[SR05] Structured Deck Rawwrrr!! : The Review

                Hey, Guys! Arcknight here and man, it's been 3 months since I wrote my last article (I'll check later as it's probably two xD) but I'm back and will share some of my thoughts regarding the new cards that caught my interests and for sure yours as well. 

Been busy with work recently (top performer lol) but I still managed to keep up with the meta by reading card game news and weekly decklists. One way I do to stay in the loop is playing the famous mobile game called "Duel Links". I've been playing this game since it started during my free time and I must say I'm pretty hooked right now and I know that most of you who plays this game know the feeling especially when you pull up a shiny card by using the gems you gain with all your sweat (Yeah, I know the feeling F2P. It's worth it!)

Going back to the cards that interests me, what do you think of the new 6 cards that will release in the upcoming September Structured Deck R: Surge of Divine Light [SR05] ?

Well for those who are left by the last trip of train, here they are:

SR05-JP001 天空聖騎士［アンゲルパラディン］アークパーシアス Angeru Paradin Aaku Paashiasu (Angel Paladin Arch-Parshath)
Level 9 LIGHT Fairy-Type Effect Monster
ATK 2800
DEF 2300
(1) If this card is in your hand or GY, if you activated a Counter Trap Card, or if you negated the activation of a monster effect or a Spell/Trap Card: You can banish 2 Fairy monsters from your hand, field, and/or GY, except this card; Special Summon this card.
(2) If this card attacks a Defense Position monster, inflict piercing battle damage to your opponent.
(3) When this card inflicts battle damage to your opponent: You can add 1 “Parshath” card or 1 Counter Trap Card from your Deck to your hand.

PROS: 

• First, I'm glad that Parshath finally unleashed his final form. Honestly, I thought this guy came out from the "Pot of Duality" but by carefully looking at the artwork, some says that it's a replica of his head so it's a guy coming from his own head. Well, nevermind. Clever design I must say.
• First SD R Boss monster that can actually revive itself either from hand or graveyard which is a pretty nice take on a boss monster so that's a plus. Sadly, he needs to banish two (2) fairy monsters for that to happen and for a stun deck, unless you go full monster smash fairy, I doubt you can use his recursion effect often. Besides, you protect your monsters with your traps. 
• I like that that he retained the signature piercing effect of "Airknight Parshath" (I thought that was Arcknight Parshath lol). 
• Searching is always welcome for as long as it brings cards that will unleash more negation and control.

CONS:

• Standard Attack for a boss monster but may not be able to compete once you're up with "Masterpeace" and "Ultimate Conductor Tyranno" which are pretty the epitome of boss monster these past and current formats. Effect is still outclassed by "Monarch" LV8 Boss monsters but at least, I can say it's better than the "Felgrand" retrain at least.
• The need to inflict battle damage is slow nowadays with the presence of "Struggling Battle" or "Mirror Force" cards wiping your filed before you deal damage. I guess that's what the piercing effect is for in case your opponent blocks you with a random "Marshmallon".

• Definitely hard to summon itself unlike the good 'ol Vandalgyon. I guess at least add the ability to banish fairy or counter traps as well but I guess this is how they make cards balanced.  

SR05-JP002 天空賢者［エンジェルセージ］ミネルヴァAngel Sage Minerva
Level 4 LIGHT Fairy Effect Monster
ATK 1700
DEF 400
(1) Each time a Counter Trap is activated, this card gains 500 ATK immediately after it resolves, also if “The Sanctuary in the Sky” is on the field, choose 1 Counter Trap from your GY with a different name than the Counter Trap that was activated and add it to your hand.

 PROS

• It's nice to have new additions to counter fairies. More targets for "Ties of Brethren"
• Having no once per turn hard OPT restriction makes it decent.
• Can form annoying loops.
• Decent attack and it becomes bigger the more negation you do.

 CONS:

•  Good but eats normal summons. Good option but Bountiful Artemis draws are still more satisfying but we'll see.

 SR05-JP003 力天使ヴァルキリア Riki Tenshi Valkyria (Power Angel Valkyria)
Level 4 LIGHT Fairy Effect Monster
ATK 1800
DEF 1050
You can only use this card’s name effect once per turn.
(1) If you negate the activation of a monster effect, Spell or Trap Card: add 1 LIGHT Fairy-Type monster from your Deck to your hand.

PROS

• Now, here's some "Duel Links" vibes. Remember when you pulled Dunames Dark Witch on your first booster pack? Now, it's even more shinier with the new retrain and it helps with adding your counter fairies or other generic fairies you may want to incorporate.
• Take note that it doesn't care whether you negate via counter trap or just thru herald Green, Orange or Violet light.
• Decent stats. 

CONS: 

• Sadly, this one is hard OPT as it only activate once but that makes it balanced.  

SR05-JP000 イーバ EBE/EVA
Level 1 LIGHT Fairy Effect Monster
ATK 500
DEF 200
You can only use this card’s name effect once per turn.
(1) If this card is sent to the Graveyard: You can banish up to 2 LIGHT Fairy monsters from your GY or field, except this card; for each monster banished this way, add 1 Level 2 or lower LIGHT Fairy monster from your Deck to your hand, except “EBE” (the added cards must have different names).

PROS: 

• This is very unexpected as I was expecting at least a level 4 mini parshath but oh well. Nice effect that helps the mini heralds.
• Can search Winged Kuriboh!!! (Yay) 

CONS: 

• It has to interact with the mini heralds or the perfect herald to take advantage of its effect fully.
• Seeing this and Valkyria makes me think that they want us to try negation thru fairies than counter traps. Seems slow if there is nothing to negate or there is no herald fairy for negation. Not that useful most of the time as it has to banish other fairies than itself to plus or at least mitigate the cost of your herald negation.

SR05-JP025 パーシアスの神域 Parshath no Shin’iki (Sanctuary of Parshath)
Continuous Spell Card
(1) This card’s name is treated as “The Sanctuary in the Sky” while it is on the field or GY.
(2) Fairy monsters gain 300 ATK and DEF, also face-down Spells/Traps on the field cannot be destroyed or targeted by card effects.
(3) Once per turn: You can target 3 cards with different names in your GY that are Counter Traps and/or Fairy monsters; place them on the top of your Deck in any order.

PROS: 

• The much awaited Field Spe.....well, it's a continous spell card. At least it has the "Sanctuary in the Sky" name so your Divine Punishment and cards that take advantage of it's name are less dead. This includes " Angel Sage Minerva " in case you forgot its restriction.
• It shuts down the entire strategy of "Artifacts" by just looking at it's (2) effect. Acts as a psuedo starlight road that stays.
• It recycles your used traps you can draw with your bountiful artemis.

CONS

• Sadly, aside from generic spell cards searchers, the best searcher for this one is the Boss monster of this SD unlike the original field spell which is more searchable.

 SR05-JP031 輪廻のパーシアス Rinne no Parshath (Reincarnating Parshath)
Counter Trap Card
(1) When a Spell/Trap Card, or monster effect, is activated: You can reveal 1 Counter Trap in your hand, discard 1 card, and pay 1000 LP; negate that activation, and if you do, return that card to the Deck, then you can Special Summon 1 “Parshath” monster from your Deck or Extra Deck.

PROS:

• Nothing will complete this SD if there's no new counter trap card which is pretty expected already and it's a new Parshath card which is a great protection to your boss and it can even summon the boss (even the Parshath Synchro) so watch out for that card (and the expected hoard).
• Multi-negation which outclasses Ultimate Providence in a way if you're using counter fairies.

CONS:

• Many requirements but good thing we have Guiding Ariadne but we're still unsure if the rulings will mitigate the cost and discard part but we'll find out soon.

I can say that this is still a decent structured deck that may appeal veteran or new players especially to players that loves control and stun decks. Like other structured decks, I'm sure that "Extreme  Force" will have some support for this Structured Deck R or maybe future sets and I'm excited for that to happen since I pretty saved up some bucks already in preparation of this SD.

For those who are eyeing for this deck or if you have any strategy you think that might be useful for this deck, feel free to hit the comment section below and let's have some discussion on the best options that we may consider. Great minds think alike and you guys are all great so I'll see you in the next article of yours truly! 

Arcknight Signing off.

Sources:

ygorganization.com

ygo.jp