An Introduction to Zenmailstrom

Before I detail the combos involving Zenmailstrom, I thought it would be prudent to first give an proper introduction to the card itself, since there's a good chance most of you out there have no idea what it even does.

As you can see, the basics of the card are:

• Tribute 1 Wind-Up monster with 1500 or more ATK (as a cost.)
• Special Summon 1 Wind-Up monster from your hand (Mandatory)
• Special Summon 1 Wind-Up monster with the same ATK as the monster just special summoned from your deck (Optional)

On the surface, the card is a minus 1 1/2. You play the card (-1), tribute a Wind-Up monster you control (-1), Special Summon a monster from your hand (-1/2?) and special summon one from your deck (+1). 

Likely candidates of monsters you want to tribute for Zenmailstrom are:

Wind-Up Hunter

Wind-Up Soldier

Wind-Up Shark

There are more targets but you probably don't want to run them in a competitive Wind-Up deck (Knight, Juggler, ect.)

Likely candidates of monsters you want to special summon with Zenmailstrom are:

Wind-Up Rat (600 ATK)

Wind-Up Magician (600 ATK)

Wind-Up Shark (1500 ATK)

Wind-Up Soldier (1800 ATK) [Not recommended as this doesn't lead into any meaningful combos by itself but it IS possible]

So you might be thinking whats the point of playing a card like this where you get a couple of negs just from resolving it? Simple my friend, when used correctly it sets up some of the most broken and ridiculous combos the Wind-Up deck has to offer. Now its time to detail how exactly to properly use this card.

The first rule to using Zenmailstrom is realizing that what you tribute to activate it doesn't really matter too much for basic combos, but matters alot when executing advanced ones. There is a hierarchy in tributing preferences in regards to these combos:

1. Shark (Technically better than Soldier to tribute due to a better level range [3,4,5 as opposed to 4,5 for Soldier] however be wary of using all your Sharks too fast. Also is the only one of the 3 tribute choices that can make the Shock Master/Disigma plays happen.)

2. Soldier (These things are expendable and can make most of your big plays happen no problem.)

3. Hunter (Obviously only gives you level 3 to work with from the graveyard. However this is perfectly acceptable to use as tribute for Zenmailstrom because 1) The graveyard is where you want Hunter anyways 2) It leads into the hand loop seamlessly and 3) it wont limit your plays too much as long as you don't try anything ridiculous.)

In 95% of all cases when resolving a Zenmailstrom your going to want to summon Magician or Rat, then summon the counterpart you didnt summon from your deck. This is the beginning of most Zenmailstrom plays barring a few strange ones involving Shark that really arnt worth doing. The reason you do this is because:

• It lets you use Rat immediately (Bring back the monster you just tributed)
• Lets you resolve up to 3 Magicians in one combo and end with a meaningful field, a feat that is almost impossible in normal Wind-Up decks due to field space issues.
• The basis of the forbidden Shock Master/Disigma OTK combos!
• Truly the best start to making the field of your choosing

Next article will tackle the combos themselves, from the strange to the expected, the outlandish to the boring, and might possibly include a flowchart! Tune in next time!