Once theYu-Gi-Oh!anime left the 5Ds era, the age of Zexal came swooping in. This era of the game introduced a brand-new mechanic called XYZ Summoning. Rather than sending Monsters to the graveyard by Tributing or using them as Synchro material, players would overlay two or more Monsters on top of each other to bring out a powerful XYZ Monster.
These Monsters could activate effects by removing XYZ material as if it were ammunition. This is also an era where getting multiple Monsters out in one turn started to become more commonplace. With cards that can slow down your opponent and others that help you bring out other Monsters faster, here are the ten best cards from the Zexal era.
10Soul Charge
Life Points Mean Nothing
By this point, Life Points also mean very little in terms of winning the game. As long as you have one point left, you haven’t lost yet. So why not use them all to gain the ultimate advantage?
Soul Charge lets you Special Summon as many Monsters as you want from the graveyard at the cost of 1000 Life Points per Monster. You also can’t attack the turn you use this card. However, with so many Monsters on the field, you could easily use them as material forExtra Deck Summons.
9Number 16: Shock Master
The Most Broken Promo
Being able to stop your opponent from doing anything during their turn is the best way to lock in a victory. Number 16: Shock Master lets you detach one XYZ material to stop your opponent from using Monster, Spell, or Trap Effects till the end of your opponent’s next turn.
Spells can only get you so far, so by calling Monster, you would essentially stop your opponent from using many of the best Effects in the game. In many cases, it could even force them to lay down a face-down card and pass.
8Rescue Rabbit
When Dinosaurs Ruled The World
Rescue Rabbit once helped Dinosaurs reach the top of the competitive meta. If you manage to get this card on the field, you may Tribute it to Special Summon two Level Four or lower Normal Monsters from your deck.
In Dinosaur, it was essentially a free Dolkka or Laggia. However, if your deck could run a few Normal Monsters, having Rescue Rabbit was essentially a free Rank Four from your toolbox. Rescue Rabbit left such a big mark on the community that an official plush was made for Comic Con in 2022.
7The Dragon Rulers
They Come In Care Bear Colors
It’s impossible to talk about the Zexal era of Yu-Gi-Oh! without mentioning the Dragon Rulers. Each one of these Dragons had a defining Attribute such as Wind, Water, Fire, and Earth. Not only were they easy to bring out, but they could also search for other Dragons from the deck.
These cards also have effects when banished, allowing you to gain value from them wherever they go. you may use them as walls to protect your Life Points or as material for Extra Deck Summons.
6Sixth Sense
A Zexal And Duel Monsters Card
Sixth Sense is a Trap card that was released in Legendary Collection 4: Joey’s World. So, in a way, it is botha Duel Monsters cardand a Zexal card due to the circumstances of its printing. Sixth Sense is considered a gambling card that has no downside.
You call two numbers and roll a dice. Just choose five and six. If the dice lands on one of those numbers, you draw that many cards. On the other hand, say it lands on four, you get to send four cards from the top of your deck to the grave. In Yu-Gi-Oh!, this is just a way to set up your graveyard.
5Artifact Scythe
Stop Summoning
Many of the best decks in history have revolved around using Main Deck Monsters to extend into Extra Deck Monsters. So being able to stop your opponent from getting them out is a surefire way to win the game.
Artifact Scythe is a Monster that can be placed face-down in the Spell and Trap Zone. If it is destroyed by any means and sent to the grave during your opponent’s turn, you can Special Summon it. Doing this successfully cuts them off from the Extra Deck which is GG. This resulted in the card being banned.
4One Day Of Peace
Draw A Card And Live To Fight Another Day
One Day Of Peace is one of the most toxic cards to get printed in the Zexal Era. The Effect is simple. Activate it, and each player draws a card. After this, neither player takes damage until your opponent’s next turn.
Sounds balanced right? Well, the Spell doesn’t stop you from doing damage the same turn you use it. So you could always hit hard, then activate One Day of Peace to stop them from hitting you back. This card is also just great inExodiawhen it’s legal.
3GaGaGa Cowboy
Going In For The Win
Sometimes all you need is a way to get your opponent’s Life Points down. GaGaGa Cowboy offered two ways to do this. Being a Rank Four made it an essential part of any toolbox. In addition to this, you can burn opponents for 800 damage if it is in Defense Position or boost it’s power while making your opponent’s Monsters weaker.
This made GaGaGa Cowboy a pretty neat XYZ Monster to bring out when you want to push for a game or get rid of a tough Monster on your opponent’s side of the field.
2Abyss Dweller
Survived The Zexal Era
At the end of every Yu-Gi-Oh! era, some cards get left behind as part of the meta’s history. They were great then, but no longer have the kick they used to. Abyss Dweller on the other hand is one card that continues to be played today.
If you thought graveyard effects were a problem in the past, almost every single meta deck in the modern game has multiple cards that set up negates or extensions while in the grave. Abyss Dweller’s ability to shut these down is a powerful way to turn the tide.
1Number 39: Utopia
The Ace Monster Of The Zexal Era
Utopia is the ace Monster used by the Zexal era’s protagonist, Yuma. Like Yusei’s Stardust Dragon, this Monster has a great ability that would come in handy throughout the years. On its own, Utopia can stop up to two attacks by removing one material from itself.
This made it a fantastic Monster to go into if you wanted to protect your other Monsters from being run over. In addition to this, Utopia would also be the beginning of a whole archetype dedicated to this popular Zexal card.
