Branded Strikers in locals (4*-1)
I recently went 4*-1 (4th place) in locals with this Striker list. Let me preface this now that I got insanely lucky and had every heart of the cards I can, I usually go 0-2 and play Magic lol.
There are a bunch of cards that normal striker lists don't play (even disregarding the Branded engine). Quick summary of the big ones.
Eldlich and Delta of Invitation: With set rotation, you can set delta and area zero, using Delta to send Eldlich and Eldlich to add itself into your hand, Delta will add itself back. Eldlich hand eff can target and send Area Zero. 3 spells for 1 and a Raye/Roze on board.
Pot of Avarice and Kaina: In a worst case scenario, Raye/Roze can climb through all the link 1s ending on Shizuku and you have 5 monsters in grave, 4 links and 1 Raye/Roze.
Enemy Controller: Sometimes you just have to clear your main monster zone, tribute for cost, chain Anchor.
Now for the Branded Engine. Branded is probably the biggest hurdle for base Strikers, I figured I will use the Branded to defeat the Branded. DoomZ is also fairly annoying and also popular in my locals, using their Drastrius to make a Mirrorjade helps. Area Zero target then chain Ecclesia/Omega was also pretty dope. Omega and Dogma is also insane, putting back Lemnisgate allows for near infinite recursion. It was quite unfortunate I didn't have the chance to vs one in the event. You can always normal White Albaz to summon Ecclesia and make a Camellia/Azalea.
Round 1: Bye
Round 2: Elfnote White Forest (W2-0)
Set up an average striker board but the main winner was Silent Graveyard stopping all the WF spells/traps resetting themselves and Azamina Elzette from even triggering. Game 2 was fairly simple, Droplet and Evenly; crashing Hayate into Diabell Queen to send and trigger Raye was nice. End of battle phase, Raye eff chain Evenly was so much value.
Round 3: Runick Stun (W2-0)
I went first sine my opponent usually plays Artmage, so I was quite surprised. It was a pretty one sided match up, MST and Fallen eventually forced all Hugin protections and Inspector Boarder doesn't help against 30+ spells/traps.
Round 4: VSK9 (0-2L)
Insanely one sided, we can't win them all. Caeser reveal D-shifter g1 was kinda insulting. Droll'd game 2. What can you do, its yugioh.
Round 5: DoomZ (W1-1)
My opponent had to leave early and conceded. Won game 1 with so many Engage loops and sheer luck. Opp had a weak hand and couldn't play through Zero, anchors, and lemnisgate. Game 2, I felt as though I could've won, opened double Eclipse, but misplayed because we were in a rush to finish. HAMP'd incorrect guys and overall general misplays with thrust/talents.