DARK
4Rokket Caliber
Archetype:
Rokket
ATK:
1700
DEF:
100
View:
5688
You can Special Summon this card (from your hand) to your zone a DARK Link Monster points to. You can only Special Summon "Rokket Caliber" once per turn this way. You can Tribute this card; Special Summon 1 DARK Dragon or Machine monster from your hand, except "Rokket Caliber". You can only use this effect of "Rokket Caliber" once per turn.
Rokket Caliber — Power Evaluation
Final Score: 75 ± 5 · Confidence: Medium
- Intrinsic: 74 · Deck: 75 · Meta: provisional
- Primary role: Starter · Secondary: Extender, Material body
Why it scores here
Rokket Caliber scores well as a reliable combo starter in Dragon Link and Rokket strategies, consistently appearing across 26 archetypes with clean deckbuilding efficiency at 1 copy. Its primary value comes from enabling explosive board development (recorded combo achieves power index 100 with 3 boss monsters and +5 card advantage), though it contributes no direct disruption effects. The 1700 ATK does not drive the evaluation; instead, the score reflects its role as a flexible Tuner body that kickstarts high-efficiency lines while remaining searchable via Rokket Tracer in 99.8% of partner decks.
Axis scores
| Axis | Score | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Accessibility | 85 | Included in 100% of 400 sampled decks across 26 archetypes with 99.8% partnership to Rokket Tracer, enabling consistent access as a normal summon or via searches. (observed) |
| Combo & Conversion | 82 | The single recorded combo achieves power index 100 with 3 boss monsters and +5 net card advantage from a normal summon, though combo database coverage is limited to 1 example. (observed) |
| Resource Economy | 72 | The tribute effect converts a hand monster to a field summon, contributing to +5 net card advantage in recorded combos through board extension and enabling downstream payoffs. (observed) |
| Effect & Interaction | 10 | No negation, hand trap effects, or disruption mechanics; purely a combo enabler for resource generation and board building with zero opponent interaction. (verified) |
| Material Utility | 68 | A Level-4 DARK Tuner with clean Synchro material typing; remains useful even when effect is negated and can be tributed for secondary value generation. (verified) |
| Resilience & Flexibility | 62 | Offers two distinct once-per-turn effects (special summon or tribute) providing some redundancy, but remains vulnerable to removal and effect negation like any monster. (verified) |
| Deck-Building Efficiency | 80 | Runs efficiently at 1.03 copies average (mostly 1 copy) across diverse archetypes with no apparent brick risk or deckbuilding restrictions; splashable as CORE in guides. (observed) |
Calculation
Weight profile: 0.7 Starter + 0.3 Extender blend. Intrinsic ≈ 74, Deck ≈ 75, Meta = provisional. Modifiers: none. Final formula: 0.40*Intrinsic + 0.60*Deck
Strengths
- Highly accessible as a Level-4 normal summon with searchable backup via Rokket Tracer (99.8% partnership)
- Powers explosive combo lines with 26-archetype compatibility and clean 1-copy efficiency
- Dual-action effects provide redundancy: special summon conditional or tribute for hand refuel
- Level-4 DARK Tuner typing provides intrinsic material value even when effects are negated
Weaknesses
- Zero disruption or opponent interaction; purely offensive combo support
- Special summon effect requires DARK Link Monster already on field, limiting early-game usage
- Vulnerable to removal, negation, and hand traps like any tuner body
- No hand trap capability or going-second interaction
Counters / choke points
- Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring (blocks special summon effects and deck search)
- Forbidden Chalice / Forbidden Lance (negates on-field effects)
- Effect Veiler (negates monster effects during combo turn)
- Quick-play removal (Raigeki, Dark Hole, Lightning Storm)
Best use
Combo starter / extender. Decks: Dragon Link, Rokket, Borrel, Bystial. Suggested copies: 1.
Evidence & gaps
- Verified: Card text is clear and complete with two distinct once-per-turn effects; Level 4, DARK Dragon, Tuner type confirmed; Appears in 100% of 400 sampled decks (400/400 main deck); Archetype classifications: Rokket (21%), Dragon Link (21%), Borrel (18%), Bystial (8.2%); Role as starter in recorded combo (100% of appearances)
- Observed: 26 distinct archetypes run this card (high portability signal); 99.8% partnership with Rokket Tracer (nearly universal co-inclusion confirms searchability); Average 1.03 copies per deck (mostly single-copy inclusions); Power index 100 in single combo with 3 boss monsters and +5 card advantage; Consistent 89.5-100% inclusion rates across Dragon Link, Rokket, and Borrel variants
- Inferred: Searchable via Rokket Tracer based on 99.8% co-inclusion rate and guide confirmation; Secondary extender/tributor utility based on dual-effect text and deck synergies; Synchro material value as Level-4 DARK Tuner applicable to multiple strategies; First effect requires prior DARK Link Monster setup, limiting pure-hand-only accessibility
- Data gaps: Only 1 combo in database despite 400 decks sampled (extremely limited combo coverage) No banlist status provided (assumed unlimited copies) Top-Card competitive rankings not available (top-card status = false)