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Pojo's Yu-Gi-Oh! Reader's Top Ten Lists

RikotheFoxKid's Yu-Gi-Oh Top 10 List - Top 10 Synchro Monsters
Jan 2010

Hi! This is RikotheFoxKid with my first Top 10 List!

Now then, if you’re like me, you aren’t bothering to improve your Extra Deck. So, mine is pretty fail. This leads me to think of what cards could be better. Which leads me to think of which Synchro Monsters are good.

Which leads me to this Top 10 List. The Top 10 Synchro Monsters in the game.

Now, since there are 5 Synchro Monsters on the Forbidden/Limited List, the Top 5 was quite easy. Getting the last ten required some more thought.

But this is the list I’ve compiled:

#10: Colossal Fighter

Level 8
DARK
Warrior / Synchro / Effect
2800 ATK
1000 DEF

1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters
This card gains 100 ATK for every Warrior-Type monster in any Graveyard. When this card is destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard, Special Summon 1 Warrior-Type monster from either player's Graveyard.

Level 8 Synchro Monsters aren’t very popular in today’s meta, likely due to the reign of a certain Level 6 Synchro (*cough*Brionac*cough*). Also probably because they can be a chore to get out.

But Colossal Fighter is one of the two Level 8 Synchros who sees quite a bit of play. His effects aren’t something to be wowed at, but they do have their positive sides. Many Decks run at least 1 Warrior-Type Monster, so Colossal Fighter should be almost guaranteed an ATK Boost, even if it is a tiny one. But his second effect is where he shines. When destroyed in battle, he can revive any Warrior-Type Monster. And Colossal himself is a Warrior, so he can revive himself. This gives you a near indestructible wall, especially if he’s put in Defense Position.

Still, he’s not something too special, but he deserves the #10 spot.

#9: Ally of Justice Catastor

Level 5

DARK

Machine / Synchro / Effect

2200 ATK

1200 DEF

1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters

If this card battles a non-DARK monster, destroy that monster without applying damage calculation.

After reading this effect, the first word I thought of was, “Lightsworn.” Obviously, this card would destroy Lightsworn monsters, as Catastor can take them down with ease.

On the negative side, Catastor has one glaring weakness. However, it is not due to the card itself, but the cards around it.

DARK monsters have always been popular in the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG. From the good old Dark Magician to today’s Dark Armed Dragon, DARK monsters have always had a lingering presence. And two of today’s top Decks are DARK based, these Decks being Blackwing and Zombie. Even Lightsworns run some DARKs, although unless you are running a Twilight variant, it’s not likely that these DARK monsters are strong enough to take down Catastor.

Despite this glaring weakness, Catastor is still good enough to earn the #9 spot.

#8: Arcanite Magician

Level 7

LIGHT

Spellcaster / Synchro / Effect

400 ATK

1800 DEF

1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner Spellcaster-Type monsters

When this card is Synchro Summoned, place 2 spell counters on it. This card gains 1000 ATK for each Spell Counter on it. You can remove 1 Spell Counter from a card you control to destroy 1 card your opponent controls.

A card that didn’t seem too great at first, but has proven to be quite popular.

Don’t let the summoning requirements or ATK fool you. A Spellcaster monster is quite easy to get out, and the 2000 ATK boost from the 2 Spell Counters gives Arcanite a starting 2400 ATK, while at the same time making it immune to Bottomless Trap Hole.

This Deck was the destruction factor of Synchro Cat Decks back in the last format. If your opponent had cards you needed to remove, this card and 1 Dark Strike Fighter were used in place of 2 DSF.

The rise of good Level 3 Tuners makes this card even easier to summon, and it is a worthy card in just about any Extra Deck.

#7: Blackwing Armor Master

Level 7

DARK

Winged Beast / Synchro / Effect

2500 ATK

1500 DEF

1 "Blackwing" Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters

This card cannot be destroyed by battle, and you take no Battle Damage from battles involving this card. If this card attacks a monster, you can place 1 Wedge Counter on that monster at the end of the Damage Step (max 1). You can remove all Wedge Counters from your opponent's monsters to reduce the ATK and DEF of each monster that had a Wedge Counter to 0 until the End Phase.

Blackwing Armor Master has slightly stricter summoning conditions than Arcanite Magician. Despite this, it is still much easier to summon.

Blackwing Armor Master requires a Blackwing Tuner monster. The obvious monster to use is the very splashable Blackwing - Gale the Whirlwind. And because Armor Master is Level 7, any Level 4 + Gale will get this monster out.

Both of Armor Master’s effects are amazing. First off, he is not destroyed in battle and you take no Battle Damage with him. This gives you a very powerful wall. Second, any monster he battles can have their attack reduced to 0. Any beatstick that’s giving you problems can say goodbye with Armor Master on the field.

Despite needing a Blackwing Tuner, Armor Master is viable for any Extra Deck, due to the presence of Gale.

#6: Stardust Dragon

Level 8

WIND

Dragon / Synchro / Effect

2500 ATK

2000 DEF

1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters
You can Tribute this card to negate the activation of a Spell Card, Trap Card, or Effect Monster's effect that destroys a card(s) on the field, and destroy that card. If you negate an effect this way, you can Special Summon this card from your Graveyard during the End Phase.

Stardust Dragon is the final Synchro Monster on this list who is not restricted in any way. That means that there are 5 better ones, but for this to be #6 is still an accomplishment.

Stardust’s stats are laughably pathetic. I guess being a Dragon helps a bit, but being a WIND Attribute doesn’t. Additionally, 2500 ATK and 2000 DEF is quite weak for a Level 8. However, his effect is where he shines. Simply Tributing him will stop any destruction effect right in its tracks and destroy it. And at the end of the turn, Stardust comes back.

While not broken enough for a restriction, Stardust Dragon is still a very powerful card, and very deserving to be in any Extra Deck.

#5: Dewloren, Tiger Prince of the Ice Barrier

Level 6

WATER

Beast / Synchro / Effect

2000 ATK

1400 DEF

1 Tuner + 1 or more WATER non-Tuner monsters
Once per turn, you can return any number of face-up cards you control to their owners' hand(s). This card gains 500 ATK for each card returned this way, until the End Phase.

Our #5 card is the only OCG-only Synchro Monster on this list, the only Semi-Limited Synchro Monster in general, and the only OCG-only restricted card.

Now, it’s likely because I haven’t faced this card, but I don’t exactly get why this card is restricted. But no one seems to object to it, so they must have a good reason. The only things I can think of are that 1) It can return a bunch of cards to get a massive ATK boost, 2) It can reuse cards that can be abused, and 3) It can activate the effect of Elemental Hero Absolute Zero, allowing for a free Direct Attack for at least 2000 (Dewloren’s ruling states it doesn’t get a boost from AZ because it wasn’t returned to the hand).

That third one is the one that catches my eye. Dewloren + Absolute Zero is a great combo. However, there might be a big combo I’m missing, and feel free to tell me what that combo is by emailing me (at the bottom of the list).

Nonetheless, Dewloren is a very good card.

#4: Goyo Guardian

Level 6

EARTH

Warrior / Synchro / Effect

2800 ATK

2000 DEF

1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters
When this card destroys an opponent's monster by battle and sends it to the Graveyard, you can Special Summon that monster to your side of the field in face-up Defense Position.

During the Tele-DAD era, this card was the Synchro Monster of choice. The quick Synchros that were pulled off made summoning this beatstick all too easy.

Goyo’s stats are amazing, especially for a Level 6. I can’t think of any other Level 6 monster with 2800 or more ATK (except Infernal Incinerator, which sucks terribly). It also has a high 2000 DEF.

Goyo tops it off with his amazing effect. Any monster he destroys can be Special Summoned to your side of the field. Goyo causes a lot of Field advantage.

An EARTH Warrior typing never hurts either.

Unfortunately, Goyo has recently been upstaged by Brionac, but with its imminent Limiting (and possible banning), you’ll probably see Goyo back very soon.

#3: Black Rose Dragon

Level 7

FIRE

Dragon / Synchro / Effect

2400 ATK

2000 DEF

1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters
When this card is Synchro Summoned, you can destroy all cards on the field. Once per turn, you can remove from play 1 Plant-Type monster from your Graveyard to change 1 monster your opponent controls to face-up Attack Position, and reduce its ATK to 0 until the End Phase.

Black Rose’s stats are pretty low, but trust me. You aren’t gonna care.

This card is Dark Hole + Heavy Storm with legs. Upon Summoning, it can destroy all cards on the field (including itself).

It also has a Plant supporting effect, but once again, you’re probably gonna care more about that Dark Hole effect.

During the Synchro Cat era, this card could come out a max of 3 times quite easily. Can you imagine nuking 3 times? We already get enough of that with Judgment Dragon!

As a result, this card got the Limiting it so well deserved.

#2: Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier

Level 6

WATER

Sea Serpent / Synchro / Effect

2300 ATK

1400 DEF

1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters
You can discard any number of cards to the Graveyard to return the same number of cards from the field to the hand.

Brionac is currently Unlimited in the TCG. However, in the OCG, it is Limited, meaning it’ll get at least that come March 2010. In MY opinion, however, I think it fits the qualifications of a possible banning.

Don’t let the poor 2300 ATK fool you. This card has a long history of abuse. During the days that Premature Burial was still legal, this card saw abuse with it. Brionac would return Premature Burial to the hand, allowing for an immensely easy swarm. The combo was sped up even faster with Hidden Armory.

This led to the banning of Premature Burial and the Limiting of Brionac (keep in mind, his effect is pretty powerful on its own).

Upon the release of Hidden Arsenal, new life was breathed into Brionac. Because Konami was too lazy to make a midformat change (like they have in the past with Summoner Monk and Cyber-Stein), Zombie Decks have started abusing this card at 3.

A highly popular combo is to have Goblin Zombie on the field. Summon Deep Sea Diva, searching out another Deep Sea Diva. Synchro one of the Divas with Goblin Zombie into Brionac. The effect of Goblin Zombie will add Mezuki to your hand. Discard Mezuki for Brionac’s effect. Then use Mezuki to revive Goblin Zombie, and tune it with the second Diva for another Brionac. Goblin Zombie can then add ANOTHER Mezuki to your hand. If you happen to have a Plaguespreader in your Graveyard, you can then bring that out and discard Mezuki with Brionac to bring back Goblin Zombie AGAIN, and Synchro into ANOTHER Brionac.

Now, if that doesn’t convince you that Brionac deserves at LEAST a Limit, I suggest you go talk to a mental therapist. o.O

#1: Dark Strike Fighter

Level 7

DARK

Machine / Synchro / Effect

2600 ATK

1800 DEF

1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters

You can Tribute 1 monster to inflict damage to your opponent equal to its Level x 200.

Everyone better have seen this one coming. DSF is currently the only Forbidden Synchro Monster (although I wouldn’t be surprised if Brionac joined him), and one of the four cards to go instantly from 3 to 0 (along with Time Seal, Chaos Sorcerer, and Cyber-Stein). It has these titles for VERY good reason.

Dark Strike Fighter lets you Tribute any monster to deal 200 damage x it’s Level. That doesn’t seem too bad, until you realize that Tributing DSF itself would deal 1400 damage. Add that to a Direct Attack with it and you have 4000 damage with ONE CARD.

This card is what made last format a living nightmare. The speed of Synchro Cat and Blackwings made getting at least 2 of these out laughably easy. Clearing the field and attacking with 2 resulted in a very simple OTK.

Even though Limiting it would eliminate the OTK, 4000 damage is still too much. During the last format, most games came down to who could summon DSF first.

Sending this card from 3 to 0 was one of the smartest moves Konami made.

Thanks for reading! I have many more Top 10 ideas coming. Feel free to email me with questions or comments at riko_thefoxkid@yahoo.com.

Until next time, seeya!

~RikotheFoxKid