Haven't done a Featured Card in a while... anyway I'm back! The card I will be discussing today is probably my favorite side card this format: DNA Surgery.
(By the way, even though Katana's format was awesome... I'm sticking to my template so apologies if it looks so plain compared to the last one XD)
Activate by declaring 1 Monster Type. All face-up monsters become that typeRemember this card? If you are new to Yugioh, you might not have ever used this. Since I followed Yugioh since I was young I actually happen to remember this: I used it to power up my Dark Paladin or be indestructible with Insect Barrier.
What else do you need? It is obviously a broken and totally splash-able card!
... not falling for it?
In this new age of Exceed monsters... and other broken meta and... stuff... this card has truly came out of nowhere. Now to explain this meta very briefly:
While this meta has opened up to a number of rogue decks, there are still a number of decks that are heads above the rest. Personally, I view these 5 are the main decks to look out for this format:
Bujins
Karauri Geargia (if they have Auger)
Firefist
Spellbooks
Mermails
Harpies
Even though DNA Surgery doesn't affect all of those decks (e.g. Mermails), it does cripple a number of them. All of the newer supports that most archetypes receives these days rely on a specific type of monster: Noble Knights/Bujins/Fire Fist/Spellbooks.
Furthermore, DNA Surgery prevents certain Fusion, Synchro, and XYZ monsters from being summoned. These monsters require a specific type of monster(s) to summon them. Cyber Dragon Nova, Hierophant of Prophecy, and Five Headed Dragon being a few examples from the top of my head.
Now I will just show the main support cards that DNA Surgery hits from each deck.
Spellbooks: Spellbook of Power, Master, Wisdom, Fate
Fire Fist: Tiger King, Tensen, Stops them from attacking the turn they use Spirit
Bujin: All of the Bujingi, Mikazuchi
Geargia: Stop Karakuri synchro/Gear Gigant X
Others: Lonefire Blossom, Laggia/Dolkka, Cyber Dragon
The main decks it affects are Bujin, Spellbooks and to a lesser extent Geargia. Unfortunately, Fire Fist can play around it as a few hundred attack points isn't enough of a side.
Of course, it doesn't have to be used only defensively, there are 3 ways I found that it is most awarding (by that I mean hilarious).
1. Declaring Dragon and using Super Polymerization to use 3 of his monsters and 2 of mine to summon Five-Headed-Dragon.
2. Declaring Machine and using his full field to make a 6000 attack Chimera Fortress Dragon.
3. My personal favorite, declaring Dinosaur in a Hunder deck and spamming 2 Laggia on turn 3.
Anyway guys, I'm pretty sure I covered the important points: the card itself is quite simple after all. Have fun experimenting with it and if you find another way to use it in a fun, yet abusive way please tell me XD.
Rulings (all credit to Yu-Gi-Oh! Wikia)
- Zombie World: Vs. "DNA Surgery": Which ever card is activates last has its effect applied (although "Zombie World" will continue to affect the Graveyard and prevent Tribute Summons). Also, if "DNA Surgery" is activated after "Zombie World", then Tribute Summoning an originally Zombie-Type monster is still allowed (even though it is a non-Zombie-Type monster when it is on the field).[21]
Trivia (all credit to Yu-Gi-Oh! Wikia)
- This card has 3 counterparts: "DNA Transplant", "DNA Checkup" and "DNA Erasure Magic" (Anime-only).
- "Rebirth Judgment" (currently Anime-only) uses the effect of this card on Graveyard monsters instead of the field.