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Moving Into Yu-Gi-Oh’s Next Stage: Xyz Summoning

Even now Yu-Gi-Oh continues to grow. While it has taken a bit of a break with introducing summoning methods, it still finds new ways to grow in the many new archetypes that it spawns. That’s why now is the perfect time to learn about one of its most popular additions. Today, we shall be looking at the ins and outs of Xyz Summoning.

So what makes Xyz Summoning special? Well, for starters we need to talk about the biggest change that makes Xyz monsters unique: Ranks. Unlike other monster cards, Xyz monsters don’t actually have a Level. Instead they have what is known as a Rank, something that functions similarly to a Level with them also going from 1 - 12. And in order to bring out an Xyz monster, you must do a bit of matching.

The Rank of an Xyz monster tells you what Level monsters you will need to bring them out. For example, if you want to bring out a Rank 4 Xyz then you will need at least two Level 4 monsters. Once you have two, you simply stack them on top of each other and then place the Xyz monster on top. The cards underneath the Xyz monster then become its materials. These materials will be what allows for a Xyz monster to utilize their effects. When these effects tell you to ‘detach’ material(s), this will mean to take one of the cards that are underneath the Xyz monster and send it to the graveyard.

Just like Synchro monsters, Xyz monsters will sometimes have requirements to bring them out. However in their case they can be more restrictive. Let's use the Rank 4 example once again. In most cases, any two Level 4 monsters will do. However, if the requirements said something like “two Level 4 Warrior monsters”, then you must use two Level Warrior monsters or else you will be unable to bring out the monster. That is why, always check the materials before deciding to put a card in your deck. On the flip side, this means that if they don’t have this restriction, any two Level 4 monsters will be able to bring out a Rank 4 monster.

And with that we are done with our lesson. When building decks, a good question to always consider is ‘can I put out two monsters of this same level on the field at once?’ If the answer is, yes then it would be a good idea to look into the type of monsters that are available for you to use. Now, go and continue your journey to become a bonafide player.

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From Ballrooms to Binge-Watching

Have you ever thought about what it was like to live in high society back then? What it must have been like to fight off suitors to find that special someone? Unfortunately, time travel hasn’t been invented yet so we can’t go there ourselves to see. So, in the meantime let’s look at the period piece Bridgerton and get a taste of it for ourselves.

Bridgerton takes place during the Regency era in England. While we follow multiple people, our main protagonist is Daphne Bridgerton. It is finally time for her to enter the marriage scene and possibly find the man of her dreams. However, as time goes on she begins to see just how difficult and dangerous her world is. She must navigate a world full of enemies and allies alike if she hopes to find a match for herself.

This show is interesting to say the least. It relies heavily on drama so if that isn’t for you then you likely won’t like it. However, for those that can’t get enough of it, then you are in for a treat. Let’s go back to Daphne. While she is expected to just find someone that will be able to help keep their family in power, Daphne still decides to do her best to take control of her life and find that special someone. For her - it doesn’t matter what she has to do as long as it means getting what she wants. Even if it means using someone else.

To aid her she finds an ally in Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings who wants nothing to do with the courting period. The two decide to work together in order for them to both achieve their goals. However, as the two continue this ruse, something seems to spark between them. Is this a sign of this turning into something real? Or will Simon’s own agenda stop the two from becoming more?

We then have Marina, another lady who is making her debut onto the scene. Although she holds a secret; Marina is actually already pregnant with someone else’s child, a soldier named George Crane. In reality,  she hopes to one day marry him, though as time goes on, it looks less and less likely to happen. In order to have a possible future and to not bring shame to her family she does her best to hide her pregnancy. But with how damaging this pregnancy is to her reputation, will she really be able to find someone? Or will she have to resort to more drastic measures?

Bridgerton is a show that will constantly keep you on the edge of your seat. With drama at every turn and characters that you just can’t take your eyes off of it’s sure to be an amazing experience. So, make sure to catch up in order to prepare for the third act of this show.

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Page-Turners with Popularity - A Peek into Celebrity-Endorsed Reads

Celebrity book clubs have grown in popularity in recent years, providing readers with a carefully selected selection of interesting titles recommended by their favorite celebrities. From Oprah Winfrey to Reese Witherspoon, these clubs not only expose readers to fresh voices, but also generate more discussions about literature and storytelling. Let's take a closer look at some of the most popular selections from these renowned book clubs, drilling into the key ideas that make these books so appealing.

Oprah's Book Club - "An American Marriage" by Tayari Jones.

Oprah Winfrey's book club has long been associated with literary greatness, and Tayari Jones' "An American Marriage" is no exception. This gripping narrative tells the story of newlyweds Celestial and Roy, whose lives are upended when Roy is unfairly imprisoned. Jones goes deeply into themes of love, racism, and justice, building a moving story that readers will remember long beyond the last page.

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Healing Magic Gone Awry

In fantasy shows that have magic involved, they tend to focus on a variety of types. Fire, water, teleportation, darkness. There are many kinds that can greatly affect the type of show it is. However, the one type that almost always goes unnoticed is healing magic. While it tends to exist, it usually isn’t center stage and will only have little focus. This is mostly due to the fact that it’s hard to create a show around the premise of someone simply healing people. That’s why in this show they go about using it in a very unique way.

The Wrong Way To Use Healing Magic focuses on highschooler Usato who was summoned into another world in order to help fight back against the demon army. This is a standard premise for most Isekai anime. What makes this one unique however is the fact that Usato was even meant to be summoned; he was dragged in by the spell that summoned his two schoolmates. Even so he still goes about the standard procedures that his new friends go through and finds out that he possesses the rare trait of being able to use healing magic. Once word gets out he is quickly kidnapped- recruited by the captain of the kingdom’s rescue team Rose. From here, he spends his days being trained by her to use healing magic in her own unique way.

Unfortunately for Usato,he undergoes immense physical training. This ranges from simple running all the way to doing push-ups with giant boulders on his back. Like the title suggests, we see that Rose’s take on healing magic is completely wrong in comparison to the way that you’d expect a normal healer to be. Rather than being a simple healer that supports from the backlines, she decides to be a berserker that charges right into battle.

By breaking the formula, we are able to see a new take that most people could never have even imagined. The anime turns what is regarded as a rather weak class into one that can stand on the same level as the more ‘popular’ classes such as warriors and spellcasters. And, it is this uniqueness that allows it to stand apart from other fantasy and isekai anime like it. While it may not be the right way to use it, this anime’s take on healing magic makes for a very fun experience.

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Fashion Forward - Exploring the Influence of TV Shows on Fashion

In today's society, television shows do more than just entertain us; they also influence our personal style. From costumes to trendsetting ensembles, TV characters have long been fashion inspirations, influencing how we dress and express ourselves. Let's take a closer look at how TV series have influenced fashion trends, from the glitz of "Gossip Girl" to the nostalgic feel of "Stranger Things."

Gossip Girl - Known as one of the most influential fashion shows, "Gossip Girl" attracted audiences with its high-society drama and even higher-end layout. From Blair Waldorf's preppy style to Serena van der Woodsen's effortlessly gorgeous outfits, the occasion embodied Upper East Side grace. With guest appearances by designers such as Vera Wang and Marc Jacobs, "Gossip Girl" raised the bar for aspirational style, encouraging viewers to appreciate expensive labels and sophisticated designs. ​

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The Rise Of The Tachyon Dragon

For the longest time Galaxy-Eyes has been known as an OTK deck. Appearing in the Zexal era, this deck has become synonymous with the season’s rival Kaito. Throughout the years, he has become the face of the deck with any new support being centered around his playing style. However, there is actually another Galaxy-Eyes who was forgotten for the longest time. One who offers a whole new way to play the deck.

Known as Mizar, he relied on his ace Number 107: Galaxy-Eyes Tachyon Dragon. This card had the powerful ability to negate all monster effects on the field every turn. To further support, Konami also created the cards known as Tachyon Transmigration, a card with the unique ability to negate multiple card effects at once, and Tachyon Spiral Galaxy, a card that made any dragon Galaxy monster immune to everything. What made these cards even better was the fact that if Number 107 was on the field, these cards could be played from the hand at any time. However, while these cards were powerful, they had the unfortunate downside that they couldn’t be searchable. Because of this it wasn’t possible to rely on using them.

With the new Galaxy-Eyes Tachyon Primal though, this is no longer a problem. This monster allows its owner to search any tachyon spell/trap card including the two new ones introduced. What’s important to note is the Primal has the unique ability to be summoned to the opponent’s field, allowing you to bypass various negates that they might have. And for the times when you can’t summon Primal through its own effect, Tachyon Cloudragon allows you to bring it out from either the deck or graveyard.

Mizar used to have another lesser known ace called Number 46: Dragluon. While originally this card didn’t synergize with Galaxy-Eyes, its retrain Dragluxion offers support to the archetype and even helps bring together Kaito’s and Mizar’s playstyles. For one thing upon being summoned this card allows you to search any Galaxy or Tachyon card giving further consistency to the deck. Its other effect allows you to summon out any rank 8 dragon monster with 3000 ATK which helps to enable Number 107 with a powerful Tachyon card as support. This means that you now have the possibility to add in cards that you might have been unable to use before.

Finally, we have the two new Tachyon spell/traps. Tachyon Spiral of Destruction offers three different effects: the ability to destroy all negated face-up cards your opponent controls, adding any Tachyon card in the graveyard to your hand or summoning any Number dragon monster back from the graveyard. With it being a quick-play you have even better control of which effect to use at the right time. Lord of The Tachyon Galaxy is a card that is on the same level of power as the strong Tachyon Transmigration. This card shuffles any monster summoned during the turn back into the deck, essentially wiping the opponent's field. And should you have a Number C monster, it becomes impossible for the opponent to stop.

With these new cards it is possible to play Galaxy-Eyes in a way that people could only dream of. It no longer becomes a simple OTK deck and instead more of a control deck. So, when you’re building your deck, know that you have a choice between simply crushing your opponent or manipulating them in a way you choose.

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Melodies that Move - Exploring the Movie Soundtracks in the 2000s

A strong soundtrack could turn a fantastic film into an unforgettable experience. The 2000s saw the debut of several iconic movie soundtracks that not only enhanced visual storytelling but also left a lasting impact on popular culture. From the heartbreaking melodies of "The Notebook" to the high-octane beats of "The Fast and the Furious," these soundtracks became associated with the films they supported, lingering with fans long after the credits had rolled.

"The Notebook" (2004)

"The Notebook" is a film that wonderfully conveys the essence of romance, with a memorable soundtrack that inspires powerful emotions. Aaron Zigman composed the score, which is a delicate tapestry of piano compositions and orchestral arrangements that perfectly capture Noah and Allie's eternal love story. Tracks like "Main Title" and "On the Lake" pull at your emotions, making it impossible to separate the music from the film's lasting influence.

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Gearing Up for Battle

Giant robot battles. Every man’s- no, every human’s dream. I dream for the day that we are actually able to make this a reality. Until then I’ll just have to take solace in building models and watching robots battle in anime. Fortunately for me, there already exists an anime that showcases what a world like that might look like. And it just so happens to have expanded more on its world by creating a sequel.

Gundam Build Fighters Try is a continuation of its predecessor that takes place a few years after it. Instead of centering around just two characters, we actually follow a team of three highschoolers. Our main protagonist is Kamiki Sekai, a young martial artist who takes an interest in Gunpla, thanks to a member of the Gunpla Battle Club Hoshino Fumina. After helping to protect the club, he ends up acquiring a Gunpla left behind the previous series’s protagonist Lori Sei. With some convincing from Fumina, Sekai decides to work together with her and the young Gunpla builder Kousaka Yuuma to win a team competition to become known as the best Gunpla team.

Build Fighters Try builds off of what its predecessor left behind and even improves on it quite a bit. Now, they no longer have to worry about establishing a world, they are able to delve more into the concept of toys coming to life and what that entails. For example, normally something like creating a Power Rangers like mecha would be impractical and possibly considered stupid. However because this is a show that’s about creativity, they are able to run with this idea and create their own unique mech. Or they could create their own power-up system based on what they’ve seen in the shows.

While Build Fighters was great, I feel like it was restrained by the fact that they were still trying to figure out how to make the concept of toys coming to life work. However, it is because they figured it out that Try was able to shine. So, while I do recommend watching both in order, if you wanted to see what potential has to its fullest I would say you should watch.

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The Everlasting PS4

The PS5, the next step in console gaming. With its immersive controllers and amazing graphics, you truly feel like you’ve stepped into a new age. Of course, this is only what I’ve heard as I don’t have one myself. While I was always interested in it and still would like one, I just haven’t seen a good enough reason to get one. For me, the PS5 is basically what Apple does with its iPhones: give a slightly better model that doesn’t do much. And just like with iPhones, the main reason for its success is its hype.

That isn’t to say that the PS5 is pointless or anything. From what I’ve seen it is without a doubt an upgrade from the PS4. However, there just isn’t enough that sets them apart that makes me think I need one. One great thing that Sony did is have it, so that people could play their PS4 games on the PS5. Because of its cross-compatibility, people were more willing to buy a PS5 as they didn’t feel that they were losing out on anything. After all, being unable to play old games is a major turn off for some people. But, for good or for worse, Sony didn’t decide to stop there.

For most of the games they released on the PS5, they also decided to release a PS4 version. This meant that even if you still had a PS4 you could still buy new games. As of now, there are very few true PS5 exclusives with most that you can’t play on PS4 being available on PC. Due to this, there is no incentive to buy a PS5 unless said exclusives are what you’re after.

While the PS5 is indeed superior in terms of graphics and hardware, it isn’t enough that I would recommend buying one. If you really are interested in playing playstation games, then I would recommend buying the cheaper PS4. While it may be ‘weaker’, it still allows you to play a majority of the titles you would find on a PS5. So before buying one, consider if either the exclusives or hardware are deal breakers for you.