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Stargazer Magician
Hello, and welcome to the Spacetime Showdown Super
Starter Deck week. We're going to start out with
our very first Pendulum monster review to ever grace
Pojo's time-tested COTD tradition.
For those who don't know how Pendulum Summoning
works, here are the basics:
1. Pendulum Monsters are half-monster and
half-spell. You can play them as a face-up Spell
Card in two (left and right) Pendulum Zones.
2. Pendulums are treated as Spells when played as
Spells but are otherwise treated as monsters.
3. When Pendulums are sent from the field to the
graveyard as either a monster or spell, they are
placed face-up on top of your extra deck.
4. When you control a Pendulum monster on each side,
you can special summon any number of monsters from
your hand (as well as any Pendulum monsters face-up
atop your extra deck). This is called a Pendulum
Summon.
5. Only monsters with levels in between the
blue-scale of the left pendulum and the red-scale of
the right Pendulum can be summoned.
Now onto Stargazer Magician (not the song by
the Dio-fronted Rainbow).
As a monster, this card is not very good. At LV5, a weak 1200 ATK and a passable 2400 DEF doesn't make it
worth the tribute. On top of that, it's
monster-effect is extremely situational. It lets
you re-summon another Pendulum monster which your
opponent returns to your hand via a card effect.
The only card which does that right now is
Compulsory Evacuation Device, which players only
use on XYZ monsters anyway - not a weak monster like
this one.
As a Pendulum spell, its effects aren't impressive
either. While it does preclude cards like
Forbidden Lance, Damage-Step spell cards are not
very common. And it only protects Pendulum
monsters. So far the only two out are both 1200 ATK
weaklings with crap effects. Its other effect makes
its Pendulum Scale at 4, if you don't use
Timegazer Magician or the soon-to-come
Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon. Either it makes it
easier for you to summon your LV2-3 monsters or
harder to summoning your LV4 monsters. I don't see
the point.
This card is also difficult to search from your
deck, especially with Sangan illegal, hurting
its consistency. You can draw this at the most
inopportune time: when you already have one out of
the field and you are missing Timegazer Magician.
Or, you could just not draw it at all and be unable
to Pendulum Summon. The redeeming quality of this
card is that it is a Pendulum monster and the only
Pendulum monster out in the TCG right now. If
you're going to Pendulum Summon, you're going to
need this guy!
What you say about Stargazer Magician is what
you say about Pendulum Summoning. This card, for
the next month or so, will ultimately be divided
between those who think Pendulum Summoning is a
viable mechanic right now and those who think it is
not.
Ratings
Traditional
- 2.75 (While this format is much more competitive
and inclement toward many strategies, it also has
the means to make this card more consistent. It
opens up an entirely new mechanic for the format,
every bit as much as Advanced)
Advanced
- 2.75 (In a tough meta with lots of fully supported
archetypes sharing the stage, Pendulums will seem
slow in comparison. However, he corners the market
as there are no other better options.
Mechanic Design - 2.5 (This card is not
imbalanced or designed in a spammy way. However, it
is really situational with providing much benefit.
It's effects are too simple for competitive players
but may be a little too complex for newer players.)
Artwork - 2.5 (Futuristic blue background
complements the standard white mage look very well,
but more interesting is the unique circular weapon
he/she is holding.
Verdict
Decent enough until better Pendulum Monsters are
released.
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