~Ascension of Life~

Number 96: Dark Mist

————————————————

3 Level 2 monsters

Once per battle, during either player’s turn, when an attack is declared involving this card and an opponent’s monster: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; halve the ATK of the opponent’s monster, and if you do, this card gains that same amount of ATK.

————————————————

Can Be Found In: Order of Chaos (ORCS-EN043), Star Pack 2013 (SP13-EN031)

In-Battle effects are usually the most underrated abilities due the high defenses the opponent might carry and awaiting for a succesful attack for obtain a result. But in some cases the monster(s) are really powerful and they become big roles in the deck instead of being completely underrated, like “Blackwing - Shura the Blue Flame” or the entire Gladiator Beast archetype. Basically, due requires to enter in Battle Phase for obtain results, in most situations depends of the sinergy said monsters can provide to the entire deck.

“Dark Mist” is a temible creature in battle. Behind his completely weak stats, resides an Xyz monster which is virtually invincible in battle. On each battle he’s involved, by detaching a material he will drain half the ATK of the opposing creature, defeating it in battle (Due the 100 ATK of difference) and keeping the boost. “Dark Mist” works as a defensive creature where will not allow any creature to go through him but also a killer of the opponent’s strongest monsters, constantly piling new ATK increases until he becomes a colossal creature once he rans out of Xyz materials.

Though being a Rank 2 and asking for three monsters might be troublesome for most decks, there’s still several methods which can bring this Xyz to the field on the first turns. Competitive Frog decks (Frognarch) got a spot in their Extra Deck for him as they often rely on “Swap Frog” and “Ronintoadin”, always getting a trio of monsters ready when needed. Nimble is an archetype completely arround level 2 monsters constantly swarming the field, with monsters like “Nimble Momonga”, “Nimble Angler”, or “Nimble Sunfish”. Ojamas are also prominent of Level 2 monsters, with “Ojama Red” swarming the field with member from the hand while “Tri-Wight” is in charge of the graveyard. Agents don’t have Level 2 monsters, but yes “The Agent of Creation - Venus” and her effect of summoning three “Mystical Shine Ball” for 1500 life points. “Reinforce Truth” can be used on the Opponent’s End Phase for summon “Hero Kid”, which by his effect will get another two copies ready to Xyz Summon. If your deck is prominent of Level 4 monsters, “Mischief of the Yokai” can turn them Level 2 once there’s the required monsters for summon “Dark Mist”. Last, Fiend decks have “Giant Germ” which summons other two copies on the field when defeated, and also the Malicevorous archetype which can summon each other easily.

“Dark Mist” basic role, as stated before, will be mostly defense and getting rid of big threats easily, while getting more and more ATK each time a material is detached. Due is very hard to defeat in battle, the opponent will rely more on destroy it with effects, or try to target him with “Book of Moon” since his DEF doesn’t increase. Otherwise, cards like “Shrink” or “Honest” are infrequent but still a threat for the Xyz, as they are (and can be in the case of “Shrink”) activated on the damage step, right after “Dark Mist” ATK drain has been resolved. But besides that, only the presence of “Dark Mist” will slowdown most opponents’ attacks. However, if the opponent is truly giving you difficulties for keep the Xyz a threat, activate either “Rank-Up Magic Barian’s Force” or “Rank-Up Magic Numeron Force” for evolve “Number 96: Dark Mist” into “Number C96: Dark Storm”, which obtains invulnerability to any attacks no matter the final result and a more powerful effect than the original form, along a bonus depending of the Rank-Up spell we used.

“Dark Mist” overall is dangerous even as a loner and the opponent will try to get rid of it. Even if it has specific weaknesses these are situational to happen, making the Xyz completely control the pace of the opponent’s turn as long is on the field. Just give him some protection outside of battle or turn him into “Dark Storm”, and even if runs out of materials to detach, probably he will be a creature with ATK enough to devastate most creatures in the game.

Personal Rating: A-