Time Thief
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"Time Thief" is a TCG-exclusive archetype of Level/Rank 4 DARK Machine and Psychic monsters that debuted in Savage Strike.
Design
Appearance
These cards appear to take cues from the long running British science-fiction series Doctor Who. The Psychic members appear to be based on the many incarnations of the The Doctor, whereas the Machine members come from equipment they use in their adventures through time and space.
Members
| Time Thief | Doctor Who |
|---|---|
| Bezel Ship | TARDIS |
| Redoer | 3rd Doctor/12th Doctor |
| Regulator | K9 |
| Winder | 10th Doctor/11th Doctor |
Playing style
The archetype focuses around taking cards owned by the opponent and attaching them to their Xyz Monsters as Xyz Material, creating unique potential for unorthodox disruption. The main deck monsters are all dedicated to maintaining a solid Rank 4 engine. Being composed of only DARK monsters, they have access to numerous generic support cards such as "Allure of Darkness".
As the deck relies on 'thieving' your opponent, a combination of "Rank-Up-Magic Barian's Force" (or "Rank-Up-Magic Limited Barian's Force" + "Overlay Eater") with "Reprodocus" can be considered, as you can use the effect of "Time Thief Hack" on any Xyz Monster, including "Number C" monsters to attack your opponent directly. "Xyz Reborn" is also a good recovery card to play due to attaching itself as material to the revived Xyz Monster.
While the Main Deck "Time Thief" cards have not seen much use competitively, an increasing common combo in many Decks is to use "The Phantom Knights of Rusty Bardiche" to send "The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots" to the Graveyard, searching both "The Phantom Knights of Shade Brigandine", to ease the Summoning of "Time Thief Redoer", and "The Phantom Knights' Rank-Up-Magic Launch". "Redoer" can then eliminate its Materials by banishing itself, before returning in the End Phase as a valid target for "Launch" to Xyz Summon "Outer Entity Azathot" during the opponent's Main Phase, preventing the opponent activating any more monster effects for the rest of the turn. This generic, deadly combo can allow any Deck capable of Summoning "Bardiche" and "Redoer" in tandem on the first turn to lock the opponent out of the Duel for one crucial turn, before finishing them off the next turn.
Recommended cards
Weaknesses
While the Main Deck "Time Thief" cards are not yet a problem, being too slow and one-dimensional, "Redoer" can cause substantial problems for any opponent, especially with the "Azathot" combo. However, one simple way to out this combo is to use first-player priority to Special Summon "Dinowrestler Pankratops" and then should the opponent try to use "Launch", "Pankratops" can Chain its effect, destroying "Redoer". "Kaijus" and other unchainable removal cards work well too. Another way to out this combo is to use "Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit" to destroy "Redoer" when it tries to use its self-banishing effect. "Twin Twisters" or "Mystical Space Typhoon" can also destroy "Launch" in the Draw/Standby Phase, when it cannot be chained. Finally, "Infinite Impermanence", and by extension "Effect Veiler", can simply negate "Redoer"'s self-banishing effect (making it an invalid "Launch" target), however be aware it will still have its other Material attached next turn, especially if it was "Shade Brigandine", which can cause problems while setting up "Launch".
