Summoned Skull
Dark, Level 6, [Fiend]
ATK: 2500, DEF: 1200
SYE-005, Common

"A fiend with dark powers for confusing the enemy. Among the Fiend-Type monsters, this monster boasts considerable force."

The fourth card review dealing with the principal cards in my latest deck brings me to one of my most favorite icon monsters in the game, Summoned Skull. You'll notice that this is also the first review I've done for a Normal Monster card, because usually there's not much to be said about them. I like this one so much, though, that I can make this worthwhile.

Summoned Skull is a top-tier Level 6 Tribute monster. His 2500 ATK is pretty much unsurpassed by any other single-tribute monster that doesn't have a self-increasing effect. In Traditional format, his DEF of 1200 is also perfect, allowing him to be searched out by Witch of the Black Forest. He enjoys firm support through both his Fiend Type and, most of all, his Dark Attribute.

Summoned Skull is retroactively deemed to be an Archfiend Monster, and this allows him to be used to satisfy the requirements of cards which state you must have an Archfiend on your side of the field. He is an excellent addition to Archfiend decks, as he requires no payment of Life Points in addition to his excellent stats.

Summoned Skull is also part of the old-school B. Skull Dragon Fusion Deck, which has a fun although unreliable One-Turn-Kill combo. By using De-Fusion on a Fusion-summoned B. Skull Dragon during your Battle Phase, you can allow Summoned Skull and Red-Eyes B. Dragon to both attack in addition to the B. Skull Dragon. This equals 8100 damage, enough to wipe out an open opponent on the first attacking turn. B. Skull Dragon is also retroactively deemed to be an Archfiend, and in my opinion, he's one of the coolest traditional Fusion monsters to ever be released (now, if I could just get my hands on some DB1 B. Skull Dragons!).

Summoned Skull is my old standby when it comes to a Tribute beatstick monster. Long has he lorded over the lesser forces of my decks, and great have been his victories in battle. Ok, yeah, enough theatrics. I give Summoned Skull a Good+ (that's almost Great) classification for his superior stats, deck versatility, and continued playability. The absolute only thing missing from this card is a great effect. It's a shame that the opportunity to produce such a card was wasted with Skull Archfiend of Lightning, who is an effect version of Summoned Skull with a lackluster Archfiend-style ability.