ANGEL'S GIFT Type: Normal Magic Effect: Draw 3 cards, then discard 2 cards from your hand.

Welcome to the fifth card of the week for Edo's Small Yu-Gi-Oh! page. This week brings us a card that is ever-present in almost every deck: Angel's Gift (literally, "something given out of generosity from an angel").

Here's something from Edo's book of wisom: "Card drawing wins games!" But what the heck does that mean?

The cards in your hand on the Field represent your options in a situation. This is also present with your opponent. One of the keys to victory is expanding your options, while limiting your opponent's. Effectively, this card increases your options, but at the same time, limits them, since you have to discard two cards from your hand. You actually have the same number of cards in your hand after you play Angel's Gift than before you had played it. For example, if you have six cards in your hand (one of which is the Angel's Gift) and you play it, you're down to five. Drawing three from the effect brings it up to eight. Then you have to discard, bringing you down to two. Discarding is bad.

Or is it?

Discarding isn't necessarily bad. In fact, it's an incredible way to get around the high-level sacrifice requirement. For example, if you have a Bue Eyes in your hand, dump it through the effect of the Angel's Gift, then revive it with any number of revival cards, like Raise Dead, Early Burial, Cry of the Living Dead, etc. In fact, there are Cemetery Recursion decks that use cards that voluntarily discard from your hand to play kick-butt Monsters to the Field.

The big problem with Angel's Gift is when you play it with only a few cards in your hand (like one or two). It's kind of heartbreaking to draw some nice cards, just to have to discard them afterward.

Edo's Rating: 4 out of 5. Because of the card drawing, at least one belongs in every deck. Most people will put in two, because it is so versatile. If you want a Beatdown deck, use two to get out your heavy hitters. Be careful on its use in an Exodia or Ouija Deck.

(There is no real deck to base around Angel's Gift. Try it in a few of your decks to help its speed quotient.)