#exarion

[mayhemart]

A Returner's Magic Should Be Special 

(귀환자의 마법은 특별해야 합니다)

[xeilon]

I really like the idea of an AU where Desir is a bit older and worked in the Tower of Magic before the Labyrinth. Just like, idk, intern/researcher/answering letters from annoying nobles person.

And after he comes back from the future (and Zod and him got together in the Labyrinth) he knows that he's gonna be figured out in a day if he tries to tell anything Zod in person, so he starts leaving clues and very high level magic research for Zod to find. Records and warnings about stuff that's gonna happen etc. All of it anonymusly of course.

Zod is VERY interested in who the hell is their mysterious informant, notices how the puzzles seem to be left for him specificly, and how to figure them out he needs to use information that he didn't tell anyone who's still alive. (He might starts to fall a bit for how clever this person is. Maybe. But you can't prove anything.)

After combing through the files of everyone working in the Tower of Magic, and finding nothing, Zod teams up with Desir because he's the one who deals a lot with people, and he's the only one he's not suspicious of.

Desir knows that if he gets confronted he will fold immidietly. He goes along with watherver Zod's plan is to find their person, all the while praying that he doesn't get found out.

Zod halfway decides that Desir is actually very smart and could have left all the notes, with how witty he is, and he knows how to play the North sea's rule and is not pushy about topics that he does not want to share at all even tho they are pretty much laid out in front of him and ,oh, OH, fuck.

And now Zod knows but he doesn't know if Desir knows that he knows, so he decides to be stupid about it, except Desir has been dealing with the Tower Master for over a decade now and figures out in less than a week that Zod definately knows, and starts dropping hints about knowing that Zod knows.

It's a mess. It's beautiful. It's half the tower's nightmare fuel. Chess flirting and lab dates. Zod's both clueless and very much aware of everything. Desir is allergic to talking about feelings. They'll figure it out. Maybe.

[thewizardingtoad]

Time, Chess, and the Tower of Magic

(novel: 29-35)

(manhwa: 44-45)

I just reread the scene in the novel, and I'm kind of obsessed with it, but also am in awe of how well it established the dynamic between Desir and Zod, something that I feel like the manhwa didn't really do, so, I'm doing a bit of comparing under the cut.

Also, if you like these characters in the manhwa, then you should 100% read at least these few chapters, because, as I said before, they are amazing.

So the manhwa starts us off with how Zod is an "odd fellow", he's always been that, and how he lead civilization into a new era of magic, he's achievements are endless, and is Desir's irreplaceable friend.

Now, in the novel, Desir says that Zod accepted his request because he was intrigued by it. (True) He says that Zod single-handedly renewed interest in magic.

(Also, fun-fact: someone wrote a book about all of his accomplishments, and it's thicker than most encyclopedias.)

(Also also, in the manhwa he looks like 40, in the novel that's 30)

The next scene plays out almost the same, except that we learn, in the novel, that Zod has an 'archaic feeling to his words'.

While in the manhwa he's all nice, and smiley etc. novel!Desir points out that until the North Sea's rules are mentioned, Zod's so impatient to get on with the match that it can almost be heard in his tone, which for this old man is VERY impatient.

And then of course Desir drops the bomb, that yeah, he wants to play the Rule set that originates from Zod's homeland and n!Desir immediately points out how much more relaxed Zod gets from hearing that.

The chess match starts, and in both mediums Zod's like, this kid is pretty good, but he's still just a kid, and "[He's] too hasty with [his] moves"

Desir, when he's on the verge of losing, makes the bet. It goes in the novel as it goes in the manhwa, except that a) Zod's like, 'I know that everything you did so far was to make this wager, and I hope you see how suspicious you are.' and b) At this Desir's just like, 'Wow, you're very interested, huh? Then I won't tell you until I win.'

And then the whole 'you play like a whole different person' thing happens in the manhwa, 'oh, well, I played against him in the future so of course I know how he plays', 'I've been the same person this entire time' etc. etc.

So. That does not happen in the novel.

What happens instead is we get the explanation as to why is Desir losing:

He's been playing with Zod for 6 years, yes,

However, this Zod plays differently than other Zod

In the future, his play style is more aggressive

Now he focuses on counter-play and he's more reserved

And Desir deduced this in the first few steps in their game, and been sacrificing pieces since then to analyze Zod's play style.

And also, yes, Desir did figure the greatest mage of all time out in what? 20 minutes?

And Desir might be losing, but because of the time limit Zod's going to make some stupid moves, which Desir deducted will happen, then he makes even worse moves, and the next thing Zod knows is that he got ripped to shreds in 3 minutes.

In the novel, Desir mentions that in the last minutes of the match, Zod's straight up panicking over how bad the situation has gotten for him.

Then, when Desir mentions the trade, Zod tries to calmly explain to him why that's not possible "You're asking to exchange a bar of gold for a peanut"

Desir of course doesn't budge and after a bit of "bartering" it's clear just how fed up with this "boy"'s bs Zod is and reading this scene after the manhwa is kind of shocking

Zod expressed disdain at the boy's choice. "I expected you to choose more wisely. You've rejected my offer, and I can't accept your deal. With that, the negotiations are over." The man rose to get up from his seat.

(...)

"So you think this is a fair deal." The Tower Master was audibly upset by Desir's words.

And I'm very sad that this scene in this form didn't make it to the manhwa, because while we see Zod being dismissive and uninterested in Desir's idea before he sees it to himself, we don't see him being, well, like this.

Prideful, kind of cocky, and straight up offended that a mere student would even dare to suggest that his idea worth as much as support from the Tower of Magic, upset to the point that Desir has to actively put out 'fires' during the conversation so that it can progress.

Which is a beautiful way of showing us how, yes, Desir does know this guy, he knows why he's upset he knows what to say to get him to calm down enough to listen and also how to say it.

What in the manhwa is essentially just 'Well if I show you that my idea is worth it then it will be fine, right? Let me show you then.' in the novel is Desir going on first about how of course what he's saying is outrageous, and Zod is right to be upset, but shouldn't Zod know that impossible things are sometimes real? And then he starts explaining how 20 years old Zod Exarion becoming the Tower Master was an impossible feat, or maybe, perhaps, even more impossible, a student defeating him in chess! Which happened just now, and That is when Zod tells him to show him his idea.

This scene alone reaffirms to the reader, that Desir doesn't just know Zod as a tactician, but as a person, he knows how to talk to him, he knows how to talk sense into him, and that Desir did this enough in the past that this comes like second nature to him.

Zod being stone headed and stuck to his ways until Desir reminds him that he's been just like this boy in the past is also one of the most Old Person Thing TM Zod does in the entire novel, showing and not just telling us that the G is not just for show in that GILF he is actually old.

After that the "reveal" scene plays out pretty similarly except that Zod gets a bit more info out of Desir, one of them is that he didn't necessarily discover the technic but he "knows of it", and Desir lets the reader know that the person who discovered it was in fact Zod, just 3 years into the labyrinth, and as he starts explaining the theory Zod catches up extremely quickly, actually taking over Desir's explanation of how resonance is better than the enchant method.

When Desir mentions that he has more ideas like this, Zod tells his secretary to cancel every plan he has until he says otherwise, which is a very entertaining turn of events in my opinion.

So to wrap it up, while I love how the manhwa did this scene, (this is probably my favorite two chapters from it) I'm kind of sad that most of the little tidbits of building up the relationship between Zod and Desir, that would be important later got lost in adaptation.

[magpiejay1234]

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/gba/915450-yu-gi-oh-the-sacred-cards/faqs/27496

For the second round, here’s the Shadow/Black Magic Alignment cards. In the older games, this Alignment was showcased with Dark Magician, who also have a lot of “Kuroma” Black Magic cards associated with him. So most of the stuff listed here will be related to him, but don’t expect Konami to retcon him, do expect it for the lesser Spellcasters though.

Shadow Dragon:

Blackland Fire Dragon

Shadow Warrior:

Swamp Battleguard

Gaia The Fierce Knight

Ansatsu

Masked Clown

Trap Master

Wood Clown

Beautiful Headhuntress

Guardian of the Labyrinth

Vishwar Randi

Unknown Warrior of Fiend

Lava Battleguard

Warrior of Tradition

Succubus Knight

Hibikime

Total Defense Shogun

Zombyra the Dark

Makyura the Executor

Shadow Spellcaster:

Right Leg of the Forbidden One

Left Leg of the Forbidden One

Right Arm of the Forbidden One

Left Arm of the Forbidden One

Exodia the Forbidden One

Saggi the Dark Clown

Dark Magician

Curtain of the Dark Ones

Kamionwizard

Nemuriko

Akakiesu

Masked Sorcerer

Fairy Witch

Ancient Sorcerer

Secterian of Secrets

Mystic Lamp

Eldeen

Dark Elf

Witch of the Black Forest

Leo Wizard

Witch’s Apprentice

Skull Knight

Lord of D.

Hannibal Necromancer

Dark Magician Girl

Sorcerer of the Doomed

Toon Dark Magician Girl

Dark Sage

Shadow Fiend:

Kuriboh

Castle of Dark Illusions

Dark Chimera

Mask of Darkness

Job-Change Mirror

That Which Feeds on Life

Witty Phantom

The Shadow Who Controls the Dark

Lord of the Lamp

Lord of Zemia

Dark King of the Abyss

Dark Prisoner

Ancient Brain

Claw Reacher

Phantom Dewan

Dark Titan of Terror

Versago the Destroyer

Megirus Light

King Fog

Mystic Clown

Dark Artist

La Jinn the Mystical Genie of the Lamp

Wretched Ghost of the Attic

Key Mace #2

Archfiend of Gilfer (mistranslated as Beast of Gilfer)

The Gross Ghost of Fled Dreams

Baron of the Fiend Sword

Dark Necrofear

Flash Assailant

Giant Germ

Kiseitai

The Earl of Demise

Viser Des

Legendary Fiend

Nuvia the Wicked

Masked Beast Des Gardius

Shadow Dinosaur:

Mammoth Graveyard

Shadow Plant:

Man-Eating Plant

Shadow Fairy:

Doma the Angel of Silence

Shadow Zombie:

Temple of Skulls

Shadow Machine:

Gatekeeper

Pendulum Machine

Red-Eyes Black Metal Dragon

Barrel Dragon

Spikebot

Shadow Rock:

Mystical Sand

Cyber Jar

Shadow Aqua:

Toon Mermaid

Shadow Beast-Warrior:

Panther Warrior

Exarion Universe

****

Yes, Battleguards (Japanese name: Barbarian) were originally Black Magic monsters. It is why Strong Ishijima, and Gen Ankokuji uses them. While two of his cards are here, most of the Player Killer of Darkness’s cards are Demon Magic/Fiend alignment.

As a general rule, a good chunk of Yugi’s, Yami Bakura’s, Malik’s, Mask of Light and Darkness’s cards are considered Black Magic Alignment.

Dark Titan of Terror, and Curtain of the Dark Ones actually have the Kuroma Kanji in their Japanese names.

Regular Red-Eyes Black Dragon is Demon Magic alignment, since it is an infernal, demonic Dragon (which is why it is used by Darkness in GX). Same is true for Yugi’s Koumori Dragon (Japanese name: Devil Dragon).

[blattturbo-promotion]

@druckphase live in Euskirchen-Stotzheim (13.07.2019) 4.BlattTurbo Bandabend Photo: @blende_eu #blattturbo #rocken #juli #2019 #exarion #bandabend #euskirchen #stotzheim #klosterhof #beer #bier #concertphotography #musicmagazine #onstage #bühne #shows #musiclover #gitarre #bühnenlicht #liveclub #fünfjahre https://www.instagram.com/p/B0hwU1UpgAa/?igshid=1hkeqi3jfw8j

[froqpi-art]

Hey so I saw requests were open uhhhhhh how many of my tears do you need to draw older desir and zod because I love the chess bois

hi you owe me 500 billion tears and also ive never drawn older desir before which is? honestly, a crime. i love u for giving me an excuse to draw armsbs

|ʘ‿ʘ)╯also i have no idea how chess works clearly asdsjkdks

[fyeahygocardart]

Exarion Universe

[cywscross]

For @badthingshappenbingo, for the square “Caught in a Storm”

Title: Miles To Go With You

Fandom: A Returner's Magic Should Be Special

Character/Pairing: Desir Arman/Zod Exarion, Desir Arman, Zod Exarion

Rating: G

Word Count: 7296

Summary: Desir leaves for a much-needed vacation. It was only ever a matter of time before Zod followed him out the door.

Tags: Canon Divergence AU, Post-Canon AU, Road Trips, Texting, Epistolary, Preslash

Also Submitted For: - Unsent Letters Exchange 2021 - Trope Bingo [Round 16] - Holiday Fic

[fanningitup]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: 귀환자의 마법은 특별해야 합니다 | A Returner's Magic Should Be Special Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Desir Arman/Zod Exarion Characters: Desir Arman, Zod Exarion, Romantica Eru, Pram Schneider Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Post-Canon, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Alternate Universe - Jumanji Fusion, Getting Together, Light Angst, Crossworks Exchange 2020 Summary:

It happens in an instant. One minute, Desir is outside greeting Zod. The next, an eerie green light floods the upper floor of the Starling Party's guild building, almost smothering the two muffled shouts that accompany it.

Apparently, even after slaying a dragon and clearing a Shadow Labyrinth and improving relations between the Western Kingdoms and the Hebrion Empire, having a normal graduation day is still too much to ask for.

[quartings]

How I beat the Battle Pike (Gold Symbol) :

Step 1: Copy the team of the Speedrunners

Werster and Exarion both use the optimized teams of Swampert (Starter with only one weakness), Metagross (Powerful Steel Pseudo), and Latios (Legal High SpAtk Legendary) 

Swampert moveset: (Item: Leftovers) Surf (HM) Earthquake (Level Marshtomp ahead to 46 to not waste the TM!) Ice Beam (TM) Rock Slide (Move Tutor)

Latios Moveset: (Item: Lum Berry) Psychic (Level Up) Calm Mind (TM) Thunderbolt (TM) Dragon Claw (TM)

Easy Latios-catching Tutorials can be found online.

Metagross Moveset: (Item: Choice Band) Meteor Mash (Level Up) Shadow Ball (TM) Earthquake (TM) Explosion (One-time tutor)

Save before obtaining Beldum to avoid bad natures/IVs!

NOTE: Level everyone up to 50 exactly bc the dumb Hoenn Frontier doesn’t scale properly. Speedrunning the main game should take less than 3hrs if you follow accordingly. Helpful Natures aren’t needed, but just avoid harmful ones (I got careless and accepted a Timid Beldum)

I’m not going to go into EV Training, IV checking, or where to find items/TMs. That stuff can be easily found elsewhere, sorry.

Step 2: Have the maids’ hint translator on hand

Pretty simple- it can be found on Bulbapedia and other places.

Step 3: Which doors to take and when

“It seems to have the distinct aroma of Pokémon wafting around it...” (Wild Pokemon/Strong Trainer + Heal)

Always go on full health! You’ll need the Wild Pokemon for a trick later~!

“I seem to have heard something... It may have been whispering...” (Double Battle/NPC)

If you’re confident you can beat the Double, go for it! It’s fun to get the NPC repeatedly by avoiding other rooms though, anyways.

“Is it...A Trainer? I sense the presence of people...” (Single Battle/Heal)

Always go for this when slightly injured!

“For some odd reason, I felt a wave of nostalgia coming from it...” (Status/Partial Heal)

Go for this when your Pokemon are really low on health, and/or statused already! ALWAYS GO FOR THIS REGARDLESS WHEN YOU’RE IN THE LAST ROOM (Room 13, as the maids call it) BECAUSE BEING STATUSED BY THE ROOM DOESN’T MATTER SINCE THE ROUND ENDS IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS. This is the only outcome with no battling, making it a risk-free last room!

Step 4: The Wild Pokemon “Cheat”

So, if you do find yourself on full health in the Wild Pokemon room, what you do, is to keep running around until you find a Seviper. With Latios in front, it’s fast and strong enough to one-shot Seviper with Psychic. This is important, because HEALING ROOMS DON’T APPEAR IF YOU’RE FULLY HEALED, and having even 1pp gone off your Psychic means you’re not fully healed. This will make healing rooms spawn and greatly increase your chances of getting through rooms without a scratch!

Good Luck!

[rnoonsetter]

complete list of speedrunners i respect:

gymnast86

runnerguy

majinphil

ennopp

fearfulferret

zfg

skater82297

bubblesdelfuego

that one guy who did 2 worlds in like two minutes

exarion

gunnermaniac

werster

antielite

linkus (on thin ice tho)

tgh

[xeilon]

A Returner's Magic Should Be Special AU where some poor mage from the magic tower comes back to work after a 5 year long vacation completely misses the whole war and outers and shadow labirinth" incident" just to go:

"The fuck is a technical advisor?"

Like, yes of course they heard about the (in)famous Desir Arman who defeted a demon and softened the relationship between nobles and commoners, amongst other things, but still, what does a "technical advisor" do?

They go around asking other mages in the tower just to get the wildest range of responses.

"A technical advisor gives technical advice, of course."

"It's a name-only position created for Desir Arman."

"It's a great honor."

"It's the start of a years long mating dance specific to wizards."

"It's fuckin' nepotism is what it is!"

"For you and me it's "Boss" "Co-Magic Tower Master" it's "Of course sir" and "Right on it sir" for the Magic Tower Master it's "Of course dear whatever you desire, the strongest defense system in the world you say? Well of course i can do it! It has to be stronger? You don't have to say more!""

("This is a bit of an exaggeration-"

"D i d I f u c k i n g s t u t t e r ?")

*A haunted glare*

"TeChNiCaL AdViSoR you mean??"

*A long suffering sigh*

And then they get on a meeting where Desir and Zod just bouncing ideas off of one another like noone else exists in this word and go

"Oh... yeah sure you mean- yes of course I understand, actually."

[thewizardingtoad]

Zod Exarion in the novel, my favorite scenes that were left out or not included that much, fun facts and more

Chess chess chess

(Novel chapter: 29)

So the manhwa isn't really telling with Zod's moods throughout the scene, but Desir put him through the gutter with that mach.

Desir thinks a lot about the differences between this Zod and the one from the labyrinth, between their play styles, and how the labyrinth affected him in the long run in small ways. It's also mentioned that the two of them carved out their chess pieces themselves.

Also Zod's pretty upset with Desir, like straight up how dare you suggest your idea worth as much as a sponsorship from the magic tower get out of my sight kind of upset. It's pretty funny actually, especially when Desir shows him just how much his idea is worth, and he straight up cancels all of his meeting that day.

Actually just go read that scene it's not long but it does so SO much to establish these two's relationship for the whole story it's really just amazing.

Fun fact: In universe, there's a book that details all of Zod's accomplishments; it's thicker than most encyclopedias.

Fun fact 2: While in the manhwa he's described as a man in his forties, the novel says that he's at worst 30 which is pretty funny.

Fun fact 3: In universe he has an 'archaic feeling to his word' which I think is pretty cool, like??? Yeah. I can see that.

Who are you really?

(Novel chapter: 84)

So the interrogation scene's also a bit different, Desir is very stressed out while Zod is fucking with him, admitting to not even wanting an answer in the first place, and during that convo Desir describes Zod this way:

Desir only saw Zod acting as the master of the Magic Tower, cold and calculative in all circumstances, and as the Seventh-Circle wizard with an insatiable curiosity in finding the truth of all things.

Which is not really a description that we get in the manhwa, but it definitely puts a lot of things into perspective.

Also, this chapter has a lot of important moments in it regarding some things that will be said later, a few notable mentions:

"My intuition tells me to trust you. And when I gave you all of my power, I decided to believe this groundless intuition."

His intuition as a wise man was telling him that Desir was very reliable.

He would never know the circumstances surrounding Desir but he could see his heart.

Where he admits that he trusts Desir taking the weight of his secret off his chest

"Haha... I'm sorry. But I give you my word. I won't ask about your identity anymore. Everyone has their own secrets that they can't share with anybody. I also have a bunch of secrets that I don't want anybody to know."

Where he reassures him when he sees that Desir isn't handling his little fuckery well

Zod's smile was amazingly warm. It was like the smile of a grandfather looking at his grandson.

And of course this motherfucking sentence which is a gut punch and a half ngl.

So clearly chapter 84 putting down the groundwork for *the scene that the mannwa haven't adopted yet and at this point I'm not sure if they will,* aka: the most painful thing ever

But before that:

Fun fact 3: apparently Zod's a good actor? Lol.

The flying ship of death flag

(Novel chapter: 249)

So of course a lot of things happened between these chapters but this is the one that I want to point out because. Well.

So in the manhwa Desir says 'build a flying ship' Zod builds a flying ship and all's well that ends well right? Not really.

You see The Flying ship Valkyrie is not just any random insane idea that Desir came up with but in fact The Ultimate Dream Project of Zod Exarion - the one from the labyrinth, y'know - and isn't that just great?

There's something poetic about Desir making sure Zod can manage to reach his dream, his ultimate goal, even after death. (Something something the student carrying their master's will something something reaching your parent's goals after their passing to feel closer to them etc. etc.)

Oh, it's also a pretty big death flag, but don't worry about that.

Fun fact: this scene emphasizes the fact that Zod wasn't "just" a magician, a lot. "The ship was the ultimate goal he wanted to reach as an engineer", "he lamented that he couldn't spend his life satisfactorily as an engineer"

Fun fact 2: And he whined about it a lot! No, I'm sorry ranted.

I'm gonna just put his here because god dammit I love this man:

In Desir’s previous life, Zod often lamented over the fact that he couldn’t spend his life satisfactorily as an engineer. When the Shadow Labyrinth arose, he was forced to discard his position of Tower Master and bear his title as the lone Seventh-Circle magician.

Desir recalled these scenes of frustration as clearly as if they had happened yesterday. Most often, Zod would rant while they played chess.

The quiet before the storm

(Novel chapter: 275)

So the fact that there is a traitor is revealed and we get this very cute scene:

Realizing that Desir had immediately jumped to the worst situation, and his mind had consumed itself with the task of discovering who, Zod immediately rushed to calm Desir down.

Zod had always been like this, even in Desir’s previous life. He was Desir’s rock, the one who would support him in his times of need. That was why Desir trusted Zod more than anyone else.

Which again alludes to the *surprise* we will be slapped with in the face soon, but really this is just nice.

“I have some good news. Actually, I only dropped by to share this.”

Zod’s eyes changed. The wise eyes, which seemed to encompass everything, were nowhere to be found, and the eyes of an excitable child appeared within a moment.

‘Here we go again.’

As an engineer, he used to show such eyes when he was discussing things that interested him. No matter how much time passed, Zod Exarion was a reliable constant.

And I'm also just putting my favorite quotes here, don't mind me. There's also a point I'm making, and I will get to that when I reach the end.

Oh hi Priscilla what are you doing with that artifa-

(Novel chapter: 278)

So this is exciting because we get the first second appearance description for Zod which is

He looked as miserable as the smashed tower.

Glossy black hair moved in the breeze.

So that's funny.

Actually I could start describing this scene in great detail, go over every little thing I wish was in the manhwa, but really, you should go read it because it's a lot. This act kind of starts from 275 and is I think the saddest one in the story.

For instance, Zod admits that he's thinking of the battle in chess terms and that makes him think of Desir, how he apparently lost a mach the first time in decades.

He's thinking a lot about his and Desir's relationship, and we get golden lines like this one:

It was no exaggeration to say that Desir was the only one who could share ideas with Zod throughout all the fields of his expertise, and talk casually with him.

The act also really drives home how Zod is THE BEST OF THE BEST when it comes to magic. He holds his ground with only his own mana to help him against Priscilla and 4 swordsmen, whose defense equals the aurora system!

Fun fact: He lost both an arm and a leg during the fight, while the manhwa only showed the loss of an arm

Fun fact 2: Zod's cane, which was a constant in the novel (read: It wasn't changed every time it appeared) had a first tear magic stone in it that was like a national treasure.

Aaand we reached where the manhwa is right now... kinda

I was going to add another segment and a long, Long rant to the "2nd half" of this post, but I don't want to ruin the kind of positive vibe of it, so I'm going to put that one in another post.

First I will go through the things that made That Scene in the novel work, why I'm disappointed how he manhwa's handling it, predictions on how the whole "Helena thing" will play out and then some final thoughts, so that's coming soon.

[444names]

sindarin names + theological angels + tolkienesque forenames + names of high elves from warhammer

Abadden Adalphon Adantle Aegel Aesllarion Aethil Aethion Agierebor Aikar Alatan Alcar Alphor Ambrantír Amdril Amily Amion Amlossing Amros Anarves Andrealmir Angbank Angerthant Angmir Anguardhîn Anáriel Arach Aragnifern Aragolle Aragorl Arann Arath Arathon Ardacil Argel Argirdle Argorbag Aring Arnedial Arnenna Arthan Arthar Ascarn Ascathôr Asfalath Asterry Astifer Avens Awardill Awarrib Azumah Balagort Balda Barannyr Baraven Barazôn Barra Barror Beecho Belen Belowered Beorling Bereinior Beyondir Bities Bitta Blach Bornā Borond Boround Bregaion Bregilgant Bregright Brided Bëoran Cairë Calathôl Camling Campion Caunne Cavers Celdilont Celeriën Celevain Cemel Cenel Circlear Cirian Cleap Climbar Clourse Corded Cormwood Cottonna Cound Coundis Crossion Cúarthon Daedhel Daedil Dagon Daillow Damir Delfhirron Deprin Dhaeryn Dorlingash Dowfax Drendol Driforn Drúnaid Drúwain Dushing Dwarwaer Dwellonto Dúather Echon Ecthold Ecthonion Eglindard Eiths Elaress Elebriel Elebur Ellon Elron Elthrond Eluwain Elvely Elwine Emella Encalin Encalmo Eneldë Ennon Entir Erester Ereth Eruin Esgar Esgilive Esgion Exarion Fainbran Faladoc Faladûn Fanuir Fater Feirion Feladowns Fellas Fengyl Feresh Fiaress Fierei Fimborn Findrath Fingol Fivers Flath Flooking Flowerem Foliath Foresteeds Forgai Forladl Forth Forthovan Frodreth Fíril Gaerach Galadrin Galian Galin Gamiond Gashen Gelaid Gelars Genced Genilorn Gilmo Gilthen Given Glace Glachad Glahuir Glama Glamon Gland Glareshape Glarion Glinarvi Glindron Glinhir Glith Goron Gorophiel Grammith Gravatarod Grendir Grendomiel Grimult Guage Guldurthir Gurellind Gwaer Gwanduin Gwindal Haeglad Hanion Harandor Harioreth Harnarchon Heard Heloth Henducale Henor Henost Heweg Hiterinion Hithlonna Hornandlim Hosgar Hírien Iathound Ifang Ilmir Ilock Ilúvathon Imliht Impetulin Imras Iniel Irontius Ising Ivaniel Ivros Jewellag Kinbow Kjedial Korhir Kúviel Ladur Lakenbrass Lalad Lalather Landhil Lanhír Lathui Layer Lharlassa Limon Lithel Lobelegold Lorian Lornarylla Losgalas Losgale Losgarted Loveress Lúthinning Maelu Maider Maidhorse Malthôl Mantry Manwaithil Mebahiand Mehrim Meinion Meldui Meluch Memberen Menduin Metatan Methe Mildrim Mithalos Mithil Mithyar Morgormals Mormaldil Mouth Mírdairuin Mírdairë Narchasiah Ngelius Nimbar Nimril Nogrondor Noldbers Núnavar Oldbereb Olderain Oldor Ophildë Oriniel Ornion Oronel Oroth Orthuinas Osgilbêth Osgion Ossion Palen Palinning Pelar Penel Penerdh Pengrees Peoples Perhallena Pilgann Pluragduf Porophil Qaphqiel Rager Ragund Ramberen Reams Redhelen Redwaihir Remielar Rerib Rhodre Rhothiul Rinhir Roarwen Rochil Rocks Rodrindor Rohant Rulin Rúminion Rúnost Sabadant Sakar Sammer Sarin Scher Sedielar Sellachir Sellion Sengalath Senmouter Serainel Seril Shadhrad Shador Shang Sheeldor Shiron Silen Silena Siligendis Silinor Silmarthob Silmithló Silmë Singlorod Sings Sméagorgon Snowmenlui Softy Solkas Souters Staireon Steadly Stelchan Stiferedh Stirnen Stonghol Storrimë Streen Sulls Taegrim Taodir Tarlas Tarlings Tarrorman Tatan Taurufin Tawakenin Telence Temerello Tennien Terloness Thaeden Thain Thandr Thanedair Tharbour Thedrim Theus Thill Thillyn Thing Thion Thirrim Thirwen Thorotheg Thren Thrim Thuriel Thuriels Tilledhel Tills Towers Towery Treadl Triant Tuilornand Tumlad Tumula Tyranc Undis Undor Urwain Urwaithed Valadybara Valios Vardholl Vigorn Voicerion Waldane Warra Wathol Westamily Wetwasheen Wetweenhel Whendróg Wilighte Willflock Wingas Womanwar Words Wormanhead Wrongbow Yelgrighty Yenlenhel Youngor Zophildog Ínien Íriel Ódhelmo

[mmf-cash]

a brief history of chaos control

in the early Revival era, back when everyone played with Exarion Universe and most deckbuilding efforts were coming out of the Nostalgia Duelist Facebook group, there were two decks at the forefront of the metagame: traditional Goat Control, which had remained more or less the same since US Nationals all the way back in 2005, and Chaos Turbo, an almost entirely new deck featuring Thunder Dragon, Card Destruction, Dekoichi, Night Assailant, and multiple Chaos monsters (typically BLS and three Chaos Sorcerer). none of these cards were unheard of in 2005, but they were not streamlined into this kind of shell until the Revival.

[10:28 AM] 🐸: a fundamental of goat used to be taht thunder dragon was a -1

[10:28 AM] 🐸: nice fundamental

while Chaos Turbo was popular, it was not actually very good. it played a lot like a more linear Goat deck, maximizing the use of Tsukuyomi + Flip effect locks and the infamous pieces of the Trinity, and cutting clunky stuff like Airknight Parshath entirely, but it had a much lower ceiling than Goat Control itself. If you were bad at playing Goat Control, you could increase your winrate by playing Chaos Turbo, but if you were good at playing Goat Control, the deck did not offer many theoretical matchup advantages.

so, when the first DGz Goat format war league took place, the final matches were, predictably, all Goat Control mirrors, and from there, the rest is history: from the dust emerged Kris Perovic’s list, which became the golden standard for years to come.

in 2017, the second generation of DGz Goat warring breathed new life into this deck, and the efforts of a few duelists brought it up to speed with the new pre-Exarion landscape. gone was the linear reliance on cards like Card Destruction and Phoenix Wing Wind Blast. the new lists, dubbed Chaos Control, had adapted by adding Scapegoats and Metamorphoses of their own, but the new developments did not stop there. videos from the previous year of Kris showing off his spiffy Recruiter Chaos deck in casual duels with Allen Pennington led many to adapt to the new prevalence of Dekoichi with their own Shining Angels and Mystic Tomatos. Chaos Control lists branched off into two directions: one retaining the Thunder Dragons of old (colloquially named Thunder Dragon Chaos), and one replacing them with the new hotness in Shining Angel (called Angel Chaos).

[6:56 PM] kperovic: This is more of a guide than a rule because it's possible to construct a deck on the edges of these definitions but in general IMO re Sorc:

If you have Sorc and Meta, it's Chaos Control whether or not you have Recruiters. If you have Sorc and Recruiters without Meta, it's Chaos Recruiter. If either deck runs more Return than Meta, I'd probably call it Chaos Return.

If you have Sorc, Thunder Dragon, and no Meta then it's Turbo Chaos. If you have Sorc and Meta then it's most likely Chaos Control whether you have Thunder Dragon or not.

If you have just a tech Sorc in an otherwise standard Goat deck with multiple Goats and Meta then I'd probably call it Goat Control still. Bump that to 2 Sorc and I'd probably call it Chaos Control.

when two of the top three players in the league were on some version of Recruiter or Angel Chaos at the end of the season, it was clear that something had changed in the format. Recruiters, and particularly Shining Angel, were now legitimate metagame threats that demanded to be answered by the other decks, whereas previously they would have been seen simply as food for Thousand-Eyes Restrict. Thunder Dragon Chaos had tanked in popularity while maintaining respectable results in the hands of the few competent players that stuck to it, but Shining Angel was undoubtedly the main character and star of the show in season 1 of the new DGz Goat format war league.

[3:48 PM] Ynusgridorh: Turbo's goal is to recycle Graceful and Card Destruction with Faith and recycle Faith with Night Assailant. It also maxes on Raigeki Break or PWWB to make good use of Night Assailant and Thunder Dragon. Control plays like a regular Goat Control deck by tributing Sinister or tokens for TER and using Tsuk to set up soft locks.

each of the new Chaos branches came with a unique set of pros and cons. With Shining Angel, the name of the game was versatility, while for Thunder Dragon, it was raw power. Shining Angel can become a pseudo-Pot of Greed in almost any situation if used correctly, either by gaining advantage through battle then forcing an answer or simply baiting the opponent into doing something bad, but winning a game off of a single Graceful Charity activation while blanking opposing Duos until said Charity activation is a privilege unique in the format to Thunder Dragon and Thunder Dragon alone.

[2:15 PM] ACP: the reason why angel chaos is so good is because its early game options are the most numerous in the format

[4:54 PM] ACP: shining angel attacks well, defends well, can be a meta target for TER, trades very well with dekoichi and other recruiters, fills up your grave, has insane combos and mind games with tsuku/book

[4:54 PM] ACP: the card does actual everything

[10:57 AM] Ynusgridorh: Advantages of TD: 1) nerfs Duo 2) combo with Graceful 3) combo with Tribe 4) can tribute a snatched monster 5) can tribute TER 6) more reliable light fodder

[1:43 AM] MMF: angel rewards good reads and as allen would put it, "mindgames"

[1:44 AM] MMF: thunder dragon doesn't make you do any of that shit

[1:44 AM] MMF: to get your benefits from tdrag, you just draw it and discard it from your hand, done

[1:44 AM] Jazz: right

[1:44 AM] MMF: you sit on it forever, or you dump it for the charity you already have

[1:44 AM] MMF: no reads required, no effort required

[1:44 AM] MMF: allen sees this as a bug while i see it as a feature

the original hyperaggressive style of Recruiter lists initially showcased by Kris is, ironically enough, used exclusively by members of ALL THE OUTS today, first Morphing Jar, and then Chevalier de Fromage. these lists are completely distinct from both variants of Chaos Control, and are outside the scope of this post, but are still worth mentioning as further proof that Chaos Sorcerer is the new face of Goat format. some standard Goat lists are even playing a single copy at this point. if you aren't playing Chaos Sorcerer, what exactly are you doing with your life?

[blattturbo-promotion]

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