Predaplant Flytrap

We start this week with an archetype that will be seeing many added cards in the future for the TCG and a theme that is already making an impact in the OCG. The Invasion: Vengeance set included the first three of the Predaplants, and Predaplant Flytrap is a solid start.

The nature of the Predaplant archetype is three-fold, which is always a good thing. First, they add counters to opponent monsters that reduce their levels to 1. Second, they all have effects that either debilitate the opponent monsters or steal/destroy them. And third, they have effects that allow for the easy fusion summoning of dark monsters, mainly Starving Venom Fusion Dragon. Currently the OCG has almost a dozen predaplant monsters, but only three spells and one trap, which might explain why the archetype by itself hasn’t yet made an impact. But cards within the archetype are making a huge splash, especially Predaplant Darling Cobra, which we’ll get to in a second.

Predaplant Flytrap is a monster that can basically kill anything in battle, but in the grand scheme of the archetype itself, his most important effect is the ability to place a counter once per turn without any other fanfare or additional requirements. As you consider all the cards currently available in the OCG, you begin to realize that massive plusses can be gained if you consistently get quick counters on any opponent monsters as soon as they appear on the mat. Cards like Predator Planet, Spino Dionaea, Sundew Kingii, and Drosophyllum Hydra all become quite useless if you can’t get those counters going, but if you can, opponents won’t know what to do with themselves. So I like Flytrap as a future one-of or two-of, but because he’s quite small and slow, I can’t imagine he will ever be a centerpiece in the Predaplant theme. However, this card has some merit outside of the archetype since he works quite well alone. I could see him teched in other plant decks that have need of his specific skill set.

Now, the reason I really like the potential for Predaplants in general is because two of them (so far) have a fourth ability that is highly unique and highly potent. Predaplant Darling Cobra and Predaplant Chimera Rafflesia each have the incredible ability to search the deck for Polymerization OR a “Fusion” spell card. This includes cards like Instant Fusion, Brilliant Fusion, El Shaddoll Fusion, and for the OCG, Super Polymerization and Transcendental Fusion. Predaplant Darling Cobra in particular is making waves, because he gets his effect (only once per duel mind you) when special summoned by the effect of another Predaplant, namely Predaplant Ophrys Scorpio. These two monsters create an engine that allows for cheap, massive plays much like the Speedroid duo. As an example, check out the Independent Nightingale turbo deck using the Tyrant Neptune. But there are other options that allow you to special summon Cobra or Rafflesia. The ability to search for any “Fusion” spell with little effort is outrageous, and cannot be underestimated. I honestly believe Predaplants in one form or another will lead to the permanent ban of Instant Fusion, which should have happened a long time ago.

Getting back to Flytrap, I reiterate that I like the monster and its future potential, but he’s not the beast like other Predaplants I described.

Advanced: 2.5/5

Future Potential: 2.5/5

Predaplant Flytrap is a Level 2 Dark Plant-type monster with 400 Atk and 800 Def. The thing about these Predator Counters is they only do things to cards with Levels. XYZ Monsters instantly become immune to this effect. I'm glad it's a once per turn effect to place a Predator Counter on an opponent's face-up monster. The counter is what does the work of bringing the monster's Level to 1 if it's 2 or higher. If you're brave enough to take Flytrap to battle, it will destroy anything with an equal or lower Level during the Damage Step. Flytrap gets versatility points for not needing the Predator Counter to destroy weeny monsters that might have higher Atk. Still, the XYZ problem and the weakness of this monster in general make me give it an average score. Obviously within its own archetype there would be more options, but for now Predaplant Flytrap will have to settle for table scraps.
 
Score: 3/5
Art: 3.5/5
 
-WarlockBlitz

Monday
 
The Predaplant family is an interesting group of cards.  They like to manipulate Levels of themselves and others, in very unconventional manners.  At a glance, this card is unremarkable.  Level 2, 400-800 respectively, and a Dark (strange) Plant.  I guess it does sinister-esque things, perhaps yielding a Dark classification.  So once a turn, you target a face-up Monster that belongs to your opponent, and place a Predator Counter on it.  Said Monster becomes Level 1 (so long as it has a counter and is Level 2 or higher) which immediately rules out our Ranked XYZ Monsters.  But continuing, this card destroys any Monster it Battles in Level of equal or lower to this.  It also gains the Level of any Monster it destroys.  This card is interesting, and works well enough in its theme.  But it isn't practical to think it'll get high enough to really be of help, and the whole not being able to effect XYZ cards.  Fun premise, but not the most practical.  I mean, it'll have to destroy easily 2-3 cards just to get high enough to take out something of a high level, and it's still vulnerable to all your normal destruction and removal.  But Plants can be good at protecting too.

Rating:  2.5/5

Art:  4/5