Vennominaga The Deity Of Poisonous Snakes (TAEV-EN013)

Card:  TAEV-EN013
Card Name:  Vennominaga The Deity Of Poisonous Snakes
Attribute:  Dark
Level/Rank:  10
Type:  Reptile/Effect
ATK:  0
DEF:  0

Card Text:
This card cannot be Normal Summoned or Set.  This card cannot be Special Summoned except with its own effect or with "Rise of the Snake Deity".  This card gains 500 ATK for each Reptile-Type monster in your Graveyard.  This card cannot be targeted and is unaffected by the effects of other Monsters, Spells, and Traps.  When this card is destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard, you can remove from play 1 other Reptile-Type monster from your Graveyard to Special Summon this card.  When this card inflicts Battle Damage to your opponent, place 1 Hyper-Venom Counter on it.  When 3 Hyper-Venom Counters are on this card, you win the Duel.

Personal Comment:

This is my 50th post so I wanted to feature a card that truly is one of the best in the game and rarest to own.  With the release of Legendary Collection 2 everybody can now afford to run this card (LCGX-EN191) but having the 1st Edition (TAEV-EN013) makes it that much more special to my collection.  This post is going to be longer than most because it is one of my favorite card to duel with.

Deck Type:

Vennominaga The Deity Of Poisonous Snakes needs to be ran in a Reptile-Type deck specifically built around her.  In order to maximize the deck's potential it has to accomplish two key objectives: (1) the deck needs to be able to easily summon her and (2) it needs to get large amounts of Reptile-Type Monsters into the Graveyard quickly.  If you are successful at doing both it will be one of the most competitive decks you can bring into a duel.

Archetypes That Are Reptile specific:
- Alien
- Reptillianne
- Worm

Summoning:

To bring Vennominaga into play (initially) you need to set the Trap card "Rise of the Snake Deity" and have "Vennominon the King of Poisonous Snakes" destroyed for it to active.  This isn't a very hard summoning requirement and the fact that she can be summoned from your hand or deck makes a significant difference (no need to search your deck for this card).  The text for the Trap card "Rise of the Snake Deity" is the following...

Active only when a face-up "Vennominon the King of Poisonous Snakes" you control is destroyed.  Special Summon 1 "Vennominaga the Deity of Poisonous Snakes" from your hand or deck.

Here are two (of many) ways to accomplish this Special Summon...

- Use "Damage = Reptile" to get Vennominon onto the field.  Active "Offering To The Snake Deity" to destroy Vennominon which then activates "Rise of the Snake Deity".

- Use "Snake Rain" to get Vennominon into the Graveyard.  Special Summon Vennominon from the Graveyard with "Viper's Rebirth" which automatically destroys it during the End Phase.  Activate "Rise of the Snake Deity".

Once In Play:

Vennominaga can't be targeted and is immune to the effects of other Monsters, Spells, and Traps.  This makes it nearly impossible for your opponent to remove her from the field using other methods besides ATK brute force.  Because of this, ideally you want Vennominaga to hit the field when your Graveyard has about 6 (or more) Reptile-Type monsters to boost her ATK to 3000 (at a minimum you want her ATK to be greater than any of your opponent's monster currently in play).  That should be enough to hold off your opponent a few rounds so you can keep dumping Reptile-Type monsters in your Graveyard to keep powering her up.  Also activate the Trap card "Imperial Iron Wall" to prevent these cards from being removed from play which would weaken her ATK.  Even if your opponent is successful at destroying her in battle, her effect lets you remove a Reptile-Type monster from your Graveyard to Special Summon her back onto the field (this won't work if you still have Imperial Iron Wall activated).  But if you use this effect she will come back 500 ATK weaker than before because a Reptile-Type monster was removed from the Graveyard.

The final part of Vennominaga's effect is so powerful that very few cards in the Yugioh dueling world can match its might (besides Exodia The Forbidden One).  The ability to automatically win a duel gives you a chance at victory no matter what kind of deck your opponent is using.  On top of that, this is a lot easier than gathering the 5 pieces of Exodia.  When you inflict Battle Damage to your opponent, place 1 Hyper-Venom Counter on Vennominaga.  When she has 3 Hyper-Venom Counters you win the duel.  Done!

Cards Essential For A Vennominaga Deck:

- Rise Of The Snake Deity
- Viper's Rebirth
- Snake Rain
- Damage = Reptile
- Offering To The Snake Deity
- Snake Deity's Command
- Snake Whistle
- Venom Shot
- Card Destruction
- Imperial Iron Wall

Personal Rating:
Artwork - 10/10
Power - 10/10
Easy To Play - 7/10
Collectable - 10/10
Overall Score - 9.25/10

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

Loki, Lord Of The Aesir (STOR-EN039)

Card:  STOR-EN039
Card Name:  Loki, Lord Of The Aesir
Attribute:  Dark
Level/Rank:  10
Type:  Spellcaster/Synchro/Effect
ATK:  3300
DEF:  3000

Card Text:
1 "Nordic Alfar" Tuner + 2 or more non-Tuner monsters
Once per turn, when your opponent activates a Spell/Trap Card during your Battle Phase, you can negate its activation and destroy it.  During the End Phase, if this face-up card on the field was destroyed by your opponent's card (either by battle or by card effect) and sent to the Graveyard this turn, you can remove from play 1 "Nordic Alfar" Tuner monster from your Graveyard to Special Summon this card from the Graveyard.  When it is Special Summoned by this effect, you can select 1 Trap Card in your Graveyard, and add it to your hand.

Personal Comment:
Here's the specific order for the three Nordic God cards in terms of dueling capabilities...Odin, Loki, then Thor.  Like the other two, Loki is a great card.  But if you're going to build a deck around one card you should go with Odin.  Loki's ability to destroy a Spell/Trap card once per turn is fantastic.  The 3300 ATK and 3000 DEF will stand up against most monsters.  But he still falls short of power compared to Odin (which also has an impressive card effect that negates Spell/Trap cards).

So here's the quick recap for the three Nordic God cards I've written about...
- Odin is the most powerful and should be the card you build a deck around
- Loki should be used only if you don't have Odin
- Thor is a great card but there are a lot better cards you can build a deck around***
- Get all three cards...they're a great addition to any collection and the artwork is the best there is.

***Refer to my updated comment section on Thor, Lord Of The Aesir.

Personal Rating:
Artwork - 10/10 (the ultimate rarity version doesn't do it justice)
Power - 9/10
Easy To Play - 6/10
Collectable - 8/10
Overall Score - 8.25/10

Thor, Lord Of The Aesir (STOR-EN038)

Card:  STOR-EN038
Card Name:  Thor, Lord Of The Aesir
Attribute:  Earth
Level/Rank:  10
Type:  Beast-Warrior/Synchro/Effect
ATK:  3500
DEF:  2800

Card Text:
1 "Nordic Beast" Tuner + 2 or more non-Tuner monsters
Once per turn, you can negate the effects of all face-up monsters your opponent controls, until the End Phase.  During the End Phase, if this face-up card on the field was destroyed by your opponent's card (either by battle or by card effect) and sent to the Graveyard this turn, you can remove from play 1 "Nordic Beast" Tuner monster from your Graveyard to Special Summon this card from the Graveyard.  When it is Special Summoned by this effect, inflict 800 damage to your opponent.

Personal Comment:
I'm still on the fence with this card.  Thor has some great stats with 3500 ATK and 2800 DEF but it will take a lot of work to bring him into play.  On top of that, once in play your opponent can easily get rid of him with various Spell/Trap cards.  For dueling purposes, there are plenty of other monsters with comparable stats and more staying power than Thor (Odin or Loki are simply better).  But as a collector, this is one of my favorite card.  The artwork is superb.  If you're going to spend money on a card you don't want to feel ripped off due to a lack of effort in the art (I refuse to buy The Wicked Avatar for this reason).  This card is worth the money.  Plus, it's one of the three Nordic God cards which makes it a pivotal part of any collection.

Update - 10/28/2011
I've heard a lot of disagreement with my assessment of Thor as a dueling card.  Apparently there are many duelist who have been very successful using this card and others who have been beaten by an opponent who uses this card.  So I need to clarify.  I think Thor is a very powerful card (my Personal Power Rating has him at 8/10).  The 3500 ATK and 2800 DEF is nothing to laugh at.  Those stats will hold up against most monsters and if you get him on the playing field there's a very good chance you will win your duel.  Having said that, why build a deck around Thor when you can build it around Odin instead?  Odin brings with him 4000 ATK and 3500 DEF with an effect that negates Spell/Trap cards.  Odin is simply the most powerful of the three Nordic Gods.  So the question is this...if you had a "winner takes all" match with the choice to build a deck around Odin, Loki, or Thor...which one would you choose?

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

Odin, Father Of The Aesir (STOR-EN040)

Card:  STOR-EN040
Card Name:  Odin, Father Of The Aesir
Attribute:  Light
Level/Rank:  10
Type:  Fairy/Synchro/Effect
ATK:  4000
DEF:  3500

Card Text:
1 "Nordic Ascendant" Tuner + 2 or more non-Tuner monsters
Once per turn, during your Main Phase, you can activate this effect to have this card become unaffected by the effects of Spell/Trap Cards until the End Phase.  During the End Phase, if this face-up card on the field was destroyed by your opponent's card (either by battle or by card effect) and sent to the Graveyard this turn, you can remove from play 1 "Nordic Ascendant" Tuner monster from your Graveyard to Special Summon this card from the Graveyard.  When it is Special Summoned by this effect, you can draw 1 card.

Personal Comment:
Of the three Nordic God cards (Odin, Loki, and Thor) Odin is the most powerful.  Not only does he have the best stats with 4000 ATK and 3500 DEF but his card effect makes him almost unstoppable when he hits the playing field.  So once he is summoned there's really nothing to stop you from attacking.  Most monsters won't be able to stop the 4000 ATK (if they can then you have a very big problem).  The only viable option your opponent has against Odin is to remove him from play with a monster's card effect.  Even if that happens he can still be Special Summoned by removing a "Nordic Ascendant" Tuner from the Graveyard.  Like most cards with this much power, Odin is a very difficult card to Synchro Summon and will take time to gather the needed materials.  However, if you are able to bring him out you can expect a quick and decisive victory.  One of the best cards available.

Personal Rating:
Artwork - 10/10
Power - 10/10
Easy To Play - 6/10
Collectable - 8/10
Overall Score - 8.5/10

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

Earthbound Immortal Uru (SOVR-EN025)

Card:  SOVR-EN025
Card Name:  Earthbound Immortal Uru
Attribute:  Dark
Level/Rank:  10
Type:  Insect/Effect
ATK:  3000
DEF:  3000

Card Text:
There can only be 1 face-up "Earthbound Immortal" monster on the field.  If there is no face-up Field Spell Card on the field, destroy this card.  Your opponent cannot select this card as an attack target.  This card can attack your opponent directly.  Once per turn, you can Tribute 1 monster, except this card, to select and take control of 1 face-up monster your opponent controls, until the End Phase.

Personal Comment:
-  Only one "Earthbound Immortal" on the field...eh, getting two would be silly hard.
-  Make sure there's a face-up Field Spell Card...ok, shouldn't be an issue.
-  Opponent can't attack this guy...hhhmmm, now we're cooking.
-  Attack my opponent directly with 3000 ATK...sweet, so sweet, oh so sweet.
-  Once per turn ditch a monster to control 1 of my opponent's monster...OMG, OMG!

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

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

Cyber End Dragon (CRV-EN036)

Card:  CRV-EN036
Card Name:  Cyber End Dragon
Attribute:  Light
Level/Rank:  10
Type:  Machine/Fusion/Effect
ATK:  4000
DEF:  2800

Card Text:
"Cyber Dragon" + "Cyber Dragon" + "Cyber Dragon"
A Fusion Summon of this card can only be conducted with the above Fusion Material Monsters.  During battle between this attacking card and a Defense Position monster whose DEF is lower than the ATK of this card, inflict the difference as Battle Damage to your opponent's Life Points.

Personal Comment:
An "easier to summon" version of Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, this card is all about brute strength.  Very few Yugioh cards have the DEF that can withstand Cyber End Dragon's 4000 ATK.  The down side (like all monsters that rely solely on ATK) is that it is very vulnerable to Spells, Traps, and Monsters with card destroying/removing effects.  If you get him on the playing field, make sure he has enough protection against such cards.

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

Obelisk The Tormentor (GLD4-EN030)

Card:  GLD4-EN030
Card Name:  Obelisk The Tormentor
Attribute:  Divine
Level/Rank:  10
Type:  Divine Beast/Effect
ATK:  4000
DEF:  4000

Card Text:
You must Tribute 3 monsters to Normal Summon this card (you cannot Set this card).  The Normal Summon of this card cannot be negated.  When this card is Normal Summoned, cards and effects cannot be activated.  This card cannot be targeted by Spells, Traps, Spell/Trap effects, or Effect Monster effects.  If this card is Special Summoned, it is sent to the Graveyard during the End Phase.  You can Tribute 2 monsters to destroy all monsters your opponent controls.  This card cannot declare an attack the turn this effect is activated.

Personal Comment:
One of the three Egyptian God Cards, Obelisk is near the top in all categories.  The summoning requirement for a card of this level is fairly easy.  Once Obelisk The Tormentor is in play he is almost impossible to stop.  Spells, Traps, and Effect Monsters that require targeting can't touch him.  With a hefty 4000 ATK and 4000 DEF there aren't many cards out there that can even handle a direct assault at him.  And if that wasn't enough, you can tribute two monsters to destroy all monsters your opponent controls.  So on their next turn, if they can't bring something out to stop this beat stick the duel is pretty much over.  He is an absolute powerhouse and one of the best cards available.

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