Alright, for my first true article ever, I am going to go in depth on if you should invest in Wind-Ups as a theme and why.
Dummy's Guide to Wind-Ups
The Wind-Up theme is a set of Monsters with no specific type or attribute that can use their effects once before they have to either be flipped face-down or returned to the hand to use again. A significant portion of the monsters can instantly make their Level 5, which can lead to many schenanigans, most of which include Xyz-ing into a Rank 5 Monster. One monster that can instantly make itself a Level 5 is Wind-Up Dog, a monster who also happens to be Beast and Level 3, which is why many Wind-Up deck capitalize on this card, and the next card, with Super-Nimble Mega Hamster. Wind-Up Kitten is a semi-Grand Mole who can bounce ANY monster on the field to the hand once before you need to Wind it Up again. It is a Level 2 Beast. Wind-Up Zenmaister has also made an appearance on the TV show, so it is a realistic expectation that this them will receive more support in future sets.
Wind-Up Dog
EARTH LV.3 Beast Effect
ATK/1200 DEF/900
Once, while this card is face-up on the field, you can activate this card's effect during the Main Phase. If you do, this card gains 600 ATK, and its Level is increased by 2 until the End Phase.
Wind-Up Kitten
EARTH LV.2 Beast Effect
ATK/800 DEF/500
Once, while this card is face-up on the field, during your Main Phase: You can target 1 monster your opponent controls; return the target to the hand.
Card #1 - Wind-Up Factory
Now Rank 5 Spam alone is not the reason why this deck has so much potential. With just that, the deck would be way too slow, and it would have to realy on Cyber Dragon and minusing to bring out the Rank 5 Boss-Monsters. The reason this deck has so much potential is that it has THREE Black Whirlwinds it can use (as long as the "Ignition on Priority Rule" doesn't come into play, they essentially have the same effect)
Wind-Up Factory
Continuous Spell Card
When the effect of a "Wind-Up" monster is activated, you can add 1 Level 4 or lower "Wind-Up" monster from your Deck to your hand. This effect can only be used once per turn.
In fact, I'll give some reasons why it's BETTER and WORSE than Black Whirlwind
PROS:
- It is "Once per Turn," which means if you are stuck with only one Wind-Up card, you can use this without using another one (if you have a way to set/bounce the monster)
- If any cards come out that add Wind-Up cards from the deck to the hand, this card could be searched, unlike Black Whirlwind
- There is NOT an attack restriction for the monsters searched, so theoretically the searches with this card could go on forever
CONS:
- Ultimate Offering would allow multiple searches with Black Whirlwind while it wouldn't with this card
- Blackwings have Kalut, so the search can provide protection to their monsters
Should you invest in this card - YES
If this deck ever becomes competitive, which it likely will, due to (an?) appearance on the TV show by Zenmaister, THIS card will be one of the main reasons the deck is competitive. The searching in here is as amazing as it is on Black Whirlwind, and will only get better as time goes on.
Card #2 - Wind-Up Zenmaister
Is there something I'm missing? This deck is basically built around getting Rank 5 Xyzs out, so why is their boss monster a Rank 4? Not only that, but this card is pretty mediocre for a Rank 4. Its attack stat is alright, but just gets worse the longer he stays alive. This card's effect is alright for the theme though. The reuse of other Wind-Up's effects is very easily accomplished by this card, and this card has one minor detail that all other current Wind-Ups don't have. This guy has an effect that can be activated more than once while it's face-up on the field. Why does this matter at all? Well, not much, but that gives it much more use with Wind-Up Factory.
Wind-Up Zenmaister
EARTH RNK.4 Machine Xyz Effect
ATK/1900 DEF/1500
2 Level 4 monsters
This card gains 300 ATK for each Xyz Material attached to this card. Once per turn: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card to target 1 face-up monster you control; change it to face-down Defense Position, and during the End Phase of this turn, change it to face-up Attack Position.
Should you invest in this card - NO
Not many Wind-Up decks get this guy out often, and even if they did, he isn't good enough to rise from a $2 tin promo to something expensive
Cards #3 + #4 - Tiras, Keeper of Genesis + Adreus, Keeper of Armageddon
On first sight, these cards are amazing. Right now, you'd be right, they are AMAZING and they are the boss monsters of this deck. Tiras is a 2600 beater who can't die for 2 turns, and Adreus is able to blow up 2 monsters during his reign on the field. If you run this deck right now, you spam these things and win while doing so. They are pretty expensive as well right now, running for $20 and $25 respectively. The main way this deck brings these out is either getting lucky and having one of your level-boosting Wind-Ups live until you can normal summon another one, Cyber Dragon, or The Tricky (*Gag*).
Tiras, Keeper of Genesis
LIGHT RNK.5 Xyz Effect
ATK/2600 DEF/1700
2 Level 5 monsters
This card's effects can only be applied or activated while it has Xyz Material. This card cannot be destroyed by card effects. At the end of the Battle Phase, if this card attacked or was attacked: Target 1 card your opponent controls; destroy the target. During each of your End Phases: Detach 1 Xyz Material from this card.
Adreus, Keeper of Armageddon
DARK RNK.5 Xyz Effect
ATK/2600 DEF/1700
2 Level 5 Monsters
Once per turn: You can detach a Xyz Material from this card to target 1 face-up card your opponent controls; destroy it.
Should you invest in this card - NO
Wait, what? I just said no? Doesn't that contradict everything I've said about these cards so far? Why would these cards not be great investments if this deck is going to be so amazing?
Two things.
Number one, read this card:
Number 51: Volcasaurus
FIRE RNK.5 Xyz Effect
ATK/2500 DEF/1000
2 Level 5 monsters
Once per turn: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card to target 1 face-up monster your opponent controls; destroy the target and inflict damage to your opponent equal to that monster's Original ATK. This card cannot declare a direct attack during the turn you activate this effect.
This card outclasses Adreus in almost every way, which is enough of a reason to not invest in Adreus. Most versions will still actually want to run 1 Tiras, but the card is hyped right now and until Point 2 comes across, the card will decline.
But yea, Point 2 is the most important point.
When will these supposed cards that make Wind-Ups amazing come out? Order of Chaos or later. That's a damn long time to be holding onto cards that will decline in value as time passes. Not only this, but Volcasaurus, which seems like forever away, will be printed in the TCG around the same time as Order of Chaos. There is really no point to the two (Adreus especially) unless you want to run a slow, sub-par deck during a format of Rescue Rabbit and Grapha.
Thank you for Riding the Hype Train with me today, we have now arrived at the destination. If you are thinking about investing in Wind-Ups for future potential, invest in Wind-Up Factory. If the TV show continues with support for this deck, then we could have the next Blackwing deck waiting to happen. Invest in Factory at $3 apiece
