What's the best way to counter "Kashtira"? | Counter Strategy Discussion

Greetings duelists! ArcKnight here and today, I'm sharing some best practices to counter "Kashtira" from the POV (Point-of-view) of a "Kashtira" player like me. "Kashtira" has been one of my go-to decks when joining big events in OCG as it's very versatile and it counters the meta as an anti-meta strategy. It was my bread and butter when I topped (4th) in this year's Duelist Cup. While the recent OCG and TCG forbidden & limited list nerfed "Kashtira" real hard, Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel introduced the remaining "Kashtira" cards this week which are already starting to create a huge impact. 

So, what's really the weakness of "Kashtira"? Let's talk about this now before papa "Fenrir" sees me.

Overview:

"Kashtira" is an archetype released in DARKWING BLAST which got further support in PHOTON HYPERNOVA that increased its consistency to the roof. As a "Kashtira" enjoyer, I won't count the spell support it gotten in CYBERSTORM ACCESS xD. Kidding aside, the main focus of the deck is to banish opponent cards face-down, destroy the opponent from the core (by banishing their cards from deck), lock opponent zones until they move residency,  and summon their main boss monster "Kashtira Arise-heart which is a walking "Macro Cosmos.

I feel it's very timely to talk about "Kashtira" in Master Duel because unlike OCG and TCG, you still have a chance to use your side deck to counter "Kashtira" but in Master Duel, you only get one chance (in life xD). Once you get banished to the shadow realms, it's over. Hence, it's very crucial to understand the choke points of the deck to know when is the best time to use your precious cards to interrupt their strategy.

So Arc, what's the "weak point" of "Kashtira"?

Here are some of the things I can share as a "Kashtira" user. I bet other "Kashtira" enjoyers have me on their banish list already xD.

1. The main "Kashtira" monsters (Kashtira Fenrir, Kashtira Ogre, Kashtira Unicorn) all want an empty monster field.

Putting a monster on their field like "Knightmare Corruptor Iblee" or "Kaiju" can prevent them from special summoning those "Kashtira" monsters using their own method. Be wary though as they still have "Kashtira Birth" which could allow them to normal summon them for free.

2. "Kashtira" monsters are weak to board wipes and card removal.

Cards like "Triple Tactics Talent", "Mind Control", and "Raigeki" to some extent, can cripple "Kashtira Arise-heart". 

You can also summon your own "Kashtira Arise-Heart" using your own "Kashtira" monster (especially in mirror) when their "Kashtira Shangri-Ira" activates on standby phase. This allows you to ram your "Kashtira Arise-Heart" against their indestructible "Kashtira Shangri-Ira" (they can't get the material detach as they are both at 3000 ATK/DEF Respectively). 

Afterward, use your "Kashtira Arise-Heart" to summon "Divine Arsenal AA-Zeus - Sky Thunder" to wipe their board! (P.s ensure to not activate any card or effect that would trigger the material attach of Arise-Heart because if it gathered enough materials, this strategy is useless)

3. They hate "Nibiru, the Primal Being".

"Kashtira" has little to no counter to "Nibiru, the Primal Being" unless they make "Baronne de fleur" or have "Crossout Designator" ready. 

When using "Nibiru, the Primal Being", wait for them to summon "Kashtira Arise-Heart" with its method when "Kashtira Shangri-La" activates before summoning Nibiru. In that way, it'll be harder for them to establish another ariseheart plus, you are putting a wild token. Read the (1) again to know why that token is an eyesore to "Kashtira".

4. Maxx "C" can tame them (a bit).

Expect to see people throwing Maxx "C" blindly on draw phase or standby phase a lot in Master Duel. Doing that ensures a player can plus-off the first "Kashtira" special summon and prevent them from using "Triple Tactics Talent". 

Sadly, they can just normal summon their "Kashtira Unicorn" or similar monsters using "Kashtira Birth" which would just give you minus 1 in hand advantage. This doesn't stop them from going all out or end until they reach "Kashtira Arise-heart" on fourth summon after realizing you still play "Tearlaments" this format.

5. "Kashtira" hates bowing down.

"Kashtira" wants to banish cards face-down ALOT, but hates being turned face-down by cards such as "Book of Eclipse", "Book of Moon" or "Destructive Daruma Karma Cannon". 

"Tackle Crusader" is also a good tech in "Labrynth" to turn their first "Kashtira" monster to face-down. The reason why this is good as face-down "Kashtira" monsters cannot be used for XYZ or Synchro summon summon or even be a target for "Kashtiratheosis" to further extend. 

Tips:

Here are some strategic tips you may consider doing when facing "Kashtira":

• When your opponent has "Kashtira Shangri-Ira" and they have "Kashtira Rise-heart" on the field, their next step is to banish a "Kashtira" card from their deck to banish 3 cards face-down on top of your deck. Prevent them from resolving "Kashtira Rise-Heart" effect by negating it with "Effect Veiler" or "Infinite Impermanence" as examples. This ensures that they cannot easily get out "Kashtira Arise-Heart" by placing it on any "Kashtira" monster. "Kashtira Riseheart" won't become level 7 when its effect is negated so even if "Kashtira Big Bang" special summons one of the material of "Kashtira Shangri-Ira", they still cannot easily XYZ summon another rank 7.

• "Kashtira" loves searching from their deck - "Droll & Lock Bird" can cripple their one card combo from "Pressured Planet Wraithsoth" if they added a "Kashtira" monster using that field spell. If they used "Kashtiratheosis", you can use your "Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring" to negate it rather than negating "Kashtira Unicorn's" search effect. The rationale is because "Kashtiratheosis" can only be used once per turn and chances are, they already have "Kashtiratheosis" in hand to begin with anyway.

• "Kashtira" can't easily out towers - If you play a deck that summons tower monsters with greater attack than "Kashtira Arise-Heart", chances are they may have a hard time against it. When I say tower monsters, I'm talking about "totally unaffected by card effect" monsters and not "Mekknight Crusadia Avramax". "Kashtira" has "Scareclaw Kashtira" which can negate effects of monsters a "Kashtira" monster battles and it doesn't even activate, hence, "Expurrely Noir" and Avramax aren't even safe if that's what's on your mind right now.

• Locked zones stay even if "Kashtira Shangri-Ira" is negated afterwards - "Dark Ruler No More" is futile against "Kashtira Shangri-Ira" as the zones locked look at "Kashtira Shangri-Ira" being face-up on the field. Hence, it's best to use "Book of Moon" or "Book of Eclipse" to free your locked zones. If your opponent has "Kashtira Shangri-Ira" ready to activate on standby phase to special summon a "Kashtira" monster from their deck, use your "Book of Moon" or "Book of Eclipse" to flip them face down on draw phase before it even attempts to activate.

Summary:

"Kashtira" is one of the strongest decks that can counter a lot of strategies, whether it's meta or rogue. While it sounds like a formidable opponent, it also comes with its weaknesses.

"Kashtira Arise-heart" has been one of my favorite boss monsters and for sure, he won't mind me sharing how to counter their theme. In fact, while I was typing this article, he shared that I..hushbdmdmjemwnzbbd...dmndndmd..d.d.djdk.....(faints)

(ArcKnight officially banished face-down)