EARTH
Number 52: Diamond Crab King
ATK:
0
DEF:
3000
View:
3506
2 Level 4 monsters Once per turn: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; change this card's DEF to 0, and if you do, change its ATK to 3000. These changes last until the end of this turn. If this card attacks, it is changed to Defense Position at the end of the Battle Phase. If this card is attacked, change it to Attack Position at the end of the Damage Step if it has no Xyz Materials. You can only control 1 "Number 52: Diamond Crab King".
Number 52: Diamond Crab King — Power Evaluation
Final Score: 40 ± 6 · Confidence: Medium
- Intrinsic: 42 · Deck: 38 · Meta: provisional
- Primary role: Material body · Secondary: Utility
Why it scores here
Number 52: Diamond Crab King scores as a situational filler Rank 4 XYZ whose limited effect and zero ATK prevent it from contributing meaningfully to most board states. While it appears in 190 decks across 77 archetypes, the average 1.28 copies per deck and complete absence from combo boards indicates it functions as a passive Extra Deck slot rather than a core engine piece. The card's only effect—once per turn detach material to swap ATK and DEF—generates no advantage and provides no opponent interaction; it is valued primarily as a generic body summoned from two Level 4 monsters when other Rank 4 XYZ options are unavailable.
Axis scores
| Axis | Score | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Accessibility | 45 | Requires two Level 4 monsters, which are abundant; however, situational effect and lack of synergy limit active summoning (observed: 1.28 copies average across 190 decks, mostly single copies). |
| Combo & Conversion | 15 | No recorded combo appearances; the card does not extend boards or generate value from typical starter states, contributing only a passive defensive body (verified: zero entries in combo data). |
| Resource Economy | 20 | Costs two monsters to summon and requires detaching material to activate its only effect, draining resources without generating card advantage or recovery (verified: card text requires material expenditure with no advantage clauses). |
| Effect & Interaction | 5 | The card has no disruption, negation, or removal capability; its only effect swaps its own ATK and DEF with zero opponent interaction (verified: card text contains no effects interacting with opponent monsters or effects). |
| Material Utility | 35 | Generic Rank 4 XYZ body with no archetype synergy; the 3000 DEF and zero ATK make it useful only as filler material or defensive blocker (observed: 77 distinct archetypes suggest pick-your-Rank-4 role rather than targeted synergy). |
| Resilience & Flexibility | 30 | Position locking after attack and material-dependent recovery mechanics reduce flexibility; forced to Defense Position at end of Battle Phase limits tactical options (verified: card text 'If this card attacks, it is changed to Defense Position at the end of the Battle Phase'). |
| Deck-Building Efficiency | 45 | Moderate deck cost to summon; the unique control restriction and low average copies per deck suggest limited redundancy and situational inclusion (observed: 1.28 copies average; most decks run one copy only). |
Calculation
Weight profile: Primary role: Material body. Intrinsic ≈ 42, Deck ≈ 38, Meta = provisional. Modifiers: none. Final formula: 0.40*Intrinsic + 0.60*Deck
Strengths
- Generic Rank 4 XYZ requiring only Level 4 monsters, available in many archetypes
- Broad deck inclusion (190 decks, 77 archetypes) confirms accessibility across formats
- 3000 DEF provides defensive capability when needed as a blocker
Weaknesses
- Zero ATK makes offensive presence nonexistent without material expenditure
- Once-per-turn effect with material cost generates no card advantage
- No opponent interaction or disruption capability whatsoever
- Position locking after attack severely limits tactical flexibility
- Complete absence from combo boards suggests minimal practical value in modern strategies
- Situational role as filler indicates it is a fallback choice, not preferred
Counters / choke points
- Any card that locks Rank 4 XYZ summoning
- Cards that prevent effect activation or material detachment
- Board wipes affecting Extra Deck summoned monsters
Best use
Defensive Rank 4 XYZ filler. Decks: Level 4 focused archetypes (Yosenju, Floowandereeze, Traptrix). Suggested copies: 1.
Evidence & gaps
- Verified: Card has 0 ATK and 3000 DEF as Rank 4 XYZ monster; Requires 2 Level 4 monsters for summoning; Once-per-turn effect: detach material to swap ATK and DEF until end of turn; Position-locking mechanics: forced to Defense Position after attack; switches to Attack Position if attacked with no materials; Found in 190 decks across 77 distinct archetypes (recent sample from 2021-2026); Assumed unlimited copies (no banlist data provided)
- Observed: Average 1.28 copies per deck; 160 decks run 1 copy, 6 run 2, 24 run 3; 73.2% of decks running it are Type 4 gameplay; Most common partners are other Rank 4 XYZs: Number 70 (42.1%), Number 50 (31.1%), Number 82 (25.3%); Appears in N/R Event (13.7%), Book of (3.7%), Traptrix (3.7%), and 74 other archetypes
- Inferred: Primary value is as generic Rank 4 XYZ body filling Extra Deck slots; Situational effect provides minimal offensive or defensive tempo advantage; Control restriction limits redundancy; most decks run only one copy; Broad archetype usage suggests acceptance as tech slot rather than core engine piece; Effect is rarely the reason for summoning; body value dominates
- Data gaps: No combos supplied—combo conversion is text-only inference; zero recorded appearances in combo boards limits confidence in practical synergy assessment No banlist token—assumed 3 copies (unlimited); cannot verify if limited/forbidden status changes deck priority No usage statistics (StatisticsCard)—archetype inclusion percentages inferred from 190-deck sample only; larger historical samples would refine estimates Minimal guide coverage—only 1 guide mentions it (listed without detailed explanation); no strategic discussion available No top card context—not a high-impact card; cannot verify historical rankings or format-specific performance