Reptilianne Naga
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This card cannot be destroyed by battle. The ATK of any monster that battles this card becomes 0 at the end of that Battle Phase. During your End Phase, change this face-up Defense Position card on the field to face-up Attack Position.
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Can Be Found In: Absolute Powerforce (ABPF-EN017)
Like many builds arround Reptile-Type monsters, Reptilianne is an archetype all about weakening the opponent's creatures by completely erasing their ATK. This not only gives them an advantage in battle even if they have to take some risks, but also will benefit some of their effects in the long run. Although not as fast as more current strategies, Reptilianne is all about manipulating the opponent's monsters for our own benefit no matter how powerful the monsters they summon. From simply taking the lead in any battles to taking some shortcuts to unleash their effects, Reptilianne shouldn't be underestimated just due their slow pacing.
"Reptilianne Naga" is one of the weakest members but also one of the most important monsters the archetype can offer thanks to her punishing nature. "Naga" cannot be destroyed in battle so already makes her a solid defense against most attacks, but in return will force herself into Attack Position if was face-up Defense Position during our End Phase. However, "Naga" is a prominent engine for the archetype's mechanics as long she confronts monsters in battle, as the outcome will cause whoever opponent's monster is fighting her lose all their ATK once the Battle Phase ends. Therefore if "Naga" isn't Set to bait attacks from monsters it can take the offense to force the archetype's mechanics even if we lose some Life Points in the process, but her mere pressence might suffice for some of the many setups the build will aim for.
As the weakest monster Reptiliannes can offer, in return "Naga" becomes one of the most supported monsters in the build. Due her complete lack of stats it becomes easily available on the board by the effect of "Damage = Reptile", a Trap Card summoning Reptiles with ATK equal or lower than any damage we take. Otherwise, "One for One" will summon her from inside our Deck by the mere cost of discarding a card. For a safer approach, effects from monsters like "Reptilianne Gardna" and "King of the Feral Imps" will instead add "Naga" to our hand for a later use or simply Set her face-down. A "Naga" in our Graveyard is far from being helpless, as with a big pool of revival effects like "Kinka-Byo" and "Viper's Rebirth" among several others gives her a secondary use as material for one of many summons we can aim for.
By default might seem that the entire objective of "Naga" is to defend or declare riskful attacks so we can weaken enemies, but she has much more to provide besides her abilities. Obviously we want to make enemies lose their ATK to not only lead battles in the next turns, but also follow with the effects of cards like "Reptilianne Scylla" and "Reptilianne Viper" to steal opponent's monster for our own purposes. Otherwise we will prepare the arrival of the archetype's boss monster "Reptilianne Vaskii", not only by tributing the weakened opponent's monster but also "Naga" herself to make her easy arrival during Main Phase 2. Since "Naga" forces herself into Attack Position we might need some coverage from cards like "Waboku" and "Enemy Controller" to avoid lethal damage, but outside of that risk is most likely that the opponent will avoid attacking her so doesn't weaken their best monsters as a result. Finally, if "Naga" isn't assisting the archetype or other summons as material, she can become quite disruptive with the help of either "Offering of the Snake Deity" to destroy opponent's cards or "Creature Swap" trading her away to assure lethal damage thanks to her lack of stats.
"Reptilianne Naga" might seem a dangerous monster to handle due her poor stats and a forced Attack Position potentially attracting dangerous attacks towards ourselves, but actually becomes one of the lead monsters arround the archetype's mechanics. While her effect is a bit slow to the point the opponent might have a chance to replace the affected monster(s) with new summons, her mere pressence along easy accesibility makes her a solid support for not only Reptilianne effects but all kinds of summons and effects we can play arround her. Therefore, if she's not staying arround weakening monsters to support the build she can easily assist with other setups and resources the current situation might require. In resume, "Reptilianne Naga" is a solid balance of advantages and disadvantages that we should masterfully manage to get the best from not only her effects but also the entire Deck itself.
+ Cannot be destroyed in battle
+ Any monster that battles her will lose their ATK at the end of the Battle Phase
+ Greatly supported along several setups that can work with or without her effects
- Forced into Attack Position if is face-up during our End Phase
- Slow weakening effect if we can't follow it with other cards and effects immediately