ATK Lines

Some monsters have good effects, and others so so effects.

ALL monsters have ATK points.

The problem with some monsters with awesome effects is the meta.

Not just that the effect doesnt work well, but...


It.

Just.

Isnt.

Big.

Enough.


Today we will be discussing "Attack lines", a concept used in Card Choice and Monster Lineup Balance in deckbuilding.

Attack lines are defining ATK and DEF lines created by the meta, and more specifically, the monsters youre going to be fighting most often.(For example: Blackwing - Armor Master doesn't define a 2500 ATK line because nobody's going to be fighting it, just drop a smashing ground.)

Some cards make enough an impact on the meta that they define a line by themselves. Most dont.

1000 ATK: Limit Reverse Line, Trap Hole Line, and most importantly, can kill a Defence Monarch line.

1400 ATK: Recruiter's ATK line. Also, monsters above this line can kill all gadgets in battle.

1500 ATK: Searchable by Recruiters and Sangan. On the other side of this line is Bottomless Trap Hole and Messenger of Peace

1800 ATK: Merit Attacker line. Airman, Machiner Gearframe, and Shura make this a very important line to consider when making your opening play.

1900 ATK: Beatstick Line. Raiou, Alius, Crusader, Evocator, Doomcaliber Knight, Sandman, Gaurdian... Just about every other problematic beatstick you can think of. Most of the time, you cant beat this line without more than 1 card in battle(Tribute summon counts as 2, I guess).

Thus, if you dont have any monsters above this line, pack more removal.(This is where the thinking and logic from ATK lines comes in practical play)

2100 ATK: The best/only example of a 1 card defined ATK Line. Because Cyber Dragon was so versatile, it alone defined this ATK line for just about all the time in existence. One of the most important crossroads in ATK lines, especially since its back at 2 now.

If you intent to be controlling the field with a 2000 ATK thing only, dont expect to be for long.

2300 ATK: A much lesser line, but it marks the weaker high class monsters line. Brionac, Chaos Sorcerer. Most of the time not important.

What is much more imporant is

2400 ATK: Monarchs, Jinzo, and Gyzarus are the most prominent this format. Being above this line means you can get over them.

2700 ATK: The Gorz line. Similar to the Cyber Dragon Line. Only this line lets you end the game with 3 direct attacks.

2800 ATK: Goyou Gaurdian, Dark Armed Dragon, and Tytanial line. Big monsters that pop out of nowhere(and sometimes together) and wreck destruction. Made even more important with Goyou stealing monsters.

3000 ATK: BLUE EYES WHITE DRAGON, Judgement Dragoon, and Barbaros ATK lines. Little importance this format. Just drop a Smashing Ground... If youre alive.


Thats all

/Rauzes