Red Nova Dragon also changes the status quo by being the first Level 12 Synchro monster and requiring two Tuners instead of one.  It also requires Red Dragon Archfiend, so it won’t be easy to get into play.  Doing the math, that means you need that specific monster and then two Tuner monsters whose combined Level totals four.  So what do you get for all this hassle? 

 

Red Nova Dragon is a Dark/Dragon, allowing it to tap some of the best Attribute Support (Dark) and solid Type support (Dragon).  It has a massive 3500 ATK and 3000 DEF: killing this brute by battle will require a lot of effort.  To make it more spectacular, its first effect adds 500 ATK for each Tuner monster in your Graveyard.  I’ve tried about five times to phrase this accurately but with a minimal word count, and it isn’t happening.  If neither player is taking control of and using cards from the other player, negating effects, removing cards from play, or recycling/re-using cards from the Graveyard, that would make the minimum effective ATK of Red Nova Dragon 5000ATK!  You’d have two Tuners just for it, and a third that went into Red Archfiend Dragon.  There are many factors that can lessen how many Tuner monsters you’ll retain in your Graveyard, though general game play tends to fill a Graveyard up pretty quick in the average deck.  Don’t be surprised if your Red Nova Dragon drops and is a little smaller (rarely a problem) or is even larger!

 

Now, raw ATK won’t win you the game.  A card like this needs something to protect it from all the nasty Spell, Trap and monster effects that affect it.  In this respect, Red Nova Dragon behaves like a self-centered Stardust Dragon: instead of sacrificing itself to protect anyone, it cannot be destroyed by an opponent’s card effect.  Bounce, spin, etc. are all still ways your opponent can get rid of this card, but plain destruction does nothing.

 

There is one last effect left on this card: if you want, you can remove it from play to negate the attack of an opponent’s monster.  Red Nova Dragon then Special Summons itself during the End Phase as long as it was removed from play for this effect.  So I guess it isn’t completely self-centered since this would allow it to protect other monsters from being run over.  Note that removing Red Nova Dragon is part of the effect and not a cost.  With this effect and a Stardust Dragon in play, your opponent will be hard pressed to get rid of any of your monsters: basically they have to burn an effect to make you use Stardust and then an attack to force you to remove Red Nova Dragon.  After all that, then they can finally touch whatever is left.

 

The Extra Deck is very, very crowded and this card looks to be challenging to get out.  If you do get it out and your opponent doesn’t have any “destruction alternatives” handy (bounce, attack-restricting effects, Spirit Reaper and its ilk, etc.) your opponent is in a lot of trouble.  So ask yourself some basic questions.  Do I run multiple copies of Red Archfiend Dragon?  If yes, then ask “Do I bring it out often, quickly and reliably?”  If yes, follow with “When I bring out Red Dragon Archfiend, do I usually win the game?”  If yes, then why would you need Red Nova Dragon?  If no, then your deck might have a problem.  I am thinking a single copy would be good in Red Dragon Archfiend focused decks and/or general Synchro Summon decks that will easily drop Red Dragon Archfiend and proceed to Red Nova Dragon in the same turn.  It just seems too involved and needs too many cards that are better used for other strategies to be the focus of its own deck, unless it is for a OTK.  With its ATK boosting effect it can reach a large enough size to swing for 8000 damage, even over another monster.  Even then, I think I’d prefer it as a back-up to another OTK or OTK enabling card in an otherwise solid deck.

 

Ratings

 

Traditional: 1/5

 

Advanced: 3/5

 

Summary

Red Nova Dragon is challenging to bring out and very powerful, and I predict it will make a big splash in the tournament scene at first.  Eventually everyone will adjust to it, and it will find itself showing up only in more dedicated decks or as a token “random good card” to run.  It is a well designed card with both decks and answers for it widely played.

 

I am still selling my former collectables on eBay.  I’ve had a lot of hobbies over the years, so at various times I’ll have comic books, manga, action figures, and video games on the auction block.  You can take a look at what’s up for bids here.  I usually add new stuff on Wednesdays and Saturdays.  Just a reminder, Pojo is in no way responsible for any transactions and was merely kind enough to let me mention the auctions here. ;)