Card Review: Number 39: Utopia

Recently I made an overview of the 4 Ace Cards held by the main protagonists of each Yu-Gi-Oh! show. Number 39: Utopia is used by Yuma Tsukumo and is also the cover card for Starter Deck: 2011: Dawn of the Xyz. Even now, Number: 39 Utopia is probably the only reason that people are buying the new Starter Deck, save for a few new and good cards that are included with the deck itself. Personally I really like Number 39: Utopia because of it's artwork and significance in the new Yu-Gi-Oh! show. He looks like a noble warrior that is ready to defend anyone.

So let's examine this defender from the other side of the universe! Number 39: Utopia is a, LIGHT Attributed, RANK* 4 Monster/Xyz/Effect monster with 2500ATK and 2000DEF, just like the other iconic 'Legendaries'. 'Utopia' is a very defensive Card; even with 2500ATK points, there are many cards that can still defeat it in battle. To cope with this, his effect allows him to Negate Attacks, by using its "Xyz Material" (dubbed in the show as "Overlay Units"), the monsters used to Summon for the Summoning of Utopia. Under normal conditions, he will be able to Negate 2 attacks; it doesn't matter who is the one attacking. In most cases, Utopia will not have to Negate ALL attacks since this effect is optional, and for anything to actually pose a real threat, your opponent's monster would have to be 2500ATK Points strong or stronger or possess a deadly effect like that of Ally of Justice Catastor to make you expend an Xyz Material. Utopia can protect the user from 2 attacks, but I would like to say that he can actually block a total of 3 attacks!

The theoretical third attack that Utopia can black is derived from his draw back effect. The unfortunate drawback is that if he is attacked (attacked=/=attacks) by an opponent's monster whilst having no Xyz Material to shield himself with, he will be destroyed. Basically, without his powers, Utopia can die with his own effect; although, upon will self destruct, the monster that attacked him will not be able to attack again for the turn, unless another effect will permit it to do so. So imagine 3 Blue-Eyes White Dragons on your opponent's side of the field; all you have is a fresh Number 39: Utopia on your side. Blue-Eyes 1 and 2 attack, you Negate both attacks by detaching 1 Xyz Material for each attack. (Since the effect does not say "Once per turn", it is implied that you may use it multiple times on the same turn.) Now that Utopia is unguarded, the last Dragon attacks, but Utopia takes one for the team. The battle is nullified and you won't have to suffer from battle damage since the last Blue-Eyes will not be able to attack again.

Being only Rank 4, this card is relatively easy to summon because most of the useful cards utilized in many decks tend to be Level 4. Overall, it is a good card that is both useful and fun to use.

This card recently received an evolved form that is more aggressive, in the new booster pack. In other trivia, Number 39: Utopia looks like the Lancelot Knightmare mech from the Anime Code Geass.

*RANK is a status that Xyz monsters operate by. Instead of using Levels that are lined from the right side above the card art, Ranks are lined from the left side above the card art. Rank is represented by golden stars in black orbs, as opposed to yellow stars in red orbs for Level. Rank and Level are NOT the same, and any Xyz Monster technically has no Level (but still may not be used as a Synchro Material Monster, until a card that specifically says so is made).