CH.416 Tactical Evolution and Gladiator’s Assault

CH.416 Tactical Evolution and Gladiator’s Assault

Back on HomeBase, we had a small celebration. Mainly for Ria getting her Limit Break.

Like last time, I’ll quickly recap some rewards the others got. Ria sadly got nothing from the second fissure, as she wasn’t an active combatant and she doesn’t have the System Support, so no missions for her.

Wilma got an ingot of hihi'irokane, aka. scarletite for her troubles, but she didn’t yet know what she was going to make with it.

Alice got herself a book on Dark Magic that can be used to raise the undead, the System Agents likely finding it funny that she got a book on that after taking on a lich. The books on it are quite rare, as the knowledge is limited, because ... well, most people don’t like it when you raise the dead.

And Lua was granted a pendant that boosts the power of Holy Magic.

By the next day, we were back to business as usual. Well, mostly.

Wilma was re-designing a bow for Unika. She already had the design using world treant wood for the bow body, while the string would be from the just acquired worldweb spider silk.

To test if Unika liked the bow, I took her to the Factory with the Factory VR, and while she did like it somewhat, it had some problems that Wilma is now trying to get rid of. Well, problems is a strong word. It is more like it isn’t the shape Unika likes.

And while weapons design is something I can do, it is much more up Wilma’s alley. I’d rather focus on technology and other BS Wilma would struggle with.

... and I have more important things to do, which most definitely don’t involve Yugioh cards.

Nope. ... My hands aren’t itching for the new sets. If you think they are, you are wrong.

I’m just opening packs from the new sets because maybe there is something that will inspire me. No other reasons.

I definitely don’t want to get a Rainbow Dragon from or Stealth Union from .

So yeah. 15 packs of both Tactical Evolution and Gladiator's Assault are queued up, let’s crack them open.

Spoiler

TAEV 1

Venom Swamp, Alien Shocktrooper, Razor Lizard, Venom Cobra, King Pyron, Hero Counterattack, Venom Shot, Chrysalis Mole, Snake Deity's Command

[collapse]

Oh? Venoms are in this set? I didn’t remember that. So I can also get Vennominaga. Now I really hope I can get her as well.

Venom Swamp is nice and all, but it can be a bit dangerous, as it places a counter on everything, including people. Yes, even if it says ‘Place 1 Venom Counter on each face-up monster’, it does still work on people. All other cards that say ‘monster’ work on people, so I have no doubt that Venom Swamp will put those counters onto people. And considering that we are talking about Venoms, the Venom Counters would likely be a poison of some kind, so it could literally kill people.

If I do ever end up using Venoms, I have to make some sort of anti-Venom amulets or something, that makes the wearer immune to Venom Counters.

For other Venom cards, Venom Cobra is just a snake with admittedly decent defenses. Venom Shot is fine, but I do have to control a Venom to activate it, and it doesn’t lower the Attack, aka. Strength, of people without the Field Spell or some other effect. And Snake Deity's Command is just good. It can negate spells for basically free, so nothing wrong with it.

Alien Shocktrooper is a decent vanilla, and if I ever have to fight in a marsh or something, he might be perfect for that kind of environment.

Razor Lizard ... I don’t know if I want to talk about him. He just looks derpy.

King Pyron would be alright at best if he was a LV.4 or not a Gemini monster, but considering that he is a LV.5 and a Gemini, his effect of 1000 burn damage just isn’t worth it. Even considering the fact that I can summon him without tributing.

Hero Counterattack is just RNG based Elemental Hero support, but considering that I can only hold one card in my hand to force the effect to activate, it is alright. Not that I’ve ever even used E-Heroes in combat, but I might. ... If I remember. Maybe I should give E-Heroes to someone else who will actually put them to use.

And lastly, Chrysalis Mole is just not something I need. I mean, even in dedicated Neo Space builds, you don’t actually run the Chrysalis monsters because they aren’t good.

Next pack.

Spoiler

TAEV 2

Cocoon Veil, Goggle Golem, Neo-Spacian Marine Dolphin, Flint Missile, Reverse of Neos, Chrysalis Chicky, Ambush Fangs, Phalanx Pike, Desert Twister

[collapse]

Okay. An ultra rare in the second pack. Sadly it isn’t one of the ones I really wanted, but I guess Desert Twister isn’t horrible, it is just mediocre. The special summoning cost is a bit high for a 2300/2000 body and having to discard for the MST effect ... Well, I suppose this card was designed when MST was banned, so maybe they thought that the effect was reasonable. And it would be if the monster was a 3000/3000, but it isn’t. Having to banish 3 monsters, 2 wind and 1 earth, for a 2300/2000, and then having to discard for MST just isn’t that good.

Phalanx Pike on the other hand is great. I can just load up the GY with cards with the same name as any monster I choose, so I can have Phalanx Pike give some massive attack boosts.

Ambush Fangs is decent if I do use the Venoms. Negating attacks is always good.

Chrysalis Chicky is just like Chrysalis Mole, useless. Same goes for Cocoon Veil.

Reverse of Neos is alright I suppose, but I have better cards to do what it does.

Flint Missile works with a near useless Equip Spell to do something I can do way easier, so that will most likely never see use. Unless I somehow use it as a base to make guided missiles. ... Yeah. It might actually be useful for that.

Goggle Golem is another mediocre Gemini monster, but at least it is better thanKing Pyron.

And Neo-Spacian Marine Dolphin is simply a better Aqua Dolphin, so if I’d ever use Aqua Dolphin, I can just use NEX to summon Marine Dolphin instead.

Next pack.

Spoiler

TAEV 3

Reverse of Neos, Counter Counter, Rise of the Snake Deity, Hero Counterattack, Shield Spear, Chrysalis Larva, Convert Contact, Volcanic Rat, Grasschopper

[collapse]

Counter Counter, huh. I wonder what I could actually counter with it.

Rise of the Snake Deity is of course required to summon Vennominaga, so I’ll gladly take it.

Shield Spear is okay and Wilma might want to see it.

Chrysalis Larva is just as useless as all the other Chrysalis monsters.

Convert Contact is a decent draw card, but I don’t really need it. I guess E-Hero Neos should be able to activate it, so I can just let him do so if he wants. More pack tokens never hurt me.

... Well, maybe a bit of emotional damage, but I’ve learned to live with it.

Volcanic Rat is cute, but not all that strong. Maybe I can give it to someone who wants a cute monster.

And Grasschopper is another LV.5 Gemini with an effect that isn’t worth how difficult it is to get to the field and have the effect active.

Next pack.

Spoiler

TAEV 4

Dawnbreak Gardna, Ambush Fangs, Dark Effigy, Venom Snake, Cocoon Rebirth, Rise of the Snake Deity, Venom Swamp, Light Effigy, Trap Reclamation

[collapse]

Dawnbreak Gardna is another Gemini, and the effect it has just isn’t amazing. Sure 2300 defense is good, but is it worth having to ‘Gemini summon’ something, not really.

Dark Effigy is a double tribute for any dark monster, but I don’t have to tribute summon in the first place, so its effect is useless for me. I suppose it looks kind of strange, so maybe someone would go mad if they had to look at it for long enough.

Light Effigy is in the same boat, but it looks ... I was going to say more normal, but there is nothing normal about it.

Venom Snake is an alright Venom monster. Sadly it is a bit weak, but the effect to put out a Venom counter is decent.

Cocoon Rebirth is more Chrysalis support, which means it sucks.

And Trap Reclamation is okay, I suppose.

Next pack.

Spoiler

TAEV 5

Ritual Raven, Flint Lock, Chrysalis Chicky, Shield Spear, Creature Seizure, Chrysalis Larva, Broken Bamboo Sword, Chrysalis Pinny, Trap Reclamation

[collapse]

Ritual Raven is at least useful when I summon Dark Rituals, so I won’t say anything bad about it.

Flint Lock might be useful for the Flint Missle tech.

Creature Seizure is just a worse Creature Swap.

Chrysalis Pinny doesn’t deserve to be mentioned.

But Broken Bamboo Sword is actually interesting. It could be used as a base for making not so broken Bamboo Swords for practice. And it does go well with Golden Bamboo Sword, so I’ll take it.

Next pack.

Spoiler

TAEV 6

Chrysalis Pinny, Light Effigy, Dark Effigy, Rise of the Snake Deity, Alien Shocktrooper, Shield Spear, King Pyron, Venom Shot, Neo Space Pathfinder

[collapse]

... wow. All but the rare are repeats already. Well, at least Neo Space Pathfinder can get me more copies of Neo Space, so it is somewhat useful.

Next pack.

Spoiler

TAEV 7

Chrysalis Chicky, NEX, Chrysalis Larva, The Gift of Greed, Gravitic Orb, Renge, Gatekeeper of Dark World, Venom Burn, Shield Spear, Grasschopper

[collapse]

There is the NEX so I can summon Marine Dolphin. The Gift of Greed is also interesting, as I don’t really have any idea what will happen when I use it on someone. I need to test that out.

Gravitic Orb isn’t all that good, but maybe it will help when/if I try to learn Gravity Magic.

Renge, Gatekeeper of Dark World sadly falls into the category of ‘looks too demonic to be used in front of people’.

And Venom Burn is fine. Maybe I can use it in combination with Venom Shot to really badly poison someone.

Next pack.

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Double-Edged Sword Technique, Gladiator Beast Bestiari, Interdimensional Warp, Gladiator's Return, Soul Devouring Bamboo Sword, Rain Storm, Parry, Test Ape, Gladiator Beast Gaiodiaz

[collapse]

Double-Edged Sword Technique is a bit too risky to actually get used, when I can just use Monster Reborn instead.

Gladiator Beast Bestiari is one of the best main deck Glad Beasts.

Interdimensional Warp is another worse Creature Swap. Literally the only good thing about it over Creature Swap is being able to activate it during the opponent's turn.

Gladiator's Return is perfectly fine. It is kind of like Fifth Hope, but for Glad Beasts.

Soul Devouring Bamboo Sword could potentially be used to turn a sword into a soul devouring sword. Not that I’d really want to devour anyone’s soul.

Rain Storm isn’t worth the attack down it gives.

Test Ape is ok, I suppose. It does search Glad Beasts when it is destroyed by battle.

And Gladiator Beast Gaiodiaz seems perfectly fine. Decently easy to summon, had good attack and a decent effect.

Next pack.

Spoiler

GLAS 5

Shadow-Imprisoning Mirror, Ancient Gear Knight, Truckroid, An Unfortunate Report, Alien Hypno, Gladiator Beast Dimacari, Test Ape, Swing of Memories, Gladiator Beast Laquari

[collapse]

I actually like Ancient Gear Knight. Not because it is a mediocre Gemini, but because it actually has alright stats for a LV.4. And it just looks cool.

An Unfortunate Report is a literal troll card. Why would you ever play it?

Glad Beast Dimacari might be able to attack twice, but it still only has 1600 attack, so I don’t think it is amazing.

Swing of Memories is Monster Reborn but worse.

And sure Gladiator Beast Laquari can get itself to 2100, but that isn’t all that impressive.

Next pack.

Spoiler

GLAS 6

Contact Out, Spirit of the Six Samurai, Shadow-Imprisoning Mirror, Detonator Circle "A", Gladiator Beast Dimacari, No Entry!!, Cloudian - Poison Cloud, Super Double Summon, Gladiator Beast Murmillo

[collapse]

Spirit of the Six Samurai is an interesting Union and I can also use it as a base for making some samurai style armor, if I want some.

And Super Double Summon is just a bad patchwork on Gemini monsters. Why does it return the monster to the hand? The only way that would make sense would be if Super Double Summon summoned a Gemini from the hand and then ‘normal summoned’ it again. At least that way you could instantly get a Gemini onto the field with its Gemini effect active.

Next pack.

Spoiler

GLAS 7

Cloudian - Poison Cloud, Cloudian - Nimbusman, Contact Out, Interdimensional Warp, Gladiator Beast Bestiari, Summon Cloud, Double-Edged Sword Technique, Energy-Absorbing Monolith, Gladiator Beast Murmillo

[collapse]

Cloudian - Nimbusman is pretty nice and it can get very big when you stack Fog Counters onto it.

Summon Cloud is alright. Nothing crazy for me, but it isn’t bad either.

And Energy-Absorbing Monolith is fine. Not crazy, but not bad either.

Next pack.

Spoiler

GLAS 8

Gladiator Beast Secutor, Over Limit, Gladiator Beast's Battle Gladius, Witch Doctor of Sparta, Cloudian - Ghost Fog, Gladiator's Return, Alien Hypno, No Entry!!, Cloudian - Acid Cloud

[collapse]

Over Limit isn’t all that good, because it only works on weak normal monsters.

Witch Doctor of Sparta feels like an FTK enabler, but I don’t recall any FTKs related to it.

Cloudian - Ghost Fog is good at spreading Fog Counters, but that isn’t really enough.

And Acid Cloud is perfectly resonable. Nothing wrong with it.

Next pack.

Spoiler

GLAS 9

Cloudian - Poison Cloud, Summon Cloud, Chamberlain of the Six Samurai, Stealthroid, Super Double Summon, Cloudian - Ghost Fog, Light-Imprisoning Mirror, Gladiator Beast's Battle Gladius, Gladiator Beast Gaiodiaz

[collapse]

Stealthroid is the only new card here. And unless I plan on building a stealth bomber, which I already have in the form of every B.E.S. ship I own, it isn’t all that useful.

Just a shame the rare is a repeat fusion.

Next pack.

Spoiler

GLAS 10

Detonator Circle "A", Gladiator Beast Bestiari, Magical Reflect Slime, Release from Stone, Contact Out, Swiftstrike Armor, Cloudian - Ghost Fog, "A" Cell Incubator, Gladiator Beast's Respite

[collapse]

Magical Reflect Slime is just ... why are you that bad? If you weren’t a Gemini monster, I think you’d actually be okay. For the fact that you are a Gemini monster, you should at least be indestructible by battle.

Release from Stone is great. Special summon a banished Rock monster. Nothing wrong with it.

Swiftstrike Armor is alright, I suppose. Doesn’t really help me, but it is good on paper.

Gladiator Beast's Respite is another pack token generator that I could use for basically free. And even as far as the TCG goes, it isn’t bad. Sure you can brick with it, but that is true with most decks.

Next pack.

Spoiler

GLAS 11

Interdimensional Warp, Ancient Gear Knight, "A" Cell Incubator, Natural Disaster, Gladiator Beast's Battle Halberd, Stealthroid, Cloudian - Smoke Ball, Lucky Cloud, Gladiator Beast Laquari

[collapse]

Natural Disaster is new, and I guess it isn’t completely useless. Just not all that useful either.

Next pack.

Spoiler

GLAS 12

No Entry!!, Lucky Cloud, Light-Imprisoning Mirror, Rain Storm, Gladiator Beast Hoplomus, Cloudian - Turbulence, Swing of Memories, Cloudian - Acid Cloud, Test Tiger

[collapse]

Cloudian - Turbulence can summon Cloudian - Smoke Balls, but I already have unlimited summons, so I don’t need it.

And Test Tiger is fine. Maybe even more than fine. It special summons itself from the hand, as long as you control a Glad Beast. And it can trigger the Glad Beasts ‘special summon from the deck’ effect whenever and not just during the end phase.

So yeah. Happy to have a Test Tiger, even if the name is a bit questionable.

Next pack.

Spoiler

GLAS 13

Over Limit, Interdimensional Warp, "A" Cell Incubator, Gladiator Beast's Battle Gladius, No Entry!!, Fog Control, Swing of Memories, Cloudian - Turbulence, Cloudian - Altus

[collapse]

Fog Control is actually good for me. Normally it does drain resources, but everyone knows that I don’t really have to value my monsters all that much. So I could easily summon a Cloudian, use Fog Control on it and give something like Nimbusman the three counters.

Cloudian - Altus is also new, but as it only makes the opponent discard a random card, it isn’t something I can really use. Most people don’t just hold cards after all.

Next pack.

Spoiler

GLAS 14

Super Double Summon, Magical Reflect Slime, Cloudian - Poison Cloud, Cloudian - Ghost Fog, Gladiator Beast Secutor, Natural Disaster, Foolish Revival, Alien Hypno, Diamond-Dust Cyclone

[collapse]

Diamond-Dust Cyclone is new, but it is just a mediocre destruction spell, so I’ll likely never use it.

Next pack. And this is the last, so maybe I can get something good? ... okay. Let’s be honest here. With the luck I’ve been having today, it is just going to be a repeat.

Spoiler

GLAS 15

Swing of Memories, Ancient Gear Knight, Over Limit, Gladiator Beast Secutor, Spirit of the Six Samurai, Fog Control, Soul Devouring Bamboo Sword, Cell Explosion Virus, Cunning of the Six Samurai

[collapse]

Or I can actually get a super rare. Sure Cunning of the Six Samurai isn’t all that great, but it is a super rare, so I’ll take it.

And Cell Explosion Virus is also new. Sadly it is just a worse Mirror Force, so I’ll probably never use it.

But all in all, I got some alright stuff. A lot of Venoms, some Cloudians and of course some Glad Beasts. So yeah. I won’t complain.

... well maybe a little because I didn’t get the Rainbow Dragon I really wanted, but hopefully next time.