#backlinker

Backlinker ———————————————— If only your opponent controls a monster in the Extra Monster Zone, you can Special Summon this card (from your hand). You can Tribute this card; shuffle all monsters from the Extra Monster Zones into the Deck, also you cannot Special Summon monsters from the Extra Deck for the rest of this turn. ———————————————— Can Be Found In: Structure Deck: Cyberse Link (SDCL-EN004)

Due the gradual improvements of the Extra Deck and the many ways to summon monsters from it, it became a serious power creep where players could swarm the board with powerful creatures right from their first turns. This is why the Extra Monster Zone was created, severely restricting player's strategies while also forcing them to take additional steps for the best results. While Link Monsters and their arrows can bypass the limitations the Extra Monster Zone forces to players, the mere fact that entire Decks completely depend on a single slot on the field for the best outcomes still makes it a solid weakness to avoid the lethal swarming setups dominating the game for several years.

"Backlinker" is an Anti-Meta monster due its ability to exclusively aim towards Extra Deck creatures. If the opponent has a monster in a Extra Monster Zone "Backlinker" and we don't can be Special Summoned from the hand, being right when needed either in the first turns of a Duel or in need of a comeback. No matter if summoned this way or other methods a "Backlinker" on the field can tribute itself to shuffle all monsters in a Extra Monster Zone back to the Deck, but in return we will be unable to summon monsters from the Extra Deck for the rest of the turn. Extra Deck setups and summons might have been affected by the Extra Monster Zone but are still quite prominent, and a card like "Backlinker" can easily come to the field to immediately dispose of some of the most dreadful creatures that the opponent can summon with ease.

With the ability to Special Summon itself, "Backlinker" is in a wonderful position to be on the field when needed the most. Cyberse-Type monsters might be brand new yet they provide enough support to obtain "Backlinker" as soon as possible, with effects like "Lady Debugger" and "Cyberse Beacon" adding it to our hand and potentially follow with its Normal or Special Summon. Since most likely "Backlinker" won't take long to end in our Graveyard, the summon of "ROM Cloudia" allows us to bring it back to our hand to once again obtain its assistance arround its abilities. Otherwise "Backlinker" can simply be revived by various effects to reuse its effect if needed, or else be brought back to the field by a card like "Crane Crane" to work together as materials.

"Backlinker" might exclusively work against Extra Deck monsters, but due the massive popularity of their strategies for many decades makes far from being situational. A lot of Decks out there will have atleast the bare minimum of options to quickly summon something from the Extra Deck, ranging from Xyz and Link Monsters for some coverage to even cheap Fusion Summons thanks to cards like "Dragon's Mirror" and "Brilliant Fusion". Then there's those players that are all about summoning monsters from the Extra Deck, which can go from builds like Zoodiac and Raidraptors aiming from high Rank Xyz Monsters, to more particular setups like Synchro Summons. "Backlinker" effect overall will return most of its targets to the owner's Extra Deck, but in the case of Pendulum Monsters will be forced back to the Main Deck until are drawn or searched by an effect to become available once again. Keep on mind that the effect of "Backlinker" not only restricts the use of our Extra Deck but can also affect our own monster(s) in the Extra Monster Zone, so either try to have some coverage until its demerit fades away or play "Backlinker" in a Deck that barely depends on the Extra Deck like Monarchs or Anti-Meta strategies.

With the common threat of Extra Deck summons at all times, "Backlinker" easily becomes a solid choice for many Decks that want to quickly deal with a powerful enemy immediately. With the ability to Special Summon itself "Backlinker" can be kept in our hand until the best moment to use its second ability,  and even though punishes our own Extra Deck and monsters from it many Decks can accommodate arround such drawbacks. The true issue with "Backlinker" is the fact that Link Monsters will provide the opponent zones for their Extra Deck to work with and avoid this monster's effect, but even with that weakness we are still dealing with all sorts of powerful enemies by simply tributing this card. With plenty of Decks that can benefit from its assistance and barely struggle with its flaws, "Backlinker" is a solid option to deal with all kinds of menaces right from early game.

Personal Rating: A

+ Special Summons itself if the opponent has a monster in the Extra Monster Zone and we don't + Tributes itself to return all monsters in Extra Monster Zones to the Deck + Very useful due the popularity of Extra Deck strategies + Various Decks can work arround its demerits