Most Level 6 Synchros are tied to specific themes or monster Types, and the ones that aren’t usually pale in comparison to Level 7’s and Level 8’s.  The handful of exceptions are a big deal: Goyo Guardian, HTS Psyhemuth, and Stardust Charge Warrior are all well respected for their topnotch stats and great effects, and they really don’t have much competition.

It doesn’t help that the most powerful generic Level 6 Synchro Monster was too powerful, and now resides on the Forbidden List: Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier.  With 2300 ATK, it packed an effect that let you discard any number of cards to your Graveyard to target the same number of cards and bounce them off the field back to their owners’ hands.  That wasn’t just an amazing aggressive effect, it could let you reuse your own cards as well, and at the end of the day those combos were just too good for Brionac to survive.

But finally, almost seven years after Brionac’s release, we have a replacement.  Check out Coral Dragon!

Once per turn, Coral Dragon lets you discard to target an opposing card and destroy it.  There’s no restriction on what you blow away: face-up or face-down, monster, spell, or trap, Coral Dragon can destroy anything that can be targeted.  As long as you control Coral Dragon, the worst card in your hand becomes powerful 1-for-1 spot removal against anything in your way.

The best thing about discard costs is that you can often work around them by pitching cards that are useful in the graveyard.  Discard a Burning Abyss monster like Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss or Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to manipulate the field.  Load up on banish effects by pitching The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots or Phantom Knights’ Sword.  There are lots of options.

Even better, Coral Dragon draws you a card when it’s Synchro Summoned and then sent to the Graveyard.  Even if your opponent destroys it, you get back the investment you made in your Synchro Summon.  It helps you draw through your Deck and keeps your hand healthy.

There are lots of ways you can make the most of Coral Dragon’s discard effect, but the real question is how to Summon it.  The most popular themes these days don’t have a lot of Tuners, but some powerful generic monsters can help!

Effect Veiler, Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit, and Ghost Reaper & Winter Cherries are all played for their powerful effects, stopping big moves just long enough for you to take over the Duel.  They’re awesome because you can drop them straight from your hand and activate their abilities.  But they’re all Tuners too, making them more versatile and giving you more ways to play them.

Effect Veiler’s a Level 1 Tuner, and it’s very popular as a Main Deck pick.  Monarchs can pair it with Gem-Knight Seraphinite or Super Quantum Red Layer; Pendulums have Performapal Odd-Eyes Light Phoenix; and Kozmos could Tune it to Kozmo Sliprider or Kozmo Delta Shuttle to Synchro Summon the Level 6 Coral Dragon.

Ghost Ogre and Ghost Reaper are both Level 3’s, and you can Special Summon Ghost Ogre with Emergency Teleport since it’s a Psychic-Type as well.  That opens up plays with Level 3 Synchro Materials like Kozmo Soartroopers, Fire King Avatar Garunix, Performapal Lizardraw, or any of the Phantom Knight monsters.

We saw Mermails make the Top Cut at the South American WCQ, and Coral Dragon’s especially good there: it’s easy to Summon with Tuners like Deep Sea Diva, and since the Mermails and Atlanteans all have effects that trigger when they’re sent to the Graveyard to activate a WATER monster’s effect, Coral Dragon can net you huge value and set off big combos.

One of the best Level 6 Synchros ever, Coral Dragon’s a powerful new addition to your Extra Deck.  Grab yours at The Dark Illusion Sneak Peek events this weekend!