It is based on a smuggler, a person who performs the act of smuggling, the illegal transportation of objects, substances, information, or people.
Its name is a combination of "monkey," referring to its monkey, and "smuggler," possibly referring to its appearance and ability.
Its description is a play on the term "monkey business," an act that is considered silly or time-wasting, but with separate emphasis on the two words as Monkey Smuggler's monkey is doing the "business."
Statistics
Class: Sneaky
Tribes: Pirate Pet Zombie
Trait: Gravestone
Ability: When revealed: Steal 2 sections from the Plant Hero's Super-Block Meter.
Set - Rarity: Triassic - Uncommon
Card description
Piracy is serious monkey business.
Update history
Update 1.24.6
Added to the game.
Strategies
With
Monkey Smuggler is a zombie with good stats (only in the early game) and a versatile ability, making it a good play in all phases of the game. While its strength is average, it has a good amount of health, which is high for a turn 2 zombie, especially for those in the Sneaky class. Since it also has the Gravestone trait, it is immune to damaging tricks and bonus attacks until revealed.
Monkey Smuggler's ability is even more useful, as it helps you block more easily while hindering your opponent from doing the same thing. While this ability activates only once unlike Mars Flytrap's, it activates instantly, which means Monkey Smuggler's ability will not go to waste even when it is destroyed. You can use this aspect and use Monkey Smuggler for Evolution, as you won't have anything to lose. Or, you can Bounce it or use Mixed-Up Gravedigger to activate its ability again.
Monkey Smuggler is also a good pet in a pet deck, as it has good health to begin with, combined with its cost and the Gravestone trait.
It has a great pirate synergy too, you can buff it with Swashbuckler Zombie or Make him gain Strikethrough, and it can steal opponents block meter, and that makes the block meter unavaible when Swashbuckler Zombie hits the plant hero.
However, Monkey Smuggler's ability can backfire, making you block something else other than a specific plant's attack. Its ability is also much more useless against Bullseye plants, especially if you are facing Grass Knuckles or Spudow. It is also useless when your opponent doesn't have any sections in their Super-Block Meter. And finally, Monkey Smuggler can easily be ruined by Grave Mistake or Grave Buster.
Against
While Monkey Smuggler is only a minor nuisance, its ability can be troublesome as it can mess with your block timing, leaving you more vulnerable to attacks you want to block. It is best to remove it before it gets revealed, but only Smarty and Guardian heroes, preferably Citron and Beta-Carrotina, have the means to do so normally.
Ability aside, it is also not recommended to keep Monkey Smuggler alive for long, as your opponent can play Unthawed Viking on it, wreaking further havoc.