Yugioh Top 5: Synchro Monsters

Criteria:
Synchros are some of the most powerful monsters in the game today.  So some of the criterias that I considered for this list are stats, importance in a duel, card effect, and uh-oh factor (it's what your opponent says when the monster is Synchro Summoned to the field).

Honorable Mention - Scrap Dragon, Odin Father Of The Aesir, Brionac Dragon Of The Ice Barrier, and Goyo Guardian.

5.  Black Rose Dragon

Pros:
- First effect can clear the entire field.
- Second effect can destroy nearly any monster reguardless of ATK.
- Great card to build a deck around.

Cons:
- Weak stats.
- Need to be in a Plant-Type deck to optimize the card's usefulness.

Comment:
With two devastating effects, Black Rose Dragon is not a monster your opponent wants to see on the field.  In addition, the summoning requirement is the standard for any Synchro Monster so getting this monster in play is as easy as it gets.  But most importantly, this card single-handedly made Plant-Type decks a viable option in dueling.  That just proves how powerful it really is.

4.  Trishula, Dragon Of The Ice Barrier

Pros:
- Synchro Summon effect allows you to remove 3 of your opponent's card.
- Tremendous amount of Dragon support cards.
- One of the best cards to build a deck around.

Cons:
- Effect only activates once after it is Synchro Summoned (not once per turn).

Comment:
One of the best card in the Yugioh dueling world (not just Synchro Monsters), Trishula is an absolute force when her effect activates.  While getting her on the field might be a little difficult, it is a game changer if you are successful.  The ability to remove 3 of your opponent's cards (one from their hand, one from the field, and one from the Graveyard) will halt any momentum in their favor and swing it to you.

3.  T.G. Hyper Librarian

Pros:
- Gives you card advantage.
- Can be used in any Synchro Deck.

Cons:
- Not a deck leader (used more for enhancing a Synchro Deck).

Comment:
T.G. Hyper Librarian is mandatory in any Synchro-Type deck.  That should be written into the rule book somewhere.  No single card made more of an impact to the summoning of Synchro Monsters than this card.  It made EVERY Synchro deck more destructive and harder to compete with.  I honestly can't think of one bad thing to say about this card.  It's the best at what it does.

2.  Stardust Dragon

Pros:
- Easy to summon.
- One of the best card effect in the game.
- Hard to destroy.
- Has stronger incarnations and lots of card support.

Cons:
- Doesn't have the "game ending" stats.

Comment:
The card effect is what makes Stardust Dragon such a problem for opponents to deal with.  He destroys, gets removed so he can't be attacked, then comes back to do it all over again.  It's basically a hit-and-run card.  But the great thing about Stardust Dragon is that it can be played in any Synchro Deck and it can successfully compete against any Synchro Deck.  All around, the best and most balanced Synchro card.

1.  Dark Strike Fighter

Pros:
- Easy to summon.
- OTK (one turn kill) ability.
- Most powerful Synchro Card.

Cons:
- Forbidden on the Advanced Format.

Comment:
Dark Strike Fighter is the definition of "uh-oh factor".  You literally can hear your opponent say "uh-oh" when he hits the playing field.  With the ability to end a duel the moment he comes into play, Dark Strike Fighter made it possible for anybody to be victorious (no matter how bad they played).  Thankfully they locked him away on the Forbidden list and threw away the key.  This is one monster that will never be taken off that list...hopefully.

Yugioh Top 5: Spell Cards

Criteria:
There are so many great Spell Cards out there that if this was a Top 10 list, cards 10 through 6 could be slotted anywhere in their rankings.  But since this is a Top 5 list, it means that these 5 are mandatory in any dueling deck to ensure victory.  For this list I do not consider if it is unlimited, limited, or forbidden in the Advanced or Traditional Formats.  It is simply based on importance in a duel.

Honorable Mention - Book Of Moon, Burial From A Different Dimension, Polymerization, Mystical Space Typhoon, Lightning Vortex, and Smashing Ground.

5.  Heavy Storm

Card Text:
Destroy all Spell and Trap Cards on the field.

Comment:
The difficult part of dealing with Spell and Trap cards in a duel is that you don't know what they are until they are activated (because they are placed face down on the field).  By then it's usually too late to do anything about and your opponent has you in a world of hurt.  The solution?  Destroy them all before they can hurt you.  Just make sure you don't have any Spell or Trap cards of your own that might get caught up in this tornado.

4.  Dark Hole

Card Text:
Destroys all monsters on the field.

Comment:
This is your last line of defense when an opponent brings out a Monster that you can't handle.  Unlike Heavy Storm which you should activate when you're up against more than a few Spell and Trap cards, Dark Hole needs to be utilized a bit more carefully.  You don't want to waste this card just on any simple monster.  If you don't have a monster in play to stop an opposing monster (especially one that is an absolute beat stick), activate this card and wipe them all out.  It's basically a monster reset button when you are desperate.

3.  Pot Of Greed

Card Text:
Draw 2 cards from your Deck.

Comment:
Two words...card advantage.  If you think about it, normally it would take two rounds to draw two cards (one card per round).  With this card you don't need to wait.  The simple fact that you can get cards in your hand faster means you have the advantage over any opponent.  The key to winning a duel is getting your monsters on the playing field quicker than your opponent.  No other card does it better.

2.  Raigeki

Card Text:
Destroy all monsters on your opponent's side of the field.

Comment:
Unlike Dark Hole, this card only destroys your opponent's monsters.  How important is that little difference?  Dark Hole puts both you and your opponent back to even whereas Raigeki gives you an advantage.  Once the field is clear and you have a huge ATK monster in play, the monster is going directly for your opponent's life points.  Game changer.  Game ender.

1.  Monster Reborn

Card Text:
Special Summon 1 monster from either player's Graveyard to your side of the field.

Comment:
Was there ever any doubt that this card would be #1?  If there was it means you haven't been dueling for very long.  Monster Reborn lets you revive not only your strongest monsters, but also lets you steal an opponent's monster from the Graveyard if you choose to.  Part of the Yugioh dueling world since it began, this card has been a staple in every dueling deck.  From the novice to the tournament champions, Monster Reborn is the apex Spell Card in their deck.

Yugioh Top 5: Cards To Build A Deck Around

Criteria:
Some of the things to consider on this list are playable format (Traditional and Advanced), summoning, stats, effect, availability of support cards, and ability to win a duel.  But most importantly, once they hit the playing field, can they stand on their own and can still get you a victory.

Honorable Mention - Dark Armed Dragon, Odin Father Of The Aesir, Brionac Dragon Of The Ice Barrier, Obelisk The Tormentor, and Chaos Emperor Dragon.

5.  Exodia The Forbidden One

Pros:
- Can automatically win a duel when all 5 pieces are in play.
- The most powerful monster in the Yugioh dueling card world.
- Gives you a chance to win against any deck.

Cons:
- Getting all 5 pieces together is insanely difficult.
- Need a lot of support cards.
- Weak stats.
- Not for  the novice duelist.

Comment:
Exodia has been around since the early days of the game and remains one of the most elite monster.  The ability to still compete against any deck today shows how powerful a deck leader this card really is.  Still considered one of the toughest accomplishments in the game, drawing out the 5 pieces of Exodia for an automatic win takes a lot of skill, deck preparation, and luck.

4.  Trishula, Dragon Of The Ice Barrier

Pros:
- Synchro Summon effect allows you to remove 3 of your opponent's card.
- Tremendous amount of Dragon and Synchro support cards.

Cons:
- Stats are on the low side for a top tier monster card.
- Effect only activates once after it is Synchro Summoned (not once per turn).

Comment:
You can make the argument that Brionac should take this spot and I wouldn't put up much of a fight.  But Trishula's stats and card effect are just more devastating to an opponent in a duel.  When she is Synchro Summoned and the effect activates, your opponent will basically be crippled.

3.  Yubel - The Ultimate Nightmare

Pros:
- All 3 phases (Yubel, Terror Incarnate, and Ultimate Nightmare) are very powerful.
- Tremendous amount of support cards available for Dark-Type attribute.
- Summoning requirements are fairly easy for all 3 phases.

Cons:
- Has no stats and relies exclusively on it's effect.

Comment:
When Yubel (phase 1) hits the playing field your opponent knows exactly what's about to come and many can't do anything about it.  The fact that the first phase could win you a duel just shows you how powerful this card is.  If your opponent can't draw to a card to remove or stall Yubel without activating the next phase it will get significantly worse for them.  With phase 2 (Yubel - Terror Incarnate) and phase 3 (Yubel - Ultimate Nightmare) on the horizon, victory is soon to follow.

2.  Vennominaga The Deity Of Poisonous Snakes

Pros:
- Easy to summon.
- Extremely hard to destroy, can increase ATK, and revive herself.
- Automatic win after 3 Hyper-Venom Counters are on this card.

Cons:
- Not many good Reptile Monster cards available.
- Need to be in a Reptile deck to be used at full potential.

Comment:
The effects of this card are absolutely devasting and one of the most difficult card to remove once it is in play.  Vennominaga also has the rare ability to automatically end a duel.  So unless your opponent can pull out a miracle within 3 turns victory is yours.  One of the best card in the Yugioh dueling game.

1.  Black Luster Soldier - Envoy Of The Beginning

Pros:
- One of the easiest cards to summon.
- Game changing first effect.
- Game changing second effect.
- Tremendous amount of Dark and Light support cards.
- Powerful stats.

Cons:
- None

Comment:
Recently taken off the forbidden list, Black Luster Soldier - Envoy Of The Beginning is the hottest card out there.  It is everything you can ask for in a deck leader.  Easy to summon, great stats, huge number of support cards, two game changing effects, and can be victorious against any deck.  There is no better card to build a deck around than Black Luster Soldier - Envoy Of The Beginning.