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

Effect Veiler (DREV-EN002)

Card:  DREV-EN002
Card Name:  Effect Veiler
Attribute:  Light
Level/Rank:  1
Type:  Spellcaster/Tuner
ATK:  0
DEF:  0

Card Text:
During your opponent's Main Phase, you can send this card from your hand to the Graveyard to select 1 face-up Effect Monster your opponent controls.  Negate the effect(s) of that monster until the End Phase.

Personal Comment:

What are the best Yugioh Tuners?  There’s no single one “correct” answer to this question.  However, there are certain Tuners that would show up on Top 10 Lists more than most.  Effect Veiler would be one of those.  This card is a Level 1 Monster that packs a whopping 0 ATK and 0 DEF (I hope you can hear the sarcasm in my voice).  These stats are the lowest possible in the dueling game.  So why is this card “featured” on my blog?  It’s because Effect Veiler’s card effect is one of the rarest in the game…a monster card (which doesn’t need to be summoned) that can negate the effect of an opponent’s monster.  Once in your hand, that’s where you want it to stay to utilize the card’s effect.  Effect Veiler is basically a Spell/Trap Card that sits in your hand (instead of the field) making it extremely hard for any opponent to remove or anticipate.  This single effect can stop some of the most destructive top tier dueling monsters in the game today (such as Trishula, Dark Armed Dragon, and Judgment Dragon...just to name a few), making Effect Veiler essential in any deck (even if you don’t use it to Synchro Summon).

Some Of My Other Favorite Tuners:
- Fabled Raven (in my opinion the best Tuner)
- Plaguespreader Zombie
- Glow-Up Bulb
- Krebons
- Delta Flyer
- Formula Synchron

Personal Rating:
Artwork - 7/10
Power - 8/10 (for the ability to stop some of the strongest monsters)
Easy To Play - 9/10
Collectable - 9/10
Overall Score - 8.25/10

Number 83: Galaxy Queen (PHSW-EN039)

Card:  PHSW-EN039
Card Name:  Number 83: Galaxy Queen
Attribute:  Dark
Level/Rank:  1
Type:  Spellcaster/Xyz/Effect
ATK:  500
DEF:  500

Card Text:
3 Level 1 monsters
Once per turn: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; until the opponent's next End Phase, the monsters you currently control cannot be destroyed by battle, and if they attack a Defense Position monster, inflict piercing Battle Damage to your opponent.

Personal Comment:

For being a Rank 1 card, Galaxy Queen has two very impressive effects that assists all your monsters on the field.  The summoning requirement of 3 Level 1 monsters isn't difficult but it will take some time to gather (unless your running a deck filled with Level 1 monsters which isn't likely).  However, there are plently of great Level 1 monsters to choose from: Effect Veiler, Glow-Up Bulb, Battle Fader, Copycat, D.D. Crow, Turbo Synchron, and Kuriboh...just to name a few.

Once per turn, you can activate the first part of the effect by detaching 1 Xyz Material from this card.  By doing this, all your monsters on the field can't be destroyed by battle until your opponent's next End Phase (including Galaxy Queen so her low stats of 500 ATK and 500 DEF isn't much of a hinderance).  This is one of the best stall options available to buy you time if your opponent has an ATK beat stick on the field.  Just keep in mind that this is restricted to battles so Spell and Trap cards can still put a hurting on you.  Be sure you're prepared to deal with this if it should arise.

The second part is an added bonus that basically gives all the monsters you control an additional effect (until your opponent's next End Phase).  The ability to inflict piercing Battle Damage means if you attack a defense position monster, and you have higher ATK than the DEF of that monster, then the difference directly hits your opponent's life points.  Here's an example...

Blue-Eyes White Dragon (3000 ATK) attacks a defense position Cosmo Queen (2450 DEF).
Calculation = 3000 - 2450 = 550 piercing Battle Damage
So: Cosmo Queen gets destroyed and your opponent's life points will decrease by 550.

Simply by detaching an Xyz Material, Galaxy Queen makes all the monsters you control harder to destroy and more powerful when they attack.  One of the best support monster card out today.  If you have it, run it.  If you don't have it, go get it.

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

T.G. Hyper Librarian (JUMP-EN051)

Card:  JUMP-EN051
Card Name:  T.G. Hyper Librarian
Attribute:  Dark
Level/Rank:  5
Type:  Spellcaster/Synchro/Effect
ATK:  2400
DEF:  1800

Card Text:
1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters
While this card is face-up on the field, each time a Synchro Monster(s) is Synchro Summoned, draw 1 card for each.

Personal Comment:
This is one of the best (if not the best) support card for any Synchro deck...PERIOD.  I'm using the term "support" very loosely because he can stand on his own in most head-to-head battles.  The 2400 ATK is very nice for a level 5 monster but it's the "simple" effect that is devastating (don't let the simplicity of this card's effect fool you though).  T.G. Hyper Librarian has changed the landscape of dueling across all formats the moment he was released.  The ability to be +1 for every monster that is Synchro Summoned has made it possible to bring out some of the most dangerous Synchro Monsters quickly and consistently.  Not only do you gain a +1 card advantage when you Synchro Summon a monster, but also when your opponent Synchro Summons a monster.  This makes it a priority for your opponent to try and remove this card before they do any Synchro Summoning of their own.  In addition, T.G. Hyper Librarian isn't relegated to the "T.G." archetype.  He can be splashed into any Synchro Deck out there and flourish just the same.  To say this card should be used in a Synchro deck is an understatement...it should be mandatory.  Unfortunately, T.G. Hyper Librarian is quite expensive right now because he is sought after by every duelist and collector.  Hopefully they will release another card version soon so everybody can afford it.  An absolutely fantastic card.

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

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

Exodia The Forbidden One (MC1-EN001)

Card:  MC1-EN001
Card Name:  Exodia The Forbidden One
Attribute:  Dark
Level/Rank:  3
Type:  Spellcaster/Effect
ATK:  1000
DEF:  1000

Card Text:
When you have "Right Leg of the Forbidden One", "Left Leg of the Forbidden One", "Right Arm of the Forbidden One" and "Left Arm of the Forbidden One" in addition to this card in you hand, you win the Duel.

Personal Comment:
Another card with a spelling error.  Instead of "you" it should say "your".  But that doesn't take away from the value of this card.  Exodia The Forbidden One is not a very powerful card by itself.  However, combine with the other four pieces it is the most powerful card in the Yugioh game.  Because of this, Exodia is one of the most collected and sought after cards out there.  The challenge is how to play this card successfully.  Bringing all 5 pieces into play to end a duel is one of the toughest challenges in the game.  Here's a few tips to help building an Exodia deck.

1.  Make sure the main purpose of the deck is to bring the 5 pieces out.  Don't waste precious deck space with fluff.
2.  Have support cards that can bring cards back into play once they are removed or sent to the graveyard.
3.  Have cards that can halt your opponent's attacks to buy you more time to draw out cards.
4.  Have cards that can increase your life points (this will help extend the duel).
5.  Go heavy on Spell and Trap cards that can protect the pieces when they are on the field.
6.  Have monster cards with effects that can search your deck and Graveyard for the pieces of Exodia.

Doing all this still won't guarantee you success.  But if you are able to end a duel by bringing all 5 Exodia pieces together, consider yourself an elite duelist...the best of the best.

Personal Rating: (This one is a little tricky)
Artwork - 8/10
Power - 5/10 (by itself...10/10 with all the pieces)
Easy To Play - 5/10 (extremely hard to get all the pieces together)
Collectable - 10/10
Overall Score - 7/10 (don't let this low rating fool you)