304-032 DAGGER OF BUTTERFLIES - ERUMA Equipment Magic Increase the Equipped Monster's attack strength by 300. If this card is destroyed and goes to the Cemetery while Equipped on a Monster, this card can be returned to its owner's hand.

Well, here's the next card for you all. This particular card comes from the Power of Guardians set. It also answers about three major questions about this card, and Guardians in particular. This card is ALSO restricted in Japan.

You're not going to get anywhere with that 300 point increase to attack and defense. The basic Equipment cards from the first couple of sets will do that for you. Even the common cards like Demon's Kiss will give you a better attack strength bonus.

So, why is this card restricted? Well, um, it has to do with its effect of being returned to your hand when Equipped on a Monster and is destroyed. This leads to a little thing called an near "Infinite Loop." I'm going to tell you about a combo, and if you use it in games, I hope that no one ever plays with you again. If you know anyone that plays this combo, like the Devil Franken combo, avoid them like the plague, and have others do so as well. It's too cheesy.

Okay, now that I'm done with whining, the combo needs the following cards:

1. Gear Freed on the Field;
2. Dagger of Butterflies - Eruma in your hand;
3. and either Royal Magic Librarian or Magical Marionette (both from Champion of Black Magicians) on the Field.

Quiz time: What's the combo?

Skip it. Here's what happens. Those two cards that you need on the Field refer to Magic Counters. And you put a Magic Counter on that card whenever you or your opponent activates ("plays") a Magic card.

1. Attach Eruma to Gear Freed.
2. Since you played a Magic card, put a Magic Counter on the appropriate card.
3. Whoops! Gear Freed's effect destroys any Equipment cards on it.
4. Whoops! Eruma was destroyed while attached to a Monster. Put it back in your hand.
5. Repeat from Step 1.

So, if your Royal Magic Librarian was part of this combo, you'll have to remove the three Magic Counters from it to draw one card before starting the cycle over again. What do you know; instant win for Exodia Decks.

If the Magical Marionette was part of this combo, pump it up until you're nauseated (there is no limit to the number of Magic Counters that can be placed on it), use its effect to destroy all of your opponent's Monsters on the Field, and attack for infinite damage.

Freakin' A does that make me sick. It should make you sick, too.

Anyway, on to other matters...

Some people have asked me if the Leaf Faerie and Eruma combo works, unlike Gilfar Demon. The answer is, "No." This has to do with the wording of Eruma. It must actually be destroyed when Equipped on a Monster to be returned to your hand. Leaf Faerie only puts the card on the Cemetery; it's not destroyed, so Eruma doesn't return to your hand.

The next portion of this card deals with the Guardian itself, not the Equipment card. Another question that has been posed on the 'net and via e-mail is "Can I SET a Guardian without its Weapon being on the Field?"

The answer is "Yes" in certain aspects. If you Set the Guardian from your hand (a "normal" Set), that's perfectly fine. HOWEVER, if the Set is considered a Special Summon (Shallow Grave, Cyber Pod, Chaos Pod, etc.) then you CANNOT do it. This is due to the fact that the Guardians CANNOT be Special Summoned without their Weapons on the Field. So, if the Guardian is Set, and Reversed by some other means, that's perfectly fine, and the Guardian will remain the on the Field.

Edo's Rating: 2 out of 5. Not withstanding the Infinite Combo, this card has limited uses. If you like to play a Guardian deck, you'll need it. However, the low stat gain for this card is terrible, and the effect is not very useful. You're better off avoiding this card.