Another card on its third review.

 

Limiter Removal is a staple for Machine decks, with the possible exception of a Machine deck that only used Monsters with an ATK of 100 or less (in which case, Graceful Dice would be better)… don’t waste time looking, all Machines with 100 or less ATK are actually “variable” ATK Machines and thus will almost never be that low.

 

Seriously though, every Machine deck should pack this card: even if attacking is not normally an option, the ability to double the ATK of every Machine in play makes this an incredibly useful Spell card.  Yes, the Monsters affected by this card end up being destroyed during your End Phase, but there are some tricks, like Book of Moon and Heavy Mech Support Platform.  Cannon Soldier is also nice since you can Tribute everything to lessen the downside of the card.

 

Additional fun comes from the fact that Limiter Removal doubles the ATK as is.  This is bad if there is an effect decreasing your attack, but wonderful if there is an effect increasing it.  Why?  In addition to doubling the bonus you are already receiving, it “locks” the ATK at that new level, regardless of whether or not the cards that were granting a bonus leave.  So if you use Limiter Removal on a Jinzo with Heavy Mech Support Platform equipped, it doubles the 2900 ATK (base 2400 ATK for Jinzo with + 500 ATK from Heavy Mech Support Platform) to 5800 ATK, and at the end of the turn, not only does Heavy Mech Support Platform die in Jinzo’s stead, but he remains at 5800 ATK.  An additional benefit occurs if you can afford the room to include some Equips and Giant Trunade (unlikely, but I might as well mention it): use Trunade to reclaim the Equip after you use Limiter, and then use the Equip again.

 

As a Quick-Play Spell, it’s even more impressive since you can use it when your opponent attacks.  Your Monster would have died anyway (generally, opponent’s only attack Monsters they can destroy), but this way you’ll either a) reduce the damage you take and b) hopefully do damage to them and destroy the attacking Monster (since now you’re bigger than the attacker).

 

Now for why we are looking at this card yet again: it was restricted to one.  I don’t like this.  What?  How hypocritical: I called this a staple and then said I didn’t think it should be Restricted, let alone Banned?  This is a staple for a specific type of deck.  That is fine.  In a deck that doesn’t run enough Machines to qualify as a Machine deck, it’s just not worth running.  While it has an incredible effect, you have to wait until the Damage Step to activate it with almost no fear of reprisal, and in that case they can still activate the bane of this card: protective Traps that block damage.  Nothing like blowing up all your Monsters in the killing strike… only to find it was all for naught.  So there are definite draw backs, and it can only be used in a key deck type.

 

The real problem is Cyber End Dragon.  Simply put, take the classic STKO Cyberstein deck (which we didn’t see a lot of since we haven’t had Cyberstein that long and never got Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon)… but have the option of using Limiter Removal or Megamorph.  I would have been even more annoyed had they put restrictions on Megamorph, since that card is key to one of my favorite deck themes, Suicide Beatdown (a.k.a. Velocity).  Personally, I think they should just bite the bullet and errata the card to say that it can only be Fusion Summoned (but allow Fusion substitutes).

 

Ratings (For Machine decks only)

 

Traditional       : 5/5-You can create a Machine/Chaos deck.

 

Advanced        : 5/5-Stupid Cyber End Dragon.

 

Limited            : 3/5-If you get a lot of Machines, even weenies, it can be gold.  If you get none its junk, hence the score.