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If a monster(s) is Normal or Special Summoned, except by the effect of "Black Garden": Halve its ATK, also you Special Summon 1 "Rose Token" (Plant-Type/DARK/Level 2/ATK 800/DEF 800) to its controller's opponent's side of the field, in Attack Position. (This ATK loss remains even if this card leaves the field.) You can target 1 monster in your Graveyard with ATK equal to the total ATK of all Plant-Type monsters on the field; destroy this card and as many Plant-Type monsters on the field as possible, then if the total ATK the destroyed monsters had on the field is equal to that target's ATK, Special Summon that target.
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Can Be Found In: Crossroads of Chaos (CSOC-EN048), Turbo Pack: Booster Six (TU06-EN009), Astral Pack Four (AP04-EN025), Legendary Collection 5D's Mega Pack (LC5D-EN101), Legendary Duelists: Sisters of the Rose (LED4-EN032)

Field Spells had an interesting evolution over the years. Intended to become the core of many strategies, Field Spells went from basic stat boosts towards certain monsters, to granting a variety of mechanics that might involve specific monsters and archetypes. But although the power of Field Spells is undeniable, during many years they weren't as prevalent due the restriciton of only one of their kind can be face-up on the field. This made many builds quite vulnerable, but once that rule was dismissed many Decks became more reliable as the number of weaknesses arround Field Spells decreased while their possibilities increased.


"Black Garden" is a quite interesting Field Spell as can take a variety of approaches depending of the Deck itself. When a monster is summoned (not Set or by this card's effects), "Black Garden" will permanently half its ATK while the opposite player will gain a Rose Token. "Black Garden" can also destroy itself as its effect, which as a result will destroy all Plants on the field to then summon from the Graveyard any monster which ATK is equal to the total of those affected by this removal effect. From Stall setups to taking advantage of its Tokens for a variety of summons, "Black Garden" is a quite prevalent Field Spell in various Decks that can manage its abilities wisely.


From the popular "Terraforming" to its exclusive support by the Synchro Monster "Garden Rose Maiden", "Black Garden" will soon be on the field to take one of many roles depending of our priorities. If we play passive, an opponent that relies on constant summons might lead to most of their monsters be weakened by "Black Garden" as our field is infested with Tokens with an 800 ATK that might defeat them in battle by stats alone. The Tokens we will gain not only can wall some attacks from weakened monsters, but they can also be used as cheap materials for other summons as well activate costs such as "Pollinosis" or "Frozen Rose". Although "Black Garden" will also give the opponent Tokens by our summons with a bit of thought this won't be much of a problem, giving us several approaches to solve this issue. "Black Garden" can destroy itself anytime we like even if doesn't summon a Plant in return, keeping our monsters safe from having their stats lowered as they battle the opponent's. Otherwise we can keep summoning monsters so the opponent has a big number of Tokens on their field, to either "Black Garden" take their total ATK so summons a strong monster in our Graveyard, or get rid of the Field Spell to then monsters like "Invoked Purgatrio" or "Asura Priest" attack all the Tokens and/or weakened monsters for considerable damage. Finally there's some more unique approaches we can take arround "Black Garden", such as taking advantage of face-down monsters becoming immune of its effects to Stall and use Flip effects, or work along monsters like "Number C103: Ragnainfinity" and "Number 33: Chronomaly Machu Mech" as their effects reward stat manipulation.

While other Field Spells are limited to a particular role or Deck, "Black Garden" is one of the few which can take a variety of purposes under any strategies and circumstances. Halving the stat of summons besides its own makes it a strong Stall card defensive Decks can rely on. Creating Tokens can go from resources for other summons and effects to giving them to the opponent to clear a path for battle damage. Then its summoning effect, which although quite restricted by a fixed ATK when comes to the monster that can summon even in a Plant Deck, is easy to manage given that can revive any monster available in our Graveyard. While not a Field Spell suitable for every Deck out there, "Black Garden" became a popular pick on its debut and just gaining more possibilities arround its effects as more mechanics can be involved with its pressence.

Personal Rating: A

+ Halves the ATK of any summoned monster as makes a Token to the opposite field
+ Can destroy itself and all Plants on the field to summon a monster with the total ATK
+ A big variety of roles and strategies arround its effects

– Might give the opponent Tokens to use for their goals
– Requires a Deck that can handle its effects
– Its revival effect might be tough to handle due its very specific condition

ygoreviews

Previously on Tumblr. This is a blog to offer positive reviews of Yu-Gi-OH! reviews, either in casual play or competitive. View all posts by ygoreviews