Staple and How it Affect the Game.

This article is a copy of my comment on one of TCGPlayer's blog which is a discussion about staple.

I agree with you only to a certain degree. Problem (which isn't really a problem I think) with staples are the fact that it shape the mindset of standard/average competitive player to not fall into the staples which can lead to negative exchange. For basic, you may not set more than your opponent does as to avoid Heavy Storm. Sure, it's 1 in a 40 card, but it greatly affect everyone still. This is good for game however for some reason. For example, banning Storm encourage backrow overextend. The challenge with staples is to try producing positive advantage with them. Torrential Tribute and Heavy Storm can produce this; Torrential works nice with floater for +1 while everyone must've already know Pro Storm by now. Torrential, however has another beauty in that it simplify the game. Lower average competitor usually wouldn't mind trading off with his opponent with even card advantage even with 3 monster of him with 2 monsters of opponent. However, this proves deadly if he's short on monster. This is something that a better player can take advantage off. On Mirror Force however, rarely you'll find decent opponent attack with 2 monsters at a time. So, at best it's just a 1-4-1. That's no different than using Sakuretsu Armor, really. That's why I rate it below Torrential and Storm. However, with Starlight Road being release, people now will try overextending more than ever. This is a boon to Mirror Force, in contrast. In conjunction with Trap Stun to negate Starlight Road, you'll be able to gain advantage via Mirror Force. You can try Solemn Judgment over Trap Stun too, and there's still plenty of choice. Speaking of Solemn, it's a great card, and Solemning your opponent's Solemn should end up with phrase 'gg'. This is something that lower than average player can take advantage off more decent competitor as they won't expect it. Starlight Road will affect the way we play but not to a degree of those 3.

Torrential, Mirror, and Storm is the Big 3 that had shaped the game since their existence. (Big 4 if you count Gorz) While some may argue that such cards as Brain Control is a more game changer than those, they didn't shape the game as much as Big 3. Brain and Dustshoot doesn't change the way we play but change the way we choose our cards (eg. Proving Ground to avoid Dustshoot) because there's no specific play to play around them (this is also why people argue that Brain Control need to be banned). In contrast, the Big 3 affect the way we play but not the way we choose our cards. As a conclusion, those 3 staples need to stay in the game.

I'm sorry if you doesn't agree with my opinion. I'm not playing irl and as such, my point of view is a bit narrow.

EDIT: My bad on Trap Stun part. Thanks tsog for correcting it. Cards such Royal Oppression can still be use though this example is too situational. Mirror Force may see less play anyway, even in unexpected deck such as Lightsworn as Starlight already kills LS so why wpuld you play more cards that's vulnerable to Starlight. Speaking of LS, perhaps they need to main more My Body to counter Starlight, Absolute Zero and the likes.