Continuing the new Archtype we opened last week, here's another Sylvan card, this time being Bladefender.  I'm really fascinated by this Archtype as a whole.  Partly the art, I like the new aspects they bring to the game, and I think once they get enough support they might be able to contend.  This is a Level 4, Earth attributed, Plant Monster, with a very good 1900 attack and a very not so good 700 defense.  As you should know by now, even just with the one card we looked at last week, the Sylvans (I always see the Sylvan learning center commercials in my head talking about these cards) are all about excavation.  When this card destroys an opponent's Monster (by Battle) and sends it to the Graveyard, you can excavate the top card of your Deck to your Graveyard.  If it's a Plant, anyway.  Otherwise, nothing gained, nothing lost, I suppose.  If this card is excavated from the Deck to the Graveyard by a card effect (get use to that text), add it to the Hand.  This card does lots of good things...its strong, it excavates, and it can even recycle itself...obviously in another copy, but still.  This is at least a two per Deck, maybe even three because of the 1900 attack.
 
Ratings:

Traditional:  2.5/5 
Advanced:  3.5/5 
Art:  5/5 

Moving right along with Legacy of the Valiant, we look at the sneak peek promo of the set, Sylvan Bladefender, who is, astonishingly, a member of the new Sylvan archetype.
 
First, if you don't know what Sylvans are: They are a new plant archetype (good) with a wide variety of levels and attributes (good) and a strong array of effects (great).  Every archetype in the game follows some game mechanic to distinguish themselves from the competition, whether it be searching in the case of Spellbooks, backrow manipulation with Fire Fists, working with no hand for Infernities, whatever the case may be.  Sylvans operate by stacking the deck, then "excavating" (revealing) the top card(s) of your deck.

Now generally, cards that you have to do this sort of thing with are frowned upon, but given that the archetype, particularly the field spell, allow you to stack the deck, this isn't that big of a deal in this case.  Today's card, when excavated, sends himself to the hand instead of the graveyard.  When he destroys a monster by battle using his hefty 1900 attack, you can excavate the top card of your deck and if it's a plant, send it to the graveyard (and activate its effect).  Given that the field spell allows you to put ANY Sylvan monster on top of your deck, you gain instant access to powerful options like Marshalleaf, the monster destroyer of the deck, or Peaskeeper, a Redox of sorts.  

This is obviously a stupendous effect when coupled with the field spell, though destroying a monster by battle is always an iffy situation.  I'll ignore the usual "but what about mirror force/D-prison waaaah" and get right to it, if you have a clear shot at destroying a monster, do it.  Blackwings love Shura for the same reason, and you're not going to catch a Blackwing player telling you they're too scared to attack with it. 
 
Lastly, this is an Earth monster, so the new seed tuner that the Sylvan deck goes along with works with this.  The monster in question lets you drop the level of an Earth monster by one up to twice per turn, and is level 3 itself, giving you access to the delicious duo of Naturia Beast and Barkion.
 
This is one of the better promo cards we've received in a while, up against stiff competition such as Galaxy Serpent and Mecha Phantom Beast Turtle Tracer.  If you want to build the Sylvan deck, this is certainly a great option to look at.

Traditional: 1/5
Advanced: 3.5/5 In Sylvans, at worst a 1900 beater anywhere else
Art: 4.5/5

Thanks for reading!

Hello Pojo Fans,
 
Today, we're reviewing Sylvan Bladefender, a super rare from Legacy of Valiant. A Plant-type, Earth monster with 1900ATK/700DEF, this level 4 monster has two effects. “When this card destroys an opponent's monster by battle and sends it to the Graveyard: You can excavate the top card of your Deck, and if it is a Plant-Type monster, send it to the Graveyard. Otherwise, place it on the bottom of your Deck. If this card is excavated from the Deck and sent to the Graveyard by a card effect: You can add this card from your Graveyard to your hand.”
 
Bladefender will be one of your main attacking monsters in the Sylvan archtype. Typical stats for a good level 4, and as a plant-type monster and Earth attribute, it has decent support backing it up. It combos with Sylvan cards (Mount Sylvania and Sylvan Flowerknight) as well as Lonefire Blossom and Violet Witch. If Bladefender destroys a monster and sends it to the grave, you can choose to evacuate the top card of your deck, you don't need to. If it isn't a plant monster, it goes to the bottom of the Deck. If it's a plant-type, it goes to the grave, setting up future plays involving your Graveyard. Most of the Sylvan monsters when evacuated from your Deck to the Graveyard will allow you to plus immediately (Bladefender, Komushroomo, Marshalleaf, Peaskeeper, Sagequoia, Sproutcolyte (the last two coming in Primal Orgin)). If Bladefender is evacuated from the top of your Deck to the Graveyard it adds itself to your hand, giving you another monster to attack with next turn.
 
Bladefender won't be seeing any playing time in any deck other than in a plant/Sylvan deck. If you find yourself in a situation where you don't have the ability to send an opponents monster to the grave, you won't be evacuating any card with Bladefender's effect, but with most remove from play support limited, this situation is less likely than it used to be.
 
In its own archtype, or a deck that uses a combination of Sylvan and plants, it is a must play.
 
Traditional- 1/5
Advanced- 2/5
Art- 4/5- Reminds me of Shunsui Kyoraku from Blach
 
Until Next Time,
KingofLullaby

Sylvan_Bladefender

I like 4 star monsters with decent attack stats. The fact this can a plus one if dumped to your graveyard by a card effect is really cool too. Milling and adding cards is always good. Honestly though when I think of plant monsters currently used in most decks double Card Trooper does the job needed & does it better with the added 'draw a card' upon being destroyed and sent to the graveyard effect. This monster has potential but is it going to make the cut...it's worth taking a look at but it isn't game changing.

3/5

Sylvan Bladefender

It's first excavation effect is a little hard to pull off since it requires you to do more than simply keep it alive, but at the same time, with strong stats, it's a very good beater to help round out the deck. The second excavation effect is easier to pull off with other cards and gives you a quick route to summon this monster. This card can facilitate some +1's and is the beater that the Sylvan deck needs.

I can't help but feel though, that when the excavation effects aren't being applied (most of the time), it's pretty much your standard beater. A glorified Gemini Elf.

Traditional: 2/5
Advanced: 3/5

I have taught you many a lesson in my short time here, my dear guppies. What have you learned? I mean apart from me being the greatest thing since sliced bread? Well I shall teach you more, since starting with this review I shall add an art critique as well to certain cards!

Sylvan Bladefender is a simple little fellow. If attacking is your schtick, 1700 is the least amount of ATK you can have (Jurrac Guaiba, Bear/Gorilla when Tenki is up), but this guy goes above and beyond by having 1900. He excavates a card whenever he slays a monster in combat which should be fairly frequent. You see, this creates synergy with the Sylvan field spell, Mountain Sylvania. Furthermore, when you excavate him with a card effect and he's sent to the graveyard, he returns to your hand. A welcome addition to the sylvan armory and while not a bare necessity, it's still a monster you should definitely try out.

Ways to counter Sylvan Bladefender: it has no protection.

Look at Bladefender's feet. He isn't actually standing on anything and the trees in the background cannot look that way when you have him standing by a tree that's upright. Unless of course the trees in the background idolize the Leaning Tower of Pisa so much that they're trying their best to emulate it.

Traditional: 1/5
Advanced: 2.5/5
Art: 3/5 (At least he has a face and a background!)