Magic Swordsmen (A Normal Monster, Anti-xyz Archetype)

[Adak33]

Neo the Magic Swordsman -- that is to say, this guy --

 

Has always been my favorite card. So when I found out that he had a sequel card:

 

Inspiration struck! Meet the Magic Swordsmen, an anti-xyz archetype of Normal Monsters!

 

The Monsters in this archetype can be divided into three sets, with each set consisting of a level 2 dark Monster:

 

 

 

 

 

A level 4 light Monster:

 

 

 

 

 

 

And a level 6 Earth Monster:

 

Lore for Crash the Magic Swordsman: This Monster is treated as a Normal Monster by the effect of "Sword/Space Elevator." When this Monster battles: both Monsters become level 5.

 

...And it's in that last one that we find the first card in the archetype that isn't a normal Monster, and the first card that fits the "anti-xyz" part of the archetype. There's two reasons that Crash changes enemy monsters to level 5. The first reason is to disrupt the opponent's ability to xyz-summon by altering the level of their monsters. We'll get to the second reason in a bit.

 

Of course, this archetype has support for its Monsters, and a lot of that support doesn't have anything to do with the anti-xyz part of the archetype; after all, it has to be able to function when your opponent isn't using xyz monsters, right? The major support here is this field card:

 

"Magic Swordsman" Monsters are treated as being Spellcaster and Warrior Type in addition to their actual type. If this card would be removed from the field, you may tribute a "Magic Swordsman" that you control instead.

 

So what's the benefit of being spellcaster AND warrior? Well, it has to do with the other support cards, equip spells that have one effect when equipped to a spellcaster, a different effect when equipped to a warrior... and both when equipped to a monster that is both a warrior and a spellcaster.

 

A spellcaster-type Monster equipped with this card gains 800 Defense. When a Warrior-type Monster equipped with this card destroys a Monster by battle, select 1 spell or trap card on the field and destroy it.

 

Monsters destroyed by a spellcaster-type Monster equipped with this card have their effects negated. A Warrior-type Monster equipped with this card gains 800 defense.

 

A spellcaster-type Monster equipped with this card gains 300 attack and defense each time it destroys a Monster by battle. A Warrior-type Monster equipped with this card gains 600 attack.

 

A spellcaster-type Monster equipped with this card gains 600 attack. A Warrior-type Monster equipped with this card deals piercing damage.

 

And then a similar card that is actually a continuous spell, but otherwise behaves similarly:

 

Pay 500 Life Points to activate this card. Spellcaster-Type Monsters you control cannot be destroyed by battle. Warrior-Type Monsters you control cannot be targeted by spell cards or monster effects that your opponent controls. If you do not control any Normal Monsters, set this card.

 

Then there's one of the key cards, the aforementioned Sword/Space Elevator. Despite being part of an anti-xyz Archetype, it's an xyz monster -- but it's inended to use the three level 2 monsters in the archetype as xyz materials (Go look at their flavor text again, I'll wait).

 

3 level 2 Normal Monsters
When a normal monster you control battles an xyz monster, it gains 400 attack for every xyz material attached to the defending monster, until the end of the damage step. Detach an xyz material: banish any number of level 4 "Magic Swordsman" monsters that you control, then special summon 1 level 6 Normal Monster of the same type from your hand or grave for every monster banished by this effect.

 

As you can see, the latter effect is why you want to run the level 4 Magic Swordsmen -- you can use them and Sword/Space's effect to bring out their level 6 counterparts. And of course, there's a card to get out the materials more easily (Albeit a poorly worded one):

Select 1 xyz monster on the field and banish up to 3 xyz materials attached to it. Enact 1 of the following effects depending on the number of materials banished:
1:Special Summon "X the Magic Swordsman" from your hand.
2:Special Summon "X the Magic Swordsman" and "Y the Magic Swordsman" from your hand or grave.
3:Special Summon "X the Magic Swordsman," "Y the Magic Swordsman" and "Z the Magic Swordsman" from your hand, grave, or deck.

 

You'll note that these last couple of cards only work if your opponent controls an xyz monster. So what do you do if your opponent doesn't use xyzs? Well that's where this baby comes in:

 

 

2 level 5 Monsters your opponent controls
This Monster may only be xyz summoned to your opponent's side of the field. This Monster may not be tributed or destroyed by battle. During each of their end phases, this card's controller must attach a card from their hand to this card as an xyz material, and if they do, switch this monster into attack position.

 

I'm sure you get the purpose of this one. The drawback is, of course, that you give your opponent a 3000 attack beatstick and they have to have 2 level 5 monsters, but Crash's effect solves that last one. And on the side of the positives, your opponent loses 1 card from their hand each turn and has something you can beat on with Sword/Space's effect (You'll notice that with the exception of Crash, the level 6 swordsman gain enough of a boost from Sword/Space that they'll have more than 3000 attack against Cosmic Invader from the word go).

 

Anyway, thoughts, opinions?

[haydenc311]

Nice set of cards.

[Guest Imperiused]

I'm a big fan. I don't have any suggestions at the moment, but this is a pretty original set and one of my favorites.You certainly had inspiration here. In any case, the card designs are attractive and the theme of magic psychic swordsmen fighting space invaders is really entertaining. Cosmic Invader is an interesting concept in and of itself, as it effectively turns your opponent into an XYZ summoner, no matter what their style. Anyway, total props.

[mr-magic_bunnehs]

Awesooooom!!!!!!!!!!