dirt cheaper options to run than war rocks. remember they are WORLD premire: most likely expensive.

[@2lazy2laze45]

Floodgate for battle oriented decks then, do battle else negate or no SS. MP2 would be a thing

[@leafgreenbeast]

You can run some mean setups with medium+meteoragon/bashileos and cards like terminal world and burning bamboo sword, horn of heaven etc to effectively skip the opponents turn. Or with heroics (also obscure earth warriors) for a swingy otk deck via claivesolish (or rhongo when it was legal). Vernusylphs can aff some decent recursion, the newly unbanned redox can as well (but both are non-warriors and turn off WR effects, so make sure theyre off the field before doing anything) Or you could use a deck that actually works.

[@LukisKain57]

It's a nice simple Arctype and that's why I love and you can still beat meta decks with it

[@Subject_Keter]

They should of made spellbreaker type monsters where everyone of them can negate but have a price and if your foe uses a negate, you can prevent them from using that monster for 2 turns.

[@casually_lurking]

In an era where we're nearing nearly a decade of quasi or true tier Zero formats where "Competetive" players bawl over how dogs*** one card starters are I choose to meet your points fully, but stand by my Unga-Bunga boys. Let's face it, going forward the battle phase is a formality and trap cards are pointless. In the face of that, I'd rather have fun with table 500 fodder rather than be competitive anymore. Seriously though, when it's 24 to 30 hand traps & tech a deck, who's really jazzed for Pile Format?

[@Aja-OP1]

I don't speak Duel Links, what does "your starting hand will reflect the card balance of your deck" mean?

[@ShyRanger]

I still think Dragon Rulers deserves a spot in Failed Mechanics, because an entire archetype that's so strong the ENTIRE set had to be banned, that still scream failure to me, for a different reason of course.

[@MarioMastar]

That's a good idea. Hearing about how great certain cards and archetypes are that they're talked about non stop until ONE card is banned and then they move on to the next set really kind of shows how toxic Power creep sets can be to the meta. I'm sick of hearing about how great Tearlaments are, and before you could bet EVERY video had "How to get around Cryston Halquifibrax" until it was banned. It's doubly annoying because these cards are banned because they make Overpowered decks even more overpowered, despite those cards being REALLY useful to weaker archetypes who need the boost. Still there's always "inarchetype" variants like Glad beasts having an in archetype version of Graceful charity that's at 3. Though Glads use thier deck as their hand so drawing cards is actually a detriment there as most cards you could draw are garnets. That's what I want to see more of for weaker archetypes.

[@1stCallipostle]

The Dragon Rulers have a second part that makes them a failure. The moment the game changed in a way where they'd be fair, better versions were being thrown into every archetype. The way they're designed isn't meant to be an archetype, it's meant to be support

[@7Kingsmen]

Terminal World is a killer in the deck. I like this deck because it is old school style battle type. You need to play cards that protect your cards until the battle phase. The strategy doesn’t have protection for itself nor quick enough to get to its strategy overall. You have to almost play it stun like with board breaking cards. The deck is either meant to OTK and stun or Board break and OTK. It doesn’t do all 3 well but it can.

[@DirtCheapFU]

I actually almost got in fight at my locals for playing Terminal World with Dimensional Shifter.

[@shis1988]

So what you're saying is that you support them with Mommy

[@u.a.perfectace7786]

​​@@DirtCheapFU Was it verbal or did it almost turn into a physical altercation? Either way, the salt brah 🧂 Term World is funny AF haha

[@Petrichorscreen]

That end statement was abit snarky and condescending dont you think duel-logs? If someone is playing war rocks...who are we to judge them so harshly and assume they cant read? Not everyone who plays yugioh is a cutthroat jacka** who wants to win on the first turn with a board full of negate-boss monsters, smile; and say "good game" as they played solitaire for 10mins like some selfish jerk. It's not the players fault war rocks wasnt built for the current meta. Then again, a lot of people dont like the meta. Bc whoever goes first in the meta basically wins. In which case, why even play yugioh, just flip a coin and call it. Thats about how balanced the current game is.

[@Mrod3399]

I want new support! I play this deck with my buddies and it does well... But we try to keep our decks as pure as possible

[@Jack_Rakan]

I think one thing could be changed about War Rocks to make them decent: Give the field spell the ability to make all War Rock monsters immune to enemy effects/actions in main phase 1 and the battle phase.

[@GreatBigPillock]

There's War Rock Medium, which sort of does that job. Doesn't kick in until turn 3, though.

[@DirtCheapFU]

​@@GreatBigPillockjust need that bridge to have Meteoragon and Medium on board immediately.

[@GreatBigPillock]

@@DirtCheapFU Personally I like to use Boardbreakers and Kaijus to ensure I make it to the Battle Phase. (Although, make sure that you do all your Kaijuing before triggering Medium's set-from-Deck effect.

[@drewlevy9557]

Would be better to make defeated by battle act as a card effect so half the cards can perform

[@mariothane8754]

If you add something like “if this card would be removed from the field outside of the battle phase, this card gains 300ATK instead.” Throw a wrench into the usual game plan where everything happens during the main phase. Try to punish but not oppress completely.

[@cptrevenant4088]

Thats why i love vanquish souls. Their effects tend to pop during any phase during either players turn and are almost always useful. Especially Heavy Borger.

[@jislas12]

i play with them at DL and they wok very good for farming, they´re vary good whith skills like wave of enlightment and the tie that binds or my buddy warriors