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Cyber Blader

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“Etoile Cyber” + “Blade Skater”

A Fusion Summon of this card can only be conducted with the above Fusion Material Monsters. While your opponent controls only 1 monster, this card cannot be destroyed by battle. While your opponent controls only 2 monsters, double this card’s ATK. While your opponent controls only 3 monsters, negate the effects of your opponent’s Spell, Trap, and Effect Monsters.

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Can Be Found In: Dark Revelation Volume 4 (DR04-EN092), Elemental Energy (EEN-EN032)

Archetypes are pretty much consistent enough to even reach competitive status, and otherwise they’ll obtain additional support on future releases. However in the latter situation is not always the case, as there’s several builds arround certain monsters yet still waiting for cards to improve their strategy. The Cyber Girls are a good example, a small group of creatures which although weak they get stronger if the opponent has the lead. They barely had any cards released outside the Gx series, and in most circumstances you’ll see them depend on Warrior-type tools rather their own.

“Cyber Blader” is their boss monster, and although seems nothing out of the ordinary she can become quite the problem if the opponent isn’t careful with the number of monsters they control. With a single monster on their field, the fusion is undefeatable in battle. With two, she becomes a 4200 ATK threat. And if the opponent controls three monsters at once, they’ll be unable to use any effects whatsoever. Overall, the Fusion constantly compensates her low stats with three effects ready to disrupt the opponent’s plan, and as long we keep an eye on how many monsters they control shouldn’t be a problem.

The Fusion requires two of the Cyber Girl members to be summoned, “Etoile Cyber” and “Blade Skater”. As Warriors they can be easily added to the hand by “Reinforcement of the Army”, as well the trap “Fusion Reserve” searching one material as well the spell “Polymerization”. If the opponent is in the offense, both “Warrior Lady of the Wasteland” and “Giant Rat” can summon one of them right when their Battle Phase is about to end. As most Fusion builds you obviously can take shortcuts, like tributing “The Earth - Hex-Sealed Fusion” along one of the Cyber Girls or using “King of the Swamp” as substitutes. Don’t ignore the fact “Blade Skater” is a Normal Monster, having additional support coming from cards like “Dark Factory of Mass Production” and “Rescue Rabbit” to prepare the Fusion Summon.

“Cyber Blader” abilities will be constantly changing if we don’t take control of them, to the point the opponent might easily ignore them or even nullify them. Builds arround this creature usually focus in a lockdown strategy by aiming towards her 3-Monsters effect. The easiest method is by activating “Ojama Trio”, providing the right number of monsters needed right before the opponent brings any other creatures. This is followed by “Kaiser Colosseum” which forbids the opponent from bringing any further monsters to the field. Combine her with “Ground Collapse” and we pretty much assure that the opponent doesn’t surpass the quantity needed for the Fusion’s effects. If the opponent has some backrow, “Spatial Collapse” will do the entire setup on its own, to the point they’ll be unable to play any further moves. To complete the whole plan, cards like “Final Countdown” and “Wave-Motion Cannon” will become our victory condition as “Cyber Blader” and the other used cards literally shuts down the opponent’s game. Just keep on mind that the opponent might still use monsters on their field as materials, so have cards like “Solemn Warning” or “Black Horn of Heaven” ready just in case.

Although Cyber Girls never became the solid archetype the Gx series portrays, they still spawned an interesting lockdown strategy arround their Boss. “Cyber Blader” constantly tries to have an advantage over the field depending of the number of monsters we’re facing, but players will try to aim for her mass negation ability and safely play arround it. However, this doesn’t ignore that the Fusion can become quite inconsistent if we’re unable to perfectly control her effects, as can get the wrong effect for the wrong situation. This is specially the case in a time decks are fueled with materials, meaning that although the Fusion is negating all effects or doubling her stats the opponent might simply Xyz or Tribute Summon (Among other options) to break our setup. There’s also the fact that if the opponent controls 4 or 5 monsters “Cyber Blader” becomes effectless, becoming a sitting duck for builds with powerful swarming tactics. “Cyber Blader” is indeed a quite unique monster, and with the right backrow a lonely copy or herself on the field might be able to fully control a whole Duel.

Personal Rating: B+

+ Three different effects depending of the number of foes on the field

+ Able to create a complete lockdown with the right support

+ Well supported despite the poor treatment of her archetype

- Her effects might become situational and/or out of control depending of the opponent actions

- If the opponent has more than three monsters she loses her effects

- Will mostly rely on other cards to work