Against the Mermails

Yes Inzektor took the title at YCS Seattle, but the thing I noticed the most was the interesting showing of Mermail - Atlanteans in the YGO TCG. The deck looks like another version of Inzektor, with which you can creates massive card advantages through searching/blowing cards on the field.

Before moving on to side-decking, there're some notes for game 1 against Mermails. I myself have played a lot against them, and honestly my advice could only work when you're against an average hand. If your opponent open broken, just save time for side-decking.

1. Don't waste your MST blindly: This is maybe the most important thing about playing vs Mermails. If your MST walks into Abyssphere, which happens very often, you're dead. They can search out Abysslinde, then Abysslinde will be destroyed along with Abyssphere, and then Abysspike or Megalo can come out at any time. Unless you have a very developed field, Abysspike will be picked for some setup. At this point my advice is trying to finish the game because if you don't, your opponent will. Save your MST so that you can chain it to the activation of Abyssphere, at least it will be an one for one trade.
2. Don't use Gorz/Tragoedia too early. At least wait for 1-2 copies of Heavy Infantry out of their access. Aside from Infantry (which is commonly run at 2), they don't have that big monster to run over a 2400 Tragoedia or Gorz (Catastor cannot help, which is pretty good)
3. Don't attack their set monsters. Usually you'll hit an Abysslinde which calls out Abysspike/Megalo and shit will happen next turn.
4. Veiler the Divas/Megalos, and Maxx "C" the Spheres. The former is kinda obvious. About Sphere: If they get out Abysslinde and let it die to summon one more time, you get +1. If they don't get Abysslinde, you get +1 too.
5. Hit Moulinglacia: the Elemental Lords (Moulinglacia and Grandsoil) have the same drawback. If you want to survive another turn, Moulinglacia is your target.
6. Don't use Veiler on Genex Undine...

So now let's come to the side deck. The obvious choice are graveyard hate like Dimensional Fissure, Macro Cosmos, Banisher of the Radiance/Light, or even The End of Anubis! But what if you cannot run those card? I have some suggestions here:

1. Debunk: Destroys everything, including an in-hand Megalo. Sadly you can use only 1 Debunk, so if your opponent discard 2 Atlanteans to summon Megalo, just take the minuses from the Atlanteans and Debunk Megalo away. You don't want to face a 2400 double attacker backed with Abyssphere.
2. Soul Drain: Cannot stop Megalo, but it prevents ALL the destruction effects. Without too many minuses that setup is handleable. If you can affore Skill Drain, you can lock them down completely.
3. Mind Crush: Because Megalo uses the chain to summon, you can Crush it away before it hits the field. Crush also helps against the Dragoons' search, Salvage, etc... Sweetest play would be chaining Mind Crush to Allure of Darkness, calling Genex Controller. At least you rob them a Gorz/Tragoedia. Once I dropped 7 cards from my opponent's hand with that play.
4. Deck Devastation Virus: the Atlanteans, beside Dragoons, is small. Luckily Dragoons do nothing on their own. the Mermails are small too. Under Virus, their best play maybe summoning Abysspike, discard Dragoons to search Moulinglacia...
5. Wild Tornado: Yes, Wild Tornado. It helps against Abyssphere, and if it's randomly hit by Marksman, you still gain back a card from your opponent.
6. Gemini Imps: Mermails' winning play is often dropping Moulinglacia to eliminate the last chances of getting fought back. And if you successfully use Imps, you just destroy Moulinglacia which gives you another turn of breathing.
7. Multiple Veilers and Maxx "C", at least.

Conclusion? If something is good against Inzektor, it will probably be good against Mermails.

Side note: If you're running a fast, aggressive deck like Dragons, Agents, you should make big pushes as soon as possible. Mermails have a lot of advantages mid to late game, when they're set up and they start to have pluses from Salvages.

With Mermails getting more and more popular, I guess any of you guys should have some preparation of facing it. If you have more interesting choices, just comment below for my appreciation! Thanks for reading..