Lycanthrope————————————&mdas

Lycanthrope
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This card can only be Ritual Summoned with the Ritual Spell Card, “Synthesis Spell”. When this card inflicts Battle Damage to your opponent, inflict 200 damage to your opponent for each Normal Monster in your Graveyard.
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Can Be Found In: Strike of Neos (STON-EN032)

Normal Monsters went from the lead monsters in Battle Phase, to becoming the main source for all sorts of setups. Despite the overwhelming use of Effect Monsters nowadays, Normal Monsters have a huge variety of tools to have a constant pressence during a Duel. Because of that, they become dependable cards to assist us in any goals we can aim with. From merely swarming the board with Normal Monsters to assisting in summons and effects of other cards, Normal Monsters might not be the centerpiece of current Decks but they still have a very important role in some strategies.

“Lycanthrope” is a creature with a solid potential in battles if playing along Normal Monsters. Each time “Lycanthrope” deals damage to the opponent in battle, it will deal an additional 200 damage for each Normal Monster in our Graveyard. Compared to other Ritual Monsters “Lycanthrope” might not seem much, yet is capable of some impressive damage input the more Normal Monsters and their options we invest arround this creature.

While sharing the same options as other Ritual Monsters, “Lycanthrope” is in a quite particular position due the objective of its effect. Its Ritual Spell “Synthesis Spell” doesn’t offer much beyond being played for its Ritual Summon, so instead we should focus on “Advanced Ritual Art” as our main card for its arrival. “Advanced Ritual Spell"uses materials from inside our Deck but more particularly Normal Monsters, therefore as we summon "Lycanthrope” we will strength its effect in the process. Milling from one to six Normal Monsters this way, is really up to our preferences in case the sent Normal Monsters can be revived afterwards for other purposes. In conjunction with common Ritual tools to search for both “Lycanthrope” and “Advanced Ritual Art” such as “Preparation of Rites” and “Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands”, this creature won’t have any problems to be on the field with its effect ready to go.

Obviously the more Normal Monsters in our Graveyard that more damage “Lycanthrope” will cause, becoming a powerful attacker even if is not always direct attacking. While the mentioned “Advanced Ritual Art” is able to dispose of some Normal Monsters for the Ritual Summon we can go further for more damage, with milling effects like “Magical Merchant” of Lightsworns sending several Normal Monsters while providing their respective abilities. Although the premise is to play along Normal Monsters we can also include Gemini Monsters to the mix, as by being treated as the former in the Graveyard they can assist “Lycanthrope” but also work along their unique options. All that will be left is to help “Lycanthrope” in some battles, as unless we used effects to clear the opponent’s field cards like “Enraged Battle Ox” and “Forbidden Lance” among others will assure we pass some damage no matter what enemy we’re fighting against. Don’t forget that as pointed out Normal (And Gemini) Monsters have a variety of revival options to play with, so after or before the arrival of “Lycanthrope” we can use them as materials for other summons to further strength our field.

With a heavy reliance in our Graveyard, “Lycanthrope” is far from the most powerful Ritual Monster worth preparing a whole Deck for both its summon and performance. However, the fact that Normal Monsters have a big variety of options to work before and after summoning “Lycanthrope” makes it stand out even if is not the lead monster of its own Deck. With “Advanced Ritual Art” assisting the Ritual Summon to later on staple revival effects like “Tri-Wight” and “Swing of Memories” provide the disposed Normal Monsters as materials of other summons, “Lycanthrope” might not be the most dangerous monster in every Duel yet might be one of the safest summons to work arround its options and the Normal Monsters involved.

Personal Rating: B

+ If deals damage in battle will deal 200 damage for each Normal Monster in our Graveyard
+ Solid support for its summon and performance including “Advanced Ritual Art”
+We can aim for other goals with the dumped Normal Monsters and even Gemini Monsters