Last week, we took a look at where you might use Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls. Today we’ll talk about its far more destructive buddy from the other Wave 1 Collectible Tin, Blaster, Dragon Ruler of Infernos! Blaster has many effects similar to Tidal, but serves some very different purposes in FIRE Decks.

Like Tidal and the other Dragon Rulers, Blaster packs several effects specific to its Attribute, and you can use one of these effects of Blaster per turn. You can Special Summon Blaster from your hand or Graveyard by banishing two FIRE and/or Dragon-type monsters. You can also add a FIRE Dragon from your Deck to your hand if Blaster is banished. If Blaster gets Special Summoned (By its own effect or any other method), it returns to your hand at the end of your opponent’s turn. And finally, by discarding Blaster and any other FIRE monster, you can destroy any card on the field!

Blaster adds power to any FIRE Deck that wants extra muscle or a way to destroy cards. Fire Fists are one of the most popular FIRE Decks to use Blaster in. With Blaster on your side, you can blow away any opposing card before you begin your best plays! Discard Blaster and Brotherhood of the Fire Fist – Rooster to destroy something, then revive Rooster with Brotherhood of the Fire Fist – Spirit. You can activate both of Rooster’s effects, then Synchro Summon Brotherhood of the Fire Fist – Horse Prince or Xyz Summon Brotherhood of the Fire Fist – Lion Emperor! Blaster’s massive 2800 ATK also comes in handy later on in then Duel if you need to attack over a large monster. Since you’ll get a copy of Brotherhood of the Fire Fist – Bear in your 2013 Collector’s Tin along with Blaster, you can more easily construct your own Fire Fist Deck!

Fire Kings are the other major FIRE Deck to burst onto the scene this year, and they love Blaster too! Blaster gives you a way to toss any extra copies of Fire King High Avatar Garunix or Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys to the Graveyard, while also destroying a card. If you’ve used Blaster’s effect earlier in the Duel and have him in the Graveyard with 3 other FIRE monsters, you can banish the two weakest monsters to Summon him and get an attack in. Normally, Blaster would soon be returning to your hand since it was Special Summoned, but you can simply destroy it with Circle of the Fire Kings and replace it with the remaining monster from your Graveyard! Play Circle of the Fire Kings during the Battle Phase, and you’ll get to attack with both Blaster and the new monster!

Laval Decks can also make great use of Blaster. They love having a way to discard monsters and destroy opposing cards before they play Rekindling, and having access to an extra 2800 ATK Special Summon is something they cherish! If you have enough Lavals in the Graveyard, you can use Blaster’s effect to discard itself and Laval Lakeside Lady, destroy a card, and then use Lakeside Lady’s effect to destroy another card! As a Level 7 monster, you can even combine Blaster with Laval Volcano Handmaiden for a Level 8 Synchro Monster! For Xyz Monsters, Blaster can be paired with Laval Stennon to Summon a mighty Rank 7!

You’ll find that Blaster, Dragon Ruler of Infernos fits into any FIRE Deck looking for more ways to destroy cards. Blows stuff up, 2800 ATK, and easy to Special Summon, what more explanation do you need? You can pick up Blaster or Tidal in Wave 1 of the 2013 Collectible Tins, available now!