Glow-Up Bulb and Spore

Some people questioned why these 2 card is banned and limited as it weak and low level.

But I'm sure most of those people out there realize why these cards is banned even though I'm pretty sure they're not very happy about it.

First of all, Glow-Up Bulb and Spore is tuner. A tuner that can special summon itself is very useful in synchro deck.

Especially since the release of Rescue Rabbit. Any tuner monster that can special summon it self provide a synchro opportunity when combine with Rescue Rabbit.

For example: if you just have Rescue Rabbit in your hand, usually most people would go for a rank 4 or 3 xyz monster such as Evolzzar Lagia, No. 39 Utopia, No. 17 Leviathan Dragon etc. But with Glow-Up Bulb existing in your grave, give you the chance to play either Level 9, 7 or 5 synchro monster among which might be Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier that allows you to banish 1 opponent's card each from field, grave and randomly from their hand. Luckily Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier is also banned, but still such trick can be use for Mist Wurm or Black Rose Dragon.

If I said because it is a tuner and can special summon it self, why is it Plaguespreader Zombie and Tech Genus Striker is just limited whilst Glow-Up Bulb and Spore would go all the way from standard to being banned. It is because of the special summoning condition. Using Plaguespreader Zombie and Tech Genus Striker can also apply the trick as above for a level 10, 8, 6 or 4 synchros. But in order to do that you still have to be in possession of 2 cards in hand. Due to that advantage of using 1 less hand card for the trick, might be the reason of Glow-Up Bulb and Spore being banned.

But I'll say to compare to Spore, Glow-Up Bulb is more more flexible as it can be included in any deck while Spore's effects must be combined with other plant type monster.

Plus, being level 1 makes very flexible to become a tuner for most synchro monsters as long as the synchro monster doesn't require a specific tuner of course.

This two card is probably banned due to the high rate of abuse such as in a Hero Quasar deck. having just particularly 1 specific card which is Future Fusion, can allow you summon Shooting Quasar Dragon in a turn even you first turn without any other specific cards need to be in your hand or grave as long as below cards is in your deck and extra deck.

Glow-Up Bulb

Plaguespreader Zombie

Spore

Blackwing Zephyros the Elite

Volcanic Shell, Level Eater

Dandylion

Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier

Tech Genus Hyper Librarian

Formula Synchron

Elemental Hero Escuridao

Elemental Hero Gaia

Elemental Hero Nova Master

Elemental Hero Great Tornado.

X-Saber

X-Saber is one of the earlier series when synchro summon is introduced. One of my favourite too. X-Saber kicks off their appearance with a lot of non-synchro based card. For example like X-Saber Anu Piranha which is a normal monster, X-Saber Galahad that gain 300 ATK while attacking but loses 500 ATK when attacked, X-Saber Axel which gives you extra card when other X-Saber monster is destroyed by battle which definitely not gonna happen very frequently as X-Saber Axel has a very low ATK and DEF in order to maintain it on the field. Only X-Saber Airbellum of the earlier generation can be consider worthy of being included in current X-Saber deck as it is a level 3 with 1600 ATK and the ability to dispose 1 card opponent control when it attack directly and also X-Saber Pashuul that cannot be destroyed by battle but you take 1000 damage each turn if it is stayed in defense position. Even the earlier synchro monster is not that strong either which is X-Saber Wayne and X-Saber Urbellum.

However, with the appearance of the XX-Saber monsters more like an improved version which still consider X-Saber monsters, X-Saber has becoming quite strong with a lot of destructive power which can be gain from XX-Saber Hyunlei and Saber Slash.

Even with this improvement, X-Saber is not yet stable as they lack in draw power and deck searcher, which is why most player like to combine X-Saber with Lightsworn as X-Saber has the ability to recover their monsters from the grave by the effect of XX-Saber Ragigura, XX-Saber Faultroll and Gottom's Emergency Call. By including The Warrior Returning Alive also can help to recover back XX-Saber Faultroll.


Sabersworn Deck

XX-Saber Fulhelm Knight
X-Saber Pashuul
XX-Saber Faultroll
XX-Saber Ragigura
XX-Saber Emmersblade
X-Saber Palomuro
XX-Saber Garsem
XX-Saber Gardestrike
Ryko, the Lightsworn Hunter
Lumina, the Lightsworn Summoner
Ehren, the Lightsworn Monk
Jain, the Lightsworn Paladin
Wulf, the Lightsworn Beast
Judgment Dragon
Foolish Burial
Saber Slash
Card Destruction
The Warrior Returning Alive
Reinforcement of the Army
Charge of the Light Brigade
Solar Recharge
Gottom's Emergency Call
X-Saber Wayne
XX-Saber Hyunlei
X-Saber Urbellum
XX-Saber Gottom


Forcing most of your card to the grave via Lightsworn gives you the ability to recover it via XX-Saber Faultroll, XX-Saber Ragigura and Gottom's Emergency Call. This is what it looks like for the previous X-Saber deck. But thanks to several new X-Saber release such as XX-Saber Darksoul for deck searcher and XX-Saber Boggart Knight for quick swarm, it has become a stable deck without the need of other cards support.


X-Saber Deck

XX-Saber Fulhelm Knight
X-Saber Pashuul
X-Saber Airbellum
XX-Saber Faultroll
XX-Saber Ragigura
XX-Saber Emmersblade
XX-Saber Garsem
XX-Saber Gardestrike
XX-Saber Boggart Knight
XX-Saber Darksoul
Saber Slash
Monster Reborn
The Warrior Returning Alive
Reinforcement of the Army
Gottom's Emergency Call
At One with Sword
X-Saber Wayne
XX-Saber Hyunlei
X-Saber Souza
XX-Saber Gottom
M-X-Saber Invoker


The most dangerous weapon for an X-Saber deck is Mass Driver and Dark Strike Fighter as these 2 cards has no limit on inflicting damage per turn as long as you can keep providing monster you control to be sacrifice.

The combo requires 2 XX-Saber Faultroll, 1 XX-Saber Ragigura and either XX-Saber Gardestrike or XX-Saber Boggart Knight. Between the first 3 cards the 2 XX-Saber Faultroll and 1 XX-Saber Ragigura, at least 1 of these 3 cards must be in your hand the others can be in your grave.

If you happen to have at least 2 X-Saber monster in your grave, XX-Saber Gardestrike can be special summon when you have no monsters. Then normal summon XX-Saber Ragigura, or for XX-Saber Boggart Knight, normal summon which allow you to special summon XX-Saber Ragigura. If the XX-Saber Faultroll is/are in your grave, you can return it back to you hand. Since you control 2 X-Saber monsters, you can special summon XX-Saber Faultroll, If you have either Mass Driver or Dark Strike Fighter, you can start infilicting an infinite amount of effect damage. For example if you have Mass Driver, use its effect to tribute XX-Saber Ragigura to inflict 400 damage. Then use XX-Saber Faultroll effect to special summon XX-Saber Ragigura which allow you to return the other XX-Saber Faultroll in your grave back to your hand. You can special summon the other XX-Saber Faultroll and tribute both the earlier XX-Saber Faultroll and XX-Saber Ragigura to inflict 400 damage twice. Use the newly summoned XX-Saber Faultroll to special summon XX-Saber Ragigura which enables you to return the tributed XX-Saber Faultroll back to your hand. and the cycle can be continues until you opponent's life point is depleted in that very same turn.

Same combo can be used by using the effect of Dark Strike Fighter. Due to this, these 2 cards is banned. But same combo can be done by using Cannon Soldier, Cannon Soldier MK-3 or Amazoness Archer which is not in the ban list, yet.


X-Saber Exodia deck

X-Saber Axel
X-Saber Palomuro
XX-Saber Emmersblade
XX-Saber Darksoul
XX-Saber Faultroll
XX-Saber Boggart Knight
Giant Rat
Exodia The Forbidden One
Left Arm of the Forbidden One
Left Leg of the Forbidden One
Right Arm of the Forbidden One
Right Leg of the Forbidden One
One for One
Foolish Burial
Inferno Reckless Summon
Gottom's Emergency Call
Rainbow Life

As weak as the X-Saber Axel, it does have its advantage as it can lead to an infinite draw when combine with X-Saber Palomuro and Rainbow Life. This can be done from the third turn onward as it requires you to attack and Rainbow Life need to be set first. Assuming on your first turn you get to set Rainbow Life, one your next turn, Make sure that you have at least 1 X-Saber Axel on your field, 2 X-Saber Palomuro in your grave or field. You need to control at least 2 X-Saber monsters, One of them must be X-Saber Axel.

Activate Rainbow Life which recover your life points instead of taking damage this turn. Assuming if you have X-Saber Axel and X-Saber Palomuro on you field and another X-Saber Palomuro in you grave, after activating Rainbow Life, enter the battle phase and attack opponents monster with X-Saber Palomuro and it must be destroyed in battle, any damage taken this turn will recover your life points instead thanks to Rainbow Life while the other X-Saber Palomuro in your grave will activate its effect, by paying 500 life points allowing you to special summon it. at the same time, due to X-Saber monster destroyed by battle, you get to draw 1 for every X-Saber Axel you control. same cycle can be continued until you've drawn all the pieces of Exodia, unless if opponent eliminate your X-Saber Axel or X-Saber Palomuro except by battle.


Key card for an X-Saber deck is definitely Gottom's Emergency Call as it allows you to initiate the swarm and gives you the ability to synchro summon and special summon XX-Saber Faultroll.