Curse Seal - Ritual Archetype with a Gimmick

[Chiz Fri]

I want to go ahead and explain why I made this archetype and what I imagined its use is before showing it off.

 

This Ritual archetype was inspired by "Darkness Approaches" in that they flip monsters face-down without changing Battle Position. I designed them to be a pseudo-Kaiju; they target, but they also can get rid of a threat that can be targeted while allowing for some damage potential. I can see this being used on key playmaker cards like "SPYRAL Super Agent," "Timestar Magician," etc.

 

I had a bit of trouble balancing giving these guys a free Direct Attack, but I'd say halving Battle Damage would suffice. It puts pressure on your opponent to deal with the monsters without threatening game in three or fewer turns.

 

I plan on making more in this archetype, but for now I feel like this small set can show off the engine so that I can take feedback on the mechanic.

 

This is the third repost of this archetype, once in Singles when it was just the Ritual Pair, and then once in Duel Portal. (If the Mods could lock those two posts, that'd be neat.)

 

I did get some feedback from @@Flash Flyer - Sakura on the Singles post, so I'd like to address the concerns raised there on this thread.

 

 

Monster itself is technically fine, but yeah, we are going into territory where no definitive rulings exist [and should probably be in Experimental]. To be honest, Konami never bothered with it until Link era and only then issued an errata that technically altered how it works. I get what it's supposed to be doing though; the opponent's monster is essentially nothing. Though yeah, I mentioned Link era because of Link Monsters (you know what these are, right?). You may have to add an exclusion clause about it, because again, they're literally why Konami errata'd Darkness Approaches.

 

I want to begin by saying that I didn't know that Darkness Approaches was errata'd. I just assumed that Konami would have let well enough be well enough since nobody was playing the card anyway, and I didn't think that it would apply to Link Monsters because I interpreted the rulings as they can't be face-down ever (though now I see that it's likely because they can't be in Defense Position ever). I would like to get a few opinions on how that particular mechanic was intended to work before I add a potentially unnecessary restriction to the cards that have that effect, though.

 

 

So basically, you should take Xyz and Link Monsters into account since they both exist, and latter can't be flipped face-down due to their markers and stuff. Xyz don't have that problem, but have no Levels (however this should be a given by now).

 

I don't think I'd have to worry about Xyz Monsters not having Levels to begin with, since I didn't bake in the restriction of the Monster being targeted needing to have a Level, and I'd imagine that a face-down Attack Position Xyz Monster will function like a face-down Defence Position one, just with the added debuffs from the effects. That being said, I will reword the debuff to read "That Monster is treated as a Normal Monster with 0 ATK and DEF, and has no name, Attribute, Type, Level or Rank" to avoid confusion over whether a face-down Xyz Monster keeps its Rank when flipped by this effect.

 

 Note: The written effect text under the cards is the updated wording. I will not be able to fix the card images until after my classes today, but I will fix them soon enough.

 

 

[spoiler=First Set (Created 5 March 2018, Edited 7 March 2018)]

[spoiler=Monster Cards]

[spoiler=Helldeity of the Curse Seal]

 

 

Helldiety of the Curse Seal

DARK Dragon/Ritual/Effect

Level 7

ATK: 2800 / DEF: 400

"This card must first be Ritual Summoned by the effect of “Curse Seal Release.” Once per turn (Quick Effect), if your opponent activates a Spell or Trap effect during your turn, you can negate the activation and destroy that card. If you do, target 1 Monster your opponent controls: Flip that card face-down (it does not change battle position). That card is treated as a Normal Monster with 0 ATK and DEF, and has no name, Attribute, Type, Level or Rank, it cannot change battle position, and it is not flipped face-up during the Damage Step of a battle involving “Curse Seal” monsters you control. Your opponent takes half Battle Damage from battles involving that card."

 

 

[spoiler=Curse Seal Diviner]

 

Curse Seal Diviner

DARK Spellcaster/Effect

Level 3

ATK: 1200 / DEF: 400

 

"If you Ritual Summon exactly 1 “Curse Seal” Ritual Monster with a card effect that requires the use of monsters, you can Banish this card in your GY: You do not require monsters to Ritual Summon that Monster, and your opponent cannot activate card effects in response to its Ritual Summon. You can discard this card; add 1 “Curse Seal” Ritual Monster or Ritual Spell Card from your Deck to your hand. You can only use 1 effect of "Curse Seal Diviner" per turn, and only once per turn."

 

 

[spoiler=Curse Seal Dancer]

 

Curse Seal Dancer

DARK Spellcaster/Effect

Level 3

ATK: 1200 / DEF: 400

 

"If you Ritual Summon exactly 1 “Curse Seal” Ritual Monster with a card effect that requires the use of monsters, you can Banish this card in your GY: You do not require monsters to Ritual Summon that Monster, and your opponent cannot activate card effects in response to its Ritual Summon. You can discard this card; add 1 “Curse Seal” Ritual Monster or Ritual Spell Card from your GY to your hand. You can only use 1 effect of "Curse Seal Dancer" per turn, and only once per turn."

 

 

 

 

[spoiler=Spell Cards]

[spoiler=Curse Seal Release]

 

Curse Seal Release

Ritual Spell

"This card can be used to Ritual Summon any “Curse Seal” Ritual Monster from your hand or GY. You must also Tribute monsters from your hand or field whose total Levels equal or exceed the Level of the Ritual Monster you Ritual Summon. When your opponent activates a Monster effect that targets 1 or more of your “Curse Seal” monsters: Banish this card from your GY, then negate the activation of that Monster’s effect and flip it face-down (it does not change battle position). That card is treated as a Normal Monster with 0 ATK and DEF, and has no name, Attribute, Type, Level or Rank, it cannot change battle position, and it is not flipped face-up during the Damage Step of a battle involving “Curse Seal” monsters you control. Your opponent takes half Battle Damage from battles involving that card."

 

 

[spoiler=Curse Seal Retrieval]

 

Curse Seal Retrieval

Normal Spell Card

 

 "Discard 1 card and shuffle up to 3 Banished "Curse Seal" cards into your Deck; flip 1 Monster your opponent controls face-down (it does not change Battle Position). That card is treated as a Normal Monster with 0 ATK and DEF, and has no name, Attribute, Type, Level or Rank, it cannot change battle position, and it is not flipped face-up during the Damage Step of a battle involving “Curse Seal” monsters you control. Your opponent takes half Battle Damage from battles involving that card. You can only activate 1 "Curse Seal Retrieval" per turn."