My Body as a Shield

Since my reviews always try to incorporate a look into the future, I suppose it’s a perfect time to start Throwback Thursday now that Link Summoning has been revealed. And Link Summoning will almost definitely allow for the comeback of certain old cards. For example, my guess is that the game will change to focus a lot of resources on targeting and field control. Because if you can’t Link Summon or your Link Summon fails, then your whole extra deck is nearly inaccessible and you better have a defense. If I had to guess, cards like Compulsory Evacuation Device might be nearly staple, since bouncing a Link Monster at the right time might be exactly what accomplishes that goal I was referring to.

So, first we look at My Body as a Shield. And unwittingly or not, this is a solid card to start with, because it tries to answer the question: “How can I best protect the all-important Link Summon I just did?” I’m not saying it’s the best card, but it’s something, and who knows how the meta will change once Code of the Duelist arrives in Japan in April? This spell card isn’t good enough right now. But on the other hand, we are seriously looking at a future where many decks run a card called Missus Radiant, a monster that happens to be a direct callback to a card released in 1999! If that doesn’t signal a changing of the guard, I don’t know what does.

So, what do I see in my crystal ball for My Body as a Shield? Well, the answer lies somewhere beyond me at the moment, because 1.) we have no idea yet how many Link monsters will actually be available to OCG players come April 15, and 2.) we have no idea if Konami is going to shape the ban list to further shake up the game. For instance, if Terrortop finally gets banned (which it should) but they bring back cards that have been banned for too long (like Tribe-Infecting Virus and Zenmaighty), it could further change how we look at the game. And at the very least, My Body as a Shield will be considered, because it does something specific that players will be looking for once Link Summoning is the main game.

Advanced: 2/5

Future Potential: ?/5 (If I guessed, I’d say 2 still)

This poor card never got a chance to shine.  It was introduced in a climate of Ring of Destruction, Delinquent Duo, Premature Burial and other life point costs which add up quickly.  But as time went on, monster removal was less destruction-based.  It doesn't protect monsters from battle, banishing, bouncing and other effects.
 
It may always be a mystery why a card that a quick play, that negates things, protects your board and destroys things never got a chance to shine beyond being the occasional tech.
 
2/5

Hello Pojo Fans,

My Body As A Shield was released long ago in 2003 as a common. Today it can still hold a purpose in the meta.

1500LP to prevent any kind of destruction effect is pretty cheap. It's a Quick-Play, low cost, and spans all kinds of destruction, all good things. There are so many destruction effects nowadays, and that's ignoring Dark Hole at 2 and Raigeki being back for a good while at this point.

This could be main deck material, or side deck material even 14 years later. While spots are at a premium in both decks at this point, it is, and likely will always be a card worth considering. It's easy to play though, less cards like Magic Jammer, Spell Shield, and Imperial Order are being played, so negation of this card isn't likely unless a monster (or a spell/trap specific to preventing destruction) negates it.

Advanced-4/5
Art-4/5- Marauding Captain gets some payback from Blazing Impachi for past events.

Until Next Time