Tokens

Tokens has rcently been confirmed to be able to be used for Link Summoning.

Today, in this article, we will introduce an old card, with a new play. Blackwing – Gofu the Vague Shadow is a single card that can enable a Link Monster, allowing you to expand your field by ‘Linking’ the two Main Monster Zones.

The Play

Special Summon Blackwing – Gofu the Vague Shadow onto the field. Activate the effect of Blackwing – Gofu the Vague Shadow, spawning two tokens onto the field. Link Summon [Link Spider] by using Vague Shadow Token #1 as a Link Material. Link Summon [Link Spider] by using Vague Shadow Token #2 as a Link Material. Link Summon [Decode Talker] by using both [Link Spider]s and Blackwing – Gofu the Vague Shadow as Link Materials.

Decode Talker ‘links’ two Main Monster Zones, allowing you to summon up to two monsters from the Extra Deck. This entire process does not consume your once-per-turn Normal Summon, making it a sound strategy to rush out Link Monsters to facilitate swarming. Decode Talker also has respectable stats on top of a handy negation-protection effect.

Let’s not forget that the tokens can’t be used for Tribute Summons. However, with Link Summoning, they are replaced by [Link Spider], which can be tributed for Tribute Summons. Effectively, Blackwing – Gofu the Vague Shadow can provide a player with three monsters onto the field without the cost of their normal summon, facilitating the summon of boss monsters such as the Egyptian God cards. It is plenty of advantage from a single card.

Hence, I do believe that the limitation it faced on the OCG Forbidden and Limited List is both justified and required.

Conclusion

However, do note that Decode Talker has a Link Marker pointing upwards, an aspect that may benefit your opponent. This factor has to be taken into consideration when planning your plays.

Link Summoning, while presenting a harsh transition for players, adds another dimnesion to the ever-changing game while morphing how Yu-Gi-Oh is being played. While I am personally not a fan of adding more mechanics to the already-complicated game, I am willing to give it a shot.

What about you? Will you be staying? And if so, are you ready?