While browsing the list of Cybernetic Revolutions cards, I came across a rather interesting group of cards. I’m talking, of course, about the card with perhaps the most sensational name ever devised in the history of Yu-Gi-Oh!—outside of Mind Haxorz, that is. Welcome, fans, to the wonderful world of the T.A.D.P.O.L.E. deck!

The first thing that struck my mind when I saw the deck was the unusual spelling of the featured card. The second thing that hit me was the incredible advantage you could gain from using the engine of T.A.D.P.O.L.E. and Des Frog. Without another word, here are the primary players and a look at their effects.

T.A.D.P.O.L.E. Itself

This unassuming level 1 critter with hefty stats of 0 ATK and 0 DEF might not impress anyone, at first glance. But if you look deeper, you can see that the card generates an automatic +2 hand advantage all by itself. If it goes to the graveyard as a result of battle, you may then add any number of T.A.D.P.O.L.E.s from the deck to your hand.

Obviously this card has numerous parallels to other cards with weak stats, such as Bubonic Vermin, Nimble Momonga, and most recently, Hyena. However, in a certain sense, this card trumps them all. The cards go straight to your hand, meaning that Card Destruction will suddenly net you an advantage!

This sort of resource generation is even more crucial when discussing T.A.D.P.O.L.E.’s more evolved state, Des Frog, which we’ll get into later. For now, keep in mind that the lovable T.A.D.P.O.L.E., while lacking in attack and defense capabilities, can generate card advantage. Also, it’s a level 1 monster, which makes it possible to morph it into Thousand Eyes-Restrict.

What’s funny is that T.A.D.P.O.L.E. is a card that can practically be splashed into a Water deck without even considering its other components, Des Frog and Des Croaking! Use Card Destruction with this bad boy, and with enough copies of Salvage, you’ll be able to fuel Abyss Soldier for years on end. Before I croak from singing this card’s praises, let me move on to the other parts of the T.A.D.P.O.L.E./Des Frog/Des Croaking engine.

Des Frog Enters the Fray!

The next step in the evolution of our unassuming tadpole is Des Frog. By looking at its ATK value of 1900, you’ll notice that this card actually has a four-digit number somewhere in its ATK/DEF score. That’s generally a good thing! In comparison, its effect is almost icing on the cake.

When you tribute summon this card, you can special summon any number of Des Frogs from your hand or deck equal to the amount of T.A.D.P.O.L.E. cards in your graveyard. Yes, there’s a chance that you can do 5700 damage in one turn. Put United We Stand on Des Frog and win the game! The possibilities are endless.

Continuing the trend, Des Frog plays very well with Metamorphosis. In this case, it can turn into Dark Balter the Terrible, Fiend Skull Dragon, or Reaper on the Nightmare relatively easily. Getting two special summoned monsters from the deck with the same effect is a nice bonus.

Both T.A.D.P.O.L.E. and Des Frog lead to resource advantage. Now, let’s check out the final mechanic of the deck—the ability to make your opponent weep at the sight of your victorious Frog army.

Des Croaking Wipes the Board

Now, for the kicker. If you have three copies of Des Frog face-up on the board, you can unleash Des Croaking, your new favorite normal spell card! Much like the conditional Huge Revolution, Ojama Delta Hurricane, and other such lovable win conditions, Des Croaking will destroy every card on your opponent’s side of the field.

The ramifications of this are huge. Remember when I said a simple United We Stand would win you the game? Using Des Croaking will leave your opponent with a clear field! You can do what you will after the Des Frog tribute summon resolves.

Unlike some other far-fetched combos, this one has a decent chance of actually working. Imagine running a deck with Card Destruction, Morphing Jar, and other such cards. Step one is to have your T.A.D.P.O.L.E. sent to the graveyard through battle. After getting the T.A.D.P.O.L.E.s to the graveyard, one tribute summon and you are home free.

Let me provide a sample decklist, for those who remain unconvinced.

T.H.E. T.A.D.P.O.L.E. D.E.C.K.

Monsters: 17

3 Des Frog

3 T.A.D.P.O.L.E.

2 Abyss Soldier

1 Tribe-Infecting Virus

2 Mother Grizzly

1 Sinister Serpent

1 Aqua Spirit

1 Breaker the Magical Warrior

2 Yomi Ship

1 Nightmare Penguin

Spells: 17

1 Pot of Greed

1 Graceful Charity

1 Delinquent Duo

2 Nobleman of Crossout

1 Snatch Steal

1 Premature Burial

1 Monster Reincarnation

1 Brain Control

1 Mystical Space Typhoon

1 Heavy Storm

1 My Body as a Shield

2 Des Croaking

1 Card Destruction

1 Creature Swap

1 Salvage

Traps: 7

1 Ring of Destruction

1 Torrential Tribute

1 Mirror Force

1 Call of the Haunted

2 Dust Tornado

1 Ceasefire