Infernoid Progenitor ~ Corrupted Winda

[TOPsycho]

Hello, all! I've recently gotten into the Infernoid archetype (My favourite by the way, lore, artwork, playstyle, perfect all around), and with the Link VRAINS Pack 2 on the way, I wondered what monsters might debut in the second coming.

Looking at the first LVP, you can see that a lot of the (newer) Duel Terminal Archetypes got Link support: Gem-Knights, lswarm, Ritual Beasts, Qliphorts, Shaddoll, Zefra, probably a few I missed. Out of all of the archetypes mentioned in Master Guide 5, aside from Naturia because it was really just 1 card, the only archetypes that did not get link monsters are the tellarknights, Nekroz, Yang Zings, and - you guessed it - Infernoids. Most likely, Yang Zings and tellarknights are in line for Link support since they use the Extra Deck, Infernoids and Nekroz not so much. However, Infernoids greatly benefit from using Link monsters, and having one of their own could drastically boost the deck's performance.

So without much further ado, please make room in your decks for the newest addition to the Infernoids

 

Infernoid Progenitor - (Corrupted Winda inside of the Sacred World Tree, releasing the Infernoid)

Link 2 Up, Down

FIRE/Spellcaster

1000 ATK

~2 "Infernoid" monsters with different original Levels

(1) While this card points to an "Infernoid" monster, this card cannot be targeted for an attack, also it cannot be targeted or destroyed by your opponent's card effects.

(2) You can Tribute 1 monster; Special Summon 1 "Infernoid" monster from your Deck whose Level is equal to the number of "Infernoid" monsters in the GY, ignoring its Summoning conditions.

(3) During your opponent's turn: you can Tribute 1 monster, then target 3 of your banished "Infernoid" monsters (Quick Effect); shuffle them into the Deck, then draw 1 card.

You can only use each effect of "Infernoid Progenitor" once per turn.

 

Currently, I believe that Infernoids themselves do fairly well, but it can become very drawn out when you don't draw any interesting cards. With this Link, you have another name for the archetype as well as an easy way to remove Levels from your field. It also provides the deck searchability for it's monsters, other than Void Feast, but may be more situational and I believe is certainly balanced. (If you have enough monsters in grave to Summon Onuncu or Devyaty with her effect, you've probably won already or milled your entire deck).

She also provides a way to recover your banished Infernoids, something I feel that the deck lacks. (And no, Void Purification does NOT cut it).

 

Overall, I think the card is a very strong and balanced card that would improve the archetype. Any thoughts?

[Darj]

IDK about effects since I'm not too familiar with Infernoids beyond the boost they got with the Diabolos Field Spell. But AFAIK it looks good. The big threats it can bring are Onuncu and Devyaty, but it would require 8 Infernoids in the GY and the deck constantly banishes them. Or if you want Decatron, you would have to cut  down your Infernoid GY resources to 1. Regardless of the strength, I like that it requires the player to modulate its GY and put some thought on the effect.

 

However, I'm not convinced by the flavor. First, the typing different to Infernoids stands out. Even their boss Tierra remained as FIRE in its Fusion form, and later became LIGHT once it was fully released.

Then, story-wise Shaddoll Winda released the Qliphorts, not the Infernoids, and then it was abducted by the latter, as shown in the Nephe Shaddoll Fusion Equip. So it doesn't make much sense to me that she releases the Infernoids and becomes their "progenitor". You could say it's an alternate timeline, but even then, the typing would remains as an issue.

[TOPsycho]

@@Darj 
Per the Master Guide 5 lore on YGOrg, "Under “Tierra’s” control, “Winda” released the seal, and revived the “Infernoid”, the vanguards of God."
Winda was the one who released the seal for the Infernoids, and also the Qliphorts before that. That is why I chose to keep Winda's Type and Attribute for the card, although I know it doesn't match the Infernoids, but that makes sense. Infernoid Tierra only carries the FIRE/Fiend status because she was corrupted by the Infernoids. And since she is the one who booted them up, I thought that she, with the help of Tierra, would be able to control and guide them, hence her effects. Aside from the lore...

I do believe using Infernoid Progenitor would require a skillful hand to use effectively, much like the Infernoid archetype itself. More often than not, you'll be Summoning the normal Infernoids with her effect, and not Decatron or Devyaty and Onuncu. But given a dedicated player, it is possible to Summon those ones. (Also, Devyaty and Onuncu require 9 and 10 Infernoids in GY respectively) 
Thank you greatly for your feedback though!!!
 

[Darj]

I see. Winda did release the Infernoids from inside Qliphort Scout, by giving Tierra access to the code.

In that case, IMO the least you can do is make her FIRE/Spellcaster. That way, not only it's closer to Infernoids, also you could say is a bit consistent with Grysta becoming FIRE as well.

You could increase her ATK, too. Either 1000 like Gusto Winda, or 1600 like Ritual Tamer Winda.

[TOPsycho]

Originally, her effect was going to just add an Infernoid monster to your hand instead of Summoning it. I am glad that I made the change though, as it gives a unique effect, and I think more thought has to be put into using her.

 

As for her typing, sure. I can change the dark to fire. But her ATK is 800 because that was her defense as Shaddoll Winda. To be honest, it doesn't really matter what the exact number is. I didn't think that she should be one of the monsters battling, since she is the one controlling them. Hence she cannot be targeted for an attack and she has a low attack.