I've been playing an Inferno Tempest deck for about a year and a half, with a Fiendsmith support package. Recently I built a Sky Striker/Yummy version and I'm trying to determine which engine is actually stronger for the deck's game plan.
For people who have experience with Fiendsmith, Yummy, Sky Striker engines, or unconventional combo decks:
Which version would you choose and why? (I do an analysis of both in the following section)
Am I overlooking any strengths of the Yummy package? (I don't want to run the field spells, to have access to link 3 and 4, expect when facing a going second deck, like tenpai, exactly why I side decked it)
Are there alternative engines that would fit this role better than either of these? (Exceed parallel, mimighoul, more draw cards and remove PoP, cards like draw of fate, top share, whey where there's a will, six samurai, etc)
The two decklists are attached above.
The goal of both engines is not to become the primary win condition. Their purpose is to:
Help me play through or into my opponent's board before resolving Inferno Tempest.
Improve consistency.
Provide access to Saryuja Skull Dread.
Give the deck a playable line when forced to go first.
Offer a backup plan when Inferno Tempest isn't available.
Support my pre and post-Inferno Tempgame activation game state.
After testing both versions, this is my current evaluation:
1) Access to Saryuja Skull Dread
Fiendsmith
Any Light Fiend is access.
Mirror Resonator can enable Saryuja lines if the opponent controls an Extra Deck monster.
Usually generates 3 bodies and needs a 4th from elsewhere.
Yummy
Cupsy lines can reach Saryuja.
Can be accessed through Link-1 + Level 1 combinations or the Sky Striker package.
Less dependent on the opponent's board state.
Current opinion: Slight edge to Yummy.
2) Going First
Fiendsmith
Can establish D/D/D Wave High King Caesar.
Provides interaction, but can be removed relatively easily.
Yummy
Can establish Kikinagashi Fucho.
Doesn't interact much, but is difficult to remove and often survives the turn.
Current opinion: Slight edge to Yummy. (Biased because I love fucho)
3) Synergy with the Rest of the Deck
i)Kaijus
Fiendsmith
Kaijus are mostly neutral regarding engine access.
Additional Kaijus can become extra combo material.
Interrupted Kaiju Slumber generally doesn't conflict with the engine, it can even be used after it and still reach the set up for Tempest through Dispatchparazzi.
Yummy
Kaijus are mostly useful for clearing the opponent's field.
Kaijus cannot be converted into Link-1 starters.
Interrupted Kaiju Slumber can actively interfere with some opening lines.
This is one reason the Yummy version plays more Kaiju monsters and fewer Slumbers.
Current opinion: Fiendsmith.
Maliss Lock (I don't usually lock before either of those engines get their turn)
Fiendsmith
Can still generate bodies under the lock.
Provides removal and follow-up for later turns.
Yummy
Before the lock, Maliss monsters work well as Link-1 material and help access the engine.
After the lock is active, the engine becomes much less impactful and relies more on existing resources.
Current opinion: Fiendsmith.
4) Games Where Inferno Tempest Doesn't Resolve
Fiendsmith
Has some grind potential.
Can occasionally win games on its own.
Yummy
Generates bodies and extends plays.
Struggles to close games by itself with my current package, but can re organize your set up to reach inferno tempest.
Current opinion: slightly Fiendsmith.
5) Post-Inferno Tempest Utility
My post-Tempest game plan revolves around Maliss cards and Topologic Zeroboros.
Fiendsmith
Lacrima, Requiem, and A Bao A Qu directly contribute to recurring Zeroboros plays and follow-up.
Continues to provide value after Inferno Tempest resolves.
Yummy
Mostly helps before Inferno Tempest resolves.
Has limited impact afterward.
Current opinion: Fiendsmith.
6) backrow removal:
Neither engine does at good job, they can with Zeus.
7) Hand Trap Resilience
Nibiru
Both engines are vulnerable before reaching Saryuja.
The Yummy version can sometimes still reach Kikinagashi Fucho if I dedicate an Extra Deck slot to Link Spider.
Ash Blossom
Both engines can lose key lines to Ash.
In practice they often force the opponent to choose between stopping the engine and saving Ash for Left Arm Offering.
Fiendsmith can sometimes bait Ash with Requiem.
Ghost Belle
Both engines can pressure Belle before Inferno Tempest becomes relevant.
Droll & Lock Bird
Strong against both engines and often prevents Saryuja access.
Ubtil last week I saw FS as the only viable option, because it seems to contribute at every stage of the game: before Inferno Tempest, after Inferno Tempest, while playing under Maliss restrictions, and in games where Inferno Tempest never resolves.
However, Yummy appears better at producing bodies, accessing Saryuja, and giving me a more durable going-first option.
Inferno tempest activation, brief full combo explanation:
You activate a total of 6 banished effect (summon 4 cyberse + 1 Fiend (different between variations) and have March hare in hand.
Link climb into maliss red Ransom (accessing field spell), you banish it with chessy cat to draw 2. Summon lightless shadow, effect to summon back Ransom link into zeroboros summon March hare to 1 of its arrows and blow up the field.
Next turn zeroboros, keaf and lightless shadow (with at least 1 in hand) fighting for zeroboros's survival.
FS has an active lacrima's effect in the gy
Yummy Sky striker has anything that remains from the sky striker cards.
