Machina Trains

[VCR_CAT]

With the hype train done, I feel a lot safer posting this:

 

I've been playing Trains for a long, long time. Like, since Hustle/Express Knight/Special Schedule were the only cards we knew. Right now this is like... version 3.5 of my deck? Something like that; I'm always looking to change it and make it as good as possible. Here are some of my reasons for some card picks in my deck that may look unorthodox:
- I chose Scrap Recycler over Mathematician for two main reasons: 1. it's able to mill any machine from my deck and 2. in the mid and late game, being able to get that extra draw during my turn when I want it has been VERY clutch. This is one of those cards where it CAN cost me game if I don't play it right, but I just gotta make sure I play it right, then ;)
- Snow Plow Hustle Rustle is my boi. His presence can be very clutch in a lot of situations, and the field spell still goes off when he's summoned by his effect. Common plays I do involve using MST chained to Hustle's effect to still get a pop off of my opponent (most players don't know that setting your cards before you attack is a bad idea, and usually mid/late game there's some form of spell/trap to destroy), Special Schedule to recycle a Level 10 back to my hand, and sometimes Forbidden Chalice to negate unwanted effects.
- Forbidden Chalice for two main reasons: 1. I can target my own monsters (helps get around Emptiness-style plays where I can't Special Summon. 3400 ATK is pretty convincing.) and 2. it gels with my Royal Decree.

- The Machinas - Gearframe works with the field spell if I ABSOLUTELY NEED to, but more importantly he works with Scrap Recycler and gets a search. If I happen to open Gearframe, Switchyard, and Derricrane but, Oh no! No Night Express Knight! What I can do is summon Gearframe, chain Derricrane, search the Fortress, and on Derricrane's summon chain the Field Spell and get a Railcar as a material for a Dora, then equip the Gearframe to Dora. Machina Fortress also has PLENTY of synergy with the deck. Being able to get machines I want into the grave, being an excellent discard target for Revolving Switchyard, and a way to make Hustle Rustle and Malefic Cyber End less dead are all excellent advantages for this card. On top of this, Machina Fortress is absolutely no card to sneeze at, as his summon is inherent; he's a 2500 beatstick; EXCELLENT on-field effects; works with rank 7 plays; perfect bait for backrow cards so I can pave the way for a Rank 10 play. What I absolutely love about Fortress is that even if he's far from the main boss of the deck, no opponent wants to see Fortress on the field and will more than likely spend the resources to see to it that Fortress goes away. I mean, who wants to see a monster that is practically a 1-4-1 in most cases where he dies? 

- C9 is my triple-mat of choice. While I do love Galaxy Destroyer for his maximum swag, C9 makes a lot of common lock strategies completely useless, as well as making ATK/DEF values completely irrelevant. Aria Lock? Don't care. Raccoons? Might want to toss in the towel. Honest in hand? Really? Also kills Hand strategies, keeps Shaddolls from recycling fusions, and on top of all this STILL has a whopping 3600 ATK. This guy is nothing to sneeze at, and if I happen to have Dora on the field at the same time...

- Finally, that Instant Fusion combo is a little tip I picked up from our friends overseas. It can make for some pretty HAMMY turns.

 

For Trains as a deck, it needs another level 10 machine; something like Night Express Knight, but either a level 10 Tin Goldfish or a Level 10 Altair would be EXCELLENT. Consistency is kind of a problem, but not in the sense that I have trouble getting the exact cards I need. Consistency is a problem in that almost all plays HINGE on Night Express Knight, and there needs to be another option for keeping the deck alive and full of plays. The extra-deck toolbox is REALLY good (one of the best toolboxes out there; I practically have an answer for almost any strategy, and Dora is good against any deck) and the plays are really strong, but the deck needs to be in a place where it has more ways of getting its plays off besides Night Express Knight.

 

Currently I'm contemplating Summoner Monk to help with deck consistency and add in some additional rank 4 support; but I'm still mulling this over. I would like to replace Malefic Cyber End, but having the spells that I'm willing to discard is pretty tough.
 

[VampireofDarkness]

I've seen you post in the forum on occasion and I've gained a bit of respect for you, and this Deck is no less of a showing why. The Machina engine is quite solid in here, C9 sounds a lot better than Swag Destroyer, and that Recycler I'm surprised I haven't seen already. You seem to know your Deck very well, which I can't always say about every other Deck on here. If I had any suggestions, I would find a way to maybe bump that Decree to 3, as it will cover some of the more oppressive series of Decks of the upcoming format, which will come in plenty. If you are unable to, keeping it in the side for such matchups sounds essential. Say if I were to play this if Trains get into World Superstars, (As I am thinking about trying this out if Infernity eventually becomes tiring for me) what would you replace for Noden?

[VCR_CAT]

Well, the problem is that the likelihood of getting the Trains in World Superstars is very low. Some people have crunched the numbers for what cards are going to be released and there's a strong chance that Noden Is Coming (prepare thyself).

But, say if they DID come and I'm completely wrong; Noden isn't entirely needed and you could easily swap out Noden for a third Gustav, Skyblaster for a Dracosack (Rank 4's aren't very consistent with the deck without Noden, so it doesn't make much sense to take up any more space with them than needed), and Instant Fusion for a Ring of Destruction.

A little side note, Night of Express Knight's original ATK becomes 0 on summon; and Ring of Destruction targets based on Original ATK. So you destroy Night Express Knight for destruction, which with 0 attack you can do even if your opponent's LP are less than 3K; but because the damage is applied using the ATK of the destroyed monster when it's in the grave (AFTER it's destroyed), it will still deal 3K damage. Just a little juicy tip. Similar stuff with Derricrane.

Also, the 2 Decree is kind of a salt thing. Too often have I drawn a Decree when I absolutely did not want to draw Decree, so having him at 2 minimizes that from happening while still having it pop up a good number of times. Decree #3 is in the side.

[VampireofDarkness]

Well, the problem is that the likelihood of getting the Trains in World Superstars is very low. Some people have crunched the numbers for what cards are going to be released and there's a strong chance that Noden Is Coming (prepare thyself).

But, say if they DID come and I'm completely wrong; Noden isn't entirely needed and you could easily swap out Noden for a third Gustav, Skyblaster for a Dracosack (Rank 4's aren't very consistent with the deck without Noden, so it doesn't make much sense to take up any more space with them than needed), and Instant Fusion for a Ring of Destruction.

A little side note, Night of Express Knight's original ATK becomes 0 on summon; and Ring of Destruction targets based on Original ATK. So you destroy Night Express Knight for destruction, which with 0 attack you can do even if your opponent's LP are less than 3K; but because the damage is applied using the ATK of the destroyed monster when it's in the grave (AFTER it's destroyed), it will still deal 3K damage. Just a little juicy tip. Similar stuff with Derricrane.

Also, the 2 Decree is kind of a salt thing. Too often have I drawn a Decree when I absolutely did not want to draw Decree, so having him at 2 minimizes that from happening while still having it pop up a good number of times. Decree #3 is in the side.

I thought it was the other way around, that it was likely we would get Trains and Konami would miss Noden due to some sort of issue. That's what I remember after the whole rumor mill thing, but I guess what happens, happens. Thanks for the tips though! I didn't know that was the case with Ring, and that is quite hilarious that there is a Deck where you can actually Ring for game like back in the day. And will take note on the Decree lol

[Toffee.]

IMO...
-2 Cyber End
-Raigeki
+3 Duality

Trains can get away with Duality because they sometimes have to setup stuff, and Malefics are just weird now-a-days.

[VCR_CAT]

I'll give it a shot, although I'm a little hesitant over this move for a couple reasons:
1. Getting Dora out ASAP is priority 1, and leaving myself potentially vulnerable for a turn is practically out of the question with the speed that some decks operate. I've tried out Planet Pathfinder, and using my Normal Summon for him leaves me incredibly vulnerable and often cost me the game.
2. Raigeki is practically the primary out against several strategies that prevent me from Special Summoning, with using Forbidden Chalice on my own Night Express Knight as a plan B if I can't get it in hand. Admittedly it is only at 1, so the difference this makes will hopefully be negligible.

If this doesn't work out as I hope, I'll give the Upstart Hobans a shot as well, and if THAT doesn't work, then I'll continue the search for hopefully some really good unknown tech that really benefits the deck. Sucks that there isn't a Machine RoTA (GGX doesn't count).

[VCR_CAT]

I'd also like to say that what I REALLY love about Machina Fortress IS his inherent summon and his beef. If my opponent gets out Infinity but doesn't have anything to attach to it (I either have Dora in defense or I know it's coming and prepare for it as such), I can easily dispose of it by ramming it with Fortress and popping another card, since Infinity without additional mats is at 2500 ATK. It's pretty funny, actually.

[Toffee.]

Sucks that there isn't a Machine RoTA (GGX doesn't count).

Be a pro;
Tinplate Goldfish into whatever/Railcar
Detach something to search a Railcar/etc
Fodder for Switchyard/etc
????????