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Interview with Kris Perovic

5/26/2016

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Kris Perovic was a founding member of the legendary Team Overdose which represented the NY/NJ area with great pride in their heyday and successfully challenged the dominance of California's Team Comic Odyssey. He managed multiple premier event Top 8s during the Goat Format era, which is quite impressive. The scary thing is that he's probably even better at Goat Format now than he was back then!


How long have you been playing goat format?
Since goat format.

Why do you play goat format?
Some of my most cherished memories are of when my team and I were atop the game but I just don’t have the time or inclination to take this game seriously anymore. Still, I’m drawn to it so sometimes I’ll play goat format for fun because its card pool is big enough to make unique decks and small enough not to get overwhelmed by a ton of options. Moreover, goat games are slow-paced so the consequences of pre- and in-game decisions tend to favor better, well-prepared players, and I like winning.

What is your overall philosophy of how to win in goat format?
Most folks suggest doing whatever you can to avoid giving up card advantage but there’s a lot more to goat format than that. Of course you should put in as little as possible into each play and get the most out of each card, but you have to master timing, bluffs, and setting up game shots too. Success in the format also depends on a mastery of the fundamentals, like knowing where to set the cards you want your opponent to Dust or where to hold the cards you want them to Duo. You also have to throw them off their game by mixing in some non-standard plays. Stay tight, but aggressive, and don’t push hard until you can counter a counter. Have a game plan, but be willing to adapt at all times.

What is the most important power card and why?
“Most important power card” is a weird phrase because so many cards can change or outright win a game depending on the circumstances: Pot, Grace, Duo, BLS, Jar, Heavy, Snatch, etc. are some examples. But I guess if I had to choose just one at the risk of going against the herd, I’d pick Ring over Jar just because it’s a standalone ace in the hole and no hand is worse for having it.

Are there any power cards that you feel are overrated?
I can’t think of many “power cards” that haven’t earned the title.

What are your favorite tech card(s) and why?
A lot of goat format tech just don’t belong in the category anymore: Apprentice, Enemy Controller, Swap, and most other things have been done to death. If I absolutely had to choose a card most folks wouldn’t ever think to put in their goat format decks, it’d probably be Last Will. I’d use it in something with recruiters because Last Will into Spirit Reaper is pretty cool. That, or Greenkappa.

Are there any tech cards that you feel are overrated?
There are overrated cards, sure: DDWL, Spy, Book, Tribe, and even Goats are some examples. I’m not sure which of these, if any, qualify as tech. But again, I’m not sure what, if anything, qualifies as tech anymore.

How do you use your side deck?
I don’t really use my side deck anymore, to be honest. Back in the day, I focused on countering non-Goat decks and just relied on my main to beat ordinary Goat decks. But now, since most non-Goat decks are frowned upon, I don’t have as much a reason to side. I don’t even bring in Kinetic Soldiers against Warrior decks, or my Jinzo against decks with multiple Sakuretsu, because my main is already geared to beat all that. Maybe, maybe, once in a while I’ll bring in MSLV2 or Blade Knight vs. the flip flop decks but I have to be in a really weird mood to do that.

If you had to use an alternative deck (not goat control) what would you use and why?
Pre-CRV, there weren’t a lot of options to choose from aside from all the OTK decks. Goat control was the deck of the format for a reason. I would never have used Monarchs because they all lost out to Tsukuyomi, and had too much potential for horrible hands without Treeborn Frog. Post-CRV, I’m quite fond of Chaos/Recruiters (without Goat/Return/Decree, just 3 Dust).

Could you give an example of a pro play you like to make?
T1: Set Jar or Faith, pass. The only way ever backfires is when someone tries to DDWL/Sangan/Exarion into your face-down, but no one ever expects Jar or Faith to be there. They usually think it’s Spy or Exarion and don’t want to attack it, or they want to set their monster to bait a NoC. They also won’t set more than one S/T for fear of Heavy, so generally, huge plusses ensue.

Are there any pro plays that you feel are overrated?
Setting Heavy Storm. Sometimes it seems like no one knows how to do this right. You don’t set it to match their S/T. You don’t set it alongside an S/T to match their two S/Ts. You certainly don’t set it when it’s late-game and you’re waiting for a game shot with BLS. You set it, for example, behind a Graceful and Sangan T1, or mid-game when you’re setting up for an Airknight push.

What is your strategy when your opponent opens with some or all of the trinity?
It depends on my hand, but generally, and I know a lot of people won’t agree with me, but I try to be as aggressive as I can. I won’t set my Exarions to bait NoCs and post-CRV, I’ll go Cyber Exarion into a single monster, Snatch/Meta be damned. I do this because in the games where I’m far behind on advantage and my opponent has Sinister, live Faiths, and BLS, well, I can’t hope to recover that advantage unless my opponent is insurmountably stupid, so I try to win on life points and set up for a BLS/Airknight/Ring play somewhere down the line. That’s one of the reasons most of my pre-CRV builds nowadays include two Airknight and two Exarions, because the damage they can do opens up a lot of game shots.

To what degree do you value life points?
The first 3000 are important because they’re your cushion, but this period is when card advantage matters more than LP. Exarion hits? No problem. Asura hits? No problem. The last 5000 are when you have to start playing tight. Either way, you never want to be so far apart or so low on life points that BLS or Ring means game.

To what degree do you value tempo?
Tempo is a weird word. If you mean pace, then yes, it’s important to stay ahead of your opponent and dictate the pace of the game when your cards allow it. Mostly, the challenge is in recognizing what hands are well-equipped to do this and what hands aren’t because the only way to master this skill is to learn how to judge the quality of your opponent’s hand with very little information.

Would you ban any cards in the format if you could
Duo, but not because I can’t stand getting Duo’d T1 or the idea of making Faith live ASAP. I’d ban it because I just think it would free people from the need to run Sinister Serpent in other decks (like Warriors or Zombies).

How do you feel about playing with Cybernetic Revolution?
I’m quite fond of CRV. I think the inclusion of it into the format only makes decks better and matches more skill-intensive. For more, seehttp://duelistground...45347&p=3741567

What are some of the biggest mistakes you see other players make?
Poor card choices (i.e. Skilled White Magician, Gravekeeper’s Spy). Poor in-game decisions (i.e. leading on life and advantage, then using TER on a f/d without a plan to Tsuku/tribute it). Unwillingness to experiment (i.e. always including DDWL in their deck). Oh, and things like this happen all the time: a lot of people go all game without baiting out a Snatch, use their Dust to force an activation of Goat, then drop Airknight.

What concept about goat format took you the longest to learn?
I learned a few things throughout 2005 that I didn’t really know before that: 1, to think ahead; 2, DDWL vs. Spy; and 3, time. 1. I was playing in a local and had Cylinder face-down and Jinzo in hand, staring down a Kycoo and an S/T, nothing else. My opponent attacked (I had no monsters in my graveyard) and I used Cylinder. That’s when my teammate Anthony Alvarado stopped me, asked me what I was doing, and I said, “I’m probably not going to get anything more than 1800 from the Cylinder, so what difference does it make?” I had plenty of LP so he told me to wait until it was absolutely necessary before wasting a card. Sure enough, I took back my move, drew Don, set it, protected it with Cylinder, and tributed for Jinzo on my following turn – my opponent drew traps back-to-back-to-back and I won, never having forgotten the lesson. 2. Wilson Luc once asked me for my opinion on whether I’d remove when my DDWL ran into a Gravekeeper’s Spy. Luc was far more of an accomplished player than me at that point and I only wanted to impress him, but my answer, “Probably, yes, but it depends if I have another card to get rid of the second Spy. Otherwise I’ll just wait. Maybe I can TER + Jinzo, or TT later,” didn’t really impress him. It wasn’t until a year or so later that I thought back and realized that no, there are very few circumstances by which you should remove a Spy with DDWL. 3. I lost to Jae Kim at SJC Charlotte because he sat on the side of the table facing the clock and I didn’t, and I never thought about how much time was left in the round. That was the last time I ever lost for that reason.

Are there any mistakes you still make?
No.

When two really good players play each other, how does one beat the other?
The only way for a perfect goat player to beat another perfect goat player, more often than not, is to have a better deck. But if both players are using the same deck and both players play it perfectly, well, the only way someone can win is because someone has to.

What is your advice for someone who wants to get better at goat format?
In this order: 1. Shadow and play against better players. 2. Question everything. 3. Play a lot to develop good instincts. 4. Control the information your opponent has access to and only let them believe what you want them to believe. (For 1, 2, and 3, my team and I used to play open-handed in front of everyone, and we let everyone judge each move. I’d recommend that to anyone to get better at any format. Also, you’ll never do 4 unless you can master 1-3.)
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Interview with Jazz

5/25/2016

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Jazz is an online duelist exclusively these days. He also runs this site! Hi :)


Q: How long have you been playing goat format?
Jazz: I played during 2005. I quit playing for a while but picked up goats on DN a couple years ago.

Q: Why do you play goat format?
Jazz: Goat format is extremely challenging and every decision you make really matters; luck is truly the least important factor. I play for the challenge and the satisfaction of winning with skill.

Q: What is your overall philosophy of how to win in goat format?
Jazz: Maximize your future plays. Keep your life points as high as possible and your hand as big as possible. This helps maximize the usefulness of every card you draw. It’s also important to recognize the state of the current game: when you are winning, when you are losing, when a specific card could really hurt you, or when you have to take risks.

Q: What is the most important power card and why?
Jazz: Heavy Storm. I think it’s the most important card in a tight game state. For this reason I always hold it as long as possible, and I really don't like setting it because it might get blown away before I can use it.

Q: Are there any power cards that you feel are overrated?
Jazz: Pot of Greed. At the end of the day it doesn’t directly limit your opponent's options. I see too many people grab it with Magician of Faith without thinking. Sometimes it is better to get back something like Nobleman of Crossout that can cut off your opponent's plays.

Q: What are your favorite tech card(s) and why?
Jazz: I really like Magical Merchant and Dekoichi the Battle-Chanted Locomotive. They dig for power spells and set up deadly combos. They also work very well with 3 copies of Book of Moon and give easy advantage when combined with Tsukuyomi.

Q: Are there any tech cards that you feel are overrated?
Jazz: Sakuretsu Armor. For some reason this card never works for me, maybe it's my play style and tech choices. It always seems to get hit by Breaker whenever I set it, so I prefer something chainable. I realize it works for some people, but it’s not for me.

Q: How do you use your side deck?
Jazz: I like to side into Warrior Toolbox and Spell/Trap removal because it’s good against so many rogue decks. I’ve also learned not to be afraid to side out certain power cards when the matchup is unfavorable and I know the outcome of the game will be determined in the first few turns. I usually only swap 1 or 2 traps against goat control variants - stuff like Dust Tornado, Ceasefire, Bottomless, or Sakuretsu.

Q: If you had to use an alternative deck (not goat control) what would you use and why?
Jazz: Strike Ninja toolbox with Return from the Different Dimension. It can support a lot of really interesting tech monsters that you normally don't get to play with, like Possessed Dark Soul, Zombyra the Dark, and Dark Magician of Chaos. It’s also a nice change of pace from the more passive version of goat control I normally run.

Q: Could you give an example of a pro play you like to make?
Jazz: Setting Magician of Faith with no trinity in the Graveyard. This only really works against good players, because they wouldn't pull something on you like a first turn Blade Knight. Being able to unexpectedly play Duo twice on the same turn has won me a lot of games.

Q: Are there any pro plays that you feel are overrated?
Jazz: Pro-Storm. In my opinion it's one of the most valuable cards in your deck and you can't risk losing it that way. I've lost a lot of games because I couldn’t get my Heavy Storm back from the Graveyard. Also if you really want to set up that play, set a card like Nobleman of Crossout instead.

Q: What is your strategy when your opponent opens with some or all of the trinity?
Jazz: Slow roll and don't let them get a Tsuku lock going. It's only a matter of time before you draw your own power cards. You can stall the game by committing fewer monsters to the field and not attacking into traps.

Q: To what degree do you value life points?
Jazz: More than I think other players do. I would say lots of players tend to focus on card advantage too much. Everything in goat format is about trade offs and risk versus reward. Every time I might take damage I consider that a risk, so I have to have a good reason not to activate something like Scapegoat. If you take one attack that seems harmless early it might come back to bite you 10 turns later.

Q: To what degree do you value tempo?
Jazz: Not that much compared to other formats. I generally press with attacks only when I have card advantage or I know my opponent is running out of defensive S/Ts and removal options. As long as I have options to respond and a decent life point cushion, I feel pretty safe.

Q: Would you ban any cards in the format if you could?
Jazz: Only something like Book of Taiyou because it is integral to the Empty Jar OTK (IMO the most unfair deck in goats). I think all other cards and decks, even other OTKs, are inferior to a goat control deck with the proper side deck. No power card actually wins the duel on its own, not even Delinquent Duo.

Q: How do you feel about playing with Cybernetic Revolution?
Jazz: I think it's okay but I prefer the slower tempo of pre-CRV goats. It's honestly not as bad as everyone thinks it is, but I don't like that it makes you hesitate to activate your own Scapegoat and that it lets your opponent put an extra 2100 damage on the board so easily.

Q: What are some of the biggest mistakes you see other players make?
Jazz: Mostly being too aggressive when behind on card advantage. Bringing out extra non floater monsters is just asking for me to play Torrential, TER, Snatch Steal, Tribe Infecting Virus, etc. or power over you in battle.

Q: What concept about goat format took you the longest to learn?
Jazz: It took me a while to learn how important life points are. When I played in 2005 I thought it was all about card advantage and that it was unfair when I lost when I had a +2, etc. Now I realize protecting your life points starting at 8000 can act as an insurance policy 10 turns down the road. It also gives you the ability to trade life points for a killer play later in the game.

Q: Are there any mistakes you still make?
Jazz: Little mistakes are impossible to eliminate completely. However, the big mistake I often make is assuming my opponent runs a deck that I would run or would play their cards the way I would play them. I find that I get in trouble when I don't consider the possibility that my opponent might run something like 2 Tsukuyomi or a Zaborg. Needle Ceiling can also be really nasty. There are so many playable tech cards in goat format that it is really hard to account for all the possibilities.

Q: When two really good players play each other, how does one beat the other?
Jazz: I think a lot of times it comes down to one play. Whoever makes that first mistake will generally lose the duel since the other player is good enough to capitalize on it. The other major thing that happens is games can last really long and come down to who is in the best position to go for the "game shot." I think luck is rarely a factor, but when it is the game is over in like 4 turns, so you'll know it.

Q: What is your advice for someone who wants to get better at goat format?
Jazz: Question everything you do and learn from your mistakes. If you lose a game of goats, you should be able to look back and figure out how you could have played it differently and won. You might want to experiment with different plays and learn what works and what doesn't. Try to find match videos or watch a good player in real life, so you can see all the decisions they are making. Often the most complicated decisions in goat format are deciding what not to do, not what you could do.
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Interview with Death Aspect

5/24/2016

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Death Aspect, A.K.A. Michael Bonacini, is a serious pro-circuit Magic the Gathering player and occasionally dabbles in Yu-Gi-Oh! to play Goat Format. He has his own blog (http://inamedeathaspect.blogspot.com) that I highly recommend and he records a lot of very intense Goat Format matches for his YouTube channel, with stellar narration I might add. He's not often one to frequent Dueling Network these days, but he is an active participant whenever duelistgroundz.com hosts any Goat Format related events.


How long have you been playing goat format?
I played the format in it's entirety in 2005, and picked it back up in 2012 during the Dragon Ruler format.

Why do you play goat format?
I think Goat Control is the best format of any trading card game. Legacy in Magic is similar for cards like Daze, Brainstorm, and Stifle, but all of Goat Control's one-of power cards make games much deeper and complex.

What is your overall philosophy of how to win in goat format?
I believe the best way to win in Goat Control is to balance both card advantage and life points. It is easy to point to cards like Sakurestu Armor and call them "1 for 1” trades, but it is important to understand which 1 for 1s are worth fighting for. After two to three 1 for 1 trades, you can start getting an edge on an opponent for the +1 and start forcing them to use power cards prematurely. Managing life points plays directly towards this - being below 3000 life points is incredibly dangerous and changes how both you and your opponent interact with each other. Card advantage doesn't mean much if you are forced into overcommitting to the board.

What is the most important power card and why?
I think Graceful Charity is the most important power card, although Ring of Destruction is a close second. Graceful lets you see more cards than your opponent and set up your graveyard for BLS / Premature / Call - all of which can be more important than a +1 from Pot of Greed. Graceful Charity is as dangerous as the player playing it.

Are there any power cards that you feel are overrated?
I think Pot of Greed and Delinquent Duo are both overrated. You need to be able to both capitalize on your +1s and come back when you are behind in a game. Most players I see would rather complain about losing to trinity than actually learn to beat it.

What are your favorite tech card(s) and why?
I like Cannon Soldier and Des Koala a lot. Being able to put a lot of damage on the board, either by surprise or low commitment, is very powerful (but Magic Cylinder is still a bad card).

Are there any tech cards that you feel are overrated?
I think Asura Priest is overrated. Sure it can clear boards, but leaving yourself exposed to Spirit Reaper or any generic form of damage is too dangerous in my opinion. Sometimes you just need field presence, and Asura Priest can't provide that.

How do you use your side deck?
I use it differently from 2005 compared to today - 2005 was all about handling rogue burn and stall decks. Today, sideboards can be used almost exclusively for mirror matches.

If you had to use an alternative deck (not goat control) what would you use and why?
DMoC Launch. It was a combo deck that looped Dark Magician of Chaos, Cannon Soldier / Mass Driver, Spell Economics, and Dimension Fusion. It was able to use Cyber Jar and Morphing Jar with Book of Moon, Book of Taiyou, and Shallow Grave to draw cards, and Monster Gate and Reasoning to set up the combos. Reasoning was especially strong, because the only four monsters in the deck were leveled 2,3,4, and 8.

Could you give an example of a pro play you like to make?
I think pro plays are overrated - sure, everyone wants to bluff Heavy Storm for the +2. I think most actual pro plays come from sneaking in incremental points of damage.

Are there any pro plays that you feel are overrated?
Didn't realize this was the next question lol. Yeah, people try too hard with Heavy Storm.

What is your strategy when your opponent opens with some or all of the trinity?
Stall the game out as long as possible to either draw my own trinity or wait until my opponent starts becoming inpatient and wasteful of their resources. Also, card advantage does not always win games. This is why I believe BLS and Ring are good for the format - they are able to steal wins from behind, and force the player that is ahead on card advantage to play an honest game.

To what degree do you value life points?
Extremely highly. I always assume I start at 6200 for Premature and Duo, and then 5000ish for both my and my opponent's Rings. I allow myself to take 2000 at most after the 5000ish number, because BLS must be respected at all times.

To what degree do you value tempo?
Fairly highly, but for similar reasons to life points. Getting free points of damage accelerates game states and forces card advantage out of place.

Would you ban any cards in the format if you could?
I wouldn't ban any cards. I think all power cards have similar benefits and costs. I also think card games need variance, so both Pot of Greed and Delinquent Duo can stay.

How do you feel about playing with Cybernetic Revolution?
I dislike playing with CRV. I think Cyber Dragon invalidates a lot of the tech choices and innovations of the format. It also accelerates game states to quickly. Cyber Twin Dragon with BLS is also unreal. It is unfortunate because cards like Drillroid and Steamroid were awesome to play with.

What are some of the biggest mistakes you see other players make?
I don't think the mistakes that most players make are necessarily their fault. Yugioh has drastically changed from 2005. Just because your hand is capable of winning the game doesn't mean you should go for game. Be patient and take time to work through your opponent's backrows. Respect cards like Scapegoat and Book of Moon. Respect the one-outers like Mirror Force. Don't make excuses like "Oh I can't believe they had that one card" - accept responsibility for the decisions you make.

What concept about goat format took you the longest to learn?
It took me the longest to learn how to get the most value out of my unimportant cards. Most every card has the potential to be Pot of Greed if you work hard enough for it.

Are there any mistakes you still make?
I tend to be too conservative, and end up not going for game when I can clearly win on a particular turn. Playing multiple card games and formats makes me play around cards that don't exist.

When two really good players play each other, how does one beat the other?
I think it comes down to tech choices and the angle at which each player attacks the format. Generally speaking, I don't think any two players are ever equal - everyone is influenced by their region's styles. Players react to different cards in different ways, and I think the winner is most often determined by who is able to adapt to more adverse situations. A better player cannot be determined in a best-of-three match.

What is your advice for someone who wants to get better at goat format?
Read the old Metagame archives across July and August. Also get more active in the Duelistgroundz Goat Control community - there is a lot of good information in the archives. I do not recommend going to popular "Yugitube" channels - most of them just do videos for attention, and they have no idea what they are actually talking about.
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