Waboku

I remember Waboku as being the first card I was ever confused by. Boy did it cause a hubbub back in the day. This card has always protected monsters from destruction, from the day it was printed, but the original wording of Waboku definitely did not say that or even imply it. In fact, it seemed to imply it could negate monster effect damage, like from OTK specialist Catapult Turtle. Four errata later, we have the final version of the card that has actually never changed. Now if only Konami could get around to fixing Appropriate.

Waboku is an oldie but still a goodie. There’s something to be said for a card that can protect all monsters from battle and prevent all battle damage, even all these years later. It’s refreshing to know that battles are still necessary, despite the overwhelming effects of monsters in today’s game. While I wouldn’t recommend main-decking Waboku, there’s still plenty of room in the side deck of some archetypes, usually ones with inherent protection from effects but low ATK (Majespecters, just as an example).

Nothing changes my opinion of the card once the new format begins. Link monsters will be a focal point, so protecting that all-important monster from battle is crucial, and since the vast majority of link monsters revealed so far have pretty low ATK power, Waboku might just make a defensible and important comeback.

Advanced: 2.5/5

Future Potential: 2.5/5

Waboku was highly essential during the early years of the game.  It provided protection and gave advantage in even battles.  It was a staple at 3 but then declined as the card pool increased.  
 
During Goat Format, Scapegoat replaced Waboku.  It gave the player tokens they could keep even after the turn ended.  It often resulted in two turns of protection and they could be tributed for card advantage like Metamorphosis.
 
Waboku is not entirely without utility.  It depends on the format and how important keeping monsters alive from battle is.  In an era of archetypes demanding their own exclusive support and an increasing card pool of superior traps, Waboku is mostly obsolete.
 
2/5

Hello Pojo Fans,
 
Waboku has endured the game of Yu-Gi-Oh and it's momentous amount of changes throughout its history to still be a viable card even in todays meta.
 
A card from the original starter deck, this trap has been revised and clarified several times. Activate it, no battle damage for you from your opponent's monsters, and, your monsters cannot be destroyed. Saving your monsters from an oncoming assault is the most common way of using this, but Gladiator Beast monsters can use this card to attack higher ATK monsters, not lost their GB, and tag out to gain advantage. It can be run in almost any deck as a nice side option against OTK's, but while its usefulness remains it seems to have been forgotten.
 
 
Advanced-4/5
Art-3/5
 
Until Next Time

Stall Cards don't win games. Waboku is the original stall card. It's a Normal Trap with no cost that protects all your monsters from battle destruction and all your life points from battle damage. It can go in any deck. It looks nice. But Waboku is still usually outclassed by original Mirror Force. The only benefit Waboku has over Mirror Force is chainability. If this gets targeted by Twin Twisters, you can activate it and not worry about what phase it is. Still, Waboku has been around a very long time and can still randomly see play because of its versatility and ease of use. It's an awesome beginner's card, and it gains points for nostalgia. 
 
Score: 2.5/5
Art: 4/5
 
-WarlockBlitz

This weeks throwback thursday is an oldey, but a goodie, Waboku. A veritable staple trap card over the years, and almost a given to be included in the years starter deck.
 
Waboku has two very simple effects. The first prevents all battle damage from your opponents monsters this turn. And it's second prevents your monsters being killed by battle this turn.
 
And that's it. There's no life point cost, no secondary protection effects, and can allow for some suicidal battle tactics by attacking a monster with the same attack value. It's seen less useage in recent years due to too much effect negation.
 
Advanced 4/5