Card of the Night: Number 91: Thunder Spark Dragon

It’s been an interesting week this past week; slow on the news, but pretty heavy on rumors. Fortunately, the newest pack for the TCG, Return of the Duelist, releases this week on August 28, 2012! Get ready for some new archetypes, such as Prophecy, Madolche, and supports for Photon, Xyz, and Thunder archetypes! Let’s get on with the Card of the Night tonight then, shall we?

The Card of the Night tonight is Number 91: Thunder Spark Dragon, which is a Rank 4 dragon type monster that requires 3 generic Level 4 monsters to summon. It carries a modest 2400 attack, 2000 defense base stat, which is quite similar to Number 10: Illumiknight, but has a much more… destructive effect.

Right off the bat, if you find yourself capable of summoning Number 91: Thunder Spark Dragon, you’ll be able to use one of its effects: by detaching 3 Xyz materials from it, you’ll be able to destroy all other face-up monsters on the field. Of course, if you manage to have 5 Xyz materials attached to it, you can utilize its other effect: by detaching 5 Xyz materials from it, you’ll be able to destroy all cards your opponent controls!

It’s first effect is relatively similar to that of Thunder End Dragon, but it distinguishes itself by targeting only face-up monsters rather than all other monsters in general. Of course, it’s second effect is the most costly of all Xyz monsters in the game thus far, and the requirement is much harder to achieve than the manga version, whose summoning requirement was 5 Level 4 monsters rather than 3 Level 4 monsters.

So, how would one manage to get 5 Xyz materials to it? There are 4 cards in the TCG that can help you: Overlay Regen, Overlay Eater, Xyz Unit, and Spirit Converter. Overlay Regen is a normal spell card that allows you to attach it to any Xyz monster you control, while Overlay Eater banishes itself from the graveyard to steal an opponent’s Xyz material, and Xyz Unit serves as a small power-up equip card that can act as an indirect Overlay Material. If you use Light and/or Thunder based decks, Spirit Converter can turn any level 4 light monster in to an overlay material. Of course, the easiest and most recommendable action would be to use multiple copies of Overlay Regen.

Number 91: Thunder Spark Dragon also serves as one of the growing many of rank 4 monsters that require 3 Level 4 monsters. Some others include Number 10: Illumiknight, Number 32: Shark Drake, and Vylon Disigma. A good swarm strategy would be best, so cards such as Daybreaker could work in your best interest.

In terms of weaknesses, Number 91: Thunder Spark Dragon has a relatively low attack for a rank 4 monster, bested by the likes of Number 39: Utopia and Gem-Knight Pearl. Though it does carry a relatively destructive effect, it doesn’t serve much use if its effect is either negated or used up. Honest, just like with any light-attribute monster, serves as a perfectly overwhelming card to prevent any weaker light-attribute monster from being destroyed by battle. Of course, Xyz Unit Unit gives Number 91: Thunder Spark Dragon a nice 800 attack point boost, making it a 3200 attack point monster with just one Xyz Unit! Having two copies would give it the necessary 5 Overlay units it would need for its ultimate effect, as well as boosting the attack to a respectable 4000 attack level!

Overall, Number 91: Thunder Spark Dragon gets an 8.0 out of 10 rating for its incredibly destructive effects, but its hard summon conditions and relatively low stats for its rank level leave more to desire. Of course, if you do manage to wipe out your opponent’s field, you’ll have an easy time taking out the rest of your opponent’s life points and claim the win!

Stats:

Rank: 4

Attribute: Light

Type: Dragon/Xyz/Effect

Attack: 2400

Defense: 2000

Effect: Once per turn, you can activate one of these effects: *Detach 3 Xyz materials from this card; destroy all other face-up monsters on the field. *Detach 5 Xyz materials from this card; destroy all cards your opponent controls.

Set Name: ROTD-EN098

Set: Return of the Duelist

Current Price: N/A

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