Well, several events have contributed to my lack
of reviews as of late. I’ll eventually do the
ones I missed (a few of them are done already,
but I was trying to catch them up all at once),
but they’ll appear as an article or just on the
message boards.
I am debating trying to come up with a new
breakdown for when I review cards, but it’s
a slow and painful process.
Stats:
Berserk Gorilla is a Level 4. The card has no
special restrictions on summoning, so being a
Level 4 means that it can be normal Set or
Summoned with ease. It is an Earth/Beast.
Earth has long tradition of useful Beatdown
cards, especially if the deck is entirely Earth
themed, though many of them see a lot less play
now (GAF, Jirai Gumo, Mad Sword Beast, Gemini
Elf, the Rock Spirit). Being a Beast-type is
useful, since this area recently spiked in
playability, partially due to this card, but
mainly due to others, like
Manticore of Darkness (and some cards
we’ll see later in the weak). Moving on, we see
this has a great ATK of
2000., and a
repsectible DEF of 1000.
While a DEF of 1500 would be
more useful and still keep the card viable for
Witch of the
Black Forest, its better than having a lower
number yet.
Effect(s):
Here’s what balances out the relatively high ATK
of a level 4. First, if this card is ever in
Face-Up DEF mode, it is destroyed. So some
cards, like Block Attack, would become removal
against it, and you can’t use it to block really
high creatures without losing LP, since putting
it in DEF mode would kill it before it could
block. The second effect is also limiting, but
not too bad. You must attack with this card if
you are able. This means you can’t be cautious
and it will “suicide”
itself sometimes, but with it’s ATK for its
Level and the tendency of monsters to die
quickly anyways, its still not crippling. Note
that “must be able to” means that another card
effect or game rule must stop it, and that you
must take a battle phase if not other game
effects are stopping it. Note that the first
effect means that if you haven’t changed Battle
Position that turn, and it’s Main Phase 1 (or
somehow you were unable to attack with Berserk
Gorilla), you can change it to DEF mode to nuke
it safely, instead of say, having to ram it into
a Jinzo.
Uses/Combinations:
Almost a guarantee for an Earth, Beast, or
Earth/Beast Beatdown, unless such a deck is also
a Messenger of Peace or Gravity Bind deck. One
can use Nature’s Wild Release with this card and
have it almost be beneficial: the 1000 boost to
ATK isn’t bad, but it isn’t great. However, the
rest of Nature’s Wild Release’s effect will nuke
Gorilla at the end of the turn that Spell card
is used on it. This mean’s that “must attack if
able clause” won’t matter. Skill Drain could
also be an option, though it is somewhat self
defeating in Beast-themed decks that rely on
other Monster’s effects.
Ratings
Casual:
4/5-Themed decks do much better in a format
where the decks are more relaxed.
Tournament:
3.5/5-A solid Beatstick
in general, capable of
suiciding a Vampire Lord. In Earth
and/or Beast-type decks, its talents can be
utilized further.
Limited:
4/5-Great card early game, but it can backfire
if it’s a late game pick and they have a higher
ATK Tribute Monster out.
Summary
It’s a Beatstick and
a gorilla… how can you not love it?
