X-Sabers

I've been surprised at how good X-Sabers are. The St. Clair build from the Nashville SJC is really a gem of deckbuilding skill. I've modified it just slightly.

3 X-Saber Airbellum
3 XX-Saber Emmersblade
3 XX-Saber Faultroll
2 XX-Saber Fulhelmknight
2 XX-Saber Ragigura
1 Gorz the Emissary of Darkness
1 Sangan
1 Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter
1 Rescue Cat
1 Summoner Monk

2 Saber Slash
2 My Body as a Shield
1 Heavy Storm
1 Mystical Space Typhoon
1 Giant Trunade
1 Brain Control
1 Mind Control
1 Creature Swap
1 One for One

3 Saber Hole
3 Gottoms' Emergency Call
2 Bottomless Trap Hole
1 Trap Dustshoot
1 Torrential Tribute
1 Mirror Force

The ability to maintain constant field presence with Emmersblade, while controlling tempo with Saber Hole, really vaults this fringe deck into the realm of the contenders. St. Clair's build also demonstrate, at least imo, the overall mediocrity of Smashing Ground, even in decktypes like this one which ought to be able to capitalize on the simplification it supplies. Swap and Slash, in particular, can create huge momentum swings that cards like Smash simply cannot.

The sideboard for this deck would probably include the typical brigade of Dust Tornado, Light-Imprisoning Mirror, and Mirror of Oaths, along with Nobleman of Crossout - really good right now with the rise of Hamster/Ryko. XX-Saber Garsem may also be advisable depending on how much Smash/Fissure there is in your metagame. Players will try to play around your Saber Holes by removing your Saber monsters, but you can make them think twice by using a preemptive floater like Garsem.

Other cards like Call of the Haunted and Solemn Judgment just missed making this deck, though they would be ok additions. Call seems unnecessary except to grab Cat for a 2nd use (unlikely), and is largely overshadowed by the insane Gottoms' E-Call. I've been on the fence about Solemn recently. It certainly can be powerful, but I don't think it's a staple at this point.