GenCon 2012 Deck - Mental

[allanime01]

Ninjas: 28
T-0: 9
3 Shikamaru [Outwit]
2 Sakura [I Can Do It]
2 Hotaru
2 Temari [Excellent Tactician]

T-1: 4
2 Yoshino Nara [As A Mother]
2 Ino [Vanilla]

T-2: 2
2 Konohamaru Ninja Swag

T-3: 2
2 Foo

T-4: 4
2 Chiriku
2 Shikaku Nara

T-5: 5
2 Yamato [Planning]
1 Asuma [Fists of Fury]
2 Kurenai Yuhi [Captured Senses]

T-6: 2
5th Kazekage
First Hokage [Supremacy]
__________________________________________________ ____________________

Missions: 9
3 Shika's Decision
2 Sand Council
2 After the Battle
2 Nara Clan
__________________________________________________ ____________________
Jutsus: 13

3 Super Slap
3 Mind Transfer Jutsu
3 Ferocious Punch
3 Detonating Kunai
Hydro Pump
__________________________________________________ _____________________
Reinforcement Deck:
Asuma Sarutobi & Shikamaru Naru [Everlasting Relationship]
Ino/Shika/Cho Squad
Shikamaru Nara and Choji Akimichi [Tag Team rumble]
Pain and Itachi
Danzo
Naruto (Sage Mode)
Naruto (Nine-Tails Cloak)
Naruto (TBF)
Naruto (4-Tails)
Sakura Haruno and Tsunade
Kidomaru S2
Naruto and Yamato
Kakashi and Yamato
Hidan (Cursed Mode)
Jirobo (State 2)
__________________________________________________ ______________________________

Sideboard:
3 Secret Book
3 Deflection
2 Sabiru
2 Shimon

Seems simple really. Win with mental/basic earth strategies (Stand-by or Mind Transfer mainly) as well as staying protected (KNS/Kazekage/Jutsus/etc.)
Sideboard is pretty much Lightning Rush hate, since that deck could easily topple mine.
3 books because stopping missions is epic, 3 Deflection for protection (One earth chakra = no Dragon Flame, Rasengan, Pump, etc.) 2 Sabiru for effect negate (Only reason it's 2 is because I don't have a third. Otherwise i'll do 3 Sabiru and 2 Deflection) and 2 Shimon to stop Ink PiP and Reinforcing.

Thoughts/Comments?

[SharinganHeir]

now everyone knows what you're playing and what to side against you

I like the looks of it though. Wouldn't mind building something like this myself.

[Earthbullet]

Originally Posted by SharinganHeir

now everyone knows what you're playing and what to side against you

I like the looks of it though. Wouldn't mind building something like this myself.

unless he wants us to think this is what hes playing so that we side the wrong stuff, though he could want us to think that too and play this thinking that we think he isnt playing this.

[Zunee27]

I would actually recommend -1 Shu for +1 Yoshi, then switch from Vanilla to playful, or run 1 of each. Playful in maindeck will make F/L think twice and will draw fire from your mental engine. Plus you can normal summon, then tribute Ino for the squad in the same turn.

[allanime01]

Originally Posted by SharinganHeir

now everyone knows what you're playing and what to side against you

I like the looks of it though. Wouldn't mind building something like this myself.

From what i've sen in most sideboards, I already have to worry about Sabiru, and most people were siding Detonatings for mental.

Originally Posted by Earthbullet

unless he wants us to think this is what hes playing so that we side the wrong stuff, though he could want us to think that too and play this thinking that we think he isnt playing this.

I would never do that. You make it sound like I knew people would build sides for mental, then i'd swoop in with my perm earth deck, which they are unprepared for due to my mental!
Now, why would I do that?

Originally Posted by Zunee27

I would actually recommend -1 Shu for +1 Yoshi, then switch from Vanilla to playful, or run 1 of each. Playful in maindeck will make F/L think twice and will draw fire from your mental engine. Plus you can normal summon, then tribute Ino for the squad in the same turn.

I dont think I know what "Shu" is, best I can guess is you mean Shi for Shikaku, and while I would like having another Yoshino, I find that 1 is okay since I normally draw or can tutor her when needed.
As for Playful, I originally wanted to do that, but a friend of mine (who rarely posts anymore cause he's a loser, and Kyle, you tell Tony I said that! XD) mentioned the vanilla and I said I considered it but wanted to stop PiP ninjas.
I ran a version with playful and thing is, it wasn't as good as the version with Vanilla. Since I cant always guarantee mental power, Vanillas stats and MP:3 on T1 for early mind transfer is epic. Thats why I side 2 shimons. Shimon offers 1 mental, has leaf, same turn, and even does the Ino effect better since he literally stops them all. The only downside is he is water, but most jutsus have generic in them somewhere, and once I used him to pay for Yamato.

[Vacdeil]

I only have one little problem with your decklist. A deck running MTJ without a Reinforcement Deck containing 15 cards.

You run some Fire and Lightning cards: Danzo, Hidan (CM) and Naruto (SM).
You run some Water cards: Jirobo (S2) and Kimi (S2).
You run Yamato: Naruto&Yamato.
You run Shikamaru and Ino: Ino&Shika&Cho and Cho&Shika.
And even in late game, since your Ino could get a MP boost with Asuma, you can grab a Tsunade or an Itachi: Sakura&Tsunade, Pain&Itachi and Susano'o.
Finally, Kido (S2) and Naruto Cloak.

And I would swap the young elders and the After the Battle for Hinata (Awakened) and Training in the Moonlight.

Other than that, solid decklist.

[allanime01]

Originally Posted by Vacdeil

I only have one little problem with your decklist. A deck running MTJ without a Reinforcement Deck containing 15 cards.

You run some Fire and Lightning cards: Danzo, Hidan (CM) and Naruto (SM).
You run some Water cards: Jirobo (S2) and Kimi (S2).
You run Yamato: Naruto&Yamato.
You run Shikamaru and Ino: Ino&Shika&Cho and Cho&Shika.
And even in late game, since your Ino could get a MP boost with Asuma, you can grab a Tsunade or an Itachi: Sakura&Tsunade, Pain&Itachi and Susano'o.
Finally, Kido (S2) and Naruto Cloak.

I have a list of reinforcements that I run regardless of what deck I actually do plan to run. I simply listed Asuma and Shika since the deck itself can only make that. Way ahead of you.
The full reinforcement list was originally:
Kido S2
Naruto/Yamato
Ino Shika Cho
and Shika Cho
Why bother making Sakura/Tsunade? I will have Males and Females out. I have literally only THREE lightning cards, all of which I hope to actually play, so not Sage Mode. (to expensive anyways) or naruto forms. I dont want Hidan cause i'm more "Wait and strike" not Aggro. Susano'o is situational and chances are if i'm gonna take that itachi, then they have one too. I'd rather just take their susano'o and try to win game before they get it back. And lastly pain/itachi, why bother?

I might consider Danzo just because I could kill their T4 Sasukes for a buff ninja.

Originally Posted by Vacdeil

And I would swap the young elders and the After the Battle for Hinata (Awakened) and Training in the Moonlight.

Other than that, solid decklist.

Training can't guarantee me draws, especially since on average this deck has 0-2 cards in hand mid-late game. AtB draws 3 and discards one so I break even and filter through deck. and Hinata (Awakened) who is a "meh" growth gainer and hand control VS two ninjas that can start mental power battle 90% of the time? Did you miss the "Mental" part of the title?

[Vacdeil]

It doesn't matter if you have males in play or not. Sakura&Tsunade serves to rfg their Tsunade and to gain a Ninja with Mastery.

You have 5 Lightning cards in your deck, not 3.

Since you only have 5 Lightning cards, then the only Naruto Form that's necessary is Cloak, to discard their Naruto and get control of a Ninja that could help you search for Nara Clan on your next turn, if necessary. If you want to keep your Yamato and you don't need Nara Clan, then just attack with Naruto in a team by itself, it's not a big deal.

If you don't have a Naruto (SM), then no, it's not worth it at all. However, if you have one, I really don't know why it wouldn't be in your Reinforcement Deck, since he also has the Wind Symbol.

I don't care if you're not playing aggro. I'm not dumb, I know a MP deck isn't an aggro deck. But, Hidan (CM) would give you the chance to rfg their Hidan and if necessary, you can finish the game with his effect. Maybe it could happen at least one time in the entire Gencon tournament, you never know and the same goes for other Squads and Reinforcements.

Susano'o is situational, I know. But if you have some place left in your Reinforcement Deck and you have a Susano'o, it would'nt hurt you to put it in, since you run 4 Fire cards in your deck (6 with Sideboard). Same thing for Pain&Itachi.

And kinda same thing for Jirobo (S2) and Kimimaro (S2), since you run 4 Water cards (8 with Sideboard), though I doubt you'll see anyone run a Kimimaro.



For the young elders, I'm just not a fan. I prefer Hinata (Awakened) and Training in the Moonlight, but that's my thing.

[SharinganHeir]

Vacdeil knows what he's talking about. Part of the whole mind transfer strategy is to have a complete toolbox in your reinforcement deck so you have a number of ways to get yourself a strong ninja that stays and ensure your opponent doesn't get theirs back. If you are going to play mind transfer, you are going to have a full reinforcement deck, preferably full of one-ofs.

[allanime01]

Originally Posted by Vacdeil

It doesn't matter if you have males in play or not. Sakura&Tsunade serves to rfg their Tsunade and to gain a Ninja with Mastery.

You have 5 Lightning cards in your deck, not 3.

Since you only have 5 Lightning cards, then the only Naruto Form that's necessary is Cloak, to discard their Naruto and get control of a Ninja that could help you search for Nara Clan on your next turn, if necessary. If you want to keep your Yamato and you don't need Nara Clan, then just attack with Naruto in a team by itself, it's not a big deal.

If you don't have a Naruto (SM), then no, it's not worth it at all. However, if you have one, I really don't know why it wouldn't be in your Reinforcement Deck, since he also has the Wind Symbol.

I don't care if you're not playing aggro. I'm not dumb, I know a MP deck isn't an aggro deck. But, Hidan (CM) would give you the chance to rfg their Hidan and if necessary, you can finish the game with his effect. Maybe it could happen at least one time in the entire Gencon tournament, you never know and the same goes for other Squads and Reinforcements.

Susano'o is situational, I know. But if you have some place left in your Reinforcement Deck and you have a Susano'o, it would'nt hurt you to put it in, since you run 4 Fire cards in your deck (6 with Sideboard). Same thing for Pain&Itachi.

And kinda same thing for Jirobo (S2) and Kimimaro (S2), since you run 4 Water cards (8 with Sideboard), though I doubt you'll see anyone run a Kimimaro.



For the young elders, I'm just not a fan. I prefer Hinata (Awakened) and Training in the Moonlight, but that's my thing.

Oh yeah, didn't count Sand Council. I tend to only yase that card as hand cost for everything anyways so why not.
Eh, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to fill out the entire sideboard. For the record re-reading my last comment it sounds like I came off as hateful, which wasn't what I was going for. I was just explaining why I didn't have them. Maybe I can borrow a sage mode from someone in my group (Forgot he had wind anyways) and just find whatever else I can.

The elders are not bad actually. I look forward to everyone dropping that 5/0 Sasuke thinking "Best he can do is tie me" and then I drop this 0/0 ninja and swing into them willingly.