Maze of Memories is out. While the set includes a few new cards that look interesting, along with a couple of much-needed reprints, the vast majority of it was a bit of a letdown. However, there is one trio of cards, hiding in the labyrinth, that could form a small engine in casual decks!
The cards I have in mind are part of the Gate Guardian archetype, somehow, but they can also function on their own. The engine consists of two monsters and a field spell, but I leave the exact ratios for you to experiment with. I go over all three cards in detail below, but I want to point out that this engine is best incorporated in stun decks, or decks that do not need to use field spells.
The Tank
Starting off with the least important card in the engine, . You should only play this one in a dedicated strategy, unless you like to fill your decks with bricks or are playing a deck that relies on rank seven plays, such as Kashtira. Although it is a level seven monster, you can normal summon it without tributing. While it cannot attack the turn it is normal summoned, it can destroy one monster your opponent controls by placing a , , or from your banished zone, hand, or deck face up in your spell and trap zone as a continuous spell.
The other two cards are the stars of the show and should be played on their own if you don't run a dedicated Gate Guardian deck.
The Ghoul
is a level five zombie monster with a weak attack and defense. What matters are its two effects. The first effect searches any Labyrinth Wall card by discarding itself from the hand. Its second effect can be applied during your opponent's battle phase. By banishing itself from the graveyard, it can destroy a monster your opponent controls. Both effects, however, cannot be used in the same turn.
The Wall
The final card is the target of our Ghoul and the reason why this engine is even a thing. has a bunch of frustrating effects for your opponent. First of all, monsters cannot attack the turn they are summoned, unless their level is five or higher. Therefore, this effect takes care of link and xyz monsters. Spright Tri-Brigade, for example, is a deck that cannot get over this "summon sickness" and will have to wait for the opponent's next turn to finally attack.
The card's second effect is irrelevant for us right now. It's basically the same as , placing the Gate Guardian pieces in your spell and trap zone.
The third effect, however, is amazing if you use it in addition to the graveyard effect of . Labyrinth Wall Shadow allows you to target and destroy one monster on your opponent's side of the field at the start of their battle phase, as long as that monster's attack is less than 1,600. At the same time, if your opponent manages to bypass the restrictions of Labyrinth Wall Shadow, there is still Shadow Ghoul of the Labyrinth, waiting for your opponent to attack in order to destroy their monster.
Getting rid of up to two monsters during your opponent's battle phase, or one monster during your battle phase, is quite an undertaking. However, the problem with this engine remains that, apart from the field spell's potential stun effect for newly-summoned monsters, it is vulnerable to removal and Bystials. The field spell has no protection, and anything from to can easily get rid of it, while Ghoul in the graveyard will not be able to activate its effect if there is no Labyrinth Wall card on the field.
Therefore, despite the fact that this engine offers protection from attacks and monster destruction, there might be better alternatives out there. However, for casual and stun decks, it seems like something that one could experiment with. It will certainly take your opponents by surprise!
It might not be one of the most sought-after engines, but it is interesting nonetheless. Are you going to try it out? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!
Opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, not of Cardmarket.
