DDS Strats VIII

-11/04/18: Officially switched Mako and Joey in the order of Tier 1. Biggest change in a long while but makes sense, Joey cucks your fusions too much amongst other reasons. Still think its worth doing Ishizu 2nd in Tier 3, Swords is too cucky to not just deal with ASAP

Older updates:
- 4/2/18: Time was destroyed by Exa, testing newer strats.
- 5/20/18: Make Dragon Piper optional?
- 7/31/18: Take out Beastking after Seeker, add back for P Seto. Potentially add another beatstick like Battle Ox, most likely something cheaper like Great White or Rogue Doll
- 9/3/18: Exa uses a potential 48 passwords total, aim to stay below this number
- 10/5/18: 17 total deck edits planned, a few are optional, 46-48 total passwords
- 10/25/18: Make sure to think about deck edits while dueling in Tier 3. Look thru these Strats for the card number of drops you’ve gotten previously. With 1 or 0 drops you should likely use the password for Rogue Doll.


RESET AFTER 5TH SEEKER, PANDORA, SLYSHEEN, AND DARKNITE WINS!!!

KEEP FIRST SLOT IN HAND OPEN MORE OFTEN, LOOKING AT AND UTILIZING TOPS IS FASTER

BE WILLING TO RESET BRICK HANDS THROUGHOUT THE RUN. THE QUICKER YOU REALIZE A DEAD SITUATION THE BETTER THE RUN GOES.

CONSIDERING DUELING PARADOX BEFORE ISHIZU. I'M THINKING SWORDS IS THE MAIN REASON YOU CAN GET 20 MIN ISHIZU SPLITS, BUT HER DECK IS DAMN GOOD.

DURING DUELS, HAVE JUST 2 BEATSTICKS MORE OFTEN? AVOID SUMMONING ANOTHER MONSTER IF THE OPPONENT HAS ROUGHLY 4000 LP AND YOU COULDN’T WIN REGARDLESS OF TOPDECKS. ITS BETTER TO ATTACK DIRECTLY WITH A GOOD MONSTER TWICE, THEN SUMMON A 3RD CARD TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE

Order of who you face (Different from before!):
Tristan
Mako
Yugi
Joey
Mai

Espa Roba
Seeker
Rex
Weevil
Pandora
Kaiba

P. Seto
Ishizu
Paradox
Slysheen

Darknite

Passwords are written as such: [Card Number] [Card Name] (Cost) [Password]. Cards written without their costs stated all have 15 or lower cost and are put into the deck at the start of the game.

644 Flame Viper (8) 02830619
229 Hourglass of Life 08783685
415 Mechanicalchaser (26) 07359741
026 Battle Ox (27) 05053103
795 Dunames Dark Witch (28) 12493482
771 Man Eating Treasure Chest (26) 13723605
060 Great White (24) 13429800
168 Darkfire Dragon (27) 17881964
180 Arlownay (18) 14708569
234 Beautiful Headhuntress (24) 16899564
681 House of Adhesive 15083728
684 Invisible Wire 15361130
258 Beastking of the Swamp (21) 99426834
098 Clown Zombie 92667214
379 La Jinn (28) 97590747
367 Jirai Gumo (23) 94773007
089 Catapult Turtle (20) 95727991
096 Armored Zombie 20277860
551 Dark Elf (28) 21417692
440 7 Colored Fish (26) 23771716
733 Thousand-Eyes Idol (0) 27125110
628 Witch's Apprentice 80741828
- half
167 Ancient Jar 81492226
774 Drill Bug 88733579
428 Magician of Faith 31560081
730 Dark-Eyes Illusion (0) 38247752
591 Morphing Jar 33508719
680 Curse of Tri-Horned 79699070
683 Bear Trap 78977532
686 Widespread Ruin (20) 77754944
122 Yamatano Dragon Scroll 76704943
200 Petit Dragon 75356564
072 Cocoon of Evolution (60) 40240595
579 Abyss Flower 40387124
685 Acid Trap Hole 41356845
782 Anti Raigeki (20) 42364257
682 Eatgaboon 42578427
224 Trap Master (16) 46461247
532 Gemini Elf (28) 69140098
097 Dragon Zombie (16) 66672569
770 Neo the Magic Swordsman (27) 50930991
395 Dancing Elf 59983499
135 Fiend's Hand 52800428
447 Giant Red Seasnake (26) 58831685
661 Crush Card (50) 57728570
- 45 total

The rest of the guide will be written as deck edits, and tips on certain duelists.

Before 1st duel:
Take out (19):
Sinister
Zone
Sinister
Sinister
Leguhl
Fungi
Shadow
Leguhl
Monster Eye
Turu
Kaminari
Turu
Star Boy
Mystery
2 Mystery
Droll Bird
Bladefly
Gale Dogra

Add the following in this exact order. Hold Start and use arrows to make this faster:
USE SELECT, RIGHT ARROW, TO ADD CARDS TO DECK!!!!!
096 Armored Zombie
098 Clown Zombie
122 Yamatano Dragon Scroll
135 Fiend's Hand
229 Hourglass of Life
200 Petit Dragon
167 Ancient Jar
395 Dancing Elf
428 Magician of Faith
628 Witch's Apprentice
591 Morphing Jar
579 Abyss Flower
680 Curse of Tri-Horned
681 House of Adhesive
682 Eatgaboon
683 Bear Trap
684 Invisible Wire
685 Acid Trap Hole
774 Drill Bug

Note: Often, you'll see the game give you near useless cards that have low cost. I've worked this in my strats, in that if I see a card that's worth 0-2 cost, I'll add it to my deck in place of Mech Zombie. It's relevant after about 12 wins. So basically, if you've seen one of those cards, mentally take note of it. All rituals spells are worth 0 cost, just to say. Here's a list of the cards I've seen:
350 Dark Piercing Light
670 Black Luster Ritual,
672 Harpie's Feather Duster (2)
677 Hamburger Recipe
681 House of Adhesive,
682 Eatgaboon (1)
687 Goblin Fan (2)
688 Simochi Allergy (Tech vs Paradox? Cuz fuck Dian Keto)
690 Fake Trap
692 Turtle Oath
693 Contsruct of Mask
700 Fortress Whale's Oath
722 Dark Magic Ritual
730 Thousand-Eyes Idol
768 Unhappy Maiden (1)
783 Black Illusion Ritual
785 Multiply
- I've listed a couple of cards that are worth 2 or 1, they'll work at certain points as well. If you see these past 11, try to make a change when it's convenient, basically before Mai.

Note: I have good drops listed under every duelist. If I don't have a note for a specific card, or specific typing, that means you would consider adding that drop only when you get to around Tier 3.

READ STRATS CLOSELY, VARIOUS NEW EDITS. DO MAKO 2ND.

After 2 duels:
Take out: Jinzo, Bone Mouse (Scroll over and get Jinzo first!!)
Add:
097 Dragon Zombie (16)
180 Arlownay (18)
- Tristan can drop rituals, 395 DANCING ELF, 466 Flame Viper, 768 Unhappy Maiden, 681 House of Adhesive, Ritual, 690 Fake Trap
- With Dancing Elf drop, take out Swordsman for it after 5 duels.
- With House of Adhesive drop, take out a Mech for it, it'll be your 0 drop when you get to the 12 duels split.

Add Jirai after 5 duels? Waiting till 8 feels faster…

After 8 duels:
Take out: Boo Koo, Hiro, Hiro, Frog, Masked Clown, Cyber Stein
Add:
730 Dark-Eyes Illusionist (0)
532 Gemini Elf (28)
551 Dark Elf (28)
447 Giant Red Seasnake (26)
440 7 Colored Fish (26)
367 Jirai Gumo (23)
- Dark Elf is in since Time Wizard isn’t a card now
- Mako can drop (135 FIEND'S HAND!, 060 Great White, 229 HOURGLASS!, 122 Yamatano, 682 Eatgaboon, Rituals, various pyros)
- With Fiend’s Hand or Hourglass drop, switch it for Abyss Flower for Espa Roba. If you need space switch those cards back at Weevil.
- With Yamatano drop, take out Petit for it at the next deck edit.
- Mako very often drops pyros. 101 Wings of Wicked Flame, 154 Fire Reaper, 210 Hinotama Soul, 214 B. Flame Kagemusha, 242 Candle of Destiny, potential others

Without 0-drop, use this password:
350 Dark Piercing Light 45895206

After 12 duels:
Take out: Shadow, White Dolphin, Mechanical Spider, Mech
Add:
795 Dunames Dark Witch (28)
0 card
733 Thousand-Eyes Idol (0)
(350 Dark Piercing Light (0))
379 La Jinn (28)
- Yugi can drop 060 Great White (24), 041 Celtic Guardian (26), 747 Gazelle (27), 031 Koumori Dragon (27), 010 Blackland Fire Dragon (23), 210 Hinotama Soul, 628 Witch's Apprentice, Rituals, 681 House of Adhesive, 687 Goblin Fan, 350 Dark Piercing Light, 688 Simochi Allergy
- If you get House of Adhesive after already getting a low drop, you can swap out that card for it.
- With Witch's Apprentice drop, take out Abyss Flower for it when you get to Espa Roba.

Without 2nd 0-drop, use either password:
350 Dark Piercing Light 45895206
690 Fake Trap 03027001

After 17 duels
Take out: Swordsman, Shadow, Air Marmot
Add:
089 Catapult (20)
770 Neo the Magic Swordsman (27)
0 card
- Joey can drop 097 DRAGON ZOMBIE (16), 078 Axe Raider (28), 224 Trap Master (16), 043 Karbonala Warrior (27), 417 Blast Juggler (17, PYRO), 761 Alligator's Sword (1500/1200 Beast, Wind, 27 cost), Rituals, 682 Eatgaboon, 687 Goblin Fan (2)
- Add Dragon Zombie instead of Widespread during Tier 2. Switch once you get to Tier 3.
- Try to prioritize Trap Master drops for Tier 3.

For Mai: New strats, no edits!
- Mai can drop 096 CLOWN ZOMBIE, 098 ARMORED ZOMBIE, 595 Fiend Reflection #1 (1300 Dreams), 682 Eatgaboon
- Add Dragon Zombie instead of Widespread during Tier 2. Switch once you get to Tier 3.
- With Clown Zombie/Armored Zombie drop, plan to take out Abyss for it when you get to Espa Roba. Will delay Widespread 1 duel.

For Espa Roba:
Take out: Milus, Wretched
Add:
060 Great White (24)
415 Mechanicalchaser (26)
- If you got a Clown/Armored Zombie drop from Mai, or Hourglass from Mako, take out Abyss for it here. Would have to delay Battle Ox for Headhuntress at Weevil unless you switch back. If you have both drops, then adding a Zombie is good for Espa Roba, then switch it for Hourglass for Seeker. You could realistically switch maybe Droll for the dropped Zombie at Rex, then make the necessary changes at Weevil.
- Espa Roba can drop PYROS?, 142 Flame Manipulator (19), 215 Flame Ghost (18), 244 Dissolverock(?), 756 Reflect Bounder (27 cost), 377 Ryu-Kishin Powered (28), 754 Cyber Raider (24 cost), 782 Anti-Raigeki (20), 684 Bear Trap, 683 Reverse Trap (2)
- If you get Pyro drops lower than 20 cost, try to remember them for Darknite.
- If you get Trap drops, take out Ancient Jar , then Muka or House afterwards. I believe a dropped Eatgaboon would work in place of House until you get to Weevil.
- If you got Witch's Apprentice drop from Yugi, take out Abyss Flower for it here.
- If you get Anti-Raigeki as a drop, take out Arlownay for it once you get to Seeker.

For Seeker:
Take out: Muka, Abyss, Drill Bug
Add:
207 Droll Bird (11)
258 Beastking (21)
782 Anti-Raigeki (20)
- Seeker can drop: 171 Big Eye (1200 Dreams, 22 cost), 256 Dimensional Knight (1200 Warrior, Dreams, 22 cost), 293 Masaki (1100 Light, 22 cost), 624 High Tide Gyojin (1650 Aqua, 29 cost), 493 Maha Vailo (29 cost), 684 Invisible Wire, 782 Anti-Raigeki (20)
- RESET AFTER 5TH SEEKER WIN!!!
- Newer tip: Use very weak monsters you’ve set while going first to check his set monsters, don’t conserve LP. Running random beatsticks into Stone Statue or whatever saves LP, but makes the game turns longer. Checking his sets and summoning the right counter furthers the game.

For Rex:
Take out: Beastking, Anti-Raigeki, Arlownay
Add: (should be 569/575)
072 Cocoon of Evolution (60)
686 Widespread Ruin (20)
644 Flame Viper (8)
- Note on using Cocoon: The entire route depends on you getting off Cocoon as early and often as possible. Check your hand on your first turn every time just to see it. When starting 2nd in a duel, you should often summon a beatstick to attack over sets, as most opponents in Tier 2 and on have tribute monsters that could possibly get over Cocoon’s 2000 DEF.
- Rex can drop: 032 Two-Headed King Rex (28), 080 Uraby (23) 683 Bear Trap, 559 Oscillo Hero (1250 ATK Dreams) 684 Invisible Wire, 782 Anti-Raigeki (20)
- Add Dragon Zombie drop over Widespread here.
- From here on, take out a Muka Muka for a Trap drop.
- I'm guessing with a Clown/Armored drop from Mai, take out Wretched for Viper. I guess put it in for Tier 3??

For Weevil:
Take out: Petit, Droll (should be 549/600) (Droll or Yamatano?)
Add: (should be 599/600) (if it doesn’t work, add Headhuntress over Battle Ox, switch edit at Pandora)
026 Battle Ox (27)
168 Darkfire Dragon (27)
- Weevil can drop: 258 BEASTKING, 55 Giant Flea (27), 290 Moon Envoy (1100 ATK, Warrior, Light, 21 cost), 120 Dream Clown (1200 ATK, Warrior, Dreams, 21 cost), 165 The Judgment Hand (1400 ATK, Warrior, Light, 21 cost), 299 Sonic Maid (1200 ATK Light, 21 cost), 683 Bear Trap, 782 Anti-Raigeki

For Pandora:
Take out: Morphing Jar, Abyss, Catapult (Dunames) (should be 583/625)
Add:
771 Man Eating Treasure Chest (26)
234 Headhuntress (24)
224 Trap Master (16) (should be 625/625)
remove Dunames for potential Dream drop(?)
- Pandora can drop 281 Mystic Clown (25), 603 Fairy Dragon (Light, 23 cost), 782 Anti-Raigeki (20)
- Switch any dropped Clown/Armored in place of the Abyss here.
- If you got a good Dreams drop, take out Dunames for it.
- If you got Witch's from Yugi, take it out here.

For Kaiba: New strats, NO edits!!!
- Kaiba can drop 234 Beautiful Headhuntress (24), 168 Darkfire (27), 026 Battle Ox (27), 379 La Jinn (28), 377 Ryu-Kishin Powered (28), 233 Dark Titan of Terror (1300 ATK, Shadow, 24 cost), 647 Hyosube (1500 Aqua, 24 cost),  599 Violent Rain (23, Aqua) 94042337, 661 CRUSH CARD! 782 Anti-Raigeki (20)
- With Crush drop, take out Neo or Treasure Chest for it around P. Seto
- If you removed Dunames previously add it back here.

Tier 3: At this point, it's firmly planned to add in any good drops around this point of the game. Since it's kind of random, you'll have to simply play on your toes and think ahead sometimes. Keep track of what your deck limit is, and determine how many duels it may take until you can swap certain cards for drops.

For P. Seto, TEST NEW STRATS:
Take out: Ancient Jar, Hourglass, Great White (should be 582/675) (Hourglass, (pyro drop?), Clown, Armored, Yamatano, Neo)
Add: (was 669/675 base, so can take out a card 18 or more for exact instead of Great White)
258 Beastking (20)
661 Crush Card (50)
782 Anti-Raigeki (20) (should be 672/675 base)
- P. Seto can drop: 168 Darkfire (27), 377 Ryu-Kishin Powered (28), 026 Battle Ox (27), 379 La Jinn, Crush Card, 551 DARK ELF (28), 532 Gemini Elf, 523 Bistro Butcher (28), 507 Crazy Fish (26), 466 Skull Red Bird (27), 631 Maiden of the Moon (1500 ATK, Dreams, 28 cost), 636 Blue-Winged Crown (1600 ATK, Wind, 28 cost), 685 Acid Trap Hole, 661 CRUSH CARD!
- The cards in parentheses are the ones you would take out for any good drops that you can add to the deck. If necessary, put in low drop cards.
- If you got any good drops with 1600+ ATK or Anti-Raigeki drop, take out 2 cards in parentheses for that drop and an Anti-Raigeki (having 2 copies of Anti-Raigeki is preferable).
- Add Trap Master drop if you got it from Joey.
- Switch out Dragon Zombie drop for Widespread Ruin here.
- With Crush drop, take out Neo for it, make sure to have low cards to fit it in easily. Take out Armored before Clown for Crush
- If you already have good drops, don't add Blue-Winged Crown

If you didn’t get it as a drop:
787 Last Day of Witch (50) 90330453
- Can be dropped from multiple characters I believe so might as well make this optional. Don't need 2 copies

For Ishizu:
Take out: Anti-Raigeki, Darkfire, Flame Viper (Clown, Armored, Neo, Yamatano)
Add:
787 Last Day of Witch (50)
1-2 579 Abyss Flower (11) (aim to add 2 copies usually)
- Can drop: 551 Dark Elf (28), 532 Gemini Elf (28), 7 Colored Fish, Seasnake, 149 Lord of the Lamp (1400 Shadow, 26 cost), 125 Faith Bird (1500 Light, 26 cost), 581 Takuhee (1450 ATK Wind, 24 cost), 685 Acid Trap Hole (10)
- Hard to fit in 2nd Abyss with beatstick drops in the deck
- If you got a good Shadow type drop previously, or some other good drops is in mind, add that over a 2nd Wretched when possible.
- If you got a good Dreams drop, take out a card in the parentheses for it when possible.
- Prioritize adding Neo over Fiend drops, such as Bistro.
- With Crush Card drop, question putting in Last Day of Witch.

With no drops and plenty of space, add Rogue Doll?
044 Rogue Doll (26) 91939608

For Paradox:
- NEW STRATS: Likely add back in Great White for some weak card if you didn’t get many drops.
If possible, take out a 0 cost card, or weak monsters like Abyss for some drop. Other options are Treasure Chest, Dreams drops, maybe Neo, etc
- Paradox can drop: 454 Destroyer Golem (25), 649 Hibikime (24), 281 Mystic Clown (25), 581 Takuhee (1450 ATK Wind, 24 cost)
- Add 688 Simochi Allergy as a drop? -5000 Dian Keto would be dope. If you add it, it should be a good card to take out afterwards, keep it in mind.
- For this duel I would be willing to put in lesser drops, such as those with just 1500 ATK or less (031 Komouri, 055 Giant Flea, 080 Uraby, 647 Hyosube, 754 Cyber Raider, etc.) Try to remember them from earlier, its best to audibly announce them when seen during the run.

For Slysheen (Heishin):
Take out: Last Day of Witch, Treasure Chest, other Dreams drops, Curse/House/Eatgaboon, 0-drop (Abyss, Ancient Jar, etc.)
Add:
(098 Clown)
(096 Armored)
(1-2 122 Yamatano)
224 Hourglass
486 Boo Koo
782 Anti-Raigeki (20)
- consider adding lower drops, or adding back Armored and/or Clown Zombie
- add back any Hourglass' you took out
Can drop: 415 Mechanicalchacer, 625 Fairy of the Fountain (1600 ATK, Aqua, 27 cost), 433 Ancient Elf (26), 353 Takriminos (1500 Aqua, 27 cost), 230 Rare Fish (27), 066 Kojikocy (1500 ATK Warrior, Earth, 27 cost) 782 Anti-Raigeki, 685 Acid Trap Hole
- Take out any Dream dropped cards. If you get Mechanicalchacer take out a Wretched or Flower for it. Don't take out Dark-Eyes or Thousand since Darknite can make Mystical Sand
- If you got a good Light monster drop, try to add it in here before Boo Koo, as extra Lights make these duels easier. You may need to wait until after some duels to do so.
- 041 Celtic Guardian (26), 165 The Judgment Hand (1400 ATK, Warrior, Light, 21 cost), 290 Moon Envoy (1100 ATK, Warrior, Light, 21 cost), 293 Masaki (1100 Light, 22 cost), 299 Sonic Maid (1200 ATK Light, 21 cost), 493 Maha Vailo (29 cost), 603 Fairy Dragon (Light, 23 cost)
- With Acid Trap Hole drop, take out Eatgaboon or Bear Trap for it.

For Darknite: TRY TO PUT IN PYROS DROPS!
Take out: Curse/House/Eatgaboon, 0-drop (Abyss, Boo Koo, Yamatano)
Add:
- Add back any Pyro's, Lights, Yamatano/Petit, Wretched
- Potential pyros: 101 Wings of Wicked Flame, 142 Flame Manipulator (19), 154 Fire Reaper, 210 Hinotama Soul, 214 B. Flame Kagemusha, 215 Flame Ghost, 242 Candle of Destiny, 244 Dissolverock (19), 417 Blast Juggler (17), potential others
- Darknite can drop: 367 Jirai Gumo (23), 096 Armored Zombie (15), 097 Dragon Zombie.
- Add any additional 1500+ ATK drops in mind.

Credits code: 42382443