Goat Format Championship 11 Deck Tech: Machines!

Our next deck tech for today's event is a testament to just how influential past placements can be. Inspired by David Kretschmer​'s 3rd place list from the 2005 World Championship tournament, Jonathan Chen (AKA Hackbyrd) brewed up a sweet machine deck with the hopes of replicating the historic placement. 

Deck List

Overview

Machines have a surprising punch in Goat Format thanks to the incredible support card Limiter Removal, which doubles the power of all machine monsters in play. This allows for game-ending pushes which can come from seemingly out of nowhere. Additionally,  many of the most powerful monsters in the game, such as Jinzo and Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive, just so happen to be machine type! This means you can reliably abuse Limiter Removal without having to fill your deck with sub-par monsters. 

Player Insight

Chen's list differs from Kretschmer's in a few key ways. Notably, he has decided to include Metamorphosis, which can combine with Fusilier Dragon, the Dual-Mode Beast in order to summon King Dragun to the field. While there are no other dragons for the king to special summon, it is incredibly difficult for many strategies to deal with, considering its immunity to traps and other targeting effects. Cyber Stein was also added, giving the deck some additional surprise strategies and a bit of (costly) toolbox potential. Chen did opt to keep some interesting tech cards from Kretschmer's original list, like Giant Trunade, which helps Limiter Removal end the game. Jinzo, while all the rage back in the day, is rare to see in any deck that doesn't play Reasoning or Monster Gate in today's meta. However, his status as a machine means he's an auto include here, just like he was in the 2005 list. ​

Chen: The deck focuses on getting in that one turn kill with Limiter Removal and any machine monsters. However, I'm also playing one Black Luster Soldier (BLS) with six light monsters and eight darks. Of the lights, the three Magician of Faith allow me to recycle my twenty spell cards.  [...]Just getting out Jinzo and X-Head with a Limiter Removal can often be game. Giant Trunade and Heavy Storm can help make these pushes more likely to succeed. Also, Cyber Stein can summon Gatling Gragon (also a machine) to clear the way with some coin flips. I only choose to play one Cyber Stein because he's completely useless once you are under 5000 life points, but I can still find him with Sangan. If I draw him, that's great, if I don't, then its fine, my deck can do well without him.Giant Trunade is another core part of the deck. Beyond being able to clear the way for Limiter Removal attacks, I can combo it with Swords of Revealing light. I can just keep stalling for time until I draw the right cards.

Historically, cards like Enemy controller were much more common than they are in today. However, Chen still decided to include it in his list. It does allow for spicy combat tricks, and with two different modes, it's a sort of swiss army knife for whatever situation you might need it in. Other common machine cards, like Reflect Bounder, did not make the cut, though. While many players may have been tempted to add in Y or Z counterparts to X-Head cannon, Chen resisted. Seems some cards are too flashy to be played in a tournament, even for someone as brave as he. 

Chen: Enemy Controller is important, because if I'm about to go for the kill and they activate scapegoat, I can switch the goat to attack mode and still do a lot of damage. I also debated about using Reflect Bounder, but decided to go with three X-Head Cannons because of his high defense. He can't get killed by Tsukuyomi or Blade Knight.I have one Tsukuyomi to help counter opposing Thousand-Eyes Restrict. It also works with my three Magician of Faith and two Dekoichi. I can use them together to keep drawing or keep getting spell cards back.

Conclusion

Playing explosive cards like Limiter Removal and Cyber Stein means you're bound to have some stories to tell. When asked about his performance so far, Chen had this to say: 

Chen: In one of my games, I got out king Dragun on the first turn. I knew he couldn't get destroyed very easily, but I also had no choice because that was the only monster in my hand (The opponent went first hit me with Delinquent Duo, then Trap Dust Shoot). So, I was already at a disadvantage in terms of cards. I was able to keep my opponent on his back feet for two turns before he got a D.D. Warrior Lady and removed King Dragun. Luckily, I had a BLS in my hand, which I summoned, along with Sangan. I attacked for 5400 in damage. Next turn, my opponent summoned a Tribe and discard to destroy BLS before attacking Sangan. I used the effect to get a Cyber Stein. I wasn't sure what his only face down was, so I summoned Cyber on my turn and got out Dragun, preventing Ring, Book, or Sakuretsu, it and attacked his tribe for game.

Exciting stuff! At the time of writing this article, Chen was 1-1 in the tournament. We wish him luck for the rest of the event!