Koakis Pt. 1 Monsters

I haven't been posting like I should, so let's talk about Koaki Meiru cards. Koakis at the moment is my main deck, it's what I'm using in tournaments(locals) right now. It is generally complete, I just tend to change up certain cards every now and then. The theme is said to be one of the most supported theme in yugioh history, and yet it is not topping any big tournaments. Why is this? Well first off I think it's important to remember the kind of decks that are topping right now. We have decks that can win with 2-3 cards, we have decks that lock all possible plays so long as they have cards in their hand, we have decks that have a near-infinite monster supply, and decks that synchro into some of the most powerful synchro monsters available. So what does KM do? KM has A)a slight control aspect, B) a slight swarm aspect, C) a high "beat" aspect, D) a high "boss" aspect. So the idea is, that a deck with so many options, a "toolbox" as we call it, can be very good. And it can! Some people believe that 1 more good TCG-exclusive card is all KM's need to move to tier 1.5+, some people believe that the banlist in september will move them up, and some believe that the ideal deck build is out there, it just has not been found out. Now, I'm not going to talk about the obviously good cards like Urknight and Guardian that MUST be ran in 3's, but let's talk about some of the other themed cards that can be good. Keep in mind that about half of the top tier decks use mostly if not all generic support. About 2 of the top tier decks require their themed card to be so powerful. Koaki's have, arguable, the MOST themed cards in the game, so which are actually playable?

Monsters:
Drago - Used in dragon decks already. Sided in most KM decks, ran in 1's in others. In the deck it's mostly a toolbox monster. If you know your opponent plans to special summon dark or light monsters, Drago's effect will stop it. Useful, but not enough to fulltime unless you need dragons.
Ghoulungulate - Boss Status. Underused mostly, but why? If a koaki is going to be destroyed you can remove one from your graveyard instead, how is that not good? Well, in essence it is, but the card itself has a couple of limitations. One tribute, requires a zombie reveal, and requires fuel(your graveyard). So you will need to find a way to keep ghoulgulate on the field and it's own effect won't protect it from its reveal cost.
Hydro Barrier - Stops effects until the stand-by phase of YOUR next turn. It's a skill drain for your opponent, how is THAT not good?? It requires no reveal, and has 1900 defense, so it will stay in defense while you control the game. Possible side against Quickdraw? This may require testing. Topdecking a core is never a great play, but if you know you can win by using Urknight to play Hydro Barrier, then maybe it should be done. Only issue is that a real power play would also involve sandman. If you have no cards on the field, then you will risk backrow response to your normal summon and/or attack.
Ice - Most believe that tornado is a superior monster. With triple Overclocks the reveal cost probably isn't too difficult. A 2 for 1 effect on it's normal summon is not very good though unless it is your only out. The discard cost is just too painful, there would have to be cards that you want to discard in order for Ice to be better (and unfortunately his text reads to "send 1 card" so discard effects wont fire off.)
Powerhand - Ran in 1's in many builds. Ran in 0's in many builds. Negates the effect of lights and darks it battles, 2100 ATK, and has a relatively easy reveal. Unfortunately, unless you're fighting a deck with Ryko's or a Fiend deck, you won't see his effect fire off very often, which may be the reason why he isn't ran. But with such high attack he generates field presence. Being a machine he can be combined with Cyber Dragon to make Chimeratech Fortress Dragon.
Prototype - Ran in 1's in many builds. Ran in 0's in others. Ran in 2-3's in a select few. In theory, prototype is a great card. He makes your koaki's self destruction work for your, or stops it himself. Unfortunately, in a deck that isn't based on that fact, this is mostly a ruse. If you needed to negate your effect, then you may have needed to make a better play. If you blow up a monster and gain an 1800 ATK token through Prototype's effect, then you lose a possibly great effect monster and gained 2 "vanillas". On the other hand, if you can make a play with prototype that left you with greater presence than you would have had then Prototype is great. With Iron Core Specimen lab, if you blow up your monster, not only do you get to search for a new one (Maximus) you get that 1800 ATK token if Prototype was on the field. Very debatable card.
Rooklord - Boss Status. Destroys 2 cards the moment he is normal summoned, requires only 1 tribute, 2800 ATK, why is he not in everyone's pure KM build? In builds using Bergzak he sees a lot of play, that reveal of a warrior type is impossible for a lot of pure builds(and I don't even own a bergzak). One tribute is good, but you have to normal summon him to use his effect. That means he has no synergy with an in-hand Urknight, yet has game winning syngergy with an on-field Urknight. In a deck with a lot of backrow hate, I'm sure Rooklord would shine. Bottomless, Starlight Road and torrential tribute all hurt...and yet, don't at the same time. If they bottomless, then Rooklord was an even exchange in card resources. This is another highly debatable card.
Valafar - Boss Status. Immune to trap destruction, requires 1 tribute, 3000 ATK, 2100 def so book of moon isn't as painful. He even pierces defense, that is a serious threat to the enemy. He suffers in speed the same way that rooklord does, but is slightly more protected, his only major counter is D. Prison, which goes for most monsters in YGO. Good card but the reveal cost is even MORE difficult than rooklord. I believe he may benefit more from a recursion deck to fire off his piercing effect as much as possible, so long as he is not D. Prisoned.

Next time I will look at Koakis slew of magical support. There's a lot and there is a LOT of discussion on why and why not to use each one.