Fans of the Yu-Gi-Oh! Franchise know that each Yu-Gi-Oh! Character, especially the protagonists, stand by an ace monster they trust the most. This is evident when Yami Yugi has a heavy spellcasting deck for the Dark Magician, Seto Kaiba has a dragon-themed deck for his Blue-Eyes White Dragon, and Jaden Yuki is Fusion-reliant for his Elemental HEROs. In turn, fans of the game are encouraged to build decks surrounding themes and their own “ace” monsters - something practiced in hardcore adaptations like Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel as well as the new Yu-Gi-Oh! Cross Duel game.
Contrary to faster-paced Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links and more TCG-accurate Master Duel, players can enjoy a more streamlined format with Cross Links. At its core, the game has players engage in a four-way deathmatch against three (3) other players, or even as pairs. However, an integral component that makes Cross Duel mechanics truly unique is its inclusion of Ace Monsters. However, how exactly do they work in the game?
What’s An Ace Monster?
Before players get into the intricacies of choosing an Ace Monster, it’s important to understand just exactly what they are and what they imply in the game. At its core, Ace Monsters are exactly what they literally mean - they are the most integral monster in any Yu-Gi-Oh! Deck. Here are ways they generally impact gameplay:
- Players get their first Ace Monster after the Tutorial: When players finish the game’s Tutorial Level, they immediately get an Ultra Rare Monster as a reward. Instead of being awarded this Monster out of chance, players get to choose their first Ace Monster.
- Ace Monsters are immediately in Starting Hands: Due to their importance in gameplay and the 20-card deck nature of Cross Duel, Ace Monsters immediately arrive in a player’s Starting Hand.
- Ace Monsters define the deck’s playstyle: Compared to other ordinary Monsters, Ace Monsters have special effects that can change the nature of gameplay in the match. Having a deck revolve around the Ace Monster ensures synergy in card effects.
- Can be Any Monster: Theoretically, players can set any Monster as their Ace Monster, but UR Monsters particularly shine in this department due to their potential in switching the tide of battle.
How To Choose An Ace Monster
While players can technically use another deck and another Ace Monster once they acquire another UR Monster, it’s this first Ace Monster choice that defines the player’s initial playthrough of the game. Seeing as how Cross Duel is extremely fast-paced, being practical about the choice of an Ace Monster can help players have a more smooth-sailing time while they build a deck according to their Yu-Gi-Oh! Playstyle. Here are important considerations when choosing an Ace Monster:
- Choose something straightforward: One of the best ways to select an Ace Monster at the start of the game experience is to choose one with a straightforward effect. Blue-Eyes White Dragon fits this perfectly, as it’s able to destroy any Monster that doesn’t have any anti-destruction effects. Players can immediately have some control over the board with the Blue-Eyes in this regard.
- Choose according to playstyle: Players who want to mix and match their decks to match their playstyle can also choose an Ace Monster according to their specific needs. For instance, fans of Pendulum Summoning could have a breeze with Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon due to its Pendulum-specific mechanics.
- Consider buff stacks: One unique component in Cross Duel is the introduction of Card Skills, where Ace Monsters may also offer various effects according to specific situations. These effects can stack, potentially buffing a Monster to become a behemoth in combat. Elemental HERO Neos is a good example here, as even after its destruction, it can return to the player’s hand and can be summoned for less resources but suffer -1000 ATK/DEF, ensuring players always have a monster with them. More uniquely is how Neos can also receive numerous buffs, allowing him to turn the tide of a losing battle quickly.
What Are The Available Ace Monsters At The Beginning?
Players who have a better background of how to choose an Ace Monster in the game may want a quick runthrough of the available Ace Monsters that they can choose on the get-go. Special mechanics of these Ace Monsters range from simple to complex, so it’s important for players to understand what they’re getting into when using them in the Yu-Gi-Oh! Game. Here’s a rundown of each Ace Monster and their general effects:
- Blue-Eyes White Dragon: Can destroy a Monster.
- Bloom Diva the Melodious Choir: All Monsters gain DEF equal to LP the players gain. Players also gain 200 LP when summoned (Healer), and can bestow additional 100 LP when triggering LP restoration effects.
- Dark Magician: Activating a Spell Card inflicts 300 damage to each player.
- Elemental HERO Neos: Returns to the hand when destroyed and can be summoned with less materials at a cost.
- Firewall Dragon: Depending on Link Monsters or Link Arrows on the field or GY, Firewall Dragon gains a wide variety of effects.
- Multistrike Dragon Dragias: All Monsters gain Extra Attack, which gives 500 ATK for direct attacks. Monsters with two (2) or more Extra Attack gains Pierce, which allows them to attack players directly after attacking a Defense Position Monster.
- Number 17: Leviathan Dragon: All Monsters gain Focus (+200 ATK in the Battle Phase), and Leviathan Dragon gains additional +100 ATK from this Focus.
- Number 39: Utopia: Destroying an opponent’s Monster will force them to lose 300 ATK.
- Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon: When summoned via the Pendulum Scale, all Monsters gain 800 ATK/DEF and immunity to destruction effects.
- Ojama King: A selected opponent can’t summon Monsters until the end of the next turn.
- Red Dragon Archfiend: Can destroy all Defense Position Monsters.
- Sevens Road Magician: Becomes an Inventor, which grants a Skill at random. Gets an additional Skill if a player Monster activates the Inventor four (4) times in the duel. It also gains 400 ATK/DEF for each time a Monster has activated Inventor, and two (2) random Immunities at Inventor 4.
- Stardust Dragon: Level 3 or lower monsters gain Reincarnation, or may return to the hand with negated Skills.
- Trickstar Holly Angel: When summoned, it deals 200 Damage and an additional 100 Damage to all opponents.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Cross Duel was released last September 6, 2022 for iOS and Android.