Subterror Guru – Yu-Gi-Oh! Review

Crunch$G

We end this week off with a card Subterror players were pining for in the TCG after they got the Link Monster that is subpar in Subterrors but great in literally any other Flip deck, so here he is finally in the TCG, Subterror Guru.

Guru is a Level 4 EARTH Dragon with 1600 ATK and 1800 DEF. Love the DEF more than the ATK, especially since this is a Flip monster, being EARTH is nice and Dragon has some good support even when Subterrors won’t ever focus on being Dragons. Upon being Flipped, Guru can let you search for any Subterror card that isn’t another Guru. Great effect to have for searching Spell/Trap support or to search for a live Subterror Fiendess since you’ll have a face-up Guru. The archetype could use a searcher that can search more than The Hidden City, even though that Field Spell is still important to any Subterror variant. Guru has another effect where you can target another face-up monster on the field to change that monster and this card to face-down Defense Position, which is nice to recover this card’s Flip Effect, while at the same time making a big threat curl up into a more prone position more than likely, even though it does suck this doesn’t work on Link Monsters, but this card was still printed in the OCG after Links were a thing, so it isn’t like it mattered too big when this came out as long as it was still reasonable. You likely won’t use Guru to Flip a Subterror monster as those can set themselves back, but having the option is nice, and speaking of another Subterror monster being an option, this effect becomes a Quick Effect if you control another Subterror card, so this can turn into some good disruption if need be. Guru really makes the Subterror Control variants with him, Fiendess, and a ton of Traps very good, but it makes a pure Subterror deck that much better as well and he’s a three of in any variant as he’s that great of a piece of support.

Advanced Rating: 4.5/5

Art: 3.5/5 It’s fine, but I was told this is a Dragon and I’m not getting many Dragon vibes off this except the wings and tail, and those could classify this as a Fiend, tbh.

Alex
Searcy

Subterror Guru (another theme I’m sure over the course of the year we’re going to cover more in depth) closes the week of random.  Level 4, Earth, Dragon (which is insanely supported these days) with 1600 attack (meh) but 1800 defense isn’t awful, and it’s a respectable enough score given this is a flip effect Monster card, so the defense is important.

First off, a flip nets you a theme card (other than itself) from your Deck to your Hand.  We always like free resources, and the versatility an openness of the effect is quite welcome too.  You’re also allowed to select a Monster on the Field (other than this, and it can belong to either player) to switch into face-down Defense position, as well as this card.

That does good things.  It likely shifts a Monster of your opponent’s you couldn’t kill in Attack position to a more easy to take care of and vulnerable spot, AND lets you all but ensure you’re getting another card from the Deck via this cards flip.  OR you can use it on one of your own cards to (again) re-use a Flip.  So technically, all three are good options available.  

The latter becomes a Quick Effect (which is awesome) if you control another theme card (and it can even be another Guru) in that instance.  Each effect, naturally, can only be used once per turn.  Great effects on a reasonably powerful card to add defense, as well as resources, and these are fast moving effects you can benefit from each in the same turn.  Very impressive.

Rating:  4.5/5

Art:  4/5  The picture is cool in a Dark/Creepy kind of way.  Not much Dragon-esque here though.  Maybe a Beast or a Fiend, because it’s far more person looking than Dragon, despite those wings.

WarlockBlitz

Speed and disruption is good. But the effect might not affect enough monsters these days. Happy Friday!

Score: 4/5     Art: 3/5 Not enough Sub