A monster that can attack on the first turn—Marik first used this when he was six, during the Battle City finals against Atem. And that's not its only effect.
"Vampiric Leech's other effect activates," said Marik. "After it attacks, I can discard a card to switch it to Defense Position."
Marik sent a card from his hand to the graveyard.
[Vampiric Leech, ATK 500 → DEF 1200]
"Not only can it attack first, but it can shift to Defense after attacking to avoid the risk of low ATK."
Kira paused, then chuckled.
"Come to think of it, I don't have a monster that can attack on the first turn, but I do have one with a similar concept."
"Oh? I'd like to see it," Marik smiled, setting a card face-down. "Set one card, end turn."
Kira: "My turn. Draw."
He raised his left arm, and a hidden compartment on his duel disk popped open.
"Since you asked, let me show you this guy.
I activate the Spell Card 'Terraforming'! Add a Field Spell from my deck to my hand."
A card shot out from Kira's deck, and he drew it.
"I add the Field Spell 'Megaroid City' to my hand.
Then, I activate 'Megaroid City'!"
He wasted no time, inserting the card into the duel disk. The deck auto-shuffled as the field transformed—a futuristic steel city, skyscrapers, interlacing highways, and busy traffic filled the stage.
"Next, I set a card face-down."
Kira set a card, then pointed to the city.
"Megaroid City's effect: once per turn, I can destroy one of my own cards. I'll destroy the card I just set!"
Marik was stunned. "Destroy your own card?"
Lightning crashed down from the city. The set card was blasted to pieces.
"After destroying my own card, I can add a 'Roid' monster from my deck to my hand."
Kira revealed the card that popped out from his deck.
"I add 'Submarineroid' to my hand."
The trap card he'd just sent to the graveyard also appeared.
"The card I destroyed was the trap 'Wonder Garage,'" Kira explained. "If Garage is destroyed while set, I can Special Summon a Level 4 or lower Machine monster from my hand." (Anime effect)
(The printed card restricts it to a Level 4 or lower 'Roid' monster, a bit weaker, but here it works.)
"I Special Summon 'Submarineroid' from my hand."
A cartoonish little submarine burst from underground, splashing water everywhere. Its human-like eyes seemed to sneer at any opponent in its way.
[Submarineroid, ATK 800]
"Then, I Normal Summon another one from my hand."
Kira revealed another identical monster.
"Submarineroid Number Two!"
A second submarine appeared, identical in shape and with the same disdainful look.
[Submarineroid, ATK 800]
"Battle," Kira declared. "First, Submarineroid Number One, attack."
Marik exclaimed, "But its ATK is lower than Vampiric Leech's DEF—you're still attacking?"
There had to be a trick.
Kira explained, "Submarineroid's effect: it can attack your Life Points directly, ignoring any monsters you control."
As he spoke, the little sub dove underground. Despite its name, it could burrow through any terrain, not just water.
In half a second, it emerged right in front of Marik, torpedoes ready.
"I see, a monster that deals direct damage regardless of defenses," Marik said. "But it's not so easy to hurt me!
Activate my set card: Trap Card, 'Widespread Ruin!'
When you declare an attack, destroy your highest-ATK monster!"
As expected of the Tomb Keeper's prince—and the trap master, Odion's boss. Marik might not be as obsessed with traps as Odion, but they're still an important part of his strategy.
"If there's a tie for highest ATK, I can pick one to destroy," Marik added.
"Well, both are Submarineroid, so it doesn't matter."
Boom!
An explosion—Submarineroid Number One hit a mine and was destroyed.
Number One was gone, but Number Two remained.
"Battle continues," Kira said. "Submarineroid Number Two, direct attack."
This time, Marik had no answer. The sub easily bypassed Vampiric Leech and struck Marik.
Marik was prepared—it was only 800 damage, nothing serious.
"Megaroid City's effect," Kira said. "Once per turn, when a Roid battles, I can send a Roid from my deck to the graveyard and swap its ATK and DEF for the rest of the turn!"
He sent a Roid to the grave.
"During damage calculation, I swap Submarineroid's ATK and DEF!"
[Submarineroid, ATK 800 → ATK 1800]
Marik lost his composure. "ATK swap... 1800 ATK?"
With a whoosh, the torpedo hit Marik square in the face.
[Marik, LP 4000 → LP 2200]
Marik raised his arm to shield himself as water effects cascaded off him—rather bedraggled.
"And after attacking, Submarineroid can switch to Defense Position," Kira said. "The ATK swap only lasts for this battle phase; its stats return to normal after."
[Submarineroid, DEF 1800]
"Can attack directly and then switch to defense—very much like Marik's strategy," Ishizu thought from the sidelines.
"Their approaches are similar, but Marik clearly lost that exchange."
…