Hey everyone, this is The_SynchroGuy, and I am here to take part in the #MyFavoriteCard challenge! This was started by Lil Goth , so if you want to check out the rules for this challenge, click here. I highly encourage you to try it out. There are no prizes, but hey, it’s something to do. And it could be fun if you make it to be. Anyway, enough talk, let’s get into it!
(Cover image source: https://www.pinterest.com/amp/pin/292171094571786576/)
This shouldn’t come too much as a surprise, but I still hope you enjoy reading this. My favorite Yu-Gi-Oh card of all time is Stardust Dragon!
Now you can say it’s because I’m a huge 5D’s fan, or because my favorite Yu-Gi-Oh character of all time is Yusei Fudo. I don’t mind because those are both true. End of story, right? I mean, I could, but that would make this post dull and boring.
I will admit, 5D’s and Yusei both play a part in it, but it goes further beyond that. When I’ve just barely learned that Synchro Monsters were a thing in Yu-Gi-Oh, I asked my parents to get me some Yu-Gi-Oh products that had some of these new Synchro Monsters, since I was already a fan of the original show. The two things I got for my birthday was a 2008 5D’s Starter Deck and a Stardust Dragon tin. Which, of course, had a guaranteed Stardust Dragon in it.
Stardust Dragon was one of the first few Synchro Monsters that I’ve ever gotten. Later on, I started focusing a lot of my attention on that Synchro deck of mine. At first, I wanted it to be a deck that used all of the signer dragons. Didn’t exactly work out all too well, but it was fun.
During that time though, I remember this insane 3 card Trap combo I had that helped me bring out Stardust Dragon. So the three cards I had set were: Malevolent Catastrophe, Starlight Road, and Scrap-Iron Scarecrow.
During my opponent’s turn, I would have these 3 cards set on my field. Then I would activate Malevolent Catastrophe as soon as my opponent declared an attack. By activating it, it would allow me to activate Starlight Road, since at least 2 of my cards were going to be destroyed by a card effect, and I would be able to summon Stardust Dragon. This way, I had a 2500 ATK beater to protect my LP during the Battle Phase. And if my opponent tried to attack over my Stardust, Scrap-Iron Scarecrow would keep it safe. I know it was not the greatest, but at the time, for me, it was amazing. Plus, this was a similar strategy that Yusei did in season 2 when he dueled against Sherry LeBlanc (the French duelist). So being able to do my own version of it was really awesome!
I also remember using Stardust to help me with one of my English assignments back in highschool. I couldn’t remember what it was about though. I think it was about having to write about things that were important to us or something. I think that was it. And Stardust was indeed important to me. Not just because it was Synchro Monster, 5D’s related, or even Yu-Gi-Oh related. Instead, it was because he was proof. Proof that I was loved.
One idea I kind of learned about from a video game, that I always liked, was that kids get attached to some of the little things, like toys and such, because it reminds of them that they are loved. And that’s what my Stardust Dragon means to me. My parents got me the Stardust Dragon tin for my birthday because I asked for it, and they did it because they loved me. So, to me, Stardust Dragon is one of the few cards that represents proof of my parent’s love for me.
Getting back to the card game side of Yu-Gi-Oh, after I shifted my deck to a more Synchron focused build, I still wanted to keep using Stardust Dragon however I could.
Heck, during my early days, I was able to make his upgraded form, Shooting Star Dragon, pretty consistently.
Those were some fun times.
I think one of my fondest memories with Stardust was when I used him to get past an El Shaddoll Construct.
I don’t remember how the duel ended, but it was still cool that I was able to get around Construct like that, so thank you for that, Stardust.
Sadly, though, I had to put him away since there were so many new cards that could help me, and I just didn’t have the space for him anymore. I still want to use him again someday. Probably for a different kind of deck though.
And luckily, I’ll be able to use Stardust again in the future! Somewhat. He’s going to come in a different, but really cute form.
(I want a plushie version of this monster!)
I still have my first original Stardust Dragon to this day, as a matter of fact.
(As I said before, it represents proof of my parent’s love for me.)
For now though, Stardust is resting in one of my binders; remaining dormant until I need his services once again.
How I want to end this post off is by talking about my last favorite thing about Stardust Dragon. His effect. His effect allows him to sacrifice himself to negate the effect of a card that would destroy 1 or more cards on the field. Then, during the End Phase, he would Special Summon himself back to the field.
I always liked the idea of trying to be like Stardust. To me, his effect says that he is willing to sacrifice himself to help protect those he cares about. For me, I too want to be able to protect those I care about. Even to the point of putting myself in danger. Because that’s how far we’re sometimes willing to go for those we care about. But there’s one thing I’ve come to learn about Stardust that I didn’t even think about for some time.
I used to think that Stardust sacrificed his life to save everyone, and his reward for such an honorable sacrifice was that he got to come back to life and live to see another sunrise. But now, I don’t think that’s what his effect represents. I think it’s more like, yes, he put his life on the line, but he didn’t do it just to die in order to protect those he cared about. He did it because he had a plan. A plan that assured he would not die just yet.
We always sometimes think that if we die doing something heroic, it would be a good way to go out. To show to everyone that we were a good person; a hero. But, in those moments, would we be doing it because it’s the right thing to do, or because we’re just looking for an excuse to die and be remembered for something good? Why sacrifice ourselves to save however many people when instead we can do that, but make sure we live on so we can save even more people. That’s what I believe Stardust’s effect represents.
To protect everyone we care about, but also assure that we have a plan on surviving so that we can keep on protecting everyone. And it’s honestly pretty true. Stardust’s tribute effect is not a one time use (unless you cheated him out with something like Starlight Road). He comes back, alive and well, so that he can keep on protecting everyone. Overall, that’s the thing I admire the most about Stardust Dragon. Don’t just die for a single thing so you can be remembered. If everyone did that, then there wouldn’t be any heroes left in the world, right? So please, live on so you can help and protect even more people!
Thanks again for Lil Goth for creating this challenge. This really got me to really think about why I loved Stardust Dragon in the first place. You guys should take part in it too. I’ve seen some people do it, but the one thing I want to see more of is detail. Don’t just tell us why your favorite card is your favorite card. Show us. Get a little in depth with your story. It might seem like unnecessary work, but that’s what makes it fun. Let everyone learn a thing or two about us so that we can connect to them. That’s the thing I want to see!
I’ll see you guys in the next one! Hope you have/had an awesome day today!