Hello everyone! It’s preview time again! This week, I will introduce two exceptional cards that are slated to turn this game on its head. Jason has already made you aware of the changes taking place in the game. If that wasn’t enough to convince you that the game will be far different from what it was (and more interesting for it) then today’s cards will. Check out another couple of gems that you’ll find at the Sneak Previews for The Duelist Genesis.
The Card That Re-Invents Dark Armed Dragon
First on the roster is Sinister Sprocket. Let’s take a quick look at its text.
Sinister Sprocket
Dark Level 1
400 / 0
If this card is sent to the graveyard to Synchro Summon a Dark Synchro Monster, you may destroy a face-up spell or trap.
Its stated effect is very useful. If you looked closely at the main and side-deck tech present at SJC Honolulu you’ll notice quite a few dangerous face-up spell and trap cards. The most notable are Shadow-Imprisoning Mirror, Prohibition, Royal Oppression, Anti-Spell Fragrance, and Light-Imprisoning Mirror. The majority of them can be serious impediments to the success of your Dark Armed deck. While Shadow-Imprisoning Mirror still presents a problem, you can also take advantage of Sinister Sprocket’s post-Synchro summon effect to get rid of your opponent’s offensive options like Limit Reverse, D.D.R. - Different Dimension Reincarnation, Premature Burial, Royal Decree, and Swords of Revealing Light.
Since Sinister Sprocket is a level 1 Tuner monster, it’s one of the few Tuners that can trade your Dark Armed Dragon for Stardust Dragon. As Jason already covered on Monday, Stardust Dragon is just ridiculous. The scenario is easy to imagine. If you special summon your Dark Armed Dragon and clear the field, then you can normal summon your Sinister Sprocket and Synchro summon Stardust Dragon. Now, you’ve got a stranglehold on the game. If your opponent tries to activate anything to destroy the Dragon like Lightning Vortex or Bottomless Trap Hole, or tries to use his or her own Dark Armed Dragon’s effect to get rid of Stardust Dragon, then the opponent loses a card and you get your Dragon back during the end phase. The wonderful thing about Stardust is that you don’t have to wait a full turn for the revival effect: just set up your field, end your turn, and watch your buddy plop itself back on the field.
Sinister Sprocket is a versatile Tuner card that makes it easy to meet the level 8 requirement of Stardust without having to trade more than two monsters. Another reason why Sinister Sprocket is so good is because it fulfills a requirement for another level 8 powerhouse Synchro monster that I’m very impressed with: Red Dragon Archfiend. Take a look at its text:
Red Dragon Archfiend
Dark Level 8
3000 / 2000
1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters
If Red Dragon Archfiend attacks one of your opponent's defense mode monsters, destroy all of your opponent’s defense mode monsters after damage has been calculated. In your end phase, destroy all your monsters that didn’t declare an attack this turn.
I dub this monster "The Battering Ram." It’s the perfect solution to your opponent’s impenetrable defense if he or she decides to turtle up. This will help tremendously against Monarch decks too. It works perfectly with Sinister Sprocket’s removal effect. Red Dragon Archfiend sits mighty strong with 3000 ATK and 2000 DEF, which is one of its core strengths. Sinister Sprocket helps you preserve that built-in superiority over defensive face-up spells and traps. What else can I say about this card? Oh wait! It’s a Dark monster too. Awesome.
We’re still not done with Sinister Sprocket because we’ve got another Synchro monster that this card can work with: Goyo Guardian. If you recall Jerome’s Tuesday article, you’ll know that Goyo Guardian is one of the best level 6 monsters in this game. Period. The mighty Guardian is everything Red Moon Baby wanted to be and more, with an impressive 2800 ATK. In case you’re wondering what monsters you can use to fulfill Goyo’s level 6 requirement, that’s easy. The first that come to mind are two forgotten favorites: Cyber Dragon and Instant Fusion. Cyber Dragon’s function is obvious, but Instant Fusion is your quick fix for an "instant" Goyo Guardian. What do you select for a target? Why not Reaper on the Nightmare? Since Instant Fusion declares that the special summon is treated as a legitimate Fusion summon, then you can bring it back with Monster Reborn or Premature Burial. Why wouldn’t you want an improved Spirit Reaper at your disposal?
If you’re a Zombie nut like me, then you’ll see how well this combo works in Zombie decks. Think about the synergies with Book of Life, Il Blud, Mezuki, and Card of Safe Return. Isn’t it easy to see how viable Sinister Sprocket and Goyo Guardian are in a Zombie strategy (especially with the comeback initiated by the new release of Mezuki)? Shall I shamelessly plug, yet again, the fact that Reaper on the Nightmare is Dark too and will work wonderfully with Dark Armed Dragon?
I know what you might be thinking: "Fine . . . Sinister Sprocket is a great Tuner. I don’t see how this changes anything in my Dark Armed deck." On the contrary, Sinister Sprocket works superbly with cards you already use! For example, you can chuck it for your Allure of Darkness payment. You don’t have to worry about adding a card that won’t help you preserve your speed. Here’s a question: how many Dark Armed decks use Limit Reverse? That’s a rhetorical question, right? Of course! Good ol’ Sinister Sprocket is only 400 ATK and just so happens to have the right stats to let you special summon it with Limit Reverse.
How about your current searching capabilities? I’m sure Sangan comes to mind, and the Sprocket is Sangan-searchable. It’s another tribute for your Crush Card Virus, too. Let’s say you already have seven levels worth of monsters on the field and you summon Sprocket with the intention of locking the game via Stardust Dragon. What if your opponent flips over Torrential Tribute? No problem: chain your Virus to Torrential Tribute, tribute your Sprocket, and punish your opponent for attempting to curtail your plan for the next three turns. What more can I add? (Warning: slight spoiler approaching.) Sinister Sprocket will only get better with time as new Dark Synchro monsters are released in the future.
Implications for the Game
The game is changing, folks. The Extra deck gives any serious tournament player access to a toolbox of sorts that comes in handy often. Who says that the Gladiators can monopolize the use of the Extra deck? For those of you who miss the Swiss army knife antics of Magical Scientist as badly as I do, this new addition to the game is as close as we can get. You can still build decks to be relatively straightforward, but now you have to consider the Extra deck as well. You have an open window to solutions against troublesome matchups that you would normally have to solve with your side deck (maybe even losing game 1 in the process). I’m anticipating The Duelist Genesis even more than I did the previous two sets. Don’t miss the upcoming Sneak Preview!
Until next week, make sure to stay focused and have fun!
—Bryan Camareno