Vendread Chimera————————————

Vendread Chimera
————————————————
You can Ritual Summon this card with any “Vendread” Ritual Spell. When a card or effect is activated that would destroy a card on the field (Quick Effect): You can banish 1 Zombie monster from your GY; negate the activation, and if you do, destroy that card. If this card is Tributed, or banished, for a Ritual Summon: All monsters your opponent controls lose 500 ATK/DEF. You can only use each effect of “Vendread Chimera” once per turn.
————————————————
Can Be Found In: Circuit Break (CIBR-EN082), 2018 Mega-Tin Mega Pack (MP18-EN158)

To catch up with other summoning mechanics, Ritual Monsters gradually obtained shortcuts and advantages over the competition to ease their setups considerably. A good example of this is the Vendread archetype, using Zombie mechanics to cheapen the Ritual Summons they will lead Duels with. By banishing materials from the Graveyard for that purpose while also obtaining additional effects in the process, Vendread Ritual Monsters might not seem much on their own yet can become powerful creatures thanks to both support and speed on their arrival.

“Vendread Chimera” is a particular Ritual Monster as can take two roles very different from each other to cover any scneario involving itself. If a card or effect with a destructive ability is played, “Chimera” can banish a Zombie in our Graveyard to negate and estroy the source. On the other hand “Chimera” can take a valuable purpose as material, as if is tributed or banished for a Ritual Summon it will make all opponent monsters lose 500 ATK and DEF. Negating recurring effects is undoubtly a valuable ability to keep a strong board pressence, and while the ability to weaken the opposite field might seem expensive “Chimera” can pull it off quite easily given some of the options its archetype provides.

“Chimera” is the cheapest Ritual Monster the archetype offers by a slight Level difference, making it easier to summon than its partners already are thanks to the strong options they work along with. With the help of searching effects like “Vendread Nights” and “Pre-Preparation of Rites” among others, both “Chimera” and the proper Ritual Spell won’t take long to be ready for the Ritual Summon. In most cases it will be brought by “Revendread Origin”, as allow us to banish Zombies from our Graveyard as materials for the Ritual Summon. Otherwise, “Revendread Evolution” not only let us Ritual Summon “Chimera” from the Graveyard if lands there somehow, but also will use a monster with similar Level from inside the Deck to do so. Finally, “Vendread Reunion” can perform a Ritual Summon as recovers as many banished Vendreads as possible for this task. Combined with some Vendreads’ ability to revive themselves as well Zombie staple cards doing the same task, we have more than enough coverage to Ritual Summon “Chimera” under any circumstances. Keep also on mind that if was Ritual Summoned properly, a “Chimera” in the Graveyard can be revived by one of our many methods to keep using its effects if needed.

Like many other negation effects, “Chimera” can keep a strong board as deals with some recurring cards in most Duels. From any card the opponent might play during their turn to suspicious Set cards that could be activated during ours, “Chimera” only needs a Zombie in the Graveyard each turn to stop any threat from ruining our plans. While this is already a solid ability, the possible materials Vendreads provides will give additional abilities to “Chimera” and any other Ritual Summons we play with. “Vendread Houndhorde” and “Vendread Revenants” gives “Chimera” strong removal effects to keep clearing the opposite field, while “Vendread Core” gives immunity against targetting effects and thus making this monster tougher to defeat. The Zombies we could banish to negate cards with can also provide other benefits in the process, that can go from simply preparing “Vendread Reunion” in future turns, to triggering Shiranui monsters’ effects like “Shiranui Spiritmaster” and “Shiranui Solitaire” to further pressure the opponent. While all these options and interactions might overshadow “Chimera” role as material to weaken monsters with its second effect, is simpler to obtain than might look given can be tributed from the hand by most Ritual Spells, be banished as material for the effect of “Revendread Origin”, or brought back by “Vendread Reunion” if banished to then be tributed for a new summon.

With strong support from both its archetype and Type, “Vendread Chimera” easily becomes a tough monster to battle against. Easy to summon by one of many options as well the additional abilities some of our materials will provide in the process, “Chimera” might only deal with destructive effects but thanks to the strong support before and during its arrival makes it a very sturdy monster to take down. While becoming a very controlling monster as well using its banishing cost for some special benefits already makes it a powerful creature, its role as material shouldn’t be dismissed given is far simpler to access than might look. However, although “Chimera” can easily obtain a solid performance during most Duels, the archetype will prefer to simply focus on “Revendread Slayer” due the additional options as well own searching abilities that provides to its archetype. But even with some obvious flaws like some non-destructive options easily dealing with its negation effect and below average stats to survive battles with, “Chimera” is a Ritual Monster far from being underestimated thanks to the strong support and performance from early to late game.

Personal Rating: A-

+Can banish a Zombie in the Graveyard to negate a destructive effect and destroy the source
+ If tributed or banished for a Ritual Summon will make all opponent monsters lose 500 ATK and DEF
+Great supporting options for an easy summon and work along its effects

- There are various methods to bypass its negation effect including its base stats
- The archetype might prefer to focus on “Revendread Slayer” due its additional options and advantages