Mistress of Puppet Soldiers (remake as Xyz)

[Darj]

2 Level 4 DARK monsters
Once per turn: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; Special Summon 1 "Puppet Soldier Token" (Warrior-Type/DARK/Level 5/ATK 1500/DEF 2500) (Each time your opponent activates a card or effect that targets a monster on the field, you can immediately change the target to that Token before it resolves.) While you control a "Puppet Soldier Token", this card cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects.

 

Back in 2010 I made this card as a Level 3 Effect Monster that Special Summoned Level 5 Tokens who protected her, providing material for your Synchro summoning needs.

Now I have remade it as an Xyz Monster with modified ATK/DEF stats (for both the monster and the Token), an improved Safe-Zone like protection effect, plus a redirecting effect for disrupting the opponent's plays.

 

 

Thoughts?

[TrueMalice]

Great OCG.

 

Isn't this a little overpowered for a generic Rank 4? How do you remove this thing from the field if it can't be targeted or destroyed by card effects without removing the token first?

It might function better as a different Rank, or with summoning conditions. it's a cool effect that would only really shine in an XYZ/Synchro deck.

[Darj]

In retrospect, it does look like it is too good as a generic Rank 4. I can restrict her materials to 2 Level 4 Spellcaster or DARK monsters; I'm still not sure on which one of the 2.

[TrueMalice]

Rank 5, perhaps? The primary purpose of the Level 5 token here is to provide Synchro material. In a deck that was focused on Special Summoning Level 3 Tuners / Level 5 Monsters, this would be invaluable. At that point, being generic would be grand.

 

As an alternative to that, either DARK or Spellcaster would work. DARK leaves it open to being Summoned by a lot of decks, including Evilswarms, while Spellcaster would make it much more difficult. 

[Darj]

I will go for DARK materials. I don't want to turn it into a Rank 5 because the competition is tough: Tiras, Adreus, Volcasaurus and Pleiades (in LIGHT decks) are all good choices and the opponent might prefer one of those monsters over this card. Plus this card could be abused with Gaia Dragoon.

 

I will also drop the DEF of the Token to 2300 because 1800/2500 is too high for a Level 5.

[spoderman]

I would play this in a Gagaga deck definitely. Balance is spot-on. Like a Dracossack for the lower levels. However I think you should change it to 2 Level 4 Spellcasters, since DARK gets way more support than all the other Attributes already.

[Darj]

The problem with changing it to Spellcaster materials is that it would be playable in few decks: Gagagas, Gravekeepers, and non-competitive/rogue decks such as Spell Barriers or Level-4 Spellcaster themed decks with Summoner Monk, Magical Exemplar and idk what else.

I would rather leave her requirements as DARK materials, at the risk of giving yet another support card to DARKs.

 

I have been thinking on the Token's stats: I want it to have 2500 DEF to withstand most attacks, so would 1500 ATK/2500 DEF be a better option, trading off his offensive capabilites for a higher defense?

[spoderman]

I think you should make it 1500/2500 like you said, and give it the cost of being destroyed if your Xyz leaves the field.

[Kwisatz-Haderach]

I think that the brackets are useless for the target switching part, also i would change it to: "p.s.token cannot be destroyed by battle, also this card cannot be destroyed by card effects while you control a "p.s.token".....and i would make 'em fiends

[spoderman]

I just noticed that this card combos perfectly with my Musical Mercenary Djinn

I'm not going to post it here, but if you want to check it out by all means do so.

[Darj]

I think that the brackets are useless for the target switching part, also i would change it to: "p.s.token cannot be destroyed by battle, also this card cannot be destroyed by card effects while you control a "p.s.token".....and i would make 'em fiends

 

The purpose of the brackets is to indicate that is the Token who has the redirecting effect and not the Xyz. So, if the Xyz is removed and a Token remains, that Token will continue redirecting cards to him.

 

I think giving protection against battle destruction to the Token would be too much, considering the Xyz is already protected. An Xyz that cannot be destroyed as long as you control a 2300~2500 DEF wall that cannot be destroyed by battle? Looks like it would be really frustrating for the opponent.

 

I don't want to make the Tokens Fiend-Type because personally I am not a fan of the DARK/Fiend-Type combination and I would rather avoid it until the artwork screams for it. In this case, I made the Token as Warrior taking "Puppet King" as example; I could make it Machine-Type because Gimmick Puppets, but the monster in the artwork doesn't look mechanical.

 

 

I will make some changes on the on the monster's stats: 1500 ATK /2500 DEF for the Token, and 2100 ATK for the Xyz to make her a bit stronger now that the Tokens won't be attacking as often.