Stage 3: DARKest of the bunch

While there are many powerful DARK monsters in the game, there are a few which stand above the rest in their playability, consistency and, in some cases, outright power.

We're automatically going to use these from the list above:

Main Deck: +9

+ 1x Jinzo

+ 1x Breaker the Magical Warrior

+ 3x Mystic Tomato

+ 1x Sangan

+ 1x Mask of Darkness

+ 1x Night Assailant

+ 1x Spirit Reaper

Side Deck: +3

+ 1x Dark Magician of Chaos

+ 2x Strike Ninja

Fusion Deck: +15

+ 3x Chimeratech Overdragon

+ 3x Dark Balter the Terrible

+ 3x Dark Blade the Dragon Knight

+ 3x Dark Flare Knight

+ 3x Gatling Dragon (will work)

+ 3x Reaper on the Nightmare

Note: The 3 copies of [Chimeratech Overdragon] cannot, and will not, be brought out onto the field. They are there simply to show off that you have 3 copies of [Chimeratech Overdragon].

Now, what else is there?

Well, I'll start off by usuing RONIN to search for all DARK Normal-Effect monsters with 1500 ATK or less. I'm purposely ignoring "Spirit", "Toon" and "Union" monsters due to each type needing a specific deck built around it.

 

8-Claws Scorpion

A Cat of Ill Omen

Apprentice Magician

Armed Samurai - Ben Kei

Aswan Apparition

Big Eye

Bit Shoes

Bowganian

Brain Jacker

Broww, Huntsman of Dark World

Byser Shock

Cannon Soldier

Castle of Dark Illusions

Chaos Necromancer

Chopman the Desperate Outlaw

Chthonian Soldier

Cliff the Trap Remover

Crass Clown

Cyber Archfiend

Cyber Jar

Cyber Raider

Cyber-stein

D.D. Guide

D.D. Scout Plane

Dark Jeroid

Dark Mimic Lv1

Dark Mimic Lv3

Dark Scorpion - Chick the Yellow

Dark Scorpion - Meanae the Thron

Dark Scorpion Burglars

Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive

Des Kangaroo

Des Koala

Destiny Hero - Blade Master

Destiny Hero - Captain Tenacious

Destiny Hero - Defender

Destiny Hero - Diamond Dude

Destiny Hero - Doom Lord

Destiny Hero - Double Dude (Illegal Target: Cannot be Special Summoned)

Destiny Hero - Dreadmaster (Illegal Target: ? ATK)

Destiny Hero - Fear Monger

Dimension Jar

Don Zaloog

Ebon Magician Curran

Element Doom

Element Saurus

Element Soldier

Exodia the Forbidden One

Familiar Knight

Giant Germ

Goblin King

Grave Protector

Gravekeeper's Assailant

Gravekeeper's Cannonholder

Gravekeeper's Cyrse

Gravekeeper's Guard

Gravekeeper's Spear Soldier

Gravekeeper's Spy

Gravekeeper's Vassal

Gravekeeper's Watcher

Great Maju Garzett

Greenkappa

Guardian Baou

Hiro's Shadow Scout

Invitation to a Dark Sleep

Jinzo #7

KA-2 Des Scirrors

King of the Skull Servants (Illegal Target: ? ATK)

Kiseitai

Kryuel

Kuriboh

Lord of D.

Magical Plant Mandragola

Magical Scientist

Maju Garzett (Illegal Target: ? ATK)

Malice Ascendant

Mask of Darkness

Masked Sorcerer

Mataza the Zapper

Memory Crusher

Mind on Air

Mucus Yolk

Mystic Lamp

Mystic Tomato (of course)

Neo-Spacian Dark Panther

Newdoria

Night Assailant

Nightmare Horse

Old Vindictive Magician

Pandemonium Watchbear

Peten the Dark Clown

Possessed Dark Soul

Reaper of the Cards

Reborn Zombie

Red-Eyes B. Chick

Red-Moon Baby

Ryu-Kishin Clown

Sangan

Scarr, Scout of Dark World

Shadowslayer

Skull Knight #2

Soul-Absorbing Bone Tower

Spear Cretin

Spirit Reaper

Stealth Bird

Swarm of Locusts

Swarm of Scarabs

Tainted Wisdom

The Dark - Hex-Sealed Fusion

The Kick Man

Twin-Headed Wolf

Versago the Destroyer

Wall of Illusion

Winged Minion

Witch Doctor of Chaos

Witch of the Black Forest

Witch's Apprentice

Total: 117

...

...

Jack Sparrow: "Bugger."

Well, I'm going to elliminate the following:

- Any monsters which are currently Banned.

- Any monster with effect that starts with the word "FLIP" because they won't get their effect unless you use it with [Book of Moon].

- Any monsters with effects which cannot use their effects after being special summoned by [Mystic Tomato] unless another card is involved.

- Any monster which due to their stats or effect are illegal targets.

 

8-Claws Scorpion

Apprentice Magician

Armed Samurai - Ben Kei

Aswan Apparition

Bowganian

Broww, Huntsman of Dark World

Byser Shock

Cannon Soldier

Chaos Necromancer

Chthonian Soldier

Cliff the Trap Remover

Crass Clown

Cyber Archfiend

Cyber Raider

Cyber-stein

D.D. Scout Plane

Dark Jeroid

Dark Mimic Lv1

Dark Mimic Lv3

Dark Scorpion - Chick the Yellow

Dark Scorpion - Meanae the Thron

Dark Scorpion Burglars

Des Kangaroo

Destiny Hero - Captain Tenacious

Destiny Hero - Defender

Destiny Hero - Diamond Dude

Destiny Hero - Doom Lord

Destiny Hero - Fear Monger

Don Zaloog

Ebon Magician Curran

Element Doom

Element Saurus

Element Soldier

Familiar Knight

Giant Germ

Goblin King

Grave Protector

Gravekeeper's Assailant

Gravekeeper's Cannonholder

Gravekeeper's Cyrse

Gravekeeper's Guard

Gravekeeper's Spear Soldier

Gravekeeper's Spy

Gravekeeper's Vassal

Jinzo #7

KA-2 Des Scirrors

Kryuel

Lord of D.

Malice Ascendant

Masked Sorcerer

Mataza the Zapper

Memory Crusher

Mind on Air

Mucus Yolk

Mystic Lamp

Mystic Tomato (of course)

Neo-Spacian Dark Panther

Newdoria

Nightmare Horse

Pandemonium Watchbear

Peten the Dark Clown

Possessed Dark Soul

Reborn Zombie

Red-Eyes B. Chick

Red-Moon Baby

Ryu-Kishin Clown

Sangan

Scarr, Scout of Dark World

Shadowslayer

Skull Knight #2

Soul-Absorbing Bone Tower

Spirit Reaper

Stealth Bird

Swarm of Locusts

Swarm of Scarabs

Tainted Wisdom

The Dark - Hex-Sealed Fusion

The Kick Man

Twin-Headed Wolf

Versago the Destroyer

Wall of Illusion

Winged Minion

Witch's Apprentice

Right, so that cut the list down to... 84. -_-'

Okay then, another murder of the list:

- All "Archfiend" monsters (including [Pandemonium Watchbear]): They need their own deck type

- All "Dark Scorpion" monsters (including [Cliff the Trap Remover], excluding [Don Zaloog]): They need their own deck type

- All "Destiny Hero" monstes: They need their own deck type

- All "Dark World" monsters: They need their own deck type

- All "Gravekeeper's' monsters: They need their own deck type

- All "Element" monsters: They need their own deck type

- All "Flip-Flap" monster (excluding [Stealth Bird]): They need their own deck type

- All "position-change-to-do-stuff" monsters: They need their own deck type

- All monsters specific to a sub-type: They need their own deck type

- All monsters with burn effects (that do nothing else): They need their own deck type

- All monsters who attack directly (that do nothing else): They need their own deck type

- All monsters whose effects involve with Fusion Monster (excluding [Cyber-stein]): They need their own deck type

- All monsters who have to be RFG'd to get their effect (can't depend on [Strike Ninja]): They need their own deck type

Now, we've got:

8-Claws Scorpion

Apprentice Magician

Aswan Apparition

Byser Shock

Chaos Necromancer

Chthonian Soldier

Cyber Raider

Cyber-stein

Dark Jeroid

Dark Mimic Lv1

Dark Mimic Lv3

Des Kangaroo

Don Zaloog

Familiar Knight

Giant Germ

Grave Protector

KA-2 Des Scirrors

Kryuel

Malice Ascendant

Masked Sorcerer

Mataza the Zapper

Memory Crusher

Mind on Air

Mystic Tomato (of course)

Neo-Spacian Dark Panther

Newdoria

Peten the Dark Clown

Possessed Dark Soul

Reborn Zombie

Red-Eyes B. Chick

Red-Moon Baby

Sangan

Shadowslayer

Spirit Reaper

Stealth Bird

Tainted Wisdom

The Kick Man

Wall of Illusion

Witch's Apprentice

Total: 39

Elliminating: All monsters whose effects SUCK!

Apprentice Magician

Cyber-stein

Dark Jeroid

Don Zaloog

Giant Germ

Mataza the Zapper

Mystic Tomato (of course)

Neo-Spacian Dark Panther

Newdoria

Peten the Dark Clown

Sangan

Spirit Reaper

Stealth Bird

Wall of Illusion

Total: 14

Hmm... alright, now get rid of the monsters I'm already using in this deck.

Apprentice Magician

Cyber-stein

Dark Jeroid

Don Zaloog

Giant Germ

Mataza the Zapper

Neo-Spacian Dark Panther

Newdoria

Peten the Dark Clown

Wall of Illusion

Total: 10

Final removal:

- All monsters who can "lose their timing" for annoying reasons (like using as a tribute for a tribute-summon)

- All monsters who would be able to use their effects more if brought out in face-up defence position

The list of usable monsters is:

Apprentice Magician

Cyber-stein

Dark Jeroid

Don Zaloog

Giant Germ

Mataza the Zapper

Neo-Spacian Dark Panther

Newdoria

Total: 8

Much better than 117 ^_^

Apprentice Magician

Effect Monster (Spellcaster / DARK / 2 Stars / ATK 400 / DEF 800)

When this card is successfully Normal Summoned, Flip Summoned, or Special Summoned, put 1 Spell Counter on a face-up card on the field that you can put a Spell Counter on. If this card is destroyed in battle, you can select 1 Level 2 or lower Spellcaster-Type monster from your Deck and Special Summon it to the field in face-down Defense Position.

Bring out with [Mystic Toamto] (Counters! We don't care about frickin' Counters!), let it die by battle and search for [Old Vindictive Magician].

Old Vindictive Magician

Effect Monster (Spellcaster / DARK / 2 Stars / ATK 450 / DEF 600)

FLIP: Destroy 1 monster on your opponent's side of the field.

[Night Assailant] for Spellcasters; speaking of [Night Assailant], he can grab this back for free when you discard him. Nice.

Cyber-Stein

Effect Monster (Machine / DARK / 2 Stars / ATK 700 / DEF 500)

Pay 5000 Life Points. Special Summon 1 Fusion Monster from your Fusion Deck to the field in Attack Position.

Great effect, but realistically there are no DARK Fusion monsters that I'd pay 5000 life points for (and [Thousand-Eyes Restrict] is banned anyway).

Dark Jeroid

Effect Monster (Fiend / DARK / 4 Stars / ATK 1200 / DEF 1500)

When this card is Normal Summoned, Flip Summoned, or Special Summoned successfully, select 1 face-up monster on the field. As long as the monster remains face-up on the field, decrease its ATK by 800 points.

Nice effect, and it targets to kill [Spirit Reaper]. It can take down any monster with 2000 ATK or less in the turn it's summoned, and while [Spirit Reaper] may be restricted now it can also help lower another monsters' ATK (or it's own) for [Crush Card Virus].

Don Zaloog

Effect Monster (Warrior / DARK / 4 Stars / ATK 1400 / DEF 1500)

When this card inflicts Battle Damage to your opponent's Life Points, you can select and activate 1 of the following effects:

• Select 1 random card from your opponent's hand and discard it to the Graveyard.

• Send 2 cards from the top of your opponent's Deck to the Graveyard.

Well-known as [Spirit Reaper]'s lesser-used cousin; I'm definitely using 2 copies to replace the [Spirit Reaper]s we just lost to the Banned List.

Giant Germ

Effect Monster (Fiend / DARK / 2 Stars / ATK 1000 / DEF 100)

When this card is sent to the Graveyard as a result of battle, inflict 500 points of damage to your opponent's Life Points. You can also Special Summon up to 2 "Giant Germ" cards from your Deck to your side of the field in face-up Attack Position. Then shuffle your Deck.

A surprise choice, but still annoying to your opponent; it helps get out tribute fodder and thins your deck at the same time, plus a little burn damage for icing on the cake.

Mataza the Zapper

Effect Monster (Warrior / DARK / 3 Stars / ATK 1300 / DEF 800)

This monster can attack twice during the same Battle Phase. While this card is face-up on the field, control of this card cannot switch.

A 1300 ATK double-attacker that can't be Snatch'd or Swap'd is always entertaining. I'm going to side-deck a pair to work with 2 copies of [Reinforcement of the Army] in the main deck and the [Don Zaloog]s.

Neo-Spacian Dark Panther

Effect Monster (Beast / DARK / 3 Stars / ATK 1000 / DEF 500)

Once per turn, you can select 1 face-up monster on your opponent's side of the field. While this card is face-up on your side of the field, until the end of this turn this card's name is treated as the selected monster's name, and it gets the selected monster's effect(s).

This is one of the two monsters used by "Jaden Yuki" in the entirety of Yu-Gi-Oh! GX that are actually considered good in the card game so far. The other is [Dandelion]. You basically borrow the effect of your opponent's most powerful monster (which would have been [Chaos Sorcerer] but now has to settle for [Jinzo] or [Blowback Dragon]) and rip them appart with it.

Newdoria

Effect Monster (Fiend / DARK / 4 Stars / ATK 1200 / DEF 800)

When this card is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard as a result of battle, destroy 1 monster on the field.

"Mr Suicidal Tendencies" himself; [Newdoria], along with [Dark Jelloid] (and somtimes [Byser Shock]) are the big stars of "Tomato Control". They'll serve the same purpose here with us.

Main Deck: +8

+ 2x Apprentice Magician

+ 2x Old Vindictive Magician

+ 2x Don Zaloog

+ 2x Newdoria

Side Deck: +6

+ 2x Dark Jeroid

+ 2x Mataza the Zapper

+ 2x Neo Spacian Dark Panther

This gives us a current deck of:

Main Deck: 17

1x Jinzo

1x Breaker the Magical Warrior

3x Mystic Tomato

2x Apprentice Magician

2x Old Vindictive Magician

2x Don Zaloog

2x Newdoria

1x Sangan

1x Mask of Darkness

1x Night Assailant

1x Spirit Reaper

Side Deck: 9

1x Dark Magician of Chaos

2x Strike Ninja

2x Dark Jeroid

2x Mataza the Zapper

2x Neo Spacian Dark Panther

Fusion Deck: 18

3x Chimeratech Overdragon

3x Dark Balter the Terrible

3x Dark Blade the Dragon Knight

3x Dark Flare Knight

3x Gatling Dragon (will work)

3x Reaper on the Nightmare

 

 

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Re: Deck Article of X '23: The Dark Deck'

« Reply #2 on: Monday 21 August 2006 07.46PM BST »

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Looking good, but I just want to quickly look at the DARK Normal-Effect monsters of level 5 or higher and see if there's anything we should include (ignoring "Spirit", "Toon" and "Union" monsters).

 

Alien Mother

Archfiend of Gilfer

Barrel Dragon

Berserk Dragon

Big Core

Blowback Dragon

Byser Shock

Chaos Emperor Dragon - Envoy of the End

Chaos Sorcerer

Dark Eradicator Warlock

Dark Magician Girl

Dark Magician Knight

Dark Magician of Chaos

Dark Necrofear

Dark Ruler Ha Des

Dark Sage

Dark Scorpion - Gorg the Strong

Despair from the Dark

Destiny Hero - Dasher

Destiny Hero - Dogma

Destiny Hero - Double Dude

Destiny Hero - Dreadmaster

Dragon Seeker

Elemental Hero Necroshade

Fushioh Richie

Fusilier Dragon, the Dual-Mode Beast

Gate Guardian

Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World

Gravekeeper's Chief

Great Dezard

Great Maju Garzett

Helpoemer

Inferno Hammer

Invader of Darkness

Invitation to a Dark Sleep

Jinzo

Lesser Fiend

Magical Marrionette

Maju Garzett

Marie the Fallen One

Mazera DeVille

Mefist the Infernal General

Metalzoa

Mind on Air

Needle Borrower

Patrician of Darkness

Penumbral Soldier Lady

Pumpking the King of Ghosts

Raviel, Lord of Phantasms

Reaper of the Cards

Red-Eyes Black Metal Dragon

Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon

Ryu Kokki

Shadow Ghoul

Silva, Warlord of Dark World

Skull Archfiend of Lightning

Sorcerer of Dark Magic

Swift Gaia the Fierce Knight

The End of Anubis

The Fiend Megacyber

Timeater

Total Defense Shogun

Vampire Genesis

Vampire Lord

Wall Shadow

Total: 65

Another ripping:

- All monster who are currently Banned

- All monsters whose effects start with "This monster cannot be Normal Summoned or set. This monster cannot be Special Summoned except by"

- All monsters whose effects start with "This monster cannot be Normal Summoned or set. This monster can only be Special Summoned by"

- All monsters of Level 7 or higher

- All monsters which should really be in a deck type based around them

- All monsters which should really be in a deck based around a sub-type

- All monsters which should really be in a deck based around their name ("Alien", "Dark Scorpion", "Destiny Hero", "Elemental Hero", "Dark World", "Gravekeeper's")

- All monsters whose effects are so terrible that I honestly think they could never get anywhere in the current format (or the next one).

- Any monsters already listed in the deck

 

Blowback Dragon

Dark Magician Girl

Dark Ruler Ha Des

Inferno Hammer

Lesser Fiend

Magical Marrionette

Mefist the Infernal General

Penumbral Soldier Lady

The End of Anubis

The Fiend Megacyber

Total Defense Shogun

Total: 13

Final cut: Any monster which I don't think can be aimlessly be splashed into this deck.

 

Blowback Dragon

Dark Ruler Ha Des

The End of Anubis

The Fiend Megacyber

Total: 4

That's my decision. [Blowback Dragon] is going in the main-deck, while [Dark Ruler Ha Des], [The End of Anubis] and [The Fiend Megacyber] are all going in the side deck.

Final Monster List:

Main Deck: 18

1x Jinzo

1x Blowback Dragon

1x Breaker the Magical Warrior

3x Mystic Tomato

2x Apprentice Magician

2x Old Vindictive Magician

2x Don Zaloog

2x Newdoria

1x Sangan

1x Mask of Darkness

1x Night Assailant

1x Spirit Reaper

Side Deck: 12

1x Dark Magician of Chaos

1x Dark Ruler Ha Des

1x The End of Anubis

1x The Fiend Megacyber

2x Strike Ninja

2x Dark Jeroid

2x Mataza the Zapper

2x Neo Spacian Dark Panther

Fusion Deck: 18

3x Chimeratech Overdragon

3x Dark Balter the Terrible

3x Dark Blade the Dragon Knight

3x Dark Flare Knight

3x Gatling Dragon (will work)

3x Reaper on the Nightmare

From the listed Spell and Trap cards under Support I'm going to include the following:

Main Deck: +3

+ 1x Crush Card Virus

+ 2x Statue of the Wicked

Side Deck: +3

+ 2x Deck Devastation Virus

+ 1x Hidden Soldier

NOTE: The legal targets for [Crush Card Virus] without influence from [Dark Jeroid] are:

2x Apprentice Magician

2x Old Vindictive Magician

1x Sangan

1x Mask of Darkness

1x Night Assailant

1x Spirit Reaper

Neo Spacian Black Panther

The remaining 19 (minimum) cards are going to be standard options.

Main Deck: +21

+ 1x Graceful Charity

+ 1x Pot of Avarice

+ 1x Heavy Storm

+ 2x Smashing Ground

+ 2x Fissure

+ 2x Reinforcement of the Army (to search out [Don Zaloog] and [Mataza the Zapper])

+ 1x Nobleman of Crossout (damn you, restricting my favourite f/d remover!)

+ 1x Premature Burial

+ 1x Book of Moon

+ 1x Mystical Space Typhoon

+ 1x Mirror Force

+ 1x Torrential Tribute

+ 1x Call of the Haunted

+ 2x Sakuretsu Armor

+ 2x Bottomless Trap Hole

+ 1x Widespread Ruin

... and so, the final deck list looks like this:

Stage 4: Deck of DARKness

Monsters: 18

1x Jinzo

1x Blowback Dragon

1x Breaker the Magical Warrior

3x Mystic Tomato

2x Apprentice Magician

2x Old Vindictive Magician

2x Don Zaloog

2x Newdoria

1x Sangan

1x Mask of Darkness

1x Night Assailant

1x Spirit Reaper

Spells: 11

1x Graceful Charity

1x Pot of Avarice

1x Heavy Storm

2x Smashing Ground

2x Fissure

2x Reinforcement of the Army

1x Nobleman of Crossout

1x Premature Burial

1x Book of Moon

1x Mystical Space Typhoon

Traps: 11

1x Call of the Haunted

1x Mirror Force

1x Torrential Tribute

1x Crush Card Virus

2x Statue of the Wicked

2x Sakuretsu Armor

2x Bottomless Trap Hole

1x Widespread Ruin

Deck Total: 42

Side Deck: 15

1x Dark Magician of Chaos

1x Dark Ruler Ha Des

1x The End of Anubis

1x The Fiend Megacyber

2x Strike Ninja

2x Dark Jeroid

2x Mataza the Zapper

2x Neo Spacian Dark Panther

2x Deck Devastation Virus

1x Hidden Soldier

Fusion Deck: 18

3x Chimeratech Overdragon

3x Dark Balter the Terrible

3x Dark Blade the Dragon Knight

3x Dark Flare Knight

3x Gatling Dragon (will work)

3x Reaper on the Nightmare

In summary: There is nothing that bring the entire DARK attribute together in the same way that [A Legendary Ocean] does for WATER and burn effects do for FIRE. It seems that it's just "Cool" to be DARK, and if a devestating monster comes out then chances are it'll feel right at home in this deck.