Dark Paladin's Dimension

Rarity in General

1.25.05   Hello again!

It has been brought to my attention that people in general liked my article about Secret Rares. Today, some people think that an article about cards that are TOO rare, or not rare enough would be a good follow up. So, here I am with such an article.

Let me make a couple of things clear to some people before I start today. I will fix decks and offer whatever advice I can, but I will do it through e-mail only. For the time being, I plan to simply write here, and besides, Jaelove and others do a much better job with deck help then I do. :)

Anyway, let's take a look at our top 3 nominees today for not being rare enough cards, shall we?

Nominee #1--

Spirit Reaper--Rare
Dark/Zombie
***
300-200

Effect: This monster is not destroyed as a result of battle at any time, although damage calculation is applied normally. When this card is specifically targeted by the effected of a Magic, Trap, or Effect monster card, this card is immediately destroied. When this card attacks your opponents lifepoints directly, 1 card is randomly selected from your opponents hand and sent directly to the graveyard.

Now, in my mind, the only thing that keeps this guy from being any more than a simple rare is this--he's like Gearfreed. However, a bit more severe than Gearfreed, Spirit Reaper is destroied, not the equip. Mystic Plasma Zone could bosst this guy up to 800 points. This guy should've been a Super Rare, maybe even an Ultra. Why you say? This guy can so easily help clear the way for a Yata lock with his hand disruption ability. It also helps that he isn't destroied by battle. Worst case scenario--you direct with Reaper for 300 and your opponent loses a card. He/she draws a Goblin Attack Force and you lose 2000. You summon Yata next turn, destroy Goblin with Reaper since he/she has no hand, and Yata goes in for the lock. (Pre ban of course...)

Nominee #2--

Black Luster Soldier--Envoy of the Beginning--Ultra Rare Light/Warrior
********
3000-2500

This card can only be Special Summoned by removing 1 Light and 1 Dark monster in your graveyard from play. Once during each of your turns, you can select and activate one of the following effects:

*Remove 1 monster on the field from play If you activate this effect, this card cannot attack during this turn.

*If this card destroyed your opponent's monster as a result of battle, it can attack once again in a row.

Now, I'm aware this guy is an Ultra Rare, but the e-mail that suggested this article INSISTED on doing BLS--EotB. Anyway, as good a card as Envoy of the Beginning is, he (and Dark Magician of Chaos for all others out there) are rightfully Ultra Rares. CED was the rightful Secret Rare with so much more destructive power.

Nominee #3--

Magical Scientist--Common
Dark/Spellcaster
*
300-300

Pay 1000 lifepoints to Special Summon 1 Level 6 or lower Fusion Monster from your Fusion Deck in face up Attack or Defense Position. The Fusion Monster cannot attack your opponent's lifepoints directly, and is returned to your Fusion Deck at the end of the turn.

Wow--this guy had decks built around him so fast, and continues to do so now.
He generated some wicked first turn/one turn kill combos, yet, we were given him as a mere common. Say you went out and bought oh...12 packs of Magician's Force. Odds are you got about 30 copies of Magical Scientist. Well...not 30, but multiple copies regardless. Or, you can use Dimensionhole to save your fusion monster(s) to keep him (them) on the field. Wow, his possibilities are endless.

Magical Scientist should've been AT LEAST a Super Rare. His art is cool, and that lab he works in would've been quite nifty in holo foil. Ultra Rare would've been fine, as would secret. Yes, even secret. Considering MFC gave us DMG and Diffusion-Wave Motion, this would've at least done something.

Now, lets look at 3 cards that are more rare than they should be, hmm?

Nominee #1--

Invader of Darkness--Secret Rare
2900-2500
Dark/Fiend
********

Effect: As long as this monster is face up on the field, your opponent cannot activate a Quick-play Spell card.

Now, lets look at this for a moment, hmm? This card isn't bad, and indeed, he is a powerful fiend. 2900 falls just short of Blue Eyes White Dragon. His effect is decent as well. Being able to negate Book of Moons, Scapegoat, etc.
is by no means bad. However, if you, and only if you compare this to IOC's other Secret Rare *cough CED cough* this card just doesn't cut it. Outside of that, it isn't really deserving either. I believe this could've gotten off as a Super Rare. (His artwork is rather nice in that Secret Rare holofoil
however.)

Nominee #2--

Black Tyranno--Ultra Rare
2600-1800
Earth/Dinosaur
*******

Effect: If the only cards on your opponents side of the field are defense posistion monster cards, this monster may attack your opponent's Life Points directly.

Not to pick on IOC or anything, but come on! An Ultra Rare card with an OK effect at best. Plus, this set already gave us Drillago as a Rare, which is the better little brother to this card. Plus, it has the little translation error so he can't directly attack if your opponent has s/t face down.

Super Rare on a good day, which I guess is today. Personally, Drillago could've been Super, and this guy could've been a Rare. (Or, Drillago stays Rare, and this guy is a Common.)

Nominee #3--

Mage Power--Ultra Rare
Equip Magic

Effect: For every Spell and Trap card on your side of the field, increase the ATK and DEF of a monster by 500 points.

Now, don't get me wrong. This is an alright card. Nothing spectacular, but nothing to scoff at either. However, this card is an Ultra Rare...as is United We Stand. United We Stand is far superior, so lets recap. A worse equip card than United We Stand was made EQUALLY Rare? Also, Axe of Despair is quicker than this, yet also an Ultra Rare worth pulling.

Until next time...

Also, I don't mind people suggesting what I should write about. This is for you, the fans, so I welcome all comments. However, just becaue a suggestion is made, doesn't mean I'll write about it. :)

As always, I will be answering every e-mail, and you may e-mail me @ tsearcy@lssu.edu

You stay classy, Planet Earth :)

~Dark Paladin~