Neon Pix!

Since the archetype was brought in this time three years ago (Feels longer, right?) I have been an avid Gladiator Beast player, but lately my love for the Roman warriors has begun to waver, to the extent where I took Plant Synchro (Or Debris-Hime) To YCS Milan.



Now, in hindsight, this was a terrible choice for me, as a properly teched Gladiator Beast deck would have put me in great stead, and I may have performed better than I did at the event. Since returning home, I dusted off the old Gladiator Beasts and took them to one of the biggest local tournaments in the UK; Patriot Games in Sheffield. Back in the game's heyday, the tournament would regularly draw in 150+ competitors from all around the country. Nowadays, it only pulls in around 100, but in comparison to some of the other events in the country, it is still by far and a way the biggest local tournament the UK has to offer.


This is the build I took to Sheffield;

Steven Parkes - Gladiator Beasts
Monsters: 18
2 - Gladiator Beast Laquari
2 - Gladiator Beast Darius
2 - Gladiator Beast Equeste
1 - Gladiator Beast Bestiari
2 - Gladiator Beast Retiari
1 - Gladiator Beast Murmillo
1 - Gladiator Beast Secutor
2 - Elemental Hero Prisma
3 - Test Tiger
2 - Effect Veiler


Spells: 10
1 - Monster Reborn
1 - Dark Hole
1 - Cold Wave
2 - Mystical Space Typhoon
3 - Book of Moon
1 - Shrink
1 - Enemy Controller


Traps: 12
1 - Solemn Judgement
1 - Mirror Force
1 - Torrential Tribute
1 - Royal Oppression
1 - Seven Tools of the Bandit
2 - Bottomless Trap Hole
2 - Dimensional Prison
2 - Gladiator Beast War Chariot
1 - Trap Stun


Side Deck: 15
3 - Cyber Dragon
2 - Legendary Jujitsu Master
2 - Snowman Eater
2 - D.D Crow
1 - Giant Trunade
2 - Nobleman of Crossout
1 - Emergency Provisions
2 - Fairy Wind


Extra Deck: 15
2 - Gladiator Beast Heraklinos
3 - Gladiator Beast Gyzarus
2 - Chimeratech Fortress Dragon
1 - Red Dragon Archfiend
1 - Colossal Fighter
1 - Stardust Dragon
1 - Black Rose Dragon
1 - Goyo Guardian
1 - Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier
1 - Ally of Justice Catastor
1 - Armory Arm

Breakdown -
Monsters
The monster line-up was pretty solid, I particularly liked the two copies of Gladiator Beast Retiari, as this format has become heavily Graveyard oriented, thanks to cards like Debris Dragon, XX-Saber Faultroll, Blackwing - Blizzard the Far North, as well as spell cards like Pot of Avarice.
One downside to the build though, would be Gladiator Beast Secutor. The two times I made big plays into it, only for it to get Effect Veiler'd or Battle Fader'd. So I would Drop Gladiator Beast Secutor for a third Gladiator Beast Laquari.


Spells
A few questionable choices in the spells on my part, mainly the inclusion of Shrink. It helped a lot during the tournament, avoiding Bottomless Trap Holes, and swinging over bigger and more troublesome monsters, such as Stardust Dragon.
The better choice I made was the inclusion of Mystical Space Typhoon. Due to the massive influx of Gravekeeper decks (Something I will cover in greater detail in a guest spot on PJ Tierney's blog later today) and the already huge influence that Royal Decree has on the format, Mystical Space Typhoon felt like a good choice, and it paid off, as I was paired Vs Gravekeepers round 3, taking game one due to a Typhoon play, only to lose on time game three.


Traps
A fairly standard line-up of traps, with the exclusion of Solemn Warning. In Hindsight, two copies of the card would have been better options than the Trap Stun and Seven Tools of the Bandit.


Side
Again, standard, all except for the Fairy Wind, they came in against Gravekeeper decks, and decks with high face-up spell and trap counts. This card pushed the Gravekeeper player hard Game two, but eventually lost out to a Royal Tribute play.

All in all, I think it would be foolish for players to disregard Gladiator Beasts this format, and after a strong showing in Milan, I have a feeling that more duelists will reach for the deck given the choice.

- Steven Parkes