#litmus
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Litmus Doom Swordsman
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You can Ritual Summon this card with “Litmus Doom Ritual”. It is unaffected by Trap effects and cannot be destroyed by battle. Gains 3000 ATK/DEF while a Trap is on the field. If this Ritual Summoned card in its owner’s control is destroyed by your opponent’s card: You can target 1 Trap in either GY; Set it to your Spell & Trap Zone.
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Can Be Found In: Battles of Legend: Relentless Revenge (BLRR-EN013)
Ritual Monsters are in a particular position compared to many other types of monsters in the game. Requiring both materials and a Ritual Spell, Ritual Summon often requires a Deck fully invested on preparing the arrival of one or two monsters. Compared to the more recurrent Extra Deck setups this is can be seen a big risk given we only depend in a single monster to lead the whole Duel. However, while some Ritual Decks are able to handle various monsters of this kind like Nekroz, others provide supporting options to either power up the Ritual Monsters or play along its effects.
“Litmus Doom Swordsman” is a very particular Ritual Monster, having by default no stats yet capable of becoming a constant threat by taking advantage of sinergy with other cards. “Litmus” not only cannot be destroyed in battle which solves its most obvious problem, but also ignores any effects coming from Trap cards. “Litmus” will obtain a 3000 boost on both ATK and DEF as long a Trap Card is present on the field, becoming the main premise of its playstyle. Finally and if the Ritual Summoned “Litmus” is destroyed by the opponent, in return will Set a Trap Card from any Graveyard. Overall “Litmus” is a very interesting monster to make a Deck arround its effects, as can take full advantage of various Trap Cards with heavy effects to corner the opponent as this monster keeps them under control.
As any Ritual Monster, “Litmus” requires some heavy focus on its summon alone. While cards like “Advanced Ritual Art” can skip ahead when comes to gathering materials, is preferable to work on its own Ritual Spell “Litmus Doom Ritual” as is able to return itself and this Ritual Monster back to the Deck from our Graveyard (Including any copy of “Litmus” from our hand we used as tribute for the summon). Therefore, with a big number of searching effects like Impcantation monsters and “Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands”, “Litmus” will keep returning back to our hand along its Ritual Spell to be Ritual Summoned and have its Trap retrieval ability always available. But in case we need “Litmus” back as soon as possible, either we can add it to our hand from the Graveyard by several options such as “Dark Eruption” or “The Warrior Returning Alive”, or we can revive it by Trap Cards such as “Limit Reverse” and “Call of the Haunted” as their pressence will provide its stat boost in the process.
The entire performance of “Litmus” comes from whichever Trap Cards will work along while on the field, preferably Continuous Traps providing permanent effects that will either benefit us or disrupt the opponent’s game. Some options like “Anti-Spell Fragance” and “Skill Drain” will affect the entire game and shut down commonly used cards, while “Litmus” will remain with its stat boosts as ignores any Trap effects affecting the entire board (Keep on mind “Skill Drain” will affect “Litmus” if was active before its summon). Others like “Mirror Force Launcher” will keep looking for the well-known “Mirror Force” no matter if is in our Deck or Graveyard, while others such as “Fiendish Chain” and “Imperial Custom” will protect our field from any threats trying to damage our board. Keep on mind that although is prefered to focus on Continuous Traps don’t hesitate on using other options to further benefit a “Litmus” on our field, ranging from “Torrential Tribute” clearing the board while leaving this Ritual Monster free to direct attack, or “Ritual Cage” making it even harder to defeat along the Trap Cards we are playing with. But if in the worst scenario “Litmus” is defeated there’s no much to worry about, not only due “Litmus Doom Ritual” retrieving it back to our Deck but also placing a Trap Card from any Graveyard to our field so we can quickly prepare the next turn(s) with the right option.
“Litmus Doom Swordsman” is the prime example of a monster leading an entire Deck on its own. Although compared to other Ritual Monsters “Litmus” requires the most investment in both summon and performance, it becomes a rewarding summon as soon one or more Trap Cards start affecting the board. While Trap Cards like “Skill Drain” and “Anti-Spell Fragance” keeps the entire Duel to a halt, “Litmus” will use its stat boost along Anti-Meta and disruptive effects to break through the opponent’s board. But even if “Litmus” is defeated in most cases is very easy to recover from the loss, thanks to its own ability to recover a Trap Card from any Graveyard as well “Litmus Doom Ritual” quickly preparing our Deck for a new Ritual Summon. “Litmus” might need a Deck only for itself and the Trap Cards that will work along with, but with great coverage in both summon and effects to play along with makes it a powerful monster even if in most cases will be alone or with other copies.
Personal Rating: A-
+Cannot be destroyed in battle and ignores effects from Trap Cards
+Gains 3000 ATK and DEF if a Trap Card is active
+ If was Ritual Summoned and destroyed by the opponent will Set a Trap Card from any Graveyard
+Great options from Trap Cards to corner the opponent as well searching effects to play along “Litmus Doom Ritual”
-Completely relies on Trap Cards to be effective
-Requires a whole Deck for its summon and performance
- In most cases will be a loner with its copies if any
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