Does Magic Cylinder Work on Obelisk? Unraveling the Mysteries of Yu-Gi-Oh! Card Interactions
The short answer is no, Magic Cylinder generally does not work on Obelisk the Tormentor. While the God card seems unstoppable, this is not always the case. Let’s dive into the reasons why, and explore the intricacies of card interactions within Yu-Gi-Oh! that affect Obelisk’s invulnerability. Obelisk’s real-life effect only protects the card from being “targeted” by card effects. Magic Cylinder targets attacking monsters. Therefore, this card cannot affect the invincible Obelisk.
Obelisk the Tormentor: A God Among Monsters
Obelisk the Tormentor, one of the iconic Egyptian God Cards, holds a special place in the hearts of Yu-Gi-Oh! duelists. Its sheer power and imposing presence on the field make it a formidable force. However, understanding the nuances of its protection effects is crucial to effectively using or countering it.
Understanding Targeting vs. Non-Targeting Effects
The key to understanding why Magic Cylinder fails against Obelisk lies in the distinction between targeting and non-targeting effects. Many card effects in Yu-Gi-Oh! target a specific card on the field. This means the card text explicitly identifies a card to be affected (e.g., “Target 1 monster your opponent controls”). Obelisk’s protection specifically prevents it from being the target of such effects.
Magic Cylinder specifically targets an attacking monster, redirecting the attack back at the opponent as direct damage. Since Obelisk is immune to targeting effects, Magic Cylinder cannot select it as the target of its effect.
Circumventing Obelisk’s Protection
While Obelisk is resistant to targeted destruction, it is not invincible. Duelists can employ a variety of strategies to overcome its protection:
- Non-Targeting Destruction: Cards like Dark Hole and Raigeki destroy all monsters on the field without targeting. These cards completely bypass Obelisk’s protection.
- Non-Targeting Removal: Cards that send monsters back to the hand or the deck without targeting them are also effective.
- Attack Power Overwhelming: Since Obelisk has 4000 ATK, you can use other high attack monsters, like Blue-Eyes White Dragon to defeat Obelisk.
- Tributing: Certain cards allow you to tribute the monster to summon another monster onto the field, so you will be able to rid of the God card that way.
FAQs: Obelisk the Tormentor and Card Interactions
To further clarify Obelisk’s interactions with various card types, let’s delve into some frequently asked questions:
FAQ 1: Can Bottomless Trap Hole destroy Obelisk?
No, the summon of Obelisk cannot be negated by a card like Solemn Judgment or Horn of Heaven. Spells, Traps, and monster effects can’t be activated when it’s Normal Summoned either, so Bottomless Trap Hole cannot destroy Obelisk upon its summon.
FAQ 2: Does Dark Hole work on Obelisk?
Yes. Dark Hole destroys all monsters on the field without targeting. Obelisk’s protection only prevents it from being targeted by card effects.
FAQ 3: Can Obelisk be affected by card effects at all?
Yes, but only by effects that do not target it. This includes global effects or those that affect the entire field.
FAQ 4: Who is stronger, Obelisk or Exodia?
In the lore, Exodia is the most powerful, but only when all five pieces are together in your hand. In terms of sheer stats and field presence, Obelisk is a formidable threat that doesn’t require assembling multiple pieces.
FAQ 5: Can trap cards destroy Obelisk?
Yes, some trap cards can destroy Obelisk. Traps that do not target, like Mirror Force (in specific situations) or Torrential Tribute, can destroy Obelisk.
FAQ 6: Does Gravity Bind work on Obelisk?
Yes, Gravity Bind works because it doesn’t specifically target him.
FAQ 7: Can you Special Summon Obelisk the Tormentor?
Yes, you can Special Summon Obelisk the Tormentor with various cards designed for high-level monsters.
FAQ 8: Can Mirror Force destroy Obelisk?
Yes, Mirror Force can destroy it, since Mirror Force destroys the opposing monsters by redirecting an opponent’s attack.
FAQ 9: Is Obelisk the best God card?
It’s subjective. Obelisk has seen the most play due to its raw power and the support card The Breaking Ruin God. It packs a huge punch and can inflict considerable damage. Slifer the Sky Dragon can reach higher ATK/DEF more easily in a dedicated deck, but requires a lot more set up and luck. Ra, the Winged Dragon of Ra, can have great power in battle, but costs all your life points to power up.
FAQ 10: Why can Kaiba use Obelisk?
In the anime, Kaiba is the reincarnation of Priest Set, who was associated with Obelisk. This connection allows him to wield the card.
FAQ 11: Is Slifer better than Obelisk?
A dedicated Slifer the Sky Dragon deck will probably result in Slifer having more attack points than Obelisk does. However, that lack of protection effects leaves it pretty vulnerable to spell and trap cards.
FAQ 12: Can Obelisk negate card effects?
No. The God cards are known to not be able to negate the effects of other cards.
FAQ 13: Can Yugi beat Obelisk?
Yes, but usually with a clever strategy that involves using Obelisk’s power against itself or exploiting its vulnerabilities to non-targeting effects.
FAQ 14: Is Exodia stronger than Blue-Eyes White Dragon?
Exodia gives the player immediate victory when called, but the 5 cards that make it up are too weak to be used separately.
FAQ 15: Can a monster with higher ATK beat Obelisk?
Yes. The best way to beat Obelisk is by having a monster with more attack.
Learning More About Games and Education
Understanding the intricate rules and interactions within Yu-Gi-Oh! can be a fun and engaging way to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. To learn more about the educational potential of games and how they can be used to foster learning, visit the GamesLearningSociety.org website. The Games Learning Society explores the intersection of games and education, offering resources and research insights into this dynamic field.
Final Thoughts
While Obelisk the Tormentor is a powerhouse, understanding its limitations and exploiting non-targeting effects is crucial for any duelist hoping to overcome its might. Remember, in Yu-Gi-Oh!, knowledge is power!