D-Don't Toy With Me, J-Jude Tenpai!
March 27, 2024 [Updated April 8, 2024]
by Mei Chan
Jude Macaranas
Champion, Battle Nexus 2024
Courtesy: @ZoinksTan
In a rapid turn of events, a deck archetype once considered as an underdog, the Tenpai Dragons defied the currently dominant Fire King and Snake-Eyes and emerged victorious. This deck, often overlooked amidst the fervor of popular meta choices, showcased unparalleled adaptability and cunning tactics thanks to Jude's meticulous deck building."Pinili ko yung Tenpai kasi kadalasan ng players dito sa Pinas mabagal tumira so inaabot talaga palagi ng last three turns. Madalas akong nauuwi sa either draw or talo dahil wala na akong turn para habulin yung damage."
According to Jude, his main reason for choosing Tenpai was mainly because of Filipino players' bad habit of stalling games, leading to last 3 turns which he really disliked.
He added, "Nagkataon lang din na yung current meta (Voiceless, Snake-Eyes and Fire King) dont have enough negations on board to stop Tenpai dahil na din sa field card na sobrang broken for me. Unlike before, na yung meta is puro negation like Dragonlink, Zefra, Pendmagician, etc. kaya walang malakas na going second deck.", stating that most decks in the meta currently have less negations compared to previous years where Pendulum and Dragonlink with negates are prevalent.
Through his thorough planning and daring plays, his Tenpai Dragon soared above the competition, proving that innovation and skill can triumph over established norms. This victory serves as a testament to the ever-evolving nature of competition, where creativity and determination can shatter even the most formidable of meta barriers.
Tenpai Dragons, with a META score of 12 in previous Metagame Analysis.
The road to victory was paved with formidable adversaries, each one posing a unique challenge. From the lightning-fast combos of aggressive decks to the methodical control of defensive strategies, He faced every obstacle with unwavering determination.
But it wasn't just about the cards; it was about the mind games, the split-second decisions, and the sheer will to emerge triumphant. His move was calculated, and every play was a strategic masterpiece. In an interview with Meta Insider OCG, he shared his thoughts regarding Tenpai:
"Basically, all you need to set these up are either of the following:
Field Manor + Baidora
Or
Baidora + Sangen Kaimen
Or
Baidora + Zhongdora
The field spell is not much important here. The main goal is you have to board the level 10 Synchro as soon as possible."
Jude's Optimal Endboard against Voiceless Voice
In picture:Tenpai combo setup
"When Baidora + Zhongdora as starting hand
You can Normal Summon Baidora, activate effect add Sangen Kamen.
Zhongdora effect special summon from hand
Baidora + Zhongdora = Risedragon (LVL 7 Tenpai Synchro)
Risedragon (LVL 7 Tenpai) effect special summon revive Baidora from GY
Risedragon + Baidora = Superdragon (LVL 10 Tenpai)
Set Sangen Kamen"
This is by far the most effective end board especially when Sangen Manor is opened already, and hand traps in hand is almost enough already to prevent the opponent from outing the Field spell.
Hand traps nalang din susupport sa hieratic link. Pero ayun madalas hieratic link2 + hand traps.
Main goal lang is bumalik yung turn sakin dahil kahit maubos board ko at maka setup sila, wala naman silang negation on my turn aside.", he said.
This strategy created a way for him to chip down his opponents effectively, as his main goal is to prevent the opponent from OTK-ing him. Even at the cost of losing his board, as long as he can manage to survive that round, the next turn is a sure kill to him.
Jude elaborated how he managed against the weaknesses of Tenpai:
"If they Imperm or Veiler my Baidora, if I have quickplay on my hand, I can add Zhongdora, then eff Zhongdora ss from hand. From there i will just make Hieratic link-2."
Tenpai was known to be a deck that severely focuses on ending the game as soon as possible via swarming monsters during battle phase, and with Superdragons, locks the opponent out of effects during BP as well. However, being a deck with this core mechanics was also known to be susceptible with combo decks that specializes in pure interruptions, such as fire King and Snake Eyes:
"Sa pure na Snake Eyes, ang pinaka threat talaga kapag nauna ako is yung mga link monsters nya na malalaki." (Translated: "With Pure Snake-Eyes, the biggest threat is if his Link monsters are huge")
"Kaya mostly ginagawa ko is hieratic link2 I will bounce back the highest atk monster his field like flamberge, then second eff of hieratic link, I will special summon Fadora from deck, then i will revive zhongdora or baidora. Depends on situation.", he added.
For the several days that passed, players were left wondering how Heavymetalfoes Electrumite was included in his Extra Deck list. Duelists and other players alike are spamming questions in the Road of the King's decklist post on how such a card manages to find space in his ED.
Initially, when his deck list was first revealed and posted for the public, people who are able to watch the top 8 finals until the final 4 cut expressed their reactions seeing the decklist after we asked:
One, who wanted his name to be anonymous, said "Pang mind control yan". (Translation: "That's for mind control")
"Yung mga present na nakanood lang sa Nexus nakakaalam ng combo niyan". (Translation: "Only the [people] who were able to watched the game live on Nexus only knows what;s the combo behind that")
Well, it wasn't really quite long when the mystery was finally solved --
In a personal interview made by Meta Insider OCG, he explained in detail; "It's like a lucky charm to me... Di ko alam kung magagalit sila or ano... the purpose of the electrumite in the extra deck is more on game mechanics"
"Before the game starts we all used to count the side deck in front of your opponent...I'll count my side deck in front of him; after that he will see my electrumite on extra deck."
"So even if he is using Snake-Eyes, Fire King, Voiceless Voice or even Tenpai, he will not let me go first (which is pabor sa side ko na mauna sila)."
It had been mentioned multiple times Tenpai being weaker when going first, and, this strategy was indeed smart to even think of. Heavymetalfoes Electrumite is one of the "Deck Defining Staple Cards", meaning cards that are subject generalization due to them only appearing on specific decks, which, in this case, Pendulum decks. Pendulum decks are known decks to play excessively powerful when going first, but is generally weaker when going second, leading to conclusion to them generalized as "must not be allowed to go first".
Why would they be mad about it?
The thing is, some players on the event expressed their disappointment regarding the setup, with some giving numerous allegations and complaints not just with Jude but even to the judges giving wrong rulings as well.
"Sa pagkakaalam ko, pasok sa 'Misrepresenting Gamestate' ginawa niya.. Nakakaumay naman na hinayaan lang ng mga judge yon eh ang dami nila", exclaimed by an Anonymous concerned duelist.
"Ang tagal tagal na nung ruling sa Ghost Belle regarding sa effect ng Garunix, nakakaawa naman na na-judge diff pa yung isang player, nagkamali [parin] sa binigay na ruling.", another said.
However, the real fate of the matches STILL relies on the hands of the players of the event maintaining the gamestate, to exercise their rights and appeal to judges, to check both the effects and interactions, as the game cannot be recalled ONCE the game ended, regardless whether there were discrepancies, or not.
The Lead News and Content writer of Meta Insider OCG. She also at the same time works as news caster, layout artist, and is an avid duelist. She was a former member of a known publication as both feature writer and news writer. Her favorite card is Apollousa, Bow of the Goddess.