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Pojo's Yu-Gi-Oh Card of the Day

XX-Saber Garsem
#ABPF-EN026 

When this card on the field is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard by a card effect, add 1 "X-Saber" monster from your Deck to your hand. This card gains 200 ATK for each face-up "X-Saber" monster you control.

Card Ratings
Traditional: 2.20
Advanced: 3.00 

Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale
1 being the worst.
3 is average.
5 is the highest rating.


Date Reviewed - 02.24.10

Back to the main COTD Page

 

Dark Paladin

Wednesday

XX-Saber Garsem, another reasonable card, for a decent enough Decktype.
We have a Level 4, Beast-type, Earth attributed monster, all of which are positive things for a card in this instance, with 1400 attack and 400 defense...horrible.

Now, Garsem gains 200 attack for each face-up "X-Saber" monster you control. 200 points...seriously? 300 or 400 would have been reasonable, as then the starting base attack wouldn't suck so much, even though he boosts himself. You need at least one other monster for 1800, two would be good for 2000...

The real effect here is in his destruction, in my opinion. You can add one "X-Saber" monster from your Deck to your Hand when this card goes to the Graveayrd by a card effect. Honestly, I'm not that big of a fan of this card, but it's not terrible.

Ratings:

Traditional: 2.25/5
Advanced: 3.25/5
Art: 4.5/5 Most X-Saber monsters have nice artwork

General Zorpa

XX-Saber Garsem

Is nobody else lamenting the fact of the 4th star on this card? Garsem is a level 4 EARTH Beast with 1400 ATK and 400 DEF. These stats are non-impressive, but the fact that it is an XX Saber makes it that much better than it would have been otherwise.

The effects are that when it is destroyed by a card effect, you can add on X Saber monster from your deck to your hand, and it gains 200 ATK for every X Saber monster you control. Note that Rescue Cat says "destroy". Do you get why I am so sad that it is level 4 now?

Anyway, it is a huge boon to the X Saber deck. It allows a muscly force to be put on the field as well as replacing itself when it should die. One of the problems with the X Saber deck is the deck's dependance on comboes and being unable to fight it's way out of a situation. Garsem allows you to do that and/or draw out a kill spell.

Of course the better effect is searching, as you can search for ANY X Saber monster. Faultrol, Gardestrike, Ragigura or Airbellum, you can get the right X Saber for the job, Combined with the Gottoms Emergency Call, this card can also live to cross sword with some of the better monsters in the game and come out on top.

This is basically the card that X Sabers neded to get some muscle on the field, and combined with the rest of the amazing new tech, the deck has a chance to make something of itself again.

Traditional-1/5
Advanced-4/5


Freeza

XX-Saber Garsem …

I’m pretty indifferent to the X-sabers … or XX-sabers whatever they classify themselves as. But this guy is pretty good. An Earth Beast of Level 4. Solid in all respects. Can be specialed and quickened out cuz of his 1400 ATK very easily … But then his attack grows by having more X-sabers out with him, which is good cuz X-sabers can swarm with the best of them … which helps lend to Garsem’s 2nd effect. When destroyed and sent to the grave by card effect, u can take any X-saber monster from your deck to your hand … awesome. His base ATK is ok, but nothing insurmountable. Most opponents would elect (and be able to) destroy him by battle, rather than let him get his 2nd effect. But the stronger he grows (with more X-sabers on the field), the less likely that killing him by battle remains an option. So … yeah. U’ll be able to grab any X-saber u need after that.

He’s cool. … and a Gazelle … or an Antelope …

Traditional: 3.5/5
Advanced: 3.5/5

- FREEZA


N o V a

Garsem is quite a different XX-Saber monster. When its destroyed by a card effect you can add any X-Saber monster from the deck to your hand. It can work wonders with cards like Widespread Dud and Torrential Tribute, destroying it by a card effect and giving you its special ability. Adding cards like XX-Saber Faultroll, XX-Saber Gardestrike and XX-Saber Emmersblade is a pretty awesome effect if you can get Garsem destroyed by card effects. Garsem is also searchable with Emmersblades ability as well as Giant Rat. You can use Saber Slash as well to destroy Garsem as well as other face up cards counting Garsem for the number of cards you can destroy on the field. You dont really lose anything and get a new mosnter from your deck. Garsem I think may see some play in 2's for X-Saber decks, but who knows, maybe we'll see at the upcoming shonen jump?

Traditional: 4/5
Advanced: 3/5

Greg

XX-Saber Garsem:

This kind of card seems to be popping up more and more lately. "If this card is destroyed by a card effect, then add some kind of card to your hand." It's nice in theory, but if the card has a low enough atk that your opponent will most likely be destroying it by battle, then what good is the card really? If Garsem is the only X-Saber you have on the field, then he is only going to have 1600 atk, and that is easy to run over now-a-days. For that matter, the field has to be completely loaded with X-Sabers for him to reach a respectable 2400 atk. One cool thing you can do with this card is if you have it and another X-Saber on the field, you can use Saber Slash to destroy one of your opponent's cards and your own Garsem, allowing you to search out any X-Saber you currently need from your deck. Torrential tribute will also net you the search effect. You can Emmersblade into Garsem if they only atk with one monster, knowing that your card will be safe until your turn, and if not, you are going to be searching your deck for a free X-Saber. None of these benefits are enough to give this card a very high rating though. Once again, there are just better choices.

Traditional: 1.5
Advanced: 2.0 (only because you can search ANY x-saber)


Otaku

Name: XX-Saber Garsem

Level: 4

Attribute: Earth

Type: Beast/Effect

ATK: 1400

DEF: 400

Text: When this card on the field is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard by a card effect, add 1 “X-Saber” monster from your deck to your hand.  This card gains 200 ATK for each face-up “X-Saber” monster you control.

 

Stats: Another example of what’s in a name, Garsem is part of the X-Saber family and sub-family XX-Saber and its effects are built around this affiliation.  It is Level 4 and that is the perfect Level for it: anything lower would break it (thanks to Rescue Cat) and anything higher would make it junk given the rest of the card.  All other X-Saber monsters are Earth, and while the support isn’t as great as it is for Light or Dark, there are a few solid tricks, like Spiritual Earth Art – Kurogane.  Beast cards have a few more solid tricks, but given their nature, the multiple Types running around in X-Saber decks, and the fact that several X-Saber support cards highlight Warriors… maybe being a Warrior would have been better (though nonsensical given the card art).

 

The 1400 ATK is small, and while it won’t hold its own against most Monsters, at least it means it can be searched out via Sangan and Giant Rat.  The tiny DEF is unfortunate: you don’t want this card defending, especially if you peek ahead to the effects.

 

Effect(s): If this card is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard from the field by a card effect, you can snag any X-Saber monster from your deck and add it to your hand.  Why do I underline that?  I almost missed it and it drops the card from a “must play” to “has potential”.  That makes three common ways for XX-Saber Garsem to miss its effect: die by battle, be removed from play, be sent from the field but not via an effect (Tribute, Synchro Summon, etc.).  The last is mostly in your hands, but we all remember Brain Control and its ilk.  It’s still good, just not great: even if you have to invest a little to ensure it (or take your chances with them bypassing it), the pay off is big: any X-Saber monster.

 

Uses and

Combinations:

Looks like a scout to me: just big enough to harass the opponent early on and draw out early defenses.  If the opponent ignores it, XX-Saber Garsem will just grow larger as its fellows join it in play.  Even if it stays at 1600 ATK, that’s big enough to take out non-beatsticks or rack up some serious damage against an open field if it lasts more than a turn.  Unless X-Saber decks don’t run any monster protection themselves, you’re going to get the effect reliably enough to be worth it the occasional failed attempt.  Indeed, this can be a good card to toy with your opponent, making them worry about blowing it away with an effect when you already have what you need in hand or don’t have anything to protect it from being run over.

 

There may be more to this card.  Anyone remember Elemental Hero Wildheart and all the annoying tricks you can do with him, like using him to safely trigger your own Torrential Tribute or Needle Ceiling.  What about Elemental Hero Stratos?  He was huge when he first came out not because he pumped up Elemental Hero or Destiny Hero decks, but because he replaced himself.  XX-Saber Garsem is definitely no where near as versatile, but has some real potential.  Odds are pretty good you’re opponent will have to take a risk to run him down or you’ll force a nice trade.  If you build a deck to trigger the effect while blowing up the rest of the field, or have the added synergy of an Earth and/or Beast deck, you can force a lot of trades in your advantage.

 

Ratings

 

Traditional: 1/5 – Do people play X-Saber decks here?

 

Advanced: 2.5/5 – This is a composite score.  It’s tempting to just think of it as X-Saber, but in the above “destruction” deck or even just backing up a Beast deck, it’s a solid choice.

 

Summary

XX-Saber Garsem isn’t strong enough to be the next Elemental Hero Stratos, but take that approach when looking for uses.  If you are running something its already got synergy with you might be pleasantly surprised at something your opponent has to run down or watch be replaced.


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