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Dark Paladin's Yu-Gi-Oh! Dimension
Magic Ruler--does it rule?
7.25.05

(Legend of BEWD set update score for then)

Hello again to Pojo and Yugioh fans one and all!

Again, I apologize for the bad pun in the title, but I am reviewing the set Magic Ruler today, plus I've updated my review for the Legend of BEWD set including scores for THEN of the sets release, instead of just now.

Secret Rares:

Tri-Horned Dragon
Gaia the Dragon Champion

As for Secret Rares, these two cards essentially stink. Legend of BEWD is hurt in the Secret Rare category. No one for any reason would play Gaia the Dragon Champion, even though Yugi frequently did in Duelist Kingdom. I don't believe we've EVER seen anyone use Tri-Horned Dragon but it IS better than Gaia the Dragon Champion.

Ratings:

(Now): Tri-Horned Dragon: 2.0/5 You could at least use one in a Dragon deck, he isn't awful.

(Then): Dragon decks were run by many people upon relase of BEWD set, this card even being a Secret gets a 4.0.

(Both formats): Gaia the Dragon Champion: 1.0/5 No reason to use him ever, just don't. No reason really to run it even upon release.

Secret Rare Average:

(Now): 1.5/5

(Then): 3.0/5

Ultra Rares:

Blue Eyes White Dragon
Dark Magician
Gaia the Fierce Knight
Red Eyes Black Dragon
Monster Reborn
Exodia the Forbidden One + Limbs

Well, BEWD, Dark Magician, Gaia, and REBD are all character staple cards for Yugi, Joey, or Kaiba. Monster Reborn is a universal staple, except in Advanced where it is banned.

Exodia decks are played few and far apart anymore, but we see seldom in the anime.

Ratings:

BEWD: 3000 attack is the highest two tribute normal attack monster in the game currently. Go ahead and use one in a Dragon deck, simply for power if you want.

(Now): 3.0/5 (generous, I know)

(Then): 4.5/5 It was the single most powerful monster in the game and run even outside of dragon decks.

Dark Magician: I just did a review on him a few months ago in the CotD section.

(Now): 2.0/5 due to the fact we don't have HALF of his GOOD support

(Then): 4.0/5 There really was no reason to run this card then. It was a favorite due to the TV show.

Gaia the Fierce Knight Yuck, just yuck.

(Now): 1.0/5

(Then): 2.0/5 Not very good, even then with better options available just from the set.

Red Eyes Black Dragon: Almost as bad as Gaia, but stronger. He is even getting some support.

(Now): 2.0/5 due to the limited craptacular support he has

(Then): 3.5/5 Why? Another great card for the Lord of D./Flute of Summoning Dragon combo.

Monster Reborn

5.0/5 obviously (banned in Advanced as you know)

Exodia (as a whole, not analyzing individual pieces)

4.5/5 What's not to like about an instant win.

*Monster Reborn stays at a 5 for then as well and Exodia goes to a 5 for being the first Instant Win and obsessed over for obvious reasons upon
release*

Ultra Rare Average:

(Now): 2.92/5

(Then): 4.0/5
Super Rares:

Flame Swordsman
Celtic Guardian
Dark Hole
Raigeki
Trap Hole
Polymerization
Mystical Elf
Curse of Dragon
Swords of Revealing Light
Man Eater Bug

Ratings:

Flame Swordsman: Yuck, just yuck AGAIN!

Rating: 1.0/5

Celtic Guardian: Mehyuck!

Rating: 1.0/5

Dark Hole: Banned in Advance but such raw power. Can hurt you a bit too though.

(Now): 4.5/5

(Then): 5.0/5 Monster Removal/Destruction = good

Raigeki:

Rating: 5.0/5 DUH! (Then and Now)

Trap Hole: Not terrible, but owned by better cards, say Bottomless Trap Hole?

(Now): 1.5/5

(Then): 3.0/5 Monster Removal is limited at this time and this was used for quite a while.

Polymerization: It has been officially obselete except for Dark Paladin thanks to Metamorphasis and even Magical Scientist.

Rating: 1.5/5

Mystical Elf: Yay, Level 4 2000 defense and NO effect.

(Now): 1.5/5

(Then): 3.5/5 We didn't have many defending walls at the time.

Curse of Dragon: Just no.

Rating: 1.0/5

Swords of Revealing Light: Still a card seen today, and not terrible!

Rating: 3.0/5 (all around)

Man Eater Bug: At least as good as SoRL, right?

Rating: 3.0/5 (all around)

Super Rare Ratings:

(Now): 2.3/5

(Then): 2.6/5

The cards I didn't give a separate score for are equally craptacular and didn't deserve a separate score.

Rare Cards:

Charubin the Fire Knight
Darkfire Dragon
Fusionist
Aqua Madoor
Flame Ghost
Dragon Capture Jar
Fissure
Two Pronged Attack
Gravedigger Ghoul
Giant Soldier of Stone
Karbonala Warrior
Reaper of the Cards
Spirit of the Harp
Dragoness the Wicked Knight
Stop Defense
Goblin's Secret Remedy
Final Flame
Metal Dragon
Armed Nina
Flower Wolf
Hane-Hane
Pot of Greed

Ok, we see a few more anime character cards in here, but most of these are utter garbage. I'll review the few that do NOT deserve a 1/5 for obvious reasons.

Fissure: At the right time, it could be OK, but not really worth playing.

Rating: 2.0/5 (generous)

Stop Defense: Could win the game for you if drawn at the right time, a nice finisher or even for some damage.

Rating: 2.0/5 (generous)

Hane-Hane: Good for a bounce deck.

Rating: 4.0/5 (bounce) 2.5/5 elsewhere

Pot of Greed:

Rating: 5.0/5 DUH!

Rare Average Rating: 1.41/5

Average Set Rating: (Now): 2.10/5

Average Set Rating: (Then): 2.75/5 = C+

The Rare ratings that were worth doing also remain the same for both Then and Now.

Now, we move on to the Magic Ruler set rating.

As always, we begin with the Secret Rares:

Blue Eyes Toon Dragon

Both Secret Rares remain to be character cards from the anime. BETD was used by Pegasus many times and the other is used by Rex Raptor. This card was quite anticipated as were toons in general.

Rating (Then): 3.0/5

Rating (Now): I'm not sure what to say. Toons ARE getting more support and may get a comeback, so I'll say 2.5/5 as generous.

Serpant Night Dragon: Another card to be used in the already overloaded Dragon arsenal.

Rating (Then): 2.5/5

Rating (Now): 1.0/5

Secret Rare Average:

Then: 2.75/5

Now: 1.25/5

Average: 2.0/5

Ultra Rares

Axe of Despair
Spellbinding Circle
Relinquished
Snatch Steal
Delinquent Duo
The Forceful Sentry
Mystical Space Typhoon
Megamorph
Toon Mermaid
Toon Summoned Skull

Axe of Despair: An excellent equip and also quite anticipated at the time.
Very widely used then, not so much today.

Then: 4.0/5

Now: 3.0/5

Spellbinding Circle: We already had Mirror Force so this card wasn't used too widely and is seldom seen today.

Then: 2.0/5

Now: 1.0/5

Relinquished: Another Pegasus card for which almost defeated Yugi. Quite often used before but again isn't seen much today.

Then: 3.5/5

Now: 1.5/5 Still does stuff, just not seen.

Snatch Steal: Another excellent card, for then and for now. A Change of Heart that's permanent, that can't take face downs.

Rating: 4.0/5 Then and Now

Delinquent Duo: Magic Ruler did a great job of giving us Hand Disruption for the first time YAY!

Rating: 5.0/5 Then and Now

The Forceful Sentry: Another disruptive card, not AS good as Delinquent Duo, but a new disruption card none the less.

Rating: 4.0/5 Then and Now

Mystical Space Typhoon: Magic and Trap destruction is low today, but it's great to have gotten this card. Three was fun to use upon release.

Rating: 5.0/5 Then and Now

Megamorph: A Kaiba character card with potential that I'd like to see used by more people. It isn't a bad card, just that space in the deck for it becomes an issue.

Rating: 2.0/5 Then and Now

Toon Mermaid: Highly anticipated along with the Skull as new Toon Monsters to start the Toon decktype.

Then: 4.0/5

Now: 1.5/5 Better options are coming people.

Toon Skull: Still one of the best Toons we have, that's about it.

Rating: 4.5/5 Then and Now

Ultra Rare Average:

Then: 3.75/5

Now: 3.15/5

Average: 2.90/5

Super Rares

Black Pendant
Maha Vailo
Invader of the Throne
Confiscation
Giant Trunade
Painful Choice
Black Illusion Ritual
Toon World
Banisher of the Light
Messenger of Peace

Black Pendant--An equip that does damage, not really worth it, then or now.

Rating: 2.0/5 both forms

Maha Vailo--A monster with potential, but isn't really used. Heavy Storm, MST, and HFD can ruin this guys day.

Rating: 2.0/5 both forms

Inavder of the Throne--a neat card but not really used either

Rating: 1.5/5 both forms

Confiscation: Another hand disruption card almost as good as Delinquent Duo.

Rating: 4.5/5 both forms

Giant Trunade: I personally don't really like this card outside of a Toon deck, but it isn't terrible.

Rating: 2.5/5 both forms

Painful Choice: An excellent card banned in the Advanced Format today and is better NOW with Chaos everywhere.

Then: 4.0/5

Now: 5.0/5 (even banned)

Black Illusion Ritual: What do I need to say about the card that summons Relinquished?

Rating: It summons Relinquished.

Toon World: Obviously needed for the deck, and easily as anticipated as the toons released.

Rating: 3.0/5 both forms

Banisher of the Light: A bit better 2000 wall then most simply becaues cards are removed from play rather then sent to the grave while he's face up.

Rating: 2.0/5 both forms

Messenger of Peace: One of the first essential stall that is still used today.

Then: 3.5/5

Now: 4.0/5

Super Rare Average:

Then: 2.5/5

Now: 2.65/5

Average: 2.55/5

Rare Cards worth mentioning:

Rush Recklessly: A nifty surprise, and even though the attack boost is temporary, it is a nice card. Quickplay is also nice.

Rating: 2.5/5 both forms

Cyber Jar: Ah, a dreaded Jar, the first released is a great card for BOTH forms.

Rating: 4.5/5 both forms

Mystic Tomato: One of our first searchers for a monster , and not a terrible card.

Rating: 3.5/5 both forms

Giant Germ: One of the few burn cards we had available, good for burn today, better then.

Then: 4.0/5

Now: 2.5/5

Rare Average (Then and Now): 2.5/5

The only common I really see worth mentioning is Upstart Goblin which is a great Draw card minus the opponent gets 1000 lifepoints. Only for an Exodia deck I think.

Magic Ruler Set Rating:

Then: 2.88/5

Now: 2.55/5

Average: 2.685/5 = 2.7 = C+


As a reference, here is the grading scale as to where the score lands the set grade wise.

4.6-5.0 = A

4.1-4.5 = A-

3.6-4.0 = B+

3.1-3.5 = B-

2.6-3.0 = C+

2.1-2.5 = C-

1.6-2.0 = D+

1.1-1.5 = D-

1.0 or lower = uh-oh

On a quick Recap

Legend of BEWD set: 2.10/5 = C-
Metal Raiders set: 2.60/5 = C+
Magic Rulers set: 2.70/5 = C+

I hope you enjoyed this article, and tune in next week as I review the Pharoh's Servant set. I'm so excited!

As always, please feel free to contact me with anything @ tsearcy@lssu.edu

You stay classy, Planet Earth :)

~Dark Paladin~