Phantom Rage – Five underrated cards
After a long hiatus, I’m finally back to writing for my favorite past-time. As always I´ll try to keep it short and to the point. I´m sure that there will be some of you who already have an eye on the following cards. I will not look at cards that are popular in the meta but instead, look at “budget” options. Cards that won´t break the bank but will give you a competitive edge nonetheless. Who knows maybe one of them will be part of the cards that will define the new meta?
Phantom Rage is in my opinion a great support set, but it didn’t make it easy for me to find cards that aren’t bound to any archetype. In the end, I found five that are worth taking a look at in my opinion.
The cards mentioned are in no particular order or ranking.
Geonator Transverser
Full card-text here.
In an age where it is as simple to summon a link-4 monster as it is to wash your hands, this card has a special place on my list. It´s generic so that´s a plus. You can use it in your combos to link-up on your first turn. It cannot be destroyed by your opponent’s card effects as long as it is co-linked, so you can end your turn to protect a particularly useful Link monster (while protecting itself).
Or, if the situation calls for it, you can use its creature swap-esque effect to give your opponent a monster you no longer have use for. Note that this effect does not seem to target, so there are not many cards that can counter it. Admittingly your opponent’s monster has to be either in the center or the farthest right (from the player’s point of view) for you to make full use of this effect. However you want to proceed after this is up to you.
It´s easy to use and definitely can find a place in anyone’s extra deck.
Mahaama the Fairy dragon
Full card-text here.
Speaking of simplicity, Mahaama the Fairy dragon (MtFD) takes the cake. If either player takes damage, you can summon this card and then either add the damage to your life points OR inflict the same damage on your opponent. This is so much more useful than it looks. Keep in mind that it’s “if EITHER player receives damage”. Any type of damage is fair game as long as it is during your opponent’s turn.
This means that burn decks can double down on the damage while gaining another defensive wall.
It also discourages players to attack with a monster that would do more damage higher than their own lifepoints. Let me explain: if your opponent has more lifepoints than you and you attack with a monster that has more attack than your lifepoints then MtFD could spell game for you if your opponent holds MtFD.
Last but not least is its typing. It´s a level 5 light tuner! So if it survives this turn, you can immediately go into any Synchro monster of your choice or rank 5, talk about utility!
Banquet of Millions
Full card-text here.
You´re usually not summoning from the extra deck during your opponent’s turn so if you want to disrupt their plays, this card is your best bet. It´s chainable to destruction and only requires you to have an extra deck. If you and your opponent have an equal amount of extra deck monsters, you can completely lock him out of it during his turn. Nonetheless, my favorite way of using this card is waiting until he commits a few resources on to the field, preferably a link monster they will use as a link material, and then use this card to disrupt their play to potentially leave them with a vulnerable link monster on the field.
Free-Range monster
Full card-text here.
This card is by far not OP, but I always like doing stuff on my opponent’s turn. It´s chainable and most importantly it´s a normal summon all those powerful effects on normal summon are finally available during your opponent’s turn too. Some might argue that being a trap card makes this card slow, but I would argue that it can really throw a wrench in your opponent’s plans. Your opponent sets a few cards and you’re worried? Throw Denko Sekka on the field and watch them flinch.
Magical Broker
Full card-text here.
Do you ever find yourself with a back row full of spells or traps you can’t get rid of? Do you run floodgates in multiples? Then magical Broker is the card to put your stakes on (pun intended). Granted he can only use his effect during your opponent’s turn, but on the other hand, he is also immune to any kind of destruction as long as you have a face up continuous spell/trap. So you’re opponent needs to get rid of those before he can take care of Magical Broker and even then you can just chain its effect to basically +1.
Obviously, this card isn´t something you´d put into any deck. It will mostly fit stall decks and burn decks. We haven´t seen any of those in a while but maybe this card could see to it?
Final words
I personally like Phantom Rage a lot. I have heard that the set isn´t too popular because it lacks any meta defining cards for the end of a year set. But it doesn´t need to. It gives support to a lot of loved archetypes while housing some impressive, easy-to-access cards that can fit into various strategies.
If you already are a fan of the archetype-support then I highly recommend this set. The commons are nothing to scoff at. It´s a high utility, good value set that might just get better in time.
Until next time!
Phantom Rage - Five underrated cards,
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