Structure Deck 36: Oceanic Fury

[Time Psyduck]

It's been a while since I've done one of these, since I've been struggling to find a WATER theme that I could make a deck with. Unlike nearly anything else, Sea Serpents have an utter lack of any mutual support, and really need a few more than 5 cards, but this would be a start. Most of the decent stuff is here, minus the Codarus/Daedalus set because I didn't want this to be another ALO deck.

Ironically, whilst I have a document filled with custom Sea Serpents, two of the monsters were created new for the SD.

Anyway, onto the decklist:

[color=#ff8c00][b]SDOF-EN001 Torrent Dragon (Ultra Rare)[/b][/color]
[color=#ff8c00][b]SDOF-EN002 Deep Sea Divo (Super Rare)[/b][/color]
[color=#ff8c00][b]SDOF-EN003 Hunter Mermaid (Super Rare)[/b][/color]
[color=#ff8c00]SDOF-EN004 Armed Sea Hunter[/color]
[color=#ff8c00]SDOF-EN005 Spined Gillman[/color]
[color=#ff8c00]SDOF-EN006 Deep Sea Diva x2[/color]
[color=#ff8c00]SDOF-EN007 Lost Blue Breaker[/color]
[color=#ff8c00]SDOF-EN008 Spearfish Soldier[/color]
[color=#ff8c00]SDOF-EN009 Gemini Lancer[/color]
[color=#ff8c00]SDOF-EN010 Skystarray[/color]
[color=#ff8c00]SDOF-EN011 Airorca[/color]
[color=#ff8c00]SDOF-EN012 Mobius the Frost Monarch[/color]
[color=#ff8c00]SDOF-EN013 Gishki Diviner[/color]
[color=#ff8c00]SDOF-EN014 The Dragon Dwelling in the Deep[/color]
[color=#ff8c00]SDOF-EN015 Reese the Ice Mistress[/color]
[color=#ff8c00]SDOF-EN016 Mermaid Archer[/color]
[color=#ff8c00]SDOF-EN017 Aqua Spirit[/color]
[color=#ff8c00]SDOF-EN018 Skreech[/color]
[color=#ff8c00]SDOF-EN019 Killer Frilled Shark[/color]
[color=#ff8c00]SDOF-EN020 Mother Grizzly[/color]

[color=#008080][b]SDOF-EN021 Dragged into the Deep[/b][/color]
[color=#008080]SDOF-EN022 Water Hazard[/color]
[color=#008080]SDOF-EN023 Aqua Jet[/color]
[color=#008080]SDOF-EN024 Surface[/color]
[color=#008080]SDOF-EN025 Heavy Storm[/color]
[color=#008080]SDOF-EN026 Salvage[/color]
[color=#008080]SDOF-EN027 Moray of Greed x2[/color]
[color=#008080]SDOF-EN028 Monster Reborn[/color]
[color=#008080]SDOF-EN029 Forbidden Lance[/color]
[color=#008080]SDOF-EN030 Contact with the Aquamirror[/color]

[color=#800080][b]SDOF-EN031 Tidal Force[/b][/color]
[color=#800080]SDOF-EN032 Spiritual Water Art - Aoi[/color]
[color=#800080]SDOF-EN033 Solemn Warning[/color]
[color=#800080]SDOF-EN034 Poseidon Waves[/color]
[color=#800080]SDOF-EN035 Aegis of the Ocean Dragon Lord[/color]
[color=#800080]SDOF-EN036 Trap Dustshoot[/color]
[color=#800080]SDOF-EN037 Dimesional Prison[/color]
[color=#800080]SDOF-EN038 Torrential Tribute[/color]

New cards (in bold above):

Torrent Dragon
Level 8/WATER
Sea Serpent/Effect
You can Banish 2 Sea Serpent-Type monsters from your Graveyard; Special Summon this card from your hand. You can Banish 1 Sea Serpent-Type monster you control; Special Summon this card from your Graveyard. When this card is Summoned: Target 1 Spell/Trap cards your opponent controls; send that target to the Graveyard. The effect of that card cannot be activated in response to this effect. If this card you control would be sent to the Graveyard by your opponent's card effect: You can discard 1 Sea Serpent-Type monster instead.
ATK 2900/ DEF 1100

Deep Sea Divo
Level 3/WATER
Sea Serpent/Effect
When this card is Normal Summoned: You can add 1 Level 4 or lower Sea Serpent-Type monster from your Deck to your hand.
ATK 1700/DEF 0

Hunter Mermaid
Level 4/WATER
Sea Serpent/Effect
Once per turn: Discard 1 Sea Serpent-Type monster from your hand to target 1 face-up monster your opponent controls; send that target to the Graveyard. This card cannot attack your opponent directly during the turn this effect is activated.
ATK 1900/DEF 300

Dragged into the Deep
Quick-play Spell
Target 1 Sea Serpent-Type monster you control and 1 card your opponent controls; send those cards to the Graveyard, then draw 1 card.

Tidal Force
Counter Trap
When your opponent activates a Spell Card, Trap Card, Spell/Trap effect, or effect monster's effect that targets and/or destroys 1 or more Sea Serpent-Type monsters you control: Banish 1 Sea Serpent-Type monster from your Graveyard; negate the activation of that effect and send that card to the Graveyard.

[Donsheo]

The Decklist seems good, the Forbidden Lance reprint is a good idea. The Solemn Warning common reprint'd worth it to buy this Structure.

Only one change I'd suggest:
-1 [url="http://yugioh.wikia.com/wiki/Killer_Frilled_Shark"]K[/url]iller Frilled Shark
-1 Mobius the Frost Monarch
+1 Shark Sucker
+1 Mother Grizzly


Now, the new cards:

Torrent Dragon: The cards seems really nice. Still thinking about that only 1 banish to Summon it from Grave, but because it's effect is a bit limited compared to similar cards (like Dark Simorgh), it's okay.
Deep Sea Divo: Another good search card, good combo with Diva.
Hunter Mermaid is also good. A good beatstick which can even send to the Grave Stardust in exchange not to attack. Can empty your hand, but Deep Seas can fill your hand again for its effect. Not so strong, but not too weak. Okay.
Dragged into the Deep: a Sea-Serpent version of Gemini Spark, but it's stronger, because it doesn't destroys.
Tidal Force: This is something what Generation Fish should also get. I like it, maybe sometimes a bit broken, but in other cases it can be a dead draw.

The revamp of this set seems good. It's balanced: it's really fast, can draw/search, can beatdown and/or swarm. However, it really depending on the monsters, so some negating cards (like Solemns) can stop the Deck easily. Good job.

[Time Psyduck]

Thanks

I tend to do better making monsters than spells and traps, but in this case the latter was almost non-existent, so much of the existing theme power is in the monsters, hence why the deck needs them.

Regarding the decklist, Killer Frilled Shark is more useful for the deck out of the box than Shark Sucker. The latter is only really useful for Xyzs, whereas Frilled Shark can stand up to a couple more things, and has a role beyond swarming from your hand. Mobius is present simply because the deck needs a big monster other than torrent, and it seemed the most appropriate option. Another Mother Grizzly is a possibility, but it's presence in multiples in the official structure makes me dubious.

Mermaid can still attack when it uses the effect, just not directly, basically to annoy Tengu and deal with swarms, but without punishing conservative play even more.
Dragged is based on Gemini Spark/Fish Depth Charge with a bit of Offering to the Snake Deity (in the 'tribute' being part of the effect) and the non-destruction effect which I'm using to give the type something different. I figured they could do with a strong 2 for 2, since the existing support they don't share with fish and aquas consists of Diva.

[NumberCruncher]

Torrent Dragon: Considering how easy it is to summon, don't you think toning it down to 1 S/T per summon would be more fair?
Deep Sea Divo: Must have taken you all week to come up with that name. Seriously, try something like Deep Sea Prima Donna.
Hunter Mermaid: Make it a level 3 to justify running it over Abyss Soldier.
Dragged into the Deep: Nice Card, do like.
Tidal Force: DO WANT!

As for the deck itself, swap Posieden Wave and Dragon Dwelling in the Deep for Big Wave, Small Wave and Oh F!sh!

[evawin]

I feel the need to speak out against Divo.

Deep Sea Divo reminds me too much of Stratos. In fact, I would say that he's better than Stratos for the simple fact that he insta-combos with Diva for both a level 5 and a +1 in terms of card advantage (Summon Diva, SS Divo, get a search, then synch). Turn 1, you'll have both 6 cards in hand and a T.G. Hyper Librarian, Catastor, Gishildon, or what-have-you. Maybe you should tone him down just a tad. <:3c

[Time Psyduck]

Thanks to both of you.

Torrent dragon may be easy to summon, but other than protection it doesn't do anything besides the destruction. I'll think about it though

Divo's name probably doesn't make as much sense without the context. It and Diva work with a pair of musician-theme monsters that modulate levels for Synchro/Xyz summons. I'm aware of the Stratos similarities and +1 engine, but bear in mind that it's range of targets is no bigger than Stratos's (they're all either in the deck, archetype specific, or normal monsters). It was Normal Summon only, although I wanted to try and make it a bit more flexible. I'll probably put it back to Normal Summoned, and let it search level 4's as well.

Mermaid's ATK is really too high for a level 3, as it's intended to be a big monster - I was considering an ATK of 1900, but thought that with built in 1 for 1 removal it would be a bit much. I may put it up though, because the type needs a bigger level 4. Whether this or Abyss Soldier works better depends on what you're targeting - this is almost always a +0, whilst Abyss Soldier will be a -1 unless you hit something from the Extra Deck.


Regarding the decklist: Big Wave Small Wave doesn't really help the deck, other than perhaps preventing an opening through a Diva. I was avoiding the banished-based support, because the deck isn't intended to be Generation Fish, but there may be enough banishing effects to make it work.

[NumberCruncher]

[quote name='Time Psyduck' timestamp='1316589813' post='5530452']Thanks to both of you.[/quote]

I was happy to help.

[quote name='Time Psyduck' timestamp='1316589813' post='5530452']Torrent dragon may be easy to summon, but other than protection it doesn't do anything besides the destruction.[/quote]

I could see your point on this one if Torrent only had 2200 ATK, but as it stands, this is a huge Beatstick that +2s each time it's summoned, which it can do from the hand or Graveyard. Add in Bottomless immunity and it really is riuculously overpowered.

[quote name='Time Psyduck' timestamp='1316589813' post='5530452']Divo's name probably doesn't make as much sense without the context. It and Diva work with a pair of musician-theme monsters that modulate levels for Synchro/Xyz summons. I'm aware of the Stratos similarities and +1 engine, but bear in mind that it's range of targets is no bigger than Stratos's (they're all either in the deck, archetype specific, or normal monsters). It was Normal Summon only, although I wanted to try and make it a bit more flexible. I'll probably put it back to Normal Summoned, and let it search level 4's as well. [/quote]

I understand the context, but Prima Donna is a synonym for Divo, and it sound much more creative and the connection can still be made between this and Deep Sea Diva. Trust me, you don't need to beat people over the head with the fact that this is Deep Sea Diva for the hand.

[quote name='Time Psyduck' timestamp='1316589813' post='5530452']Mermaid's ATK is really too high for a level 3, as it's intended to be a big monster - I was considering an ATK of 1900, but thought that with built in 1 for 1 removal it would be a bit much. I may put it up though, because the type needs a bigger level 4. Whether this or Abyss Soldier works better depends on what you're targeting - this is almost always a +0, whilst Abyss Soldier will be a -1 unless you hit something from the Extra Deck. [/quote]

I see your point, and you're right. A level 3 shouldn't have that much attack. What I'm saying is that the Sea-Serpent restriction on Mermaid is much more debilitating than the WATER restriction on Abyss Soldier. Plus since most mosters on the field would have taken set up to bring out, the opponent would have to re-set up to get the monsters back, so the graveyard vs. hand isn't as big of a deal.

[quote name='Time Psyduck' timestamp='1316589813' post='5530452']Big Wave Small Wave doesn't really help the deck, other than perhaps preventing an opening through a Diva. I was avoiding the banished-based support, because the deck isn't intended to be Generation Fish, but there may be enough banishing effects to make it work.[/quote]

Big Wave, Small Wave summons Torrent Dragon for his effect, let's you reuse Lost Blue Breaker, resummons Divo, lets you use Hunter Mermaid twice in one turn, and lets you return less useful cards to your hand for Moray of Greed.

I thought the banished support would be a nice addition, but I don't blame you if you don't want to add it.

[Time Psyduck]

It's only immune to bottomless if you hit it with the effect, but I'm dropping Torrent down to 1 Spell/Trap anyway.

Prima Donna is nothing to do with Divo - it in facts overlaps with Diva, although the two aren't the same thing. I'm making Divo 4 or lower, so it's similarities to Diva in effect are slightly less obvious.

I'm trying to give Sea Serpents [s]more[/s] support, so Mermaid will keep the cost unless the effect changes entirely. For now, it will go to 1900 ATK. Grave vs Hand depends on the situation and monster - not everything takes much setup, and some things are harder to get from the grave. I'd forgotten about abyss soldier though, so I'll take any suggestions as to what else might make it more usable.

Big Wave Small Wave destroys your monsters. It doesn't return them. It could work with Torrent Dragon, as a more costly MST that can't be chained to by it's target.

[Time Psyduck]

Bump

[bilaterus]

Pretty good support. Based on existing support for other archetypes but hopefully differentiated in a helpful way to benefit sea serpents.

Torrent Dragon (Torrential Dragon?)'s effect is...pretty powerful. It's fine though, since sea serpents need a proper boss monster anyway. But, since you changed its effect, the line 'The effect of those cards cannot be activated in response to this effect.' doesn't make sense because, obviously, you are only targeting one card now. Just rewrite that bit.

Your other monsters are pretty big too, but since sea serpents are starved for support anyway...I think these would help make a sea serpent deck playable. Good job.

[Time Psyduck]

Thanks. Torrent Dragon has been reworded to account for the change in number of targets.