#kozmonster

Design Trivia

This archetype actually started its life as a bunch of Metroid cards, as an archetype built around various Equip and Field Spell cards, a bit like Triamid.

A handful of cards are essentially 1-to-1 conversions from this original design. Kozmo Freelancer was “Samus, Metroid Hunter”, Kozmo Skyeye was originally a DARK Reptile named “Baby Metroid”, and Kozmonster Reawakening was “The Last Metroid Is In Captivity”.

Then I realized I could also reference Castlevania, and make it a Metroidvania archetype. “Metroidvania” quickly became “Cosmipire”, as I started mashing up characters into composites of multiple inspirations. Kozmonster Ravenlord even kept the same non-archetype part of his name, originally being a mashup of Dracula and Raven Beak.

The jump from there to “wild as fuck Kozmo spinoff” was a surprisingly short hop. I was already making stupid card name puns with an archetype about space wizards and archetypal heroes and villains, and some of the mechanics of the cards I’d made were already Kozmo-like, especially the floating effects.

By this point, I had about thirty cards, and decided that since I already had all this lore in my head, I might as well just fucking write it down somewhere. Thus, this blog. Most of the ones I’ve made since then have been to fill holes in the lore (i.e. Lightsiders), or editing existing cards to make the story flow better.

As of this writing, I have 41 custom Kozmo cards, total, including a small sub-archetype that I haven’t even revealed yet, but I wouldn’t be surprised if I break the big five-oh by the end.

Why yes, I am on new ADHD medication, how did you know?

Character/Lore Trivia

My preferred OCG translation for “Kozmonster” would be “KOZMODEVIL”, in romaji, and “Slayer” would be “ キラー ”, kira/killer. Yes, this would retroactively make Vampire Hunter part of the archetype. This is deliberate.

It would also make Apoqliphort Towers part of the archetype, which is honestly too fucking funny to make an exception for.

A couple of upcoming name puns only make sense if you know that when I say “Slayer”, what I really mean is “Killer, if Konami weren’t cowards”.

As is traditional, all the new Kozmo characters use she/her pronouns, except Ravenlord, who uses he/him to make him stand out as not quite belonging in this world, and Grimthought, who is agender and uses they/them. The Rusthorde and Rusthulk aren’t quite sentient, existing only to serve, so it/its is probably fine for them.

Wait, no, Skyeye also responds to he/him, but Freelancer is the only one who talks to him, so that might just be her assigning him one.

Lore of the Kozmos, Part 4: Familiar Faces

Continued from Part 3: Return of the Ravenlord

Alone and deep within Ravenhome, facing down both Grimthought and the Ravenlord, Freelancer thought this might be the end. But, even though she could hardly call herself a match for even one of the Kozmonsters, she fights them both off as best she can, until she gets some help from an unexpected source...

Not everyone who had lived during the Ravenlord’s first reign had willingly kneeled before the Darksiders. Among those who had resisted was an organization with the sole purpose of one day defeating the Ravenlord, the Slayers. (Legacy of the Kozmonster Slayers). Ravenlord had assumed the organization had long since died out, but there was one who survived, who’d been aiding the Slayers in secret from the beginning: His own daughter, the Ravenheir. (Kozmonster Slayer Ravenheir)

In the last desperate moment before Ravenlord strikes down Freelancer, Ravenheir finally reveals her true allegiances, rescuing the girl and moving for both of them to escape. The Slayers would be revived, and this brave girl who’d refused to back down against impossible odds would be among them. But they make it only a few steps before a shot rings out, and Ravenheir collapses. (Kozmodown)

Though the Ravenlord had been blind to his daughter’s treachery, Grimthought had not. Not only had they known, the mastermind had planned for Ravenheir’s betrayal, and they had already found a replacement, one whose loyalty is beyond all doubt, enhanced, transformed into the perfect weapon. Even through the modifications Grimthought has made, Freelancer can still recognize the face of her dearest friend. (Kozmonster Darkseeker)

But Ravenheir had not been alone, and before Darkseeker can take the shot she's aiming at Freelancer, before Freelancer can speak a word to ask her why she’s turned to the Darksiders, another familiar face appears. Having been warned by Ravenheir of the Ravenlord’s existence, and Starseeker’s plans, Farmgirl, too, had gone undercover. (Kozmo Redbaron) Now, she reveals herself, swooping in to rescue the Freelancer and escape.

But the Kozmonsters, and those who serve them, are in hot pursuit...

Legacy of the Kozmonster Slayers

Quick-Play Spell

Special Summon 2 "Slayer Tokens" (Warrior/FIRE/Level 3/ATK 1000/DEF 1000) in Defense Position. You cannot Summon other monsters the turn you activate this card (but you can Normal Set). Your opponent cannot activate cards or effects in response to this card's activation. While this card is in your GY: You can target 1 "Kozmo" Fusion, Synchro, Xyz, or Link Monster in your GY: Banish this card, and return that target to the Extra Deck. You can only activate this effect of "Legacy of the Kozmonster Slayers" once per turn.

Lore of the Kozmos, Part 3: Return of the Ravenlord

Continued from Part 2: A Turn to the Darksiders

On a barren planet, orbiting a dying star, there is a great laboratory, a castle larger than a city. (Kozmonster Castle Ravenhome) This was the station Starseeker found, Ravenhome, containing scientific discoveries that few could ever dream of. Within those walls is the technology to graft metal and weapons onto living flesh, to make someone stronger, faster, tougher, potentially even immortal... and only barely recognizable as human. (Kozmonstrosity)

Could this be why Starseeker had betrayed the Lightsiders? Had something she’d found have been so tempting that she’d turn on everyone just to obtain it? Or had something happened inside that changed who she was, made her commit such a terrible act? Filled with these questions, Freelancer returned to the lab, But this time, it was far from empty. (Kozmonster Rusthorde)

Fighting her way through waves of undead machines built of rusting metal and rotting flesh (Kozmonster Rusthulk), evading treacherous traps and deadly foes, Freelancer seeks out the heart of the lab, where she is confronted by the mad mastermind who had designed it, thousands of years ago, a scientist of limitless cruelty and cunning called Grimthought. (Kozmonster Grimthought).

But she was too late. After eons of dormancy, the lab has been awakened, and its true purpose had been realized. The Rusthulks were just practice while Grimthought perfected their technique, to achieve their true goal. And achieve it they had. Freelancer watched, eyes wide with fear, as an impossibly-tall figure rose, clad in black armor and wielding a glowing purple sword, stepped out of the shadows. (Kozmonster Ravenlord)

His name was the Ravenlord, a Darksider tyrant from ages past, and soon, the galaxy would once again be his.

Kozmonster Rusthulk

Level 3 / DARK

Zombie / Normal

A shocktrooper in the Ravenlord’s army, created with forbidden dark magics that had been forgotten for thousands of years.

ATK 1500 / DEF 0

Kozmonstrosity

Normal Trap

Target 1 face-up "Kozmonster" monster you control; equip this card to that target. It gains 1000 ATK/DEF. If this card is sent from the field to the GY: You can destroy all Spells/Traps on the field. While this card is in your GY, except the turn it was sent to the GY: Shuffle this card into your deck; Draw 1 card. You can only activate this effect of "Kozmonstrosity" once per turn.

Kozmonster Rusthorde

Level 3 / DARK

Zombie / Tuner / Effect

When this card is Normal Summoned: You can change this card to Defense Position; Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower "Kozmonster" monster from your Deck, except "Kozmonster Rusthorde". You can only activate this effect of "Kozmonster Rusthorde" once per turn. When a monster effect is activated: You can Tribute this card; negate that activation.

ATK 1000 / DEF 0

Lore of the Kozmos, Part 2: A Fall to the Darksiders

Continued from Part 1: At Peace No More

With the defeat of Wickedwitch and Dark Lady, everyone had assumed the Darksiders were no more, and that goodness and peace would reign forever. However, so long as there is power, there will always be those willing to do anything to obtain it...

Gifted, talented, and with a strong connection to the Kozmojo, Youngblood’s childhood friend Kozmo Starseeker was one of the most promising students of the Lightsiders. So great was the trust and faith in her, that she was often sent on long missions alone, to far reaches of the galaxy. (Kozmo Variablade) It was she who discovered the derelict station, and when she returned with the news, no one had questioned her motives, or what she might have done before alerting her fellows of its existence.

When the Lightsiders gather all their greatest warriors and scientists at Homebase, Starseeker takes advantage of the moment to commit a terrible deed. Explosions rip through the station, bombs planted by Starseeker, and within minutes, Homebase is torn to pieces. (Kozmoverthrow)

With precious little time to respond, and Farmgirl nowhere to be found, Goodwitch males a snap decision. Rather than save herself, she straps Youngblood into the last working escape pod. (Last Hope for the Kozmos) Her last words are a desperate plea. Survive, become stronger, seek out the missing Farmgirl. Don’t let the Darksiders win.

Now, traveling incognito as Kozmo Freelancer, accompanied by the last surviving Kozmo drone (Kozmo Skyeye), the girl who was once Youngblood seeks answers. Where is Farmgirl? What is the mysterious derelict station? And why would her dear friend turn to the Darksiders?

Many discoveries await Freelancer, somewhere out there in the galaxy. Hopefully, she will be strong enough to handle whatever terrible truths they might reveal.