EARTH
8Machina Irradiator
Archetype:
Machina
ATK:
1700
DEF:
2400
View:
3777
You can discard 1 other "Machina" monster; Special Summon this card from your hand. You can target 1 Machine monster you control; Special Summon from your GY, 1 "Machina" monster with a different name and an equal or lower Level than that monster, and if you do, destroy that targeted monster. You can only use each effect of "Machina Irradiator" once per turn.
Machina Irradiator — Power Evaluation
Final Score: 64 ± 5 · Confidence: Medium
- Intrinsic: 61 · Deck: 64 · Meta: provisional
- Primary role: Combo Enabler · Secondary: Extender, Recovery/Recursion
Why it scores here
Machina Irradiator is a core enabler in the Machina engine, facilitating discard-based combo lines and enabling GY recursion through its revival effect. While it reliably summons itself and revives Machina monsters, it generates moderate board advantage when present (avg power index 64.4) and is primarily valuable as an engine piece rather than a standalone powerhouse. The card's ATK/DEF stats and lack of disruption do not contribute to its score; its value lies in enabling lines through selective summoning and recycling.
Axis scores
| Axis | Score | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Accessibility | 62 | Self-summons via Machina discard and appears in 39.5% of Machina decks with 98% co-inclusion with Fortress/Citadel, though only 20% of combos feature it as a starter. (observed) |
| Combo & Conversion | 58 | Enables discard-outlet lines and GY recursion with avg combo power index of 64.4 when present, but appears in only 5 total combos and rarely as the primary board generator. (observed) |
| Resource Economy | 58 | Converts discard cost into body plus GY access, roughly neutral on card advantage; GY revival destroys targeted controlled monster, requiring setup to net positive value. (inferred) |
| Effect & Interaction | 25 | No negation, hand trap, or disruption capability; destruction effect is limited to self-targeting controlled monsters and provides minimal opponent interaction. (verified) |
| Material Utility | 67 | Level 8 EARTH Machine body is clean for Xyz/Fusion summons in Machina lines, particularly Rank-8 Xyzs like Liebe and Gustav Max; useful even when effect-negated. (observed) |
| Resilience & Flexibility | 58 | Once-per-turn effects and GY-dependent recursion limit flexibility; survives negation as a body but banish effects (Macro Cosmos, D.D. Crow) shut down recursion. (inferred) |
| Deck-Building Efficiency | 62 | Moderately efficient within Machina (avg 1.49 copies per deck) with minimal garnet potential; splashable in Machine decks but most powerful in Machina-focused builds. (observed) |
Calculation
Weight profile: 0.6×Combo Enabler + 0.4×Recovery/Recursion. Intrinsic ≈ 61, Deck ≈ 64, Meta = provisional. Modifiers: cross-archetype_splashability (1). Final formula: 0.40*Intrinsic + 0.60*Deck
Strengths
- Self-sufficient summoning via Machina discard enables GY recursion lines without external searcher support
- Level 8 Machine body provides solid material value for Xyz/Fusion synergy in Machina decks
- 98% co-inclusion with Machina Fortress and Citadel demonstrates tight integration into proven engine
- Once-per-turn effects allow strategic resource management across multiple turns
Weaknesses
- Effect 1 requires Machina monster in hand to activate; not live in all opening hands
- Effect 2 requires targeting your own controlled monster for destruction, which is situational and often net-negative without prior setup
- Low ATK (1700) provides no immediate threat or board pressure
- GY-dependent recursion is vulnerable to banish effects and graveyard wipes
- Rarely appears as standalone combo starter; primarily an enabler rather than independent board generator
- Archetype-focused value (Machina); significantly less useful outside the engine despite Machine type
Counters / choke points
- Macro Cosmos / D.D. Crow / Dimensional Barrier shut down GY recursion
- Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring negates GY revival effect
- Effect Veiler / Infinite Impermanence can stop discard or revival activation
- Machina discard-outlet disruption (blocking Redeployment or other discard targets) removes primary enabler value
Best use
Combo Enabler / Extender. Decks: Machina, Earth Machine, Scrap, Train, Infinitrack.
Evidence & gaps
- Verified: Card text: self-summon via Machina discard; GY revival plus destruction of controlled target; once-per-turn clause on both effects; Type/Attribute: Level 8 EARTH Machine; Appears in 100% of combo sample (5 appearances); All 400 decks in sample run the card
- Observed: 39.5% inclusion in Machina archetype (158/400 decks); next highest Scrap at 12%; 98.2% co-appearance with Machina Fortress; 98% with Citadel and Redeployment; Average 1.49 copies per deck (282 run 1 copy, 41 run 2, 77 run 3); Appears as combo starter in 20% of combos; as end-hand utility in 20%; Average power index 64.4 when present (moderate, not high-impact); 36 distinct archetypes feature the card, indicating moderate cross-archetype presence
- Inferred: Primary role as Combo Enabler based on discard-summon cost and self-summoning mechanics; Secondary recovery role based on GY revival effect mechanics; Vulnerable to graveyard banish effects due to GY-dependent recursion; Useful Xyz material based on Level 8 plus Machine type alignment with top partners
- Data gaps: No banlist token — assumed unlimited at 3 copies No usage statistics (StatisticsCard) — archetype inclusion percentages inferred from 400-deck sample only Combo sample extremely thin (5 total combos) — insufficient for reliable broader combo assessment No Top Card ranking — archetype performance and metagame viability unknown Guides provide basic mentions only; lack detailed strategy or role clarification