In the early days of the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG, you rarely saw a player using a fusion deck. Once Magical Scientist joined the card pool, that all changed—players not using a fusion deck became rarities. Once Scientist hit the Forbidden list (and several very playable fusion cards were released), plenty of players were unwilling to just set the fusion deck aside. Polymerization was more or less out of the question, so the card of choice for keeping your fusion monsters playable was Metamorphosis. It’s still widely played today.

Cyber-Stein is also easily accessible now, and it’s seen a real upsurge in play. Once solely a staple in OTK decks, it’s been randomly splashed into a variety of competitive decks at Shonen Jump Denver, Canadian Nationals, and European Nationals. Even if you’re not running Metamorphosis or Cyber-Stein yourself, arming yourself with a fusion deck isn’t a bad idea. It’s not a given that you’ll ever use Snatch Steal on an opponent’s Cyber-Stein, but you’d certainly regret not having a fusion deck if you ever get the opportunity.

This week I’ve decided to list out the top picks for fusions by level. It’ll make building the typical fusion deck easier, and enable you to mix and match according to what’s in your deck level-wise for Metamorphosis, as well as a solid lineup to use along with Cyber-Stein. I’ve saved you hours of work! You can’t get something for nothing, though, so later on I’m going to let you know how I expect you to pay me back.

We might as well start at the beginning.

Level 1

Quick, name a level 1 fusion monster! You said Thousand-Eyes Restrict, didn’t you? It’s useful, too: you can get rid of a big threat, clear your opponent’s field, prevent him or her from attacking you, and sit there for turn after turn, irritating everyone by saying “Draw . . . pass. Draw . . . pass.” You can build several good strategies around it. There’s a reason this was limited to one copy per deck!

Thousand-Eyes Restrict is pretty easy to get out, too. Sheep tokens, Magician of Faith, Magical Merchant, and Treeborn Frog are all monsters that you’re probably using anyway, and they’re all level 1.

Level 2

There are no level 2 fusion monsters! None at all! So don’t try and use Metamorphosis on any of your level 2 monsters. Everyone will point at you and laugh.

Level 3

The only level 3 fusion monsters are Charubin the Fire Knight, Fusionist, Flame Ghost, and Dragoness the Wicked Knight. There’s not a lot of use for them, but you’re bound to see them in fusion decks anyway. If you must include a level 3 fusion monster, Dragoness the Wicked Knight has the highest ATK and DEF (1200/900), while Flame Ghost has only 1000/800. Flame Ghost does have the Dark attribute, though, so if you’re running Chaos, you could always morph a Proto-Cyber Dragon into Flame Ghost, tribute Flame Ghost for say, Zaborg, then remove the Proto-Cyber Dragon and the Flame Ghost to bring out Chaos Sorcerer.

Level 3 monsters that you’re probably using already include Night Assailant and Sangan. It can actually be worth your while to run a level 3 fusion just so you can use Metamorphosis when you desperately need to search for something with Sangan. Dragoness is a good choice in situations like this, just to trade up in ATK values while you look out for something to end the game, like Injection Fairy Lily (also a level 3!) or D. D. Warrior Lady.

Level 4

There aren’t a lot of choices for level 4 fusion monsters. Most players will choose Darkfire Dragon or Karbonala Warrior. They’ve both got 1500 ATK, and Darkfire Dragon is a Dark-type monster, while Karbonala Warrior is an Earth-type. Choose according to the rest of your deck. If you’re running Chaos, pick the Dark type. If you’re running Gigantes or something that might require an Earth monster, go with Karbonala Warrior.

The list of level 4 monsters in main decks just goes on and on, so there’s bound to be something in your deck to use with Metamorphosis. It’s a good way to get lights and darks into the graveyard, or push cards with decent ATK values through the removed-from-play process when you’re playing Return from the Different Dimension.

Level 5

Now we’re getting to the more popular fusion monsters. A lot of them really aren’t that necessary, but you’ll see them in fusion decks anyway. At this level, you ought to focus more on monsters with a useable effect, rather than normal types with a high ATK value, since there are a lot of non-fusion level 5 monsters that do just fine in that department.

Dark Balter the Terrible has a great effect and a solid ATK value, so most players pick it first. Reaper on the Nightmare works well with Creature Swap, and Fiend Skull Dragon is loads of fun against opponents with decks full of copies of Magician of Faith and Dekoichi. If you’re looking for a Light monster, Giltia the D. Knight is probably your best choice, since it has the highest ATK of the level 5 Light fusions. Musician King does have that natty guitar, though.

You could also choose Flame Swordsman (Fire), Flower Wolf (Earth), Deepsea Shark (Water), Kaminari Attack (Wind), or Cyber Saurus (Earth), but you probably don’t need them.

When you’re choosing your level 5 fusions, make sure you can use them with Metamorphosis. There are a lot of fusions, like Elemental Heroes and XYZ monsters, that can only be special summoned through specific means, so they aren’t going to work with Metamorphosis.

A level 5 fusion is pretty easy to get out with Metamorphosis, too, thanks to Cyber Dragon. Zaborg the Thunder Monarch is a good pick, too, once you’ve used its removal effect. Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World and Sillva, Warlord of Dark World are also level 5 monsters that you can get into play relatively easily. Such possibilities!

Level 6

The rest of the really popular fusions can mostly be found here. Look through any fusion deck and you’ll see a substantial number of level 6 monsters. Some of them have great effects, and others just have high ATK values. Now that Magical Scientist is forbidden, though, there’s not much reason to run the big normal types like Empress Judge or Punished Eagle.

Ryu Senshi’s trap-negating effect makes it a staple, and you should also consider running Dark Blade the Dragon Knight and Ojama King. If you’re playing Machines, you could throw in Steam Gyroid to take advantage of Limiter Removal, but there’s not much reason to run the rest of the level 6 fusions.

Metamorphosis users, make sure the monster can be fusion summoned. There are a lot of level 6 Elemental Hero monsters that need to be special summoned.

Majestic Mech - Ohka is an absolute gift to players who need a level 6 fusion. You can bring it out for free if you don’t mind losing it at the end of the turn (which you’ll do anyway if you intend to tribute it for Metamorphosis). Chaos Sorcerer is level 6, as are the other Monarch cards. Consider trading them in for a fusion monster once you’ve used their effects.

Level 7

You’ll see some large beatsticks in the level 7 category, along with a few good effect monsters. The Last Warrior from Another Planet will prevent your opponent from summoning when you’ve got control of the game, and King Dragun is more or less a staple in a Dragon deck. It’s a great feeling to be able to attack, knowing that your opponent has a set Sakuretsu Armor or Enemy Controller, and he or she can’t do anything about it.

Your default beatstick is Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon, packing a powerful 2800 ATK swing, along with St. Joan (it’s got 100 less DEF, though). Both of these are Light types, which will come in handy if you’re running Chaos. Labyrinth Tank is a good pick for a Dark type fusion monster.

It’s easier to get your hands on a level 7 fusion monster than you might think, thanks to Fusilier Dragon, the Dual-Mode Beast and Metamorphosis, but Cyber-Stein works equally well at the right moment. Just be prepared to pay the cost.

Level 8

The most popular level 8 fusion monster is Cyber Twin Dragon, but you’ll also see Gatling Dragon. D.3.S. Frog was more appealing before Treeborn Frog was limited to one, but you can still get yourself a 3000 ATK card out of it.  

Level 8 fusion monsters have a lot of options for use with Metamorphosis. Dark Magician of Chaos is great because you can use its effect to get your Metamorphosis back from the graveyard, then tribute it to use Metamorphosis. Dark Necrofear, Lava Golem, Majestic Mech - Goryu, Doom Dozer, and Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys are all potential fodder, and Cyber-Stein is also a decent option at this level.

Level 9

There are only a few monsters on this list, namely B. Skull Dragon and Master of Oz. However, you’re almost never going to have a level 9 monster to tribute for Metamorphosis, because the only level 9 monsters out there are Dark Sage, Sorcerer of Dark Magic, Moisture Creature, Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon, and Infernal Flame Emperor. None of these fusion monsters are really necessary, so there’s not much point in including them unless you just want something really huge.

Level 10

For Level 10 we have . . . Cyber End Dragon (echo effect!). Oh, and UFOroid Fighter. Poor UFOroid Fighter—no one really seems to prefer it to Cyber End Dragon (echo effect!) for some reason.

You aren’t going to use Metamorphosis to get Cyber End Dragon on the field unless you use Snatch Steal on somebody else’s Cyber End Dragon. There just isn’t a range of really playable level 10 fusion monsters, so Cyber-Stein is your best bet here. If you can get your hands on one, include a copy of Cyber End Dragon in your fusion deck, just in case you can steal your opponent’s Cyber-Stein.

Now then, you shouldn’t get something for nothing. Here’s what I expect in return for all this bountiful wisdom I have showered on you: for goodness’ sakes, stop running those huge fusion decks! (Editor’s note: Hear, hear.) It takes an unnecessarily long time to check your deck, and if I happen to be unlucky enough to be doing coverage at the event when you bring your 150-card fusion deck, I’m going to be very unhappy. I’ll have to type it out for the Top 8, while you and all the rest of the Top 8 players dance around and ask every five minutes, “When are we getting the decklists? When are we getting the decklists? Why is this taking so long?

Just because you can include that many cards doesn’t mean you should. Take out the cards that you don’t need—especially if you’re doing it just to be a pain—or else some day, you’re going to get your butt whooped by Memory Crusher, and you’ll never recover from the shame.

Here’s a fairly standard fusion deck that you can season to your own taste:

1 Thousand-Eyes Restrict

2 Flame Ghost

2 Dragoness the Wicked Knight

2 Darkfire Dragon

2 Dark Balter the Terrible

2 Fiend Skull Dragon

2 Reaper on the Nightmare

2 Giltia the D. Knight

2 Ryu Senshi

2 Dark Blade the Dragon Knight

2 Ojama King

2 Steam Gyroid (if you’re running Limiter)

2 Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon

2 King Dragun

2 The Last Warrior from Another Planet

2 Labyrinth Tank

2 Cyber Twin Dragon

2 Gatling Dragon

2 Cyber End Dragon

There you go! If you’re running a fusion deck, look it over and see if you’ve got all your bases covered. If it’s running on the heavy side, thin it out a bit. If you’re not using a fusion deck because you haven’t included any ways to get fusion cards onto the field, consider putting one together on the off chance you will steal a Cyber-Stein. You’re probably going to be seeing a lot of Cyber-Stein in the near future, so you might as well be prepared—especially since as I’ve just taken 90 percent of the work out of choosing the cards!