#vennu

Vennu, Bright Bird of Divinity ———————————————— You can Ritual Summon this card with "Primal Cry". Once per turn: You can reveal 1 monster in your hand, then target 1 face-up monster on the field; that target's Level becomes equal to the Level the revealed monster had, until the end of this turn. Once per turn, if another monster is Tributed from your hand or field (except during the Damage Step): You can target 1 monster in your Graveyard; add it to your hand. ———————————————— Can Be Found In: Maximum Crisis (MACR-EN097)

Some cards are nearly impossible to judge by their own merits. A card might carry an extravagant effect or an ability that involves other cards in various ways, making the source very difficult to stand out on their own. But once we find the possibilities arround it, a card can go from not that remarkable to a mechanic with high potential to stand out. Although dependant of the rest of the build to be functional, their task arround the cards and effects involved will make it worth of their own Deck.

"Vennu, Bright Bird of Divinity" is a very unusual Ritual Monster as doesn't carry the effects to become a dominant threat when compared to others of its kind. Once per turn, "Venne" will allow us to change the Level of a monster on the field by the one of another resting in our hand once is revealed. If a monster which isn't "Vennu" is tributed from our hand or field, in return we will be able to retrieve a monster in the Graveyard back to the hand. Both abilities aren't that outstanding for the effort often required arround Ritual Summons, but nonentheless "Vennu" has some interesting mechanics to get involved into and provide some respectable results.

As any Ritual Monster, "Vennu" requires a set of resources to be brought to the field. Its main Ritual Spell "Primal Cry" probably has a bigger advantage compared to others, as not only is the card to summon "Vennu" by default but also gives us a chance to revive it if is sent to the Graveyard during our turn. Along that unique feature we have the usual staple options to gather both "Vennu" and any Ritual Spell of our choice, as the simple use of cards like "Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands" and "Ritual Sanctuary" will get us either of them right on time. When comes to materials shouldn't be any harder, as we can either work with cards like "Rescue Rabbit", "Advanced Ritual Art", or "Summoner's Art" to easily obtain Normal Monsters, or use the Ritual Djinns from the Graveyard as well obtain additional effects in the process.

The ability to change Levels might not have any groundbreaking outcomes during most Duels, but still has a reliable purpose. Obviously changing a monster's Level can allow us to mold materials for certain Xyz or Synchro Summons, but can also prepare a single target to be the full cost of a Ritual Summon if needed. What truly makes "Vennu" shine is its retrieval effect when tributing other monsters, as has some clear candidates to constantly recycle monsters during each turn. The most obvious route is to work along other Ritual Monsters including its own copies, as each time we Ritual Summon we will recover any monster in the Graveyard and keep a healthy hand for later uses. The second option is the Hieratic archetype, constantly tributing their members from the hand and field to summon Normal Monsters which in the process "Vennu" will allow us to recover key monsters turn after turn. A slightly slower alternative are the Infernoids, monsters brought by banishing each other yet with tributing effects to disrupt the opponent which "Vennu" can work along its retrieval effect. Don't forget about the revival effect of its main Ritual Spell "Primal Cry", not only dealing with any possible threats during our turn but also allow us to revive "Vennu" or other Ritual Monster if is used as material for non-Xyz Summons.

Overall, "Vennu, Bright Bird of Divinity" is an unique case of a Ritual Monster in a heavy support role. Although won't be as menacing as more popular Ritual Monsters, "Vennu" abilities can easily assist other big summons and setups with its mere pressence. Changing Levels has solid setups including cheapening future Ritual Summons, while its retrieval effect can keep the momentum along its kind and/or archetypes like Hieratics or Infernoids. The ability of "Primal Cry" makes this Ritual Monster further stand out, as gives us the possibility to use "Vennu" itself for certain summons and costs and have it back on the board when the turn ends. So while "Vennu" will barely be efficient if standing on its own as its abilities depends of other cards, once summoned along with the right hand and tools it can create great setups by working arround its two effects.

Personal Rating: B+

+ Duplicates the Level of a monster in our hand to another in our field + Allow us to recover a monster in the Graveyard if we tribute a monster in our hand or field + High sinergy with Ritual Monsters and some archetypes + Safe role as material thanks to "Primal Cry"