#xex

Svetlana // X.E.X. // Group: X.E.X. (1980)

Worm Xex ———————————————— When this card is Normal Summoned, you can send 1 Reptile-Type "Worm" monster from your Deck to the Graveyard. If you control a face-up "Worm Yagan", this card cannot be destroyed by battle. ———————————————— Can Be Found In: Hidden Arsenal 3 (HA03-EN054), Duel Terminal 3 (DT03-EN082)

While archetypes are desgined to work arround  their own cards and strategies, is not that difficult to some of their best options to stand out beyond their main playstyle. Some cards are so effective on their own that becomes staples for all kinds of Decks, no matter if they are played alone or work along other effects they can get benefits from. So although over the years the card game has limited itself to archetypes to built Decks with, there's a high chance some of the most effective cards they offer can fit in other strategies and even other archetypes.

"Worm Xex" immediately turned one of the most important members for the Worm archetype, as together with "Worm Yagan" they became an effective duo inside and outside their own build. When "Xex" is Normal Summoned it will allow us to dump out a Reptile-Type Worm from inside out Deck. And if "Yagan" is face-up on our field, "Xex" will become invulnerable against any attacks. These abilities work in conjunction with "Yagan" itself, as is able to being Set on the field from the Graveyard if "Xex" is all alone on our field. Therefore, "Worm Xex" becomes a powerful choice to start Duels with as immediately obtains "Yagan" and gain its benefits as well any setups arround them.

While "Worm Yagan" is easy to obtain by "Xex" milling effect, the latter might require a bit of assistance to become quickly available. Worms will offer us the Flip effect of "Worm Cartaros" to obtain "Xex" in our hand, becoming a decent start if "Xex" is not already in our hand. Otherwise we will obtain the assistance of the Xyz "King of the Feral Imps", detaching materials to obtain any Reptile from our Deck. While "Xex" should be Normal Summoned to obtain its effect is not that obligatory, so if needed we can get further help from cards like "Snake Whistle" to Special Summon it. The same applies if "Xex" is taken down and sent to the Graveyard, getting the assistance of cards like "Viper's Rebirth" to bring it back to the field as well a possibility to arrive along "Yagan" in the process.

As stated several times, the main purpose of "Xex" milling effect is to dump "Worm Yagan" so can be revived immediately by its own effect. This not only provides "Xex" the ability to withstand any big attacks along the bouncing effect of "Yagan" when flipped, but also provide us two monsters to work with all sorts of options at the cost of a single Normal Summon. Both "Xex" and "Yagan" can become materials for all sorts of summons (Usually after "Yagan" is flipped), specially Link and Xyz Summons as the cheapest options. Obviously we can go further with summons once both Worms are together, gathering more monsters to work as materials or simply overwhelm the opponent. "Yagan" will banish itself once leaves the field (Unless becomes a Xyz material), but if we gather all its copies to the Graveyard we can revive them one after another to become an effective resource for costs like "Offering to the Snake Deity". "Xex" might become inseparable to "Yagan" to work with its effects but don't hold back on dumping other Worms to the Graveyard if needed, like strong members like "Worm King" to be revived afterwards by a card like "Viper's Rebirth", or preparing a Flip effect such as "Worm Victory" working along cards like "The Shallow Grave" or "Book of Moon".

Many Worm Decks only requires "Worm Xex" and "Worm Yagan" to remain an effective archetype, and is clear why. "Xex" alone will look for "Yagan" so can be revived immediately, becoming a powerful opening hand to setup both together on the field and/or become resources for certain effects and bigger summons. Due "Yagan" revives itself face-down "Xex" protection against battles might have a rare usage in many Duels. But is more about bringing two monsters, one of them with a bouncing effect when flipped, at the cost of a single card that makes them a powerful duo. With their effects being inseparable from each other "Worm Xex" is a great monster to start Duels with but also dispose of certain Worms for other uses later on.

Personal Rating: A

+ Sends a Reptile-Type Worm from the Deck to the Graveyard when Normal Summoned + Gains protection against attacks if "Worm Yagan" is in our field + "Worm Yagan" revives itself if this card is on the field becoming an effective and cheap setup working their effects together