Forum:Deck Guide/Gladiator Beasts

= Basic Gladiator Beast Deck =

Mechanics
A Gladiator Beast deck, also known as a GB deck, operates on a strategy called 'Toolboxing'; the deck has a card for almost any situation that can be easily searched out. The deck can also be Aggro- and Control-typed. When a GB attacks or is attacked, and survives the battle, they can 'tag-out' - they return to the deck for a different Gladiator Beast. The key to the deck is to trigger that reaction either by attacking or by a card effect preventing their destruction. Once they Special Summon themselves from the deck, they will gain a special effect. Previously weak monsters now have devastating effects that can easily turn the tide of a game. Some destroy cards, others gain ATK and DEF, some even recycle and search out cards! Each GB is like a miniature Monarch in that way. But the driving force of the GBs is their fusions. There are only two mentionable ones, Gladiator Beast Gyzarus and Heraklinos. Gyzarus destroys two cards when it is summoned, and Heraklinos can negate a spell of trap's effect at the cost of one discard! And those are only the monsters. GB spell and trap cards are used to control the opponent, or gain card advantage. Gladiator Beast War Chariot is one of the most powerful of them, able to negate a monsters effect and destroy it for free. Gladiator Proving Ground is similar to a themed Reinforcement of the Army, and helps create consistency in the deck. Indomitable Gladiator Beast is used to help 'tag-out', and can recycle fallen Gladiator Beast monsters.

Rank in General Meta
Gladiator Beasts are currently around second in the world-wide Metagame, only beaten by Lightsworn. Unfair Forbidden & Limited lists are to blame for this decks 2nd place title. The thing it holds over the other decks is consistancy - there are very few dead draws in a good GB build. While Lightsworn mill away the cards they need, Gladiators can add them to their hands through a number of card effects. Another reason they are nearing the top is because of card advantage. Every time one is summoned, you gain a free effect. Cards like Rescue Cat and others only add to this advantage. The fusions also contribute to their high rank. The game is over once Heraklinos comes out.

Cost/Return
Competitive Gladiator Beast decks are a fairly cheap to make, compared to others. Most of the cards are less than $1, except for a few, including Gladiator Beast Murmillo, Gladiator Beast Laquari, Test Tiger, and Gladiator Beast War Chariot. Expect to pay aprox. $135-$170 for a competitive GB deck. The return is huge, though. A proper build paired with a favorable play-style will make the deck very hard to beat.

Deck oddities
When playing GBs, expect to have a high trap card count; probably around 9-12 in total. Most GB decks have less than or equal to 20 monster cards in the main deck.

Themed Cards
'''The un-starred cards are essential in the deck. You will need at least one of them. The use of more than one Gladiator Beast Murmillo is discouraged. Feel free to add Staple cards as you please.'''

Monsters:

 * Test Tiger
 * Gladiator Beast Laquari
 * Gladiator Beast Samnite
 * Gladiator Beast Equeste
 * Gladiator Beast Darius
 * Gladiator Beast Bestiari
 * Gladiator Beast Murmillo
 * Gladiator Beast Hoplomus
 * Gladiator Beast Dimacari*
 * Gladiator Beast Alexander*
 * Gladiator Beast Spartacus*
 * Test Ape*

Spells:

 * Gladiator Proving Ground
 * Indomitable Gladiator Beast*
 * Gladiator Beast's Respite*
 * Gladiator Beast's Battle Halberd*
 * Gladiator Beast's Battle Archfiend Shield*

Traps:
* Optional/discouraged cards
 * Gladiator Beast War Chariot
 * Defensive Tactics*
 * Double Tag Team*

Teched Cards
'''The following cards are completely optional. They are not needed, but can help out the deck alot.'''

Monsters:

 * Elemental Hero Prisma
 * Elemental Hero Stratos
 * Rescue Cat

Spells:

 * Cold Wave
 * Book of Moon
 * Enemy Controller
 * Reinforcement of the Army
 * E - Emergency Call
 * Smashing Ground
 * Fissure
 * My Body as a Shield

Traps:

 * Waboku
 * Bottomless Trap Hole
 * Compulsory Evacuation Device
 * Trap Stun

Reasons for cards

 * Elemental Hero Prisma - A powerful combo involves this card and Test Tiger: normal summon this, and use its effect to reveal Gladiator Beast Gyzarus in your Extra deck. Then, by effect, send Gladiator Beast Bestiari to the graveyard. Next, special summon Test Tiger through its own effect, and trbute it to return Prisma - that is now know as Gladiator Beast Bestiari - to the deck to summon Gladiator Beast Darius. Darius' effect revives the Bestiari, and they can then fusion summon Gladiator Beast Gyzarus.
 * Elemental Hero Stratos, Reinforcement of the Army, E - Emergency Call - These cards are used in decks that use Elemental Hero Prisma to search it out.
 * Rescue Cat - This is used to search out Gladiator Beast Samnite and Test Tiger, or any combination of the two.
 * Cold Wave, Trap Stun - These are used to prevent spell or traps from destroying your GBs.
 * Book of Moon, Enemy Controller - These card can stop Honest and Kalut from ruining your attacks, and can create a tag-out. They can also prevent attacks. Book of Moon can also negate effects!
 * Waboku - This card is better than Defensive Tactics in almost every way, because it doesn't require the control of a GBs, or even monsters at all.
 * Smashing Ground, Fissure, Bottomless Trap Hole, Compulsory Evacuation Device - Basic monster removal.

Example Deck
'''Here at Yu-Gi-Oh! Wikia, we like to encourage creativity. Please do not copy this deck exactly, for Netdecking is bad for the Yu-Gi-Oh! community. Use this as an example to base your own deck off of, and not to use as your own deck.'''