Colossects - The Avatars of the End of Times

[notcleverusername]

Surprisingly, I do believe this is my first entirely original archetype that isn't for a Contest entry.

So here we are: The Colossects, massive golem insects that were foretold to appear upon the eve of the end of the world. Before their awakening, the reason for which is unknown, they seemed to be natural features of the landscape. It is unclear whether they are animal, mineral, or machine, and they do not act according to human ideas of sentience and incentive.

[spoiler=Thematic Concepts]

The core idea was to build a high-level Pendulum archetype. Built around this core is the idea of using Pendulum Summons to overwhelm with a few large threats every turn rather than many small threats every turn. As I tend to build for maximum genericness within my conceptions of balance, this also gave me the opportunity to build generic 11 scales, as well as build a deck that thrives off of 4 scales.

I ended up taking influences from both Earthbound Immortals and (as you may infer from the name) what little I know about Shadow of the Colossus, a game I've only experienced through wiki readings but whose designs are super f***ing cool.

Replacing Earthbound's no-battle-target is no-effect-target. The "1 Earthbound" clause was adapted to only allow 1 of each Colossect as a monster. However, that is as far as adaptation goes.

 

The Colossects are each split into 3 major groups, 1 of each per level from levels 7 to 10: Offense, Defense, and Utility, with stats distributed semi-randomly accordingly. As far as it goes, while some of the Defense Colossects are perhaps worthwhile, I feel that on the whole I've made the Defense side a bit underpowered. As monsters cannot be Normal Summoned in Defense, several of them can be somewhat easily removed unless they hinge on a Pendulum Summon or the presence of the Field Spell. I was hoping to make their effects stronger to compensate but I don't think I've found the happy medium. Might buff a few of them.

There are also 2 lesser Colossects that are WIND Insect non-Pendulums who provide other utility, as well as possible generic applications.

 

Each scale 4 has the Pendulum effect of allowing an extra Normal Summon of a level 7 or higher Pendulum, without needing Tributes. Every scale 11 has the restriction of only allowing a Pendulum Summon of 1 monster at a time. This restriction allows me to avoid battle, damage, archetype, and effect restrictions that would normally be here, without being obviously broken.

 

The monster effects are mostly battle-based in some form or another, or focused on spot removal, and are in most cases Continuous effects. Some notable but powerful exceptions include a Wind-Up-Rabbit-like and others.

[spoiler=Gameplay Concepts]

As far as it goes, despite some quite potent effects, this deck is not built to be a true meta contender. The win condition was intended to build upon the idea of slow but immovable advantage explored by Dinomists, although the protection is inherent in the monsters rather than a combination of interactions between Spells. If they are meta-worthy, it will probably because other meta decks have regressed in terms of removal.

 

The archetype took a concept from Igknights where for most intents and purposes, the members are more or less interchangeable. As a result, I gave them no direct searchers, but rather only a "scale correction" card. To some extent one of the non-Pendulums is both a consistency card and interacts with 2 other potential consistency cards: Resonance Insect and Confronting the "C".

 

So far the only notable non-archetype Pends that I can recall benefiting off the scale 4 effects are Yosenju Daibak and Amorphage Goliath. While the former could be quite amusing with some potential loop plays, the latter at least would be suicide within the deck (and teched Colossect scale 4s would be suicide within Amorphages. Perhaps some deck that isn't either but mixes both?).

 

The Deck can, under regular circumstances, field up to 3 monsters per turn: 1 on a Tribute Summon, preferably off Mook or Goonbug; 1 on a Normal Summon from the scale 4; and 1 on a Pendulum Summon. While each card may be hard to remove once summoned, the inherent slowness should be more than enough to keep it in check. Scale dependence is reduced by the scale 4s, but that's still a cap of 1-2 monsters per turn. Furthermore, only 1 of these bottlenecks is easily resolvable, that being applying a scale 4.

 

Speaking of, the scale 4 is probably the most important card for Colossects. Even without a matching scale, or even if your opponent has scale removal, the Pend eff ensures that you can at least field something, whereupon you can start grinding. Scale dependence is still present, however, especially since the scales themselves have no protection nor floating.

Though only the scale 11 has an obvious restriction, both scales are actually restrictive--the thing about the scale 4s is that their restriction is that they're scale 4s. In either case, these do inhibit generic use. Of course, in the future scale 4 might not be so bad, but we'll see. For now it prevents almost all remotely relevant abuse.

 

Unlike most Pend decks, any removal of Colossects that DOES succeed is intended to be relatively high-impact, as aforementioned speed issues means it would take actual effort to replace. That being said, Colossect removal should also be high-effort thanks to high stats and non-targeting, along with some of their effects.

 

This deck would probably work pretty well with Card of Demise.

For some amusement, while the Colossect S/Ts do all benefit Colossects if run, some of them can be sided as responses to Colossects.

 

Not-so-Colossect Mookbug

Level 5 WIND Insect

2100/1400

If you can Pendulum Summon level 5, you can Special Summon this card (from your hand or Graveyard). You can only Special Summon "Not-so-Colossect Mookbug" once per turn this way. This card can be treated as 2 Tributes for the Tribute Summon of an Insect-type monster.

 

Not-so-Colossect Goonbug

Level 6 WIND Insect

1800/2300

You can Tribute 1 Insect-type monster to Special Summon this card (from your hand or Graveyard). You can only Special Summon "Not-so-Colossect Goonbug" once per turn. If this card is Summoned: You can choose 1 "Colossect" Pendulum monster from your Deck and place it face-up in your Extra Deck or in your Pendulum Zone.

 

Colossect Creeper Centipede

Level 7/Scale 11 EARTH Insect Pendulum

2500/1200

Pend: You can only Pendulum Summon 1 monster at a time. This effect cannot be negated.

//

Monster: Cannot be targeted by card effects, except "Colossect" cards. If this card battles an opponent's monster, before Damage Calculation: Inflict damage to your opponent equal to the difference between its ATK or DEF and this card's ATK, whichever is greater. There can only be 1 face-up "Colossect Creeper Centipede" in a Monster Zone.

 

Colossect Resilient Cockroach

Level 7/Scale 4 EARTH Insect Pendulum

1500/2600

Pend: During your Main Phase, you can Normal Summon 1 level 7 or higher Pendulum monster without Tributing, in addition to your regular Normal Summon/Set. (You can only gain this effect once per turn.)

//

Monster: Cannot be targeted by card effects, except "Colossect" cards. Cannot be destroyed by battle, also you take no battle damage from attacks involving this monster. There can only be 1 face-up "Colossect Resilient Cockroach" in a Monster Zone.

 

Colossect Relentless Scorpion

Level 7/Scale 4 EARTH Insect Pendulum

2450/2200

Pend: During your Main Phase, you can Normal Summon 1 level 7 or higher Pendulum monster without Tributing, in addition to your regular Normal Summon/Set. (You can only gain this effect once per turn.)

//

Monster: Cannot be targeted by card effects, except "Colossect" cards. If an Insect-type monster you control attacks a Defense Position monster, inflict piercing battle damage to your opponent. There can only be 1 face-up "Colossect Relentless Scorpion" in a Monster Zone.

 

Colossect Savage Mantis

Level 8/Scale 4 EARTH Insect Pendulum

2600/1100

Pend: During your Main Phase, you can Normal Summon 1 level 7 or higher Pendulum monster without Tributing, in addition to your regular Normal Summon/Set. (You can only gain this effect once per turn.)

//

Monster: Cannot be targeted by card effects, except "Colossect" cards. This card gains ATK equal to the highest original ATK among monsters your opponent controls. There can only be 1 face-up "Colossect Savage Mantis" in a Monster Zone.

 

Colossect Eldritch Butterfly

Level 8/Scale 11 EARTH Insect Pendulum

1900/2700

Pend: You can only Pendulum Summon 1 monster at a time. This effect cannot be negated.

//

Monster: Cannot be targeted by card effects, except "Colossect" cards. The ATK and DEF of monsters your opponent controls become 0 during the turn they are Normal or Special Summoned. There can only be 1 face-up "Colossect Eldritch Butterfly" in a Monster Zone.

 

Colossect Subterranean Antlion

Level 8/Scale 11 EARTH Insect Pendulum

2500/2500

Pend: You can only Pendulum Summon 1 monster at a time. This effect cannot be negated.

//

Monster: Cannot be targeted by card effects, except "Colossect" cards. Once per turn, during either player's turn: You can target 1 face-up "Colossect" monster on the field; banish that target until the next Standby Phase. There can only be 1 face-up "Colossect Subterranean Antlion" in a Monster Zone.

 

Colossect Apex Tarantula

Level 9/Scale 11 EARTH Insect Pendulum

2800/2000

Pend: You can only Pendulum Summon 1 monster at a time. This effect cannot be negated.

//

Monster: Cannot be targeted by card effects, except "Colossect" cards. Once per turn: You can target 1 card your opponent controls; banish it. There can only be 1 face-up "Colossect Apex Tarantula" in a Monster Zone.

 

Colossect Oppressive Hivequeen

Level 9/Scale 4 EARTH Insect Pendulum

2100/3000

Pend: During your Main Phase, you can Normal Summon 1 level 7 or higher Pendulum monster without Tributing, in addition to your regular Normal Summon/Set. (You can only gain this effect once per turn.)

//

Monster: Cannot be targeted by card effects, except "Colossect" cards. During the Battle Phase, the effects of cards on the field, in the Graveyard, and in the Extra Deck are negated, except "Colossect" cards. There can only be 1 face-up "Colossect Oppressive Hivequeen" in a Monster Zone.

 

Colossect Vicegrip Earwig

Level 9/Scale 11 EARTH Insect Pendulum

2600/2800

Pend: You can only Pendulum Summon 1 monster at a time. This effect cannot be negated.

//

Monster: Cannot be targeted by card effects, except "Colossect" cards. Once per turn, during either player's turn: You can target 1 face-up monster on the field; change it to face-down Defense Position. There can only be 1 face-up "Colossect Vicegrip Earwig" in a Monster Zone.

 

Colossect Titan Goliath

Level 10/Scale 4 EARTH Insect Pendulum

3000/2500

Pend: During your Main Phase, you can Normal Summon 1 level 7 or higher Pendulum monster without Tributing, in addition to your regular Normal Summon/Set. (You can only gain this effect once per turn.)

//

Monster: Cannot be targeted by card effects, except "Colossect" cards. This card can attack twice per Battle Phase. There can only be 1 face-up "Colossect Titan Goliath" in a Monster Zone.

 

Colossect Fortress Shield

Level 10/Scale 11 EARTH Insect Pendulum

0/4000

Pend: You can only Pendulum Summon 1 monster at a time. This effect cannot be negated.

//

Monster: Cannot be targeted by card effects, except "Colossect" cards. Cards in a Monster Zone or Pendulum Zone cannot be destroyed by your opponent's card effects. There can only be 1 face-up "Colossect Fortress Shield" in a Monster Zone.

 

Colossect Doomsday Scarab

Level 10/Scale 4 EARTH Insect Pendulum

2700/3200

Pend: During your Main Phase, you can Normal Summon 1 level 7 or higher Pendulum monster without Tributing, in addition to your regular Normal Summon/Set. (You can only gain this effect once per turn.)

//

Monster: Cannot be targeted by card effects, except "Colossect" cards. Once per turn: You can declare 1 card type (Monster, Spell, Trap); your opponent sends 1 card of the declared Type from their field to the Graveyard (their choice). There can only be 1 face-up "Colossect Annihilation Scarab" in a Monster Zone.

 

Overrun Eden

Field Spell

Level 5 or higher Insect-type monsters gain 300 ATK and DEF. You can Normal Summon level 5 or higher Insect-type monsters in face-up Defense Position. If you control 2 "Colossect" cards in your Pendulum Zones, you can Pendulum Summon once in addition to your regular Pendulum Summon. (You can only gain this effect once per turn.)

 

Memory Recolossect

Normal Spell

Add 2 face-up "Colossect" Pendulum monsters from your Extra Deck to your hand.

 

Reprogram Radicolossect

Normal Spell

Reveal 1 "Colossect" Pendulum monster in your hand, then shuffle this card and the revealed monster into the deck; add 1 "Colossect" Pendulum monster with a different Pendulum scale than the revealed monster from your Deck to your hand, then draw 1 card.

 

Ejection Verticolossect

Normal Spell

If there are 2 or more "Colossect" cards in the Pendulum Zones and a "Colossect" monster(s) on the field: Return all cards in a Monster Zone or Spell/Trap Zone to the hand, then each player with a hand shuffles their entire hand into the Deck, then draws the same number of cards they shuffled into the Deck.

 

Failsafe Medicolossect

Quickplay Spell

During the turn a "Colossect" card(s) in your possession was destroyed by battle or by your opponent's card effect: Destroy cards your opponent controls, up to the number of "Colossect" cards destroyed by battle or by your opponent's card effects this turn (min. 1), then Special Summon 1 face-up "Colossect" Pendulum monster from your Extra Deck or 1 "Colossect" monster from your Graveyard.

 

Backup Locolossect

Quickplay Spell

Target 1 Insect-type monster on the field; return it to the hand, then you can Special Summon 1 "Colossect" monster from your hand with a different name than that target, and if you do, you can destroy 1 card your opponent controls.

 

Ancient Protocolossect

Equip Spell

Equip only to a level 7 or higher Insect-type monster. Apply this effect, depending on its battle position.

• Attack Position: The equipped monster gains 500 ATK. Once per turn, at the end of the Damage Step, if the equipped monster attacked an opponent's monster: You can banish 1 monster on the field with the same name as that monster, and if you do, the equipped monster can attack once more.
  
• Defense Position: The equipped monster gains 500 DEF. The equipped monster is unaffected by the opponent's card effects that do not target it. Once per turn: You can target 1 card your opponent controls; destroy it, then, if it was a monster, inflict damage to your opponent equal to its original ATK.
  

 

Initiate Apocolossect

Equip Spell

Equip only to a level 7 or higher Insect-type monster. Apply this effect, depending on its battle position.

• Attack Position: The equipped monster gains 500 ATK. Your opponent cannot Tribute, banish, or destroy cards in their possession.
  
• Defense Position: The equipped monster gains 500 DEF. Your opponent cannot add cards to their hand by a card effect. Your opponent cannot Set any cards on the field.