Synchronauts

[Xeroxys]

Edit: Most updated versions of the cards can be found in this thread. Card art can be found for each card in the post where the card was first posted.

 

Hey, all. I posted this archetype over in Casual Multiples, which can be found here, but I realized that I want to work on balancing them in the context of existing metas, so I'll be moving my work on the archetype to this thread.

 

Flavor of the archetype: The Synchronauts are a band of robots created in the image of various famous historical figures, with the abilities of each Synchronaut being determined by the historical figure on which it is based.

 

Gimmick of the archetype: As it stands (some of the following is open to change), Synchronauts are a Turbo Synchro Deck that relies on Tributing/discarding cards to fill the Graveyard with Synchronauts, which can then be banished to Special Summon Synchro Monsters from the Extra Deck with additional effects, similar to Yang Zings.

 

Members (with a brief description of their roles):

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Buddha"]

 

Synchronaut Buddha

[Monster|Effect] Machine/Earth

[****] 1000/1000

This card is unaffected by your opponent’s monster effects. A Synchro Monster that used this card as a Synchro Material is unaffected by the effects of monsters whose original Levels/Ranks are lower than that Synchro Monster’s original Level, except its own. During your Main Phase: You can Tribute/discard this card to add 1 “Synchronaut” monster from your Deck to your hand, except “Synchronaut Buddha”. You can only use this effect of “Synchronaut Buddha” once per turn.[/spoiler]

When used as a Synchro Material, grants immunity from the effects of monsters with lower Levels/Ranks.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Ford"]

 

Synchronaut Ford

[Monster|Effect] Machine/Earth

[****] 1000/1000

During your Main Phase: You can banish this face-up card and at least 1 non-Tuner “Synchronaut” monster from your side of the field or in your hand, and if you do, activate 1 of the following effects:

● Target 1 Synchro Monster in your Extra Deck whose Level is equal to or less than the number of “Synchronaut” monsters in your Graveyard; Special Summon it. This Special Summon is treated as a Synchro Summon, and the banished monsters are treated as its Synchro Materials.

● Target 1 Synchro Monster you control; the banished monsters are treated as its Synchro Materials (its number of Synchro Materials is not treated as increased).[/spoiler]

The "Tuner." Banishes Synchronaut monsters to Special Summon Synchro Monsters from the Extra Deck.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Häyhä"]

 

Synchronaut Häyhä

[Monster|Effect] Machine/Earth

[****] 1000/1000

If this card is sent to the Graveyard: You can target 1 card on the field; destroy that target, also banish this card from your Graveyard. During your Main Phase: You can Tribute/discard this card to add 1 “Synchronaut” card from your Deck to your hand, except “Synchronaut Häyhä”. You can only use each effect of “Synchronaut Häyhä” once per turn.[/spoiler]

Capable of popping a floodgate if necessary.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Hippocrates"]

 

Synchronaut Hippocrates

[Monster|Effect] Machine/Earth

[****] 1000/1000

If this card is sent to the Graveyard: You can Special Summon 1 “Synchronaut” monster from your Deck or Graveyard, except “Synchronaut Hippocrates”. During your Main Phase: You can Tribute/discard this card to add 1 “Synchronaut” monster from your Deck to your hand, except “Synchronaut Hippocrates”. You can only use each effect of “Synchronaut Hippocrates” once per turn.[/spoiler]

When sent to the Graveyard, can Special Summon 1 Synchronaut from the Deck or Graveyard.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Houdini"]

 

Synchronaut Houdini

[Monster|Effect] Machine/Earth

[****] 1000/1000

This card is unaffected by your opponent’s Trap effects. A Synchro Monster that used this card as a Synchro Material is unaffected by non-“Synchronaut” Trap effects. During your Main Phase: You can Tribute/discard this card to add 1 “Synchronaut” monster from your Deck to your hand, except “Synchronaut Houdini”. You can only use this effect of “Synchronaut Houdini” once per turn.[/spoiler]

When used as a Synchro Material, grants immunity from Traps.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Merlin"]

 

Synchronaut Merlin

[Monster|Effect] Machine/Earth

[****] 1000/1000

This card is unaffected by your opponent’s Spell effects. A Synchro Monster that used this card as a Synchro Material is unaffected by non-“Synchronaut” Spell effects, except Synchro Monsters in your Spell & Trap Card Zone. During your Main Phase: You can Tribute/discard this card to add 1 “Synchronaut” monster from your Deck to your hand, except “Synchronaut Merlin”. You can only use this effect of “Synchronaut Merlin” once per turn.[/spoiler]

When used as a Synchro Material, grants immunity from Spells.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Rasputin"]

 

Synchronaut Rasputin

[Monster|Effect] Machine/Earth

[****] 1000/1000

This card cannot be destroyed by battle. A Synchro Monster that used this card as a Synchro Material cannot be destroyed by battle or by card effect. During your Main Phase: You can Tribute/discard this card to add 1 “Synchronaut” monster from your Deck to your hand, except “Synchronaut Rasputin”. You can only use this effect of “Synchronaut Rasputin” once per turn.[/spoiler]

When used as a Synchro Material, grants immunity from destruction.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Schindler"]

 

Synchronaut Schindler

[Monster|Effect] Machine/Earth

[****] 1000/1000

If this card is sent to the Graveyard or Banished Zone: you can shuffle up to 5 "Synchronaut" monsters from your Graveyard and/or Banished Zone into your Deck, except this card. Once per turn, you can Tribute/discard this card to activate 1 of the following effects of “Synchronaut Schindler”:

● Add 1 “Synchronaut” monster from your Deck to your hand, except “Synchronaut Schindler”.

● Add 1 “Synchronaut” card from your Graveyard or Banished Zone to your hand, except “Synchronaut Schindler”.[/spoiler]

When sent to the Graveyard/Banished Zone, recycles Synchronaut Monsters.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Socrates"]

 

Synchronaut Socrates

[Monster|Effect] Machine/Earth

[****] 1000/1000

This card cannot be Tributed, except by its own effect. A Synchro Monster that used this card as a Synchro Material cannot be Tributed. During your Main Phase: You can Tribute/discard this card to add 1 “Synchronaut” monster from your Deck to your hand, except “Synchronaut Socrates”. You can only use this effect of “Synchronaut Socrates” once per turn.[/spoiler]

When used as a Synchro Material, grants immunity from Tributing.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Overlord"]

 

Synchronaut Overlord

[Monster|Synchro|Effect] Machine/Earth

[************] 3000/3000

1 "Synchronaut" Tuner + 2 "Synchronaut" non-Tuner monsters

Must be Synchro Summoned, and cannot be Special Summoned by other ways. This card’s Synchro Summon cannot be negated. If this card would leave the field by battle or card effect, you can instead destroy 1 Synchro Monster equipped to this card. This card gains the effects of any Synchro Monster(s) currently equipped to it. Once per turn, you can activate 1 of the following effects:

● Target 1 Synchro Monster you control; equip that target to this card.

● Target 1 Synchro Monster equipped to this card; unequip that target and Special Summon it. [/spoiler]

The boss monster of the archetype. Equips Synchro Monsters and emulates their abilities.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Factory"]

 

Synchronaut Factory

[Spell|Field]

You cannot Special Summon monsters, except Synchro Monsters and “Synchronaut” monsters. This card and all Synchro Monsters in your Spell & Trap Zone are unaffected by non-“Synchronaut” card effects while you control a face-up Synchro Monster. Once per turn: If you have fewer non-Equip Spell/Trap Cards in your Spell & Trap Zone than your opponent, you can target 1 “Synchronaut” monster in your Graveyard; add it to your hand. If a Synchro Monster you previously Synchro Summoned is Flip Summoned or Special Summoned from anywhere but your Extra Deck: It is treated as Synchro Summoned with its previous Synchro Materials.[/spoiler]

Limits Special Summons, but protects Synchro Monsters in the Spell & Trap Zone, and rewards withholding other Set/Continuous Spell/Traps.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Reconstruction"]

 

Synchronaut Reconstruction

[Spell]

Excavate the top 5 cards of your Deck, then send any number of excavated “Synchronaut” monsters to the Graveyard, also shuffle the rest back into your Deck; Special Summon “Synchronaut” monsters and/or Synchro Monsters from your Graveyard, up to the number of cards sent to the Graveyard by this effect. The Special Summoned monsters cannot attack, cannot be Tributed, cannot be used as a Fusion or Xyz Material for a Summon, and are banished during the End Phase, also the effects of any Synchro Monsters Special Summoned by this effect are negated.[/spoiler]

Helps set up for Synchro Summons.

 

---

 

And that's the entire archetype at this time.

 

As it stands, I know they're not perfect (whether in terms of balance or OCG) and I'm open to constructive criticism. I have some thoughts/concerns myself which I'll be tinkering with in the future, but to avoid coloring anyone's impressions of the archetype, I'll withhold those for now.

[LegoLord91]

I'm not sure of this was intentional, but if you tribute/discard Synchronaut Hyppocrates to activate his search effect, you also trigger his first effect to Special Summon a monster from the Deck or Graveyard.

 

Essentially, if you open up just one Synchronaut monster, except for Hyppocrates, you could burn through your Deck to load up the Graveyard and have Hyppocrates in hand. Then discard Hyppocrates to search for Synchronaut Schindler and then also Special Summon Synchronaut Ford. Then use Ford's effect to "properly Synchro Summon" any level 8 or lower Synchro Monster from your Deck by banishing Schindler from hand, then use Schindler to recycle a whole bunch of cards. 

 

And the issue with Ford is that since he Special Summons any Synchro Monster, and then treats it as a Synchro Summon afterwards, he can essentially bypass any type/attribute restrictions and/or the number of materials required for a Synchro Monster. You can summon any of the Naturia Synchros, Arcanite Magician, Beelze, Void Ogre, Dewloren, Gungir, Legendary Six Samurai Shi-En, Mist Wurm, etc, etc all with just one card in hand (the combo I described above).

 

Being able to pull out any of those Synchros with just one Synchronaut in hand is very, very, very broken.

 

Sorry to say, but as it stands, this archetype breaks Synchro summoning. Without some sort of power restriction or universal once per turn clause, these guys are too strong. Don't get me wrong, they're very cool, but they're way too strong.

[Xeroxys]

Thanks for the reply, LegoLord!

 

You've brought up some points that were on my mind and that I've been wanting to change.

 

Obviously having almost all the Main Deck monsters be tutors is not good, and it's a remnant of bad design from before I read any of the guides on good card design. I want to come up with an alternate system for getting the Main Deck monsters into the Graveyard, one which is not as consistent and/or does not maintain advantage to the same extent. Possibly "Tribute/discard to send 1 'Synchronaut' monster from your Deck to the Graveyard," with only a select few getting effects when sent. That way the archetype can no longer dump every monster into the Graveyard every turn, and dumping monsters loses hand advantage.

 

Hippocrates's effect was intentional, but when the discarding gimmick of the archetype changes, the effects of Hippocrates, Hayha, and Schindler are likely to change with it.

 

I definitely see what you mean about Ford. I'll add a hard once-per-turn clause. That, of course, doesn't fix it entirely, but I think a lot of the brokenness stems from the current mechanics of the archetype. If it were harder to get the Main Deck monsters into the Graveyard, if the archetype tended to lose advantage instead of generate it, and with a hard once-per-turn limit, I think it would be a lot better. Once I figure out all of the correct edits, I'll do some testing, and if it's still no good, I'll come back to the drawing board, but I'm confident the mechanic can be made to work.

 

Any input on these thoughts?

 

Edit: I've reworked almost all of the cards, changing the discard effects from adding-to-hand to sending-to-Graveyard, and making Special Summoning with Ford much harder and more costly. I'll post the updated cards and a detailed change list with my next bump/post.

[Xeroxys]

Updated cards! All the Main Deck monsters have had their effects changed significantly. The Synchro Monster and Spell Cards have remained largely, if not entirely, the same.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Buddha"]

Synchronaut Buddha

[Monster|Effect] Machine/Earth

[****] 1000/1000

This card is unaffected by other monster effects. A Synchro Monster that used this card as a Synchro Material is unaffected by the effects of monsters whose original Levels/Ranks are lower than that Synchro Monster’s original Level. During your Main Phase: You can Tribute/discard this card to send 1 “Synchronaut” monster from your Deck to the Graveyard, except “Synchronaut Buddha”. You can only use this effect of “Synchronaut Buddha” once per turn.[/spoiler]

When used as a Synchro Material, grants immunity from the effects of monsters with lower Levels/Ranks.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Ford"]

Synchronaut Ford

[Monster|Effect] Machine/Earth

[****] 1000/1000

During your Main Phase: You can banish this face-up card and at least 3 other “Synchronaut” monsters from your side of the field, hand, and/or Graveyard, and if you do, Special Summon from your Extra Deck, 1 Synchro Monster whose Level is equal to or less than half the number of “Synchronaut” monsters banished by this effect. This Special Summon is treated as a Synchro Summon, and any monsters banished from your side of the field and/or hand by this effect are treated as its Synchro Materials (the number of Synchro Materials is treated as the minimum number required to Synchro Summon the monster).[/spoiler]

The "Tuner." Banishes Synchronaut monsters to Special Summon Synchro Monsters from the Extra Deck.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Häyhä"]

Synchronaut Häyhä

[Monster|Effect] Machine/Earth

[****] 1000/1000

During your Main Phase: You can Tribute/discard this card to send 1 “Synchronaut” monster from your Deck to the Graveyard, except “Synchronaut Häyhä”. You can only use this effect of “Synchronaut Häyhä” once per turn. You can only use 1 of the following effects of “Synchronaut Häyhä” per turn, and only once that turn.

● If this card is sent to the Graveyard or Banished Zone: You can target 1 card on the field; destroy that target.

● If this card is sent to the Graveyard or Banished Zone: You can add 1 “Synchronaut” card from your Deck to your hand, except “Synchronaut Häyhä”.[/spoiler]

Capable of popping a floodgate if necessary.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Hippocrates"]

Synchronaut Hippocrates

[Monster|Effect] Machine/Earth

[****] 1000/1000

During your Main Phase: You can Tribute/discard this card to send 1 “Synchronaut” monster from your Deck to the Graveyard, except “Synchronaut Hippocrates”. If this card is sent to the Graveyard or Banished Zone: You can Special Summon 1 “Synchronaut” monster from your Deck or Graveyard, except “Synchronaut Hippocrates”.  You can only use each effect of “Synchronaut Hippocrates” once per turn.[/spoiler]

When sent to the Graveyard, can Special Summon 1 Synchronaut from the Deck or Graveyard.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Houdini"]

Synchronaut Houdini

[Monster|Effect] Machine/Earth

[****] 1000/1000

This card is unaffected by your opponent’s Trap effects. A Synchro Monster that used this card as a Synchro Material is unaffected by non-“Synchronaut” Trap effects. During your Main Phase: You can Tribute/discard this card to send 1 “Synchronaut” monster from your Deck to the Graveyard, except “Synchronaut Houdini”. You can only use this effect of “Synchronaut Houdini” once per turn.[/spoiler]

When used as a Synchro Material, grants immunity from Traps.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Merlin"]

Synchronaut Merlin

[Monster|Effect] Machine/Earth

[****] 1000/1000

This card is unaffected by your opponent’s Spell effects. A Synchro Monster that used this card as a Synchro Material is unaffected by non-“Synchronaut” Spell effects, except Synchro Monsters in your Spell & Trap Zone. During your Main Phase: You can Tribute/discard this card to send 1 “Synchronaut” monster from your Deck to the Graveyard, except “Synchronaut Merlin”. You can only use this effect of “Synchronaut Merlin” once per turn.[/spoiler]

When used as a Synchro Material, grants immunity from Spells.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Rasputin"]

Synchronaut Rasputin

[Monster|Effect] Machine/Earth

[****] 1000/1000

This card cannot be destroyed by battle. A Synchro Monster that used this card as a Synchro Material cannot be destroyed by battle or by card effect. During your Main Phase: You can Tribute/discard this card to send 1 “Synchronaut” monster from your Deck to the Graveyard, except “Synchronaut Rasputin”. You can only use this effect of “Synchronaut Rasputin” once per turn.[/spoiler]

When used as a Synchro Material, grants immunity from destruction.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Schindler"]

Synchronaut Schindler

[Monster|Effect] Machine/Earth

[****] 1000/1000

If this card is sent to the Graveyard or Banished Zone: You can shuffle up to 5 "Synchronaut" monsters from your Graveyard and/or Banished Zone into your Deck, except this card. You can only use each of these effects of “Synchronaut Schindler” once per turn.

● During your Main Phase: You can Tribute/discard this card; send 1 “Synchronaut” monster from your Deck to the Graveyard, except “Synchronaut Schindler”.

● If this card is sent to the Graveyard or Banished Zone: You can add 1 “Synchronaut” card from your Graveyard to your hand, except “Synchronaut Schindler”.[/spoiler]

When sent to the Graveyard/Banished Zone, recycles Synchronaut Monsters.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Socrates"]

Synchronaut Socrates

[Monster|Effect] Machine/Earth

[****] 1000/1000

This card cannot be Tributed, except by its own effect. A Synchro Monster that used this card as a Synchro Material cannot be Tributed. During your Main Phase: You can Tribute/discard this card to send 1 “Synchronaut” monster from your Deck to the Graveyard, except “Synchronaut Socrates”. You can only use this effect of “Synchronaut Socrates” once per turn.[/spoiler]

When used as a Synchro Material, grants immunity from Tributing.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Overlord"]

Synchronaut Overlord

[Monster|Synchro|Effect] Machine/Earth

[************] 3000/3000

1 "Synchronaut" Tuner + 2 "Synchronaut" non-Tuner monsters

Must be Synchro Summoned, and cannot be Special Summoned by other ways. This card’s Synchro Summon cannot be negated. If this card would leave the field by battle or card effect, you can instead destroy 1 Synchro Monster equipped to this card. This card gains the effects of any Synchro Monster(s) currently equipped to it. Once per turn, you can activate 1 of the following effects:

● Target 1 Synchro Monster you control; equip that target to this card.

● Target 1 Synchro Monster equipped to this card; unequip that target and Special Summon it. [/spoiler]

The boss monster of the archetype. Equips Synchro Monsters and emulates their abilities.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Factory"]

Synchronaut Factory

[Spell|Field]

You cannot Special Summon monsters, except Synchro Monsters and “Synchronaut” monsters. This card and all Synchro Monsters in your Spell & Trap Zone are unaffected by non-“Synchronaut” card effects while you control a face-up Synchro Monster. Once per turn: If you have fewer non-Equip Spell/Trap Cards in your Spell & Trap Zone than your opponent, you can add 1 “Synchronaut” monster from your Deck or Graveyard to your hand. If a Synchro Monster you previously Synchro Summoned is Flip Summoned or Special Summoned from anywhere but your Extra Deck: It is treated as Synchro Summoned with its previous Synchro Materials.[/spoiler]

Limits Special Summons, but protects Synchro Monsters in the Spell & Trap Zone, and rewards withholding other Set/Continuous Spell/Traps.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Reconstruction"]

Synchronaut Reconstruction

[Spell]

Excavate up to 5 cards from the top of your Deck, then send any number of excavated “Synchronaut” monsters to the Graveyard, also shuffle the rest back into your Deck; Special Summon any number of “Synchronaut” monsters and/or Synchro Monsters from your Graveyard, up to the number of cards sent to the Graveyard by this effect. Monsters Special Summoned by this effect cannot attack, cannot be Tributed, cannot be used as a Fusion or Xyz Material for a Summon, and are banished during the End Phase, also the effects of any Synchro Monsters Special Summoned by this effect are negated.[/spoiler]

Helps set up for Synchro Summons.

 

---

 

Major change list:

 

- When Tributed/discarded, the Main Deck monsters no longer add "Synchronaut" monsters to the hand, but instead send them to the Graveyard. This is important because it means a single "Synchronaut" monster in the hand can't cycle through 1 copy of every other Main Deck monster without losing any hand advantage. Instead, they can put a few in the Graveyard per turn, but they eat up hand advantage while doing so.

 

- Ford's effect has been changed dramatically. Originally the only banished monsters were those being used as Synchro Materials, and the maximum Level of the monster to be Summoned was simply determined by the number of "Synchronaut" monsters in the Graveyard, with no other real cost. Now, monsters must also be banished from the Graveyard until the number of monsters banished is equal to double the Level of the monster being Summoned. This is a huge change. Before, once there were 12 or more "Synchronaut" monsters in the Graveyard, anytime Ford hit the field, he could Summon any Synchro Monster for virtually no cost, and it could be done multiple times in a turn, provided you could keep bringing Ford back. Now, any Special Summon from Ford's effect depletes resources in the Graveyard, with more significant Summons being more costly.

 

My current thoughts and input:

 

With these changes, I feel like the archetype is a LOT more balanced. However, some people I've dueled have expressed concerns or dislike for the mechanics, particularly with regard to two things:

 

1) The Tributing/discarding to send to the Graveyard.

 

2) Ford's "Synchro" Summoning.

 

Here are some of my thoughts on these concerns/comments:

 

1) I understand why some people don't like it. It's somewhat solitaire-ish (though, SO much less than the archetype used to be), and it's very consistent. With regard to the first point, it's not really that bad. There are once-per-turn limits, and typically, it involves discarding+sending 1-2 cards per turn; often fewer. With regard to the second point, I do not think it is broken in any sense. It may be consistent, but it loses advantage on the whole. The intention was for it to be consistent, because if the archetype doesn't have a way of reliably getting the Main Deck monsters into the Graveyard (especially after these edits), it's virtually useless. Because of this, I found a way to make it lose advantage specifically to balance it, and after testing, I feel like that's been more or less achieved.

 

Of course, I'm still open to further input on this issue, but people saying mid-duel, "Grumble grumble, this isn't very creative/fun/interesting for me" is not very constructive.

 

2) Let me first explain that, when I started testing these new edits, Ford's effect actually only required you to banish a number of monsters up to the Level of the monster being Summoned, not double the Level. What I heard from people (and admittedly, I agreed with them) was that it still wasn't fair. Though it's much harder now than it was before, getting eleven "Synchronaut" monsters in the Graveyard is not super hard, and they could then be used to Summon a Quasar, for example, and on the whole it seemed like a disproportionate payoff relative to the investment.

 

However, some people seemed to think I was getting something for free, and I think that's untrue. Yes, the effect banishes from the Graveyard, and cards in the Graveyard do not contribute to advantage. From this, some people reasoned that Ford's Special Summons are essentially a +0, trading in a single card for a very powerful Synchro Monster. However, the entire mechanic/gimmick of the archetype is to get monsters into the Graveyard as quickly as possible, and after these recent balancing changes, it costs advantage to do that. Furthermore, Special Summoning monsters with Ford's updated effect banishes monsters from the Graveyard, effectively undoing that work and requiring you to lose more advantage to accumulate that "Graveyard advantage" again. And the amount of Graveyard advantage lost scales with the power of the monsters Summoned.

 

Now, with that said, people were right to complain when the effect was 1 card per Level, but now that it's 2 cards per Level, I feel like the mechanic is much more balanced. Yes, it can still be used to summon a Quasar, for example, but only after several turns of work, and only after getting 24 of the Main Deck monsters into the Graveyard, which is a huge number, considering a deck can only run 27 of them. That's equivalent to (or possibly more than, depending on your method) the investment required to bring out Quasar normally.

 

---

 

At least, that's just how I feel after preliminary testing. The archetype has been neutered quite a bit (rightfully so) and I feel like it's approaching balance, but it seems like not everyone agrees with me. For those reasons, I welcome any additional input and I'll continue editing/updating effects as necessary.

[LegoLord91]

I, for one, agree that it is much more balanced. I think it is appropriate that their "gimmick" requires some sort of cost, only to have a larger payoff later on. That requires some skillful playing and wise resource management.

 

Although, one thing that I absolutely love, but can't help but raise an eyebrow at are Hippocrates and Schindlers effects. Hippocrates is really, really good. Essentially, any "Synchronaut" in hand can discard to yard Hippocrates, who in turn specials any Synchronaut from the Deck. I like this a lot. I think it's cool. Hippocrates is definitely my favorite out of them all. However, I still have reservations, which I will touch on in a moment.

 

Schindler on the other hand, can technically gain all 3 effects each turn. If you use his own effect to discard, then he can send 1 "Synchronaut" monster from the Deck to the Graveyard. Plus, since he was sent to the Graveyard, you can resolve both of his other effects; shuffle 5 back into the Deck and then add 1 from your Grave to your hand. It's like infinitely looping your resources.

 

Which brings me back to Hippocrates. Since Schindler can loop your resources, plus add any Synchronaut to hand, you can constantly recycle Hippocrates into your Main Deck. Which means that Synchronaut you add to your hand with Schindlers effect can yard Hippocrates from the Deck and activate his effect. Once you yard all 3, just use the Schindler loop to plop all 3 back into the Deck. Then rinse and repeat. Do you see what I'm getting at?

 

But full disclaimer, I'm not sure how I feel about that. I think it's good that Hippocrates has a once per turn clause. But, I think there should be some greater restriction on Schindlers effect. I mean, it seriously might as well read: "You can tribute/discard this card to send 1 "Synchronaut" from your Deck to the Graveyard, add 1 "Synchronaut" from your Graveyard to your hand, and then shuffle 5 "Synchronauts" from your Graveyard/Banished Zone into your Deck."

 

In my opinion, I think Schindler should be something like this:

 

During your Main Phase: You can tribute/discard this card; send 1 "Synchronaut" monster from your Deck to the Graveyard, except "Synchronaut Schindler." You can banish this card from your Graveyard to activate 1 of the following effects. You can only activate 1 of the following effects of "Synchronaut Schindler" per turn, and only once per turn:

● shuffle up to 5 "Synchronaut" monsters from your Graveyard and/or Banished Zone into your Deck, except this card. 

● add 1 “Synchronaut” card from your Graveyard to your hand, except “Synchronaut Schindler”.

 

That way he has consistency as far as wording with the rest of the archetype, and you have to choose which effect you want to use. I honestly feel like that effect is more balanced and it contributes to the whole "wise-resource-management" thing.

 

Regardless, these are just my opinions. But, like I said, I think they are on their way to become much more balanced.

[Xeroxys]

Update! Small changes to various cards, with the most major being to Schindler and Overlord. Additionally, two new cards! There's a new Main Deck monster, Synchronaut Alexander, and a new Spell card, Synchronaut Trade-In. In the interest of saving time editing, I've decided to omit card pictures, except for their first appearance. For example, you can find the pictures of Synchronaut Trade-In and Synchronaut Alexander in this post, but you'll have to revisit the opening post to find pictures of the earlier cards, and their effects won't be up-to-date.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Alexander"]

 

Synchronaut Alexander

[Monster|Effect] Machine/Earth

[********] 2000/2000

This card cannot be Special Summoned, except by the effect of “Synchronaut Overlord”. You can Tribute Summon this card by Tributing 1 “Synchonaut” monster, and if you do, its Level becomes 4 and its original ATK becomes 1000 until it leaves the field. While this card is face-up on the field, it is also treated as a Synchro Monster. Any “Synchronaut” monsters Tributed for the Tribute Summon of this card are treated as its Synchro Materials. While this card is equipped to a Synchro Monster, this card’s Synchro Materials are treated as Synchro Materials of the equipped monster (the number of Synchro Materials is not increased). During your Main Phase: You can Tribute/discard this card to send 1 “Synchronaut” monster from your Deck to the Graveyard, except “Synchronaut Alexander”. You can only use this effect of “Synchronaut Alexander” once per turn.[/spoiler]

A Main Deck monster with Synchro-like properties.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Buddha"]

Synchronaut Buddha

[Monster|Effect] Machine/Earth

[****] 1000/1000

This card is unaffected by other monster effects. A Synchro Monster that used this card as a Synchro Material is unaffected by the effects of monsters whose original Levels/Ranks are lower than that Synchro Monster’s Level. During your Main Phase: You can Tribute/discard this card to send 1 “Synchronaut” monster from your Deck to the Graveyard, except “Synchronaut Buddha”. You can only use this effect of “Synchronaut Buddha” once per turn.[/spoiler]

When used as a Synchro Material, grants immunity from the effects of monsters with lower Levels/Ranks.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Ford"]

Synchronaut Ford

[Monster|Effect] Machine/Earth

[****] 1000/1000

During your Main Phase: You can banish this face-up card and at least 3 other “Synchronaut” monsters from your side of the field, hand, and/or Graveyard, and if you do, Special Summon from your Extra Deck, 1 Synchro Monster whose Level is equal to or less than half the number of “Synchronaut” monsters banished by this effect. This Special Summon is treated as a Synchro Summon, and any monsters banished from your side of the field and/or hand by this effect are treated as its Synchro Materials (the number of Synchro Materials is treated as the minimum number required to Synchro Summon the monster).[/spoiler]

The "Tuner." Banishes Synchronaut monsters to Special Summon Synchro Monsters from the Extra Deck.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Häyhä"]

Synchronaut Häyhä

[Monster|Effect] Machine/Earth

[****] 1000/1000

During your Main Phase: You can Tribute/discard this card to send 1 “Synchronaut” monster from your Deck to the Graveyard, except “Synchronaut Häyhä”. You can only use this effect of “Synchronaut Häyhä” once per turn. You can only use 1 of the following effects of “Synchronaut Häyhä” per turn, and only once that turn.

● If this card is sent to the Graveyard or Banished Zone: You can target 1 card on the field; destroy that target.

● If this card is sent to the Graveyard or Banished Zone: You can add 1 “Synchronaut” card from your Deck to your hand, except “Synchronaut Häyhä”.[/spoiler]

Capable of popping a floodgate if necessary.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Hippocrates"]

Synchronaut Hippocrates

[Monster|Effect] Machine/Earth

[****] 1000/1000

During your Main Phase: You can Tribute/discard this card to send 1 “Synchronaut” monster from your Deck to the Graveyard, except “Synchronaut Hippocrates”. If this card is sent to the Graveyard or Banished Zone: You can Special Summon 1 “Synchronaut” monster from your Deck or Graveyard, except “Synchronaut Hippocrates”.  You can only use each effect of “Synchronaut Hippocrates” once per turn.[/spoiler]

When sent to the Graveyard, can Special Summon 1 Synchronaut from the Deck or Graveyard.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Houdini"]

Synchronaut Houdini

[Monster|Effect] Machine/Earth

[****] 1000/1000

This card is unaffected by your opponent’s Trap effects. A Synchro Monster that used this card as a Synchro Material is unaffected by non-“Synchronaut” Trap effects. During your Main Phase: You can Tribute/discard this card to send 1 “Synchronaut” monster from your Deck to the Graveyard, except “Synchronaut Houdini”. You can only use this effect of “Synchronaut Houdini” once per turn.[/spoiler]

When used as a Synchro Material, grants immunity from Traps.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Merlin"]

Synchronaut Merlin

[Monster|Effect] Machine/Earth

[****] 1000/1000

This card is unaffected by your opponent’s Spell effects. A Synchro Monster that used this card as a Synchro Material is unaffected by non-“Synchronaut” Spell effects, except Synchro Monsters in your Spell & Trap Zone. During your Main Phase: You can Tribute/discard this card to send 1 “Synchronaut” monster from your Deck to the Graveyard, except “Synchronaut Merlin”. You can only use this effect of “Synchronaut Merlin” once per turn.[/spoiler]

When used as a Synchro Material, grants immunity from Spells.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Rasputin"]

Synchronaut Rasputin

[Monster|Effect] Machine/Earth

[****] 1000/1000

This card cannot be destroyed by battle. A Synchro Monster that used this card as a Synchro Material cannot be destroyed by battle or by card effect. During your Main Phase: You can Tribute/discard this card to send 1 “Synchronaut” monster from your Deck to the Graveyard, except “Synchronaut Rasputin”. You can only use this effect of “Synchronaut Rasputin” once per turn.[/spoiler]

When used as a Synchro Material, grants immunity from destruction.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Schindler"]

Synchronaut Schindler

[Monster|Effect] Machine/Earth

[****] 1000/1000

If this card is sent to the Graveyard or Banished Zone: You can shuffle up to 5 "Synchronaut" monsters from your Banished Zone into your Deck, except this card. You can only use 1 of the following effects of “Synchronaut Schindler” per turn, and only once that turn.

● During your Main Phase: You can Tribute/discard this card; send 1 “Synchronaut” monster from your Deck to the Graveyard, except “Synchronaut Schindler”.

● During your Main Phase: You can Tribute/discard this card. If this card is sent to the Graveyard or Banished Zone: You can add 1 “Synchronaut” card from your Graveyard to your hand, except “Synchronaut Schindler”. [/spoiler]

When sent to the Graveyard/Banished Zone, recycles Synchronaut Monsters.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Socrates"]

Synchronaut Socrates

[Monster|Effect] Machine/Earth

[****] 1000/1000

This card cannot be Tributed, except by its own effect. A Synchro Monster that used this card as a Synchro Material cannot be Tributed, except by its own effect. During your Main Phase: You can Tribute/discard this card to send 1 “Synchronaut” monster from your Deck to the Graveyard, except “Synchronaut Socrates”. You can only use this effect of “Synchronaut Socrates” once per turn.[/spoiler]

When used as a Synchro Material, grants immunity from Tributing.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Overlord"]

Synchronaut Overlord

[Monster|Synchro|Effect] Machine/Earth

[************] 3000/3000

1 "Synchronaut" Tuner + 2 "Synchronaut" non-Tuner monsters

Must be Synchro Summoned, and cannot be Special Summoned by other ways. This card’s Synchro Summon cannot be negated. If this card would leave the field by battle or card effect, you can instead destroy 1 Synchro Monster equipped to this card. Once per turn: You can destroy 1 Synchro Monster equipped to this card; send any number of “Synchronaut” monsters from your Deck and/or Banished Zone to the Graveyard, up to the Level of the destroyed card. This card gains the effects of any Synchro Monster(s) currently equipped to it. Once per turn, you can activate 1 of the following effects:

● Target 1 Synchro Monster you control; equip that target to this card.

● Target 1 Synchro Monster equipped to this card; unequip that target and Special Summon it.[/spoiler]

The boss monster of the archetype. Equips Synchro Monsters and emulates their abilities.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Factory"]

Synchronaut Factory

[Spell|Field]

You cannot Special Summon monsters, except Synchro Monsters and “Synchronaut” monsters. This card and all Synchro Monsters in your Spell & Trap Zone are unaffected by non-“Synchronaut” card effects while you control a face-up Synchro Monster. Once per turn: If you have fewer non-Equip Spell/Trap Cards in your Spell & Trap Zone than your opponent, you can add 1 “Synchronaut” monster from your Deck or Graveyard to your hand. If a Synchro Monster you previously controlled is Flip Summoned or Special Summoned from anywhere but your Extra Deck: It is treated as Synchro Summoned with its previous Synchro Materials.[/spoiler]

Limits Special Summons, but protects Synchro Monsters in the Spell & Trap Zone, and rewards withholding other Set/Continuous Spell/Traps.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Reconstruction"]

Synchronaut Reconstruction

[Spell]

Excavate up to 5 cards from the top of your Deck, then send any number of excavated “Synchronaut” monsters to the Graveyard, also shuffle the rest back into your Deck; Special Summon any number of “Synchronaut” monsters and/or Synchro Monsters from your Graveyard, up to the number of cards sent to the Graveyard by this effect. Monsters Special Summoned by this effect cannot attack, cannot be Tributed, cannot be used as a Fusion or Xyz Material for a Summon, and are banished during the End Phase, also the effects of any Synchro Monsters Special Summoned by this effect are negated.[/spoiler]

Helps set up for Synchro Summons.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Trade-In"]

 

Synchronaut Trade-In

[Spell]

Excavate up to 5 cards from the top of your Deck, then send any number of excavated “Synchronaut” monsters to the Graveyard to add an equal or lesser number of excavated “Synchronaut” monsters to your hand, also shuffle the rest back into your Deck.[/spoiler]

Puts Synchronauts in the Graveyard and restores a bit of hand advantage.

 

---

 

Now, to reply to LegoLord:

 

But, I think there should be some greater restriction on Schindlers effect. I mean, it seriously might as well read: "You can tribute/discard this card to send 1 "Synchronaut" from your Deck to the Graveyard, add 1 "Synchronaut" from your Graveyard to your hand, and then shuffle 5 "Synchronauts" from your Graveyard/Banished Zone into your Deck."

 

This is a good point, and I've made a few edits to Schindler to balance it, though not the exact edits you suggest in your post. Essentially, I want him to be able to get his "Shuffle 5 back into the Deck" effect more than once per turn. When I limited this to once per turn, it really slowed down the Deck immediately following a big Synchro Summon. Essentially, it turned the first Synchro Summon into an everything or nothing gamble: either I made a monster big enough to win the game, or the monster got destroyed/removed soon thereafter and I lost before I could recycle enough resources to recover. Having this particular effect without a once-per-turn limit doesn't make it any easier to set up the Graveyard, but it does make it easier to resume investing after a Synchro Summon, which seems really crucial to the Deck.

 

What I did to compensate was create a once-per-turn limit for the other two effects (Tributing/discarding to send to Grave, and adding a card to hand when sent to Grave), making it necessary to choose between the two. Now, he can't proc all three effects in a single turn. Additionally, I limited his "Shuffle 5 back into the Deck" effect to just the Banished Zone, rather than the Banished Zone + Graveyard. So now, in order to recycle Hippocrates, he actually has to be banished first.

 

However, one thing that irked me about this edit to Schindler was that I had a really hard time writing the card text. If you take a look, you might see what I mean. The effect following the second bullet seems very unusual to me, but it's the only way I could think to word the card. To clarify, I want to be able to Tribute/discard him to EITHER send 1 card to Graveyard OR add 1 card to hand, but I also want him to be able to add 1 card to hand if he is sent to the Graveyard by other ways. This is the only way I could think to write it, but it just doesn't look right to me. If you know of a better way to write that effect, please let me know.

 

And please let me know what you think of that edit in general. I really appreciate your input on the cards!

 

---

 

Moving on, the only other major change I made to the existing cards was to give Overlord the ability to pop a card equipped to him in order to fill up the Graveyard a bit (with a net loss in terms of investment), because I often find myself Synchro Summoning monsters that I don't really want while I try to survive long enough to get Overlord on board, with no real way to get rid of them afterwards.

 

And onto the new cards!

 

Synchronaut Alexander is a Main Deck monster that needs to be Tribute Summoned, either with 1 or 2 monsters. His ATK, DEF, and Level are higher when he is properly Tribute Summoned with 2 monsters. If he is Tribute Summoned using Synchronaut monsters as Tributes, he gains immunities as if he were a Synchro Monster. He can also be equipped by Synchronaut Overlord's effect as if he were a Synchro Monster.

 

Synchronaut Trade-In is very similar to Synchronaut Reconstruction, but instead of Special Summoning from the Graveyard, it adds cards to hand. Now, before anyone objects to this, I want to nip something in the bud: it's important to realize that, at most, this card can add 2 cards to hand, and only if 4 or 5 Synchronauts are excavated. So yes, the card can be a +1, but most often it is a +0 and sometimes it is a -1.

 

Not a whole lot else to add in terms of thoughts or input. I'm still doing testing/balancing and will make more edits as they become necessary. As it stands, the archetype has 14 cards in it, and I'm looking to add 1 more, but I'm not sure what it should be yet. If anyone has any ideas, please don't hesitate to post it here for consideration.

[LegoLord91]

What if we tried something like this? I personally think it sounds cleaner, but its ultimately up to you.

 

If this card is sent to the Graveyard or Banished Zone: You can shuffle up to 5 "Synchronaut" monsters from your Banished Zone into your Deck, except this card. During your Main Phase; you can Tribute/discard this card to activate 1 of the following effects: (You can only use 1 of the following effects of “Synchronaut Schindler” per turn, and only once per turn.)

● Send 1 “Synchronaut” monster from your Deck to the Graveyard, except “Synchronaut Schindler”.

● Add 1 “Synchronaut” card from your Graveyard to your hand, except “Synchronaut Schindler”.

[Xeroxys]

That's close to what I have in mind, except it means he'll only get his "Add 1 card from the Graveyard" effect if sent to the Graveyard by his own effect. Maybe something like this:

 

If this card is sent to the Graveyard or Banished Zone: You can shuffle up to 5 "Synchronaut" monsters from your Banished Zone into your Deck, except this card. You can only use 1 of the following effects of "Synchronaut Schindler" per turn, and only once that turn. 

● You can Tribute/discard this card; send 1 “Synchronaut” monster from your Deck to the Graveyard, except “Synchronaut Schindler”.

● You can Tribute/discard this card; add 1 “Synchronaut” card from your Graveyard to your hand, except “Synchronaut Schindler”.

● If this card is sent to the Graveyard: add 1 “Synchronaut” card from your Graveyard to your hand, except “Synchronaut Schindler”.

 

I'm really not fond of the three bullet points, but I think maybe that's the proper way to write the effect I have in mind. Perhaps the first two bullet points could be combined into one with an "OR" added?

[Xeroxys]

Bump.

[Red_X]

just a little point, hayha is a little ridiculous.  pitch hayha, send merlin/houdini/budha, hayha eff add budha/houdini/merlin.  pitch budha/houdini/merlin send hipocrates. hipocrates summons ford, ford banishes to summon goyo that is unaffected by a combination of two of the following : level 5 and lower monsters, traps, or spells.  I probably would go spells+traps simply because xyz monsters are a thing.  It's not an unbeatable set-up, but when you have 16 cards that can do it first turn it's alittle ridiculous.

[Xeroxys]

just a little point, hayha is a little ridiculous.  pitch hayha, send merlin/houdini/budha, hayha eff add budha/houdini/merlin.  pitch budha/houdini/merlin send hipocrates. hipocrates summons ford, ford banishes to summon goyo that is unaffected by a combination of two of the following : level 5 and lower monsters, traps, or spells.  I probably would go spells+traps simply because xyz monsters are a thing.  It's not an unbeatable set-up, but when you have 16 cards that can do it first turn it's alittle ridiculous.

 

Duly noted. Though as it stands, Ford needs to banish two monsters per every Level, so it would take twelve monsters to summon Goyo, for example.

[Red_X]

My bad, thought it said half the combined level.  In that case, this should be fine.  I'd probably actually and up running this as a rank 4 deck with massive soul charge plays, and then just drop ford late game to close with something like quasar.

[Xeroxys]

My bad, thought it said half the combined level.  In that case, this should be fine.  I'd probably actually and up running this as a rank 4 deck with massive soul charge plays, and then just drop ford late game to close with something like quasar.

 

Hm, that's true. I could consider adding some sort of hindrance to dissuade XYZ builds and to keep the focus on Synchros (possibly making the Field Spell more valuable, because of its Special Summoning limitation), but I don't think it will be a big issue, because bringing out even a single big late-game Synchro like that would take 20-24 Main Deck monsters, which is basically the equivalent of a large engine, and I'm sure there are engines that make Rank 4s much better than this one.

 

Or I suppose I could even add a "This card cannot be used as an XYZ Material" clause, but that seems needlessly restrictive.

[Xeroxys]

Bump.

[Xeroxys]

Minor changes and a new card (to be the last in the archetype, at least in terms of total number).

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Alexander"]

Synchronaut Alexander

[Monster|Effect] Machine/Earth

[********] 2000/2000

This card cannot be Special Summoned, except by the effect of “Synchronaut Overlord”. You can Tribute Summon this card by Tributing 1 monster, and if you do, its Level becomes 4 and its original ATK and DEF become 1000 until it leaves the field. While this card is face-up on the field, it is also treated as a Synchro Monster. Any “Synchronaut” monsters Tributed for the Tribute Summon of this card are treated as its Synchro Materials. While this card is equipped to a Synchro Monster, this card’s Synchro Materials are treated as Synchro Materials of the equipped monster (the number of Synchro Materials is not increased).[/spoiler]

A Main Deck monster with Synchro-like properties.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Buddha"]

Synchronaut Buddha

[Monster|Effect] Machine/Earth

[****] 1000/1000

This card is unaffected by other monster effects. A Synchro Monster that used this card as a Synchro Material is unaffected by the effects of monsters whose original Levels/Ranks are lower than that Synchro Monster’s Level. During your Main Phase: You can Tribute/discard this card to send 1 “Synchronaut” monster from your Deck to the Graveyard, except “Synchronaut Buddha”. You can only use this effect of “Synchronaut Buddha” once per turn.[/spoiler]

When used as a Synchro Material, grants immunity from the effects of monsters with lower Levels/Ranks.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Ford"]

Synchronaut Ford

[Monster|Effect|Tuner] Machine/Earth

[****] 1000/1000

During your Main Phase: You can banish this face-up card and at least 3 other “Synchronaut” monsters from your side of the field, hand, and/or Graveyard, and if you do, Special Summon from your Extra Deck, 1 Synchro Monster whose Level is equal to or less than half the number of “Synchronaut” monsters banished by this effect. This Special Summon is treated as a Synchro Summon, and any monsters banished from your side of the field and/or hand by this effect are treated as its Synchro Materials (the number of Synchro Materials is treated as the minimum number required to Synchro Summon the monster).[/spoiler]

The "Tuner." Banishes Synchronaut monsters to Special Summon Synchro Monsters from the Extra Deck.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Häyhä"]

Synchronaut Häyhä

[Monster|Effect] Machine/Earth

[****] 1000/1000

During your Main Phase: You can Tribute/discard this card to send 1 “Synchronaut” monster from your Deck to the Graveyard, except “Synchronaut Häyhä”. You can only use this effect of “Synchronaut Häyhä” once per turn. You can only use 1 of the following effects of “Synchronaut Häyhä” per turn, and only once that turn.

● If this card is sent to the Graveyard or Banished Zone: You can target 1 card on the field; destroy that target.

● If this card is sent to the Graveyard or Banished Zone: You can add 1 “Synchronaut” card from your Deck to your hand, except “Synchronaut Häyhä”.[/spoiler]

Capable of popping a floodgate if necessary.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Hippocrates"]

Synchronaut Hippocrates

[Monster|Effect] Machine/Earth

[****] 1000/1000

During your Main Phase: You can Tribute/discard this card to send 1 “Synchronaut” monster from your Deck to the Graveyard, except “Synchronaut Hippocrates”. If this card is sent to the Graveyard or Banished Zone: You can Special Summon 1 “Synchronaut” monster from your Deck or Graveyard, except “Synchronaut Hippocrates”.  You can only use each effect of “Synchronaut Hippocrates” once per turn.[/spoiler]

When sent to the Graveyard, can Special Summon 1 Synchronaut from the Deck or Graveyard.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Houdini"]

Synchronaut Houdini

[Monster|Effect] Machine/Earth

[****] 1000/1000

This card is unaffected by your opponent’s Trap effects. A Synchro Monster that used this card as a Synchro Material is unaffected by non-“Synchronaut” Trap effects. During your Main Phase: You can Tribute/discard this card to send 1 “Synchronaut” monster from your Deck to the Graveyard, except “Synchronaut Houdini”. You can only use this effect of “Synchronaut Houdini” once per turn.[/spoiler]

When used as a Synchro Material, grants immunity from Traps.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Merlin"]

Synchronaut Merlin

[Monster|Effect] Machine/Earth

[****] 1000/1000

This card is unaffected by your opponent’s Spell effects. A Synchro Monster that used this card as a Synchro Material is unaffected by non-“Synchronaut” Spell effects, except Synchro Monsters in your Spell & Trap Zone. During your Main Phase: You can Tribute/discard this card to send 1 “Synchronaut” monster from your Deck to the Graveyard, except “Synchronaut Merlin”. You can only use this effect of “Synchronaut Merlin” once per turn.[/spoiler]

When used as a Synchro Material, grants immunity from Spells.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Rasputin"]

Synchronaut Rasputin

[Monster|Effect] Machine/Earth

[****] 1000/1000

This card cannot be destroyed by battle. A Synchro Monster that used this card as a Synchro Material cannot be destroyed by battle. During your Main Phase: You can Tribute/discard this card to send 1 “Synchronaut” monster from your Deck to the Graveyard, except “Synchronaut Rasputin”. You can only use this effect of “Synchronaut Rasputin” once per turn.[/spoiler]

When used as a Synchro Material, grants immunity from destruction.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Schindler"]

Synchronaut Schindler

[Monster|Effect] Machine/Earth

[****] 1000/1000

If this card is sent to the Graveyard or Banished Zone: You can shuffle up to 5 "Synchronaut" monsters from your Banished Zone into your Deck, except this card. You can only use 1 of the following effects of "Synchronaut Schindler" per turn, and only once that turn.

● You can Tribute/discard this card; send 1 “Synchronaut” monster from your Deck to the Graveyard, except “Synchronaut Schindler”, OR: Add 1 “Synchronaut” card from your Graveyard to your hand, except “Synchronaut Schindler”.

● If this card is sent to the Graveyard: you can add 1 “Synchronaut” card from your Graveyard to your hand, except “Synchronaut Schindler”.[/spoiler]

When sent to the Graveyard/Banished Zone, recycles Synchronaut Monsters.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Socrates"]

Synchronaut Socrates

[Monster|Effect] Machine/Earth

[****] 1000/1000

This card cannot be Tributed, except by its own effect. A Synchro Monster that used this card as a Synchro Material cannot be Tributed, except by its own effect. During your Main Phase: You can Tribute/discard this card to send 1 “Synchronaut” monster from your Deck to the Graveyard, except “Synchronaut Socrates”. You can only use this effect of “Synchronaut Socrates” once per turn.[/spoiler]

When used as a Synchro Material, grants immunity from Tributing.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Overlord"]

Synchronaut Overlord

[Monster|Synchro|Effect] Machine/Earth

[************] 3000/3000

1 "Synchronaut" Tuner + 2 "Synchronaut" non-Tuner monsters

Must be Synchro Summoned, and cannot be Special Summoned by other ways. This card’s Synchro Summon cannot be negated. Once per turn: You can send to the Graveyard any number of “Synchronaut” monsters and/or Synchro Monsters from your side of the field and/or hand; send to the Graveyard any number of “Synchronaut” monsters from your Deck and/or Banished Zone, up to the combined Levels of the sent monsters. This card gains the effects of any Synchro Monster(s) currently equipped to it. Once per turn, you can activate 1 of the following effects:

● Target 1 Synchro Monster you control; equip that target to this card.

● Target 1 Synchro Monster equipped to this card; unequip that target and Special Summon it.[/spoiler]

The boss monster of the archetype. Equips Synchro Monsters and emulates their abilities.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Factory"]

Synchronaut Factory

[Spell|Field]

You cannot Special Summon monsters, except Synchro Monsters and “Synchronaut” monsters. If you control a face-up Synchro Monster: This card cannot be targeted or destroyed by non-“Synchronaut” card effects, also all Synchro Monsters in your Spell & Trap Zone are unaffected by non-“Synchronaut” card effects. If a Synchro Monster you previously controlled is Flip Summoned or Special Summoned from anywhere but your Extra Deck: It is treated as Synchro Summoned with its previous Synchro Materials. Once per turn: If you have fewer non-Equip Spell/Trap Cards in your Spell & Trap Zone than your opponent, you can add 1 “Synchronaut” monster from your Deck or Graveyard to your hand.[/spoiler]

Limits Special Summons, but protects Synchro Monsters in the Spell & Trap Zone, and rewards withholding other Set/Continuous Spell/Traps.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Gambit"]

 

Synchronaut Gambit

[Spell]

Declare a number from 1 to 3, then excavate up to 3 cards from the top of your Deck. If the number of excavated “Synchronaut” monsters is lower than the declared number: Banish cards from your hand and/or your side of the field equal to the declared number, except this card. Otherwise, you can target cards on the field, up to the declared number; destroy those targets. Also, send to the Graveyard any number of “Synchronaut” monsters excavated by this effect, then shuffle the rest back into your Deck.[/spoiler]

Luck-based spot removal, where the reward scales with the risk.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Reconstruction"]

Synchronaut Reconstruction

[Spell]

Excavate up to 5 cards from the top of your Deck, then send any number of excavated “Synchronaut” monsters to the Graveyard, also shuffle the rest back into your Deck; Special Summon any number of “Synchronaut” monsters and/or Synchro Monsters from your Graveyard, up to the number of cards sent to the Graveyard by this effect. Monsters Special Summoned by this effect cannot attack, cannot be Tributed, cannot be used as a Fusion or Xyz Material for a Summon, and are banished during the End Phase, also the effects of any Synchro Monsters Special Summoned by this effect are negated.[/spoiler]

Helps set up for Synchro Summons.

 

[spoiler="Synchronaut Trade-In"]

Synchronaut Trade-In

[Spell]

Excavate up to 5 cards from the top of your Deck, then send any number of excavated “Synchronaut” monsters to the Graveyard to add an equal or lesser number of excavated “Synchronaut” monsters to your hand, also shuffle the rest back into your Deck.[/spoiler]

Puts Synchronauts in the Graveyard and restores a bit of hand advantage.

 

---

 

Change list

 

- Added "Synchronaut Gambit" as an additional way of stopping certain flood gates that really cripple the archetype.

- Changed "Synchronaut Factory" so that it is no longer unaffected by card effects while there is a Synchro Monster on your side of the field, and instead it merely cannot be destroyed or targeted.

- Changed the wording of the effect of "Synchronaut Schindler", hoping to make it more authentic, but I'm not sure if it worked. I may go back to what I had before, but it doesn't really matter, because the two effects should be indistinguishable in practice.

 

Thoughts and input

 

- After some testing against other players' archetypes, I can say that this archetype is fairly consistent and can put some very powerful Synchro Monsters on the board, provided the opponent allows it. However, it does take a fair amount of setup, and once the opponent knows the gimmick of the archetype, it can be easy to prevent such Summons and work around all the others, provided they're running a good and versatile Extra Deck toolbox. For example, an Overlord with the correct 5 unique materials is VERY hard to get off the board (vulnerable only to Level/Rank 12 effects), but doing so takes a combined 24 monsters to banish, including the 5 correct monsters on the field or in the hand, and even then, on its own it has no useful effects and is only a 3000 beatstick/wall. Before making it useful, it's necessary to recycle the Banished Zone and bring out another monster, and unless you actually bring out another two monsters, bringing out Overlord in the first place is usually pointless. In duels against real players, I've never actually gone for such an "unbeatable" monster, either because I could press for game earlier or because I was under too much pressure to be able to build up the resources.

 

- Somewhat in relation to the above point, I may need to find a way to make Overlord a bit more useful. When I dreamed him up, I wanted him to be the go-to Synchro Monster of the archetype, but with Ford's current 2-cards-per-1-Level effect, it takes so many resources to get out multiple Synchros that Summoning Overlord is almost never worth it. To compensate for this, I think I may incorporate elements of Schindler/Ford's effects into Overlord, but I'll have to think more about it.

 

- Rasputin's effect is very powerful when used as a Synchro Material, and may require limiting in the future (perhaps with a Level/Rank limitation similar to Buddha). I don't want to add another card/monster to the archetype (to split up the battle destruction and effect destruction immunities, for example), but as it stands, Rasputin is almost always the best choice when choosing a single Material for a Synchro Summon.

 

Edit: I modified Overlord's effect so that he actually speeds up additional Synchro Summons with Ford, which is a boost I think he needed. However, I made sure that his effect replenishes the Graveyard at half the rate that Ford's effect empties it, so as to keep some cost inherent to Synchro Summoning.

 

Edit 2: I modified Rasputin's effect with the above (now struck) considerations in mind.

[Xeroxys]

Bump. Modified Overlord's effect, the details of which have been edited into my previous post.

[Xeroxys]

Bump.

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Bump. Still looking for input on balancing.

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Bump.

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Bump.

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Bump.

[Xeroxys]

I just modified Rasputin's effect, and edited the previous update accordingly. In short, I removed his Synchro Material destruction immunity and replaced it with just battle destruction immunity instead. Though it seems like a small edit, it actually has had a huge impact; Rasputin went from being easily the best Synchro Material of the archetype to being the third or arguably fourth best. This also rendered impossible a few Overlord shenanigans, such as repeatedly summoning Black Rose Dragon every turn with no cost.

 

With this edit, I personally feel like the archetype is balanced. I'm still open to criticism, but I myself don't have any future edits in mind, so until I receive some input, I'm not sure where to go from here.