Ancient Core Dragon

[Sleepy]

 

Ancient Core Dragon

DARK LINK - 3 [ Dragon / Link / Effect ] ATK / 2400

2+ monsters

Unaffected by the effect of a card it points to. Monsters cannot be Link Summoned to a zone it points to. If this card is Special Summoned: You can move it to your Spell & Trap Zone as a Continuous Spell with this effect ● If a monster is Fusion, Synchro, or Xyz Summoned to a zone it points to, that card cannot be targeted or destroyed by card effects this turn. (this card's Link Markers are functional while treated as a Spell by its own effect).

 

- - -

 

In the Extra Monster Zone, it seals off Link Summoning in over half the opponent's field (even if your opponent is also pointing to the same zone as this card). Though under the same clause, these markers don't work in the Extra Link formation (for whatever that's worth).

 

No matter how you Special Summon it, you can move it to the S/T Zones, and my intention here is that the markers still work over there, and that all its built-in protection effects be still live.
 

A notable combo with this card is a Black Rose Dragon nuke that won't affect any Fusion, Synchro, or Xyz, that this card might point to from the S/T Zone, nor will it affect this card either.

Thoughts, comments, suggestions, etc. all welcomed = )

Using the Neo New Card Maker.

[Octosquid]

I really like this card, it's pretty unique as Link Monsters go, having upwards arrows and putting them to good use locking out your opponent's cards. I really like the clever use of that effect preventing you from Extra Linking using this card too, since you can't Summon Link monsters to what it points to either. It nicely dodges the weird difference in TCG/OCG rulings. I'm slightly confused by the last effect though. Just to clarify, did you intend to make it activate on any Special Summon or just non-Extra Deck Special Summons?

 

Assuming it's any Special Summon, then you could steal your opponent's Extra Deck Monsters that they Summon to those arrows too, which is pretty neat. They could always use the other Extra Monster Zone, but they're restricted in which zones they can Special Summon to basically, (using Monster Reborn for example).

 

I think the card's pretty well balanced overall. It's not too hard or easy to make and has a decent effect.  ^.^

[Sleepy]

I really like this card, it's pretty unique as Link Monsters go, having upwards arrows and putting them to good use locking out your opponent's cards. I really like the clever use of that effect preventing you from Extra Linking using this card too, since you can't Summon Link monsters to what it points to either. It nicely dodges the weird difference in TCG/OCG rulings. I'm slightly confused by the last effect though. Just to clarify, did you intend to make it activate on any Special Summon or just non-Extra Deck Special Summons?

 

Assuming it's any Special Summon, then you could steal your opponent's Extra Deck Monsters that they Summon to those arrows too, which is pretty neat. They could always use the other Extra Monster Zone, but they're restricted in which zones they can Special Summon to basically, (using Monster Reborn for example).

 

I think the card's pretty well balanced overall. It's not too hard or easy to make and has a decent effect.  ^.^

 

Thanks = )

Yes the last effect is on any way you Special Summon it, be it Link Summoning it or by reviving it via something else.

The last effect doesn't really steal monsters. It just turns this Link Monster into essentially a Crystal Beast, so that it's 3 upward arrows end up pointing to 3 of your own Main Monster Zones while the Link itself is being treated as a Continuous Spell at the Spell & Trap Zone.

Just edited the last effect's "it" for "this card" to better describe that.

 

^^"

[Flash Flyer - Sakura]

Well, card doesn't stop the opponent from summoning other stuff (though as most Decks are being geared to Link format, yeah, it'll work). To be fair, only Link Monster that does a similar thing is Flash Charge, but it prevents you from placing stuff in its linked zones, period (and is more for hitting the opponent).

 

But that being said, rulings do mention that once a Link Monster is in the S/T zone, its arrows do not apply. Granted, we DID get Link Spell Cards, but those are anime-only at the moment. I'm also iffy about using 3 monsters just to get nothing out of it in monster presence, though it DOES open up your field a bit if we disregard those rulings. 

 

=====

If we assume that the Link Markers do apply in the S/T zone, then card is nice for its protection and freeing up the need to use the EMZ. If not, then yeah, it still works but you gotta revive it first or have a monster pointing down to your MMZ to summon it there. 

[Sleepy]

Well, card doesn't stop the opponent from summoning other stuff (though as most Decks are being geared to Link format, yeah, it'll work). To be fair, only Link Monster that does a similar thing is Flash Charge, but it prevents you from placing stuff in its linked zones, period (and is more for hitting the opponent).

 

But that being said, rulings do mention that once a Link Monster is in the S/T zone, its arrows do not apply. Granted, we DID get Link Spell Cards, but those are anime-only at the moment. I'm also iffy about using 3 monsters just to get nothing out of it in monster presence, though it DOES open up your field a bit if we disregard those rulings. 

 

=====

If we assume that the Link Markers do apply in the S/T zone, then card is nice for its protection and freeing up the need to use the EMZ. If not, then yeah, it still works but you gotta revive it first or have a monster pointing down to your MMZ to summon it there. 

 

 

I had that doubt about if the markers would work in the S/T Zone, so it's a good thing I mentioned my intended purpose. 

That's gonna be troublesome to word. I'll try to come up with the wording to make it work. xD

[Darj]

I see Shenglong and the 7 dragon balls there :v

I like the concept and the track this card is going but also IMO it's missing some potency/power. 3 materials for a 2400-ATK monster is rather average, even Decode Talker is practically stronger if it points to at least 1 monster. Heck, the vanilla standard, the Gaia Link, has 100 more ATK and no effect. Now, on the offense, this locks out Links, but then the opponent may as well skip into its other ED plays, as its MM Zones are unlocked, and they will gain destruction protection so that makes it sound like an undesirable deal.

On the defensive it plays a bit better, since it unlocks your MM Zones instead, and get the protection layer. Thing is... it loses field presence s pointed out by Sakura. And although I do have seen players go for Saryuja without 4 different materials, that is, just for the markers, and this technically costs 1 less material for that purpose, a notable difference is that Saryuja can also be used for follow-up Link laddering, but that wouldn't be possible with this card.

 

In short, IMO it can afford to have a higher ATK, a more oppressing stun effect on the opponent, or generate some value for you somehow before moving into a the S&T Zone, something like a search, or a draw, or a "grab X from the GY", etc. The latter would go neatly with its ability of triggering the effect on any Special Summon.

 

In addition, AFAIK by turning it into a Cont. Spell, its monster effects wouldn't apply anymore. You may have to include something like "You can move it to your Spell & Trap Zone as a Continuous Spell with this effect:

• If a monster is Fusion, Synchro, or Xyz Summoned to a zone it points to, that card cannot be targeted or destroyed by card effects this turn."

 

And even then, this effect alone may warrant sending it to Experimental, since it's a Spell with markers, something without official precedence in the game yet.

[Sleepy]

I see Shenglong and the 7 dragon balls there :v

I like the concept and the track this card is going but also IMO it's missing some potency/power. 3 materials for a 2400-ATK monster is rather average, even Decode Talker is practically stronger if it points to at least 1 monster. Heck, the vanilla standard, the Gaia Link, has 100 more ATK and no effect. Now, on the offense, this locks out Links, but then the opponent may as well skip into its other ED plays, as its MM Zones are unlocked, and they will gain destruction protection so that makes it sound like an undesirable deal.

On the defensive it plays a bit better, since it unlocks your MM Zones instead, and get the protection layer. Thing is... it loses field presence s pointed out by Sakura. And although I do have seen players go for Saryuja without 4 different materials, that is, just for the markers, and this technically costs 1 less material for that purpose, a notable difference is that Saryuja can also be used for follow-up Link laddering, but that wouldn't be possible with this card.

 

In short, IMO it can afford to have a higher ATK, a more oppressing stun effect on the opponent, or generate some value for you somehow before moving into a the S&T Zone, something like a search, or a draw, or a "grab X from the GY", etc. The latter would go neatly with its ability of triggering the effect on any Special Summon.

 

In addition, AFAIK by turning it into a Cont. Spell, its monster effects wouldn't apply anymore. You may have to include something like "You can move it to your Spell & Trap Zone as a Continuous Spell with this effect:

• If a monster is Fusion, Synchro, or Xyz Summoned to a zone it points to, that card cannot be targeted or destroyed by card effects this turn."

 

And even then, this effect alone may warrant sending it to Experimental, since it's a Spell with markers, something without official precedence in the game yet.

 

 

The bullet point idea was actually my first draft, but thinking about it, your version means this card at the Extra Monster Zone won't be protecting opponent's Fusion/Synchro/Xyz Monsters. That said, I edited it to become a bullet point.

 

Also, added a small unofficial-sounding clause that says the arrows are working.

 

Gaia the Video Knight has 2600 so it is actually 200 bigger than this card, not 100. If anything, I would think Gaia is getting more than average for its Link Rate in exchange for not having any effect, and having somewhat "average at best" arrows. Gaia's ATK is kind of low IMO.

 

Decode Talker and its EARTH counterpart do give boosts to 2800+ ATK for a Link 3 monster, but I think that's not particularly the norm. Most Code Talkers don't really go past 2300 iirc, and many other Link 3 monster have around that much too. Traffic Ghost has a whooping 1800 ATK (although some real sweet arrows I must say).

Keep in mind my dragon is has much more generic materials than most Link 3s. Maybe only Powercode Talker could compete there. You could bring this card out off Scapegoats without having to strain Extra Deck space with Linkuribohs or Link Spiders. That should count for something.

 

On another note, this is still unaffected by cards it points to AKA half the opponent's monster Zones. That should have some sort of use like killing a Man Eater Bug or something xD

 

 

[Darj]

The bullet point idea was actually my first draft, but thinking about it, your version means this card at the Extra Monster Zone won't be protecting opponent's Fusion/Synchro/Xyz Monsters. That said, I edited it to become a bullet point.

 

Also, added a small unofficial-sounding clause that says the arrows are working.

 

Gaia the Video Knight has 2600 so it is actually 200 bigger than this card, not 100. If anything, I would think Gaia is getting more than average for its Link Rate in exchange for not having any effect, and having somewhat "average at best" arrows. Gaia's ATK is kind of low IMO.

 

Decode Talker and its EARTH counterpart do give boosts to 2800+ ATK for a Link 3 monster, but I think that's not particularly the norm. Most Code Talkers don't really go past 2300 iirc, and many other Link 3 monster have around that much too. Traffic Ghost has a whooping 1800 ATK (although some real sweet arrows I must say).

Keep in mind my dragon is has much more generic materials than most Link 3s. Maybe only Powercode Talker could compete there. You could bring this card out off Scapegoats without having to strain Extra Deck space with Linkuribohs or Link Spiders. That should count for something.

 

On another note, this is still unaffected by cards it points to AKA half the opponent's monster Zones. That should have some sort of use like killing a Man Eater Bug or something xD

 

I implied to have both effects. No harm in having a bit of redundancy there,

 You are right, Video Knight sets the threshold for ATK, not the minimum ATK, I got it backwards ^^"

I also overlooked the protection from the effects of pointed monsters. But still, protection can only get you so far with 2400 base ATK. Just look at that Crimson Ninja Rank5 xD

 

I don't think the Code Talkers are the standard here, because of their ATK-gaining effects. Then again, Link3s like Curious and Ningirsu are indeed in the 2400~2500 ATK range, but they have playmaking and offensive roles, respectively, whereas this is a floodgate of sorts, and would appreciate a higher ATK. At least 2500 xD