Article #83: Comet Blast

Well as like the many previous articles or any site updates, I'm late. However, here it is, the first look at the latest card set Starstrike Blast.

Again, I will follow my standard "template" of card trends, then the "useful" card (or cards that can be put into a deck, if anything), deck types, worst card. The extra to this article is my 2 cents on the September 1st Ban/Restriction List.

Card Trends and theme:
As the second set of Series 7, the set continue the theme from last set plus the usual of support old themes. The only new theme for this set is Kurakuri, a series based upon the traditional Japanese mechanical idols/dolls, and its theme of "automatically attack" and "automatically change mode" is very similar to it being a automated doll (without much AI, of course!). Additionally, the cards themselves plus the support are "similar to the ones found in Goemon 3 video games" (Japanese wiki).

For other archetype wise, recent themes such as Eleki, Scrap, and Fusion with Synchro as material gets few more cards. Duel Terminal themes like Natural and Ice Barrier also get some boost. "Older" themes like Core Chimail, Synchron, Black Feather, to a new Monarch and "Wight" series get few cards. For last count, there are only 30 anime related cards in this set, much less than the usual over 50%.

Deck Types:
Here are some of the new deck types that I think people could create after this set, competitive or not.
- Kurakuri

For deck types that get boosts:
- Synchron
- Black Feather
- Plant (?)
- Scrap
- Eleki
- Natural
- Wight
- Spellcaster
- Beast-Warrior
- "Miracle Synchro Fusion"
- Equipment based deck (not sure...but well there are 4 new equipments)

Useful cards :
As usual, I will write down a list of cards that I think that can help some deck. Again, this list merely means that you should at least look at the card and somehow find space for it...or at least try....

- Swift Attacking Scarecrow
- Power Giant (not for Synchro, and Beatdown is not common anymore...)
- Power Breaker (nothing special though)
- Synchro Gunner (must have some way to use this card)
- Black Feather - Aurora of Northern Lights
- Growup Blub (whatever about the once per duel, at least it's balance...)
- Karakuri Soldier, Merchant, Spy (*), (not really: Warrior)
- Scrap Soldier
- Elekiiwi
- Elekitonbo
- Elekitaris
- Natural Cherry
- Natural Pumpkin
- Natural Stag
- Dance Queen of Ice Barrier (themed deck, of course!)
- Chaindog
- Wightmare
- Superme Wizard Arcanite Magician (it's OK, that once per turn thing kind of kill it)
- Knight of Earth and Sky - Gaia Drake (friend with Fusion subs)
- Shooting Star Dragon (again, look good on paper but for fun only)
- Formula Synchron (hey, you need this for Shooting Star...but ehh 2 star Synchro is a bitch)
- Karakuri Shogun - Burei
- Scrap Twin Dragon
- Tuning (maybe the best Synchron deck support only like ever?)
- Mighty Karakuri Castle
- Karakuri Disassembling Manual
- Elekiastle
- Tategami of Gaodrake (turn anything to a Gaodrake?)
- Crest of Ice Barrier
- Core Chiring
- Shackle of Underworld, Axe of Foolishness, Cursed Charm (I guess use them on opponent's monster?)
- Gravitational Collapse
- Star Eclipse - Level Claim (OK, limited use but it's an anime card)
- Half Counter (Shrink is still better, though)
- Karakuri Residence
- Timed Karakuri Bomb (Mirror Force for a theme times ?)
- Scrap Crush
- Tusk of Extrio
- Big Pit Trap

Now, of course, my choice of worst card in the set...and it is?

D.D. Ground - It's not that the effect of this card is totally useless, nor it is the most limited used card in the set. However, last I check both Dimensional Fissure AND Macrocosmos are not restricted. This is poor man version of those two cards...OK, maybe not everyone want the continuous or you want the "temporary effect" (e.g. against that one [Rescue Cat]). The only reason chosen? Super Rare...seriously?

Last word: The set has some cards, but like other set the card pool is so wide right now that cards from any set may not be the most useful thing now. There are excessive "themed" card (the monster or its support) in this set like some of the recent sets. However, it is really hard, I guess, to release "general stable". I really wish there can be a limit on what old cards can be use so some newer cards may not look as bad as they are now.

Ban/Restriction List:

It is August time, which means that a new ban/restriction list is coming in less than a month. Here are my few cents on some "problem" cards.

- Judgment Dragon: this card is getting old and annoying...all those other Lightlord restriction does not mean anything as long as this card is at 2. I just don't get it...release a replacement and ban this card. No, this card is not "invincible", but it changes the game a LOT whenever it got on the field.
- Ice Barrier Dragon - Trishula: One of this card is not a problem. However, 3 copies popping out on the field is a LOT of problem. No, I'm not just talking about Infernity as there is always the alternative in [Mist Worm] that can also OTK an opponent...but this card is just ridiculous in the amount of disruption it can do from Turn 1 or Turn 2 on.
- Infernity Gun: Now THIS card is the card that makes Infernity good. Infernity engine is SO easy that almost anyone can use it: Gun Necromancer and Beetle, Necromancer Demon, Demon out the Gun, Trishula #1, rinse and repeat. With only 1, it makes Infernity slower but still usable...
- Irakaeru, Ogre Gaeru, Ikigaeru: I had not used this engine myself before, but somehow there must be a balance in stopping the madness in this engine...
- Dandelion/Yomigaeru: Seriously, why they are at 2?
- Pot of Greed and Humble: I'm torn between this card. This card is good, but restriction-worthy? One side say yes since it give me the last piece of puzzle, the other side say in the world of special summoning and the limit 1 per turn make this card fairly balance...

I did not touch Black Feather deck, which is still somewhat top deck. However, the deck had been crippled a lot already, so I don't really know where to touch it anymore. There are also some cards that are probably missing from my list or there are some cards that are on the list but not restriction worthy anymore. But this ends my 2 cents here.

- Baron, 8/7/2010

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