Difference between revisions of "Ice Barrier"
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* [[Shard of Greed]] | * [[Shard of Greed]] | ||
* [[Pot of Duality]] | * [[Pot of Duality]] | ||
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* [[Medallion of the Ice Barrier]] | * [[Medallion of the Ice Barrier]] | ||
* [[Shrink]] | * [[Shrink]] | ||
Revision as of 01:19, 13 March 2013
| Ice Barrier | |
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| "General Gantala of the Ice Barrier", "General Grunard of the Ice Barrier" and "General Raiho of the Ice Barrier". | |
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"Ice Barrier" (
Playing Style
Most "Ice Barrier" monsters require another of their kind present on the field in order to activate its effect(s), which often generate field advantage. For example, many "Ice Barrier" monsters have effects to protect other "Ice Barrier" monsters: "Cryomancer of the Ice Barrier" forbids all monsters of Level 4 or higher from attacking while another "Ice Barrier" monster exists on the field, and "Defender of the Ice Barrier", which stops your opponents monsters with ATK greater than or equal to its 1600 DEF from attacking.
Aside from sheer attack-blocking, "Ice Barriers" can also protect themselves in other areas. "Dai-sojo of the Ice Barrier," for example, protects "Ice Barrier" monsters from Spells and Trap destruction, while "General Raiho of the Ice Barrier" penalizes an opponent for relying on the activation of multiple monster effects by negating them or taxing a discard. Likewise, "Secret Guards of the Ice Barrier" protects your monsters from being targeted by monster effects. It is difficult to maintain consistency in your Deck, however, by trying to rely on all of these forms of protection. Also, "Ice Barriers" are difficult to summon in swarms, making them all the harder to protect with their defensive monsters, all of which are tailored to defending a specific kind of effect.
"Ice Barriers" can mount swarms under the direction of "General Gantala" if left unimpeded. He can fetch other "Ice Barrier" monsters, including Synchros, from the Graveyard during each End Phase. This allows for greater flexibility in strategy: not only can "Gantala" revive heavy-hitters with devastating effects, but also protection cards like a Defense Position "Defender of the Ice Barrier" or even Tuner Monsters for still more threats.
The "Ice Barrier" engine works in a circle. The idea is to start with "Strategist of the Ice Barrier", whose main objective is to discard "General Gantala of the Ice Barrier" to the Graveyard all while netting you a draw every time you discard. "Gantala" then sits in the Graveyard until revived by "Prior of the Ice Barrier". Once you have "Gantala" on the field, you can begin reviving your other Ice Barriers that have fallen in battle or have been discarded by "Strategist", most notably "Defender of the Ice Barrier" to Synchro and block almost all attackers or even "Samurai of the Ice Barrier" to gain an extra draw during your next turn. It is recommended using a large trap lineup in any "Ice Barrier" Deck because only "Strategist", "Gantala", "Prior", "Defender", and maybe "Samurai" should be used. The main win condition of this Deck is to summon "Gantala" to generate field advantage, then use powerhouses like itself and "Gungnir, Dragon of the Ice Barrier" to destroy your opponent's field. Utilizing "Strategist" as a draw engine and "Medallion of the Ice Barrier" to grab the right card at the right time makes this deck consistent even without the use of cards like "Pot of Duality" or "Upstart Goblin". Finally, even if Gantala is defeated, you can use "Surface", resurrecting "Prior"- and in turn- "Gantala".
"Medallion of the Ice Barrier" is a Staple for "Ice Barrier" Decks. It functions exactly like "E - Emergency Call" in an "Elemental HERO" Deck, down to the wording, but serves slightly different purposes: the monster can become part of a Synchro Summon, a third monster for "Magic Triangle of the Ice Barrier," a discard cost later retrieved with "Salvage," or to fulfill the requirements for the effect of "Moray of Greed." The best cards to search are "Gantala", "Prior", or "Strategist".
A large hand facilitates the effects of the archetype's Synchro trump card, "Gungnir, Dragon of the Ice Barrier." He can destroy up to two cards per turn, both effects at the cost of a discard per target. "Shard of Greed" is ideal in a slow Deck like "Ice Barrier" to give you an automatic +1 while tempting your opponent to use cards like "Mystical Space Typhoon" on it instead of your plethora of other Trap Cards. With a stocked hand from "Strategist" or "Shard", "Gungnir" can apply pressure by whittling defenses down so he and "Gantala" can attack for the win. It would be wise to utilize this Strategy while using "Safe Zone" or at least leaving yourself with a "Prior of the Ice Barrier" or "Call of the Haunted" in hand so that you can come back even if your opponent uses a card like "Torrential Tribute".
A unique engine that you could employ in an "Ice Barrier" Deck is to use Continuous Trap Cards along with "Magic Planter". The best Trap Cards to use are "Fiendish Chain", "Safe Zone", and "Call of the Haunted". "Safe Zone" can help you stall and protect your "Strategist" early in the game. Later on, "Safe Zone" can give you an invincible "Gantala" or "Gungnir", leading to easy wins. "Call of the Haunted" is useful in this Deck because of its low monster count while giving "ice Barriers" a little extra speed.
One variant of the "Ice Barrier" Deck runs "Wetlands" to boost the ATK of Level 2 or lower Aqua-Type monsters by 1200. This places "Prior of the Ice Barrier" at 2200 ATK, "Dewdark of the Ice Barrier" at 2400 ATK, and "Cryomancer of the Ice Barrier" at 2500 ATK.
Recommended Cards
Using a small monster lineup, keep it consistent and simple, relying on plenty of Trap Cards to keep you in the game long enough to capitalize off of the effects of "Gantala" and "Gungnir".
Recommended cards
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Effect Monsters
Extra Deck
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