Top 20 Evo Crushinators of Doom Cards--cecillbill

Top 20 Evo Crushinators of Doom Cards
by cecillbill

With each new set come cards that change the way the game is played. They 
can change the environment so much that they become the "creme de la creme" 
for that set--and quite possibly the whole game. King Depthcon may have been

the ultimate threat to you base set, but now he's got a little cousin named 
Crystal Lancer who does the same thing with speed attack. What was once 
viable Base Set may have been kicked to the curb, and what was once viewed 
as being too risky may now pay off quickly thanks to Evo Crushinators of 
Doom. Evo Crushinators has changed the Duel Masters environment in a great 
way, and here are my top 4 card picks for each civilization.

~~~~Nature~~~~
Nature still boils down to mana acceleration, and is still a wonderful 
support civilization. But, now you have some serious weenie swarm and mana 
destruction capability. Mono-Green has hit the scene, and the cards I picked

for Nature are the means make just about any mono-Nature or Nature-combo 
build come out of the corner swinging.
"From the Treetops the Beast Folk fell down like acidic raindrops--quick and

deadly."

[Barkwhip The Smasher]
The engine of what can be dubbed "Beast Folk Weenie Swarm" is Barkwhip. He's

a 2 drop 5000 guy with a powering up effect for his kinfolk. If you run 
Nature, it's pretty much a given that you have Bronze-Arm Tribe and/or 
Mighty Shouter in your deck. Slap in some Burning Manes, Silver Axes, Fear 
Fangs, Golden Wing Strikers, and you have a family reunion that will be 
about the joys of beefed up attacking. With so little creature removal in 
Nature, if you go mono-Green you need to be attacking as much as possible to

remove threats. Barkwhip powers up your other attackers so you can do things

like overrun early blockers and other weenies. He's a fast cast, speed 
attacker to boot. And, he comes out swinging hard enough to take down most 
blockers.

[Fighter Dual Fang]
If Barkwhip is the engine of the Beast Folk Swarm, then Fighter would be the

guy driving the car. He provides gas to keep the mana flowing via 2 cards 
from the top of your deck when he hits the field, and he's a speed attacking

8000 double breaker for 6 mana. Nature has a fast way to get evos out and 
with all those nifty little nature beast folks to slap in a deck, you should

have very little problems bringing this guy to the swarm part--and early. If

you do, don't hesitate to Dimension Gate him.

[Elf X]
Nature is marvelous if you're looking for mana acceleration. And with Evo we

now get casting acceleration! Despite his lackluster name, Elf X's effect is

stellar. He's all about speed, making your ceatures cheaper to play. That 
means your creatures are hitting the field much sooner than your opponent 
would like them too. When more than one of these "X-men" are on the field, 
you're looking at many guys coming out at once and your heavies getting 
called to duty quick. That screams: "SWARM!" Play him alongside the other 
creature with the Elf name, Essence, for the type of speedy casting & 
summoning goodness that only Elves can make. I'm nicknaming these Elf guys 
"The Keebler Elves." Yummy.

[Essence Elf]
Peanut Butter and Jelly. Ice Cream and Cake. Elf X and Essence Elf. Essence 
and X go so great together it's like you're missing something sweet when you

don't have both on the field simultaneously. It doesn't matter that Nature 
lacks the best spells in the game; you now have a way to cast them quicker 
than ever before. Drop 2 or more of these at watch the Dimension Gates, Mana

Crisis, Natural Snares, and Rainbow Stones fly! Elves, the tree folk types, 
like Legolas in Lord of The Rings are just so darn beautiful. :-)

Honorable Mentions: Fortress Shell, Rainbow Stone, Mana Crisis

~~~~Light~~~~
With Light we're still blocking and tapping, but now Light's got a few more 
tricks up its' sleeve. The civilization has become "in-touch" with itself; 
the Light cards have crazy synergy now. Something fetches another, one draws

for you, and everybody's happy when you can "cut" through an opponent. 
Mono-Light stall is a very viable strategy with this set.
"The Light of Heaven . . . it blinds all."

[Diamond Cutter]
Does this ever happen to you: you have a field full of blockers, Light or 
not, and you wish you could just tear apart some pesky creatures or smash 
into some shields with them? You sit there thinking to yourself "if only 
these guys could attack what I need them too!" Well, some wishes do come 
true. And you don't need to "wish on a star;" just a on gem that 
shines--Diamond Cutter. It's the life blood behind the improved blocker 
stall strategy because now you can sit behind a wall of blockers and turn 
them into a kickbutt arsenal that can attack creatures and players. It's no 
matter that Cutter costs 5 mana to cast and is not a shield trigger. 
There're Light creatures in Evo who can search this spell out, Laguna, or 
cheaper shield trigger spells that can do it, Logic Cube or even guys that 
can get this spell back into your hands after you've used it, Phal. Playing 
Cutter after a Holy Awe has been shield trigger when you've got a handful of

blockers on the field is ... well ... holy.

[Larba Geer, the Immaculate]
Let's see, for 3 mana you get a guy that taps all of your opponent's 
blockers when he hits the field and speed attacks. If he had double breaker 
ability that would be so very broken. He's a semi-Holy Awe in creature form,

and if you know anything about "the Awe" then you know that tapping is a 
great way to setup threat-killing and shield hits. Larba's a fast evo that a

mono-Light or combo Light deck should have few problems bringing out. Many 
of those decks pack 4 Ura Gigas and some higher Guardians like Dia Nork.

[Ladia Bale, the Inspirational]
I'm inspired. 9500 for 6 mana, speed attacker, double breaker, and a 
Guardian blocker evo who itself is a blocker--that's sweet. With Ladia you 
don't even need to bother with Hanusa. Ladia's a house cleaning finisher 
like Hanusa only faster and it blocks. Very few things can kill Ladia, not 
many blockers are gonna last long with it around. Ladia can go to bat for 
you and catch the fly balls that are hit into the outfield. That's a very 
well rounded player.

[Logic Cube]
This was a debated choice for me because Light has the same effect in 
creatures, Laguna (from the deck) & Phal (from the grave), who also can be 
hitters. There is also a guy who mimmicks Water creatures and draws for you 
when he attacks, Magris, that seemed like a good choice. Then there was the 
unblockable "Urth-ish" Ethel. The reason I choose Logic Cube is because it 
has a low cost, is a shield trigger and searches through your deck for 
Cutter or Holy Awe. Deck searching is a very handy asset to a deck, 
especially when it's cheap. Not only can you fetch spells with searchers but

you can gain foresight into what your shields are and re-count what you have

left to possibly draw. At 3 mana Logic can bring your key spells into your 
hands fast. With Mono-Light or a combo-Light that loves it's spells, the 
game's pretty much about setting your field up for a key spell play. Logic 
can do that for you on the cheap.

Honorable Mentions: Magris, Ethel, Wyn

~~~~Darkness~~~~
Creature kill, recursion and hand discard are a premium with this 
civilization. With Evo things just got much more deadly. Darkness still 
packs those weird sacrificial costs with some of its' worthwhile and risky 
cards, but none compare to the level of controlling power that this 
civilization now packs.
"[i]'Tis a foul-smelling plague that blankets the land. All who feel its' 
dark touch know the same horrific end."

[Horrid Worm]
"Worms never refuse a good meal," so Horrid's flavor text reads. Whenever 
this guy attacks, he's taking a card away from your opponent's hand. At 3 
mana, he's practically Ghost Touch in creature form. The Parasite Worms get 
the full treatment in this set, as Horrid joins the ranks of Base set's 
Swamp Worm in the realms of denial. I tell you no lies, just 2 Horrid Worms 
on the field have won games for me. They hit sheilds and the hand 
gloriously. Granted, I did some very nasty things to speed along my 
opponent's demise like Spiral Gate his fattie to his hand and then let 
Horrid put it in his grave. And, I Smoked and Pitted newly summoned 
creatures like crazy--but they were my only hitters who stayed out past one 
turn during the games in reference. Oh, those moments were so very sweet I'm

getting sentimental now thinking about it. What's also very useful about 
this guy is you can evo him into his deadlier big brothers, Ultracide Worm 
and Chaos Worm. Getting a threatening card from your opponent's hand with 
the slight possibility of hitting a shield at the same time and all before 
doing a killer evo is highway robbery.

[Chaos Worm]
Getting worms is a horrible thing. Facing a 5 mana worm drop that can sack 
off 1 of your creatures when he hits is a horrible thing too. Did I fail to 
mention that your opponent gets to choose the creature that bites the dust? 
Oh, silly me. Chaos Worm has speed attack at 5000, so let's hope that 1 
creature he sacks isn't your only blocker. He's better than Swamp Worm 
because he's cheaper and you get to pick the creature that hits the yard. 
He's an evo that shouldn't be hard to cast with all the little worms out 
there.

[Critical Blade]
I might get stones thrown at me for choosing this spell, but I have a 
logical reason for doing so. Evo introduced the speed attacker. Guys will be

coming out super fast now and shields will fall within the blink of an eye. 
Blockers, whether you like them or not, have become more popular to halt 
some of these guys. Heck, even blockers themselves have become more serious 
about attacking. Blade is a quick and cheap way to get rid of blockers, any 
size blocker--especially if he goes off as a trigger--so you can get some 
hits through. Blade is a great way to get rid of Ladia Bale when you don't 
have a Pit handy or it's tapped and Smoke can touch it. Yes, it's targeted 
creature kill so it's loses some of its' "it's awesome" ranking, but it's 
more ways to kill and that's what this civilization does best.

[Amber Piercer]
If huge power meant everything in this game I'd choose Ultracide Worm for 
the top 4 of Darkness. Being a double breaker for 6 mana and 11,000 attack, 
very few things can kill it. As a Control player, I like irksome combos & 
plays. And it's irksome to spend mana casting Pit only to have your opponent

bring that creature back from the grave via a guy like Amber. Amber Piercer 
has become the basis for several new deck types for Darkness. One of these 
new deck types is dubbed "Kamikazee." You don't care so much that your guys 
get knocked off because they're coming back to your hand when this little 
baby attacks. For these decks, it doesn't matter if you suicide Amber into a

shield or if it gets pegged off on your opponent's turn. You use Amber for 
recursion with the added possibility of hitting a shield or another 
creature. It's Dark Reversal with a bit more utility and a 2 mana higher 
cost. Recursion has always been a good thing to use. Recursion in creature 
form is even better. Amber can help keep baby worms out for evo-ing into 
Ultracide or Chaos, and that I like a lot.

Honorable Mentions: Ultracide Worm, Lost Soul, Marrow Ooze

~~~~Water~~~~
Water got improved bounce, draw, and unblockability. The Liquid People have 
become a near "you can touch me" race that is the basis for a handful of 
solid Mono-Blue decks. Plainly stated, Water couldn't be more 
beautiful...and slippery when dropped onto the playing field. "The Spirit of 
the Sea was angry because of the wicked ways of the Land, so 
she washed away it's shores."

[Crystal Lancer]
Sir Lance-a-lot is one sick Uncommon. He's not even a Rare! He's a speed 
attacker, double breaker, 6 mana for 8000 attack, and a Liquid People guy so

he can be slapped on the most played Water creature in the game, Aqua 
Hulcus. Oh, and he has the little ability called "CAN'T BE BLOCKED." He's 
hitting for 2 shields the moment he comes to the field no matter what. Can 
things get any sicker than that? If you run Water, you'd better have a good 
reason not to play him. And I mean "billion dollars" good.

[Corile]
At 2000 attack for 5 mana you'd think that you're getting ripped with this 
guy. That would be true if it were not for his card text. Remember that 
Bruce Willis movie where the kid says: "I see dead people?" Well, when I 
look at this card, "I see dead draws." Corile slaps a guy on the field right

on top of your opponent's deck when he hits. You've bounced a creature, so 
there's some temporary removal. You've bounced that creature to the top its'

owner's deck, so you know what your opponent is going to draw next turn. 
That also means you've robbed him of a draw. And, that is evil. Your 
opponent has to wait a turn longer to draw something fresh; that card under 
the bounced creature could be something has powerful as a Terror Pit. If you

can combo him with cards like Spiral Gate, Aqua Sniper, Unicorn Fish--you 
can put a pesky creature on your opponent's side of the field on this top of

his deck more times than he can tolerate.

[Crystal Paladin]
While not as sick as his " evo brother" with the attacks, Paladin is more a 
team player than Lancer. Got a field heavy with guys who cannot make a dent 
in your opponent's shields because of some pesky blockers? Well, they're 
going to get through once Paladin hits the field. This guy bounces all 
blockers when he's dropped onto a Liquid People creature. He opens your 
opponent's field for shield hits and creature kill via attacking. Provided 
you're going in for the kill, the fact that your blockers get bounced too 
doesn't matter. In multiplayer he's one of those sweet drops like Scarlett 
Skyterror, Holy Awe, and Burst Shot. Paladin's ready to go sword-first into 
battle and he makes sure that your other guys are able to follow him. Call 
him the General. You'll be thanking him for is war council soon enough.

[Thought Probe]
Another spell I chose that people are sure to say isn't worthy. I'm a 
control/stall type player so Thought Probe speaks to me more than Hulcus' 
cousin Hypersquid Walter for draw in this set. Often times I'm sitting 
across from a weenie rush. Provided Probe doesn't go off too early as a 
shield trigger, I'm looking a 3 draws easy. Since the game as become fast 
and casting costs are down, you can expect to see many games where your 
opponent has 3 or more creatures out for more than 1 turn. Hard casting it 
at 4 mana isn't going to break you either. Many gamers know that draw power 
aids winning. At the moment, no other cards except for Plasma Chaser--at the

right times--lets you draw more cards at one time than Probe.

Honorable Mentions: King Nautilus, Plasma Chaser, Recon Operation

~~~~Fire~~~~
Fire has always done quick attacking and powered up attacking better than 
any other civilization. It's also had some decent removal options. Now Fire 
just became capable of something else, mana destruction. Light your arrows, 
take aim, and fire! Then sit back and watch as your opponent's field and 
mana zone burn.
"The smoke you see in the air is the warning sign of your demise."

[Armored Blaster Valdios]
This guy gives some extra power to Human weenies that they need to carry 
them into mid game attacking madness. A 4 drop at 6000, he's a double 
breaker with speed attack who gives +1000 to each of your Humans in the 
battle zone. If you're playing Fire Rush or just a deck that runs Fire, 
chances are you're playing low cost Humans like Brawler, Baron, Horvath, the

new Mini Titan Gett. All those guys get a boost from Valdios, and that's a 
lot of chances to get an affordable community boost. He even boosts the 
other Armored evo of the set--Balbaro. That goes a long way with helping the

little humans overrun early blockers and other weenies. This card has made 
the swarming, early attacking Fire crew even more deadly. He's cheap at 4 
mana. Play him and throw more firewood down for the flames. Yes, the Human 
race has truly evolved.

[Burst Shot]
Again, my spell choices may seem crazy to some, but Burst Shot is Fire's 
answer to mirror Rush matches and a shield-saver for Fire decks not packing 
many early attackers. Playing Rush but find yourself outnumbered in the 
mirror match? This spell levels the field--to zero if you both have 2,000 
and below guys out. Facing those Rush decks that are sure to become popular 
and you're playing a Fire or combo Fire deck with some mid and late game 
hitters? Then slap this spell in your deck and watch that weenie player 
cringe. Fire's removal has always been targeted, but this at least destroys 
all 2000 and below creatures. That's epescially sweet if you no longer have 
any teeny sized guys out or have already evo-ed some. And, that's also good 
if you want to deter someone else from evo-ing his field of little guys. 
It's a shield trigger, so be mindful of how many you pack in your deck if 
you play Rush and want to use it. Burst is a Vampire Silphy-ish spell that 
can help you when played or triggered at the right times.

[Bombersaur]
I like this card. It's got that new car smell to it. Mana destruction is new

to the game, and Fire and Nature are the civilizations that take advantage 
of the new mechanic. Nature has it in spell and creature form, but Fire's 
creatures can potentially do it sooner with the 2 drop 2000 Engineer Kipo 
and 5 drop 5000 Bombersaur. I like him better than Draglide in Fire's mid 
game attack spot. I see this guy going nicely with a Rush deck that can 
either regenrate mana (Fire/Nature combo) or one that doesn't need a lot of 
mana to operate (Darkness/Fire or mono-Fire). When he is destroyed and hits 
the yard, he takes cards in the mana zone with him--2 of yours and 2 of each

opponent. He can serve as a trump card in 2 person or mulitplayer games (oh,

how much fun would he be in multiplayer--reminds me of all the joy Scarlett 
Skyterror brought to the format base set). Your opponent may think twice 
about blocking him if it means a kill, and about killing him off with spells

or attacks. Think of it along the lines of slayer where guys are relunctant 
to face him, only this guy is going to do some damage some way or another 
whether they like it or not. Losing mana early in the game can be devasting.

Players who set up for big drops late in the game are going to have to chug 
through until they can rebuild their mana zone. It's a de-stabilizing thing 
to be thrown off your deck's strategic course. That's why he's sweet for 
certain types of Rush. Many of these decks can kill with a little as 3 mana.

[Rumble Gate]
Yes, another spell choice that people might think classifies me as insane. 
But, bear with me. Fire Weenie Rush, mono or not, has just became crazy. 
Humans coming out of every end of the armored tank blasting away with their 
powered up guns. And not just those Humans benefit from this card, but any 
Fire build that wants extra "umpf" against swarm and blocker decks could run

this spell. With Rumble Gate you can turn your whole field into a cleanup 
crew--especially those guys that already have the power attacker ability. 
That ability stacks for a turn, so a Brawler Zyler becomes a 4000 guy who 
can attack untapped creatures like pesky early Light blockers. Basically 
Rumble gives you the potential to overrun your opponent's field. Cast this 
baby when you have a bunch of humans and Valdios on the field and watch the 
sparks ignite.

Honorable Mentions: Bolzard Dragon, Metalwing Skyterror, Armored Cannon 
Balbaro

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I'm know many of my choices wouldn't make spots on other people's top lists.

Top Card choices are always a matter of opinion. When making my list, I took

into account how Evo Crushinators of Doom has affected the overall game. If 
you rate this article, please base your ratings on the quality of my writing

too and not just on the choices I made for the cards. It's hard to get 2 
people to agree on what the best cards are in a set. With that said, if you 
want to engage in a *friendly debate* with me over my choices or want to 
tell me why other cards are better, feel free to email me. My opinion is 
mine; you see things differently. Cheers! Contact info--name: cecillbill; 
email: kaiserpso@hotmail.com.

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