New sets mean new monsters and new strategies—and in the case of Cybernetic Revolution, a new animated TV series filled with new situations and characters. We’ll see the cards in action once Yu-Gi-Oh! GX hits the airwaves, but if you don’t feel like waiting, here’s a look at one of the bigger monsters looming on the horizon. If you’re a fan of Machine-type monsters, you already know there’s no shortage of them in this set. Allow me to introduce you to . . .
UFOroid Fighter!
This is a Machine Fusion monster that’s level 10, and you can fusion summon it by combining UFOroid with any Warrior-type monster. Dealer’s choice! Pick something strong, though, because UFOroid Fighter’s ATK and DEF will become the sum of the original ATK of the two monsters you used to summon it.
Aided by Power Bond, Syrus used this monster to defeat the Paradox Brothers and earn the right for Jaden and himself to remain at Duel Academia. It’s not likely that you’ll ever be playing for stakes like that, but anything new and strong is worth checking out. Syrus’s UFOroid Fighter was a game-breaker due to the effect of Power Bond, but depending upon the Warrior-type monster that you use to fusion summon it, it can be quite powerful in its own right.
When Power Bond resolves, look at the original ATK of the monster you just summoned. That’s the amount of damage you’ll take during the end phase. If you summon UFOroid Fighter with 3000 ATK points, you’ll take 3000 points of damage during the end phase. Even if its ATK becomes 0 or 1000, or if it is destroyed, flipped face-down, or sent back to the deck, it had 3000 ATK when it was originally summoned.
Remember that if you do use Power Bond and UFOroid Fighter sticks around, you won’t take that backlash damage until the end phase. Your opponent will certainly be getting his or her share during the damage step. If that’s enough to finish your opponent off (and he or she doesn’t manage to prevent the damage) you’re in the clear, even if the backlash damage would take you out as well. Just be sure to look out for Magic Cylinder, Mirror Force, and other cards with similar effects.
Let’s see—what else can we do with this card? How about using a high-level Warrior for the other fusion material monster, then bringing it back with Call of the Haunted for a double blow? You can offer monsters on the field for the fusion summon. Or, say, your opponent has a face-down monster protecting his or her life points. If you’ve got Black Luster Soldier – Envoy of the Beginning on the field, you could use its effect to remove that monster from the field in your first main phase, then use it for the Warrior fusion material. UFOroid Fighter will definitely have one powerful ATK. Oh, did you use that Call of the Haunted or Premature Burial yet? If not, I know a good way to make your opponent furious . . . yeah, go ahead and bring the Soldier back.
I think I’d like to have Jinzo riding shotgun for UFOroid Fighter, to keep your opponent from flipping up Mirror Force, Sakuretsu Armor, or, worst of all, Magic Cylinder. You’ll lose Jinzo as well if you’ve activated some Limiter Removals, but talk about a blaze of glory. Having two strong attackers will make your opponent have to choose between two terrors to target if he or she has a set Book of Moon or Enemy Controller. Besides, if you can score a direct hit with Jinzo and UFOroid Fighter (and possibly your Warrior fusion material monster) you probably won’t have much need for Jinzo for that duel.
I don’t know about you, but my interest in running a Machine deck has gone way up after looking over this set, since there are so many new tricks and ideas. There are plenty of ways to use this card, and I’ll be waiting to see if it makes a significant appearance in the upcoming Regionals and Shonen Jump Championships. UFOroid Fighter was a lifesaver for Syrus, but will it work as well for you? Get yourself to a Sneak Preview event, and if you’re lucky, you’ll find out!
