Metalmorph (archetype)

Metalmorph
The original "Metalmorph".
Japanese	メタル化（か） メタル化 (base) メタルか (ruby) Metaru-ka (romanized)
French	Métalmorphe
German	Metallwandler
Italian	Metalmorph
Korean	메탈화 메탈化 (Hanja) Metalhwa (romanized)
Portuguese	Metalmorfo
Spanish	Metalmorph
Lists	Members Support

"Metalmorph", known as "Metallization" (メタル化（か） Metaru-ka) in the OCG, is an archetype of Trap Cards most notably used by Bandit Keith in the Yu-Gi-Oh! manga and anime. "Metalmorph" is known for transforming monsters into Metal counterparts, famously "Zoa" and "Red-Eyes Black Dragon". It received its first support in Rage of the Abyss, more than two decades after the debut of the original "Metalmorph".

"Metallizing Parasite - Lunatite" and "Metallizing Parasite - Soltite" are also members of this archetype in the OCG; however, since support for this archetype only supports Trap Cards, this isn't an issue.

Design

"Metalmorph" and its derivations have transformed a number of monsters into Metal versions of themselves in various media. The original context for this was that Bandit Keith (in the manga and anime) wished to trick Joey Wheeler into targeting his "Zoa" since, as a Fiend monster, it did not have the special properties of Machine monsters under the rules and gamestate of their Duelist Kingdom finals match. "Metalmorph", by turning "Zoa" into a Machine ("Metalzoa"), thus allowed Keith to entrap Joey. However the latter countered by using Keith's gambits against him, turning "Red-Eyes Black Dragon" into the more powerful "Red-Eyes Black Metal Dragon".

Metal counterparts

Original	Metal
"Copycat"	"Metal Copycat"
"Fiend Beast Zoa"	"Metalzoa X"
"Musician King"	"Heavy Metal King" (anime-only)
"Red-Eyes Black Dragon"	"Red-Eyes Black Metal Dragon"
	"Red-Eyes Black Fullmetal Dragon"
"Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon"	"Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon"
"Zoa"	"Metalzoa"

In Yu-Gi-Oh! Forbidden Memories, "Metalmorph" is capable of transforming more cards into similar cards that have a metallic element to them, including "Baby Dragon" into "Metal Dragon" and "Jirai Gumo" into "Launcher Spider".

Playstyle

The core premises of the archetype involve sudden ATK increasing effects, Tributing non-Machine monsters for their Machine or metallic counterparts, and adding some protections to cards that did not previously have any. Many of the newer monsters associated with the archetype can be searched via their mention of "Enhanced Metalmorph", with them in turn searching the "Metalmorph" Trap Cards. The oldest associated monsters instead have an unusual effect to summon themselves from the Main Deck, but playing those cards is not recommended, as they are bricks in the hand, require specific tributes, and are otherwise mediocre, even as beatsticks.