#8--Arcanite Magician

When I got our list of the Top 10 cards of the year, I was pleasantly surprised to see Arcanite Magician on the list. Arcanite Magician is one of the more interesting, and believe it or not, more deadly Synchro monsters out there, that most people completely brushed aside.

Arcanite Magician is a Level 7, Spellcaster-type Synchro Monster, who is Synchro Summoned with one Tuner and one or more non-Tuner Spellcaster-type monster. Now, the biggest turnoff to most people for Arcanite Magician were the attack and defense...400 attack and 1800 defense. For Level 7, that IS garbage.

Now, when Synchro Summoned, you place two Magic Counters on Arcanite Magician, who gains 1000 attack for each Counter, boosting him to 2400.
Still low for Level 7, but far more workable than the 400 attack.
Anyway, Arcanite Magician can have a pretty solid Deck built around him, especially involving counters.

If you add additional Counters, that 1000 extra attack per counter, and with support in Magical City of Endymion, Secret Village of the Spellcasters, and any of the numerous other ways to transfer Magic Counters. By removing one counter, you can destroy one card your opponent controls.

In closing, Arcanite Magician--Assault Mode, is one of the few assault mode monsters I think was actually playable. If you're playing the Deck, give it a shot.

Ratings:

Traditional: 3.25/5 A little slow in Traditional with the counters.
Advanced: 4.50/5
Art: 5/5 

8. Arcanite Magician

Arcanite, as well as every other card I have reviewed thus far, was busted last format. If you weren’t able to otk with the cat deck, or needed destruction, you would always have a way to get to Arcanite because of Summoner Monk and the Gravekeeper cards being Spellcasters. What’s not to like about the card? You can still use a G.K Spy and a tuner to bring it out, and have an Icarus Attack like effect.
It was way more busted last format, but it is kind of hard to summon this format, because of the destruction and bouncing that is currently in the game. In my eyes, if you are using Gravekeeper’s Spy, you will be running this card in your extra deck. It’s way to easy to make, and Nuking two cards is delicious. Not a lot of people are using Spellcasters, so there is no way to bring it out currently. Regardless, amazing card, and I am sure it will be better in the future

Trad: 3/5
Adv: 4/5

#8 - Arcanite Magician …

The man who go his number called when DSF left the game … Arcanite was always good, but it took having 1 less Level 7 synhcro available to us to figure out just how much. Coupled with Gravekeeper’s Spy, he became the ultimate pain in the neck. And you found people running them in every single deck u can think of, just with the Arcanite Magician in mind. Nothing short of Stardust Dragon could withstand his jutsu. And what makes him even MORE special is the clever versatility of his ability. U remove counters from cards u control, not necessarily HIM. So because he loses attack points with less counters on him, u can just use Breaker’s self generated counter to some cool stuff instead, or Pitch Black Power Stone, or that Endymion stuff … He’s 400 out the box before his power generates counters to add to his ATK so he can’t be grabbed by Bottomless, and he’s light, so he gets all the excellent support that that provides.

In my opinion – the 2nd best Synchro of 2009.

Traditional: 4.5/5
Advanced: 5/5

- FREEZA

Arcanite Magician:

What a nice addition to the world of spell counters this card was. This card in a Magical Citadel of Endymion deck is an absolute joy. Otherwise this card is still fun, and a nice addition to any deck that can get him out. Unspecified card type destruction is hard to come by... once Arcanite hits the field, he can go for spells/traps or monsters, doesn't matter. Most of the time, he is going to clear the field for you and that's what makes him powerful.

Traditional: 2.0
Advanced: 2.5

COTD Arcanite Magician

Arcanite Magician's effect itself is great. Destroying two cards (unless disrupted by BoM, etc) lets Arcanite rival Gyzarus in power, without falling prey to BTH. Clearly, Arcanite Magician has one of the best effects of all the Synchro monsters.

But, a Synchro's value is directly related to how easily a Synchro can be special summoned. Last format, Arcanite Magician was extremely easy to make with multiple Summoner Monk, Mind Controls, and Rescue Cats to work with. Thus, Arcanite Magician was really, really good. Now, it's not as easy to make an Arcanite. Summoner Monk can still fetch the one Rescue Cat, but it is not nearly as consistent as before. Outside of Summoner Monk, Gravekeeper's Spy and Kycoo the Ghost destroyer are competitive on their own and still give you the option to make an Arcanite Magician, provided that you have a Level 3 tuner. But those cards are not typical maindeck picks as of right now, making it difficult and/or impossible to bring out Arcanite using the top decks of the current format.

Traditional: 3
Advanced: 3

8 Arcanite Magician

We have a level 7 LIGHT Spellcaster with 400 ATK and 1800 DEF. The effect of it is that when it is Synchro Summoned, you get to place two Spell Counters on it. Then, it gains 1000 ATK for each Spell Counter on it. You can remove a Spell Counter from it to destroy one card your opponent controls. It does need a Spellcaster non-Tuner though.

This is one of the most powerful Synchro monsters in the game. It is able to come out of nowhere in order to create massive advantage or a themed deck. Ideally a deck would be packing Gravekeeper's Spy, Gravekeeper's Guard and Summoner Monk in order to get the Spellcaster Rquirement and then X-Saber Airbellum, Psychic Commander or Blackwing-Gale the Whirlwind to Sync for 7.

The latest use of the Arcanite was in a Gemini deck, using Tuned Magician and Crusader of Endymion as tributes and the usual suspects as tuners. Crusader even got to place extra spell counters on Arcanite Magician, leading to more carnage ont eh battle field.

Of course Arcanite is most famous for it's pivotal role in the Synchro Cat deck, where it could blast almost anything from the table more consistently and faster than almost any other deck at the time. Summoner Monk+Rescue Cat meant that a pair of Airbellum were coming out (or a non-tuner level 3 beast for Goyo Guardian) and that meant that you could threat Arcanite Magician, Dark Strike Fighter, Black Rose Dragon or Goyo Guardian.

Basically, this guy is real good and just waiting for someone to try and break him again.

Traditional-2/5
Advanced-4/5