In lesson three, we examined a variety of decks, each of which featured a common theme based on the types of monsters that they played. The deck archetypes we’ll be looking at this week will seem similar, since they also feature an emphasis on monster type. There is a fundamental difference, however, which is the inclusion of a field spell card. Field spell cards have seen a lot more use in workable archetypes in recent expansions, so many of the decks we’ll be looking at haven’t been around since the early game.

In addition to field spell cards, these decks will often run more spell and trap removal than usual. In terms of the game, being able to protect a field spell card is often a case of win or lose, so the duelist will want to protect them. It’s also important to note the effect that the field spell card will have on the core spell and trap cards, as they are pared down somewhat in these types of decks. This is necessary to make room to add three copies of the appropriate field spell card, as well as spell cards to protect them and Terraforming to find them. Duelists will adjust the core cards, according to their preferences or to the metagames in their areas, and relegate the others to a side deck if necessary. Let’s take a look at some of the more popular types of this deck, and see how the field spell cards make them more powerful.


Water Decks

Water decks rely on a field spell card called A Legendary Ocean. Once this card is in play, the deck can do such tricks as playing Giga Gagagigo or Legendary Fisherman without tributing, using Tornado Wall, and boosting the ATK and DEF of all other Water monsters in the deck by 200. There are some great 1800 ATK Water monsters out there, so the boost can be hard to defeat. It will also allow level 4 Water monsters to attack under Gravity Bind, due to the "reducing the level of monsters on the field" line of text on the card.

A strong Water deck can play tolerably well as a Beatdown if A Legendary Ocean is not on the field, but once that card hits the table, the deck overwhelms almost everything. Here are some cards that are used in Water decks. Most decks will not run all of these cards, but there will generally be a variation of the following:

Spell and Trap Cards
Core spell and trap cards
A Legendary Ocean
Magic Reflector
Magic Drain
Terraforming
Gravity Bind

Monster Cards
Giga Gagagigo
Legendary Fisherman
Suijin
Aqua Spirit
Mother Grizzly
Fenrir
7-Colored Fish
Giant Red Seasnake
Gagagigo
Granadora
Sea Serpent Warrior of Darkness
Levia-Dragon Daedalus
Tribe-Infecting Virus
Witch of the Black Forest


Archfiend Decks

Based around the Archfiend monsters, Archfiend decks use high-ATK monsters with game-complicating effects that support other Archfiends. Archfiend decks strive to get their field spell card, called Pandemonium, out onto the field both to maintain hand advantage and to avoid paying the high standby costs associated with Archfiend monsters. With Pandemonium on the field and protected, Archfiend decks can really be tough to defeat.

One of the key cards is Terrorking Archfiend, a level 4, 2000 ATK monster with Dark Balter’s effect of negating effects of monsters it destroys. Terrorking Archfiend requires an Archfiend monster card on your side of the field to be normal summoned or flip summoned, but you can get around that by special summoning him with Marauding Captain’s effect. Shadowknight Archfiend and Desrook Archfiend are important for this deck, too. Shadowknight Archfiends are 2000 ATK monsters, but the battle damage dealt to opponents is halved. Desrook Archfiend is a level 3 monster, so it works with Pandemonium's effect. It's also an 1100 ATK/1800 DEF that can provide recursion to return Terrorking Archfiend to the field when it’s been destroyed.

This is a very aggressive and effective deck, as long as Pandemonium stays on the field to prevent the maintenance cost of the monsters or the duelist goes for a very quick win. Archfiend decks usually contain most of the following:

Spell and Trap Cards
Core spell and trap cards
Terraforming
Magic Reflector
Giant Trunade
Magic Drain
Magic Jammer

Monster Cards
Terrorking Archfiend
Desrook Archfiend
Darkbishop Archfiend
Infernalqueen Archfiend
Dark Necrofear
Skull Archfiend of Lightning
Witch of the Black Forest


Gravekeeper Decks

Our next deck theme carries a whiff of the underworld . . . Gravekeeper decks. These decks saw wide play after the release of Pharaonic Guardian. On their own, Gravekeeper monsters lack high enough ATKs to hold off most other popular decks, but when combined with their field spell card, Necrovalley, in play they get an ATK boost and full use out of their effects. Terraforming is usually used to get to the Necrovalleys, and Rite of Spirit is used to tempt an opponent’s spell and trap removal without losing its ability to bring a Gravekeeper back from the graveyard. Mystic Tomato will bring out almost every Gravekeeper monster, so it is often included in these kinds of decks. Gravekeeper decks also have swarm elements, as many of the Gravekeeper monsters have recursive effects to get a lot of monsters on the field quickly. If the deck gets set up with a strong presence in the early game, it’s definitely a chore to beat.

Looking at the card list, you’ll notice that there aren’t many super or ultra rares, apart from the core spells and traps. Gravekeeper decks are among the least expensive decks to build. They’ll generally contain a variation of a combination of the following key cards, perhaps with a personal twist . . .

Spell and Trap Cards
Core spell and trap cards
Necrovalley
Terraforming
Rite of Spirit
Magic Reflector
Magic Drain

Monster Cards
Gravekeeper's Chief
Gravekeeper's Spy
Gravekeeper's Assailant
Gravekeeper's Spear Soldier
Gravekeeper's Cannon Holder
Gravekeeper's Guard
Gravekeeper's Watcher
Owl of Luck
Mystic Tomato


There are quite a few other field spell cards, but these three decks are the field spell-focused decks that have seen the most play. With the release of Ancient Sanctuary, a new field spell card has entered the card pool. There are a few different deck strategies that could incorporate this card. We will spend the next two weeks finishing up our look at deck themes, and then we will put what we’ve learned into practice by taking The Sanctuary in the Sky and making it the focus of at least three different types of decks.

Be sure to look through your collection, and if you’ve got any of the cards needed for one of these deck types, build one and give it a try. See how easy, or difficult, it is to get the field spell card out and keep it out, and take note of how the card’s presence on the field influences the duel.

Next week, we’ll be taking a look at decks that incorporate lockdown as a strategy. There are a few different kinds of decks that do this, and we’ll take a close look at them all. These decks will differ quite a bit from the play styles we’ve looked at so far, so you won’t want to miss it. See you then!