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"Fortune Lady" (フォーチュンレディ Fochūnredi) is an archetype of female Spellcaster monsters with various Attributes (primarily LIGHT and DARK), which are also evolved versions of the "Fortune Fairy" monsters. They are used by Carly Carmine while she was a Dark Signer in the Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's anime.
After Carly's transformation into a Dark Signer, the cards in her Deck changed. The "Fortune Fairies" evolved into the "Fortune Ladies". Each "Fortune Lady" is an evolved and older version of the "Fortune Fairies" of the same Attribute and Level. Compared to their younger counterpart, the Fortune Ladies have black bat wings as part of their motif instead of angelic bird wings and their wands are now combined with scythes. The team's symbol is an Eye of Wdjat (resembling the top half of the one from The Eye of Truth) which also appears on their foreheads.
"Fortune Lady Light" and "Fortune Lady Fire" were first released in Ancient Prophecy, while the rest were released in Stardust Overdrive. The archetype would not get another support until almost 10 years later in Rising Rampage and Collection Pack: Duelist of Revolution.
Each "Fortune Lady" has a different Attribute and Level from 1 to 6. Each one's Attribute and Level correspond to that of her "Fortune Fairy" counterpart. All Ladies are Spellcaster Effect Monsters, with ? ATK and DEF. In the OCG, the names of all known Fortune Ladies have been their Attribute with an added "y" at the end. They all have effects that increase their Levels by 1 each turn. All of their effects either activate when they are Summoned or are used to Special Summon other Fortune Ladies, meaning that they can be strategically used once "Future Visions" is also on the field. They can also be protected with the help of "Slip of Fortune". Note that Fortune Ladies increase their Level during each of their controller's Standby Phases.
Interestingly enough, the OCG cards have similar names to 4 of the element Clow Cards in Cardcaptor Sakura (Windy, Earthy, Firey, Watery). They also seem to derive some inspiration from CLAMP's style in general, such as Fire strongly resembling Hikaru from Magic Knight Rayearth (Though this is more evident in her previous form, Fortune Fairy En). They also appear to be based on witches.
Members[]
| Fortune Lady | Associated Fortune Fairy | Effect | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ATK/DEF boost | Unique | ||
| Dark | Ann | 400 | When a face-up "Fortune Lady" monster you control destroys an opponent's monster by battle and sends it to the GY, you can select and Special Summon 1 "Fortune Lady" monster from your GY. |
| Earth | Chee | When the Level of this card increases, inflict 400 damage to your opponent. | |
| Every | N/A | During your opponent’s End Phase, if this card is in your GY: You can banish 1 other Spellcaster monster from your GY; Special Summon this card. You can only use this effect of "Fortune Lady Every" once per turn. | |
| Fire | En | 200 | When this card is Special Summoned in Attack Position by the effect of a "Fortune Lady" card, destroy 1 face-up monster on your opponent's side of the field, and inflict damage to your opponent equal to that monster's ATK. |
| Light | Hikari | When this card is removed from the field by a card effect, you can Special Summon 1 "Fortune Lady" monster from your Deck. | |
| Past | N/A | You can target 1 “Fortune Lady” monster you control; banish from your hand, field, and/or GY any number of Spellcaster monsters, except the targeted monster, and if you do, either increase or decrease the targeted monster’s Level by the same number until the end of the turn. You can only use this effect of "Fortune Lady Past" once per turn. | |
| Water | Swee | 300 | When this card is Special Summoned while you control a face-up "Fortune Lady" monster except "Fortune Lady Water", draw 2 cards. |
| Wind | Hu | When this card is Normal Summoned, you can destroy a number of Spell or Trap Cards your opponent controls equal to the number of face-up "Fortune Lady" monsters you control. | |
Censoring[]
Like many female cards, the artworks of the "Fortune Lady" monsters were censored for international release: the color of their skin was changed to look like they are wearing tights, and on some of them, the amount of cloth around the groin was also increased; and their busts were reduced or their cleavage was removed. For example, "Fortune Lady Fire" has light red skin in the original artwork, which is changed to turquoise blue in the international artwork. In the dubbed version, only the monsters' hip and thigh area are censored by extending the black clothing. The censorship were toned down significantly for "Past" and "Every" and the support cards featuring them with only the clothing in the pelvis area extended, leaving their cleavage line and bare skin intact like the dubbed version.
Playing style[]
"Pure" Fortune Lady Decks either revolve around a hit-and-fade strategy involving careful field control leading into a quick field swarm offensive with powerful attacking monsters or very specific combination Decks with a focused win condition. Quite often though, Fortune Lady cards are incorporated into a mixed Deck style where they act as a draw engine through the use of "Fortune's Future" and/or "Fortune Lady Water" with "Fortune Lady Dark" that improves the effectiveness of the core Deck strategy.
To pick off specific theme cards though for assessment, "Fortune Lady Wind" is not a commonly used card in a pure Fortune Lady Deck because its effect only activates when it is Normal Summoned and not Special Summoned like other Fortune Lady monsters.
Likewise "Fortune Lady Earth" is a situational card in a pure "Fortune Lady" Deck. This is because she is only useful as a beatstick, since her burn effect is poor compared to other true Burn theme cards. Following the release of "Fortune Lady Every" however, increases her usefulness by using her as a Synchro Material along with "Fortune Lady Past"
Of note though, if against a Stall or "Final Countdown" Deck, the burn effect of "Fortune Lady Earth" can prove somewhat useful, since you can simply stop attacking and inflict minor burn damage every time the card gains a level while you work on breaking through their strategy. And "Fortune Lady Earth" does have its place as a toolbox card in more aggressive Spellcaster-themed Decks.
"Fortune Ladies" need to swarm the field quickly using "Fortune Lady Light" and "Fortune Lady Dark". For example, you can play "Fortune Lady Light" while "Future Visions" is face-up on the field to Special Summon "Fortune Lady Dark". Using "Fortune Lady Dark" and "Fortune Lady Light's" effects, you can Special Summon:
- "Fortune Lady Water" to draw 2 cards, and keep constant hand advantage.
- "Fortune Lady Earth" for another beatstick and decent burn damage each turn it's on the field.
- "Fortune Lady Fire" to destroy an opponent's troublesome monster (and inflict burn damage).
- Another "Fortune Lady Dark", thus continuing the swarm combo.
- If you control two "Fortune Lady Dark" and any Fortune Lady destroys a monster by battle and sends it to the Graveyard, you can activate both of their effects and Special Summon two "Fortune Ladies".
Use "Terraforming" to search for "Future Visions" as soon as possible; it is a strong "field control" card.
"Future Visions" can be also used to keep the opponent's monster Banished:
- 1) Your opponent Normal Summons a monster. The monster is Banished by "Future Visions"
- 2) Make "Future Visions" leave the field (via "Mist Valley Falcon", etc.)
- 3) Since the effect that would return the monster from play disappeared, the monster stays Banished
Running several copies of "Future Visions" can be great for a "Fortune Lady" Deck. When an opponent's monster gets Banished by "Future Vision's" effect, playing a new one (and therefore destroying the first) will not only allow you to keep the field the same, but it traps your opponent's monster in the Removed From Play Zone.
The release of "Fortune Fairy Hikari", "Fortune Lady Calling", and "Fortune Vision" allow the deck to increase their consistency in swarming along with Summoning and Activating "Light's" effect. "Fortune Lady Past" can also activate "Light's" effect, boosts their Attack and Levels, and grants the deck an access to powerful Synchro Monster, notably the archetype's very first Synchro monster "Fortune Lady Every" who will continue to punish the opponent by banishing their face-up monster during your Standby Phase, and can always Special Summoning herself from the Graveyard during the opponent's End Phase by banishing another Spellcaster monster. "Fortune Lady Rewind" can provide instant swarming and trigger "Fire" and "Water's" effect, providing more advantage.
Recommended cards[]
Fortune Lady Crowd Control[]
Focuses on Future Visions making Earthbound Immortal Aslla piscu and Beast King Barbaros strong cards. Also aiming to protect Future Visions so the Fortune Ladies can swarm the field. Easily synchro of Ally of Justice Catastor, Junk Warrior and Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier (Traditional only).
Zero Fortune[]
Also known as Absolute Fortune, this Deck uses "Miracle Fusion" to banish "Fortune Ladies" which can later be used as fodder for "Fortune's Future". It can also use the "Destiny" Draw Engine together with the "Fortune Lady" Draw Engine for maximum draw power.
Fortunate Simorgh[]
With "Dark Simorgh", "Future Visions" and "Anti-Spell Fragrance", your opponent won't be able to activate/Set Spells and Traps and any monster they Normal Summon will be banished until the next turn. Anti-Special Summon cards are also used to lock your opponent.
Weaknesses[]
Even though the "Fortune Ladies" have an immense amount of draw power and can grow in strength with each passing turn, their effects can easily be ruined through simple effect-negating cards such as "Forbidden Chalice", "Infinite Impermanence", "Skill Drain" and "Gladiator Beast War Chariot". Worse, due to their dynamic Level values and the fact that they are composed of each of the six main Attributes, cards like "Gozen Match", "Battle of the Elements", "Attention!" and "Unification" can not only expunge them off the Field but even keep it that way for quite some time, which can be better than using mass-removing staples like "Dark Hole" and "Torrential Tribute". By a similar token, "Doom Donuts" and "Gorgonic Guardian" can also clean house since a "Fortune Lady's" original ATK and DEF would both be 0. Still with their ATK, "Number 103: Ragnazero" "Overworked" can also control them whether their ATK is higher or lower. Lastly, "Fortune Ladies" can easily be sent to the GY without being destroyed, shuffled back into the Deck and be Tributed through "Kaijus", "The Monarchs Stormforth" and "Lava Golem".
"Fortune Ladies" tend to rely on swarming, which "Fortune Lady Dark" (for the GY) "Inherited Fortune" (for the hand) or "Fortune Lady Light" (for the Deck) can do within this archetype. If the Special Summoning starts late-game, it can be very difficult to win. Against other swarm Decks, such as "Blackwings", "Future Visions" can slow down both Decks if you don't have "Fortune Lady Light". Likewise, if "Fortune Lady Dark" is somehow sent to Graveyard, the swarming is pretty much disrupted. Cards like "Keldo", "Pot of Benevolence", "The Transmigration Prophecy", "Disappear" "Foolish Return", "Evilswarm Ouroboros", "Soul Release" and "Out of the Blue" can interdict "Fortune Lady Dark" from reviving any "Fortune Lady" sitting in the Graveyard.
Level reducing cards such as "Hallohallo", "Demotion", "Silent Strider" and "Mischief of the Yokai" can be odd choices to temporarily counter "Fortune Ladies" because lower Levels will spell lower ATK and DEF (even less than than their initial values after a "Fortune Lady's" Summon if used early on any "Lady" other than "Light".)
Finally, "Number 33: Chronomaly Machu Mech" can deal "Fortune Lady" players a very expeditious end. Since a "Fortune Lady's" original ATK and DEF would both be 0, it can jack up its offensive points to astronomical heights hastily whilst also seriously Burning the player (especially if its effect targets "Earth" or "Dark", the two strongest "Ladies" in terms of their base Levels.) ATK boosters like "Solidarity" and "Time Passage" only make "Machu Mech's" potency against this Deck more of a debacle.
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