With the rise of Cyber-Stein as both the focus of a deck archetype and a tech card, fusion monsters have once again become an important consideration for those who wish to succeed at a Shonen Jump Championship event. Given this, it’s only fitting that we start off Metagame.com’s exclusive previews of the new Power of the Duelist set during Shonen Jump Philadelphia with a new fusion monster that’s going to change the way we think about the game once again. It’s big, it’s nasty, and if you think for even a second that you’ll be able to make your way through a major event without seeing it, you’re in for an unpleasant surprise. Meet Chimeratech Overdragon.

Chimeratech Overdragon

DARK/Machine/Level 9

"Cyber Dragon" + 1 or more Machine-Type monsters

This monster cannot be Special Summoned except by Fusion Summon. When this card is Fusion Summoned, send all the other cards on your side of the field to the Graveyard. The original ATK and DEF of this card are the number of monsters you used in the Fusion Summon of this card x 800 points. This card can attack a number of your opponent's monsters during a turn equal to the number of monsters you used in the Fusion Summon of this card.

ATK ?/DEF ?

Chimeratech Overdragon, as its name implies, is an amalgam of as many different Machine-type monsters as you care to fuse along with a single Cyber Dragon. Of course, that doesn’t mean that you can only use one Cyber Dragon for the fusion, but rather, that you must use at least one. Once Chimeratech is successfully fusion summoned, you then have to send every other card on your side of the field to the graveyard. In return, you get a multi-headed monstrosity with 800 ATK and DEF for every monster you fused to create it. It can also attack one monster on your opponent’s side of the field for each monster you fused to create it. For example, if I fuse a Cyber Dragon with four other Machine-type monsters, my Chimeratech Overdragon has 4000 ATK and DEF and can attack up to five monsters on my opponent’s side of the field. They can be different monsters, or they can be the same monster. In particular, Spirit Reaper need to fear this, since attacking with a Reaper isn’t just chancing Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World anymore.

Right now, Chimeratech Overdragon is one of the hottest cards in Japan. Not only is it used by a popular character in Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, it’s also what one would call “combolicious.” A large part of this comes from two other cards from the Power of the Duelist set that were created to aid fusion-centric strategies which, when combined, provide the potential for a first-turn win. One of these cards is Overload Fusion.

Overload Fusion

Normal Spell

Remove from play, from your side of the field or your Graveyard, Fusion Material Monsters that are listed on a DARK Machine-Type Fusion Monster Card, and Special Summon that 1 Fusion Monster from your Fusion Deck. (This Special Summon is treated as a Fusion Summon.)

Duel Academy’s top student and proud graduate, Zane Truesdale, has had a rough time since he joined the ranks of professional duelists, losing his inaugural match and going downhill from there. Eventually the stress and ridicule became too much for him, and he released the (literally) Dark side of his Cyber Dragon deck, playing Overload Fusion to remove all his Machine monsters from play and summon Chimeratech Overdragon to obliterate his hapless opponent. Overload Fusion works in the same way as Miracle Fusion and Dragon’s Mirror, except that it’s only allowed to be used for the fusion summon of Dark/Machine-type monsters. As of now, that limits you to bringing out Labyrinth Tank, Gatling Dragon, or Chimeratech Overdragon. It’s really no contest, though, as Chimeratech is clearly the best choice to build a deck around.

One of the most popular strategies in Japan at the moment is to dump a huge number of Machine monsters into the graveyard, activate Overload Fusion to remove them all from play to make a huge Chimeratech Overdragon, bring four of them back into play with Dimension Fusion (frequently including Jinzo), then clear out the opponent’s monster and attack for game. It’s a killer strategy, and it’s probably coming to a Regional near you, starting in September.

It’s important to note that Chimeratech Overdragon represents a direct challenge to Cyber-Stein as the be-all and end-all of fusion strategies. Unlike the Cyber-Stein decks, there’s no life point cost associated with fusing Chimeratech Overdragon. Even if you can’t pull off your desired combo on the first turn, you don’t have to worry that a hit from a Cyber Dragon and a Skelengel will be enough to finish you off.

When it comes to Sealed Pack play, Chimeratech Overdragon is not a good choice. There’s no way you can find a Cyber Dragon in any of your new packs at the Sneak Preview, so just leave it out to the side, face up in your fusion deck. You’ll be the envy of many a duelist and will probably receive some pretty amazing trade offers for your shiny new ultra (or ultimate) rare. Personally, though, I’d say that this card is a keeper. It’ll be difficult to find at the Sneak Preview, but it’ll get much harder to find once everyone realizes how good the card is. If you pull a Chimeratech Overdragon at the Sneak Preview, count yourself lucky.

Speaking of the Sneak Previews, they’re the only way you can get the new cards before they come out, so you’d do well to attend the one nearest to you. You’ll even receive a brand new, top-secret promotional card just for entering! Make sure you check out Metagame.com every day for new previews from the next set, and until next time, play hard, play fair, and most importantly, have fun!

Jerome McHale

jcmchale@andrew.cmu.edu