Gagaga Magician (GENF-EN001)

Card:  GENF-EN001
Card Name:  Gagaga Magician
Attribute:  Dark
Level/Rank:  4
Type:  Spellcaster/Effect
ATK:  1500
DEF:  1000

Card Text:
Once per turn, during your Main Phase: You can declare a Level from 1 to 8; this card becomes that Level until the End Phase.  You can only control 1 face-up "Gagaga Magician".  This card cannot be used as a Synchro Material Monster.

Personal Comment:

Go out and get this card...now!  If you are dueling and intend to use Xyz Monsters this card is absolutely essential.  It was made to easily bring out Xyz Monsters or meet level requirements for Ritual Monsters.  There are only a few cards out there that have the ability to change levels (one of my favorite is Fabled Raven) and be as versatile as this monster.  The restriction of only controlling 1 face-up "Gagaga Magician" won't be a problem once Gagaga Girl is released in the Order Of Chaos Booster Pack which is due out in January.  Her ability to match the level of Gagaga Magician will essentially make Xyz Summoning a snap (especially for Xyz Monsters that require 3 monsters).  So lets say you want to summon Number 83: Galaxy Queen (which requires 3 Level 1 monsters).  Play a level 1 monster, have Gagaga Magician copy that level, then have Gagaga Girl copy Gagaga Magician.  Wham!!!  3 level 1 monsters.  Just think if they ever make an Xyz Monster that requires 3 Level 8 monsters.  The summoning would be just as easy.  Now you know why you need to go out and get this card.

Personal Rating:
Artwork - 7/10
Power - 7/10 (his stats aren't as important as his effect)
Easy To Play - 7/10
Collectable - 7/10
Overall Score - 7/10

Rescue Rabbit (PHSW-EN037)

Card:  PHSW-EN037
Card Name:  Rescue Rabbit
Attribute:  Earth
Level/Rank:  4
Type:  Beast/Effect
ATK:  300
DEF:  100

Card Text:
This card cannot be Special Summoned from the Deck.  You can banish this face-up card you control; Special Summon 2 Level 4 or lower Normal Monsters with the same name from your Deck.  Destroy them during the End Phase.  The effect of "Rescue Rabbit" can only be activated once per turn.

Personal Comment:

Not only is Rescue Rabbit the best card to come out of Photon Shockwave, it might be one of the best card ever (right up there with Tour Guide From The Underworld).  Currently it is selling for more than $100 and every duelist wants it in their deck.  The difference this card makes is so significant that "having it" versus "not having it" will determine the outcome of a duel.  Even the 3 stipulations to prevent this card from being too powerful does absolutely nothing to hold it back.

1.  This card cannot be Special Summoned from the Deck.
Not a big deal.  He's going to end up in your hand or Graveyard soon enough for you to get him in play.  It's a Level 4 card so there's no need for a Tribute or anything of the sort.  This is the most basic play possible.

2.  Destroy the 2 monsters you Special Summoned at the End Phase.
The 2 monsters will be used up before the End Phase as part of another Special Summon.  Why else would you bring them into play?

3.  The effect of "Rescue Rabbit" can only be activated once per turn.
Excuse me?  It should be once per game!!!

The example of how to use Rescue Rabbit is one I'm sure everyone has heard about.  Get Rescue Rabbit on the field face-up.  Banish him and Special Summon two Alexandrite Dragon from your Deck.  Tribute the Two Alexandrite Dragon to Special Summon Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon.  Before your opponent can even blink you have on the field a Level 8 Monster with 3000 ATK and 2500 DEF that is nearly impossible to destroy.  Rescue Rabbit is one of the most game-changing and broken card to ever to be released.  If you have this card use it while you can.  I can't imagine it not being banned or limited soon.

Personal Rating:
Artwork - 9/10
Power - 10/10 (for what it can do...not for its stats)
Easy To Play - 9/10
Collectable - 10/10 (if it gets banned or limited this rating will drop)
Overall Score - 9.5/10

Number 10: Illumiknight (PHSW-EN041)

Card:  PHSW-EN041
Card Name:  Number 10: Illumiknight
Attribute:  Light
Level/Rank:  4
Type:  Warrior/Xyz/Effect
ATK:  2400
DEF:  2400

Card Text:
3 Level 4 monsters
Once per turn: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; send 1 card from your hand to the Graveyard and draw 1 card.

Personal Comment:

There are two major problems with Illumiknight.  One, the summoning requirement is rather difficult for a Rank 4 monster.  Two, the card effect doesn't offset the summoning requirement.  Is it really worth sacrificing 3 level 4 monsters to have the ability to send 1 card from your hand to the Graveyard and draw 1 card?  In addition, you will need a card like Plaguespreader Zombie in your hand (or a card that thrives in the Graveyard) to make sending a card to the Graveyard beneficial.  Tough to summon, tough to play, and the effect isn't game changing.  But since this Blog is about "featured" cards I must say something good to justifiy my reason for writing about it.  The 2400 ATK and 2400 DEF are decent stats.  In addition, Illumiknight is pretty cheap to purchase right now and it's worth adding to any collection.  I would just hold off on using it in a duel right now.

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

Number 39: Utopia (YS11-EN041)

Card:  YS11-EN041
Card Name:  Number 39: Utopia
Attribute:  Light
Level/Rank:  4
Type:  Warrior/Xyz/Effect
ATK:  2500
DEF:  2000

Card Text:
2 Level 4 monsters
When any player's monster declares an attack: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; negate the attack.  When this card is targeted for an attack, while it has no Xyz Materials: Destroy this card.

Personal Comment:
As the Synchro era is coming to an end, many people have debated if the new Xyz (pronounced "ek-seez") will be better and more powerful than the Synchro monsters that have dominated the dueling world.  Only time will tell.  I added Number 39: Utopia to my collection because it was one of the first Xyz monster to be released and it also gave me a chance to try him out.  The first thing you need to know is that Xyz monsters can't be used for Synchro Summoning because they are RANKS, not LEVELS.  In this case, Utopia is a Rank 4 monster that requires 2 level 4 monsters to bring him into play.  Once summoned, the two cards used become Xyz materials (which you place under the Utopia card on the dueling field).  While the stats are decent at 2500 ATK and 2000 DEF, the main purpose of this card is to hold off your opponent for two rounds when they have a beat stick above 2500 ATK in play.  Also note that once Utopia is out of Xyz material to discard, he will be destroyed by whatever monster attacks him (doesn't matter if it is a 100 ATK monster).  Overall, this is a useful stall card that you should try out and learn to play.  It will prepare you for things to come.  Because like it or not, the Xyz are coming.

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

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

Royal Firestorm Guards (GLAS-EN087)



Card:  GLAS-EN087
Card Name:  Royal Firestorm Guards
Attribute:  Fire
Level/Rank:  4
Type:  Pyro/Effect
ATK:  1700
DEF:  1200

Card Text:
When this card is Normal Summoned, select 4 Pyro-Type monsters in your Graveyard.  Return those cards to the Deck, then draw 2 cards.

Personal Comment:
Personally, I don't know of anybody who runs a specialized Pyro deck.  But if you're one of the few who does then this card is absolutely essential.  It's all in the numbers.  Once Royal Firestorm Guards is Normal Summoned your deck is +2 and your hand is +2 (4 from the Graveyard to your deck minus 2 from the deck to your hand).  In addition, Royal Firestorm Guards does not get discarded or removed when the effect activates so there is no cost to you.  This is a great card that very few people get to utilize.

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

Mystical Elf (DB1-EN120)

Card:  DB1-EN120
Card Name:  Mystical Elf
Attribute:  Light
Level/Rank:  4
Type:  Spellcaster
ATK:  800
DEF:  2000

Card Text:
A delicate elf that lacks offense, but has a terrific defense backed by mystical power.

Personal Comment:
So why am I featuring a card without any devastating effect or spectacular power?  It is because cards like Mystical Elf are essential in winning duels.  You can play this card immediately without any special requirements.  She goes from your hand to the playing field in defense position.  Now you have a 2000 DEF wall for your Lifepoints.  Early in the duel there will be very few monsters your opponent can play that can go through that kind of defense.  In addition, they're not going to waste a valuable Spell/Trap card on her.  But the most important reason is that Mystical Elf is a level 4 Light monster.  You can use her to Synchro Summon some of the most powerful cards in the Yugioh dueling game today.  Simple, effective, and tough to beat.

Personal Rating:
Artwork - 7/10
Power - 7/10 (powerful defense)
Easy To Play - 10/10 (as basic as it gets)
Collectable - 7/10
Overall Score - 7.75/10