DARK
Number C96: Dark Storm
ATK:
1000
DEF:
1000
View:
3538
4 Level 3 DARK monsters This card cannot be destroyed by battle, also all battle damage you take from battles involving this card is also inflicted to your opponent. If this card has "Number 96: Dark Mist" as an Xyz Material, it gains this effect. ● Once per battle, during either player's turn, when an attack is declared involving this card and an opponent's monster: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; the ATK of the opponent's monster becomes 0, and if it does, this card gains ATK equal to the original ATK of the opponent's monster.
Number C96: Dark Storm — Power Evaluation
Final Score: 63 ± 5 · Confidence: Medium
- Intrinsic: 62 · Deck: 63 · Meta: provisional
- Primary role: Material body · Secondary: Removal/Negation, Board breaker
Why it scores here
Number C96: Dark Storm scores as a reliable material body for Rank-Up-Magic strategies, appearing consistently across 15 distinct archetypes including Labrynth and Mikanko. While its 1000 ATK/DEF and situational ATK reduction effect contribute minimal offensive power, the card's core value lies in being a generic Level 3 DARK XYZ monster requiring minimal deck slots when used as material. The battle indestructibility and damage reflection provide incidental board control, but these are secondary to its primary function as a stepping stone for Rank-Up summons.
Axis scores
| Axis | Score | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Accessibility | 68 | Accessible across 15 archetypes with 35 deck appearances, though summoning requires 4 Level 3 DARK monsters specific to deck archetype. (observed) |
| Combo & Conversion | 45 | Generates no standalone combos; used as material for Rank-Up-Magic (37.1% co-deck rate) rather than as a starter or extender. (inferred) |
| Resource Economy | 35 | Provides no card advantage or refuel; only situational ATK reduction and damage reflection offer board value without resource gain. (verified) |
| Effect & Interaction | 52 | Offers soft opponent interaction through once-per-battle ATK reduction when equipped with Dark Mist material, but lacks strong negation or removal. (verified) |
| Material Utility | 68 | Serves as generic Level 3 DARK material splashable across diverse archetypes; maintains utility even when effects are negated. (verified) |
| Resilience & Flexibility | 48 | Battle indestructibility provides one layer of protection, but lacks recovery, recursion, or multi-turn presence beyond a single summon. (verified) |
| Deck-Building Efficiency | 65 | High summon requirement (4 Level 3 DARK monsters) offset by minimal garnet risk due to XYZ material role; runs at 1 copy in 94% of decks. (observed) |
Calculation
Weight profile: Material body (primary). Intrinsic ≈ 62, Deck ≈ 63, Meta = provisional. Modifiers: none. Final formula: 0.40*Intrinsic + 0.60*Deck (decks present, combos absent)
Strengths
- Consistent XYZ material for Rank-Up-Magic strategies across diverse archetypes
- Battle indestructibility provides situational protection against common destruction removal
- Generic Level 3 DARK body enables splashability beyond primary homes
- Low garnet risk relative to Normal monsters due to XYZ material role
Weaknesses
- No card advantage generation or refuel capability
- Requires 4 Level 3 DARK monsters for summoning (high deck-building cost)
- ATK reduction effect is situational, requiring Dark Mist material plus specific attack scenario
- Vulnerable to non-destruction removal, hand traps, spell/trap effects, and effect negation
- Cannot generate meaningful combos independently
Counters / choke points
- Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring (hand trap negation of XYZ summon)
- Spell and trap removal effects
- Non-destruction removal (bouncing, banishing, shuffling)
- Effects that negate XYZ monster effects
Best use
XYZ material for Rank-Up-Magic strategies and control board packages. Decks: Labrynth, Mikanko, Diabellstar, Azamina, Utopia. Suggested copies: 1.
Evidence & gaps
- Verified: Rank 3 XYZ monster requiring 4 Level 3 DARK monsters; Cannot be destroyed by battle; Battle damage reflected to opponent; Dark Mist effect: once per battle ATK reduction to 0 when attack declared; Appears in 35 decks across 15 archetypes; Rank-Up-Magic Quick Chaos co-deck rate 37.1%
- Observed: 45.7% of deck appearances in control-type gameplay; 1.03 average copies per deck with 94% single-copy prevalence; Strongest archetype homes in Labrynth (14.3%), Mikanko (11.4%), Diabellstar (8.6%), Azamina (8.6%)
- Inferred: Primary role as Rank-Up-Magic material based on high co-deck rates and absence of standalone combo generation; Material utility as Level 3 DARK body enables splashability across diverse deck archetypes; Secondary role in control-oriented decks like Labrynth; Low garnet risk due to XYZ material role reducing on-field dependency
- Data gaps: No combos supplied — combo conversion is text-only inference without recorded board data No guide mentions — no human context on typical usage patterns or strategic applications No banlist token — assumed 3 copies legal (unlimited) across all formats No usage statistics (StatisticsCard) — archetype inclusion percentages based on 35-deck sample only