Raviel, Lord Of Phantasms (SOI-EN003)

Card:  SOI-EN003
Card Name:  Raviel, Lord Of Phantasms
Attribute:  Dark
Level/Rank:  10
Type:  Fiend/Effect
ATK:  4000
DEF:  4000

Card Text:
This card cannot be Normal Summoned or Set.  This card cannot be Special Summoned except by Tributing 3 Fiend-Type monsters.  Each time your opponent Normal Summons a monster(s), Special Summon 1 "Phantasm Token" (Fiend-Type/Dark/Level 1/ATK 1000/DEF 1000).  This token cannot declare an attack.  Once per turn, by Tributing 1 monster, this card gains ATK equal to that monster's original ATK, until the End Phase.

Personal Comment:
One of the three Sacred Beasts specifically created to go up against the 3 Egyptian God Cards (the counter to Obelisk The Tormentor), Raviel is an absolute powerhouse.  Tributing the 3 Fiend-Type monsters to get him on the playing field can be challenging but not impossible.  However, the effort is well worth it.  He comes stacked with 4000 ATK and 4000 DEF.  In addition, whenever your opponent Normal Summons a monster you get to Special Summon a "Phantasm Token" on your side.  This in turn can be Tributed to increase Raviel's ATK to 5000 ATK until the End Phase.  Why so much power in one card?  It's because you will need all of it to challenge a monster like Obelisk The Tormentor.  Raviel, Lord Of Phantasms is the epitome of power in a monster card.  If you can get him on the playing field you can expect a quick victory to follow.  Lets compare Raviel, Lord Of Phantasms versus Obelisk The Tormentor...

Summoning:
Raviel - Tribute 3 Fiend-Type monsters
Obelisk - Tribute 3 monsters (no specification on type)
Winner - Obelisk

Stats:
Raviel - 4000 ATK, 4000 DEF
Obelisk - 4000 ATK, 4000 DEF
Winner - Push

Effect:
Raviel - Tribute a monster to increase ATK
Obelisk - Tribute 2 monsters to destroy all monsters your opponent controls
Winner - Push (whoever activates the effect first will win)

Misc:
Obelisk can be Normal Summoned (it can't be negated) or Special Summoned.  Also, Obelisk cannot be targeted by Spells, Traps, Spell/Trap effects, or Effect Monster effects.  Huge advantage over Raviel.

Overall Winner: Obelisk

Rulings For This Card:
- You can tribute face-down Fiend monsters to summon Raviel, Lord Of Phantasms.
- Tributing 1 monster is a cost to activate this card's Ignition Effect.
- You cannot tribute this card to activate its own effect.
- A "Phantasm Token" cannot be forced to attack with a card effect.

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

Doomcaliber Knight (TU01-EN001)

Card:  TU01-EN001
Card Name:  Doomcaliber Knight
Attribute:  Dark
Level/Rank:  4
Type:  Fiend/Effect
ATK:  1900
DEF:  1800

Card Text:
This card cannot be Special Summoned.  When an Effect Monster's effect is activated, you must Tribute this card.  Negate that effect's activation, and destroy the monster.

Personal Comment:
There are a lot of great qualities to this card and there are some not so great qualities.  In order to play this card properly you have to know how to utilize its full potential.  Doomcaliber Knight isn't a card that you can play without a strategy in place.  Being a level 4 monster you can easily Normal Summon this card once it is in your hand.  However, the first restriction on this card is that he can't be Special Summoned.  So once he is destroyed on the field it's not an easy task to revive him.  Also, once in play when a monster activates its effect you must tribute this card, nullify the activation, and destroy that monster.  Take note that it doesn't matter who activates an effect (you or your opponent) and the tribute is mandatory.  So how do you use this card to your advantage?  First, when Doomcaliber Knight is in your hand make sure you wait until your opponent has an Effect Monster worth destroying in play.  Or even better yet, if you have a Yubel card on the field to bring out its other incarnation.  Putting him in play without a target would be waste.  Second, be sure you don't have any moster with an effect that might get destroyed once Doomcaliber Knight hits the field (unless it's a card that you want destroyed...again, like Yubel).  If used properly, this card has the ability to destroy nearly all top tier monster cards out there (since most top tier monsters are effect cards).  An added bonus is that Doomcaliber Knight can be splashed into any deck.  For a level 4 monster that has this kind of power, there is no reason what-so-ever to not have this card as part of your dueling deck.

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

Doomsday Horror (PTDN-EN022)

Card:  PTDN-EN022
Card Name:  Doomsday Horror
Attribute:  Dark
Level/Rank:  4
Type:  Fiend/Effect
ATK:  ?
DEF:  ?

Card Text:
The ATK and DEF of this card are each equal to the number of removed from play DARK monsters x 300.  When this card is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, return all removed from play DARK monsters to their owners' Graveyards.

Personal Comment:
A gentleman by the name of MONTYTHEMAESTRO asked for my opinion of this card.  So I went and added the card to my collection in order to post it on this blog.  First let me say that I've never used this card before so my opinion isn't very relevant.  However, a friend of mine who specializes in Fiend and Zombie decks was gracious enough to give his take on it.  So here's his review...

Doomsday Horror is a very situational card.  The fact that his (or it could be a her but anything that looks that ugly I just assume it's a male:-) ATK and DEF depends on the number of DARK monsters removed from play dictates how useful he is.  If he comes out early in the game he won't be on the playing field for long.  If he comes out late in the game there is great potental for some very powerful stats.  But realistically, at that point in the game it's likely that your opponent will have a beat stick in attack position ready to dance with Doomsday Horror.  Obviously, this card should be used in a DARK deck with the ability to remove large amounts of DARK monsters quickly with milling and swarming capabilities.  But even in that perfect situation Doomsday Horror is just a "good" card at best. 

However, there is one more deck type that makes this card absolutely devastating.  Any deck that is built around Rainbow Dark Dragon.  Think about it.  If Doomsday Horror comes out early and is destroyed he becomes one of the cards needed to summon Rainbow Dark Dragon.  If he comes out AFTER Rainbow Dark Dragon has been summoned, Doomsday Horror's ATK and DEF is 2100 minimum!!!  And here's the most important part.  If he is destroyed all the removed from play DARK monsters are returned to the Graveyard.  That gives you the ability to bring out Rainbow Dark Dragon again with more ATK than the first time (remember Rainbow Dark Dragon already starts at a whopping 4000 ATK before the additional power up!!!).  You literally can end the duel right there with a one-turn-kill.

Summary - Use this card in a DARK macro deck (milling and swarming capabilities) for some good uses.  Use it in a Rainbow Dark Dragon deck to take it to another level.  Overall, a very good card to have.

- OnePotatoTwo

Personal Rating:
Artwork - 6/10
Power - 7/10 (very situational but has great potential)
Easy To Play - 7/10
Collectable - 6/10
Overall Score - 6.5/10

Grapha, Dragon Lord Of Dark World (SDGU-EN001)

Card:  SDGU-EN001
Card Name:  Grapha, Dragon Lord Of Dark World
Attribute:  Dark
Level/Rank:  8
Type:  Fiend/Effect
ATK:  2700
DEF:  1800

Card Text:
You can Special Summon this card (from your Graveyard) by returning 1 face-up "Dark World" monster you control to the hand, except "Grapha, Dragon Lord of Dark World".  If this card is discarded to the Graveyard by a card effect: Target 1 card your opponent controls; destroy that target, then, if this card was discarded from your hand to your Graveyard by an opponent's card effect, look at 1 random card in your opponent's hand, then, if it was a monster, you can Special Summon it to your side of the field.

Personal Comment:
Grapha, Dragon Lord Of Dark World is the leader of the pack in the new Gates Of The Underworld structure deck.  In order to maximize this card's full potential, it needs to be used in a "Dark World" theme deck.  Its card effect has several components to it so you really need to break it down and understand each one individually...

Special Summon:
If you're running a "Dark World" theme deck this summoning requirement is fairly easy.  All you need to do is return 1 face-up "Dark World" monster you control (except Grapha) back to your hand.  The important thing to note here is that the card you're returning is not destroyed so there is no cost to you.  Basically, Grapha can keep coming back from the Graveyard and cards that return to your hand can be used over and over again.  A very good added bonus for an easy summoning.

This card is discarded to the Graveyard by a card effect:
You can then target 1 card your opponent controls and destroy it.  Notice how it doesn't specify who discards Grapha to the Graveyard.  So if your opponent isn't willing to do the dirty work, you can use your own card effects and send him to the Graveyard to destroy an opponent's card.  Then return a "Dark World" face-up monster back to your hand, Special Summon Grapha, and repeat the destruction.  It's a never ending nightmare for an opponent who can't stop this.

If Grapha is sent from your hand to the Graveyard by an opponent's card effect:
You then get to randomly look at 1 card in your opponent's hand.  If it's a monster card you can Special Summon it to your side of the field.  There are actually two benefits to this.  One, Grapha gets sent to the Graveyard, which is where you want him.  This will then give you the chance to Special Summon him.  Two, there's a chance to steal an opponent's monster.  There is no downside to this what-so-ever.

Simply put, this is a great card and is mandatory in every Dark World deck.  While the 2700 ATK and 1800 DEF isn't anything to brag about, Grapha's ability to revive, destroy, and steal makes him difficult for any opponent to go up against.  Oh, and the artwork is sinister.  Everything you'd expect from a Dragon Lord Of Dark World.

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

Garlandolf, King Of Destruction (ABPF-EN039)

Card:  ABPF-EN039
Card Name:  Garlandolf, King Of Destruction
Attribute:  Dark
Level/Rank:  7
Type:  Fiend/Ritual/Effect
ATK:  2500
DEF:  1400

Card Text:
This card can only be Ritual Summoned with the Ritual Spell Card, "Ritual of Destruction".  When this card is Ritual Summoned, destroy all other face-up monsters on the field with DEF less than or equal to this card's ATK.  This card gains 100 ATK for each monster destroyed by this effect.

Personal Comment:
Right now one of the toughest decks to duel against are the ones with swarming capabilities.  They bring out lots of monsters onto the playing field and try to overwhelm you.  The weakness is that most of these swarming monsters are middle to lower tier (not very strong stats).  This is when Garlandolf is at his most destructive.  When played against a swarming deck the 2500 ATK will pretty much guarantee that you will destroy most (if not all) the swarming cards.  Not only do you have a chance to clear the field, but in doing so you can gain more ATK for a direct attack at your opponent's Lifepoints.  A fantastic card to have in any dueling deck.

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

Dark Necrofear (DB2-EN004)

Card:  DB2-EN004
Card Name:  Dark Necrofear
Attribute:  Dark
Level/Rank:  8
Type:  Fiend/Effect
ATK:  2200
DEF:  2800

Card Text:
This card cannot be Normal Summoned or Set.  This card can only be Special Summoned by removing from play 3 Fiend-Type monsters in your Graveyard.  If this card is destroyed as a result of battle or by your opponent's card effect while it is a Monster Card, it is treated as an Equip Card during the End Phase of this turn, and equip 1 of your opponent's monsters with this card.  As long as it is equipped with this card, you control the equipped monster.

Personal Comment:
Obviously, if you are running Dark Necrofear you should be using a Fiend theme deck.  If that is the case, getting this card onto the playing field is fairly easy.  It is also a great stall card with the 2800 DEF and the "snatch steal" effect making it hard to remove her from play.  While it does have a very powerful effect, this card isn't that great as a deck leader.  Try including Dark Necrofear in a deck based around monsters like Raviel, Lord Of Phantasms (which has the same summoning requirement and more power) or Rainbow Dark Dragon.  The versatility of a Fiend deck makes it difficult for most people to duel against.  If your opponent isn't prepared for Dark Necrofear and can't remove her from play quickly (without activating the effect) the advantage will swing in your favor.  Great card.

Personal Rating:
Artwork - 9/10
Power - 7/10
Easy To Play - 8/10 (if you're using a Fiend deck)
Collectable - 7/10
Overall Score - 7.75/10

Yubel (PTDN-EN006)

Card:  PTDN-EN006
Card Name:  Yubel
Attribute:  Dark
Level/Rank:  10
Type:  Fiend/Effect
ATK:  0
DEF:  0

Card Text:
This card cannot be destroyed by battle.  You take no Battle Damage from battles involving this card.  When this face-up Attack Position card is attacked by an opponent's monster, before damage calculation inflict damage to your opponent equal to that monster's ATK.  During your End Phase, Tribute 1 monster or destroy this card.  When this card is destroyed, except by its own effect, you can Special Summon 1 "Yubel - Terror Incarnate" from your hand, Deck, or Graveyard.

Personal Comment:
For those who don't know, this is the first of 3 Yubel cards: Yubel, Yubel - Terror Incarnate, and Yubel - The Ultimate Nightmare.  This card isn't powerful whatsoever with 0 ATK and 0 DEF.  How much damage your opponent sustains depends on the ATK of the monster they decide to attack with.  But realistically, they won't be attacking this card once they see it.  However, this card is a means to an end.  Once Yubel is on the playing field, it is only a matter of time before Yubel - Terror Incarnate comes out.  After that happens, Yubel - The Ultimate Nightmare will follow and victory is basically guaranteed.  This card is not something opponents want to see because they know what's coming.  It's also not an easy card to play.  Yubel (and the other two incarnation of him) need a specific deck and strategy built around them.  Try to include cards that have the ability to remove Yubel from play (such as Black Rose Dragon or Doomcaliber Knight).  If done properly this deck is one of the most powerful dueling options out there.  So don't let the low personal rating on this card fool you.  There's a reason Yubel is a level 10 monster card.

Rulings For This Card:
- Yubel's damage inflicting effect is a Trigger Effect that activates before damage calculation.
- Tributing 1 monster or destroying Yubel is a Trigger Effect that activates during your End Phase. You make your choice when the effect resolves.
- When Yubel is destroyed while in the hand or deck, its effect activates. If it is destroyed while face-down, its effect activates.
- The owner of Yubel activates the effect.  If your opponent controls your Yubel when it is destroyed, you get the effect, not your opponent.
- When Yubel is destroyed during the Damage Step, its effect can be activated.

Personal Rating:
Artwork - 9/10
Power - 7/10
Easy To Play - 5/10
Collectable - 6/10
Overall Score - 6.75/10