STBL Part 2: Chocolate Starfish

Scrap monsters return in Starstrike Blast with some new support Cards, as well as a brand new Synchro Monster. Let's take a look:

First, we have Scrap Soldier:

This card cannot be used as a Synchro Material Monster, except for the Synchro Summon of a "Scrap" monster. If this face-up Defense Position card is selected as an attack target, destroy this card at the end of the Battle Phase. If this card is destroyed by the effect of a "Scrap" card and sent to the Graveyard, you can select 1 "Scrap" monster in your Graveyard, except "Scrap Soldier", and add it to your hand.

The first line is a Condition that prevents Soldier from being used as a Synchro Material monster in certain cases. It can't be negated by Skill Drain or similar Cards. The second sentence is a Mandatory Trigger Effect activated at the End of the Battle Phase, very similar to that of Scrap Goblin. The third effect is an Optional Trigger Effect that can't miss the timing, which is the common "recycling" effect of most Scrap Monsters, and as expected, it targets a monster in the Graveyard.

Then, we have Scrap Searcher:

When a "Scrap" monster you control, except "Scrap Searcher", is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard while this card is in the Graveyard, you can Special Summon this card from your Graveyard. When this card is Special Summoned, destroy all face-up monsters you control, except "Scrap" monsters.

Scrap Searcher is interesting. People are used to avoiding timing issues with most Scrap Monsters, but Scrap Searcher's first effect is actually affected by timing issues, if only a little. The effect itself is an Optional Trigger Effect, and the destruction of the Scrap monster must be the last thing to happen. It can't be activated during the Damage Step, and the Scrap Monster must be face-up at the time of the destruction (and must remain a "Scrap" monster while in the Graveyard). You can Special Summon multiple copies of Scrap Searcher in response to the destruction of a single Scrap monster. In most cases, you won't miss the timing for this effect, as the self-destructive effect of Scrap Monsters is link 1 of the chain most of the time.

The second effect is a Mandatory Trigger Effect activated upon Searcher's successful Special Summon, even if it's not by its own effect. It can be negated by Swallow Flip.

Scraps also received a TCG exclusive monster, namely, Scrap Mind Reader:

Once per turn, while this card is in your Graveyard during your Main Phase 2, you can select 1 face-up "Scrap" monster you control, except "Scrap Mind Reader". Destroy that monster and Special Summon this card from the Graveyard. If you do, remove this card from play when it is removed from the field. If this card is used as a Synchro Material Monster, all other Synchro Material Monsters must be "Scrap" monsters.

Mind Reader has an Ignition Effect. It targets a monster on your side of the Field. The destruction and the Special Summon is simultaneous. Then, it sets a Condition on itself that will Remove itself from Play when it's Removed from the Field, similar to Plaguespreader Zombie. If flipped face-down, this Condition is Removed. Furthermore, the last sentence provides another Condition, which restricts the type of Synchro Materials it can be paired with, much like Scrap Chimera.

There's only one Spell Card for Scraps in this set, which is Scrap Lube:

Select 1 "Scrap" monster in your Graveyard. Special Summon that monster from the Graveyard. Its effects are negated. When this card is removed from the field, destroy that monster. When that monster is removed from the field, destroy this card. You cannot conduct your Battle Phase the turn you activate this card.

Scrap Lube targets a Scrap Monster in the Graveyard. The effects of the targeted monster that apply on the Field are negated. Scrap Lube is a Continuous Spell Card only because it must target the Summoned monster with its doom clause (if either Card leaves the Field, the other is destroyed). You cannot keep Summoning monsters with Scrap Lube during this, or any other further turns. Note that Lube is a Card with "Scrap" on its name, so if Lube is Removed from the Field, the Summoned monster will be destroyed by the effect of a "Scrap" Card, and any "recycling" effects will activate. During the turn Scrap Lube is activated, you cannot conduct your Battle Phase, and you cannot activate Lube during your Main Phase 2 either. If Lube has its activation negated, you can conduct your Battle Phase, but if only its effect is negated, the restriction is applied. The restriction doesn't depend on Lube's existence on the Field.

And then, the only Trap Card on the set for Scraps is Scrap Crash:

Activate only when a "Scrap" monster you control is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard. Destroy all face-up Spell/Trap Cards on the field.

Scrap Crash has the same timing as Scrap Searcher, and has the same timing problem as Searcher too. It can't be activated during the Damage Step either. Other than that, it doesn't target.

Finally, we have the new Synchro Monster, Scrap Twin Dragon:

1 "Scrap" Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters
Once per turn, you can select 1 card you control and 2 cards your opponent controls. Destroy the one you control and return the two your opponent controls to the hand. When this card is destroyed by your opponent's card (either by battle or by card effect) and sent to the Graveyard, select 1 non-Synchro "Scrap" monster in your Graveyard, and Special Summon it.

Twin Dragon has an Ignition Effect. It targets three Cards. The destruction and the bouncing are simultaneous, however, the bouncing depends on the successful destruction of your Card. If your targeted Card is no longer on the Field, then no Cards are returned to the Hand, unlike the original Scrap Dragon. Speaking of the original one, Twin Dragon also has the Special Summoning effect of its predecessor, which is still a Mandatory Trigger Effect that targets.

That's all for the return of Scrap monsters. Stay tuned for more STBL. If you have any questions, feel free to drop me an e-mail at ness00[at]gmail[dot]com.