In Kira's memory, the animated version of the Crystal Beasts didn't seem much different from the real cards—but seeing this now, clearly his memory was off.
The biggest difference is that in the anime, every single Crystal Beast card is limited to one copy—a physical 1-of. After all, each one was crafted from priceless treasures salvaged from sunken merchant ships; since they're one-of-a-kind, of course there can't be duplicates.
That impact is obviously huge. There are only seven Crystal Beasts in total, and early on Jesse doesn't even have Rainbow Dragon. That means his entire deck only has those seven Crystal Beast monsters to actually use.
Even if we consider the 40-card minimum, that's just seven monster cards in forty total.
And Jesse, with that Crystal Beast deck, fought through battle after battle—never once bricking, never once suffering a hand-dead situation in any duel. That alone proves just how deep his bond with the Crystal Beasts is.
Anyway, if you ported the character's deck straight into real life, this Crystal Beast deck wouldn't necessarily be any more consistent than Jaden's Elemental HEROes.
"Four Crystal Beasts on the field at once," Mokuba said. "Jesse Anderson really is using the Crystal Beast deck at will."
"But of course."
Pegasus folded his arms, smiling with approval.
"Jesse-boy's bond with his monsters is truly rare in this world."
"And because 'Crystal Beast Emerald Tortoise' and 'Crystal Beast Ruby Carbuncle' were placed in the Spell/Trap Zone this turn, that makes two Crystal Beasts total.
Therefore, the Continuous Spell 'Crystal Tree'—gains two Crystal Counters!"
[Crystal Tree, Crystal Counters 0→2]
Two branches on the dark gemstone tree lit up with crystalline brilliance, like blossoms opening to reveal jeweled fruit.
"And 'Gravity Bind' failed to resolve, so the attack lock isn't in effect." Jesse chuckled. "Sorry, Mr. Kira, but I'm going all out.
Go! Crystal Beast Amber Mammoth, attack the set monster!"
The mammoth let out a roar, its charge shaking the ground in a storm of dust. Its trunk snapped like a whip, flipping Kira's set card to reveal the monster beneath.
A bizarre creature with Medusa-like writhing hair, frail-looking at a glance. But its reed-slim body held firm against the mammoth's charge—the giant elephant slammed into it like into a springy bamboo stalk.
The bamboo bent, absorbed the shock, then snapped back, bouncing the mammoth stumbling backward.
[Arcana Force 0 - The Fool, DEF 0]
"Good response, but unfortunate," Kira smiled. "My set monster is 'Arcana Force 0 - The Fool.'
The Fool cannot be destroyed by battle."
Mokuba blinked at The Fool, then instinctively looked up at the area above its head—only to find nothing there, which surprised him.
"Wait, I thought Arcana Force monsters spin their cards or flip a coin upon Summon to determine upright or reversed effects?
Why doesn't Kira's Arcana Force have anything above its head?"
President Pegasus, the father of Duel Monsters, explained patiently: "Because Arcana Force monsters only spin the card to determine upright/reversed on Normal, Special, or Flip Summon.
If it was set face-down and then flipped by an opponent's attack, that's neither a Normal, Special, nor Flip Summon."
"I see." Mokuba nodded, enlightened.
It was his first time realizing Arcana Force had such a quirk.
In other words, since The Fool was flipped by Jesse's attack, it has neither the positive upright effect nor the negative reversed effect—it only retains its inherent 'cannot be destroyed by battle' resilience. An undying cockroach, the ultimate shield.
It also functions as a kind of indirect attack lock.
"So it's a battle-immortal monster… Even if I summon more monsters, attacking is meaningless." Jesse said. "In that case, I'll end my Battle Phase.
But my turn isn't over."
He pulled a Spell from his backrow slot and held it up.
"The follow-up effect of the Continuous Spell 'Crystal Tree.'
Send this card with Crystal Counters to the Graveyard; then, based on the number of counters it had, place 'Crystal Beast' monsters from your Deck into your Spell/Trap Zone as Continuous Spells!"
He sent the Spell to the Grave. The strange tree burst into dazzling crimson light, wrapped itself in radiance, then dissolved into motes.
"It had two Crystal Counters when sent, so I'll place two Crystal Beast cards from my Deck into my backrow as Continuous Spells."
Jesse searched his Deck.
He took two monster cards, revealed them, and slotted them into the S/T Zone.
"Come!
Crystal Beast Cobalt Eagle!
Crystal Beast Topaz Tiger!"
Blue and yellow gems flashed; the spectral forms of an eagle and a tiger flickered in the backrow, then quickly faded, leaving two crystals resting in Jesse's backfield.
"In just one turn, six of the seven Crystal Beasts are assembled." Kira nodded approvingly. "Strong offense, trap counters, and maintaining this level of efficiency. Impressive."
"Ahaha, not really."
Jesse scratched his head, embarrassed.
"If you say that, I'll get cocky."
Pegasus's lips quirked up: "Interesting. Jesse-boy understands his objective in this duel."
"Huh?" Mokuba looked over, puzzled.
"Legend has it the ultimate Rainbow Dragon appears only when the seven Crystal Beasts are gathered. Based on our inference of the summoning condition so far, to bring out Rainbow Dragon, all seven should be required."
"I get it!"
Mokuba looked again at Jesse's field, sparkling with gems and monsters.
"So that's why he's going all out to assemble as many as possible on turn one. Amazing..."
Jesse rubbed his nose, smiling.
"Good, we're basically there. Rainbow Dragon is my life's dream.
No matter what, I'm going to awaken Rainbow Dragon in this duel!"