Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning IOC-025

Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning
Effect Monster (Warrior / LIGHT / 8 Stars / ATK 3000 / DEF 2500)

This card can only be Special Summoned by removing 1 LIGHT and 1 DARK monster in your Graveyard from play. Once during each of your turns, you can select and activate 1 of the following effects:
"¢ Remove 1 monster on the field from play. If you activate this effect, this card cannot attack during this turn.
"¢ If this card destroyed your opponent's monster as a result of battle, it can attack once again in a row.

What can be said that we don't already know about this card? Arguably one of the 5 toughest/strongest/broken monsters in the game period (if you take out the banned cards, some would even say the #1 monster).

Instead let's look the nature of his effect, specifically the 2nd one. Everyone played this as an optional Trigger effect since day one. If you destroy a monster in battle, you can swing a "Chaos Sword Attack" once again. But frankly have we been playing it wrong all along?

Some have mentioned a ruling in that the 2nd effect is in fact an Ignition effect that can only be activated in Main Phase 1. This adds a bit of strategy to him, toning him down a little (though let's be clear, BLS-EotB is STILL very strong even if this ruling does come to pass). After all, if you decide you want to attack twice, and your opponent chains "Waboku" to this activation, you've lost the chance to remove a monster. Currently say Waboku was activated before the Battle Phase, this left you with a chance to remove something for free.

As I said, it doesn't change much. "Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning" still is a god card among mortals. But if this ruling does come to pass, it would bring him just a little closer to the ground than the heavens.

 

[Manta]

In premise a great revival to a great concept. You can see Konami's though process: "Let's retrain the warrior born at the beginning of time, let's give him the same solid ATK and DEF as he did, and two nasty "time and chaos" related effects just to make him actually worth using. Since he's going to be chaos related, we need to remove light and dark mosnters from play, one of each should be enough"

The key point highlighted here, I'd have absolutely nothing against this monster if it actually had a summoning requirement that a) Enforced more of a theme, b) Was actually difficult, even offering two tributes is generally harder than removing a light and a dark in the graveyard from play. I mean, one light and one dark from the field would have been just fine.

This bad boy and his maniacal counterpart, the Chaos emporer dragon were the two straws that broke the camel's back when it came to having broken cards in this game. Worthy light and dark cards were easily available and already tournament worthy but these two just made them unbeatable to all other decks except their own. Neither card encourages tactical play, as each one makes the ever daunting yata-lock closer and closer. I will never use this card simply out of principle.

 

[DaGuyWitBluGlasses]

Labyrinth of Nightmare
4 star monsters: Garuda the Wind Spirit, Aqua Spirit, etc. 4 star monster summon by removing 1 monster in the gravetard from play:
Soul of Purity of Light: 6 stars summoned by removing 2 monsters from play
Dark Necrofear: 8 stars summoned by removing 3 monsters from play:

Invasion of Choas
Silpheed, Gigantes"¦ : 4 stars remove 1 monster from play
Chaos Sorceror 6 stars remove 2 monster from play
Chaos Emperor Dragon, BLS-EotB: *cough*Grade1 patterns assignment*cough*

It might not look like much, but having to remove an extra monster: (2 dark monster, 1 light for CED, 2 light one dark for BLS) would definitely have a negative impact on the chaos monsters. I've played with these types of monsters since the beginning, and realize that getting monsters out is exponentionally more difficult th emore you have to remove. Adding the 3rd monster would have definitely made the 2.25 times more difficult to summon. (Especially difficult to summon both of them.)

 

[Xeno]

I love the way summoning this card can turn a duel and win you the game in two turns.


I hate the way someone creature swaps/snatch steal's him away!!!


All in all, this card is too broken in today's meta and should be banned at least for one ban list to force people to use other cards.

 

[djp952]

Some have mentioned a ruling in that the 2nd effect is in fact an Ignition effect that can only be activated in Main Phase 1. This adds a bit of strategy to him, toning him down a little (though let's be clear, BLS-EotB is STILL very strong even if this ruling does come to pass).

For what it's worth, the "Seven Trials to Glory: World Championship Tournament 2005" video game requires you to play him exactly in this fashion. I know the video games are repleat with bugs and rulings issues, but I wonder ... is this how the card is played in Japan?

Even so, I certainly concur that even if we've been playing him incorrectly all along, the card is still way too powerful and should have joined his scaly fire-breathing friend on the Forbidden List April 1st ....

 

[Fiendish Envoy]

For what it's worth, the "Seven Trials to Glory: World Championship Tournament 2005" video game requires you to play him exactly in this fashion. I know the video games are repleat with bugs and rulings issues, but I wonder ... is this how the card is played in Japan?

Even so, I certainly concur that even if we've been playing him incorrectly all along, the card is still way too powerful and should have joined his scaly fire-breathing friend on the Forbidden List April 1st ....

At Worlds, this "Ignition-type" ruling was used for his second effect.

 

[Mazera DeVille]

In my opinion, the most destructive monster in the game today, only seconded when Chaos Emperor Dragon is in play also. Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning is seen far more in decks now than ever before because it has the most unique and destructive effects in the game which can win or turn them around. What were Konami thinking when they created these monster. This card should be banned, if not given an errata to make it more leniant such as the one mentioned above where you have to choose to use the double sword effect before attacking. For me, this card needs to be banned along with Jinzo as they are just too powerful. We still have one final Chaos monster left in the guise of Chaos Sorcerer; maybe in future sets we will see other forms of chaos monsters.

 

[densetsu_x]

I was wondering how long it would take someone to actually address that aspect of the card. Btw, it was your comment earlier FE that led me to include BLS in the theme this week. Btw, when you said it was your L3 friend who ruled that way, was that Julia perchance? Cause from what I heard, she usually is on top of the game like that so that would almost make me believe that's how it should play.

As for how it's done in WC5... I know we should never take the rulings of a game to be "official" in case of bugs and such, but again, it got me thinking. Though in this case it could have been sloppy programming... or it could be the correct way.

This is your forums... React to me!

 

[Xeno]

For me, this card needs to be banned along with Jinzo as they are just too powerful. We still have one final Chaos monster left in the guise of Chaos Sorcerer; maybe in future sets we will see other forms of chaos monsters.

Good point, I wouldn't mind Jinzo being banned. I got brutally double teamed by a Jinzo and Necrofear, and I had a Mirror Force and Magic Cylinder set!!!!

More Chaos Monsters would be interesting indeed, who knows, maybe one day.

 

[densetsu_x]

Looking at how the game evolved, "Jinzo" won't be banned. Not many people run a lot a traps (granted because of the fear of "Jinzo") so his negation is not so effective. Instead, people are turning to many Quickplay Spell Cards for their chainability on things. He's good, but you can build excellent decks without him that can more than hold their own. "Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys" I think would be banned before "Jinzo" (why worry about negating S/T when you can just destroy them over and over and over)?

 

[Fiendish Envoy]

I was wondering how long it would take someone to actually address that aspect of the card. Btw, it was your comment earlier FE that led me to include BLS in the theme this week. Btw, when you said it was your L3 friend who ruled that way, was that Julia perchance? Cause from what I heard, she usually is on top of the game like that so that would almost make me believe that's how it should play.

As for how it's done in WC5... I know we should never take the rulings of a game to be "official" in case of bugs and such, but again, it got me thinking. Though in this case it could have been sloppy programming... or it could be the correct way.

This is your forums... React to me!

Yep, it was Julia, I dont think there is another female LV3

The reason she ruled it this way is because she was simply told to. At Worlds, it was ruled this way (all judges were made aware of it), and she went on to rule it that way at a previous Regional.

Thankfully, it didn't get too public at that time, but right now, more and more are becoming aware of the problem.

 

[densetsu_x]

I think it should be made public.

For starters, rulings like that can help explain why we Americans and such do so crappy in the Worlds. "Attack 1 then attack 2", "You can't. That's not how he's played.", "Since when?", "Since always, not our fault you play it wrong over there."

2) Yes it would tone him down a little. Not enough but enough so that you have to pay attention to what you are doing.

 

[Mazera DeVille]

I guess if people are turning to quickplay spells, then Invader of Darkness might become a possible trade mark of decks. For me Jinzo is proverbial pain which seems to turn up in so many decks, just like to see how decks fare without him for a bit. But we are going off topic so apologies there. BLS should be banned for now, it would certainly change some of the decks out there, although most will probably try and go for Chaos Sorcerer as a replacement. The good thing about Chaos Sorcerer is that A - He is not banned, B - He is common and C - his effect only applies to face up monsters, so it requires more cards for the effect to work effectively like Light of Intervention. It's a pit they didn't include Chaos Sorcerer for Primal Seed.

 

[Xeno]

Looking at how the game evolved, "Jinzo" won't be banned. Not many people run a lot a traps (granted because of the fear of "Jinzo") so his negation is not so effective.

I disagree. When you attack, the only counter-attack cards people use are Mirror Force, CED, Sak. Arm., Cylinder and Ring. Those are the onlyones that would put me off attacking.

Jinzo waltzs right past them. What are you going to use against? Possibly Scapegoat, but that's it. Offerings to the Doomed I've considered, but it's just too much of a cost.

I've started running Solemn Judgement just incase of a Jinzo.

 

[densetsu_x]

"Book of Moon"... and make your opponent wonder about the rest of the cards.

 

[Xeno]

"Book of Moon"... and make your opponent wonder about the rest of the cards.

Haha forgot about BoM. But still, Jinzo basically deactivates your entire defense just by appearing on the field. I hate that card with a passion, even more than I hated Chaos Emperor Dragon.

 

[Yar Nivek]

It's all about the books and the Enemy Controllers.

I have yet to actually see a good chaos deck built around Chaos Sorcerer. I think it could be pretty useful if comboed with SoRL, The Spell Absorbing Life and my favorite trap Ceasefire.

 

[removefromp]

Jinzo basically deactivates your entire defense just by appearing on the field. I hate that card with a passion, even more than I hated Chaos Emperor Dragon.

I totally agree. But you know what they say. If you can beat them, join them. And that's exactlly what I did with my deck. I gave up my dignity and principal for victory. Put in Jinzo and took out traps, put in DD Warrior lady(I am a die hard Exiled Force fan) in place of exiled for BLS. But in my opinion, BLS isn't half as bad as Jinzo. No doubt he's a beast, but he can be stopped and even killed with many inexpensive, easy to get and no drawback traps such as bottomless and Sakuretsu Armor. I certainly wouldn't hope to see Jinzo in future ban list coz' I spent a fortune on getting one myself, but frankly I think he should be banned to make the game more enjoyable because I personally think that traps are the most interesting surprises that you can install for your opponent.

As for BLS, its a double edged sword for the player. Often time I don't summon him right away when I can. Its just too big of a cost when you lose him. If he gets snatched, you'll be doomed. If he gets Creature Swapped, you'll be hella mad. If he gets Mind Controlled and your opponent removed him, your Jinzo or your sini from play, you'll have 3 monsters that are removed from play and it sux in the early game. If he gets ringed and your opponent barrel the damage to you, you'll lose 6000 lp and 2 monsters in the different dimension. I don't think theres any drawback as far as his effect and stats go, but hes also very vulnerable to magics and traps, which is half of what your opponent has in his deck. and most of all, He's not suitable in just any deck. Without the right support, he'll easilly be a dead draw.
BLS doesnt sound as scary now, does it?