In the annals of Zombie-lore, zombies have been viewed in many ways. Recent films have moved away from the idea of slow, dimwitted zombies to that of enraged, pursuant zombies that are both tireless and numerous. Zombie Master and Il Blud have redefined Zombies in the most recent zombie “rage.”
Questions immediately followed the release of both cards. Players wanted to know all that they could, so that they could ensure success in as many situations as possible. We will tackle all of the questions that I have received and I promise to keep zombie puns to a minimum.
Rise from Your Grave!
Our first card is Zombie Master, a major component of the new “rage” Zombies.
“Once per turn, you can send 1 Monster Card from your hand to the Graveyard to Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower Zombie-Type Monster from either player's Graveyard.”
Zombie Master’s effect is an ignition effect you can activate during either of your main phases, but only once per turn. You begin by sending one monster card in your hand to the graveyard. Then you select one level 4 or lower Zombie-type monster in your or your opponent’s graveyard as your effect’s target. When the effect is resolved, the selected Zombie is special summoned onto your side of the field in the battle position of your choice. The effect is rather simple, but it does suffer from one complication that can become a problem.
Zombie Master must remain face up on the field after its effect is activated if you want your new Zombie to make its grand entrance, so cards like Book of Moon and Compulsory Evacuation Device can be chained to Zombie Master’s effect to do their job and also to stop its effect as an unintended bonus. However, this no longer applies after Zombie Master successfully special summons its intended target. Removing Zombie Master from the field after it has succeeded does nothing to the monster it managed to get into play.
Example: Nice Try
Kim has Zombie Master face up on her side of the field. During her main phase 1, she activates its effect by sending Ryu Kokki to her graveyard and selects a Pyramid Turtle in her graveyard as her target. Her opponent chains Phoenix Wing Wind Blast, selecting Zombie Master as its target.
When the chain resolves, Phoenix Wing Wind Blast resolves and sends Zombie Master back to the top of its controller’s deck. Afterward, Zombie Master’s effect tries to resolve but fails because Zombie Master is no longer face up on the field.
This quirk of Zombie Master’s effect makes priority retention a potential danger. Ordinarily a player will retain priority when normal summoning a monster because he or she will want to place that monster’s ignition effect onto the chain before something terrible happens. Zombie Master can certainly do this because its effect is also an ignition effect, but as you’ve seen, Zombie Master’s effect has a vulnerability that can be exploited by your opponent.
Example: Priority Hurt Me?
Ash has Zombie Master and another monster card in his hand. He also has Regenerating Mummy in his graveyard. He begins his main phase 1 by normal summoning Zombie Master. He informs his opponent that he will retain priority to activate its ignition effect, sending the monster card in his hand to his graveyard and selecting Regenerating Mummy as his target. His opponent responds by activating and chaining Bottomless Trap Hole.
Bottomless Trap Hole resolves first and removes Zombie Master from play. Zombie Master’s effect attempts to resolve next, but it fails because Zombie Master is no longer face up on the field. Ash discarded his in-hand monster for nothing.
What drives the Zombie Master “rage” Zombies is the speed at which they can bring their fellow Zombies into battle. Whenever you send a level 4 or lower Zombie-type monster to your graveyard to pay the cost for Zombie Master’s effect, you can actually select that same Zombie as the target for Zombie Master’s effect. Knowing this, players were quick to determine that they could call one Zombie Master for another, who could in turn call another Zombie into action. That’s how Zombies are. When you get the attention of one, you get the attention of them all.
Naturally the question of activating the effect when there are no Zombies in the graveyard arose. After all, you can send a Zombie from your hand, which places a Zombie right where you need it. I am happy to report that this is indeed possible, but you will need to send a Zombie-type of level 4 or lower when you pay Zombie Master’s cost. You need something to target with the effect, after all, and only level 4 or lower Zombies will suffice.
Blüd, Not Blood
Il Blud’s effect exceeds the level limits imposed upon Zombie Master, but Il Blud has a longer, harder path to follow. As a Gemini monster, Il Blud needs to be normal summoned while already face up on the field so it can “turn on” its effect monster form and associated ability. After you’ve accomplished this, you can begin special summoning Zombies from the graveyard or your hand. The choice is up to you. Getting Il Blud into play isn’t that difficult in a Zombie-themed deck. Special summons are a specialty of the Zombies and can easily be accomplished with cards like Book of Life, Call of the Mummy, and Pyramid Turtle.
When your field is free of monsters, you can use the effect of Call of the Mummy to special summon Il Blud from your hand. Assuming you haven’t yet normal summoned a monster, you can “Gemini summon” Il Blud and “turn on” its effect. This effect can then be used to special summon another Zombie, like Zombie Master. One Zombie Master can easily lead to another when the right cards are available. It really doesn’t take much work at all.
Any Zombie-type monsters special summoned by Il Blud’s effect become tethered to it and are destroyed whenever it is removed from the field. It doesn’t matter how you accomplish this, whether as payment for a cost, destruction in battle, or the result of a card effect. Il Blud needs to be retained on the field if you have any hopes of keeping your hungry legion of Zombies out feasting on the opposition.
Until next time, send all comments and questions to Curtis@Metagame.com.