June 2007 - Card Analysis-Card Trooper, Cyber Phoenix and Dekoichi By GeneralZorpa

Little Machine type monsters have been popping up in everyone's deck lately. Namely the little machine who could named Card Trooper. His ability to thin your deck (usually of cards like Mirror Force and Heavy Storm) Is only surpassed by cards like Reasoning and Magical Merchant. Add on to that that he gets a 500 ATK boost for the turn means he is an instant winner, but wait! There's More! Whenever the little gut is sent to the graveyard, you get to draw a card! This means that your opponent will break even or give you a +1 on card advantage!
 
However there are other machines that give bonus cards to their owner. Dekoichi the Battle Chanted Locomotive has long been the machine of choice for draw power. Then Cyber Phoenix made a splash as Chimeratech decks needed protection from targeting cards. Here I will examine the strengths and weaknesses of these cards and why you should consider running non-trooper drawing machines.
 
 
Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive
ATK 1400 DEF 1000
FLIP: Draw a card
 
It's effect text actually has when you have a Bokoichi on the field then you can draw an extra card as well for each of them. This little guy was put in decks at threes when Pot of Greed was banned. Foolishly I traded an Ultimate one for an Ultimate Goblin Elite Attack Force, so it took a while for me to appreciate the cards power. Not only was he a +1 but he had a decent ATK to go along with his good effect.
 
Plusses
Flip Effect-means that you can claim his effect before he goes to the graveyard.
Decent ATK-Means he can go aggro on your opponent after he was flipped
Machine type-he has the benefits of Limiter Removal and other Machine support
Can be played at 3-the loss of one to the graveyard does not cripple a deck
 
Minuses
Nobleman of Crossout-Ouch!
Can be run over by many cards in the  game
must be set to claim effect
Has no other combo effects
 
 
Cyber Phoenix
ATK 1200 DEF 1600
When it is sent to the graveyard by battle while face up, you draw a card. When in face up ATK mode, your opponent can't target machine type monsters on your side of the field. 
 
This little guy was the key card in the strongest opening 2 turn play I have ever seen in a tournament.
Player One goes first. He sets a monster, end turn. Player Two sets a monster and three back row cards, ends. Player one summons Card Trooper, flips Cyber Phoenix. Plays Machine Duplication and gets 2 more Troopers all pump and hit for massive damage and victory in the next turn. Player 2 had 2 Sakuretsu Armor's and a Magic Cylinder face down.
This is why Cyber Phoenix is playable, as he blocks those targeting cards as well as other machines.
 
Plusses
High DEF-Makes Hydrogeddon weep
Draw effect-While he is vulnerable face up, your opponent has very few options to clear it besides battle, so you will get its effect a lot.
Anti Targeting-The fact that he protects himself is great, that he protects other machines as well is awesome. Making a Cyber Dragon/Phoenix first turn drop good.
Machine type-Same as with Dekoichi, he has machine support
 
Minuses
very Situational effects- makes him very vulnerable to destruction if you need field presence
Low ATK-this gets run over by everything except Sangan and Reaper, which can be a good thing...
Needs to be sent by battle-smashing ground is this guys worst enemy
Dimmensional Fissure-This ruins this card's day even more
 
 
Card Trooper
ATK 400 DEF 400
Whenever it is destroyed and sent to the graveyard, you draw a card. Discard up to 3 cards from the top of your deck to the graveyard to increase this card's ATK by 500 for each card sent.
 
The most expensive played card in America. As I said earlier, he combos with everything and is seldom a dead draw. He is a great set and/or summon and can have a huge ATK for a level 3 monster. Did I mention that he is EARTH and searchable by Giant Rat? SO yeah pretty much any deck can use him, even EXODIA. I pity the fact that he is so rare, as you pretty much need this card to be successful at this game at this point.
 
Plusses
Draw when he is destroyed-Stop an attack/soak up a destruction card? Yes Please!
Puts cards in the graveyard-combos with any deck out there except for probably demise
1900 ATK when boosted-this is deadly in a level 3 monster, especially when combined with Machine DUplication
Machine type- he gets all the support he needs
 
Minuses
Low ATK when attacked-expect a fierce retribution on your opponent's turn
Puts cards into grave-my troopers like to put Mirror Force, Heavy Storm and Snatch Steal in the grave
Dimmensional fissure makes him a 400 ATK Vanilla-this will ruin anybody's day
 
 
SO those are my thoughts on these little machines. They all have their strengths and weaknesses, but Card Trooper is by far the best as he is more useful in most situations. Cyber Phoenix I think comes next as he helps many decks become far more aggro oriented. Following closely in last place is Dekoichi but he is powerful in his own right. In fact I use all of these monsters in my current deck, so they also work well together. If only Overload Fusion were legal at 3, man these cards would be godly.
 
Here's some info on how to get these cards
 
Dekoichi-Rise of Destiny or Dark Revelation 3
Cyber Phoenix-Enemy of Justice or Zane Truesdale's Duelist Pack
Card Trooper-Jaden's 2nd Duelist Pack
 
I can be reached at raptor1k@hotmail.com if you want to discuss strategies, decks, or simply to tell me how wrong and stupid I am don't be afraid to talk!
 
Thanx for reading,
GeneralZorpa