Fiendish Chain

This is not a specific themed card, so it breaks with this weeks theme, but it is worth it. It is a Continuous Trap and suffers from all the effects thereof, but the print on the card makes up for it. Select an dEffect monster on the field. It's effects are negated and it cannot attack and if it is destroyed you destroy this card.

Basically it is a mini-Skill Drain that allows you to stop attacks. This is especially effective in a stalling deck such as a burn deck or mill strategy. It allows you to stop cards like Breaker, Mobius and Judgment Dragon that would otherwise wreck your face. and if they try to get rid of it, there is always Starlight Road to defend you.

It does not claim to be as effective as Skill Drain, but cann really come in handy in a pinch. I think it could be a tech choice in a Gladiator and Monarch format.

Traditional-1/5
Advanced-3.5/5

Fiendish Chain ...
 
This is an interesting trap card, because of the effect AND the wording ... U see upon activation, u select one monster on the field. It's effect is negated and it cannot attack. But u see it never SAYS "equip" to said monster nor does it say "While this card is face-up on the field". Now if that monster is destroyed, Fiendish Chain is destroyed too. But not the vice-versa. Now does said targeted monster remain neutered for the remainder of its life? On the field? In the graveyard? With or WITHOUT Fiendish Chain remaining on the field?? Those are all questions for the rulings dept, but taken by the wording, and since this isn't an equip card, i'm guessing that the monster simply loses its effect and ability to attack, permanently, unless this card was negated somehow. If that's the case, that makes this card better. Although most people would argue that its often better to simply destroy a monster than muck around with it, and 8 times out of 10 - they are right. But that's not always an option. Many monsters, including the annoyingly popular Stardust Dragon have a high resistance to destruction. So that Bottomless Trap Hole u had waiting aint gonna do a lick of good. Or that Mirror Force or Dimensional Prison u had waiting can find itself wiped away by a Dark Armed Dragon or Brionic before it ever get the chance to save your bacon. Because of this, the Chain definitely has it's uses in this environment ... Plus the fact, that if nothing else it will keep a big attacker locked down? ... And u can use it on your OWN monsters if the need arises to keep them from falling victim to their own effect (hey - it happens!) ... So ...
yeah. Not awesome. But not shabby.
 
Traditional: 2/5
Advanced: 3/5
 
- FREEZA

Fiendish Chain:

This card isn't bad, it's just that there are cards out there that already do similar things, and actually remove the monster from the field. Divine Wrath comes to mind... Of course, this card does stop cards that have continuous effects that wrath can't touch, so it does have its merits. I like the fact that it's a simple card with a simple effect, we need more of those right now. On a plus side, the art looks like Pinhead and the Cenobites made a stop by the Yugioh dimension for some lunch. Back to reality... I could see this getting thrown into a few side decks, if Forbidden Chalice can make it into some, why not this card?

Traditional: 2.0
Advanced: 2.5

We end the week with the strongest of its picks, and that is Fiendish Chain.  The other cards were very deck specific and even then, none too good.  This card looks to at least be functional in many decks and could become rather nasty.  It is a Continuous Trap making it vulnerable, but its effect targets and isn’t re-useable.  Simply put, you select one face-up Effect monster and… negate its effect(s).  If the monster is destroyed, so is this card.  Mixed blessing… the monster can’t attack, either. 

Sadly, I think we get into a rulings quagmire when it comes to cards that remove themselves from the field as part of the effect.  Right now I’ll assume that you can activate a Stardust Dragon already affected by Fiendish Chain since the offering it as Tribute part is a cost, and that Fiendish Chain then sits useless on the field and can’t continue to target and negate Stardust Dragon when it is in the Graveyard (though the wording could allow just that). 

With skillful use, this card should rarely fail to cost your opponent something.  Try to respond to an effect with a cost or that is a “one and done” effect: your opponent must then immediately respond with a Spell Speed 2 (or better) effect to negate and/or destroy Fiendish Chain, or be out the effect’s cost or use.  A Monarch never gets its effect or Judgment Dragon just burned 1000 LP needlessly or your opponent had to respond as part of the Chain with a Mystical Space Typhoon, Solemn Judgment, etc.  If it was on their own turn (and it probably was) and they don’t respond anytime that turn, then either they have to use the targeted monster as just a wall or fodder. 

In fact, it is nice that you can use the card defensively as well, to block an attack (unless cards are expended to destroy and/or negate Fiendish Chain) as long as the attacker was an Effect Monster.  Good thing the vast majority of monsters are indeed Effect Monsters.  I would only use it this way if stopping the attack is especially advantageous or there isn’t a cost to exploit for the effect anyway. 

For the Advanced Format, I’d say Fiendish Chain is at least deserving of a side deck slot or two, and maybe even the main deck.  This card could even see small use in the Traditional Format: while it will be easier to get rid of in the long run, in the short run it can shut down some OTK decks and frustrate classical powerhouses.  In the end, smart players are going to at least use it to force a resource swap. 

Ratings

Traditional: 2/5 
Advanced: 3.5/5

Fiendish Chain

This card is an excellent tech, being able to completely lock down the opponent's best monster. This is best used in stopping boss monsters like Judgment Dragon, but Starlight Road deals with them, and if you're stopping a generic attacker, Dimensional Prison would work better. This card is both of those at the same time, but not nearly as good.

Also, if you do want to stop Judgment Dragon or Celestia, they can easily blow up the Chains with Lyla, and if you're stopping something like Blackwing Armor Master, they can (and will) use Icarus Attack. Fiendish Chain is in no means a bad card; it's just that it can be played around and better options can be used in its place. The main reason why it's not very useful today is because the top tier decks can play around it, or Synchro with the trapped monster.

3/5
Art: Pretty lame, to be honest.
Fun Fact: It's been 30 seconds and I still can't think of a fun enough fact to type.