The Destiny Hero monsters I’ve saved for this week are some of the fiercest that group has to offer. They enter a new world of dueling, with the Forbidden and Limited list updates in full effect. Each of our subjects today has an effect that can easily be applied to decks beyond a core Destiny Hero build.

Destiny Hero - Double Dude has a mysterious demeanor that hides a dark secret. Its mind and body are not its own.

“This card cannot be Special Summoned. This card can attack twice during the same Battle Phase. If this card is destroyed, you can Special Summon 2 ‘Double Dude Tokens’ (Warrior-Type/DARK/Level 4/ATK 1000/DEF 1000) during your next Standby Phase.”

Destiny Hero - Double Dude shares an effect seen by the classic monsters Hayabusa Knight and Mataza the Zapper that allows them to attack twice during the same battle phase. Unlike those other cards, Destiny Hero - Double Dude has an additional effect that can be taken advantage of when it is destroyed. This destruction can occur in many ways, so long as Destiny Hero - Double Dude is placed into the graveyard afterwards. (Getting removed from play will prevent Double Dude from following through with the remainder of its effect.) Your Double Dude’s effect will even activate if it is destroyed by a card effect while in your hand or deck.

What cards can accomplish this? Deck Devastation Virus is a likely culprit, but cards like Neo-Spacian Aqua Dolphin and Chain Destruction can do the job as well. Each card’s effect specifically states that cards they go after with their effects will be destroyed, and that’s all Destiny Hero - Double Dude needs.

During your next standby phase after your Destiny Hero - Double Dude is destroyed, you can special summon two Double Dude Tokens onto your side of the field. Each token has the same ATK and DEF as Double Dude itself, so in a way it’s like you haven’t lost anything . . . as if Double Dude’s personas have split.

You may have noticed that Double Dude’s effect doesn’t place any restriction on the Double Dude Tokens. This means that you can tribute them for any purpose, even for a summon! High level monsters will love you for it, and with cards like Mausoleum of the Emperor, the time is right to give such monsters a chance.

Destiny Hero - Dasher is a great addition to the Destiny Hero line-up, but its effects can be helpful to many types of decks. Want to see why?

“Once per turn, by Tributing 1 monster, this card gains 1000 ATK until the end of this turn. If this card attacks, it is changed to Defense Position at the end of the Battle Phase. While this card is in the Graveyard, one time only, when you draw a Monster Card during your Draw Phase you can show it to your opponent and Special Summon it.”

Destiny Hero - Dasher’s loyalty to its allies may be somewhat questionable. It’s not above tributing its best friends if that will give it that extra 1000 ATK. This effect is an ignition effect, which you will want to use during your first main phase so you can get that extra burst of ATK during the battle phase.

Whether you choose to use this effect or not, whenever Dasher attacks, it shifts to defense position at the end of the battle phase. The timing can actually be quite important because it means that you can use card effects that allow Dasher to attack multiple times in the same battle phase.

Dasher may take with one hand, but it gives with the other. While he is in your graveyard, Dasher gives you a one-shot ability to special summon a monster you draw during your draw phase. As long as your Dasher remains in the graveyard, this effect will wait until you’ve finally drawn a monster you want to special summon.

It doesn’t even matter how you draw your monster during your draw phase. You can take advantage of cards like Jar of Greed and Reload to try and get the monster you want into your hand. You can special summon just about any monster you like, as long as it isn’t restricted with special summon requirements like ritual monsters and monsters like Destiny Hero - Dogma. (We’ll talk about it shortly)

Sometimes you may find yourself with two or three copies of Destiny Hero - Dasher in your graveyard at the same time. When this occurs, you can use the effect of each during the same draw phase. You will only want to do this if you manage to draw multiple monsters in the same draw phase by using cards like Reload, because it wouldn’t make any sense to special summon the same monster with all of your Dashers.

You will want to make sure you keep your Destiny Hero - Dasher’s effect for the right monster, because the effect is only good for one use while Dasher remains in your graveyard. Of course, duelists are always looking for ways to get more from their monster, and there is a trick that can let you get more from Dasher. If you remove it from your graveyard and later return it to your graveyard, you can use its effect again.

Allen’s Destiny Hero - Dasher is destroyed by his opponent’s Sakuretsu Armor. During his next Draw Phase, he draws Elemental Hero Neos. He shows the Elemental Hero Neos to his opponent to activate Destiny Hero - Dasher’s effect. Later in the Duel, he uses Premature Burial to bring his Destiny Hero - Dasher back onto the field. During the next turn his opponent destroys the Premature Burial with Heavy Storm.

At this point Destiny Hero - Dasher returns to Allen’s graveyard. He is now allowed another one-time use of Dasher’s effect during any of his following draw phases when he draws a monster that he wants to special summon.

Destiny Hero - Dogma has incredible power and an effect that can easily shift the balance of a duel in your favor. But obtaining this power requires the right plan.

“This card cannot be Normal Summoned or Set. This card cannot be Special Summoned except by Tributing 3 monsters, including at least 1 ‘Destiny Hero’ monster. If this card is Special Summoned, halve your opponent's Life Points during your opponent's next Standby Phase.”

Destiny Hero - Dogma demands the tribute of three monsters in order to special summon it and at least one must be a Destiny Hero monster. Since this is not a tribute summon, you can rely on Sheep Tokens to help fill out the requirement. You can even use the Double Dude tokens generated by Destiny Hero - Double Dude, but you need to remember that these monster tokens are not Destiny Hero monsters, so you will still need to tribute a Destiny Hero. (The Double Dude tokens are not Destiny Heroes because they do not have “Destiny Hero” in their name.)

Destiny Hero - Dogma has a serious 3400 ATK that can take down many opponents. This strength can help to lead your team to victory, but Dogma’s effect can seal your opponent’s fate in the event that battling isn’t possible. If you can keep your Destiny Hero – Dogma face up on your side of the field, during your opponent’s next standby phase, its effect will cut his or her life points in half. This loss of life points is very rare because it is not damage and thus cards that fight against damage are of no use. The cards a person normally plays to save his or her life points from burn decks won’t be able to fight against this variation, and fans of this deck type should take notice.

Next week, we conclude our study of the second wave of Destiny Heroes with a strong line-up of support cards. Don’t miss it!

Until next time, send all comments to Curtis@Metagame.com