Iron Dragon Tiamaton Vol.2

Last year we saw the 2017 World Champion, Tsujimura Ryosuke “ひつじ”, utilizing Iron Dragon Tiamaton against Gouki and the various Knightmare Link decks.

This year we have the 2019 World Champion, Kosaka Kouki “魔鏡”, using Iron Dragon Tiamaton against Dragon Link. His Altergeist deck list will be available in the next OCG 2019.07 Metagame Report #7.

This article is just a short update to the earlier Iron Dragon Tiamaton article, showing how Iron Dragon Tiamaton could be used against the current OCG 2019.07 Guardragon combo.

One of the more common Guardragon combo setup is having Crystron Halqifibrax in the Extra Monster Zone, following with Guardragon Elpy and then Striker Dragon below it. This formation has the Link Arrows of Crystron Halqifibrax and Striker Dragon pointing to an empty Main Monster Zone, allowing Guardragon Elpy‘s effect to Special Summon a Dragon there.

Chain 1: Guardragon Elpy ② effect.
Chain 1: Activate Infinite Impermanence, targeting Guardragon Elpy.
Chain 2: Iron Dragon Tiamaton’s ① effect.

By activating Infinite Impermanence from hand in the same column as Crystron Halqifibrax and Striker Dragon, this would satisfy Iron Dragon Tiamaton‘s condition of having 3 or more cards in the same column.

Iron Dragon Tiamaton can now be Special Summoned in the same column, and its ② effect will destroy Crystron Halqifibrax and Striker Dragon in a new chain.

The other method to setup for Iron Dragon Tiamaton is using Fantastical Dragon Phantazmay.

By Special Summoning Fantastical Dragon Phantazmay into the same column as Crystron Halqifibrax and Striker Dragon, this would satisfy Iron Dragon Tiamaton‘s condition of having 3 or more cards in the same column.

Iron Dragon Tiamaton can now be Special Summoned in the same column as Guardragon Elpy, and thus destroying it.

However, the opponent could also switch around the positioning of Guardragon Elpy and Striker Dragon.

This leaves Striker Dragon exposed instead, and Iron Dragon Tiamaton would not be able to destroy Guardragon Elpy.

The best possible play here is to chain to the effect of Guardragon Elpy, and Special Summon Iron Dragon Tiamaton to the same column as the Main Monster Zone that the Link Arrows of Crystron Halqifibrax and Guardragon Elpy are pointing to. Iron Dragon Tiamaton ③ effect would block off that Monster Zone, causing Guardragon Elpy‘s effect to resolve without Special Summoning.

Retaliating “C” can fulfill a similar role as Fantastical Dragon Phantazmay by Special Summoning it to the 2nd or 4th Main Monster Zone.

Iron Dragon Tiamaton is still a relatively inefficient choice as seen in the last scenario where the Dragon Link player could still try to expand to the other side of the board.

Using Crystron Halqifibrax and the two monsters, the Dragon Link player could also Link Summon Apollousa, Bow of the Goddess instead, before continuing with Guardragon Elpy. Apollousa, Bow of the Goddess would then be able to negate Iron Dragon Tiamaton.

Nonetheless, as a Dragon Link player, it is still important to avoid playing Spells such as World Legacy Guardragon, Called by the Grave, Crossout Designator, etc, in the same column as your monsters and play around Iron Dragon Tiamaton appropriately.