Nerfed or not, the companion mechanic is still an unmatchable source of guaranteed bonus value every game, all for playing cards that were good enough already
They were released in Japan in 1999, Australia and North America in 2000, and Europe in 2001
A removal spell in the command zone, even if only a temporary one, is better than you think itll be
Cards related to "Charizard GX".
This is a genuine advantage over marketplaces where shipping quality varies by seller
Maybe it was something special with the scary-looking artwork, the flavour of cards like Lord of the Pit and Royal Assassin, or just the fact that my black deck could actually beat most comers during the lunch breaks at school