Stats: Machine King is a Level 6 Earth/Machine.  Level 6 means that it only needs one monster to be Tribute summoned, though it’s probably just as apt to be dumped and then revived.  Earth cards have some support, though most of the top Machines are Dark.  Machine has some great support, primarily from the incredible Limiter Removal, which doubles a cards ATK score (after all other modifications) at the cost of having to destroy it at the end of the turn.  Sadly, Machine King has an ATK of just 2200 and a DEF of 2000.  The ATK means that the only regularly used Tribute Monster that can’t mow it down is Vampire Lord (Airknight can’t either, but I see that a lot less).  This is also low enough that a Goblin Attack for can run it down (though as we will later see, that’s normally suicide for the GAF), and the puny 2000 DEF means that GAF definitely can crush it, and serves to make it an illegal target for Witch of the Black Forest’s effect. 

Effect(s): This card gains a 100 ATK bonus for each face-up Machine-Type monster on the field.  For the most part, this just means that you end up with a 2300 ATK Machine King instead of a 2200 ATK one.  Since the Machine’s must be face up on the field, they won’t last long.  Personally, I think they should have made the bonus or base ATK just a touch higher, made the bonus include any of your machines in play, had an effect on other machines, and/or made the DEF 1500.  All of that would have been too much, but the DEF change and making the bonus include all of your machines in play sounds about right. 

Uses/Combinations: DNA Surgery makes everything a Machine, and multiple Limiter Removals can let this think possibly OHKO your opponent’s LP (two limiter jacks it up to 9300 if it’s effect is still working, 8800 if not).  It also lucks out that there is one Machine, albeit a Tribute, that is in most decks: Jinzo. 

Ratings

 

Casual: 3/5-You want a machine themed deck?  Stick with Jinzo, the XYZ pieces/fusions, Barrel Dragon, etc. 

Tournament: 2/5-You could run such a deck, but the question is why? 

Limited: N/A-Solid here, except this is a Duelist League promo.  If you do happen to draft from promos (or this is re-released), then 3/5, or 3.5/5 if there are some decent Machine Monsters also in the accompanying set(s). 

Summary

Good idea, bad execution.  Things just go from bad to worse: we should eventually see Blowback Dragon, and according to Edo’s translations, that’s an improved Barrel Dragon.  Blowback is single tribute, and the effect is the same as Barrel Dragons except it targets any card on the opponent’s side of the field.  It does take a hit for ATK: only 2300.  Still, if you want a big, bad Machine deck, wait for it and hold onto your Jinzo.