Dragon Ruler in the new OCG format

With Burner, Lightning, Reactan and Stream banned, Dragon Ruler have to re-innovate and return to its roots in order to stay competitive in the new format.

The Tsurugashima Championship was held last weekend on the August 18, 2013, with the new September 2013 OCG Forbidden and Limited List being implemented. Behind the cut is a study of two Dragon Ruler builds that were successful in the tournament.

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Plant Dragon Ruler
Source: @Scottish0601: Main, Side & Extra

Main Deck: 42 1 Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon 3 Blaster, Dragon Ruler of Infernos 3 Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls 3 Tempest, Dragon Ruler of Storms 3 Redox, Dragon Ruler of Boulders 3 Maxx “C” 3 Effect Veiler 2 Gorz the Emissary of Darkness 2 Debris Dragon 2 Card Trooper 1 Dandylion 1 Lonefire Blossom 1 Spore 1 Flamvell Guard 3 Sacred Sword of Seven Stars 3 D.D.R. –    Different Dimension Reincarnation 2 Gold Sarcophagus 1 One for One 1 Heavy Storm 1 Dark Hole 1 Monster Reborn 1 Return from the Different Dimension

Extra Deck: 15 2 Mecha Phantom Beast Dragossack 1 Number 74: Master of Blades 1 Number 11: Big Eye 1 Star Eater 1 Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier 1 Jeweled Red Dragon Archfiend 1 Jewel Flare Dragon Stardust 1 Crimson Blader 1 Scrap Dragon 1 Colossal Fighter 2 Black Rose Dragon 1 Orient Dragon 1 Armory Arm   Side Deck: 15 1 Neo-Spacian Grand Mole 3 Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter 1 Charge of the Light Brigade 3 Mystical Space Typhoon 2 Royal Decree 3 Vanity’s Emptiness 1 Deck Devastation Virus 1 The Transmigration Prophecy

With the younger Dragon Rulers gone, “Card Trooper” returns as the main engine for digging out the Dragon Rulers by sending them to the graveyard. Combined with “Debris Dragon” and the Plant engine, this gives the deck access to “Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier”. The reduction in Rank 7 Xyz monsters in the extra deck in favor of more Level 8 Synchro monsters shows that the deck is transiting into a more Synchro-based deck.

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Mystic Dragon Ruler
Source: @Jouji_CMC

Main Deck: 40 3 Blaster, Dragon Ruler of Infernos 3 Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls 3 Tempest, Dragon Ruler of Storms 3 Redox, Dragon Ruler of Boulders 2 Debris Dragon 2 Card Trooper 2 Effect Veiler 2 Gorz the Emissary of Darkness 1 Mythic Water Dragon 1 Mythic Wood Dragon 1 Kinka-byo 1 Flamvell Guard 3 Gold Sarcophagus 3 Sacred Sword of Seven Stars 2 Dragon Shrine 3 D.D.R. –    Different Dimension Reincarnation 1 Heavy Storm 1 Dark Hole 1 Card Destruction 1 One for One 1 Return from the Different Dimension

Extra Deck: 15 1 Star Eater 1 Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier 1 Jeweled Red Dragon Archfiend 1 Crimson Blader 1 Scrap Dragon 1 Jewel Flare Dragon Stardust 1 Colossal Fighter 1 Black Rose Dragon 1 Armory Arm 1 Number 107:    Galaxy-Eyes Tachyon Dragon 1 Felgrand the Divine Dragon Knight 2 Mecha Phantom Beast Dragossack 1 Number 11: Big Eye 1 Gem-Knight Pearl   Side Deck: 15 3 Maxx “C” 3 Mystical Space Typhoon 1 Neo-Spacian Grand Mole 2 Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter 3 Skill Drain 1 Battle Fader 1 The Transmigration Prophecy 1 Deck Devastation Virus

Rather than running the Plant engine, Jouji opted for “Mythic Water Dragon” and “Mythic Wood Dragon” to give him access into Rank 8 Xyz monsters – “Number 107: Galaxy-Eyes Tachyon Dragon” and “Felgrand the Divine Dragon Knight”. “Number 107: Galaxy-Eyes Tachyon Dragon” punishes the opponent if they leave a lone “Card Trooper” on the field, attacking twice to deal a total of 6600 damage. “Kinka-byo” is also a strong addition that allows the deck to consistently Synchro Summon a Level 8 every turn.