Enma ☆ Keeper of the Dead

[Enma Ai]

wow... It's been a while since I visited YCM. Well. First thing I did was check the cardmaker. Still no Xyz. So to the Graphical Resource section I went! Here is my first card in a while. Pretty much just some Skull Servant support. I'm not super up to date with PSCT so correct me if there's any mistakes.

 

 

Enma ☆ Keeper of the Dead

Rank 3 - DARK

Spellcaster / Xyz / Effect

2250 / 0

 

2 Level 3 Zombie-Type monsters

When this card is Xyz Summoned: You can send the top 3 cards of your Deck to the Graveyard; Special Summon as many Level 1 Normal Zombie-type monsters from your Graveyard as possible. Monsters Special Summoned by this effect can not be used for an Xyz Summon. Once per turn:  You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; all face-up Zombie-type monsters you currently control gain 100ATK for each card in your Graveyard.

[magemeek22]

I like this. A lot. Its creative, but in fitting with the archetype. It's nice.

 

Artwork/OCG:

The grammar is near flawless (I can't find any errors), and the artwork is pretty nice, though its a little on the realistic side for yugioh. However, I find it extremely fitting that its a sorceress with THREE skeletons behind her - exactly the same number of skull servants you can summon with her. NICE.

 

Effect Usability:

Unfortunately, I'm unfamiliar with the Skull Servant archetype except for the bare basics; it swarms and gains tons of ATK by filling up the Graveyard. This card does EXACTLY that. It fits extremely well, and that makes it super realistic as well as usable within the archetype. Speaking more specifically about the effect, WOW. The first part of the effect that lets you mill and then Special Summon weak Zombies is pretty useful but not overpowered. Then, the second effect - now that's pretty well constructed. Considering an average of 10-15 cards in the Graveyard, thats easily 1000 extra ATK from the start. Its not too powerful, but its permanent, meaning it still is worth using. Plus, as the game draws on, this card becomes more and more useful.

 

Effect Balance:

Unfortunately, the balancing of this card is only half thought-through (no offense). For the first part of the effect (which lets you Special Summon), you need an XYZ limitation. Skull servants aren't xyz spammers, and it would be a detriment to the archetype if this made them too much like the present meta. Modern is good, but I'd rather the archetype keep a sense of its original purpose - strong ATK and swarming. Speaking of which, you wouldn't want too much ATK with your Skull Servants. The second effect could easily make a series of super powerful skull servants (at least of those that survive long enough for them to benefit from Emma's effect twice). My recommendation is to cap the ATK of zombies at a certain number between 2500 to 3000. The revised effect is as follows:

 

When this card is Xyz Summoned: You can send the top 3 cards of your Deck to the Graveyard; Special Summon as many Level 1 Normal Zombie-type monsters from your Graveyard as possible. Monsters Summoned by this card's effect cannot be used as XYZ Material. Once per turn:  You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; all face-up Zombie-type monsters you currently control gain 100 ATK for each card in your Graveyard. If a face-up Zombie-type monster you control has more than 3000 ATK, its ATK is reduced to 3000.

 

Effect Playability:

As mentioned before, the card is pretty playable considering that it fits the archetype and has immense potential. XYZ Summoning it should be easy, considering that it is a level 3 XYZ, but it could also prove difficult because of the Zombie-type material requirement. Perhaps making it a static "2 Level 3 monsters" could make it easier to summon, but I am not sure if that would make the card OP. Once again, I'm not too familiar with the XYZ potential of level 3 zombies, so your input is more useful than mine in this regard.

Further, I'm not sure if this card, despite its summoning potential, would still be considered too slow for the current meta. Hypothetically speaking, the turn it is summoned, you may get two skull servants out onto the field, and if you use her effect, their ATK may go up to around 1500. But then you'd have to wait another turn before you can boost them up to playable ATK (>2000). Once again, I'm not sure about this potential flaw, but it may be worth looking into.

 

Ratings:

Artwork/OCG: 10/10

Usability: 10/10

Balance: 8/10

Playability: 7/10

[Enma Ai]

DAMN... what happened to this section. Last time I was here it was a bunch of "card looks cool 10/10" comments. Thanks for the feedback, and I'm glad you picked up the the picture featuring 3 skeletons chained to her. I like your effect suggestions in regards to Xyz summoning with the Skull Servants, however I don't think I'll add the atk limitation. Many current cards such as Lead Yoke can easily get 3800 atk, have built in protection, and is much easier to summon.

 

The Skull Servant deck in general does not have a turbo way to get a lvl  Xyz. Their effect monster Lady in Wight is a lvl 3 with 2200 DEF so its possible to stall into this monster or use revival cards, which is common with Zombie archetypes. However, in return for not having an attack cap on the Normal Monsters, I may consider adding "If this card is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard then destroy all face-up ATK position Zombie-type monsters you control with over 2000atk" or something along those lines.

 

Again, thanks for the feedback.

[Toffee.]

To add to Mage's statement on usability; Zombies have other Level 1 Normals, Bone Mouse and Shadow Spectre.
So since Enma Summons any number of Zombies, not just the ones you milled, it basically gives you the ability to make either 2 Slacker Magicians OR 1 Galaxy Queen. Also, as far as the ATK gain goes; It's fine. 100 per card, yes, but even in a more dedicated build it won't really be anything game breaking. Lets be honest, yes, it supports Zombies, but Zombies have the habit of leaving the Graveyard, so on average it will only really boost by about 500. Though, if you were that paranoid, you could suggest an "Until the End Phase" clause at the end.