Tag: #purple

BEMmon Mechanic Review

Today we got another surprise line of Digimons revealed for BT-11, and includes our last SEC card. This line of Digimon was first introduced in Digimon World 3, and I believe has never existed outside of Digimon World 3. 

I have not completed Digimon World 3.

The BEMmon line 

Let's first take a quick look at this self-sustaining archetype: we have a total of 5 cards supporting this BEMmon archetype right now, starting with the LV3 BEMmon, LV4 Snatchmon, LV5 Destromon, LV6 Ragnamon, and the [Fusionize] option card.

[BT11-061] BEMmon
– You may have up to 50 copies with the same card number as this card in your deck.
– [Main] By suspending this Digimon, reveal the top 3 cards of your deck. Add 1 [Snatchmon] or [Destromon] or [Ragnamon] or [Fusionize] to your hand, and put 1 [BEMmon] to the bottom of this Digimon’s digivolution cards. Put the remaining cards at the bottom of your deck in any order.
– Inherited: [Your Turn][Once Per Turn] When this Digimon digivolves to [Destromon] or [Ragnamon], reduce the digivolution cost by 1.
 
[BT11-065] Snatchmon
– [When Digivolved] You may put up to 2 [BEMmon] from trash to the bottom of this Digimon’s digivolution cards. Then, if this Digimon has 4 or more [BEMmon] in its digivolution cards, return 1 [Fusionize] from your trash to hand.
– Inherited: [Both Turn][Once Per Turn] When a [BEMmon] is returned from this Digimon’s digivolution cards to the bottom of deck, unsuspend this Digimon and it gains [Blocker] until the end of your opponent’s next turn.
[BT11-070] Destromon
– Digivolves from [BEMmon] for 6 cost
– [When Digivolving] Reveal the top 3 cards from your deck. Put a [BEMmon] from among them at the bottom of this Digimon's digivolution cards. Trash the remaining cards. Then, if this Digimon has 5 or more [BEMmon] in its digivolution cards, delete one of your opponent's Tamers.
– Inherited: [Opponent's Turn][One Per Turn] When your opponent's Digimon attacks, by returning 2 [BEMmon] from 1 of your [Ragnamon]'s digivolution cards to the bottom of your deck, change the attack target to this Digimon.
 
[BT11-111] Ragnamon
– Digivolves from [Snatchmon] for 9 cost
– [When Digivolved] You may put up to 4 [BEMmon] from your trash to the bottom of this Digimon’s digivolution cards. Then, if this Digimon has 8 or more [BEMmon] in digivolution cards, delete 1 of your opponent’s Digimon.
– [Both Turn] When this Digimon leaves the battle area, by returning 4 [BEMmon] from its digivolution cards to the bottom of deck, it will not leave the battle area.
– [Start of Your Main Phase] Trash 1 card from the top of your opponent’s security.
[BT11-105] Fusionize
– When you have a [Snatchmon], reduce this card’s play cost by 1.
– [Main] By putting 1 [BEMmon] or [Destromon] from your trash to the bottom of 1 of your Digimon’s digivolution cards, 1 of your Digimon may digivolve into a [Destromon] or [Ragnamon] from your trash by paying its digivolution cost.
– [Security] Reveal the top 3 cards of your deck. Play 1 [BEMmon] without paying its cost. Trash the remaining cards.

This new archetype is all about digivolution. BEMmon is efficient when digivolved progressively from LV3 to LV6, requiring only 1 cost from LV4 to LV5 and similarly from LV5 to LV6, thanks to the inherited effect of a stack of BEMmons in your digivolution cards.

However, there is also this flexibility to warp digivolve your LV3 BEMmon into LV5 Destromon, or your LV4 Snatchmon into LV6 Ragnamon. Though more expensive, this pushes an instant solution whenever you need to destroy 1 of your opponent's tamer or Digimon this very turn. 

Your LV3 BEMmons has 2 roles: to reduce digivolution cost and as ammunition for your LV6 Ragnamon. Under an ideal digivolution condition, we should have 9 BEMmons as digivolution cards on your LV6 Ragnamon, and this gives Ragnamon enough ammunition to divert 4 attacks to itself, or to prevent 2 deletion/return/put-to-security effects. 

However when digivolving under less ideal situations, such as when warp digivolving from LV3 BEMmon to LV5 Destromon, it is quite unlikely that Destromon will have the 5 BEMmons needed in its digivolution cards to trigger a tamer-delete. 

Another fact to note is that in this mechanic, LV4 Snatchmon appears to be the weakest link. Snatchmon fulfils a critical role of allowing LV5 Destromon to easily have 5 digivolution cards to trigger tamer-delete, but there seems to be a lack of effects that recycles Snatchmon from trash. Without Snatchmon, it might be a pain to stack enough BEMmons to put Destromon to good use.

The goal of this deck

This is essentially a tempo deck with flexible board control: use LV5 Destromon when your opponent is setting up tamers, and LV6 Ragnamon to remove any threatening Digimons on the field. The effectiveness of  cost-efficiency and flexibility between these LV5 and LV6 Digimons may be more potent that it sounds.

But the goal is really to digivolve into LV6 Ragnamon, which has a powerful board presence (redirecting attacks and as a blocker), difficult to delete (unless you reduce its DP to 0), and passively aggressive (trashing your opponent's security at the start of your turn). 

But with LV5 Destromon and LV6 Ragnamon being your only trump cards, 4 copies of each may not be enough. This is where the Fusionize option card comes in, offering additional digivolution consistency allow your Digimon to digivolve into Destromon or Ragnamon from trash!

Fusionize is also important since it allows to bypass the limited copies of LV4 Snatchmon during the digivolution process. Ideally with Fusionize, we can digivolve from a LV3 BEMmon to a LV5 Destromon from trash (may often not trigger tamer-delete) at 4-cost and then into LV6 Ragnamon with exactly 8 BEMmons in its digivolution cards to trigger a Digimon-delete.

 

Some known weakness

This deck seems to be weak against anything that removes digivolution cards, since LV5 Destromon and LV6 Ragnamon has strict conditions requiring a specific and ideal number of BEMmons as their digivolution cards in order to delete tamers or Digimons. 

Without enough BEMmons, Ragnamon will also regress into a sitting duck LV6 Digimon. 

Another obvious weakness is the fact that Ragnamon, with it's many ammunitions, is unable to deflect a single DP -15000 effect coming from Wyvern's Breath or DP -14000 from Chaosmon Valdur Arm. 

 

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Mirei & Rina: Biggest Surprise of BT-11?

BT-11 gave us the first SR tamer Mirei Mikagura, and then dropped a bigger bomb today by releasing the first SEC tamer Rina Shinomiya! 

Today we take a deeper look at these 2 tamers to see if they are worth their hype!

Mirei Mikagura

The most expensive tamer to play to date, Mirei is the first tamer to grant +1 memory unconditionally at the start of turn. However, she may pale in comparison to dual-tamers which gives +2 memory when a simple condition is met (such as [BT6-089] TK & Kari) or the newer +1/+1 memory when one or two conditions are met (such as [BT8-088] Davis & Ken). In fact, we also have tamers (such as [EX3-065] Hina) that grant +1 memory at the simplest conditions but only 3-cost to play!

[BT11-094] Mikagura Mirei
– [Start of Your Turn] Memory +1.
– [Your Turn] When your Digimon digivolves into [Angewomon] or [Ladydevimon], if you have 1 or less Digimon, you may suspend this tamer to play a [Angewomon] or [Ladydevimon] from your hand with a different name from the digivolved Digimon without paying its cost.
– [Security] Play this card without paying its cost.

Mirei's second effect is perhaps her best, allowing you to play a reciprocal Angewomon or Ladydevimon from hand. However, do note that the only Digimon in this roster that has a [On Play] effect is the [ST10-05] Angewomon.

While she is by no means a bad card at all, she is 6 cost to play, and synergies with Flame Hellscythe. Also, since she is mainly played in Mastemon decks, 6 cost to pass the turn for Jogress gives you a lot of freedom for not needing to setup and to be able to promptly react to the opponent's board at any time (given you have [ST10-04] Tailmon's inheritable effect of course). 

With Mirei Mikagura, you will need some setup by first investing 5 cost for this tamer which does almost nothing, then digivolve into Angewomon or Ladydevimon in order to trigger her effect to play the other. While this does relieves some reliance on [ST10-04] Tailmon, playing a 5 cost tamer in the BT-11 meta in turn-1 or turn-2 may put you within firing range of the likes of Blackwargreymon.

 

 

However it is possible to play Mirei effectively using option cards like [BT9-099] Sunrise Buster and [BT7-079] Cherubimon so that opens up possible deck building ideas. The Sakuyamon Maid Mode – Sunrise Buster combo can be an appealing engine here, since Maid Mode can digivolve from LV6 Mastemon.

However, do note that Mirei's effect has one very restrictive condition requiring you to have exactly 1 Digimon in play to trigger. This means that multiple copies of Mirei in play will not stack and bring any additional benefits (at least not immediately). 

Also interesting is that with Mirei, the Angewomon and Ladydevimon engine relies less on "negative memory". While in the past it is almost necessary to jogress into Mastemon when turn passes to the opponent, it is not so much the case now.

If Tailmon digivolves into either Angewomon or Ladydevimon at 1-cost, you can play the reciprocating LV5 Digimon for free and you will still be at your turn. This opens up some new possibilities such as Angewomon X-Antibody and other LV6 Digimons other than Mastemon (such as Ophanimon?)

Rina Shinomiya

This card is just downright special right now. Not only is she the first SEC tamer card, but also very beautifully illustrated with borderless art (we cannot confirm whether this is the alternate-art at this moment).

[BT11-112] Rina Shinomiya
– [On Play] 1 of your Digimon with [Veemon] or [Veedramon] gains [Blocker] and [Evade] until the end of your opponent’s next turn.
– [Both Turns] When your Digimon with with [Veedramon] in name is suspended, you may suspend this tamer to trigger 1 of that Digimon’s [When Digivolving] effect.
– [Your Turn][Once Per Turn] When your blue Digimon is unsuspended, gain +1 memory.
– [Security] Play this card without paying its cost.
 

Rina is a very simple and powerful card. At mere 3-cost she grants so much buff to your Vee(dra)mon line. With her second effect, an immediate combo cannot be ignored.

An OTK scenario is found with [P-048] UlforceVeedramon Zero, where an attacking Ulforce Zero will trigger Rina's effect, suspending Rina to trigger Ulforce Zero's [When Digivolved] effect to unsuspend both Zero and Rina, and repeats. 

This is a game scenario so strong and unfair that it literally calling Bandai for a ban, but until that happens, this is a very powerful and viable combo and has seen Ulforce Zero sold out in Japan within minutes of Rina's official reveal today.

An OTK scenario is found with [P-048] UlforceVeedramon Zero, where an attacking Ulforce Zero will trigger Rina's effect, suspending Rina to trigger Ulforce Zero's [When Digivolved] effect to unsuspend both Zero and Rina, and repeats. 

This is a game scenario so strong and unfair that it literally calling Bandai for a ban, but until that happens, this is a very powerful and viable combo and has seen Ulforce Zero sold out in Japan within minutes of Rina's official reveal today.

[BT11-032] UlforceVeedramon
– [When Digivolving] You may play 1 blue tamer from your hand without paying its cost.
– [Your Turn] When you play a blue tamer, unsuspend this Digimon.
– [Your Turn][Once Per Turn] When this Digimon is unsuspended, return 1 of your opponent’s LV3 Digimon to hand. For each blue tamer you have, increase the LV of this effect by +1.

In the event that Ulforce Zero gets banned, Rina would fallback to her natural synergy with [BT11-032] UlforceVeedramon, which is very powerful in its own right!

He will gain [Blocker] and [Evade] when digivolved, thanks to Rina's [On Play] effect, and bounces an opponent's Digimon back to hand (for context, a LV5 when you have 2 tamers and a LV7 when you have 4 tamers). When attacking, Rina would trigger his [When Digivolved] effect to play another blue tamer. Good candidates are of course Rina herself, or Davis, Davis/Ken, or even Jeri Katou if you play a Leomon base.

UlforceVeedramon can also be played with a semi Examon line, for that synergy with Slayerdramon and the [Blocker] state that Rina grants!

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Early Review: BT-11 Dimensional Phase

BT-11 Dimensional Phase releases the end of this month, extending the reach of Xros Wars Digimons and introduces Digimons and characters from it's video game franchise. Early review… here we go!

X7 and Beyond!

Fans of Xros Wars will finally get their full roster of Digimons and Digivolutions. 

With the proper materials, Shoutmon X7 is a 2-cost to play Digimon that is a 16000 DP wall and deletes an opponent's Digimon, with [Rush] and [SecurityAttack+1] for extra aggression. 

However, Shoutmon decks in BT-10 meta do not suffer against any decks in particular, and since X5 was already providing whatever X7 can provide (except for deletion and the high-DP) it becomes skeptical for some on whether X7 will truly earn it's place in Shoutmon decks, especially when it disrupts the current deck distribution (with addition of OmegaShoutmon and the ZekeGreymon lineup).

But we are still only half the set in, and waiting to see if X7F will be introduced in this set.  

[BT11-019] Shoutmon X7
– [Rush]
– [Material Save 4]
– [On Play] Delete 1 of your opponent's Digimon with DP equal or lower than this Digimon.
– [Both Turns] This Digimon gets +1000 DP for every 2 cards in its digivolution cards.
– [DigiXros-2] [OmegaShoutmon] x [ZekeGreymon] x [Balistamon] x [Dorurumon] x [Starmons] x [Sparrowmon]

Enter The Demon Lord

The biggest boss of Xros Wars finally joins the card game, and far more interesting that the Shoutmon roster. 

Bagramon sports very interesting effects that has yet to be seen in game, and the deal-breaker may be his ability to look at your opponent's hand, which is currently available only to Bagramon. We think that he will fare quite well with in the competitive scene.

[BT11-088] Bagramon
– [On Play][When Digivolved] When your opponent has 1 or less Digimon, you may see all of your opponent’s cards in hand, and trash 1 card from amongst. When your opponent has 2 or more Digimons, put 1 of your opponent’s Digimon as the bottom digivolution card of another opponent’s Digimon.
– [Both Turns][Once Per Turn] When your opponent’s Digimon digivolves, or when it’s digivolution cards is increased by effect, by trashing 1 card from this Digimon’s digivolution cards, trash 1 card from the top of your opponent’s security.
 
[BT11-109] Astral Snatcher
Effect: [Main] You may put up to 3 [Bagra Army] Digimon from your trash to the bottom of 1 of your Digimon’s digivolution card or 1 of your tamer card. Then, if you have a [Bagra Army] Digimon or tamer, put 1 of your opponent’s Digimon to the bottom of another of their Digimon’s digivolution cards.
Security: Revolve this card’s [Main] effect

Bagramon's option card Astral Snatcher is another interesting addition to deck building. Being a 7-cost purple option means instant synergy with Beelstarmon and Promo Metalgarurumon. 

Promo Metalgarurumon in particular can digiburst infinitely using Astral Snatcher, putting more Digimons back to its digivolution cards than it discards. What this lacks is a little bit more synergy to use those [Bagra Army] cards under Metalgarurumon… maybe MegaDarknessBagramon?

Sheep Combo! 

Another unique ability in BT-11 is Kingsukamon's [On Play][When Digivolved] effect that turns your opponent's Digimon into a 3000 DP Sukamon, which will work wonders with Flame Hellscythe.

[BT11-043] Kingsukamon
– Digivolves from LV4 with [Sukamon] in name for 3 cost
– [On Play][When Digivolved] When your opponent has 16 or more cards in trash and you have 3 or more cards with [Sukamon] in name in trash, 1 of your opponent’s Digimon becomes [Sukamon]/White/3000DP until end of your opponent’s next turn.
– [When Attacking] During this turn, for every other Digimon with [Sukamon] in name, this Digimon gains [SecurityAttack+1]
– Inherited: [Both Turns] When this Digimon is deleted, by deleting another Digimon with [Sukamon] in name, this Digimon is not deleted.
 

Since Kingsukamon is a 6000 DP yellow Digimon, Flame Hellscythe can play him from trash and guarantees removal of 1 of your opponent's Digimon by reducing it's DP to 0.

However Kingsukamon's effect will only effectively change a Digimon's name, color, and DP. It will not remove its effects and abilities so [On Deletion] and [Armor Purge] effects will still activate as usual.

Phoenixmon Rebirth

For fans of Phoenixmon, rejoice as BT-11 finally introduces a version of this iconic Digimon that doesn't suck! Akiho Rindou's Phoenixmon can trigger it's own [On Deletion] effect whenever the opponent's security reduces, which synergies well with her line of Birdramon and Garudamon to play 4-cost red tamers for free. 

This engine works in a way where if you have 1 tamer in play, Phoenixmon's death will summon a Birdramon, or Garudamon if you have 2 tamers, or Phoenixmon if you have at least 4 tamers! With a combination of Akihos and Taichi tamers cards, Pheonixmons can be continuously played upon death and with [Rush] and [SecurityAttack+1] they become tremendously aggressive. 

 

[BT11-089] Rindou Akiho
– [On Play] Reveal 4 card from the top of your deck. Add 1 red Digimon with [Vaccine] in traits to your hand. Return the remaining cards to the bottom of your deck.
– [Your Turn] When you play a red Digimon with [Bird] or [Beast] in traits by effect, you may suspend this tamer to give that Digimon [Rush] for the turn.
– [Security] Play this card without paying its cost.
 
[BT11-016] Pheonixmon
– [Your Turn][Once Per Turn] When your opponent’s security is reduced, trigger 1 of this Digimon’s [On Deletion] effect.
– [On Deletion] You may play 1 3000 DP or lower red Digimon with [Bird] or [Beast] in trait from hand without paying it cost. For each red tamer you have, increase the DP threshold of the played Digimon by 2000.

ANALOGMAN 

Oh boy… paying tribute to Digimon World 1 comes the original and perhaps the most iconic antagonist of the game's franchise, Analogman is the most obvious buff to any Mugendramon deck. It seems obvious that Bandai wasn't happy with the fact that their favourite machine Digimon with 2 gigantic cannons weren't doing well in any meta, with EX-01 being short lived, and subsequent Chaosdramons in BT-07 and EX-03 failing to lift any Mugendramon deck competitively.

This time around, we have a new Mugendramon that hopefully fixes the weight issue of the old. A dual [On Play] and [When Digivolving] effect gives this new Mugendramon a much needed flexibility, to search and prep your trash for another Mugendramon. 

However, since there is no cheap way to play Analogman it does not yet look obvious that Mugendramon will be making a clear comeback in BT-11.

 

[BT11-092] Analogman
– [Start of your Main Phase] By Trashing 1 Lv.5 'Cyborg' Type card from your hand, gain 1 Memory and draw 1 card.
– [Opponent's Turn] When an opponent's Digimon attacks a Player, you may suspend this Tamer to change the attack target to 1 of your Lv.6 'Machine' Type Digimon.
– [Security] Play this card without paying its cost.

[BT11-072] Mugendramon
– [On Play] [When Digivolving] Reveal 5 cards from top of your deck. Add 1 [Analogman] from among to your hand and 1 card with [Cyborg] or [Machine] in its traits from among to your hand or to the bottom of this Digimon's digivolution cards. Trash the remaining cards.
– [On Deletion] By returning 1 of your [Analogman] to the bottom of your deck, you may play 1 [Machinedramon] from your hand without paying its memory cost.

A New Mervamon Loop? 

With the [Back for Revenge] option card and [Minervamon], it is possible to loop for OTK by using using [Back for Revenge] on [Minervamon].

When Minervamon attacks and is deleted, summons Mervamon from trash and subsequently summons another LV4, and revives itself by using [Back for Revenge]. All 3 Digimons can attack with [Rush] thanks to Mervamon, and when Minervamon is deleted again this can be repeated! 

 

[BT11-086] Mervamon
– When you play this card, you may use cards from your trash as DigiXros materials.
– [On Play][When Digivolved] You may play 1 LV4 or lower purple or [Xros-Heart] Digimon from your trash without paying its cost. If DigiXros-ed, the amount of digimon played +1.
– [Both Turn] All your Digimon with [Retaliation] or [Xros-Heart] gains [Rush] and [Blocker].
– [DigiXros-3] 1 Digimon with [Xros-Heart].

Summary

BT-11 is looking good so far, and we haven't even mentioned the new [Charge] effect nor talked about the elegant Leomon archetype-buff Panyjamon. But we had to mention the new gold foils! 

Gold foils are a new rarity in Digimon Card Game, and with low pull rates Bandai hopes that's these gold cards can improve collector value for high-rarity Digimon cards. These cards do look good on ads and we can't wait to see the actual thing!

 

 

But coming back to gameplay, BT-11 does offer enough mechanics to breathe new energy into this 2 year old game. This set should fare quite well for both the players and collectors.

Score: 8/10

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Review: EX-03 Draconic Roar

EX-03 is a small expansion set filled with enhancements for the dragon archetype. With all 74 cards in this set fully revealed today, let's take a look at the new additions! 

A new "black" Imperialdramon line!

Bandai is giving us an exciting new lineup of red/purple Veemon and Wormmon moving into an all new Imperialdramon. This new lineup can digivolve very quickly (into Imperialdramon and Fighter Mode) with just a rookie and 3 starting memory.

 

[EX3-004] Veemon  
Effect 1: [On Play] By Trashing 1 [Free] card or 1 card with [Imperialdramon] in its name from your hand, draw 2 cards.
Inheritable: [Your Turn] While you have a Purple Digimon in play, this Digimon gets +2000 DP.

[EX3-008] Flamedramon
Effect: [When Digivolved] Activate 1 of the following:
-You may digivolve 1 of your other Digimon into a Purple LV4 [Free] Digimon from your Trash, paying its cost.
-You may Jogress digivolve this Digimon with your other Digimon into a Digimon card in your hand, paying its Jogress cost.
Inherited effect: [End of Your Turn] This Digimon and your other Digimon can Jogress digivolve into a Digimon card in your hand by paying its Jogress digivolution cost.

[EX3-055] Wormmon
Effect: [On Play] Reveal the top 3 cards of your deck. Add 1 Purple or Red [Free] card or 1 card with [Imperialdramon] in its name from among them to your hand, and trash the other one. Return the rest to the bottom of your deck in any order.
Inheritable: [All Turns] While you have a Red Digimon, this Digimon gains [Retaliation]
 
[EX3-058] Shadramon
Effect: [When Digivolved] Activate 1 of the following:
-You may digivolve 1 of your other Digimon into a red LV4 [Free] Digimon from your Trash, paying its cost.
-You may Jogress digivolve this Digimon with your other Digimon into a Digimon card in your hand, paying its Jogress cost.
Inherited effect: [End of Your Turn] This Digimon and your other Digimon can Jogress digivolve into a Digimon card in your hand by paying its Jogress digivolution cost.

Both LV3 Veemon and Wormmon have decent draw/search [On Play] effects, and their LV4s Flamedramon/Shadramon have similar effects.

[EX3-010] Paildramon
Jogress: Red LV4 + Purple LV4 at 0 cost
Effect 1: [When Digivolving] If Jogress digivolved, you may play 1 [Dinobeemon] from your trash without paying its cost.
Effect 2: [On Deletion] You may play 1 [Veemon] from your trash without paying its cost.
Inheritable: [Your Turn] While this Digimon has [Imperialdramon] in its name, gain [SecurityAttack+1].

[EX3-061] Dinobeemon
Jogress: Purple LV4 + Red LV4 at 0 cost
Effect 1: [When Digivolved] If this Digimon is Jogress digivolved, you may play 1 [Paildramon] from your trash without paying its memory cost.
Effect 2: [On Deletion] You may play 1 [Wormmon] from your trash without paying its memory cost.
Inherited: [Your Turn] While this Digimon has [Imperialdramon] in its name, this Digimon may also attack your opponent’s unsuspended Digimon.

The new LV5 Paildramon/Dinobeemon also has similar effects, allowing you to play the other from trash to facilitate a Jogress digivolution.

[EX3-063] Imperialdramon: Dragon Mode
Jogress: Purple LV5 + Red LV5 at 0 cost
Effect 1: [When Digivolving] If Jogress digivolved, your opponent chooses 1 of their Digimon. Delete all of their other Digimon. Then, [Blitz].
Effect 2: [When Attacking][One Per Turn] This Digimon gains +2000 DP for the turn. Then, you may digivolve this Digimon into a [Imperialdramon: Fighter Mode] from your hand by paying its cost.

[EX3-073] Imperialdramon: Fighter Mode
Digivolves from "[Dragon Mode] in name" for 2 cost.
Effect 1: [Piercing]
Effect 2: [When Digivolved] By returning 1 [Imperialdramon: Dragon Mode] from this Digimon’s digivolution card to the bottom of your deck, all your opponent’s [Security] effects cannot activate during this turn.
Effect 3: [On Deletion] You may play a [Wormmon] and [Veemon] from your trash without paying its cost.

With a starting memory of 3 and a rookie Veemon/Wormmon pushed into the battle area from nursery, a ramp digivolution into LV7 can happen in the following sequence:
1. Play a LV3 Veemon/Wormmon for 3 cost. Search/trash the appropriate LV4 or LV5 Digimon as needed. (You will have at least 2 LV3 Digimons in your battle area and 0 memory)
2. Digivolve 1 of your Digimons into LV4 Flamedramon/Shadramon, activating its effect to digivolve your other LV3 into LV4 Flamedramon/Shadramon from trash, which activates its effect to Jogress into LV5 Paildramon/Dinobeemon at the end of turn. (you will be at -4 memory)
3. Jogress digivolve both your LV4 Digimons into Paildramon/Dinobeemon, resolving its effect to play the other LV5 from trash. (you will still be at -4 memory)
4. Jogress digivolve both your LV5 Digimons into Imperialdramon, activating its [Blitz] effect and then its [When Attacking] effect to subsequently digivolve into Fighter Mode. (you will be at -6 memory)

With this combo, Imperialdramon would leave your opponent with only 1 Digimon, and Fighter Mode attacking that remaining Digimon (suspended or not) piercing 2 of your opponent's security while nullifying their security effects, at 17000 DP! 

Examon Looms

The final Royal Knight and the Dragon Emperor [Examon] has finally been revealed today as a LV7 Digimon, and boy isn't he formidable!

[EX3-074] Examon
Jogress: Green LV6 + Blue LV6 at 0 cost.
Effect 1: [When Digivolved] Put 1 green or blue Digimon with [dramon] in name to the bottom of this Digimon’s digivolution cards. If Jogress digivolved, you may play 1 green or blue Digimon with 12000 DP or lower and [dramon] in name without paying it’s cost.
Effect 2: [Both Turns][Once Per Turn] When this Digimon is suspended, unsuspend it and suspend 1 of your opponent’s Digimon.
EX3-024] Slayerdramon
Digivolves from [Wingdramon] or [Groundramon] at 3 cost
Effect 1: [Both Turns][Once Per Turn] When this Digimon is suspended, unsuspend it.
Effect 2: [Start of Opponent’s Main Phase] By suspending 1 of your Digimon with [dramon] or [Examon] in name, 1 of your opponent’s Digimon must immediately attack.
Inherited: [Start of Opponent’s Main Phase] By suspending 1 of your Digimon with [dramon] or [Examon] in name, 1 of your opponent’s Digimon must immediately attack.
 
[EX3-044] Breakdramon
Digivolves from [Groundramon] or [Wingdramon] for 3 cost
Effect 1: [Both Turns][Once Per Turn] When this Digimon is suspended, suspend 1 of your opponent’s Digimon.
Effect 2: [Both Turns][Once Per Turn] When only your opponent’s Digimon is deleted in battle with 1 of your Digimon with [Dramon] or [Examon] in name, trash 1 card from the top of your opponent’s security.
Inherited: [Both Turns][Once Per Turn] When only your opponent’s Digimon is deleted in battle with 1 of your Digimon with [Dramon] or [Examon] in name, trash 1 card from the top of your opponent’s security.

Slayerdramon has a formidable new effect that forces your opponent's Digimon to immediately attack during the start of their main phase, introducing board control and utterly destroying OTK decks such as Grankuwagamon or Alphamon archetypes. Breakdramon meanwhile trashes your opponent's security whenever their Digimon is deleted in battle against yours, introducing a passive aggression. 

The strengths of these 2 Digimons can be merged into Examon, and when coupled with their LV3 and LV4 inheritable effects (granting [Blocker] and [Evade]) make this a very interesting new archetype that may destroy most OTK decks but may be weak against some specific hybrid blue or hybrid yellow decks that returns Digimons to hand/deck, DP-reduction, or attack/block-freezing. 

Remark: [Evade] is a new effect text that allows your Digimon to suspend itself in order to prevent deletion.

The 4 Great Dragons

A new option card [Trial of the Four Great Dragons] facilitate this a new megazoo-like archetype. LV6 [4 Great Dragons] Digimons can be played for free using this option card, and when those LV6 Digimons are deleted at the end of your opponent's turn they will play new copies of [Trial] for free, until Goddramon arrives to deal sick damage to your opponent's security. 

[EX3-069] Trial of the Four Great Dragons 
Effect 1: [Main] [Draw 1]. Then, place this card in your battle area.
Effect 2: [Main] [Delay]
⋅ Play 1 card with [Four Great Dragons] in its traits from your hand without paying its cost. Digimon played by this effect cannot digivolve to level 7, and is deleted at the end of your opponent’s turn.
Security: Place this card in the battle area.

[EX3-035] Goddramon 
Effect 1: [When Digivolving] Add 1 card with [Four Great Dragons] in its traits from your trash to your hand.
Effect 2: [When Attacking] 1 of your opponent’s digimon gets -6000 DP for the turn. Then, by returning 1 [Holydramon], 1 [Azulongmon], and 1 [Megidramon] from your trash to the bottom of your deck, trash the top 2 cards of your opponent’s security stack.

[EX3-036] Holydramon
Effect 1: [On Play] All of your opponent’s Digimon gain [Security Attack -1] until the end of your opponent’s turn. If this card was played by the effect of [Trial of the Four Great Dragons], all of your opponent’s digimon gain [Security Attack -2] until the end of your opponent’s turn instead.
Effect 2: [On Deletion] If you don’t have [Trial of the Four Great Dragons] in your battle area, put 1 [Trial of the Four Great Dragons] from your hand in your battle area.

[EX3-025] Azulongmon 
Effect 1: [On Play] [Draw 2]. Then, if this card was played by the effect of [Trial of the Four Great Dragons], Memory +2.
Effect 2: [On Deletion] If you don’t have a [Trial of the Four Great Dragons] in play, you may place 1 from your hand in your Battle Area.

[EX3-064] Megidramon
This card/Digimon is also treated as [ChaosGallantmon].
Effect 1: [On Play] Delete 1 opponent’s Lv.5 or lower Digimon. If this card was played by the effect of [Trial of the Four Great Dragons], increase the target LV of this effect by 1.
Effect 2: [On Deletion] If you don’t have a [Trial of the Four Great Dragons] in play, you can place 1 [Trial of the Four Great Dragons] from your hand into your battle area.

This archetype may open doors to deck building creativity in the coming meta, so it is definitely worth keeping an eye on!

And the Elemental Dragons

The single tamer card in this new set is [Kurihara Hina] from Digimon Links, and she synergizes a new elemental dragon archetype. 

[EX3-065] Kurihara Hina
Effect 1: [Start of Your Turn] When your opponent has a Digimon, gain +1 memory.
Effect 2: [Your Turn] When your Digimon digivolves into a Digimon with [Rock Dragon], [Earth Dragon], [Machine Dragon] or [Sky Dragon] in traits, by suspending this tamer, activate 1 of that Digimon’s [On Play] effect.
Security: Play this card without paying its cost
[EX3-053] Metallicdramon
Effect 1: [On Play] All of your opponent’s Digimon [De-digivolve 1]. Then, delete 1 of your opponent’s Digimon with play cost of 5 or lower. If this effect did not delete an opponent’s Digimon, all of your opponent’s unsuspended Digimon cannot digivolve until the end of your opponent’s next turn.
Effect 2: [Opponent’s Turn] When you have a tamer, this Digimon gains [Blocker] and [Reboot]
 
[EX3-012] Volcanicdramon
Effect 1: [On Play] Delete all of your opponent’s Digimon with the lowest DP. If this effect fails to delete your opponent’s Digimon, your opponent cannot play Digimons with 5000 DP or less.
Effect 2: [When Attacking] When you have a tamer, trash the top card of your opponents security.

Hina will activate a Digimon's [On Play] effect during digivolution, as long as that Digimon belongs to either Rock, Earth, Machine, or Sky Dragon in traits. 

These elemental dragon Digimons are also introduced in this set: Jazardmon and Jazarichmon (metal dragon), Metallicdramon (sky dragon), Lavorvomon and Lavogaritamon (rock dragon), and Volcanicdramon (earth dragon). These new Digimons have [On Play] effects that can be tapped by Hina, and works in cohesion to provide aggression (through the Volcanicdramon line) and defence (through the Metallicdramon line).  

Remark: some older Digimon cards such as [BT2-018] Volcanicdramon will also work with this new archetype, but power-creep may have taken its toll on those cards. 

Buffing some existing archetypes 

Other than the archetypes above, some existing archetypes will also be blessed in EX-03. 

 

[EX3-023] Plesiomon
Effect 1: [When Digivolving] You may play 1 blue level 3 Digimon card or 1 level 4 or lower Digimon card with [Aquatic] in one of its traits from 1 of your blue Digimon’s digivolution cards without paying its play cost. Then, you may place 1 blue Digimon card from your hand under this Digimon as its bottom digivolution card.
Inherited: [All Turns][Once Per Turn] When you play a Digimon from digivolution cards, return 1 of your opponent’s Digimon with a level equal to the played Digimon’s level to the bottom of its owner’s deck.

[EX3-026] Aegisdramon
Effect 1: [When DIgivolved] You may play 1 LV3 blue Digimon or Digimon with [Seadramon] in name or a [Aquatic] type Digimon from 1 of your blue Digimon without paying its cost.
Effect 2: [Opponent’s Turn][Once Per Turn] When your opponent plays a Digimon, you may trigger 1 of this Digimon’s [When Digivolved] effect.

The "play Digimon from digivolution cards" playstyle has gotten an upgrade through Plesiomon and Aegisdramon, but is this enough to put a dent to the coming meta remains to be seen. 

[EX3-046] Commandramon
Effect: [Decoy(Traits: D-brigade)]

[EX3-054] Darkdramon
When digivolving into this card, you may return up to 5 [D-Bridgade] cards from your trash to the top of your deck to reduce its digivolution cost by -1 for each card returned.
Effect: [Your Turn][Once Per Turn] When you play another [D-Bridgade] Digimon, delete 1 of your opponent’s Digimon with a play cost equal or lower than that Digimon, and unsuspend this Digimon.

Fans of D-brigade will also rejoice knowing that there is a new lineup of LV3 to LV6, with the new Darkdramon being awfully sick! 

[EX3-045] Hydramon
 Effect 1: [When Digivolved] You may suspend 1 of yours or your opponent's Digimon.
Effect 2: [Both Turns][Once Per Turn] When an opponent’s Digimon is suspended, gain +1 Memory for each of your other suspended [Plant] or [Fairy] type Digimon.
Effect 3: [End of Your Turn][Once Per Turn] If you have 2 or more suspended [Plant] or [Fairy] type Digimon, return 1 of your opponent's suspended Digimon to the bottom of their deck.

And vegetables is given an upgrade nobody is asking for, but this should do one for Bloomlord decks!

Summary

With dragons being in the focus, EX-03 was able to introduce a few small excitements into a slow-aging card game. Clearly with the dragon-theme, this set is not diverse enough to give Bandai the confidence of sales hence the decision to include a time-proven fan-favourite that is Imperialdramon as an all-new archetype.

And also a supposedly high-rarity pull of an alternate-art Imperialdramon should drive some collector value into this set, just in case everything else isn't quite enough.

EX-03 will not be missed by many non-dragon Digimon players, and Bandai's simultaneous release of One Piece Card Game's first booster set (in July) may garner this a weaker set overall.

Summary: 4/10 

 

How rare is this card?

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Review: BT-10 Cross Encounter

We were a bit late doing this BT-10 review, having all the cards from this set fully revealed a couple of days ago. Nevertheless, this should allow us to take a more holistic look at this set so lets get into it!

Xros wars comes to the DCG 

Digimon Xros Wars (or Digimon Fusion in EN dub) introduced us to Kudou Taiki (or Mikey Kudo in EN dub) and Shoutmon back in 2010. In the anime adaptation, there were 4 factions led by different generals: Taiki's Xros Heart, Kiriha's Blue Flare, Nene's Twilight, and Yuu's Bagra Army. These factions has now been properly introduced in BT-10.

Unlike the earlier renditions of Xros Wars Digimons that started back in BT-05, the new Xros Wars Digimons have traits relating them to their respective factions.

Before diving into the cards, let us quickly recap some new effects that were introduced in this set.

– [DigiXros-N]: When you play this card, you may place 1 of each of the llisted cards from your hand/battle area to the bottom of this Digimon's digivolution cards to reduce its play cost by N for each card placed.
– [Safe]: when this Digimon is deleted, put it below 1 of your tamers.
– [Material Safe N]: when this Digimon is deleted, put N-number of cards from this Digimon's digivolution cards stated in its [DigiXros] condition to the bottom of 1 of your tamers.

The general idea of the [DigiXros] system is to play Digimons instead of taking the usual digivolution route. Rookie Digimons can be played for their [On Play] effects, and then swinging at your opponent aka rookie-rush style. When they are deleted, they can use [Safe] to return to your tamer, to be later relaunched as a [DigiXros] Digimon. 

 

[BT10-087] Kudou Taiki and his [Xros Heart] crew would fully embody the [DigiXros] system, taking advantage of the different affinities of his Digimons (across different colors) to launch Shoutmon X4, Shoutmon X4B, Shoutmon X5, and Shoutmon X5B. Taiki is a natural strategist in the anime, and this has been made evident in the card game as his deck's playstyle may be the most complex among the other factions.

 

[BT10-088] Aonuma Kiriha (Christopher) and his [Blue Flare] Digimons embody a strong affinity for freezing the opponent's Digimons, and has access to option cards that allow him to return the opponent's Digimon to hand.

Meanwhile, [BT10-092] Amano Nene would mostly work with DarkKnightmon, embodying the role of the undying. In addition, this set also introduces [BT10-069] DarkKnightmon X-Antibody along with a new [BT10-066] DarkKnightmon that has a [DigiXros] effect, which should further strengthen the original DarkKnightmon tribal deck. 

On the other hand, her younger brother [BT10-093] Amano Yuu (Ewan) would lead the Bagra Army using a Darkness Loader that allows him to force a [DigiXros], which is reflected in his tamer card effect allowing him to reduce a Digimon's play cost without that Digimon needing a [DigiXros] effect.

This new system would definitely introduce a much-needed new dimension to the game's complexity, and we very much welcome this system after the rather stale BT-09 X-Antibody meta.

An updated Ghost Game lineup

Yes, the Ghost Game Digimons finally get the updated digivolution forms. But we will focus our attention on Gammamon's darker form [BT10-078] GulusGammamon and his LV5 form [BT10-011] Canoweissmon. While GulusGammamon is a very reliable LV4 Digimon, having both a [Retaliation] effect and a semi-revival [On Deletion] effect, the spotlight shines on his LV5 Canoweissmon, which has a unique effect that allows him to gain all the effects from all his digivolution cards with [Gammamon] in name. 

Gammamon has got some great potential in the past, and with these new additions we may finally have a mechanic that is uniquely Gammamon! 

Sakuyamon buffed

When Rika and her Sakuyamon were introduced in EX-02 there was a lot of hype that lacked substance: a mechanic that relied on plug-in option cards was missing some serious consistency. Honestly, it came to us a surprise that [BT10-041] Sakuyamon: Maid Mode would be introduced so soon, but this Digimon has a seriously good effect allowing some option cards to not only be played for free, but returned to the top of your security. Along with her new line of LV3 to LV5 forms, they should help to stabilize the Rika/Sakuyamon mechanic.

In addition, it is also largely speculated that Sakuyamon: Maid Mode be very useful in a security control deck, so sec-con fans can rejoice!

… and saving the fire from an OTK meta

The previous set can pretty much sum to an OTK meta, with the X-Antibody Wargreymon, Metalgarurumon, Grandiskuwagamon, and Alphamon doing too much damage in competitive games. It comes as no surprise that Bandai would first try to dampen this by using some anti-OTK effect, and the first of this came in the form of a sexy [BT10-042] Venusmon.

Other smaller random buffs 

[BT10-023] Thetismon hastens Jellymon's hand-recycling capability, which may see its engine borrowed into other decks for milling. A new [BT10-031] Pulsemon with [Blocker] and the new [BT10-100] Impulse Memory Boost!! option card would allow this mechanic to better sustain the 3-security condition. The new [BT10-052] Cherrymon should strengthen Shivamon, and Justimon gets a new arm in [BT10-067] Justimon: Critical Arm. [BT10-083] Minervamon is a hidden potential that should work with a number of different deck mechanics such as Lucemon Falldown Mode. A new [BT10-086] Omegamon X-Antibody with a unique effect that should help cripple some security control decks. 

But last but not least, some very notable buffs to the ST-12 Jesmon starter deck in the form of [BT10-016] Jesmon X-Antibody, [BT10-068] Gankoomon X-Antibody, [BT10-085] Sistermon Ciel, and of course the highly anticipated [BT10-112] Jesmon GX which we will touch upon a little bit more below.

The secret rares of BT-10

BT-10 has 3 secret rare cards, 2 of which were already revealed with the remaining rumoured to be a low pull-rate ghost-rare Alphamon.

 

The first SEC revealed was a surprise. [BT10-111] Shoutmon King Ver. is akin to a joker card in any digiXros decks, cementing his position in playability during this meta.

[BT10-112] Jesmon GX
Digivolves at 5 cost from a Digimon with [Royal Knight] in its traits
Effect 1: [When Digivolving] You may place 1 Digimon card with [Royal Knight] in its traits and play-cost of 13 or less from your hand or trash under this Digimon as a digivolution card to activate that Digimon's [When Digivolving] effect. Then, [Blitz].
Effect 2: [All Turns] While this Digimon has a card with [Royal Knights] in its traits in its digivolution cards, it gains [Piercing], [Blocker], and [SecurityAttack+1] for each of those cards.

The second SEC is none other than [BT10-112] Jesmon GX, whose effect also came as a surprise as it does not buff specifically the Jesmon archetype but rather the Royal Knights. With so many [Royal Knight] Digimons we have thus far (9 of them has a [When Digivolving] effect), it would be interesting to see if Jesmon GX could revive the older deck engines, or bringing forth some new mechanics never seen before!

Summary

BT-10 is certainly an more exciting set than its predecessor, running new [DigiXros] mechanics and some random rebalancing that should shake up some creative deck building. Though there may be some misses and disappointments that some of your anticipated cards were not introduced in this set (such as Bagramon or Shoutmon X7), the current lineup should be sufficient to re-energize the stale BT-09.

 

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Beelstarmon in BT9: An Answer to OTK Meta

Invited Author: Ron Andre Agbayani

Country: Philippines

Introduction

Good day! Digimon Tamers, I am Ron Andre Agbayani from the Philippines and I would like to share my ideas of an in-depth review of the current Meta from BT9 and ST12-13 era and how Beelstarmon revived from the forgotten realm. This deck is based from the player named “Shina” from Japan who had the idea of including blue tamers which was eventually tweaked and adjusted through numerous players around the world and evolved to a Top Contender deck this Season and I would like extend my gratitude to these players because we were able to break the norm.

Ron's Deck

The Meta in BT9 to ST12-13

Nowadays decks are centralized on getting the key cards needed to win the game, generally through searching, drawing, and milling. These key cards will eventually win a game or have an advantageous board state.. This is mainly done by playing Memory Boosts Promo Cards, Tamers and Digimons with search function. Once you acquired the cards needed to advance your play, you may now be able to finish the game with a One Turn Kill focus deck (OTK) (eg. Grandiskuwagamon, WarGreymonX, MetalGaruruX, and Alphamon Ouryuken), variety of security cards (Yellow Hybrids), and Swarm (Jesmon and Beelstarmon), and also, in my opinion, Rogue Decks that are off-meta will definitely catch you off guard.

The current Meta dictates that whoever has better memory control will have a good board state which will allow them to have at least 2-3 plays per turn, leaving your opponent in a very disadvantageous situation. Since the advent of BT9, many decks got the support in need so that it can do OTK very easily and fast as mentioned above. Yellow Hybrids is still consistent and competitive. However, restricting key cards made it function less, making it a challenge to catch up with the consistency and potency of OTK decks. With this, OTK-focused decks saw high number of plays which made it a go to deck this current Meta.

This is just my observation and experience here playing in different tournaments and casuals plays. With this said I am always open to opinions and ideas of different players that support me. Aren’t we all the same curious cats so that we can make Digimon more interesting?

BT9 OTK Bosses

The Viability of Beelstarmon in BT9

BT9 gave OTK decks the protection they needed such as effects of Greymon X Antibody BT9 and like. The only way to survive the ravage is to have a good RNG (Random Number Generator) Roll option cards in your Security Cards. Yellow Hybrids BT7 made sure to always have a wide variety of good option cards in their security stack (such as decreasing DP to 0 which will be deleted through game mechanics or by more restoration). However, this is not sufficient hence they fell slightly in the tier list. The next Security Control deck in mind is either Mother D-Reaper deck EX-02 or the old Beelstarmon BT6. Mother D-Reaper deserves another article but for this one, we will delve on Beelstarmon BT6.

Beelstarmon BT6 is one of the early security control deck that only loses to Jesmon BT6 powered with BT3 A Delicate Plan. In the recent formats, Beelstarmon lose the spot light due to newer and exciting decks from every release. I personally thought that Beelstarmon is getting weaker before. However, in today’s list of winning decks we are now flourishing with Beelstar! What made Beelstarmon strong now?

As I have said earlier, key cards are easily searched or milled. In a sense we can have more than five 7-cost option cards in your trash after 3-5 turns thanks to Mist Memory Boost BT8, Analog Boy EX1, Eyesmon BT7, Demimeramon BT2, and of course Gazimon X BT9. By mid to late game, you can now play Beelstarmon BT6 for less than 5 cost and eventually free to play at end game. Cycling of hand cards is now achievable compared to BT6 era.

What are the best 7-cost option cards to run in your deck? This includes the following:

  1. Fly Bullet BT6 – best answer to all level 6 Digimons with OTK capacity, including level 5 Digimons with multiple attacks (Paildramon ST) 
  2. Nail Bone – Allows Tempo playstyle, pushing threat by reviving Ginkakumon Promote BT6 and Gazimon BT3. Can be used defensively when you revive Vilemon BT2 and Psychemon BT8. (A caution though. You must have a way to delete Pscyhemon since the effect is “both players cannot reduce plays cost”).
  3. Cocytus Breath ST2 – answers to all level 7 Digimons. Requires BLUE card in your play area if you plan to use it with Beelstarmon BT6. Also, with the resurgence of decoy and destruction protection very few cards has immunity to send back to hand
  4. Happy Bullet Showering BT6 – deletes Digimon/s with lowest DP.
  5. Howling Crusher BT1 – removes Digivolution sources from WarGreymonX and Alphamon Ouryuken which makes them weaker and friable to options cards.

There are other 7-cost Option cards that were not mentioned but I believe these are the best options at the moment. The goal is to have immediate response of security card to attacking Digimons to prevent you from being OTK’d.  Second to this is to make your opponent skeptical and doubt in attacking you and pushing for OTK. This will give you time and resources to prepare to reach your end-game, which in turn makes Beelstarmon’s play cost as low as 0-1 memory to play. Meaning, you have milled almost of all of your 7-cost options. This strategy allows Beelstarmon to play head to head with the current Meta. Beelstarmon has aggro-control play with a high risk-high reward gamestyle. It can achieve memory control through Gazimon BT3 and crowd control through Dexmon BT9. Calling From The Darkness BT7 becomes handy when your Beelstarmon and Dexmon are in your trash. Beelstarmon may be branded as anti-meta and soon enough players will see answer for this deck. This is Digimon. You do not know the next deck your opponent will bring and you cannot side out. Play your best with your chosen deck list.

The Future Beelstarmon

BT10 is fast approaching with the Xros mechanics in the horizon. People are eagerly searching and play testing for other strong cards that may upgrade their current decks. As for the upgrade for Beelstarmon, we do not have yet stronger 7-cost option card. As explained above, we can answer to the threats of every deck if and only if we have also achieved the winning condition of our deck which is to dump almost all of the 7-cost options.

Xros mechanics is another rapid play that allows a player to make a Digimon with efficient ESS at an affordable memory cost. It may be jamming, additional security checks, or buffs. Again, the only way for Beelstarmon to survive the Meta is hopefully to stack option cards in Security and praying for the best. 

Fingers crossed*

I would like to share my insights with the Digimon Card Game. I personally feel happy with how the Digimon Card Game evolves. The Meta is very diverse this season. Old decks are showing up again at our local game store and also winning though it requires enormous tweaks and testplays. This shows that old decks may become rogue or anti-meta decks that can answer to the new cards/mechanics. This also tells us that at some point we have to think carefully the “best and efficient” cards against the Meta. It might be a card in the newest set or inside your long forgotten card stash waiting to be excavated. 

Thank you!

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Fernaldy: 1st Place in Indonesia DTCG Regional Tournament with Purple Mastemon (ST10)

Invited Author: Fernaldy
Country: Indonesia

Introduction

Hello everyone this is Fernaldy from Indonesia, I played the  yellow purple Mastemon deck at Digimon TCG Indonesia regional tournament. Why do I play Mastemon… Before the tournament I didn’t have many options, it’s either Mastemon or yellow hybrid security control. At the end I choose Mastemon over yellow hybrid because the deck is more versatile, it has multiple ways to destroy both Digimons and tamers and also minus DP and "SecurityAttack-" to opponent Digimon.

With the new Meiko, Meicoomon, and Maycrackmon in BT9, it adds more consistency to the deck because Meiko provides an early game set up for hand and trash with additional memory plus on play for double color Digimon such as ST10 Tailmon and BT8 BlackGatomon to close the game. The game plan is to set up and control the opponent board with many ways of free summoning from security and many destroyers to clear up opponent Digimons and tamers.

Deck's Distribution

Digitama: 4 Demimeramon

Best digitama for purple so far in the game, draw 1 and discard 1 to refresh hand and set up trash.

Rookie: 4 Tapirmon

I play 4 Tapirmon for the rookies because Tapirmon provides an extra 1 draw and in practice and testing. I don’t have many chances to build up from rookie to ultimate so I prefer to hard play the champion and the ultimate so the purpose of Tapirmon is only to provide early aggro and an extra draw 

Champion: 4 Tailmon, 3 Meicoomon, 1 BlackGatomon

4 Tailmon are the best cards of the deck providing 2 card search and minus digivolution cost with end turn Jogress (DNA digivolution), the main engine of the deck. Meicoomon is a security Digimon that can play for free and is also a good target for Maycrackmon to discard and Mastemon could put her into the security and play other Digimon. BlackGatomon BT8 is the finisher of the deck most of the time I end the game with it.

Ultimate: 2 Lucemon FM, 3 LadyDevimon BT3, 3 Angewomon ST10, 3 Maycrackmon, 2 Holyangemon BT1.

The ultimate lineup is the usual composition for the mastemon deck. LucemonFM main target to summon from Mastemon providing destroy a lvl 6 or lower Digimon or tamer, LadyDevimon for the extra draw and discard to set up hand and trash, ST10 Angewomon is a great card give "SecurityAttack-" and very helpful against OTK decks such as Alphamon and Grandiskuwagamon, Maycrackmon also a great card against the rookie rush deck and Armor Rush deck because the minus DP and destroy, BT1 HolyAngemon for the extra recovery.

Mega: 4 Mastemon ST10, 1 Ophanimon FM, 4 Zward Defeat

I play 4 ST10 Mastemon because it is the main card of the deck. It can put 1 LVL 5 or lower yellow/purple Digimon to security play LVL 5 or lower yellow/purple  Digimon from security, and destroy opponent Digimon when a Digimon played by effect with lvl equal or lower from the played Digimon. So basically we get a free LVL 5 or lower Digimon summoned and 1 additional destroy [once per turn] every time a Digimon played by effect. This effect also synchronises with Digimon that could be played from security such as Meicoomon and Omnimon Zward Defeat and destroy opponent Digimon on both turns. Ophanimon FM is an additional mega to give recovery, destroy and summon LVL 4 or lower from trash 

Omnimon Zward Defeat is the best card to play from security as a big body on the field with 13K DP and destroy 1 Digimon when destroyed and also destroy opponent tamer when evolving with 3 costs to choke memory 

Tamer: 4 Meiko, 2 BT1 TK Takeru

4 Meiko is the main engine of the deck to search for Digimon and set up trash and additional memory plus on "both turns" whenever a double color yellow/purple played. 2 BT1 TK Takeru for memory fixer and saving important card in security and replace it with another card usually for Tailmon ST10 and Mastemon ST10.

Option: 3 Purple Memory Boost, 1 Reinforce Memory Boost, 4 Flame Hellsycthe and 2 ChaosDegrade.

Purple memory boost is for early gameplay to search purple Digimon and give extra 2 memory in the next turn is very useful because in this deck we have a big memory cost to play our Digimon. Same goes to Reinforce Memory Boost, it gives extra 3 memory, 1 recovery, and 1 card to hand.

Flame hellscythe is the best option in the game -6000 DP to opponent Digimon and play DP 6000 or lower Digimon from trash most of this deck LVL 5 has 6000 DP, so it’s very versatile and combine with Meiko if we play Maycrackmon from the trash, we can have memory plus and also extra minus DP

ChaosDegrade the best removal in the game but it has a big cost, there is no solution to counter this card except for Kongou or A Delicate Plan.

Tournament Report

Format: Swiss Round BO1, Top 4 Single Elim BO3

W: Win, L: Lose, D: Draw

Round 1 VS Grandiskuwagamon (L)

One of the best decks in the meta with a strong chance to OTK with multiple security plus and finish with Mimi to move Digimon from the hatching area. I open with a kinda brick hand and I should have mulligan but I want to save Tapirmon and Mastemon in my hand so I decided not to mulligan. But too bad that I didn’t have any Digimon to play after evolving to Tapirmon so I pass a turn giving him 3 memory and play a Tailmon in the next turn but he has x antibody tamer and Okuwamon X to rest Tailmon and destroy it, and I get OTKed in the next turn.

Round 2 VS Grandiskuwagamon (W)

Pair up with another grandiskuwagamon deck but have much better set up this time. I set up a Takeru and 2 Meiko, my opponent cant finish the game on the first attack, and Omnimon Zward D pop out from security so I could hit Grandis and Jogress to recovery. Controlling the field and finish with BlackGatomon.

Round 3 VS Yellow hybrid (W)

A good matchup for Mastemon because I can destroy tamer and yellow hybrid a slow and more defensive deck in this meta ultimate fusion got banned so really lacks the firepower from Susanoo. My opponent goes first and plays Takeru so I play tailmon ST10 in the second turn he plays Takeru again allowing me to set up Takeru and my tailmon ST10 survives in front and he evolves TK Takeru into a hybrid and makes Jetsylphy to recover 1. And then I jogress with Angewomon destroying Jetsylphy and another Takeru and keep pushing the game with "securityAttack + 1" finish the round with Tapirmon and blackGatomon rush. 

Round 3 VS Imperial jogress (W)

Didn’t expect to meet Imperialdramon deck in the tournament, going first I play Tailmon ST10 giving him 5 memory to search both Angewomon ST10 and Ladydevimon BT3. Somehow he didn’t have rookie so he play Stingmon in front and evolve into Paildramon giving me 3 memory and I Jogress (DNA) into a Mastemon, destroy his Paildramon and keep control the field and push the game.

Round 5 VS Alphamon (W)

Finally, I meet the most used deck in the meta, my hand was not the best but I still can make up for the early game. My Tapirmon hit his security but not destroyed 3x hitting Ryudamon. But my opponent successfully made Alphamon Oryuken and hit 4 security and play Kongou so I could not finish the game with Tapirmon. Then I play ST10 Angewomon to "securityAttack-2" into his Alphamon Oryuken giving him 4 memory then he pops memory boost to make it 6 memory, drop 2 Musha Yuji, hit security and put Dorugreymon into Alphamon Oryuken digivolution source make it "securityAttack+2", hitting a Meicoomon in the security, it is free summoned and I tap Meiko to "memory + 1" and then Alphamon Ouryuken actives again with the effect of Oryumon and activates removing source to gain memory, he removes Oryumon and attack again and tap Yuji to put another Oryumon in his source, but it hits a Flame Hellscythe and I play Holyangemon BT1 from trash recovery 1 so he couldn’t finish the game  

Top 4 VS Grandiskuwagamon (W)

Game 1: in top 4 I meet the same opponent from round 1 who played Grandiskuwagamon, I go second and play Takeru and Meiko. Fortunately, he didn’t have the Grandiskuwagamon and I could play Tailmon ST10 and Jogress (DNA digivolution) destroy all of his Digimon in front and keep pressure and controlling his field 

Game 2: I have probably one of the best set up in the entire tournament by opening 3 Meiko in the early game but my opponent also had a great setup and could hit 3 security early, and I make a big misplay here I thought I have the Mastemon in hand but I didn’t I should have finished the game with Mastemon summon BlackGatomon but I don’t have it so I evolve into Ophanimon FM and recovery+1, but my opponent just make another Grandis and finish me.

Game 3: Standard early game both for me and my opponent but he misses one of his LVL 5 and I play maycrackmon to destroy his weedmon and rookie in front putting pressure by an early attack from tapirmon, accidentally when he shuffles my security he opens 1 of the card and it was meicoomon so he didn’t hit all the security and leaving maycrackmon on the field because he has the piercing if he hit then meicoomon could play on security and finish him. So I evolve tapirmon into tailmon ST10 and jogress to destroy both Grandis and blocker and win from that.

Final VS Metalgarurumon X (W)

Game 1: my opponent didn’t have the perfect evolution he put some Digimon in front to search for the missing piece so I have the time to jogress even though I didn’t have any tamer to play but still successful in jogress and keep pressure but metalgaruru also can board wipe pretty well by bounce opponent Digimon so I make a backup plan by evolving tapirmon to tailmon ST10 at hatching area to counter his metalgaruru x antibody in front, and he makes another evolution line but unfortunately the last attack he open Omnimon Zward D and ChaosDegrade and I win the game.

Game 2: I go first and play the usual tamer and memory boost gameplay but this time my opponent had a better evolution line and put big pressure on me and clear all my security fast and I couldn’t make a comeback

Game 3: I didn’t have the best opening hand and just play Takeru and Meiko from hand and set up my trash and hand, my opponent then try to finish me so he attack with Weregaruru x antibody with "SecurityAttack+ 1" and 2 rookies. Fortunately, I open Flame Hellscythe in my security minus 6000 into Weregarurumon and summon a Maycrackmon, discarding Meicoomon then minus another 3000 into Weregarurumon x and destroy one of his rookies after that I control the field comfortably. he still manages to board wiped me but I can counter board wipe again and finish the game with blackGatomon.

Conclusion: 

I am very satisfied with the result and the consistency of my deck even though I still think Mastemon is still not a tier 1 deck because of relying on security with free summon and option. But the power to board wiping opponent Digimon and tamer is still a strong strategy and very strong control but needs a perfect tempo and right decision. I think Mastemon is a high-risk deck if you make a wrong play or decision it could cost u much because of the big memory you give to the opponent.

Mastemon deck is very fun to play with a variety of Digimon and options, I consider a couple of cards into my deck such as Gazimon into my rookie lineup to counter-memory plus from my opponent but I think Tapirmon is better for early consistency and draw we could also put Neodevimon to counter tamer play, Ordinemon, Hikari BT8, Takeru & Hikari BT8. I also hope for double color yellow and purple tamer in the future that could boost the deck 

I want to thank all the organizers for running the tournament well, I hope with an event like this we could improve our DCG community in Indonesia, and shoutout to my friends and community Ogre Citra card shop and hobbies. 

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A Beelstar-Ordine Concept?

Many players who have proxy-tested Ordinemon suggest that she may not make top-tier, perhaps due to her situational play conditions. 

However, when I was fiddling with a certain deck concept I found Ordinemon doing a lot better than I would have expected!

Raguelmon and Ordinemon

[BT9-082] Ordinemon is currently the only LV7 Digimon with a Jogress (DNA digivolution) effect. She has almost no play value when digivolved normally hence should always be played via Jogress.

 

It is not easy to have 2 LV6 Digimons in play during your turn to readily Jogress into Ordinemon, so it is imperative that an [End of Your Turn] jogress effect be used with Ordinemon. For this, [BT9-080] Raguelmon is introduced.

At a play cost of 12, Raguelmon can always play another Digimon (usually a LV5 or lower such as MagnaAngemon, or a LV6 Angel/Fallen-Angel when you are low in security) from trash, making it's play-cost worthwhile. In addition, Raguelmon will be able to jogress into Ordinemon at the end of your turn, given that you have another LV6. Raguelmon however, does not do much when digivolved normally. 

Would a LV7 that should always be played by jogress, and a LV6 that should be hard-played, perhaps do well in a mega-zoo-like deck like… Beelstarmon?

 

The Beelstarmon factor

As it happens, Raguelmon/Ordinemon can be played with Beelstarmon (being a purple LV6 Digimon that can jogress into Ordine). By replacing most LV3 Digimons in the deck with Beelstarmon and her legion of 7-cost options, we can build a security-control mega-zoo deck.

The addition of a Beelstarmon configuration helps strengthen the deck's security with deletion option cards. Gatomon/Tailmon can be played to provide search, while MagnaAngemons and Angewomons can be played for their [On-Play] effects. Ideally, Gatomon can digivolve into any of the LV5 angels for just 1-cost, and subsequently into Ophanimon Falldown Mode for a recovery and deletion effect. When Ophanimon is deleted, she can revive Gatomon to search again and replay this cycle.

Beelstarmon provides flexibility in dealing with a variety of opponent's board, and if a Raguelmon or an Ophanimon that inherits Gatomon is in play, they can then jogress into Ordinemon for a massive board control and recovery!

Tidal wave works well in this mega-zoo configuration, since Beelstarmon can use it instead of the usual deletion options if a jogress will happen at the end of turn. Since Ordinemon has a wide deletion effect that couples with recovery, we wouldn't want to delete anything unnecessarily through Beelstarmon's option cards. 

 

I have proxy-tested this deck for quite a while and boy was it fun to play… though not without problems. For one, this deck lacks the necessary draw power to recover from a bad starting hand. 

This is simply a deck concept, and do expect a lot of optimisation if it was ever going to be played in the competitive scene! 

…. something that I will most likely be doing in the coming weeks.

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Dex

The last SEC to be revealed for BT-09 may be the next most popular card.

Dexmon

The black/purple LV7 Dexmon has what it takes to become the next anti-meta card.

His first effect reduces his play cost by -3 for each Digimon and tamer that your opponent has, a very straightforward effect that punishes tamer-centric decks such as the Zoe hybrid and the Tommy hybrid, which are easily the current tier-1s. To put this into perspective, Dexmon would cost only 2 to play when your opponent has something like 4 tamers and 2 Digimons.

His second effect not only de-digivolves all of your opponent's Digimons by 1 level, but also deletes all that is LV4 and lower. In other words, playing 2 Dexmons consecutively in a turn will clear the opponent's board of LV6 Digimons, assuming they digivolved normally in a LV4-LV5-LV6 sequence (again, punishing the current Zoe and Tommy hybrids). This effect is also highly effective against Armor Digimons.

His third effect punishes the opponent when he is not taken down during their turn, by deleting all of your opponent's Digimons with the lowest play cost. In other words, your opponent is forced to play some sacrificial Digimon before the end of their turn in order to protect their better Digimons, and this becomes more obnoxious the more Dexmons you have in play.

 

Dexmon's weaknesses though, are also pretty obvious.

Firstly, his "de-digivolving then delete" effect would be less effective against X-Antibody decks that may have a larger stack of LV5s, making them a little bit harder to delete. It is also not effective against big Digimons that do not have digivolution cards, the usual suspects such as Beelstarmon, Lucemon Chaos, and Omegamon Zwart Defeat.

Secondly, his overall effectiveness can be thwarted just by knowing that he is included into the deck. The opponent will avoid playing a large pool of tamers and Digimons, or avoid ending their turn with a LV5 Digimon that can be de-digivolved into a LV4. 

However, these weaknesses can be circumvented.

 

Dexmon in the Dex archetype 

A no-brainer. Being of the same archetype, Dexmon benefits from the synergetic engine. 

[BT9-081] DexDorugoramon has an [On Deletion] effect that can play Dexmon from trash without cost, which is easily the most amazing callback effect. No other Digimon can play another LV7 Digimon for free, from trash. 

With the LV4 and LV5 Dex Digimons providing the much needed milling, in addition to the strong board control from the original Dorugoramon line as well as DexDorugoramon, this deck should prove formidable and popular in the coming meta. 

 

Both Dorugoramon and DexDorugoramon excels in controlling a smaller board of 2 or 3 Digimons. Dorugoramon could easily eliminate up to 2 medium-sized Digimon, something around a play cost of 6-7, which helps to setup DexDorugoramon's [When Digivolving] effect against the bigger Digimon. Dexmon would be perfect here, offering robustness against wider boards instead. 

 

Meanwhile in a purple alternative, the new [BT9-079] GrandDracmon should also work well with the Dex archetype, since they are mostly [Undead] Digimons. GrandDracmon can accelerate digivolution of the Dex line thanks to it's [End of Attack] effect, which could hopefully help to launch DexDorugoramon more efficiently.  

 

Dexmon in Security Control

As it happens, Dexmon does not really need to be in a specific archetype. 

While we do yet not know if the yellow security control deck would survive the coming meta, assuming it does, can be strengthened by Dexmon. 

Dexmon can digivolve from [BT8-082] Ophanimon Falldown Mode, a staple of most yellow security controls. While more expensive (in digivolution) than the popular Zwart Defeat and less effective in security, Dexmon can deal more damage on-play and when digivolving, (conditionally) plays cheaper from hand, and has an immense presence when he remains in play. 

The defensiveness of a security control deck may work in favour of Dexmon, punishing an opponent with a wider board in his mid/late game. 

 

Dexmon with Beelstarmon 

Another easy engine since he can digivolve from [BT6-112] Beelstarmon, replacing Zwart Defeat as the preferred choice of LV7. 

Dexmon extends Beelstarmon's damage range, which is usually limited to single target 7-cost purple option cards. While many Beelstarmon decks play copies of [BT6-095] Happy Bullet Showering and some [BT6-105] GewaltSchwarmer for wide-range deletion, they are often too conditional and does not delete what is intended. With Dexmon, the deletion range is not only extended beyond DP-based and cost-based targets, but also improves the deck's robustness since pure-deletion effects are less effective against Armors and the Greymon X-Antibody line. 

Dexmon with Mugendramon

With [EX1-073] Mugendramon expected to a little more popular in BT-09, it is fascinating to know that Dexmon can also work in this deck. 

While Mugendramon is a very defensive card, his engine is often weak towards a wide board (and no Chaosdramon is often not a solution). Mugendramon decks are slow, and playing a Mugendramon amid an opponent's wide board of Digimons would usually offer little to no protection since he can only block once (without Tai Kamiya). 

We might find solace in Dexmon during these sticky situations, first reducing play cost by taking advantage of the opponent's wide board, and then reducing that board enough for Mugendramon proper.

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Early Review: BT-09 X Record

BT-09 X Record is the next highly anticipated booster set slated for release on the 25th of February. This time around, Bandai has released the card reveals very promptly, with what seemed like a reveal of more than 90% of cards already. Lets take a look at what this set has to offer!

X-Antibody

The highlight of this set, X-Antibody Digimons made their DCG debut exactly a year ago (26th February 2021) in BT-05 Battle of Omega, in the form of Omegamon X-Antibody. More X-Antibody Digimons were slowly introduced in coming sets but were mainly for the Alphamon and Dorugoramon line. A unique mechanic for that X-Antibody line back then (or more specifically Dorugoramon) was the ability to slot digivolution cards beneath the X-Antibody Digimon to trigger effects, making an X-Antibody Digimon's stack rather large.

With the slew of X-Antibody Digimons introduced in BT-09, we finally got a solid feel of how X-Antibody would play. Generally speaking, X-Antibody Digimons could digivolve onto their non-X versions of the same level for a very low or  zero memory, mostly having some [When Digivolved] effect or inheritable effects. These cards are generally very robust to play as they can make your hand a lot more fluid (more ways to digivolve to get your hand moving) and effects that we believe to be a major power creep for the upcoming meta. 

Take for example [BT9-012] Greymon X and [BT9-024] Garurumon X which grants deletion/return immunity if you are [Omegamon] or [Greymon]/[Garurumon] in name respectively, patches up [BT5-111] Omegamon X such that it now becomes so much more formidable (being able to nullify deletion, return, and battle).  

 

 

Another X-Antibody card introduced in BT-09 is non other than [X-Antibody] itself, a 0-cost option card that can be put, unconditionally, below a Digimon's digivolution cards to let it digivolve into an X-Antibody Digimon when attacking (much like Blitz). In addition, X-Antibody cannot be removed by effects hence giving extra protection against the currently meta Tommy/Himi deck as well as Imperialdramon Paladin Mode. It also has a strong security effect much like Hammer Spark and the now restricted Ice Wall, which can abruptly end your opponent's turn in addition to adding the card to your hand.

It is quite evident from the current lineup that X-Antibody is the way to go if your archetype has an X-Antibody in this set.

Wargreymon X

Wargreymon X is an embodiment of a red Digimon on steroids. At LV5, [BT9-015] Metalgreymon X grants [SecurityAttack+1] and a +3000 DP buff, which can be easily carried to [BT9-016] Wargreymon X by using the [X-Antibody] option card. Doing so will allow Wargreymon X to delete an opponent's Digimon with 15000 DP or lower (almost any Digimon) while swinging at (at least 2) security with his large DP and protected from deletion/return effects if he inherits Greymon X. 

Gone were the days of [BT3-097] Precise Tactics.

[BT9-015] Metalgreymon X-antibody
Digivolves from Metalgreymon for 0 cost.
Effect: [When Digivolved] This Digimon gains [SecurityAttack+1] until the end of your opponent’s next turn. Then, if this Digimon has [Metalgreymon] or [X-Antibody] in it’s digivolution cards, this Digimon gains +3000 DP until the end of your opponent’s next turn.
 
[BT9-016] Wargreymon X-Antibody
Digivolves from [Wargreymon] for 1 cost.
Effect 1: [Both Turns] When opponent’s security is reduced, gain +1 memory
Effect 2: [End of Attack][Once Per Turn] If this Digimon has [Wargreymon] or [X-Antibody] is it’s digivolution cards, delete 1 of your opponent’s Digimon with DP equal or lower than this Digimon.

It is also possible to run X-Antibody with the newer BT8 Blackwargreymon, or the promo [P-050] Wargreymon to deliver a wide deletion coverage. When Wargreymon X is digivolved from a LV6 Wargreymon when attacking (using the X-Antibody option card), the 1-cost paid for digivolution can be recovered as long as he successfully swings at security, putting the player back at their turn. He can then follow up and end the turn with another strong move such as [BT5-086] Omegamon or [BT9-095] Gaia Force ZERO.

Dukemon X

The earliest card from this set to be revealed, Dukemon X continues to improve this archetype which has just gotten a huge buff from EX-02's Takato and Crimson Mode. 

Metalgarurumon X

Board control. [BT9-031] Metalgarurumon X can literally clean the board when he is unsuspended. By using the lower level [BT9-028] Weregarurumon to return an opponent's LV4 or lower to hand, Metalgarurumon X can then better position its effect to return all of your opponent's lowest level to hand, strategically targeting either a strong LV5/6/7 or many copies of weaker LV4s.

Inheriting Garurumon X, Weregarurumon and Metalgarurumon can steer clear of battle deletion due to their low DP. The promo [P-050] Metalgarurumon can also provide a similar protection when Garurumon X is not inherited.

It is not unwise to pair this archetype with base Digimons that grant [Jamming] such as Veemon and ExVeemon to compensate their lack of DP. We await to see how decklists will be constructed to play this engine.

Rizegreymon X

Not an SR, but this card deserves mention. At LV5, not only does Rizegreymon promote cheap tamer plays (like other Rizegreymons) but also grants a demi Shinegreymon-like effect, reducing -2000 DP on a Digimon for each red/yellow tamer in play. DP reduction effects may re-emerge to become a tier-1 removal effect in the coming meta (being effective against Greymon/Garurumon X and Omegamon, Magnamon X, and generally any Armor Digimons), and Rizegreymon X is a welcomed addition.

Magnamon X

Magnamon X is unique. For starters, he has an always-on blocker effect that can divert any battle to itself even when suspended. Secondly, when deleted he not only behaves like an Armor Digimon (by shedding his armor) but also puts himself on top of your security, effectively a [Recovery+1] effect. He also does warp digivolution from LV4 Magnamon, which increases the robustness of play in his archetype.  

It is still early to tell how much potential this card has, given his unique effects. But at the time being we know that he would definitely improve a majority of armor decks. 

You may be interested in an early gameplay from the File Island Residents.

Leomon X-Antibody

The Leomon archetype is finally getting some attention. With the X-Antibody support, the Leomon archetype, together with Juri, becomes far more playable. 

In addition, BT-09 has also gave this archetype a buff in the form of Panjyamon X, which should work with Juri's [On Play] effect. Can Leomon now find synergy in the likes of perhaps [BT3-030] Leopardmon? Will we be able to finally witness a Leomon deck challenge the meta? 

[BT9-051] Panjyamon X-Antibody
Digivolves from [Panjyamon] for 0 cost
This card’s name is also treated as [Leomon]
Effect: [Both Turn] When this Digimon is deleted, you may play a [Leomon] from this Digimon’s digivolution cards without paying its cost.

Grandiskuwagamon

The first insectoid archetype to be buffed in X-Antibody is none other than Kuwagamon. Grandiskuwagamon is very aggressive, and probably the most aggressive green Digimon we've seen thus far. 

When paired with [P-025] Grankuwagamon, 2 swings of 3 security checks each at 16000 DP is undeniably a lethal combo, putting this deck a strong contender for OHKO.

X-Antibody on Kuwagamon may finally allow many previously undervalued insectoid cards (such as EX-01 Tentomon and Kuwagamon) to finally shine.

 

Black is still having a good time

Compared to other colors, black has got a lot going for in this set. 

First, we have the option card [BT9-102] Heavy Machine Digimon's Advance!! which could single handedly push Mugendramon decks back into the radar.

We then have the Raidenmon cards (with Suijinmon, Raijinmon, and Fujinmon) which we have introduced earlier.

Then, we have the omnipotent [BT9-068] Gaioumon with a Ragnalordmon-like plateau of effects, but within a LV6 package. Gaioumon is also conveniently treated as a [Greymon], and can digivolve from [Blackwargreymon] at 2 cost, adding to its flexibility in a Wargreymon X deck or a Blackwargreymon deck or anything in between.

Then we have the last member of the sovereigns [BT9-069] Baihumon introduced as a black Digimon. Baihumon's potential is pretty much still unknown at this point, but having all 4 sovereigns revealed should the card game in a better position to review this archetype as a whole and possibly glue them together in the form of Huanglongmon. 

[BT9-068] Gaioumon
Digivolves from [Blackwargreymon] for 2 cost
This Digimon’s name also contains [Greymon].
Effect 1: [SecurityAttack+1]
Effect 2: [Reboot]
Effect 3: [When Digivolved] If this Digimon has a black card in it’s digivolution cards, 1 of your opponent’s Digimon gets [De-digivolve 1]. When this has a red card, it gets [Blitz].
 
[BT9-069] Baihumon
Effect 1: [When Digivolved] Unsuspend up to 2 Digimon and Tamer. Then, for each of your opponent’s unsuspended Digimon and Tamer, gain +1 memory.
Effect 2: [End of Your Turn][Once Per Turn] For every 2 of your opponent’s Digimon and Tamer, trash 1 card from the top of your opponent’s security.

And last but not least, we should be expecting the long-due Alphamon Ouryuken Mode in this set (possibly as an SEC card). With the many Alphamons, Dorugoramon line, Ouryumon line and Grademon line building up to this single Digimon, we should expect him to be majestic!

Megadramon

Another card deserving special mention, [BT9-065] Megadramon is a hybrid killer, deleting a 3-cost tamer when digivolving, and an inheritable that deletes 3-cost tamer when attacking. We will be seeing this card a lot in the coming red/black decks.

 

[BT9-065] Megadramon
Effect: [When Digivolving] Delete 1 of your opponent’s Digimon or Tamer with a play cost of 3 or less.
Inherited: [When Attacking] If this Digimon is a [Machine] or [Dragonkin] type in it’s trait, Delete 1 of your opponent’s Digimon or Tamer with a play cost of 3 or less.

Ordinemon

BT-09 purple seem to be all about Ordinemon (despite anticipating Grandracmon line to be in this set as well). Ordinemon is the first LV7 Jogress Digimon, first introduced in Digimon Adventure Tri as the final antagonist. 

Ordinemon is, without a sliver of doubt, powerful. When Jogress digivolved, she can board wipe the opponent while recovering your security for every Digimon deleted by her effect. She can also revive herself as long as a security card is sacrificed. 

Raguelmon is almost a must-play with running the Ordinemon engine. His first effect gives the deck an added robustness, while his second effect easily pulls Ordinemon into play. Many players believe that this engine would work very well with Lordknightmon (see sample gameplay 1 and 2 from File Island Residents) but this engine is still at its infancy and it is very possible to run this deck differently. 

Omegamon Merciful Mode

A highly anticipated card, but does this Digimon deliver? 

[BT9-083] Omegamon Merciful Mode has a conditionally-strong digivolving effect, depending on how many [Mega] cards you have slotted beneath him. Under normal circumstances, it would be reasonable to expect 1 to 2 copies hence projecting the scale of his deletion effect. 

His deletion effect however, has a perk. Immediately after deletion, he can return 10 cards from the opponent's trash to the bottom of their deck, which nullifies any [On Deletion] effect of deleted Digimons. Another benefit of this effect is that it can cripple some trash-based decks such as Beelstarmon, Beelzemon, hybrid-Susanoomon, and even Mugendramon decks.

His second effect meanwhile, forces Merciful Mode to de-digivolve to trash the top card of the opponent's security. Since Merciful Mode lives and dies by his [When Digivolving] effect, he has little value staying as vanilla LV7 in play therefore reverting to his prior form (either a LV6 or another Omegamon) maybe beneficial. 

Note that it is also possible to digivolve Merciful Mode onto a Merciful Mode, to run all his effects twice.

Some players have also mentioned the compatibility between Shivamon and Merciful Mode, allowing the player to trash the opponent's security twice (once with Merciful, another when Shivamon unsuspends). This compatibility is certainly profound but remains to be seen if the engine is able to survive in the coming X-Antibody landscape.

Summary

This set is fresh, engaging, and filled with fan-favourites. If anything, it reminds us of the last time we've seen such a great set exactly a year ago in BT-05 Battle Of Omega. Perhaps a reminiscence of a time when packs are fun to pull and great cards fill the set to brim, BT-09 X Record is en-route to match that high standard not seen since BT-05. 

So much goodness and we are still patiently waiting for our SECs. 

Score: 9/10.

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