New Cards: The New Monarchs!

So welcome back to the deepest Yu-gi-oh blog on teh internets. Today I'm covering some new Monarch cards that might make them top tier! Well that is if they get enough support. So I'll go head and cover the 2 new upcoming cards that could change how the Monarch deck is run:
So our first card is:

Granmarg the Rugged Rock Monarch
Earth, Rock/Effect, Level 8
You can Tribute Summon this card by Tributing 1 Tribute Summoned monster. When this card is Tribute Summoned: Target up to 2 Set cards on the field; destroy those target(s), then draw 1 card if every monster Tributed to Tribute Summon this card was EARTH.

ATK: 2800/DEF: 1000

So the first monarch we get is a new Granmarg. For those who don't know the original Granmarg hasn't been playable in years. A one sac monster that only destroys  a set card? Nah I'm good. One of the weknesses of the old Monarchs is that they were overshadowed by Caius and Raiza. So this new monarch is a one sac, two if you want to sac that many, monster that pops 2 set cards. So hes a plus one minimum. Throw in a draw if you sacked just Earth monsters for him and he starts looking really good. The only current issue is that the majority of Monarch decks run on the Frog engine. Which just happens to be water. So while its possible to get his effect to go off its very much possible to never get that draw. One of his advantages is to plus one on backrow, which is ever so important this format with the neutering of power trap cards. So he isn't bad for a new card, gives Monarchs access to Rank 8s with Illusory Snatcher, but Rank 8s are not all that appealing.

Now we get to the new card that makes me believe more Super Narchs are coming.

Molding the Monarchs
Continuous Spell Card
You cannot Special Summon monsters from your Extra Deck. When you Tribute Summon a monster: You can activate 1 of these effects. You can only activate 1 of these "Molding the Monarchs" effects per turn, and only once that turn.
● Add 1 monster with 2400 ATK and 1000 DEF from your Deck to your hand, except a monster of the same name as that Tribute Summoned monster.
● Add 1 monster with 2800 ATK and 1000 DEF from your Deck to your hand, except a monster of the same name as that Tribute Summoned monster.

So this card is interesting. A search card for the Monarch deck, and at the same time kills a huge part of its engine. So you want some search? Well you got to lose those Treeborn Frogs. They're not cool enough for the new guys. So with just one floating around you get to summon a Caius or Raiza then search the other. Or you can even search one of the big brother Monarchs like Rugged Granmarg. The advantage to this card is in multiples. When you are sitting on 2 you get a Raiza and a Rugged Granmarg from your Caius summon. 3? Search 2 big Monarchs and 1 little Monarch, or 1 big Monarch and 2 little Monarchs. The big drawback to this card is the lack of access to the extra deck. That one line at the top hurts the card alot. It completely removes a huge number of plays from Monarchs. Its almost a deal breaker. It is a deal breaker until Monarch players find a new engine that isn't hindered by having backrow, and doesn't even think of the extra deck.

So Monarchs are getting some new support, the only question is why are they ignoring the previous support? They're even ignoring their entire engine.... maybe they have some grand plan? The lack of extra deck access limits the Illusory Snatcher plays to just more firepower on the board, or another sac next turn. With this card being a continuous backrow card it hurts the playability of treeborn frog. If Big Granmarg's draw effect was instead that you could pop one of your cards for a draw he would be amazing. SS Treeborn, Sac for Big Monarch X, search with Molding, pop Molding for draw. Sounds like Monarchs with todays speed. This also brings me to the fact that Monarchs were just inadvertently hit. The limit of Constellar Ptolemy M7 reduced the power of Monarchs. With 3 the play was pretty good. Sac for Caius or Raiza, SS Illusory Snatcher, hit a card with the Monarchs effect, attack for up to 4800, overlay for M7, detach and retrieve Monarch if you have another Snatcher, or detach and retrieve Snatcher if you have another Monarch. This allowed a lot of circulation for the Monarch deck. Well we'll see how the new cards affect the current engines and see what Konami may or may not have in store for us. Hopefully they don't pull another Alien deck and leave Monarchs with half the support they need to just barely function. Well got to go kick some Treeborns out of the new Monarch club so you guys come on back next time.

-Kurotaro