Spikes & Baron D.M.Comet

Card Article2: Force of the Black Magic

My second card article, and this one will be revolving around Yugi Motou's signature card, Black Magician.

There is like, a dozen I think, cards involved the Black Magician, some have more things while others don't. So, I'll basically sum up all the card that directly involved with Black Magician.

First, Start with Black Magician, itself

Black Magician
Dark/Spellcaster/7/2500/2100

The heart of today's article, familiar to most duelist, the famous Black Magician.

First, if you're going to just play this card randomly in a deck, it just won't work, as Black Magician involved more combo than anyone think.

The ATK and DEF are not really bad, but since it's a Normal Monster, nothing much can be said, and there is nothing special about this card for now.

Then, I'll move on to Yugi Motou's most played card (By far), Black Magician Girl

Black Magician Girl
Dark/Spellcaster/6/2000/1700
The ATK strength of this card is increased by 300 for every [Black Magician] or [Magician of Black Chaos] in each player's Graveyard

This card, itself, really can't do anything, as the stats of this card is crappy.

First, this monster attack is increased for each Black Magician/Magician of Black Chaos in the graveyard (Both player), the effect can be useful, but usually, as very few people run the Ritual version of Magician of Black Chaos anymore, leaving the effect only to Black Magician.

But, the stats just...really bad, unless you want to have fun with this card, it's better you just keep it in your binder for the sexiness of this card.

Next, I'll move onto Black Magician of Chaos

Black Magician of Chaos
Dark/Spellcaster/8/2800/2600
When this card is successfully Normal Summoned or Special Summoned, you may choose 1 Magic card in your Graveyard and put it into your hand. The monsters destroy by this card as a result of battle are removed from game. If this card is removed from the Field, remove this card from the game.

First things first, this card don't work with Black Magician Girl, so just don't ask the question.

This card, consider by many the 3rd Chaos monster (After the Chaos Duo), have a kind of, weird effect itself. The first effect kind of make this card broken for a while, but, with the banning of Painful Choice, this card may be unrestricted, as its effect isn't that good without enough combo.

Now, the reason this card is restricted to 1, mainly because of a deadly combo:

1. Dump 3 Black Magician of Chaos to Graveyard (Probably by Painful Choice)
2. Use Raise Dead of 1st BMoC
3. Use BMoC effect, get Raise Dead back
4. Repeat 2 and 3 for 2nd and 3rd BMoC
5. Depends on what you need, get a Magic card back with 3 2800 ATK monster ready to kill opponent.

Then, the second effect isn't that broken, many other monster have similar effect (Such as Lesser Demon, Dimensional Beast), but can still be useful against Critter, Witch, Tomato, etc.

The last effect making this card kind of useful with Twilight Fusion, but, before anyone know it, though, this card can kill someone already.

I'll then move onto Super Magical Swordsman - Black Paladin

Super Magical Swordsman - Black Paladin
Dark/Spellcaster - Fusion/8/2900/2400
[Black Magician] + [Buster Blader]
This Monster can only be Special Summoned by a Fusion Summon. While this card is face-up on the Field, you can discard 1 card from your hand to negate an activation of Magic Card and destroy it. Increase this card's attack strength by 500 for each Dragon Sub-Type Monster on both player's Field and Graveyard.

This card, when first released, did create some craze. But, it's kind of hard to use this card, though.

First, this monster can only be Fusion Summoned. This mean you can't use Devil Franken/Metamorphsis to bring it out. Also, you can't reborn it from your graveyard even after you summon this card once. The effect kind of hurt this card, but really, you don't want everyone just summon this card using Devil Franken.

Then, the build-in Magic Jammer is what make this card kind of useable, as you don't have to relied on IO (Which is banned), or other negation card to negate Magic. But, this would also give some hand disadvantage, unless you're comboing with Killer Snake. The effect is always, though, nice, as you basically block many of the insane Magic card your opponent try to use.

The last effect is not useless, but unless you combo it right with DNA Surgery (Probably with Goat), the boost isn't really useful. You can, though, use some Dragon in your deck, but otherwise, this card don't really need much boost to kill opponent anyway, with 2900 ATK, this card can basically get rid 90% of the monster itself.

Next, I'll move on to Skilled Black Magician.

Skilled Black Magician
Dark/Spellcaster/4/1900/1700
For each time you or your opponent activates a Magic card, put one "Magic Counter" on this card (to a maximum of 3). When this card has 3 "Magic Counters" on it, you can sacrifice this card to Special Summon a [Black Magician] from your hand, deck or Graveyard.

Umm...first thing you noticed on this card should be the 1900 ATK power and the 1700 DEF being a 4-star. But, with 1700 DEF, it means that this card is non-searchable, but high defense can help sometimes, though.

Now, this is one of the "Magic Counter" card from 303. A "Magic Counter" is nothing more than some "Counter" you put on a card (Using things such as Coins and stuff), and this card gain a "Magic Counter" whenever you/your opponent play a Magic card.

Wait, it's not that hard to get 3 on this card, then? No, it's simple to get 3 Magic Counters, as playing cards such as Jar of Greed is already 1, then activating other Magic Card can create more "Magic Counter", and thus, boom, there goes a Black Magician on the field!

Black-Robed Sage
Dark/Magic User/9/2800/3200
The Monster can only be Special Summoned, and only from your hand or deck by sacrificing a [Black Magician] when a [Time Magician] successfully uses its effect. At that time, you may search your deck for 1 Magic card and put it into your hand. Shuffle your deck afterward.

This card, another one of those card under Black Magician family (The Old version), isn't really that good.

First, this card can be only special summon when [Time Magician] successfully use the effect when [Black Magician] is on the field, this means that no Raise Dead/Early Burial/etc...and it's kind of luck base to use the card.

Then, you can put a Magic card from your deck to your hand. This effect can be useful, such as getting a much needed card, but not so good, as you would use Magic card quick anyway, why bother to go through all the thing to special summon this card just for that Magic card.

The ATK and DEF can be good, but trust me, it's just too hard to use this monster, and you get almost nothing most of the time.

Next, I'll move on to Black Magician Knight.

Black Magician Knight
Dark/Warrior/7/2500/2100
This card cannot be Normal Summoned. This card is Special Summoned only through the effect of a [Title of a Knight]. When this card is Special Summoned, destroy 1 card on the Field.

Another addition to Black Magician family, this time, Black Magician become a Knight.

First, this card stats is the same as Black Magician, which means there is nothing special other than the sub-type change and a cooler looking art.

This card, again, can't be special summon by Raise Dead/Early Burial/etc. So, it make this card less useful.

The destruction effect is kind of nice, as it can destroy anything. But watch out that the effect is not optional, you must destory 1 card on the field, that's mean if you and your opponent have nothing else on the field, you must destory this card. But, even though this card is hard to use, it can be fun.

After finishing the Black Magician family, I'll move onto some Magic Card that help Black Magician.

First, Black Magic Curtain.

Black Magic Curtain
Normal Magic
During the turn you play this card, you can't Normal Summon or Special Summon any monster. Pay half of your LP, special summon a [Black Magician] from your deck to the field.

Being one of the first [Black Magician] theme card, this card is released in Premium Pack 4, which also contains some other [Black Magician] theme card.

First, you can't summon the turn you use this card, that means, like when you use [Scapegoat], if you summon a monster already during a turn, you can't use this card. Though, you can still set monster in defense mode, since Set =/= Summon.

Then, summoning a [Black Magician] from your deck, for half of your LP. This card can hurt if you use it too early, but can still, a 2500 ATK would force your opponent use their large monster removal right at first turn. Also, if you combo this card with [Magical Inspection Technique] from 309, you basically have a free Black Magician, as Magical Inspection Technique negate the cost.

I'll move onto Black . Magic . Attack, a new card from 309 set.

Black . Magic . Attack
Normal Magic
This card can only be activated when [Black Magician] is on the field. Destroy all opponent's Magic and Trap cards on the field.

The newest addition to the [Black Magician] Magic, this time, name after his attack.

This card basically is a [Harpy's Feather Sweep] that require [Black Magician] on the field to use. But, as [Harpy's Feather Sweep] is now ban, this card start to get useful in a Black Magician Deck, just as another M/T removal

Also, notice that this card is different from its counterpart, [Burst Stream of Destruction], as Black Magician can still attack during the turn.

I'll move onto Thousand Knives, from PP4.

Thousand Knives
Normal Magic
You can use this card only if you have a face-up [Black Magician] on the Field. Destroy 1 of your opponent's Monsters.

Another Black Magician theme card from PP4, this time, being monster destruction.

There isn't really much to the card, as it just basically destory 1 opponent monster when [Black Magician] is on the field, which is kind of nice, as [Thunderbolt] is now ban, more monster removal is always nice, and one that can destory any monster (face-up or face-down) is even better.

Nothing much to say about this card, it's pretty much self-explanatory.

Then, I'll move onto 2 cards that don't directly involved [Black Magician], but pretty much based around it.

First, Diffusion Wave from 303 set.

Diffusion Wave
Normal Magic
Pay 1000 Life Points. Choose 1 level 7 or higher Spellcaster Sub-Type Monster on your Field. During this turn, only the chosen Monster is allowed to attack, and may attack each of your opponent's Monsters once. The effects of Effect Monsters that are destroyed in an attack in this way are not activated.

This card, being a card that originate from the anime/manga series, can be powerful if use correctly.

First, this card required a Lvl. 7 or higher Spellcaster on the field to be used, basically means [Black Magician] or [Black Magician of Chaos] more frequent.

Then, that monster can attack every monster on opponent's field, which means destory all of them 90% of the time. The drawback, though, is that only that monster can attack that turn. But, empty out opponent field is nothing.

The last thing is what make this card useable, as it negates all effect, basically like [King of Underworld - Hades] effect. This card, though, can be situational, and can create top-deck. But, it's fun to look at opponent face when your Black Magician destory everything.

The last card (YES, finally) of this article is Dimensional Magic, a new card in Yugi Structure Vol. 2

Dimensional Magic
Quickplay Magic
You can activate this card if you have a face-up Spellcaster Sub-Type Monster on your Field. Sacrifice 1 Monster on your Field, Special Summon a Spellcaster Sub-Type Monster from your hand to the field. You may destory 1 monster on the field afterward.

This card, a card that speed up Spellcaster/Black Magician Deck by much, is one of those almost "staples" in a Black Magician Deck.

First, you can only activate when you have a face-up Spellcaster on the field. This means that anything from Kaiku to Apprentice Magician can work with the effect.

The sacrifice part isn't much of a drawback, if you combo it with Goat, you basically summon a Spellcaster for nothing, and something like {Black Magician of Chaos] or [Black Magician] is not that easy to get around with.

The monster destruction can be useful, but, unlike other, this effect is optional, which means you can choose to not using the effect, and just move on and attack.

The only drawback, really, is top-deck, and kind of situational. But, being a Quickplay Magic make this card nicer, who don't want to make a surprise out of opponent.

Finally...I finish. I'll put my Black Magician Deck on the link, follow by the picture (Thanks OCG!)

Simple Black Magician Deck

-AL, 3/3/04

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