Fusion monsters have played a much bigger role in the spotlight lately than they did when the game first came out. Tricky new ways to get them on the field and fusion monsters with improved effects have made fusion decks more or less a standard in the game today. Cybernetic Revolution will offer tempting new fusion monsters, as well as another option to get them out on the field. You’ll see these cards in action in Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, the upcoming TV series—but if you don’t want to wait, read on, because I’m here to bring you . . .

 

 

Power Bond is a normal spell card that allows the fusion material monsters that are listed on a Machine-type fusion monster to be sent from your hand or field to special summon that Machine-type fusion monster from the fusion deck. This is considered a fusion summon. But wait, there’s more! That monster’s ATK is doubled, and you’ll take damage equal to its original ATK during the end phase of the turn. That’s serious!

We don’t see this card in action until a few episodes into the GX series. Syrus Truesdale, Jaden Yuki’s best friend, didn’t have a chance to show what he’s got until he was sentenced to a team duel with Judai to keep from being expelled from the school. Judai looks through Syrus' deck to see what he’s got to offer, and finds a powerful spell card—Power Bond—that he figures will come in handy. Unfortunately, Syrus tells him that the card is sealed and that he can’t use it. Syrus still believes he’s under the interdiction of his brother Zane, who forbade Syrus to use the card until he became a worthy duelist. But when expulsion from school is on the line, Syrus is able to overcome his reluctance to unseal and use the card, and he uses it to lead his team to victory.

It certainly sounds like a card to be reckoned with. Activating Power Bond and bringing out a big Machine fusion can be a game-ending move. First, you can get out a Machine fusion and make it scarier. Power Bond will let you fusion summon Super Robolady, Super Roboyarou, Gatling Dragon (everyone loves Gatling Dragon!), and for the old-school players, Metal Dragon, Cyber Saurus, and Labyrinth Tank. Cybernetic Revolution will have at least two monsters that will work: UFORoid Fighter, which is Syrus' new best monster, and Cyber End Dragon, which is awesome because it looks like King Ghidorah. While the XYZ fusion monsters are Machines, their summoning requirements will prohibit you from using Power Bond to get them out. However, once you get whatever it is on the field, wow, is it ever angry.

Second, you can play Ring of Destruction for a game-ending pile of damage. Machine decks often fall back on a powered-up Machine monster to finish the game, so Power Bond gives an option that can be used with or instead of Limiter Removal. You can’t use Barrel Behind the Door against the backlash damage, though, so keep that in mind when you’re planning out your strategy. However, if the backlash damage is considered effect damage, Pikeru’s Circle of Enchantment will protect you. Activate that, then Power Bond, tribute three Cyber Dragons to bring out Cyber End Dragon and Ring for game – and hope your opponent doesn’t have Barrel Behind the Door. Make sure you resolve your end phase effects in the correct order, or you’ll wipe yourself out, too. Evil! Evil, I say!

You’re also going to need to watch out for Magic Cylinder if you decide to go with an attack. Double the ATK and the backlash damage might be enough to knock you out of the game! Use the card wisely.

It’s not yet clear if fusion substitutes can be used, but it’s reasonable to assume that they can’t. The card does state you need to tribute the monsters listed on the fusion card. Because of that, Power Bond will fit in best with decks like the decks featured in GX—decks that are built around a particular theme, where the fusion material monsters are useful in their own right.