Elemental HERO Bladedge ββββββββββββββββ If this card attacks a Defense Position monster, inflict piercing battle damage to your opponent. ββββββββββββββββ Can Be Found In: Elemental Energy (EEN-EN007), Starter Deck 2006 (YSD-EN019), Duelist Pack: Jaden Yuki (DP03-EN002), Starter Deck: Jaden Yuki (EN018), Legendary Collection 2: The Duel Academy Years Mega Pack (LCGX-EN013), HERO Strike Structure Deck (SDHS-EN009), Mattel Action Figure Series 3 (MF03-EN005), Dark Revelation Volume 4 (DR04-EN067)
HERO Decks took quite a while to become as efficient as can be nowadays. The original Elemental HERO theme mainly consisted in Normal Monsters an support exclusive for each member, becoming a mess of options when their main premise were the diverse number of Fusion Summons. Meanwhile, Destiny HERO gained an immediate status in the competitive scene, while some Decks will mix prominent monsters like "Elemental HERO Prisma" and "Elemental HERO Neos Alius" in their strategies. Fortunately, with the introduction of Masked HEROs and more flexible Fusion Summons the Decks involving the original HERO archetype gained considerable improvements, but many of their debuting cards quickly became forgotten.
"Elemental HERO Bladedge" is probably the strongest Elemental HERO to reside a player's Main Deck, with an ATK slightly suprassing the iconic "Elemental HERO Neos" and a single yet efficient ability to take advatange of said stat. "Bladedge" only purpose is to attack and virtually assure damage with each hit, as by attacking defensive enemies it will deal piercing damage in return. Compared to current HEROs "Bladedge" might not offer much beyond a solid offense against most opponent's fields, but given the archetype's gamestyle arround Fusion Summons makes this HERO rarely become a dead draw due its high Level.
Although "Bladedge" won't replicate the massive supporting options of "Neos", is still capable of being a recurring monster on the field from early to late game. While usually high Level monsters will lack in some early game options, "Bladedge" has an assured position in our hand by archetype options like "E - Emergency Call" or "Elemental HERO Shadow Mist" searching effects, as well cards like "Fusion Conscription" if we work along some of the Fusion Monsters that will become its material for. A common setup is to dump a powerful monster so can be revived later among other uses in the Graveyard, easily achieved by either "Elemental HERO Prisma" taking its name to become a replacement for a Fusion Summon, or "Elemental HERO Blazeman" as replicates its stats to take down any threats on its own. If "Bladedge" is not mainly used as material of our Fusion Monsters, the Graveyard effects of HERO members like "Elemental HERO Necroshade" or "Destiny HERO - Dasher" will allow us to summon it without any need of tributes (Specially due how easy are to prepare with the mentioned milling options). Otherwise revival effects will do so as brings back "Bladedge" from the Graveyard, and in some cases "Elemental HERO Voltic" will summon it if banished by effects such as "Miracle Fusion" or "Elemental HERO Vyon".
In most cases "Bladedge" will become a material of other HERO monsters due the high chances of being a dead card in our hand, yet has the opportunity to lead the Battle Phases not only with its piercing attack but also other options to play along with. Its attacks are quite simple to explain, as will constantly deal damage to any targets no matter their battle position. However, by going further in our setups to work along "Bladedge", it can become the core monster of its own strategy. This will mainly involve the Fusion Monsters "Bladedge" can become part of, as while "Vision HERO Trinity" or "Elemental HERO Wildedge" potentially wipes out the opposite field with multiple attacks, or off-theme monsters like "Red-Eyes Slash Dragon" takes a more defensive approach by equipping monsters in our Graveyard, "De-Fusion" will bring back "Bladedge" along other materials in the middle of the Battle Phase to potentially end in an OTK. However, "Bladedge" on its own can achieve high damage input if working along is exclusive support "Edge Hammer", a Trap Card that will tribute the HERO but in return will destroy a monster as deals damage to the opponent.
"Bladedge" might not be the most prominent HERO out there, specially when its counterpart "Evil HERO Malicious Edge" has an easier summoning as well OTK setups of its own. However, is in an interesting situation where despite being overshadowed by the massive HERO card pool it has some great options to become the lead monster of its own strategy. With tools from early to late game along the setups involving "De-Fusion" or "Edge Hammer", "Bladedge" is one of the very few HEROs that can lead its own Deck. Due its effect's simplicity and high Level it might become dependant of other cards to work, yet with assured results from early to late game "Bladedge" went from a very basic attacker to a card with high finisher potential.
Personal Rating: B+
+ Deals piercing damage in battle + Well supported in several departments + High damage input arround OTK setups and/or "Edge Hammer"
- Very basic when compared to other archetype monsters like "Evil HERO Malicious Edge" - Will rely on other cards and effects - Mainly effective in its own Deck
