[English Meta] Cards to Watch Out For: Swordsman of Explosive Flames, Palamedes

Introduction

"Cards to Watch Out For" will be a new segment, focusing on the English meta to familiarize English players with upcoming cards in future sets that they should watch out for or lean towards acquiring. With English only at Set 2, there exist 3 other sets before they catch up to the Japanese game, which includes a variety of important cards that any English player should be familiar with. This segment will hopefully accomplish that, and allow you to be ready for the future. Also with this segment I hope to capture a wider audience with both Japanese and English meta articles.

Swordsman of Explosive Flames, Palamedes

Released in Set 3, Demonic Lord Invasion, Swordsman of Explosive Flames, Palamedes gives a huge boost to already high tier Royal Paladin decks due to it's overpowering effect: "When this unit attacks, if you have two or more grade 3 «Royal Paladin» vanguard and/or rear-guards, this unit gets +3000 power until the end of the battle." At first glance, the effect seems nothing special. However, what makes this card amazing is that it counts itself for it's effect. What this means is that it requires essentially no requirement when placed in the Rearguard circle as if it's in the Rearguard circle, it automatically means you have two Grade 3's on the field: your Vanguard and Swordsman of Explosive Flames, Palamedes itself. Had it been "2 other <<Royal Paladin>> Vanguard and/or Rearguards" then the card would be weaker, borderline bad, but since that's not the case, it makes Swordsman of Explosive Flames, Palamedes one of the best cards in the whole game.

                                                        The perpetrator in question

The Card is Broken

So what exactly makes this card so good? So it gains 3000 Power when it attacks, what's the big deal? What makes this card completely broken is the effortlessness it requires to hit for magic numbers. As you may recall, magic numbers are numbers that hit for just enough to make your opponent guard for more. Swordsman of Explosive Flames, Palamedes in front of a 7k booster will hit 20k effortlessly, forcing 15k guard from a 10k Vanguard. Similarly, in front of an 8k booster, hits for 21k, forcing a 15k guard from an 11k Vanguard. Such a card that forces so many cards from your opponent is stupidly good, which is why all players, come Set 3 in English, must watch out for this card. If your opponent plays it, GET RID OF IT IMMEDIATELY. Allowing your opponent to swing with it over and over again will slowly eat your hand up to the point where you will lose the game because you won't be able to guard. On the other hand, once the card is released in English every Royal Paladin player to stay competitive must acquire at the very least one copy of this card (I personally run 3, I know people who run 4). It is just too good to pass up.

Verdict

I honestly think Bushiroad goofed with this card. No other clan has something equally as good, although some cards come close, (ie. Void Knight, Masquerade) but they all have much stricter requirements other than existing on the field. To players of other clans, especially Kagero with your 11k Dragonic Overlord, watch out for this card. If it hits the field, get rid of it immediately or you will be hurting. It's not necessarily a card that will completely turn the game around, but it can be a pain in the ass to deal with if you don't get rid of it quickly. To end, I will simply quote a friend, "Not one card can block Palamedes".

-HerO