FIRE
1Red Duston
Archetype:
Duston
ATK:
0
DEF:
1000
View:
3232
Cannot be used as a Fusion, Synchro, or Xyz Material for a Summon. While this card is face-up on the field, it cannot be Tributed. When this card on the field is destroyed: The controller takes 500 damage. You can only control 1 face-up "Red Duston".
Red Duston — Power Evaluation
Final Score: 46 ± 5 · Confidence: Medium
- Intrinsic: 48 · Deck: 49 · Meta: provisional
- Primary role: Material body
Why it scores here
Red Duston is an archetype-specific Level 1 body for Duston, running at 2–3 copies in 65% of observed decks. However, the card lacks positive effects: it cannot be used as Fusion/Synchro/Xyz Material, cannot be Tributed while on field, and deals 500 damage to its controller when destroyed—a significant downside. With no combo evidence, no guides, and heavy archetype lock-in, the card derives all its value from Duston synergy and Link summoning. The 0 ATK/1000 DEF line earns zero points; power comes entirely from its restricted role in the archetype's engine.
Axis scores
| Axis | Score | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Accessibility | 52 | Runs 2–3 copies in 65% of Duston decks but is locked by once-per-control and Material restrictions, limiting consistency. (verified) |
| Combo & Conversion | 37 | No combo evidence supplied; text shows no card advantage, searches, or combo drivers—score is inference-only from its Level 1 body role in archetype. (inferred) |
| Resource Economy | 22 | Provides no card advantage and deals 500 damage to controller on destruction, creating a net-negative outcome when removed. (verified) |
| Effect & Interaction | 7 | Has no negation, removal, or disruption; cannot be Tributed is a restriction, not an interaction. (verified) |
| Material Utility | 52 | Level 1 Fiend can be Link Material and may serve archetype-specific synergies, but explicit Material blocks (Fusion/Synchro/Xyz) severely limit portability. (verified) |
| Resilience & Flexibility | 32 | Once-per-control caps field presence; self-damage on destruction punishes use; inflexible single-zone role. (verified) |
| Deck-Building Efficiency | 52 | Runs 2–3 main-deck slots in home archetype; no lock-in or garnet risk, but heavily archetype-dependent with limited tech appeal. (observed) |
Calculation
Weight profile: Material body. Intrinsic ≈ 48, Deck ≈ 49, Meta = provisional. Modifiers: Archetype lock-in + self-damage penalty (-3). Final formula: 0.40*Intrinsic + 0.60*Deck
Strengths
- Integrated into Duston archetype engine with 90% co-deck rates with other Duston cards
- Level 1 body provides material for Link summoning within archetype
- Multiple copies (2–3) offer redundancy in Duston builds
Weaknesses
- Cannot be Fusion/Synchro/Xyz Material, limiting portability outside Duston
- Deals 500 damage to controller when destroyed—a net-negative outcome
- Once-per-control restriction caps field presence and deck consistency
- 0 ATK creates no board pressure; 1000 DEF provides only minimal stalling
- No card advantage, tutors, or combo acceleration
Counters / choke points
- Any removal or destruction effect (e.g., Lightning Storm, Dark Hole) triggers self-damage
- Duston mirrors: both players taking damage can be exploited
- Decks that abuse Duston self-damage (self-mill, life-gain strategies)
Best use
Archetype Material body for Link summoning. Decks: Duston. Suggested copies: 3.
Evidence & gaps
- Verified: Cannot be Fusion/Synchro/Xyz Material (from card text); Cannot be Tributed while on field (from card text); Takes 500 damage when destroyed (from card text); Once-per-control restriction (from card text); Primary home is Duston archetype (65% of 20 decks); Runs 2–3 copies in Duston decks (distribution: 1×8, 2×2, 3×10); Level 1 Fiend, FIRE attribute (from card stats)
- Observed: 90% co-deck rate with Blue/Green/House Duston (18/20 decks); 85% co-deck rate with Yellow Duston (17/20 decks); 80% co-deck rate with White Duston (16/20 decks); Appears in 7 distinct archetypes but with 65% concentration in Duston
- Inferred: Role as Material body for Duston Link summoning (no explicit combo evidence); Self-damage creates a liability when card is destroyed; Once-per-control restriction reduces deck flexibility and consistency; Limited generic utility due to Material blocks and Level 1 constraints
- Data gaps: no combos supplied — combo conversion is text-only inference no guides supplied — no human context on archetype role no banlist token — assumed unlimited (3 copies) no usage statistics (StatisticsCard) — archetype inclusion % inferred from deck sample only no Duston archetype support list or Link monsters described — synergy clarity limited