Royal Cactus (written) (plant support)

[Arthknight]

Where all my plants at? Plant support :D mainly for Black Rose dragon

 

Plant effect Level 4, ATK: 2500 DEF:0

 

Cannot be Special Summoned and can only be normal summoned whilst you have no monster(s) on your field. You receive half the battle damage this card inflicts. When this card declares an attack, it is changed to face-down Defense Position during end of damage step (you cannot change it’s Battle-Position by using a Card Effect). When this face-down Defense Position card is targeted by a Level/Rank/Link 5 or higher monster; it’s orignal ATK & DEF are switched. If this face-down Defense position card would be destroyed, it is Flip Summoned instead (you can only use this effect once per duel). During your 2nd Standby-Phase after this card was destroyed; if your LP is less than your opponent; you can banish this card from your GY and Special Summon 1 Level/Rank 7 or lower Plant-Type monster from your Extra Deck by sending 2 Level 3 or lower Plant-Type monster(s) from your field to Graveyard. If it were to be destroyed by battle, you can banish 1 Level 3 or lower Plant-Type monster from your GY and it’s not destroyed instead; it returns to your Extra Deck during your 2nd End-Phase.

 

(Keep in mind this last effect is a bonus effect and I’ve adjusted it to be practical)

[Sleepy]

Looks kind of weak.

It's a Goblin Attack Force with 200 more ATK that can survive a Torrential Tribute play, which is nice, but:

Cannot be Special Summoned

Cannot be Normal Summoned while you have other monsters
Both players taking the damage... actually, just you taking the same damage it makes to the opponent, but the opponent being able to damage you through it just fine...

A clause for a weirdly specific Level/Rank/Rating that just makes this card 0.

That's too much of a drawback.

And the best effect only working once per duel makes it only workable if it can be teched somewhere, rather than build a deck around the idea.

 

PD: You forgot the Attribute.

 

I think something like this would work better:

Royal Cactus
EARTH Level 4 [ Plant / Effect ] 2500/0

If it declares an attack: Change it to face-down Defense Position at the end of the Battle Phase. If this set card would be destroyed by a card effect: You can flip it face-up instead. Both players take the battle damage involving this card.

 

^ I got rid of the "only monster you control" part, the "ATK gets switched if" part, the "cannot be Special Summoned" part, and the "effects cannot change its position back" effect.
Now your opponent hitting this card turn 1 with a Chaos MAX Dragon makes things hilarious,and you'll always get damaged still, but at least the opponent will also not want to touch it as much.

Finally, the last effect is no longer once per duel, not even once per turn, and it can set itself up. So you can always Book of Eclipse + Torrential (although it no longer "Flip Summons" so they'll still be in Defense Position after the surviving shenanigans.

That's my suggestion.

[Darj]

@@Sleepy, you missed the effect that switches its ATK/DEF.

Although I agree: the card is underwhelming. Too many restrictions for practically a single 2500 attack per turn, if it even survives. You don't really need to take the damage it inflicts. The stat-switching protection it's too specific to have any kind of relevance. And while the last effect is welcomed as a second life, these kind of things barely have an impact nowadays.

 

I agree with Sleepy's suggestion, and add the situational stat-switch effect that it's missing, to stay closer to its original concept. Or maybe keep the "Cannot be Special Summoned" clause if you are too concerned about it being too strong after the changes.

 

As a side-note, it would be flavorful if it was related or associated with Cactus Bouncer somehow. At first I thought that would be the case since both have the "Cannot be Special Summoned" clause.

[Arthknight]

It is once per duel because if it gets destroyed again whilst being in set Defense Position, it is sent to GY. It’s not underpowered, it’s stronger than goblin force. If I take on sleepy sugestion, this would be more powerful goblin force. That’s even duplicates goblin forces effect.

 

The idea is once this card attacks, it’s changed to Defense Position where it could potentially block a level/rank/link 5+ monster attack.

 

I apologise I forgot to add rank/linklevel 5 or higher monster, still I intended it to be borderline weak/neutral.

(Finally I changed it so you would receive half battle-damage you inflict rather than all of it.

[Sleepy]

It is once per duel because if it gets destroyed again whilst being in set Defense Position, it is sent to GY. It’s not underpowered, it’s stronger than goblin force. If I take on sleepy sugestion, this would be more powerful goblin force. That’s even duplicates goblin forces effect.

 

The idea is once this card attacks, it’s changed to Defense Position where it could potentially block a level/rank/link 5+ monster.

 

I apologise I forgot to add rank/linklevel 5 or higher monster, still I interned it to be borderline weak.

 

I think even if it became better than Goblin Attack Force, that wouldn't be a big problem. Goblin Attack Force was made with the game of 2003 in mind, where you could access this 2300 ATK monster quickly but the opponent afterwards wouldn't necessarily snowball out of recovery even if their next attack got hit by Sakuretsu a turn later xP

I think Darj's "no Special Summon" bit would be good enough.

I don't think the "once per duel" clause being used more than once per duel would be unfair at all.

 

I'll just point out Link 5 or higher monsters right now don't exist. There's a tournament prize Match-winning Link 5 but that card even has the "cannot be used in a duel" clause printed in the corner. So that's a.... peculiar clause to have as a downside....

 

@Darj I didn't forget about it, I just took it out. It's more a downside. It switches to 0 ATK, and although it probably would be in Defense Position with now 2500 DEF, it won't always be and quick effects can really screw it up in the middle of the attack. 

[Darj]

@Sleepy. Still, it's a rather unique effect and IMO should remain to stay closer to the original intention. Switching its stats and remaining as a 2500-DEF wall isn't half bad, either.

 

If it applies to Level/Rank/Rating 5 or higher, then it's so much better.

 

Goblin Attack Force has long been powercrept. Making a slightly stronger version of it at these modern times is not overpowered.

 

I too don't think it needs the "once per duel" clause. Even if you wanted to "re-use" the effect, you would need to get the monster face-down through other effects, or get another copy, and that requires deck dedication, in my opinion balancing it out.

[Arthknight]

I think even if it became better than Goblin Attack Force, that wouldn't be a big problem. Goblin Attack Force was made with the game of 2003 in mind, where you could access this 2300 ATK monster quickly but the opponent afterwards wouldn't necessarily snowball out of recovery even if their next attack got hit by Sakuretsu a turn later xP

I think Darj's "no Special Summon" bit would be good enough.

I don't think the "once per duel" clause being used more than once per duel would be unfair at all.

 

I'll just point out Link 5 or higher monsters right now don't exist. There's a tournament prize Match-winning Link 5 but that card even has the "cannot be used in a duel" clause printed in the corner. So that's a.... peculiar clause to have as a downside....

 

@@Darj I didn't forget about it, I just took it out. It's more a downside. It switches to 0 ATK, and although it probably would be in Defense Position with now 2500 DEF, it won't always be and quick effects can really screw it up in the middle of the attack.

I’m honestly not sure about once per duel, because without that clause, this card would attack and get set down and if destroyed it will be in attack position, repeating cycle - making it immortal?

 

Finally I added one last effect to this card, honestly don’t know if it practically works.

[Dokutah]

I’m honestly not sure about once per duel, because without that clause, this card would attack and get set down and if destroyed it will be in attack position, repeating cycle - making it immortal?

Finally I added one last effect to this card, honestly don’t know if it practically works.

we already had immortal monsters

 

Its called Pendulum (well there other example but you get the idea)

 

last effect is WAY to slow and situational to pulled off. While it can summon any ED monster. The slowness and the relatively heavy requirement mean your opponent can kill you.

[Arthknight]

we already had immortal monsters

 

Its called Pendulum (well there older example but you get the idea)

 

last effect is WAY to slow and situational to pulled off. While it can summon any ED monster. The slowness and the relatively heavy requirement mean your opponent can kill you.

I changed that last effect to be more practical.