Ultimate Crystal God Rainbow Over Dragon ———————————————— 7 "Crystal Beast" monsters Must be either Fusion Summoned, or Special Summoned by Tributing 1 "Ultimate Crystal God" monster, "Rainbow Dragon", or "Rainbow Dark Dragon" you control that is Level 10 (in which case you do not use "Polymerization"). Once per turn: You can banish 1 "Crystal Beast" monster from your GY; this card gains ATK equal to the banished monster's ATK until the end of this turn. (Quick Effect): You can Tribute this Fusion Summoned card; shuffle all cards on the field into the Deck. ———————————————— Can Be Found In: Duelist Pack: Legend Duelist 2 (DP19-JP037)

Although nowadays effects is all what drives Duels by preparing setups and disrupting the opponent, there are some cases that it might not be necessary to depend on a card's abilities. Due its stats to fight other monsters or simply the support that can be assisted with, a monster might have poor or situational effects but easily compensated by the many other opportunities that obtains to stand out in other roles and purposes. This might seem that we could instead play with better alternatives with effects we can rely more often, but despite the card's flaws is still a vital piece to make entire strategies to work.

"Ultimate Crystal God Rainbow Over Dragon" is the new boss monster to be added to the Crystal Beast archetype, with two methods to be summoned. Either being Fusion Summoned by a big number of Crystal Beast or by tributing or one of its counterparts (Or another copy), "Rainbow Over Dragon" provides  small improvements on the effects of the original "Rainbow Dragon". By banishing a Crystal Beast in our Graveyard "Rainbow Over Dragon" will gain a temporal ATK boost equal to the monster used for this effect until the turn ends, being the weakest effect as with already 4000 ATK it might only be used to reach lethal damage with a small stat increase. Its second effect on the other hand is more damaging as a Quick Effect and therefore chainable during any turn, as by tributing a Fusion Summoned "Rainbow Over Dragon" we will shuffle all cards on the board back to their respective Decks. Overall, "Rainbow Over Dragon" seems a highly expensive monster with an effect that will have not many uses and other that can backfire after all the costy summon conditions that requires. However, with all the support involving Crystal Beasts including a few effects to quickly summon this monster right from our first turns, "Rainbow Over Dragon" has some big chances to overtake Duels in one way or another.

The summoning conditions or "Rainbow Over Dragon" are undoubtly expensive, one requiring seven Crystal Beasts as materials and the other needing to tribute a copy of itself or its counterparts being nomi monsters also requiring seven particular monsters ("Rainbow Dragon" requiring the entire Crystal Beast group, and "Rainbow Dark Dragon" needing different DARK monsters). However, some of the cards that can interact with the archetype makes the arrival of "Rainbow Over Dragon" considerably cheap no matter which summoning route we are taking. In most cases, the Trap "Ultimate Crystal Formation" will mill all seven Crystal Beasts from our Deck to summon "Rainbow Over Dragon" in response of a Crystal Beast being defeated, pretty much bringing this boss monster unexpectedly during the opponent's turn. Alternatively we can also mill the needed materials with "Future Fusion", a much slower alternative to summon "Rainbow Over Dragon" but by disposing all Crystal Beasts we can immediately follow with the summon of "Rainbow Dragon" and either swarm with several copies of it and/or tribute it to summon this Fusion counterpart. Finally, despite Crystal Beasts prefering to keep as many as possible in the Graveyard for retrieval effects and the summon of "Rainbow Dragon", we can push further with "Dragon's Mirror" banishing them from the Graveyard for either a late game "Rainbow Over Dragon" or summon it along another copy if a Link Monster on our field allows it.

With its summoning conditions more than covered, is really all left to its performance on the field. With its massive stats "Rainbow Over Dragon" won't need any ATK boosts from its own effect, specially with cards like "Future Fusion" and "Ultimate Crystal Formation" allowing us to immediately follow with the summon of "Rainbow Dragon" and/or the activation of "Rainbow Gravity" to overwhelm the opponent with various 4000 ATK threats to the point of achieving an OTK. The ability to shuffle all cards on the field can be tricky as can severely affect our own board, but thanks to "Ultimate Crystal Formation" most likely summoning this monster during the opponent's turn and being an effect available at any moment it can become a cheap and chainable disruptive tool to ruin their turn right before our own begins. Finally, if "Rainbow Over Dragon" is somehow defeated there's not much to worry about, as with "Ultimate Crystal Formation" in our Graveyard we can regroup as many Crystal Beasts as we want to our backrow to prepare one of their many setups.

Despite being a new version of the original "Rainbow Dragon", "Ultimate Crystal God Rainbow Over Dragon" has some heavy flaws to be quite aware of. Both of its summoning conditions are extremely expensive on their own, an ATK boost with few to no uses, and a mass removal effect that either becomes unavaible depending of how we summon this monster or can damage our own field if we aren't careful. However, "Rainbow Over Dragon" is that kind of card that greatly solves all of its negatives with the powerful supporting cards that can help with not only its arrival but also performance of the whole archetype. Various cards not only cheapens this monster's arrival to the point of being quickly brought in our first turns, but in the process prepare the summon of "Rainbow Dragon" to work together on an OTK outcome. And among these options there's "Ultimate Crystal Formation", the best card to work along its removal effect as can be timed during the opponent's turn to have a board clear for our attacks. Clearly a monster heavily reliant of staple cards for its own summon, "Rainbow Over Dragon" might mostly rely on its ATK but the results that provides to the entire archetype in the process is what really makes it stand out.

Personal Rating: A

+ High ATK + Two methods to be Special Summoned + Can banish a Crystal Beast in our Graveyard to gain a temporal ATK boost + Chainable effect to tribute itself and shuffle all cards on the field to the Deck + Powerful options to not only cheapen its summon but also prepare the summon of "Rainbow Dragon" in the process

Crystal Beast Sapphire Pegasus ———————————————— When this card is Summoned: You can place 1 "Crystal Beast" monster from your hand, Deck, or Graveyard face-up in your Spell & Trap Card Zone as a Continuous Spell Card. If this face-up card is destroyed while it is in a Monster Card Zone, you can place it face-up in your Spell & Trap Card Zone as a Continuous Spell Card, instead of sending it to the Graveyard. ———————————————— Can Be Found In: Force of the Breaker (FOTB-EN007), Collectible Tins 2007 (Wave 1), Legendary Collection 2: The Duel Academy Years Mega Pack (LCGX-EN161), Ra Yellow Mega Pack (RYMP-EN046), Duel Terminal - Preview Wave 2 (DTP1-EN028), Duel Terminal 1 (DT01-EN058)

Searching effects have become the standard to run almost any Deck smoothly. Instead of relying on pure luck to draw our most important cards, we can depend on several effects that will let us obtain the card that suits the best for the situation. While some builds will only have few searching options due lack of support and/or being affected by the banlist, some Decks invest so much on obtaining key cards that the majority of the build is just to prepare said targets as quick as possible. From staple choices that will fit in most builds to entire archetypes constantly searching for their cards, preparing the best setups the Deck will offer is of great importance to invest several options gathering the cards needed.

"Crystal Beast Sapphire Pegasus" not only is one of the strongest members its archetype can offer, but also probably one of the most important Crystal Beasts to prepare their backrow mechanics as fast as possible. Like most Crystal Beasts, if "Sapphire Pegasus" is destroyed as a monster while face-up it will become a Continuous Spell and immediately be placed in our backrow ready to interact with the archetype's gimmicks. But "Sapphire Pegasus" will be one of the leading monsters as soon is summoned in any way possible, as in return of doing so we are allowed to look for a Crystal Beast in our hand, Deck, or even Graveyard to be placed as a Continuous Spell in our field. Obviously the main pick will go to Crystal Beasts from our Deck, and even though brings them as Continuous Spells is more than enough to quickly prepare most of the goals the Crystals Beasts can aim for.

With an ability that will trigger in any way that is summoned, "Sapphire Pegasus" is more than prepared to come to the board no matter if is as a monster or a Continuous Spell. That includes being searched by its very own copies, preparing it on our backrow so later on can be easily summoned by effects such as "Crystal Beast Ruby Carbuncle" or "Crystal Promise". If is not by its own copies it will become a Continuous Spell from our Deck by many other alternatives, ranging from "Crystal Release" once sent to the Graveyard or "Crystal Bonds" also giving us the alternative to add it to our hand. Otherwise we take a more direct approach with "Crystal Beacon" directly summoning "Sapphire Pegasus" from inside our Deck once we have at least two Crystal Beasts in our backrow, or "Crystal Hoard" responding to the defeat of our Crystal Beasts by summoning this creature (Although might miss the effect's timing). Last but not least important, a "Sapphire Pegasus" in the Graveyard not only is supported by its very own copies and some revival effects to quickly come back to the board, but also cards like "Crystal Blessing" and "Ultimate Crystal Formation" assuring is back in our backrow for any purpose.

"Sapphire Pegasus" might not put its targets in a position that can be immediately summoned compared to other searchers like "Crystal Vanguard", but in an archetype all about their backrow is more than sufficient to obtain powerful results as is constantly summoned in one way or another. With almost the entire archetype at its disposition we can look for any Crystal Beast we need in our backrow with ease, with top priority going to copies of itself and "Crystal Beast Ruby Carbuncle" with the ability to summon members in our backrow. The more Crystal Beasts becoming Continuous Spells the more powerful our field will become, going from the devastating results arround "Crystal Abundance" to powering up the effects of "Ancient City - Rainbow Ruins". If is not aiming for those setups it will try to meet the summoning conditions of "Rainbow Dragon", although thanks to "Ultimate Crystal Formation" we can instead mill Crystal Beasts to summon "Ultimate Crystal God Rainbow Over Dragon" and later on come back to our backrow for any purpose at the moment.

"Crystal Beast Sapphire Pegasus" is undoubtly the card that moves the entire archetype forward with an unrestricted searching effect ready to hoard Crystal Beasts in our backrow in some way or another. Mainly looking for its own copies and "Crystal Beast Ruby Carbuncle", soon enough we'll have a backrow full of Crystal Beasts ready for any of the several goals the archetype can aim for. From triggering the effect of "Ruby Carbuncle" to swarm the board with several "Sapphire Pegasus" and activate their effects, to preparing the use of "Crystal Abundance" and "Rainbow Dragon" and finish off our opponent, there's really no big flaws arround this monster besides "Crystal Hoard" missing its effect's timing in most situations. If you're playing Crystal Beasts, this monster will be the true lead of the entire build to obtain results as soon as possible.

Personal Rating: A+

+ When summoned it will place a Crystal Beast from our hand, Deck, or Graveyard in our backrow + If destroyed it will turn into a Continuous Spell + Greatly supported including by its own copies + Prepares most of the archetype's goals with ease

Crystal Beast Ruby Carbuncle ———————————————— When this card is Special Summoned: You can Special Summon as many "Crystal Beast" cards as possible from your Spell & Trap Card Zone. If this face-up card is destroyed while it is in a Monster Card Zone, you can place it face-up in your Spell & Trap Card Zone as a Continuous Spell Card, instead of sending it to the Graveyard. ———————————————— Can Be Found In: Force of the Breaker (FOTB-EN001), Hobby League 5 (HL05-EN001), Deluist Pack: Jesse Anderson (DP07-EN001), Legendary Collection 2: The Duel Academy Years Mega Pack (LCGX-EN155), Ra Yellow Mega Pack (RYMP-EN040)

Crystal Beasts tries to pull big setups by taking advantage of the ability to turn their monsters into Continuous Spells. With most of the time having their backrow full of Crystal Beasts, the build tries to take advantage of that demerit by using them as cost of several powerful effects and outcomes. From swarming the field with all their monsters to overcome the opponent to summoning one of the many forms of "Rainbow Dragon", Crystal Beasts might take at best a pair of turns to achieve their winning conditions but when they do is quite difficult to avoid their overwhelming power that easily.

"Crystal Beast Ruby Carbuncle" might be the weakest monster the archetype can offer, yet is the most important card in the whole archetype thanks to the incredible potential of its main effect. Like the rest of Crystal Beasts "Ruby Carbuncle" will turn into a Continuous Spell if destroyed while face-up, something nearly unavoidable due its poor stats but far from a problem thanks to how the archetype works. The true power of this monster comes when Special Summoned, as when that happens "Ruby Carbuncle" will summon all Crystal Beasts resting in our backrow. Therefore, no matter how we summon this monster we will easily turn back all those Crystal Beasts we turned into Spells as the Duel progressed for all sorts of purposes. Working along the main mechanics of the archetype, "Crystal Beast Ruby Carbuncle" is greatly supported to time its ability right on time for its best outcomes.

As long its effect is not negated in the process, there are plenty of options to summon "Ruby Carbuncle" and end with our field plagued with Crystal Beasts. While there are some cards able to add it to our hand, instead we should use effects like "Crystal Beast Sapphire Pegasus" and "Crystal Release" to place it in our backrow so later on can be summoned by cards like "Crystal Promise" or "Ancient City - Rainbow Ruins" from that position. We can also skip that step and directly summon "Ruby Carbuncle" from our Deck, with either "Crystal Beacon" timing it once our backrow is full of Crystal Beasts or "Crystal Hoard" in response of our Crystal Beasts being destroyed. While there are various revival options to summon "Ruby Carbuncle" such as "Limit Reverse" among others to obtain its effect in the process, we can also depend on "Crystal Blessing" as will bring it as a Continuous Spell along another Crystal Beast. Overall the main issue will come if "Ruby Carbuncle" ends in our hand, but should be solved with both "Crystal Vanguard" and "Crystal Protector" using their role as Pendulum Monsters to Special Summon it.

Timing is the keyword to obtain the maximum potential of "Ruby Carbuncle", as depending of our backrow and the Crystal Beasts in it we can obtain different outcomes. With the introduction of Xyz and Link Monsters, "Ruby Carbuncle" can gather all its allies to the field to work as materials for all kinds of powerful monsters such as "Borreload Dragon" and "Number 101: Silent Honor ARK" and take over the board immediately. The best candidate for this Special Summon is "Crystal Beast Sapphire Pegasus", as its own arrival will allow us to gather more Crystal Beasts to prepare them for costs and further Special Summons from "Ruby Carbuncle". The final route is to simply attack the opponent with the summoned Crystal Beasts, as "Sapphire Pegasus" and other members have solid stats capable to defeat the opponent by attacking them together. Remember that like the rest of Crystal Beasts it will turn into a Continuous Spell when destroyed, so even after its arrival is defeated it will be ready to come back in one way or another.

Despite being the most fragile member in the archetype, "Crystal Beast Ruby Carbuncle" can be seen as one of the boss monsters due its explosive results. Although completely dependant of the build itself and all its support, the arrival of "Ruby Carbuncle" will easily overwhelm the opponent by swarming the board with all our Crystal Beasts. From working together as materials for bigger summons to simply take over the Battle Phase, the opponent must be completely aware of our backrow as "Ruby Carbuncle" can easily turn them back into monsters at any moment. Like most of the key cards in the archetype it might take a few turns to obtain its best results, but when "Ruby Carbuncle" is Special Summoned by one of many methods it can become very tough to counterattack its results.

Personal Rating: A

+ Becomes a Continuous Spell when destroyed + Summons as many Crystal Beasts in our backrow when Special Summoned + Greatly supported by many Special Summon methods + Powerful outcomes by overwhelming the opponent and/or gathering materials

Last Resort ———————————————— Activate only when your opponent's monster declares an attack. You can select 1 "Ancient City - Rainbow Ruins" from your Deck and activate it. If your opponent had an active Field Spell Card when this card was activated, they can draw 1 card. ———————————————— Can Be Found In: Force of the Breaker (FOTB-EN047), Duelist Pack: Jesse Anderson (DP07-EN022)

Field Spells are in an odd situation when it comes to support. Although they have become primordial cards for many themes and archetypes, in most circumstances they'll only depend on "Terraforming" to be added to the hand as fast as possible. As the card became a staple tool for many Decks arround Field Spells that doesn't mean that are undersupported, as despite the popularity of "Terraforming" there are many other alternatives to gather such important Spell Cards. However, while some share the same efficiency to search Field Spells, the vast majority are easily forgotten.

"Last Resort" is a Crystal Beast card to obtain one of their most important cards in the archetype. When the opponent attacks, "Last Resort" will be used to activate "Ancient City - Rainbow Ruins" from the Deck itself. However, if the opponent has a Field Spell of their own active, "Last Resort" also allow us to draw a card. Although requires for the opponent to take action, due how "Rainbow Ruins" work the Trap becomes a great assistant depending of the setup arround our Crystal Beasts.

The efficiency of "Last Resort" really depends of the circumstances on both sides of the field. If the opponent also works arround Field Spells, "Last Resort" can benefit them due its drawing effect. On the other hand, depending of the number of Crystal Beasts in our backrow "Ancient City - Rainbow Ruins" will arrive stronger thanks to its variety of effects. While a single Crystal Beast assures "Rainbow Ruins" survives against most effects, is highly recommended to have atleast two of them as Spells as will reduce any damage we might take from an attack. With three Crystal Beasts will reach its maximum capacity when it comes to the Battle Phase, as will be able to negate a Spell or Trap at cost of a Crystal Beast (No matter if is a monster or Spell).

"Last Resort" usage is very basic as most of the job comes from the "Ancient City - Rainbow Ruins" it will search for. The more Crystal Beasts we have turned into Spells, the more powerful "Rainbow Ruins" will come from the Deck. This can make "Last Resort" a very helpful card in mid to late game regardless its reliance on the opponent to attack. Unfortunately, "Last Resort" becomes a riskful choice in several aspects, going from making sure "Rainbow Ruins" arrives with the right effects to the fact the opponent might draw a card if they use Field Spells. The latter actually lost a powerful ability due some changes in the game rules, as "Last Resort" activation assured the destruction of the opponent's Field Spell back when this kind of cards couldn't share the board together. Is far from being straight to the point as the popular "Terraforming" is, but "Last Resort" has some interesting results to give it a try.

Personal Rating: C+

+ Activates "Ancient City - Rainbow Ruins" from the Deck + "Rainbow Ruins" can arrive with abilities to defend against the opponent

30 Day Steven Universe Meme: Day 9

9. Your favorite gem monster: Invisible Gem Monster

THIS ONE IS MY FAVORITE BECAUSE I LIKED SADIE'S BATTLE