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Article #62: Phantom Pain

Once again, my usual article on my first impression on the latest set. First of all props to the people who put up all the wonderful info and GONDORA for his wonderful scans (as usual). Unlike previous few "set review" articles, I would purely focus on the set: the theme, cards, decks, and what-not...

Card Trends and theme:
Unlike the previous set, which majority of the cards can be divided into just a whooping 6 different type of cards, this set get back to the "diverse" path and include just about anything. Of course, there are few random anime character cards that JUST have to be release (i.e. the 2 O'Brien and the 2 Destiny Heroes...for no obvious reason), then there is the name-sake of this set: "Dark" monsters. At last, there is also the cover card in Yubel series, plus some filler cards like some random Duals, some Machines, some Warriors, and somehow...more Cyber Dragon series supports are released...

I would first talk about the Dark monsters. The 4 "big" Dark monsters in the set looks really familiar: they are the "Dark" version of old cards released 2 (3?) years ago: Black Flame Dragon of Horus LV8, Armed Dragon LV7 (SOD), The Creator (RDS), and Phoenix Lord of Nephthys (FET). The have the same attack/defense strength, but different way to play it AND a twist in the old effect. To me, it's a nice try but just not enough...

As for continuing old mechanics, there is 1 Union, 2 "Volcanic", 2 D-Heroes, 3 Duals, 2 Gladial Beasts, a Demon, a Fish support (yes I'm serious...), 3 "new version" of old cards (Megacannon Soldier vs. Cannon Soldier, Mosquito Magnet vs. EM Bug, and Severe Duster Drop vs. Drop Off), and of course, 1 NEX Neospacian, and 2 Neos Fusion monster. At last, there is that ONE "kuso" cards that Konami release every set just so you can think of good ways to play around disadvantage.

Deck Types:
Here are some of the new deck types that I think people could create after this set, competitive or not.
- Dark monsters/Dark Attribute theme (not really new...but add a new Dimension to the deck)
- Yubel (if one would actually play them...)
- Rainbow Neos (again, if someone actually play them...)
- TI-89 gone insane (a.k.a. The Calculator abuse...)

For deck types that get boosts:
- Sea Serpent/Fish (XD)
- Plant (yes I'm serious...)
- Cyber Dragon-Machine build (not those that splash CyDra...)
- Volcanic
- Destiny Hero (even if the D-Heroes in this set sucks BADLY)
- Warrior...(not really)
- [Demon] deck (OK...1 whooping card that is not THAT useful)
- Machine (not really)
- Neospacian Fusion
- Gem Beast (...)
- Chain Abuse (even if Chain Burn have NO monsters)
- Six Warmasters (XDDD...)
- Dark Realm

Useful cards :
Obviously, we would now look at the useful (not necessary GREAT!!) cards that I believe could be consider to add to deck (no matter theme or every decks...). It goes down from the cardlist.
- Sacrifice Lotus
- Cyber Vary
- Volcanic Counter
- Dark Horus Dragon
- Dark Creator
- Dark Nephthys
- Dark Armed Dragon (although the special summoning requirement is kind of shit...)
- The End Spirit
- Obsidian Dragon
- Gigaplant
- Future Samurai
- Gladial Beast - Darius
- Prison Queen Demon
- Black Veloci
- Ancient Deep Sea King - Coelacanth
- The Calculator
- Blue Thunder T45
- Elemental Hero Storm Neos
- Rainbow Veil (OK...it's only an OK card)
- Cybernetic Zone
- Beginning of the End (trust me...it's easier to pull off this card than it seems)
- Dark Burst
- Union of Six Warmasters
- Gladial Trainer
- Demonbaslam Seed
- Chain Material (kind of...)
- Dark Spirit Technique - "Greed"
- Phantom of Darkness (limited to Dark attribute deck...)
- Release of Dark Dimension
- Offering of Poisonous Snake (a.k.a. GBA, Reptile version)
- Cover for Decisive Match
- Penalty Money (this + Dark World = god)

Of course, my first look at the set stop here. The above list is kind of long as I put any sort of cards that is usable on the list, which for this set, there is a lot of them.

Now, time for my "worst card" of the set...and it is no surprise and a VERY easy choice.

(Drumroll): Magic Chronicle: Cost: Discard your hand. Wait for opponent to activate 2 whooping Magic cards, then HE get to choose which card to add to your hand, THEN you also get damaged if there are cards remaining (which there WILL) when this card leaves the field...

Anyway, Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. Don't eat too much turkey (and for grown ups...drink too much). Be safe when rushing to the stores for early bird shopping.

- Baron, 11/21/2007