Heroic Challenger June 2023

HEROIC CHALLENGER DECK

This Deck uses the Heroic archetype as the main engine, one of my favourites ever from the Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal anime. It's a pretty cheap Deck to buy (if you don't consider some of the staples) and it's pretty simple and straightforward to learn. It's suitable for new players as it also teaches you the basics of going second: You break the board and eliminate the dangerous threats on the field? You win! You don't? You lose.

Shining Swordy Boy That Hits Hard

STRATEGY

The Deck's strategy, as I already said, is pretty straightforward: You want to go second and OTK (One Turn Kill) your opponent with Heroic Champion - Claivesolish and Heroic Chance while eliminating the threats that prevent you to do so, using Kaijus and other going second staples. I don't run cards like Dark Ruler No More and Evenly Matched because you have to give up the OTK opportunity to use them. If you still want to play them you're free to do so, as it can be an actual win condition to draw either of them against certain Decks. The Deck is also provided with some "plan B"s to use when you think you can't OTK, when you have to go first or in some matchups.

MAIN DECK TECHS

- Nibiru, the Primal Being : At two copies in the main Deck because it can be a brick, but I added another copy of it in the side Deck. It's a free win if your opponent reaches at least 5 summons and they can't recover after you use it. I reccomend you to place it in attack position, as Heroic Champion - Claivesolish can still attack over it and OTK the opponent if you have Heroic Chance .

- Gameciel, the Sea Turtle Kaiju : A generic monster removal that bypasses almost all immunities. The Heroic archetype makes most use of this card as, like Nibiru, it's also an OTK enabler because you can attack over it.

- Dinowrestler Pankratops : Because why not? A Quick Effect removal that bypasses on-field targeting and can destroy any card on their field. There's a reason why this card is limited to 1 copy, you know?

- War Rock Gactos : It's a free warrior-type body that specials summon from the hand whenever you normal summon any level 4 Heroic Challenger monster. It's a way better option than Blue Mountain Butterspy and Kagetokage because he can be also normal summoned by himself and it's better than Goblindbergh because Gactos' effect triggers in the hand: if it gets negated at least you normal summoned a Heroic monster, while if you use Goblindbergh you have to burn your normal summon and it can be negated with cards like Infinite Impermanence .

- ZS - Ascended Sage : Another free warrior-type body that special summons himself and can also be normal summoned from the hand. It can be an anti-synergy if you have both him and Heroic Challenger - Assault Halberd in your hand because they both have to be special summoned as the first monsters on your field. Note that Assault Halberd can also be used as a discard fodder for Heroic Challenger - Thousand Blades . It's better than Photon Thrasher , but the latter can still be played to attack over a funny Inspector Boarder .

- Lightning Storm : Self-explicative. Also can be used as backrow removal. Note that you can't use Heroic Chance if you want to attack directly.

- Harpie's Feather Duster : Compensates the lack of backrow removal in the staples. It could have been another copy of Lightning Storm instead but Konami limited it to two.

- Forbidden Droplet : It bypasses targeting and the opponent's monsters can't respond to it if you sent at least one monster to the graveyard, which you'll probably do because the Deck is mostly composed of monsters. You can revive any level 4 warrior monster you send to the GY with this effect with Heroic Champion - Jarngreipr and Heroic Call . [REMOVED]

EXTRA DECK TECHS

- Number 41: Bagooska the Terribly Tired Tapir : This Deck doesn't really have a consistent going first, so Bagooska is a good choice if you're bricky or you think your opponent doesn't have the out.

- ZS - Utopic Sage : You can combo quite nicely, summon ZS - Ascended Sage from the Deck, make another XYZ monster then into Number F0: Utopic Draco Future . 

- Gagagaga Magician : For the same reason of Utopic Sage but if you already have a non-number XYZ monster in your graveyard.

- Castel, the Skyblaster Musketeer : I usually summon it after Utopic Sage, use its effect and then make F0.

- Knightmare Cerberus : It's a good out to Bagooska if your opponent summons it.

- Tornado Dragon : It's just versatile to have a Mystical Space Typhoon always available in your Extra Deck. You could also go for Knightmare Phoenix .

SIDE DECK TECHS

- Droll & Lock Bird : It's overall a good card in the current meta, you can main Deck it instead of Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring if you want. It's most effective in some matchups.

- Abyss Dweller : Good card against Tearlaments or other Decks that play a lot with GY effects.

- Twin Twisters : If you're against a backrow heavy Deck. You could also play Cosmic Cyclone for a banish, but note that you can't use it if you cut your LP to 500 due to Claivesolish's effect. But I guess you'll use Cosmic Cyclone before even attemtping to OTK so actually either is good.

- Solemn Judgment : Increases power in your going first. The LP cost doesn't weight as much since it'll always be half your current ones, so it's good synergy with Claivesolish.

- Royal Decree : Ever met "That Guy" at locals that sets 5 cards and passes? Obviously you want to go first instead of them. The main Deck also doesn't play any Trap cards so it's completely splashable.

OTHER NOTES

- Heroic Challenger - Clasp Sword doesn't really fit the Deck. As for now, this build of the Heroic Challenger Deck is focused on raw card advantage and if you have one copy of it you'll either draw into it and bricking, or banishing it with Pot of Desires . It's not an essential part of the combo either, but it could be useful in other builds.

- Isolde, Two Tales of the Noble Knights is a generally good card but it doesn't fit this build either.

- You could also splash in the Number 39: Utopia Double OTK engine, but note that Double or Nothing! is a brick if you get it in the hand. On the other hand, you could also go for Ultimate Leo Utopia Ray and equip ZW - Pegasus Twin Saber to get access to two negates for one XYZ, but it doubles the amount of bricks.

"Ban Numbers Eveil and unban me please!" 

UPDATES (DD/MM/YYYY)

20/07/2023: Removed Forbidden Droplet and one Gameciel, the Sea Turtle Kaiju for three copies of Infinite Impermanence . The one copy of Gameciel that was removed was moved to the Side Deck in the place of Knightmare Unicorn .