Raging Battle Preview - Dark Tuning - Wicked Rebirth

(Foreshadowing the continued rise of Assault mode monsters, Dark Tuning threatens to crush any opponent that lets the game go on too long.)

The second day of our preview begins and the card we're introducing today is known as "Wicked Reborn" in the Asian OCG. In the TCG though it's known as Dark Tuning and it'll see play the moment it releases from Raging Battle.

Could Dark tuning be a slower late game monster reborn?

Will it be the extra speed and rebound capabilities synchro decks need to survive?
Could it set up more mid game OTK's?

Lets blow up the card text first before we get into more analysis:

Pay 800 Life Points to Special Summon 1 Synchro Monster from your Graveyard in Attack Position. Treat this card as an Equip Card and equip it to that Synchro Monster. The equipped monster cannot attack the turn it was Special Summoned this way, and has its effects negated. If this card is removed from the field, destroy the equipped monster. If the monster is destroyed by an effect, except for this card's effect, Special Summon it during the End Phase.

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Synching

Synching with a synchro, maybe not your first thought, but with level 10 synchros coming out, it may be an easy way of setting up big plays.

You can summon a tuner normally, activate Dark Tuning, pay it's small 800 life point cost, and sync away. With the large array of new synchros hitting the game and the already strong line up of synchros available, synching in itself can be a deadly and game turning move.


Keys to success

If Dark tuning teaches us anything, it's level variation. Sometimes you need that level 8 synchro or that level 7 to go for game. Anything else just won't work and only a specific level tuner can give you the win.

In those cases it's crucial to have flexibility with your tuners. If you only play level 3 tuners, you'll be hurt by Dark tuning, especially if you need to summon out a 7 level synchro with the level 5 synchro you just brought back.

Even if you're not running Dark Tuning, a number of other cards need tuning flexibility and Dark tuning can teach you now not to just run level 3 tuners or just run level 2's.

Also if you don't have enough tuners, Dark tuning will have to take a back seat until you get one and synch for a synchro monster; sometimes becoming a costly mistake and causing you the game.


Again make sure you have:

• 1) Tuner Level Variability
• 2) Enough tuners to make Dark Tuning a playable card, and not end up dead most of the time.
• * Lots of different level Synchros in your extra deck. (That's an easy mistake to fix)
  

Assault Mode

Probably one of the more obvious reasons for running Dark tuning will be Assault mode monsters.

All those assault mode monsters now have an easier time summoning their normal counterparts.
If you have no fear now, then soon you will be fearing that Stardust Assault.
Dark tuning just makes it 10 times easier to set up big mid game plays and game ending late game moves.

It seems assault mode activate has a friend now and it's name is Dark Tuning.

Last line of defense

At the very least, Dark tuning can get you a monster to block an attack, saving you from loosing the game. Another desperate move but a tool that may come in handy in a small number of games.

Think of the good defenses that some of the Synchros have and now imagine abusing that defense to your advantage.

It's at least good to know you have some defense if you top deck it, and may end up saving you a few game losses.

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Fake Cons

People will probably mention the fact that it says monsters Dark Tuning brings out can't attack the turn they're summoned.

There's an easy fix for this and it requires timing.

You need to wait for your opponent to declare their end phase, or you can ask them if they've ended their turn, and then you activate Dark Tuning.

Dark Tuning's effect resolves during their end phase and you set yourself up for a free monster that can attack during your turn.

Your opponent now, since they're in their end phase, will barely ever be able to make a move, and will not be able to play that solemn they set that turn.

Good timing is essential to a lot of cards, Dark Tuning is just another example of one.

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Survival

Dark tuning gives Synchro monsters something that most of them have never felt; a true survival instinct.

By that I mean the ability to not fear a smashing ground, a torrential tribute, or a mirror force.

What exactly does Dark tuning do that stops those effects?

"If the monster is destroyed by an effect, except for this card's effect, Special Summon it during the End Phase."

All the cards mentioned above thus become temporary stops rather than permanent ones. If you mirror force a monster brought back by Dark Tuning, it'll die and then come back at the end phase.

If you smash it, it'll come back when you end your turn.
If you torrential, be prepared to see the synchro's face again.

*(Small note: If it's destroyed by battle, that's not considered a card effect, and it will NOT be coming back. In that case you lose your synchro and your Dark tuning.)

Actual Downsides

1) There is one weakness though that we're inheriting because of Dark Tuning. It seems only fair that if it gives us a strength it should give us a weakness as well.

What is that weakness?

The susceptibility to spell and trap destruction. As the card mentions, if dark tuning dies, whatever monster it brought back dies as well.

A simple mystical space typhoon then, can do away with your plans and send your synchro away for good.

A number of monsters (like Chiron the Mage) might now see play because of this vulnerability; bringing back more spell and trap destruction, or maybe a few more Royal Decree decks.

2) The other weakness we've inherited is the fact that Dark tuning is a trap. It will be much slower than a spell and will not benefit you the turn you draw it.

It's basically a future investment and a strong one at that.

Patient players will do better with this card while previous Tele-Dad players might become frustrated with this weakness.

Overall it's not a huge downside as some synchros will be able to come out during your opponents turn in defense mode, and use their strong defenses to wage off attacks. (That's if you can't wait til their end phase to play Dark Tuning)


3) As mentioned previously in the article, you'll need lots of tuners in your deck to make sure Dark tuning isn't a dead card.

Cards like Mind Control might see more play, essentially becoming a free brain control and synch.

But you'll need to make those synchs, and make them fast, to set up Dark tuning, and that will hurt a lot of decks that currently can't fit a good number of tuners into their builds.


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Overall

Dark tuning will become a staple for Assault mode decks and a must play for teleport and tuning oriented ones.

If it ends up becoming an Ultra or a Secret rare card, it may be a money card of the set.

It punishes players who allow games to extend out and will force the metagame into a faster pace, as if it wasn't already fast enough :D.

It might make D.D Crow a more viable card and the crow may end up seeing more play, ESPECIALLY against assault mode decks!

Raging battle certainly wants to shake things up and it seems already like it's representing it's name quite well.

Let the battle rage, reborn those synchros, and bring down the pain of the Assault modes on all!