Spell
NormalRecurring Nightmare
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2851
Target 2 DARK monsters with 0 DEF in your GY; add those targets to your hand.
Recurring Nightmare — Power Evaluation
Final Score: 57 ± 6 · Confidence: Medium
- Intrinsic: 55 · Deck: 58 · Meta: provisional
- Primary role: Recovery/Recursion · Secondary: Utility, Combo enabler
Why it scores here
Recurring Nightmare scores as a solid GY recovery tool with zero activation cost, returning 2 DARK 0-DEF monsters from the graveyard to hand for strong resource economy (+2 advantage). It is widely adopted across 28 distinct archetypes (Branded, Cubic, Wicked God, Bystial, Borrel) and 252 decks, confirming reliable accessibility in meta. However, the card generates no board state or new interactions on its own—it only enables follow-ups with recovered monsters—and as a Normal Spell it is vulnerable to removal before resolution. The lack of disruption, zero material utility, and archetype-specific requirement prevent a higher score despite excellent resource efficiency.
Axis scores
| Axis | Score | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Accessibility | 65 | Playable Normal Spell in 252 decks across 28 archetypes with 1–3 copy distribution, but requires DARK 0-DEF targets already in GY. (observed) |
| Combo & Conversion | 45 | Recovers DARK 0-DEF monsters (e.g., Fallen of Albaz) enabling follow-ups, but generates no board state or combo steps itself; no combo evidence supplied. (inferred) |
| Resource Economy | 78 | Adds 2 monsters from GY to hand with zero activation cost, yielding +2 card advantage when targets exist. (verified) |
| Effect & Interaction | 5 | GY recovery tool with zero disruption, negation, or removal; no opponent interaction. (verified) |
| Material Utility | 0 | Spell Card cannot be used as Synchro, Fusion, Link, or Xyz material. (verified) |
| Resilience & Flexibility | 50 | Normal Spell subject to Spell/Trap removal or negation before resolution; post-resolution effect is permanent, and redundant copies (212/1, 28/2, 12/3 distribution) provide resilience. (observed) |
| Deck-Building Efficiency | 60 | Occupies one Spell/Trap slot with no activation cost or deck restriction; garnet risk if no DARK 0-DEF targets in GY, but 252 decks and 28 archetypes confirm the condition is manageable. (observed) |
Calculation
Weight profile: Recovery/Recursion primary role. Intrinsic ≈ 55, Deck ≈ 58, Meta = provisional. Modifiers: none. Final formula: 0.40*Intrinsic + 0.60*Deck
Strengths
- Zero activation cost; pure +2 card advantage if targets exist
- Widely splashable across 28 distinct archetypes, especially Branded (19.4%), Cubic (13.5%), Wicked God (13.1%), Bystial (12.3%)
- Strong synergy with DARK Fusion strategies (Super Polymerization co-deck 71.8%)
- Consistent deck inclusion and redundant copy distribution confirm reliable utility in meta
Weaknesses
- Requires DARK 0-DEF monsters already in GY; dead draw if no targets
- Does not generate new board state or combo steps; only enables follow-ups
- Normal Spell vulnerable to Spell/Trap removal or negation before resolution
- One activation per turn; limited flexibility across multiple turns
Counters / choke points
- Spell/Trap removal: Twin Twisters, Lightning Storm, Cosmic Cyclone
- Negation: Solemn Judgment, Solemn Strike, Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring (if adding to hand triggers)
Best use
GY recovery and resource refuel for DARK-centric strategies. Decks: Branded, Cubic, Wicked God, Bystial, Borrel. Suggested copies: 1.
Evidence & gaps
- Verified: Card text: targets 2 DARK monsters with 0 DEF in GY; adds to hand; Legal in 4 formats: TCG, OCG, MasterDuel, DuelLinks; 252 decks run the card (main deck only); 28 distinct archetypes; top partners Super Polymerization (71.8%), Lightning Storm (65.9%), Allure of Darkness (62.7%)
- Observed: Copy distribution: 212 decks/1 copy, 28 decks/2 copies, 12 decks/3 copies (avg 1.21); Archetype concentration: Branded 19.4%, Cubic 13.5%, Wicked God 13.1%, Bystial 12.3%; Gameplay type: 86.9% going-second, 10.7% going-first; Consistent inclusion across meta archetypes confirms utility in DARK-based strategies
- Inferred: Combo conversion: Recovers DARK monsters (e.g., Fallen of Albaz) enabling follow-ups like Branded Fusion, but does not generate primary board state (no combo evidence supplied); Generic utility: ~70 across 28 archetypes, capped by archetype-specific DARK 0-DEF requirement; Resilience: Spell vulnerability offset by redundancy of multiple copies and multiple home archetypes
- Data gaps: No combos supplied — combo conversion is text-only inference No guides supplied No banlist token — assumed unlimited (3 copies) No usage statistics (StatisticsCard) — archetype inclusion % inferred from deck sample only