Trap
NormalMax Metalmorph
Archetype:
Metalmorph
View:
4609
Tribute 1 face-up monster; Special Summon 1 monster that cannot be Normal Summoned/Set and mentions "Max Metalmorph" from your hand, Deck, or GY, then you can equip this card to it with the following effect. ● The equipped monster gains 400 ATK/DEF, it cannot be destroyed by Spell or monster effects, also your opponent cannot target it with monster effects or Spell Cards or effects. You can only activate 1 "Max Metalmorph" per turn.
Max Metalmorph — Power Evaluation
Final Score: 56 ± 8 · Confidence: Medium
- Intrinsic: 56 · Deck: 57 · Meta: provisional
- Primary role: Starter / Combo enabler · Secondary: Extender, Utility
Why it scores here
The card converts a Tribute of one face-up monster into a Special Summon of a Metalmorph-named monster that gains 400 ATK/DEF and gets protection from Spell and monster-effect targeting and destruction. That is a modest body upgrade with real protection, so it lands in the middle of the scale. Its 0 ATK and 0 DEF earn nothing, and the 400 deck appearances mainly confirm it is a live, reliably included card, not that it is strong. No combo evidence exists, so the combo axis rests on the text alone.
Axis scores
| Axis | Score | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Accessibility | 62 | Live in 400 of 400 sampled decks across 64 archetypes, but the summon needs a face-up monster to Tribute and a Metalmorph-named target in hand, Deck or GY (text plus deck counts; verified/observed). |
| Combo & Conversion | 55 | The text shows one Tribute turning into one protected, boosted body, but no recorded boards exist, so conversion strength is text-only inference (inferred). |
| Resource Economy | 40 | Tribute costs one monster and the Special Summon returns one body, so the exchange is roughly even with no refuel or draw (inferred from text). |
| Effect & Interaction | 45 | It gives protection from monster and Spell targeting plus destruction by Spell or monster effects, but it is not a negation or removal and cannot stop a non-targeting effect (verified text). |
| Material Utility | 40 | The equipped body's material value is untested: the card carries no level, attribute or material tag and no as_material data exists (inferred; no combo stats). |
| Resilience & Flexibility | 50 | Protection from common targeting interaction is real, but it is once per turn and only covers the equipped monster (verified text). |
| Deck-Building Efficiency | 60 | Used 1 copy in 292 of 400 decks with an average of 1.36, so it is cheap to run, but the 3-copy limit and banlist status are unknown (observed decks; banlist gap). |
Calculation
Weight profile: Starter / Combo enabler weight profile only; no secondary blend applied. Intrinsic ≈ 56, Deck ≈ 57, Meta = provisional. Modifiers: none. Final formula: 0.40*Intrinsic + 0.60*Deck
Strengths
- Live in 400 sampled decks across 64 archetypes, so it is not a forgotten niche pick
- Cheap to run: one copy in most decks
- Protection from monster and Spell targeting on the equipped monster
Weaknesses
- Needs a face-up monster to Tribute and a Metalmorph-named target, so it costs board presence
- Net body gain is +400 ATK/DEF, with no card advantage or refuel
- No recorded combo boards, so its combo conversion is unproven
Counters / choke points
- Non-targeting removal or destruction effects, which the equip protection does not stop (inferred from text)
- Interaction that hits the Tribute cost or the summoned body before the equip resolves (inferred)
Best use
Protected +400 body through a Tribute-and-summon line, used as a utility inside a Red-Eyes core. Decks: Red-Eyes. Suggested copies: 1.
Evidence & gaps
- Verified: Text: Tribute 1 face-up monster; Special Summon a monster that cannot be Normal Summoned/Set and mentions Max Metalmorph; equip gives +400 ATK/DEF and protection from Spell and monster-effect targeting and destruction; once per turn; 400 of 400 sampled decks run it; 88.5% in gameplay type 7; Partner rates: Red-Eyes Black Fullmetal Dragon 96.5%, Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring 86.2%
- Observed: Copies per deck: avg 1.36, 292 decks at 1 copy; Usage statistics: Gaia 100% and Evilswarm 66.7% inclusion, but only 2 archetypes in the sample
- Inferred: Primary role Starter / Combo enabler from the Tribute-and-summon text; Protection makes the equipped monster a durable material or attacker, but this is untested
- Data gaps: Card type is 'Trap Card' in the evidence, but the text is an equip effect, which normally belongs to Spell cards; type needs checking before publishing no combos supplied, so combo conversion is text-only inference no banlist token, so 3-copy limit is assumed usage_statistics covers only 2 archetypes, a thin historical sample