From: kaodmaster
Subject: Cyber Dark Dragon: Unplayable... or is it?

 Subject: Cyber Dark Dragon: Unplayable... or is it? - Snodin

Hi, Pojo readers! You may recognize me from the Yu-Gi-Oh! forums; the name's Snodin.

Today, I've been doing a lot of thinking about how we can make Cyber Dark Dragon (and its smaller Fusion components) a fun deck to play. Now granted, there's no way this thing's gonna beat out Cyber End or Chimeratech, but bear with me here. There was a time when people played this game for fun, not just for trophies, and I'm gonna try to bring those days back. And Cyber Dark Dragon may just be the key.

Let's look at this bad puppy:

CYBER DARK DRAGON

Level 8 / Dark / Machine-Fusion-Effect / ATK 1000 / DEF 1000

Fusion: Cyber Dark Horn + Cyber Dark Edge + Cyber Dark Keel

Effect: This card cannot be special summon other than by Fusion Summon. When this card is successfully Fusion Summoned, you can choose a Dragon sub-type monster from your Graveyard and equipped on this card, and increase this card's attack strength by that attack strength. Increase this card's attack strength by 100 for each monster card in your Graveyard. When this card is destroyed as result of battle, the equipped monster is destroyed instead.
Ultra/Ultimate Rare

I know, I know... "Snodin, are you crazy!? I am NOT wasting my Cyber Stein on this laughing stock of a Level 8 monster!" Well, you don't have to! All you need are the following cards to start your deck with:

x3 Dark Hex-Sealed Fusion

x2 Dark Keel or Dark Horn or Dark Edge (your option)

x2 Dark Keel or Dark Horn or Dark Edge (your option)

Dark Hex is a key factor in this deck, because like most of the monsters you'll be needing, it's searchable by...

x3 Mystic Tomato

Of course, this also helps:

Sangan (also Dark, go figure)

Now you've got at least one Fusion facotr going for your CDD. Now comes the tricky part: finding playable dragons to go with its effect. No problem there, once you consider the fact that some of the more playable Dragons out there... are DARK!

Try these on for size (and use as many of these as you like):

King Dragun

        This monster is also Hexeable, and manages to get your heavy-hitting Dragons out faster.

Lord of D.

        This old timer's still playable, believe it or not. It's searchable by Tomato, can work well with Dark Hex, and protects Dragons. What's not to love?

Red-Eyes Black Chick

Red-Eyes Black Dragon

       These two need no introduction. Chick gets the big dragon out faster, and the big one is a great power boost for your CDD. (In fact, I can see Red-Eyes and CDD working together very well... Hybrid deck anyone?)

Rare Metal Dragon

       A far less popular candidate than Red-Eyes is the Special-summon-only Level 4 beatstick, Rare Metal Dragon. King Dragun gets it out fast, and even if you can't play it early on in the game, you can always toss it via Graceful Charity and wait for CDD to eat it up.

And now, for a few more Dragons that can help out in the long run:

Cave Dragon

      Another Level 4 beatstick; not as powerful as a Cyber Dragon, but a great starting move nonetheless. You gotta love Level 4 2000-Attackers that are easy to get out!

Spirit Ryu

     Most likely a candidate for the side deck; this small fry can get big fast, and all you have to do is toss a few Dragons into the Grave. And getting Dragons in the Grave is what you wanna do in the first place, isn't it?

Hell Dragon

     This dragon's not out in English yet, so for those of you who don't know, it's a Level 4 2000-Attacker who basically lasts only one turn. (You can bring it back from the Grave, but I think that costs a Dragon tribute/discard.) For some, that may leave a bad taste in the mouth; for you, however, it's paydirt for CDD. And it's a Dark dragon on top of that. Gotta love it.

I hope I've ticked your fancy while reading this message, and even though Cyber Dark Dragon may never be competitive, we can at least take advantage of it and the Dragons that can make it formidable in casual play.

Until next time, true believers, this is your ol' pal Snodin signing off!