August 2008
Cheap alternatives to expensive Gladiator Beast
cards - Whyareall
This is my third article at Pojo so far, as well as
my second for budget duelists, however, this one is
for those trying to break into the metagame with
Gladiator Beasts.
This first one is a reusable (but slightly slower)
alternative to Test Tiger:
"Miracle Flipper", Effect Monster, Spellcaster,
EARTH, 2 Stars, 300ATK/500DEF
Effect: If you control a "Miracle Flipper", you
cannot Summon this card. Your opponent cannot select
another face-up monster as an attack target. If this
card is destroyed by battle, Special Summon it to
your opponent's side of the field at the end of the
Battle Phase. If this card is destroyed by the
effect of a Spell or Trap Card, destroy 1 monster
your opponent controls.
Basically, once your opponent attacks this monster,
they get it. Next turn, you can attack it with
something even as weak as Secutor (if you need
tag-ins badly) or just a normal Beast to tag out and
in. After that, it comes back, and next turn, you
get to kill it again, and so on.
Next is essentially a cross between Book of Moon and
Threatening Roar: Book of Eclipse
"Book of Eclipse", Quick-Play Spell
Effect: Flip all monsters on the field into
face-down Defense Position. During the End Phase of
this turn, flip all face-down monsters your opponent
controls to face-up Defense Position, and your
opponent draws 1 card for each monster flipped
face-up.
This card can work wonders for Gladiator Beasts. It
can stop your weaker Beasts getting destroyed,
negate the effects of face up monsters (Dark Armed
Dragon, I'm looking at you) or just give you a
target that will not kill your Beasts when they
attack. This card truly shines, though, in a mirror
match. If you use this during the opponent's Battle
Phase, their monster cannot tag out, and also they
have the choice to flip them back up in the 2nd Main
Phase and miss the drawing effect, or leave them in
defence, the weakest position for most Gladiator
Beasts. Use it during your turn and they have no
choice about taking them out of their weak
positions, giving you A) The opportunity to tag out
all your Beasts, B) Clear the field, and C) Rob them
of the card's last effect. I run three copies of
this card.
Finally, one last years-old overlooked Quick-Play
Spell
"My Body as a Shield", Quick-Play Spell
Effect: When your opponent activates a card that has
the effect that destroys 1 or more monsters on the
field, pay 1500 Life Points to negate the activation
of the card and destroy it.
Most people think "Meh, it protects a monster". This
is very important for Gladiator Beasts, but worth
1500 life points for just one monster? Read the
whole effect. "pay 1500 Life Points to negate the
activation of the card and destroy it."
Opponent pulls a Judgment Dragon on you? They just
paid 3000 LP to lose it. Gladiator Beast Gyzarus?
Good-bye tag ins. Crush Card Virus? $250 in the
graveyard. The possibilities are endless.
Till next time,
Adrian Cooper,
whyareall2@hotmail.com
