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

Cyber-Stein (DB2-EN100)

Card:  DB2-EN100
Card Name:  Cyber-Stein
Attribute:  Dark
Level/Rank:  2
Type:  Machine/Effect
ATK:  700
DEF:  500

Card Text:
Pay 5000 Life Points.  Special Summom 1 Fusion Monster from your Fusion Deck to the field in Attack Position.

Personal Comment:
One of the easiest cards to play with one of the most powerful effect in the Yugioh card game.  No brainer.  The down side is that Cyber-Stein will never be taken off the forbidden list because he's that powerful.  Still a great card though.

Personal Rating:
Artwork - 7/10
Power - 10/10 (for his ability to bring out some of the most powerful cards in the game)
Easy To Play - 10/10
Collectable - 6/10 (not in high demand since it is forbidden)
Overall Score - 8.25/10

Legendary Six Samurai - Shi En (STOR-EN041)

Card:  STOR-EN041
Card Name:  Legendary Six Samurai - Shi En
Attribute:  Dark
Level/Rank:  5
Type:  Warrior/Synchro/Effect
ATK:  2500
DEF:  1400

Card Text:
1 Warrior-Type Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner "Six Samurai" monsters
Once per turn, when your opponent activates a Spell/Trap Card, you can negate its activation and destroy it.  If this face-up card on the field would be destroyed, you can destroy another face-up "Six Samurai" monster you control instead.

Personal Comment:
Six Samurai decks have been winning dueling tournaments nation wide the moment they were released.  Their victories are based on their ability to swarm the field.  With Shi En in play, he can negate any Spell and Trap card, making it nearly impossible to clear the  field of "Six Samurai" monsters.  In addition to that, the second part of his effect makes it extremely difficult to destroy Shi En.  As long as you have anther "Six Samurai" monster on the field it can be destroyed instead to prevent Shi En from taking the punishment.  The only downside to this card is that it has to be played in a "Six Samurai" deck.  But that's not much of a hinderance since this is one of the top dueling decks available.  This card takes the Six Samurai deck from "great" to "nearly undefeatable".

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

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

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

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)

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

Dark Strike Fighter (CRMS-EN040)

Card:  CRMS-EN040
Card Name:  Dark Strike Fighter
Attribute:  Dark
Level/Rank:  7
Type:  Machine/Synchro/Effect
ATK:  2600
DEF:  1800

Card Text:
1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters
You can Tribute 1 monster to inflict damage to your opponent equal to its Level x 200.

Personal Comment:
One of the most powerful Synchro card available.  It's a shame (or not) that it will never get off the banned list.  Just by tributing Dark Strike Fighter you can get a 4000 hit to your opponent's life point...(ATK 2600) + (Level 7*200) = 2600 + 1400 = 4000.  If you have two Dark Strike Fighter in play the duel is all but done.  Although it's one of my favorite cards, I'm happy that they put him on the banned list.  A card this powerful with the ability to end a duel (even if you are significantly losing) takes away from the strategies and skills that are needed to win.

Rulings For This Card:
- Damage is based on the monster's level while it was on the field, not it's level in the Graveyard or removed zone.
- If you tribute a face-down monster, compute the damage based on the monster's original level printed on the card.
- Tributing a monster is a cost.

Personal Rating:
Artwork - 8/10
Power - 8/10
Easy To Play - 8/10
Collectable - 6/10
Overall Score - 7.5/10

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

Black Luster Soldier - Envoy Of The Beginning (IOC-025)

Card:  IOC-025
Card Name:  Black Luster Soldier - Envoy Of The Beginning
Attribute:  Light
Level/Rank:  8
Type:  Warrior/Effect
ATK:  3000
DEF:  2500

Card Text:
This card can only be Special Summoned by removing 1 LIGHT and 1 DARK monster in your Graveyard from play.  Once during each of your turns, you can select and activate 1 of the following effects:
* Remove 1 monster on the field from play.  If you activate this effect, this card cannot attack during this turn.
* If this card destroyed your opponent's monster as a result of battle, it can attack once again in a row.

Personal Comment:
Not only is this card one of the most powerful, but it is also one of the easiest to special summon onto the playing field.  The effects are devastating in a duel and can lead to an easy victory.  Since being removed from the banned list, this is one of the most sought after cards out there.  Right now Black Luster Soldier - Envoy Of The Beginning is the best possible card to build a dueling deck around in the Advanced Dueling Format (The Traditional Dueling Format is still ruled by Chaos Emperor Dragon - Envoy Of The End).  Sure there are more powerful cards (which is questionable) such as Yubel - The Ultimate Nightmare or Obelisk The Tormentor.  However, when dueling it is all about getting your best monster out before your opponent does.  There is no card easier to bring out with 3000 ATK and game changing effects like Black Luster Soldier - Envoy Of The Beginning.  On top of that, building a Dark/Light deck to support this card is one of the most flexible options out there.  The combinations are nearly endless with all the great Dark and Light monster cards.  So if you decide to duel in a tournament I highly recommend making this card your focal point.  Looking for more destruction and power?  Add in Honest and Dark Armed Dragon (both of which compliments a BLS deck perfectly) for some serious back-up.  If you decide not to use Black Luster Soldier - Envoy Of The Beginning, be prepared to go up against him because everybody else will be.

Rulings For This Card:
- This card is treated as a different card from "Black Luster Soldier".
- It can remove itself using its first effect.
- The first effect can be used during your main phase 1 or 2.
- The second effect can be activated during the damage step in your battle phase and can be chained.
- When a card is removed from play by the first effect, it is removed face-up.
- The second attack must come consecutively after the first attack (another monster's attack can't come in between).

Personal Rating:
Artwork - 10/10
Power - 9/10 (if he was 10/10 he would still be on the banned list)
Easy To Play - 10/10
Collectable - 10/10
Overall Score - 9.75/10