"Fortune Lady" (フォーチュンレディ Fochūnredi) is an archetype of Spellcaster-Type monsters, 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 version of the "Fortune Fairies" of the same Attribute and Level.
"Fortune Lady Light" and "Fortune Lady Fire" were first released in Ancient Prophecy, while the rest were released in Stardust Overdrive.
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-Type 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 | Fortune Fairy |
|---|---|
| Dark | Ann |
| Earth | Chee |
| Fire | En |
| Light | Hikari |
| Water | Swee |
| Wind | Hu |
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.
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.
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.
Recommended cards
| Card Name | Reason |
|---|---|
| Monsters | |
| Fortune Lady Light | Most Decks consider this as an important card. Decks that don't use "Future Visions" or other cards that can activate her effect can leave her out. |
| Fortune Lady Fire | Although her effect is great, she stays on the field as a vulnerable target for attacks. She is one of the optional cards. |
| Fortune Lady Wind | Another optional Fortune Lady. Note that she only activates when she is Normal Summoned. However, she is good in Dark Simorgh builds. |
| Fortune Lady Water | A staple in Fortune Lady Decks. She plays a main part in the draw engine of the Deck. |
| Fortune Lady Dark | Not only does she help swarm, she can also revive Fortune Lady Water for more draw power. |
| Fortune Lady Earth | The last of the optional Fortune Ladies. Many people choose not to run her, since she is a beatstick and that's about it. 400 damage per turn just isn't worth it. However, she gets over a good amount of monsters, making it hard for players to run over her. |
| Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning | Remove Light, remove Dark, remove opponent's monster. Combos well with "Fortune's Future". Chaos Sorcerer can be used in more Spellcaster |oriented builds. |
| Magical Exemplar | This card is generally used in builds that use "Secret Village of the Spellcasters" and combos well with Night's End Sorcerer. |
| Night's End Sorcerer | One of the possible Tuners in this Deck. Generally only used in Decks which contain Magical Exemplar. |
| Dark Armed Dragon | Banish your Fortune Lady Darks and destroy your opponent's cards. Then return your Fortune Lady Darks with "Fortune's Future" and repeat. |
| Beast King Barbaros | If this card is Normal Summoned with Future Visions on the field, he returns to the field as a 3000 ATK beatstick. Alternatively, fuel this card with the swarming power of Fortune Lady Dark. Fusilier Dragon, the Dual-Mode Beast isn't really recommended as it doesn't have a second use, and it is a much weaker monster if "Future Visions" isn't on the field. |
| Solitaire Magician | Good to have if your Deck contains a Fortune Lady Earth because you can use this card's effect to make it more than just a beatstick. Also works well with Time Passage. |
| Tragoedia | With all the draw power, this card can become a force to be reckoned with. Also, Fortune Ladies have varying Levels, making his second effect of taking control an opponent's monster easy to use. |
| Earthbound Immortal Aslla piscu | Should only have two at most, but when you Summon it while Future Visions is active, you get to bomb your opponent's monsters and burn them for a bit of damage. |
| Rai-Mei | This card is able to search for Fortune Lady Light. This is generally used in Decks which focus on Future Visions. |
| Kinka-byo | Special Summons Fortune Lady Light, and, when it's removed from the field, Light will be removed from play, triggering her effect. She can later be used for Fortune's Future. |
| Summoner Monk | This card is generally used to Special Summon Fortune Lady Water, or a Tuner if needed. |
| Catoblepas and the Witch of Fate | When a monster is Special Summoned, banish a Fortune Lady from the Graveyard to destroy it. The banished monsters can be used for Fortune's Future. |
| Dimensional Alchemist | This card can return a banished Cyber Valley, Battle Fader, or Plaguespreader Zombie to your hand, or even your Fortune Ladies (in case Fortune's Future doesn't come). |
| Plaguespreader Zombie | This is another Tuner that this Deck can include. It can be retrieved by Dimensional Alchemist if you happen to run him too. |
| Caius the Shadow Monarch | A Special Summoned Fortune Lady Water is usually an open attack target for the opponent. If you haven't already summoned, you can Tribute her for this card. Caius also works well with Battle Fader. |
| Temperance of Prophecy | This card allow you to quickly Special Summon Fortune Lady Dark from Deck. You cannot Special Summon level 5 or higher, but you can still Special Summon Fortune Lady Water, Fire, Wind or Light. Only use this if your Deck includes Spellbook. |
| Charioteer of Prophecy | This card allow you to retrieve either any Fortune Lady from grave. Therefore, allowing the player to reuse Fortune Lady Light's effect in conjuction with Future Vision, or reuse Fortune Lady Wind's effect. Use this only if you run Spellbook. |
| Apprentice Magician | This allows you to Special Summon Fortune Lady Light. (Can also help give Magical Exemplar and Spellcaster Synchros useful Spell Counters if you run them). |
| Wattpheasant | This card can attack the opponent life points directly. It could then trigger Fortune Lady Light's effect. |
| Strength of Prophecy | This not only recycles spellbook cards, but increases a Fortune Lady's attack and it's level making them even fiercer, even more useful for Synchro Monsters and Xyz Monsters. |
| Spells | |
| Dimensionhole | This card is useful to increase the level of a Fortune Lady by one after its use. Its also handy to trigger the effect of Fortune Lady Light and Earthbound Immortal Aslla piscu. |
| Future Visions | This Field Spell works well with Decks which use Fortune Lady Light, since it will immediately trigger her effect as well as slow your opponent down. Also allows Kinka-byo to trigger the effect of Light immediately rather than at the End Phase. |
| Fortune's Future | Along with Fortune Lady Water, this is the core of the draw engine in this Deck. |
| Gold Sarcophagus | This card combos well with Fortune's Future. Quickly remove a Fortune Lady, then return it and draw. This combo also serves as a Foolish Burial, allowing your to quickly send a Fortune Lady Water to the Graveyard to be revived by Fortune Lady Dark. |
| Allure of Darkness | This card adds to the draw power of this Deck. If you remove Fortune Lady Dark, then you can return it through Fortune's Future and draw again. |
| Nobleman of Crossout | In the TCG, triggers the effect of Fortune Lady Light and sets up for Fortune's Future. Also punishes opponents for trying to dodge Future Visions by Setting monsters. |
| Secret Village of the Spellcasters | An alternate Field Spell that can be used. |
| Time Passage | It increases the Level of a Fortune Lady monster by 3 until the End Phase, boosting its ATK and DEF. |
| One for One | Another card that can search for Fortune Lady Light. It can also be used to search for Cyber Valley. |
| Bound Wand | A Spellcaster-specific equip card that increases the Attack by 100 x the monster's level. This is the ideal equip card for Fortune Ladies, and it comes with the bonus effect of Special Summoning the monster it is equipped to from the Graveyard if destroyed in battle. |
| Different Dimension Gate | Banish your opponent's monster and your Fortune Lady Light. This triggers Light's effect, allowing your to Special Summon another Fortune Lady and possibly enabling you to attack directly. |
| Wonder Wand | This card adds to the draw power of this Deck. Equip to Fortune Lady Water, then send it to grave to draw 2 cards. Special summon Water again through Fortune Lady Dark effect for more draw power. |
| Dark Hole | Trigger's Fortune Lady Light's effect, while destroying all other monsters, allowing your Special Summoned Fortune Lady to attack directly. |
| Galaxy Queen's Light | This card allows the player to quickly power up their Fortune Lady. Simply have Fortune Lady Earth on the field for more than 1 turn, then use this card to target it. Furthermore, you could later Xyz summon afterwards. |
| Spellbook of Life | This card allow you to Special Summon a Fortune Lady from grave by banishing another Fortune Lady from grave. The level of the banished Fortune lady will be added to Special Summoned Fortune lady (give ATK/DEF boost). The banished Fortune Lady can be used as fodder for Fortune Future. |
| Spellbook of Wisdom | This is a Spellcaster version of Forbidden Lance with no attack restriction. |
| Magical Blast | inflict minor damage, works well with lady DARK(swarm) to inflict 1000 damage per turn. |
| Magical Dimension | Activate this card to tribute Fortune Lady Light triggering her effect, allowing you to special summon a Fortune Lady with another Spellcaster on the Field while taking out one of your opponent's monsters |
| Traps | |
| Torrential Tribute | Trigger's Fortune Lady Light's effect, while destroying all other monsters, allowing your Special Summoned Fortune Lady to attack directly. |
| Compulsory Evacuation Device | This card works well for getting rid of your opponent's Synchro Monsters, especially Stardust Dragon. This card can also trigger Fortune Lady Light's effect if needed. |
| Dimension Slice | Since most Fortune Lady can be Special Summoned easily (Through Fortune Lady Light and Dark, or Inherited Fortune). You can activate this card easily to banish your opponent beatstick or banish Light to trigger her effect. Light can later be used as a fodder for Fortune Future. |
| Gagagashield | This card can protect you Fortune Lady from destruction by both battle and card effect for one turn. |
| Call of the Haunted | When it is target for a by a Mystical Space Typhoon or Heavy Storm, chain it to Special Summon Fortune lady Light from grave. When Call of the Haunted is destroyed, Fortune Lady Light is also destroyed. Therefore, triggering her effect. An alternative strategy involves quickly Special Summoning Fortune lady with this card when opponent activate Mirror Force or Dark Hole. |
| Extra Deck | |
| Armory Arm | If you run Plaguespreader Zombie, you can tune it with a Fortune Lady Fire who has already used her effect so that she doesn't become an easy attack target. This card combos well with Fortune Lady Dark. |
| Arcanite Magician | This card is a staple in Spellcaster Decks. |
| Tempest Magician | This card is generally used only in FTK versions of this Deck. However, it can also be used to finish the opponent off under other builds. |
| Various Ranks of Xyz Monsters | Fortune Ladies can swarm and alter their Levels, as can Tragoedia. |
| Magi Magi ☆ Magician Gal | Can be easily overlayed with a level 6 Fortune Lady Dark and Fortune Lady Earth. Banish another Fortune Lady on hand to take control opponent's powerful beat-stick that could not be destroyed by Fortune Lady Fire, eg. Stardust Dragon. The banished Fortune Lady can later be used as a fodder for Fortune Future. |
| Lavalval Chain | This card can be easily Special Summoned by Fortune Lady. With the insane draw power, this card can help put the right monster you needed to the top of the Deck for quick use. |
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 cards such as "Forbidden Chalice", "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". Similarly, "Doom Donuts" and "Overworked" can also clean house since a "Fortune Lady"'s original ATK and DEF would both be 0.
"Fortune Ladies" tend to rely on summoning, as they must be summoned either from the Graveyard, by "Fortune Lady Dark", or from your hand (through cards like "Inherited Fortune"), or solely on the effects of "Fortune Lady Light". If the swarm starts too late, 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. Moreover, even if she's on the Field, cards like "Keldo", "Pot of Benevolence", "The Transmigration Prophecy", "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 "Demotion", "Stygian Dirge", "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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