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Bad

 Not Great

Good

Great!

Killer!!!

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****

*****

 

Dark Beginning 1

 

DB1-EN057 DB1-EN058 DB1-EN059 DB1-EN060
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Unlike the other "searcher Monsters", this guy has some decent uses like hunting out Sangan for Exodia. It's funny how on some cards, UDE puts text that says "As long as this card remains face up on the field," and the Monster doesn't have the stats to remain on the field and this one sure doesn't. Turn that Gazelle into a 2000 ATK Monster or lower Giant Soldier of Stone's DEF to make it more easy to destroy in battle! While A Legendary Ocean is slightly better, this card does provide a decent ATK boost to WATER Monsters.
DB1-EN053 DB1-EN054 DB1-EN055 DB1-EN056
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This guy can join the rest of the "searcher Monsters" that have little playability at the moment. Same as DB1-EN053's comments. This bell won't even get the chance to be used as it will be in its own ceremony: a DEATH ceremony as it will already be in the Graveyard. Same as DB1-EN046's comments.
DB1-EN049 DB1-EN050 DB1-EN051 DB1-EN052
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At most, he'll be able to mow down 1 Monster (if lucky) and he will be destroyed by his own effect. His stats of (1000/1000) certainly don't indicate a real karate man's strength. It's easy to get this guy destroyed in battle but is not playable for it summons more copies of itself in Attack Mode to your side of the field, putting your Life Points at risk. Keep only in Kaiba decks. Wait a minute, its stats are the same as Giant Germ's so why is it's rating higher? It summons Monsters face down, saving your lifepoints and giving your lifepoints a boost when destroyed in battle. For now, his time to shine isn't going to happen as very few Monsters out there are decent and fit his requirements exist.
DB1-EN045 DB1-EN046 DB1-EN047 DB1-EN048
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Hunt out that needed EARTH Monster like Marauding Captain but otherwise don't use this. Use Manju instead as you get a choice between the Ritual Spell or the Ritual Monster. At the moment, there aren't any decent FIRE Monsters to make this guy useful but perhaps in the future there will be. He'll be gone in a flash as his stats will quickly drop to "terrible status" and he will be destroyed quickly.
DB1-EN041 DB1-EN042 DB1-EN043 DB1-EN044
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Leave this in Kaiba decks and use Summoned Skull or a decent 2400 ATK Monster instead. The key ingredient to Toon decks. It costs 1000 lifepoints just to be activated and has nothing else to protect itself or the Toon Monsters. Good thing UDE made this card a Rare because now that it's banned, pulling it isn't as much of a disappointment as it could be if a rarer card. 2000 DEF is about all this card has for even its effect isn't worth it.
DB1-EN037 DB1-EN038 DB1-EN039 DB1-EN040
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On one hand, you can double your Monster's ATK! On the other, your Monster's ATK could get halved all in the same turn and that's why this card's rating is only 3/5. His Level 7 stats are terrible at (2200/2600) and he too has a 500 Life Point cost for attacking but at least he too can attack directly if Toon World is out so he gets 2/5. While easier to summon than MRR, its stats still don't make up for needing TW to attack or be summoned, not to mention costing 500 lifepoints to attack with it. What keeps him from receiving 3/5 like his counterpart is he has all the bad effects of the other Toon Monsters. He also has the good effect and decent stats, which keep him from receiving 1/5.
DB1-EN033 DB1-EN034 DB1-EN035 DB1-EN036
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It is certainly a painful choice when your opponent chooses a card you didn't want them to choose and you end up stuck with it while your decent cards are in the Graveyard. Same as DB1-EN005's comments. Most Monsters in today's metagame can't stand against this card and requiring only 1 tribute is decent as well! This card will have an eternal rest because no one will even think about using it.
DB1-EN029 DB1-EN030 DB1-EN031 DB1-EN032
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Use Confiscation instead. Had it actually only made your opponent pay lifepoints, this card would be better but since that isn't the case, don't use this. Decent to use! It helps if you don't want to destroy your Spell and Trap Cards and get your opponent's Spell and Trap Cards out of the way but still, use Heavy Storm when you have no Spell or Trap Cards on the field.
DB1-EN025 DB1-EN026 DB1-EN027 DB1-EN028
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I suppose if you can get a nice boost from something like Malevolent Nuzzler or Axe of Despair, this card isn't too bad but still not at playable standards. In most cases, duelists won't screw up to have an opponent's Monster gain the ATK from the Equip Spell Card that was meant for their own monster so don't use this. A quick +700 ATK to surprise your opponent isn't too bad but Malevolent and Axe of Despair are better still so use them instead. Like RR, +700 DEF saves your Monster and briefly surprises your opponent but since it only lasts one turn, this guardian isn't very reliable and you should instead use Horn of  Light.
DB1-EN021 DB1-EN022 DB1-EN023 DB1-EN024
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With Change of Heart banned, this card is sure to be a good filler for any deck! Good for Stall decks! At least UDE knows what rarities to give bad cards like this one. It's slightly better than Confiscation for your opponent ends up losing 2 cards but still not great.
DB1-EN017 DB1-EN018 DB1-EN019 DB1-EN020
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In multiples, this card isn't too bad but overall isn't that great. Stick to Jar of Greed. This card will take a toll on your lifepoints unless you're using Stall. Don't use this card. Your destiny isn't looking good if you use this card.
DB1-EN013 DB1-EN014 DB1-EN015 DB1-EN016
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I'll give UDE praise for at least lowering this card's rarity because its effect wasn't worth the Super Rare status. A monster that needs 2 tributes and can't beat even Giant Orc, who needs no tributes and cannot fend off even Summoned Skull, who needs only 1 tribute is just beyond bad. A Heavy-Mech Support Platform with a Snatch Steal effect is decent but the starting stats aren't so impressive. I'll bet she's good at archery but most Monsters don't need to, they can just step on her and she's destroyed.
DB1-EN009 DB1-EN010 DB1-EN011 DB1-EN012
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Unlike most Monsters with his stats, he has a decent effect. Even using Premature Burial on him gives him 2050 ATK! For the activation requirements in his effect, 1000 damage isn't worth it. Same as DB1-EN008's comments. Giving your opponent extra cards is just horrible so don't use this card.
DB1-EN005 DB1-EN006 DB1-EN007 DB1-EN008
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While the boost it gives isn't as high as AoD, it still provides a decent boost to just about any Monster! Use Shadow Spell instead as it lowers the ATK of the Monster by 700 points and prevents it from changing modes whereas this card doesn't. What's even more shocking than this snake is that his effect is terrible. Don't use him. If you can find a decent use for this card, pat yourself on the back. Otherwise, what is it doing anywhere else except being thrown away?
DB1-EN001 DB1-EN002 DB1-EN003 DB1-EN004
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With very low stats and having a horrible effect, there's zero chance this guy will have any use. A 1000 point boost lets Summoned Skull take out BEWD or Monsters that attack directly deal more damage! Having to tribute a Monster to return it to the top of your deck hurts this card. Stick to Axe of Despair as it gives the equipped Monster twice the ATK and can be returned to your deck. 800 DEF is quite a boost, especially on Monsters where 800 DEF lets it block even stronger monster's attacks.