Dark Armed Dragon (PTDN-EN019)

Card:  PTDN-EN019
Card Name:  Dark Armed Dragon
Attribute:  Dark
Level/Rank:  7
Type:  Dragon/Effect
ATK:  2800
DEF:  1000

Card Text:
This card cannot be Normal Summoned or Set.  This card cannot be Special Summoned except by having exactly 3 DARK monsters in your Graveyard.  You can remove from play 1 DARK monster from your Graveyard to destroy 1 card on the field.

Personal Comment:

Dark Armed Dragon has been a destructive force the moment he was released and one of the most sought after in the Yugioh card game.  For many duelists, Dark Armed Dragon is the weapon of choice for two specific reasons...easy to summon and the effect is one of the best available.  For all the damage this card dishes out, it is a relatively easy monster to play.  The summoning requirement of "exactly 3 DARK monsters in your Graveyard" will be more manageable if you have cards like Plaguespreader Zombie or Prometheus, King Of The Shadows that can manipulate the number of Dark Monsters in your Graveyard.  It only becomes difficult if you draw Dark Armed Dragon late in the game when the Graveyard might be full of Dark Monsters.  In such a situation, having a monster like Rainbow Dark Dragon in your hand will greatly increase your chance of winning and flushing out your Graveyard for a reset.  Once summoned, you can remove from play 1 Dark Monster (which you have 3 in your Graveyard) to activate his effect.  Why is this effect more useful than most?  It is because you can activate the effect multiple times during the same turn.  That is the epitome of destruction.  In addition, you can select ANY card on the field to destroy.  Your opponent's monster, trap, spell, or even one of your own card are all at your disposal.  This kind of flexibility lets you dictate the pace of the game on both sides of the field and allows a possible direct attack to their life points.  A definite Top 10 monster on anybody's list.  It is on mine.

Rulings For This Card:
- This card cannot be Normal Summoned or Set.
- This card cannot be Special Summoned from the Graveyard.
- Removing from play 1 DARK monster is a cost to activate the effect which destroys a card on the field.
- The effect targets 1 card on the field.
- You can activate the effect which destroys a card on the field multiple times during the same turn.

Personal Rating:
Artwork - 9/10
Power - 9/10
Easy To Play - 8/10
Collectable - 9/10
Overall Score - 8.75/10

Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon (PHSW-EN011)

Card:  PHSW-EN011
Card Name:  Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon
Attribute:  Light
Level/Rank:  8
Type:  Dragon/Effect
ATK:  3000
DEF:  2500

Card Text:
You can Special Summon this card (from your hand) by Tributing 2 monsters with 2000 or more ATK.  During either player's Battle Step, when this card battles an opponent's monster: You can target the monster this card is battling; banish both it and this card, then any monster banished by this effect returns to the field at the end of the Battle Phase.  If the monster banished by this effect was and Xyz Monster, this card gains 500 ATK for each Xyz Material the Xyz Monster had when it was banished.

Personal Comment:

What do you get when you combine Blue-Eyes White Dragon with Stardust Dragon (two of the best dueling monsters available)?  You get an absolute powerhouse that's almost impossible to destroy...Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon.  With the wave of Xyz Monsters starting to join the fray, this beat stick is one of the first monster created to specifically counter these cards.

The Tribute Summoning requirement of 2 mosters with 2000 (or more) ATK is fairly easy to achieve.  The inclusion of Alexandrite Dragon and Rescue Rabbit in the release of Photon Shockwave was geared towards bringing out Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon.  However, if you can't afford Rescue Rabbit (like most of us), the ability to bring out 2 high ATK monsters is only a matter of time for most dueling decks.  But if you're still having trouble, the card Dragonic Tactics makes bringing this card onto the playing field even easier (tribute 2 Dragon Type Monsters to Special Summon 1 Level 8 Dragon Type Monster from your deck).

Once in play, Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon has the stats to back him up.  The 3000 ATK and 2500 DEF is more than enough to handle a majority of monsters in a head-to-head battle.  These are the same stats that have made Blue-Eyes White Dragon so formidable all these years.  But it's this card's effect that will win you duels.  During either player's Battle Step, when this card battles an opponent's monster, you can banish them both and have them  return to the field at the end of the Battle Phase.  So any monster with an ATK higher than 3000 won't get a chance to destroy Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon because they will never reach the Damage Step of the duel.  In addition, many Monsters with destroying effects are also negated once they are removed by Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon because they are never given the chance to activate.  In many cases, once an opponent's monster is removed, you will have a possible direct attack at their life points.

The second part of Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon's effect is aimed specifically at Xyz Monsters.  If you use his effect to remove and Xyz Monster, you gain 500 ATK for each Xyz Material that monster had when it was banished.  You have the ability to reach 3500 ATK or 4000 ATK easily.  The most important thing to know is that once an Xyz Monster is banished it loses all of it's Xyz Material.  So if you banish an Xyz Monster with 2 Xyz Material attached, Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon returns with 4000 ATK and the Xyz Monster returns with nothing but its stats to defend itself.  There isn't an Xyz Monster out there (currently) that can hold off Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon.  This isn't just game changing, it's game ending. 

Easy to summon, nearly impossible to destroy, has the ability to power up, has the ability to stop any Xyz Monster...simply a fantastic dueling monster.

Cards That Will Help With A Dragon Deck:
- Dragonic Tactics
- Lord Of D.
- The Flute Of Summoning Dragon

Personal Rating:
Artwork - 7/10
Power - 9/10
Easy To Play - 8/10
Collectable - 7/10
Overall Score - 7.75/10

Thunder End Dragon (PHSW-EN044)

Card:  PHSW-EN044
Card Name:  Thunder End Dragon
Attribute:  Light
Level/Rank:  8
Type:  Dragon/Xyz/Effect
ATK:  3000
DEF:  2000

Card Text:
2 Level 8 Normal Monsters
Once per turn: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; destroy all other monsters on the field.

Personal Comment:

With the release of Photon Shockwave we are starting to see the first batch of truly impactful Xyz Monsters.  It is also the debut of Thunder End Dragon, the first Rank 8 Xyz beat stick.  This card is stacked with 3000 ATK and 2000 DEF which means it will be an absolute force to deal with.  The summoning of Thunder End Dragon requires 2 Level 8 Normal Monsters, which for some will be a little tough.  Just to give you an idea, it basically requires 2 Blue-Eyes White Dragon (or monsters of the sort).  Sure there are various cards to Special Summon the required 2 Normal Monsters onto the field but at worse you will have to do 2 Tribute Summons.  Just remember, any Normal Monster Level 7 or higher requires 2 tribute monsters to summon (whereas Level 5 or Level 6 only requires 1 tribute monster).  But the hard work is worth it.  Once per turn you can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card and destroy all other monsters on the field (yes, that does include your own monsters leaving only Thunder End Dragon standing).  Even when you use up both of the Xyz Material (that's one heck of a mess you're if you need to activate this effect twice) the stats alone should be formidable enough to handle whatever your opponent has left to throw at you.  Since the effect only destroys monsters on the field, Spell and Trap cards can still easily remove Thunder End Dragon from play.  So be sure to have cards in place to counter such a possible situation or all your hard work to bring this beat stick into play will be wasted.  Being the first Rank 8 Xyz, Thunder End Dragon gives you a glimpse of what's to come...it is impressive.

***If you are still having trouble Normal Summoning a high level monster, include the card Mausoleum Of The Emperor to make it a lot easier.  You don't need to tribute but will have to sacrifice 1000 Life Points for each tribute monster that was required.

Personal Rating:
Artwork - 7/10
Power - 9/10
Easy To Play - 7/10
Collectable - 7/10
Overall Score - 7.5/10

Black Rose Dragon (CSOC-EN039)

Card:  CSOC-EN039
Card Name:  Black Rose Dragon
Attribute:  Fire
Level/Rank:  7
Type:  Dragon/Synchro/Effect
ATK:  2400
DEF:  1800

Card Text:
1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters
When this card is Synchro Summoned, you can destroy all cards on the field.  Once per turn, you can remove from play 1 Plant-Type monster from your Graveyard to change 1 monster your opponent controls to face-up Attack Position, and reduce its ATK to 0 until the End Phase.

Personal Comment:
Due to the non-restriction on the Synchro Summoning requirement (no specification of a plant monster), it isn't mandatory that you play Black Rose Dragon in a plant deck.  The ability to easily bring this dragon out and utilize the first part of the card's effect is a game changer when you are being overwhelmed by your opponent.  Once Synchro Summoned you get to clear the entire field of all cards.  But there's a catch.  If you decide to activate this effect Black Rose Dragon is also destroyed in the process (notice how the card text says "destroy all cards on the field").  That one downside shouldn't take away from how important this effect is when a duel isn't going in your favor.  While it isn't imperative to run Black Rose Dragon in a plant deck exclusively, having some plant monsters in the Graveyard to activate the second part of the effect would be a huge added bonus.  Simply put, some of the most powerful monsters in the game don't stand a change once they are switched to attack position and their ATK is reduced to 0.  So where does the full force of the 2400 attack go once you destroy their monster?  Yep, directly against your opponent's life points.  Easy to summon, capable of being played in most decks, game changing first effect, game changing second effect...what else do you expect from one of the best Synchro Monster card available?

Just to clarify.  It isn't madatory to use Black Rose Dragon in a plant deck...but it is mandatory to have Black Rose Dragon in any plant deck.  Understand the difference and you will understand how powerful this card can be.

Personal Rating:
Artwork - 8/10
Power - 8/10
Easy To Play - 8/10
Collectable - 8/10
Overall Score - 8/10

Trishula, Dragon Of The Ice Barrier (HA04-EN060)

Card:  HA04-EN060
Card Name:  Trishula, Dragon Of The Ice Barrier
Attribute:  Water
Level/Rank:  9
Type:  Dragon/Synchro/Effect
ATK:  2700
DEF:  2000

Card Text:
1 Tuner + 2 or more non-Tuner monsters
When this card is Synchro Summoned, you can activate this effect to remove from play up to one card each from your opponent's hand, field and Graveyard.  (The card in the hand is chosen at random.)

Personal Comment:
Trishula, Dragon Of The Ice Barrier is a top tier card and the financial cost to own her reflects it (currently going for about $50).  Her effect is absolutely devastating to an opponent.  When she hits the playing field you automatically gain an advantage by removing the most powerful monster your opponent controls.  On top of that you get to remove from play a card in their Graveyard (which you also get to specifically choose) and one random card from their hand.  Any strategy or momentum that they had is completely gone.  With such a great effect it is necessary to build a deck specifically around her to take full advantage of it.  While the summoning requirement is rather difficult, it definitely isn't impossible.  The effort to bring her into play is will be well worth it.  With the ability to turn a duel around or to end it the moment she is summoned, Trishula is one of the best dueling card available.  A near perfect card.

Personal Rating:
Artwork - 9/10
Power - 9/10
Easy To Play - 7/10
Collectable - 10/10
Overall Score - 8.75/10

Gungnir, Dragon Of The Ice Barrier (HA03-EN030)

Card:  HA03-EN030
Card Name:  Gungnir, Dragon Of The Ice Barrier
Attribute:  Water
Level/Rank:  7
Type:  Dragon/Synchro/Effect
ATK:  2500
DEF:  1700

Card Text:
1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner WATER monsters
Once per turn, you can discard up to 2 cards to the Graveyard to select the same number of cards your opponent controls.  Destroy the selected cards.

Personal Comment:
Gungnir is a great "Ice Barrier" card but still comes up short when compared to Trishula or Brionac due to one simple requirement.  In order to Synchro Summon this card easily your deck has to be built around WATER monsters (there aren't many great WATER monsters to choose from).  Otherwise, getting Gungnir onto the playing field can be a real chore if you only have a few WATER monsters in your deck.  However, once in play, this card's effect is one of the best in the game.  The ability to destroy 2 of your opponent's card (by discarding 2 of your own cards) per turn is a game changer.  Let me emphasize "PER TURN".  If your opponent isn't able to remove Gungnir from play quickly it will only get worse for them as the duel goes on.  So if you are looking to test your dueling skills, try building a WATER deck around this card.  If you're successful it will be a deck that can compete against some of the best.  But it isn't for the novice.

In addition to the "Ice Barrier" support cards, here are some WATER cards to consider:
Blizzard Dragon (Lv 4, 1800 ATK, 1000 DEF)
Dragon Ice (Lv 5, 1800 ATK, 2200 DEF)
Hydrogeddon (Lv 4, 1600 ATK, 1000 DEF)

Personal Rating:
Artwork - 7/10
Power - 8/10
Easy To Play - 6/10
Collectable - 7/10
Overall Score - 7/10

Rainbow Dark Dragon (PTDN-EN003)

Card:  PTDN-EN003
Card Name:  Rainbow Dark Dragon
Attribute:  Dark
Level/Rank:  10
Type:  Dragon/Effect
ATK:  4000
DEF:  0

Card Text:
This card cannot be Normal Summoned or Set.  This card cannot be Special Summoned except by removing from play 7 DARK monsters with different names from your Graveyard.  You can remove from play all other DARK monsters you control and from your Graveyard to have this card gain 500 ATK for each card removed.

Personal Comment:
Rainbow Dark Dragon is an absolute powerhouse.  The initial 4000 ATK is already at "God Card" levels but it also gains 500 more ATK for each DARK monster you remove.  So when it hits the playing field you have a chance to end a duel with an OTK (one turn kill).  But all this power comes at a very steep price.  Realistically, when you are able to meet the requirement to Special Summon Rainbow Dark Dragon it will be pretty late into the duel.  Getting the 7 unique DARK monsters into your Graveyard will take some time.  On top of that, once the 7 cards are removed along with any other DARK monsters used to gain the additional ATK (if you choose to), it will leave your Graveyard and playing field depleted of monster cards.  So if you're not able to end the duel or your opponent is able to destroy Rainbow Dark Dragon, you will be at a huge disadvantage.  This card is an offensive power punch.  If you connect you'll knock your opponent out.  If you miss be prepared to get countered and be knocked out.

Some DARK monsters to consider in this deck:
- Doomsday Horror is a card that goes perfect with the strategy.
- Helpoemer thrives in the Graveyard making it difficult for your opponent.
- Dark Necrofear can be easily summoned in a DARK deck with the ability to hold off your opponent.

Personal Rating:
Artwork - 9/10
Power - 9/10
Easy To Play - 7/10
Collectable - 8/10
Overall Score - 8.25/10

Blue-Eyes White Dragon (SDK-001)

Card:  SDK-001
Card Name:  Blue-Eyes White Dragon
Attribute:  Light
Level/Rank:  8
Type:  Dragon
ATK:  3000
DEF:  2500

Card Text:
This legendary dragon is a powerful engine of destruction.  Virtually invincible, very few have faced this awesome creature and lived to tell the tale.

Personal Comment:
If there was a Hall Of Fame for Yugioh cards, Blue-Eyes White Dragon would be one of the first inducted in.  If you're running a Light deck...include this card.  If you're running a Dragon deck...include this card.  If you're running a deck with cards you choose randomly with your eyes closed...include this card.  I think you get the point.  Everybody who considers themselves a Yugioh duelist or collector must have this card.  It doesn't matter what version, what rarity, or what condition it's in.  Get it.  Own it.

Personal Rating:
Artwork - 8/10
Power - 8/10
Easy To Play - 8/10
Collectable - 10/10
Overall Score - 8.5/10

Judgment Dragon (LODT-EN026)

Card:  LODT-EN026
Card Name:  Judgment Dragon
Attribute:  Light
Level/Rank:  8
Type:  Dragon/Effect
ATK:  3000
DEF:  2600

Card Text:
This card cannot be Normal Summoned or Set.  This card cannot be Special Summoned except by having 4 or more "Lightsworn" monsters with different names in your Graveyard.  You can pay 1000 Life Points to destroy all other cards on the field.  During each of your End Phases, send the top 4 cards of your Deck to the Graveyard.

Personal Comment:
Judgment Dragon is one of the most powerful card available for Lightsworn decks.  It is also one of the more expensive cards out there.  The requirement to Special Summon a card of this caliber is relatively easy.  Getting the 4 or more unique "Lightsworn" cards into the Graveyard is just a matter of time (the fact that it doesn't have to be exactly 4 is a huge benefit).  Once Judgment Dragon is on the playing field you have to end the duel quickly.  Paying the 1000 Life Points to clear the field is worth it if you are being beaten badly.  Losing 4 cards during each of your End Phase can get costly if the duel goes on longer than expected (unless you have a deck that can mill through cards).  The only drawback with Judgment Dragon is that it can only be used successfully (or to its optimal potential) in a Lightsworn deck.  But with all the great support cards that focus on Light attributes and Dragon monsters, building a competitive Lightsworn deck shouldn't be a problem what-so-ever.

Personal Rating:
Artwork - 8/10
Power - 8/10
Easy To Play - 8/10
Collectable - 9/10
Overall Score - 8.25/10

Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon (JMP-EN005)

Card:  JMP-EN005
Card Name:  Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon
Attribute:  Light
Level/Rank:  12
Type:  Dragon/Fusion
ATK:  4500
DEF:  3800

Card Text:
"Blue-Eyes White Dragon" + "Blue-Eyes White Dragon" + "Blue-Eyes White Dragon"

Personal Comment:
This is a level 12 card, which pretty much says everything that needs to be said.  It is an absolute beat stick.  Sadly, dueling has evolved so much that Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon is now obsolete.  Getting the 3 Blue-Eyes White Dragon on the playing field to perform the fusion is extremely tough.  On top of that, keeping him on the playing field is nearly impossible with all the card destroying/removing abilities of Spells, Traps, and Monster Effects.  It's a card for collectors and for those who remember the early days of the Yugioh anime.

Personal Rating:
Artwork - 8/10
Power - 9/10
Easy To Play - 6/10
Collectable - 8/10
Overall Score - 7.75/10

Stardust Dragon (CT05-EN001)

Card:  CT05-EN001
Card Name:  Stardust Dragon
Attribute:  Wind
Level/Rank:  8
Type:  Dragon/Synchro/Effect
ATK:  2500
DEF:  2000

Card Text:
1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters
You can Tribute this card to negate the activation of a Spell Card, Trap Card, or Effect Monster's effect that destroys a card(s) on the field, and destroy that card.  If you negate an effect this way, you can Special Summon this card from your Graveyard during the End Phase.

Personal Comment:
Stardust Dragon is not the most powerful card out there (although the 2500 ATK is pretty hefty) but it is definitely one of the most useful.  On top of that it is also one of the easiest Level 8 monster to get on the playing field during a duel.  Widely reguarded as the best overall Synchro Monster card, Stardust Dragon is a staple in nearly every Synchro dueling deck.  What makes Stardust Dragon so special is that it has the ability to negate, destroy, and revive.  Outside the top tier cards, there are very few monsters that can do battle with this monster successfully.  But just in case a battle becomes about who has more ATK, there's a Stardust Dragon/Assault Mode card that boasts 3000 ATK and 2500 DEF.  Stardust Dragon is everything you could want in a dueling card...easy to summon, great effect, hard to remove from play, and the stats to back it up.  Expect to see him on every Top 10 Synchro Monster list (if he isn't then the person who made the list doesn't know what they are talking about:-).

Personal Rating:
Artwork - 9/10
Power - 8/10
Easy To Play - 8/10
Collectable - 8/10
Overall Score - 8.25/10

Chaos Emperor Dragon - Envoy Of The End (TLM-ENSE2)

Card:  TLM-ENSE2
Card Name:  Chaos Emperor Dragon - Envoy Of The End
Attribute:  Dark
Level/Rank:  8
Type:  Dragon/Effect
ATK:  3000
DEF:  2500

Card Text:
This card cannot be Normal Summoned or Set.  This card can only be Special Summoned by removing 1 LIGHT and 1 DARK monster in your Graveyard from play.  Pay 1000 of your Life Points to send all cards in both players' hands and on the field to the Graveyard.  Inflict 300 points of damage to yoru opponent's Life Points for each card that is sent to the Graveyard by this effect.

Personal Comment:
The card actually has a spelling error.  Instead of "your" the text says "yoru".  Besides that, Chaos Emperor Dragon is a near perfect card...and that's the problem.  When the effect is activated, he has the ability to end a duel in a OTK (one turn kill).  Because of this he is currently on the banned list and not legal to play in tournaments (Advanced Format).  With Black Luster Soldier - Envoy Of The Beginning taken off the banned list recently, some people have wondered if Chaos Emperor Dragon will be taken off the banned list also.  The answer is "no".  I'm hesitant to say "never" but this card was basically why the banned list was created in the first place.  On my personal list of most powerful cards I have Chaos Emperor Dragon at number 1.  He is easy to summon, easy to build a deck around, has some of the best stats, and can end a duel with a OTK once he hits the playing field...he deserves to be number 1.  If by some miracle he is ever taken off the banned list Chaos Emperor Dragon will be given my first 10/10  Personal Rating.  It's that great of a card.

Rulings For This Card:
- This card sends itself to the Graveyard as part of its effect and also counts itself as part of the calculation on how much damage is inflicted.
- The damage inflicted is equal to the number of cards both players send to the graveyard x 300.
- Tokens will be removed by this card's effect but not counted towards the damage calculation because they are not sent to the Graveyard.
- It is the controller (not the owner) that activates the effect and inflicts damage to the opponent.
- If you controll your opponent's "Chaos Emperor Dragon - Envoy Of The End" and pay 1000 life points to activate the effect, the damage is inflicted to your opponent even though the monster returns to the opponent's Graveyard.

Personal Rating:
Artwork - 10/10
Power - 10/10
Easy To Play - 10/10
Collectable - 8/10 (currently on the banned list so that hurts this rating)
Overall Score - 9.50/10