jabber2033 Posted June 25, 2010 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 [align=center]A Deck-Building GuideHopeless Dragons[/align] Dragons have always been one of the most popular types of monsters in the Yu-gi-oh! Trading Card Game. However, most Dragon decks I’ve seen are not very competitive, and many new players don’t know how to use them correctly. It pains me whenever I see new players simply throw together things such as Blue-Eyes White Dragon, Red-Eyes B. Dragon, and the Armed Dragons into a single deck. It just doesn’t work that way. There are only a handful of truly competitive Dragon Decks, and Hopeless Dragons is arguably the best. Hopeless Dragons is a deck type that focuses on sending DARK LV8 dragons to the Graveyard so that they can be revived with the awesome Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon. Along with REDMD, the following cards are the most commonly used in Hopeless. Monster CardsRed-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon The key card in any Hopeless Dragons deck. It is easily the best Dragon monster/support card in entire TCG, with an easy way to Special Summon it and a revival effect. Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon can easily swarm the field with high-powered Dragon-type monsters and sweep the opponent. Always run 3 copies of this card in any Hopeless Dragons deck. In fact, no dragon deck of ANY type is complete without 3 copies of this card. Dark Horus Dark Horus is one of the main beatsicks used in Hopeless Dragon. Once it’s sent to the Graveyard, it can be revived with Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon. It can also fuel cards such as Trade-In, Dragon’s Mirror or Dark Armed Dragon. It can be replaced with Blue-Eyes White Dragon in some Hopeless Dragon variants if your budget is too tight. If you do run it, however, run 3. Van’Dalgyon the Dark Dragon Lord Another monster easily Special Summoned with Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon. Though its ATK is 200 points lower than Dark Horus, it’s still a viable beatstick in Hopeless Dragons. It was used more while Solemn Judgment was unlimited, but it is still playable now. As with Dark Horus, it’s LV8, making it a perfect target for Trade-In and other such cards. Run 2. Dark Armed Dragon Though it can’t be used with Trade-In or Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon, this card is highly recommended. It can be summoned fairly easily if you know how to control the amount of monsters in your Graveyard, and comes with an effect that could easily leave the opponent at a disadvantage. Alternatively, this card can be sent to the Graveyard by cards such as Foolish Burial and copied by Phantom of Chaos. Either way, definitely include this card in any Hopeless Dragon deck. Since this card is Limited on the Ban List, you can only run 1. Red-Eyes Wyvern This card is most effective in the Graveyard. You can use this card to Special Summon Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon and proceed to sweep. A good card to use in conjunction with this is Future Fusion. Play Future Fusion, select Five-Headed Dragon, then send this card, Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon, and 3 other Dragons to your Graveyard. At the End Phase of the turn, you can activate this card’s effect to Summon Darkness Metal. This card can also be used as a beatstick if you have no other options. Best used at 2, though 3 is an option. Dark Grepher A good card for sending DARK Dragons to the Graveyard quickly, this card can also be used as a beatstick. Discarding and using this card’s effect can give you plenty of targets for Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon. Run 2. Armageddon Knight Another good card for sending your monsters to the Graveyard. The one thing this card has over Dark Grepher is that it isn’t affected by the commonly-used Bottomless Trap Hole. It also doesn’t require a discard that makes you lose card advantage. Run EITHER this card OR Dark Grepher. Not both. Run 2 or 3. Other recommended monsters This section goes over other monsters used in the different Hopeless Dragon variants. While the previous monsters are the most commonly used, the following can also be run to various degrees of effectiveness, depending on which variant of Hopeless you’re running. Chaos Sorcerer One Hopeless Dragons variant is Chaos Hopeless, which uses this card. Since you have to remove a LIGHT monster as well as a DARK monster to summon it, cards such as Blue-Eyes White Dragon and The White Stone of Legend are included. This card’s effect is similar to Dark Armed Dragon, however, the opponent’s cards are removed from play instead of being destroyed and the target has to be face-up. Phantom of Chaos can also be used to copy this card’s effect. Since this card is Limited on the Ban List, you can only run 1. Sky Scourge Norleras Another variant of Hopeless Dragons is called Dragon Nohr, which uses this card. While not summoned directly, this card is sent to the Graveyard via cards such as Foolish Burial and Trade-In. Afterwards, this card’s effect is copied by Phantom of Chaos and used to nuke the field. It is an option in Hopeless Dragons, and if you do decide to run this card, run 1 or 2, depending on your deck’s focus. Blue-Eyes White Dragon In the days in which the Yu-gi-oh! TCG was just getting started, this card was one of the most popular and most powerful. Now, this card sees much less play, though it does have some support. In some Hopeless Dragon builds, such as Chaos Hopeless, this card can be replaced with Dark Horus as a beatstick. It can be used with Trade-In and easily revived with Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon. This card is mainly used if your budget is too tight to run Dark Horus. If you do use it, run it at 3. The White Stone of Legend Used in Chaos Hopeless builds to provide targets for Chaos Sorcerer, this card is best used with Future Fusion or Foolish Burial. The best way to use this is by playing Future Fusion and sending all 3 copies of this card to the Graveyard along with two others for Five-Headed Dragon. Their effects are then activated, allowing you grab 3 Blue-Eyes White Dragons at the same time. Run 2 or 3 copies of this card, depending on how fast you go through your deck. NOTE: Only use this card if you’re using Blue-Eyes White Dragon. Phantom of Chaos. While not used for attacking, this card can be used to copy the effects of other monsters in your Graveyard, most commonly Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon, Dark Armed Dragon, Chaos Sorcerer and Sky Scourge Norleras. Copying the effects of those cards can leave your opponent at a serious disadvantage. Run this in Chaos Hopeless and Dragon Nohr decks, and run at least 2 copies. Five-Headed Dragon This card is mostly used as a target when activating Future Fusion. However, it can be used as a massive beatstick if you need it. It can also be summoned via Dragon’s Mirror. If you run Future Fusion and Dragon’s Mirror, run at least 2. 3 if you run more Dragon’s Mirror. Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon While not as used as Five-Headed Dragon, it is an option if you’re running Blue-Eyes White Dragon. Run 2. 3 if you’re using more Dragon’s Mirror. Spell cards Spell cards in Hopeless Dragon decks are centered around sending your monsters to the Graveyard. The following are recommended. Trade-In The deck’s main draw engine, Trade-In can be used with LV8 monsters such as Dark Horus to provided you with new cards. Drawing cards can provide card advantage and set up future plays. Drawing cards with Trade-In also thins the deck, allowing you to draw other cards easier. By discarding with Trade-In, you can also provide targets for Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon. Run 3 in Hopeless Dragons. Allure of Darkness Another card for drawing, Allure was Limited by the most recent Ban List, so only 1 copy is allowed. It’s slightly different from Trade-In, but the idea is the same: to draw cards and thin the deck. Foolish Burial This card was also recently Limited on the Ban List, but it can provide targets for cards such as Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon and Dragon’s Mirror. It can set up very powerful plays if you use it correctly. Future Fusion This card can be GOD in Hopeless Dragons if played right. After playing this card, Select one Five-Headed Dragon in your Extra Deck and send Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon, Red-Eyes Wyvern, and any other high-powered Dragons to your Graveyard. At the end of your turn, remove Red-Eyes Wyvern and Special Summon Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon. Proceed to swarm and sweep. It can also summon Five-Headed Dragon if you need a massive Beatstick. Burial from a Different Dimension Yet another newly Limited Spell card, this card can be used to recover any monsters you have removed from play using cards such as Dragon’s Mirror and the Red-Eyes monsters. Since Hopeless Dragons does remove cards often, it is an option if you want to reuse cards. Dragon’s Mirror Used in Fusion Summons, cards similar to this one are far superior to Polymerization, as they use cards already in your Graveyard and don’t make you lose too much card advantage. This card is mostly used to summon Five-Headed Dragon, and sometimes Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon if you’re running Blue-Eyes White Dragon. Run 1 or 2. Book of Moon This card is one of the most versatile cards in the game. It can interrupt Synchro Summons, protect your monsters from attack, as well as destruction from cards such as Mirror Force and Dimensional Prison, and more. While not used in Hopeless builds while Allure of Darkness was at 2 and 3, this card is very playable now. Run at least 2 if you choose to run it. D.D.R. – Different Dimension Reincarnation This equip Spell Card was more usable in Hopeless when Allure of Darkness was not Limited, though it can still be used. One strategy is to use Allure, then this card to Special Summon the removed monster. You can also Special Summon monsters removed with Dragon’s Mirror and the Red-Eyes monsters as well. However, this card doesn’t really see much play. Only run 1 if you chose to use it. Trap Cards There are no Trap Cards that were designed specifically for Hopeless Dragons. Most Traps below are staples used in practically every competitive deck. Call of the Haunted A generic revival trap. This card can come in handy when you need a quick monster from the Graveyard. Since it’s Limited, run 1 Mirror Force Arguably the best Trap in the game. Every deck should include this card. Since it’s limited, you’re only allowed 1. Bottomless Trap Hole This particular trap has seen so much play that it was recently semi-limited. It’s definitely good enough to be included in the generic traps that every deck should run. It can stop so many things, though Stardust Dragon can still be a problem. Definitely run 2, since it’s Semi-Limited. Return from the Different Dimension This card can be decent in Hopeless Dragons. It can Special Summon any monsters you have removed form play, whether it be through the effects of the Red-Eyes monsters or Dragon’s Mirror. Half your life points are a small cost when you could sweep your opponent for game with 5 2800+ ATK monsters. Again, since it's Limited, run 1. Strengths and Weakness Hopeless Dragons have plenty of swarming power and can overwhelm the opponent quickly if they’re not prepared. Almost every Dragon can be Special Summoned from the Graveyard or the Hand. They are quite speedy and can win within only a handful of turns if played correctly. However, as with other decks that rely on Special Summoning, anti-meta cards such as Royal Oppression and Skill Drain can severely cripple the deck. Another major weakness is that with so many high-level monsters in the deck, you can end up with a hand that won’t allow you to summon any monster on your first turn, leaving you at a severe disadvantage. Sample Deck: Monsters: 201x Dark Armed Dragon3x Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon3x Dark Horus2x Van’Dalgyon, the Dark Dragon Lord1x Sky Scourge Norleras2x Red-Eyes Wvyern2x Infernal Dragon2x Armageddon Knight2x Phantom of Chaos1x Sangan1x Twin-Headed Behemoth Spells: 143x Trade-In2x Book of Moon2x Dragon’s Mirror1x Allure of Darkness1x Foolish Burial1x Future Fusion1x Heavy Storm1x Mystical Space Typhoon1x Giant Trunade1x Burial from a Different Dimension Traps: 61x Call of the Haunted1x Mirror Force1x Solemn Judgment1x Return from the Different Dimension2x Bottomless Trap Hole Extra Deck: 3 3x Five-Headed Dragon That's about it. If anyone has anything to add, feel free to suggest it. Constructive criticism is always helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bringerofcake Posted June 25, 2010 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 Anything on SOL Hopeless? I've always found it to be halfway decent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jabber2033 Posted June 25, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 Anything on SOL Hopeless? I've always found it to be halfway decent. Isn't SOL Hopeless basically Chaos Hopeless, since they both run BEWD, White Stone, and Chaos Sorc? If not, then what's the difference? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bringerofcake Posted June 25, 2010 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 Anything on SOL Hopeless? I've always found it to be halfway decent. Isn't SOL Hopeless basically Chaos Hopeless' date=' since they both run BEWD, White Stone, and Chaos Sorc? If not, then what's the difference?[/quote'] I hadn't known about the Sorcerer bit. However, one of the main cards it DOES run is Cards of Consonance, allowing for White Stone to be used as part of another draw engine. Also, have you considered Totem Dragon or KM Drago? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jabber2033 Posted June 25, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 have you considered Totem Dragon or KM Drago? KM Drago doesn't really work with Hopeless, since most of the cards being Special Summoned are DARKS. It kind of kills the deck. Totem Dragon may be good tech, though I have personally yet to try it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuffyLaxer Posted June 25, 2010 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 Good guide Jabber. You also might want to post stuff to side for the deck. If they take this deck to tourneys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bringerofcake Posted June 25, 2010 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 Actually, a sample build of Chaos Hopeless would be nice to see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jabber2033 Posted June 25, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 Good guide Jabber. You also might want to post stuff to side for the deck. If they take this deck to tourneys. Honestly, I have little to no experience with building Side Decks. If anyone wants to make a side deck guide for this, feel free. I'll include it in the first post, give you credit, and maybe a rep or 2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
byak Posted June 25, 2010 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 Things that you can learn from this "guide": - CreatorREDRUM should be used in a CreatorHopeless deck.- *insert a staple here* is good.- *insert a popular engine here* should probably work. EDIT: Add stuff like:- How does the deck work- Tech cards. (Not obvious ones)- Good plays- Bad plays- Important rulings- How to counter popular decks- How to protect yourself from popular anti-meta cardsetc .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest PikaPerson01 Posted June 25, 2010 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 2 Vandalgyon, 1 Counter Trap Okay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BehindTheMask Posted June 25, 2010 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 2 Vandalgyon' date=' 1 Counter Trap Okay.[/quote'] Fuels Allure, Trade-In, still can be special summoned from DDR/REDRUM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanAtlus Posted June 25, 2010 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 Exploder Dragon? Also, I think Exploder Dragonwing is good because Jack atlus used it. Should I run it? [/Noobycomment] Also, Solid Hopelessness? Overall, good guide. But noobs are too stubborn.You earned a rep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.Nu-13 Posted June 25, 2010 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 Very nice guide, i must admit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuffyLaxer Posted June 25, 2010 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 Possible SideNobleman of Crossout x2Gottoms E-Call x2System Down x2Light Imprisoning Mirror x2T-Roar x2Nobleman of Extermination x2Reign BueaxProhibition x2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Judgment Dragon Posted June 25, 2010 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 Exploder Dragon? Not really as great as it seems. Has to attack or be attacked to destroy a monster. Not to mention it takes up a Normal Summon if not Special Summoned by REDMD and REDMD has better stuff to Special Summon than Exploder Dragon. In other words' date=' don't use it. 2 Vandalgyon, 1 Counter Trap Okay. 2800 ATK, Level 8, DARK. Still not a terrible option. With BEUD, I personally find it best to stick to 1 in BEWD builds since Five-Headed Dragon is better in almost every case and the 1 - 2 spots that are opened up can be used for generic Synchros. Otherwise, a great guide. Too bad most of the noobs that need to read it won't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyosuke Kiryu Posted June 25, 2010 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 It's a good basic guide. But it's missing a few things like the rulings, the samples of different variants an dgood plays. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manjoume Thunder Posted June 25, 2010 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 Missing examples of the good variants. Exploder Dragon? Not really as great as it seems. Has to attack or be attacked to destroy a monster. Not to mention it takes up a Normal Summon if not Special Summoned by REDMD and REDMD has better stuff to Special Summon than Exploder Dragon. In other words' date=' don't use it.[/quote'] Exploder is a must in Disaster, which is the only viable Dragon deck. Apart from that Exodia shenanigan that saw play in the beginning of the format. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Griffin Posted June 25, 2010 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 I personally think that Drago's still runnable, or at least sidable. As long as you're sensible and don't leave it around at the point you swarm, it hurts a lot of Decks and works as a nice beatstick. Usually best Summoned after you already have a strong field. No L&DD? I thought that was part of 'disaster dragon' which was a popular Hopeless build... or am I just behind? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyosuke Kiryu Posted June 25, 2010 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 @Manjy: Hopeless Norleras is very viable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manjoume Thunder Posted June 25, 2010 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 @Manjy: Hopeless Norleras is very viable. It is bad. :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyosuke Kiryu Posted June 25, 2010 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 It's good. It just runs stuff like Koa'ki Drago to be able to compete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El-Rrey Posted June 25, 2010 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 Side Deck: 15 2x Kycoo2x D.D. Crow 2x Cydra 2x Nobleman of Crossout 2x Crevice into the D.D.2x Gottom's Emergency Call2x Mask of Restrict2x Mirror of Oaths Don't forget Chimeratech Fortress in the Extra. P.S: It's bad, but still!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jabber2033 Posted June 25, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 Alright, so I need to add the following sections: Card RulingsIndividual Card StrategiesCountering WeaknessesBuilding a Side DeckMore Sample Decks I'm working on the rulings at the moment. If anyone wants to contribute to the rest of the guide, feel free. I'll give you credit and a rep or 3 once I put it in the guide itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest PikaPerson01 Posted June 25, 2010 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 2 Vandalgyon' date=' 1 Counter Trap Okay.[/quote'] Fuels Allure, Trade-In, still can be special summoned from DDR/REDRUM. I'm aware. Still doesn't excuse bad deck making. "Just because you can doesn't mean you should" - PikaPerson01 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Dahlia Posted June 25, 2010 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 Very nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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