“Darklord” is an archetype of mostly DARK Fairy monsters whose main strategy revolves around setting up the Graveyard and then swarming the field with various high ATK monsters.
Despite losing their best Skill and seeing two of their best cards added to the Forbidden/Limited List, Darklords are still an extremely threatening deck with incredible draw power and consistency.
[Skill] description | User |
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Destiny Draw Can be used when your Life Points decrease by 2000. In the Draw Phase, instead of conducting your normal draw, draw a card of your choice. This Skill can only be used one per Duel. | ![]() Yami Yugi |
[Skill] description | User |
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See you Later! Select 1 monster you control and who you are the original owner of. Return the selected monster to the hand. This Skill can only be used once per Duel. | ![]() Mokuba Kaiba (DSOD) |
[Skill] description | User |
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What Grows in the Graveyard Begin the Duel with 1 "Dark Verger" in your Graveyard. | ![]() Akiza Izinski |
![]() Simorgh of Darkness | DARK Winged Beast ★8 ATK 2900 / DEF 2000 |
Infernity Destruction [UR] | |
While face-up on the field, this card is also WIND-Attribute. You can only use each of the following effects of "Simorgh of Darkness" once per turn. ● If you Tribute Summon a DARK or WIND monster: You can Special Summon this card from the GY (if it was there when the monster was Tribute Summoned) or hand (even if not). ● When a Spell/Trap Card or effect is activated (Quick Effect): You can Tribute 1 WIND Winged Beast monster; negate the activation, and if you do, destroy that card. |
Simorgh of Darkness' inherent Special Summoning effect lets it be Special Summoned for free. Generally, this is done when you tribute summon into Amdusc since it is the easiest to Tribute Summon among them. You can also tech in something like Jinzo, with a useful generic effect and worth the Tribute Summon.
Simorgh is worth running as a beater because you essentially Special Summon him for free. And in case your opponent activates a particularly harmful Spell/Trap such as Drowning Mirror Force, you can tribute Simorgh to negate it.
![]() Banishment of the Darklords | Normal Spell |
Valhalla Calling [UR] | |
Add 1 "Darklord" or "Fallen One" card from your Deck to your hand, except "Banishment of the Darklords". You can only activate 1 "Casting out the Darklords" per turn. |
Consistency is definitely the main thing that Darklords have struggled with ever since their introduction in Lords of Shining, so having access to a Spell Card that allows you to add any other card of the archetype from your Deck to your hand is undoubtedly going to have a positive impact on their performance.
Yes, you can only activate Banishment of the Darklords once per turn, but you can also apply its effect via Darklord Ixchel, Tezcatlipoca, Nasten, or Amdusc’s effect during your opponent’s End Phase or right before they are removed from the field, which significantly improves this Deck’s ability to recover.
![]() Darklord Contact | Normal Spell |
Lords of Shining [R] | |
Special Summon 1 "Darklord" monster from your GY in Defense Position. You can only activate 1 "Darklord Contact" per turn. |
Darklord Contact is an extremely important card to this deck, because summoning Darklords will almost always be done through revival. And this revival will always involve Darklord Contact, either by directly activating the Spell or having a Darklord copy its effects.
Most Darklords share an in-archetype effect that lets you copy the effect of a Darklord Spell/Trap in the graveyard. The two most common applications of this is copying Darklord Contact or The Sanctified Darklord.
![]() Darklord Ixchel | DARK Fairy ★10 ATK 2500 / DEF 2900 |
Lords of Shining [SR] | |
You can discard this card and 1 "Darklord" card; draw 2 cards. (Quick Effect): You can pay 1000 LP, then target 1 "Darklord" Spell/Trap in your GY; apply that target's effect, then shuffle that target into the Deck. You can only use each effect of "Darklord Ixchel" once per turn. You can only Special Summon "Darklord Ixchel(s)" once per turn. |
Ixchel is a great setup card, but sadly we can only run one copy because we also need to run Darklord Contact. It's best to discard a Darklord monster alongside Ixchel, since if you already have the Darklord Spell/Traps onhand you might aswell use them as is.
![]() Darklord Tezcatlipoca | DARK Fairy ★9 ATK 2800 / DEF 2100 |
Lords of Shining [N] | |
If a "Darklord" monster(s) you control would be destroyed by battle or card effect, you can discard this card instead. During either player's turn: You can pay 1000 LP, then target 1 "Darklord" Spell/Trap Card in your Graveyard; apply that target's effect, then shuffle that target into the Deck. You can only use this effect of "Darklord Tezcatlipoca" once per turn. You can only Special Summon "Darklord Tezcatlipoca(s)" once per turn. |
Keep Tezcatlipoca onhand until you need it to protect your Darklord from destruction.
![]() Darklord Ukoback | DARK ★3 ATK 700 / DEF 1000 |
Lords of Shining [N] | |
If this card is Normal or Special Summoned: You can send 1 "Darklord" card from your Deck to the Graveyard. You can only use this effect of "Darklord Ukoback" once per turn. |
Ukoback is one of the few in-archetype setup cards Darklords have, so run a couple of copies if you don't have any graveyard setup engines teched in. Here are some combos you can start with Ukoback:
![]() Darklord Superbia | DARK Fairy ★10 ATK 2900 / DEF 2400 |
Lords of Shining [SR] | |
When this card is Special Summoned from the Graveyard: You can target 1 Fairy-Type monster in your Graveyard, except "Darklord Superbia"; Special Summon that target. |
Although Superbia lacks the ability to copy effects, it is still an amazing field extender and an important part of your playstyle. Always revive Superbia first and then use its effect to Special Summon another Darklord. This way you get an extra beater onboard that is also quite powerful stat-wise.
When Rank-10 Xyzs are released, Superbia and Ixchel will make a great combo to get them onboard.
![]() Darklord Amdusc | DARK Fairy ★6 ATK 1800 / DEF 2800 |
Lords of Shining [N] | |
You can discard this card and 1 "Darklord" card, then target 1 "Darklord" card in your Graveyard; add it to your hand. During either player's turn: You can pay 1000 LP, then target 1 "Darklord" Spell/Trap Card in your Graveyard; apply that target's effect, then shuffle that target into the Deck. You can only use each effect of "Darklord Amdusc" once per turn. You can only Special Summon "Darklord Amdusc(s)" once per turn. |
Amdusc's recovery effect is great for recycling effects while also loading the graveyard. Recover Tezcalipoca to have another protection onhand. Recover Ixchel to cycle more cards out of your deck.
If you're low on LP, you can recover a Darklord Spell/Trap with Amdusc's effect instead of copying its effect with the Darklords' effect.
![]() The Sanctified Darklord | Normal Trap |
Lords of Shining [R] | |
Send 1 "Darklord" monster from your hand or face-up from your field to the GY; negate the effects of 1 Effect Monster on the field until the end of the turn, and if you do, gain LP equal to its ATK. You can only activate 1 "The Sanctified Darklord" per turn. |
If you apply this Trap Card's effect via the Darklords' in-archetype copy effect you do not pay its activation cost, which definitely makes it a lot easier to use. You can send this card to the graveyard via Darklord Ukoback’s effect and then use it in response to something like Karakuri Merchant mdl 177 "Inashichi" or Genex Undine to stop the enemy's combo before it starts.
Gaining Life Points is just an added bonus, but it’s also extremely relevant, as it allows you to use the effects of your “Darklord” monsters with more ease. You can target a monster on your own side of the field with The Sanctified Darklord, so you can use it to negate the effects of Lava Golem, preventing it from inflicting 1000 damage to you and gaining 3000 Life Points in the process.
An engine for making Rank-4 Xyz monsters
![]() Star Seraph Scepter | LIGHT Fairy ★4 ATK 1800 / DEF 400 |
Infinite Ray [UR] | |
When this card is Normal or Special Summoned: You can add 1 "Star Seraph" monster from your Deck to your hand, except "Star Seraph Scepter". An Xyz Monster that was Summoned using 3 or more monsters, including this card on the field, as Xyz Materials gains this effect. ● When it is Xyz Summoned: You can target 1 other card on the field; destroy it, and if you do, you can draw 1 card. |
![]() Star Seraph Sovereignty | LIGHT Fairy ★4 ATK 800 / DEF 2000 |
Infinite Ray [SR] | |
Cannot be used as an Xyz Material for an Xyz Summon, except for an Xyz Summon that uses 3 or more monsters as Xyz Materials. If you Normal or Special Summon a "Star Seraph" monster(s), except during the Damage Step: You can Special Summon this card from your hand, and if you do, draw 1 card, then you can Special Summon it if it is a "Star Seraph" monster. |
![]() Spore | WIND Plant ★1 ATK 400 / DEF 800 |
Aerial Assault [SR] | |
If this card is in your Graveyard: You can banish 1 other Plant-Type monster from your Graveyard; Special Summon this card from your Graveyard and increase its Level by the Level of that banished monster. Each player can only activate the effect of "Spore" once per Duel. |
Darklords are fairly easy to get onboard and are usually pretty high-leveled monsters. All they need is a level-1 Tuner and they're able to make a wide range of Synchro monsters.
![]() Valhalla, Hall of the Fallen | Continuous Spell |
Valhalla Calling [UR] | |
Once per turn: You can Special Summon 1 Fairy-Type monster from your hand. You must control no monsters to activate and to resolve this effect. |
Valhalla gives you an easy way of getting high-level Fairy monsters such as your Darklord monster onboard.
You'll usually want to keep your Darklord monsters onboard so that you can copy the effects of Spell/Trap cards in the graveyard. But if you do have extra monsters onboard, feel free to use them in making useful generic Synchro and Xyz monsters.
![]() Vermillion Dragon Mech | FIRE Machine ★9 ATK 2700 / DEF 1800 |
Blazing Rose [UR] | |
1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters Once per turn: You can banish 1 Tuner from your hand, field, or Graveyard, then target 1 card on the field; destroy it. If this Synchro Summoned card is destroyed by card effect and sent to the Graveyard: You can target 1 of your banished Tuners; add it to your hand. |
![]() Black Rose Dragon | FIRE Dragon ★7 ATK 2400 / DEF 1800 |
Blazing Rose [UR] | |
1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters When this card is Synchro Summoned: You can destroy all cards on the field. Once per turn: You can banish 1 Plant-Type monster from your Graveyard, then target 1 Defense Position monster your opponent controls; change that target to face-up Attack Position, and if you do, its ATK becomes 0 until the end of this turn. |
![]() PSY-Framelord Zeta | LIGHT Psychic ★7 ATK 2500 / DEF 1800 |
Future Horizon [R] | |
1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters Once per turn, during either player's turn: You can target 1 Special Summoned monster your opponent controls in face-up Attack Position; banish both that monster and this card from the field, but return them in your next Standby Phase. If this card is in your Graveyard: You can target 1 other "PSY-Frame" card in your Graveyard; return this card to the Extra Deck, and if you do, add that target to your hand. |
![]() Samurai Destroyer | EARTH Machine ★7 ATK 2600 / DEF 1400 |
Dark Dimension [R] | |
1 Tuner + 1+ non-Tuner monsters If this card battles an opponent's monster, your opponent cannot activate cards or effects until the end of the Damage Step, also that opponent's monster has its effects negated during the Battle Phase only. If this face-up card in its owner's control leaves the field because of an opponent's card effect: You can target 1 Machine monster in your GY; Special Summon it. |
![]() Goyo Defender | EARTH Warrior ★3 ATK 1000 / DEF 1000 |
Officer Tetsu Trudge at Lvl 33 and 35 [SR] | |
1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters Once per turn, if all monsters you control are EARTH Warrior-Type Synchro Monsters (min. 1): You can Special Summon "Goyo Defender" from your Extra Deck. When this card is targeted for an attack: You can make this card gain 1000 ATK for each EARTH Warrior-Type Synchro Monster you control (other than this card), until the end of the Damage Step. |
![]() Constellar Ptolemy M7 | LIGHT Machine ★6 ATK 2700 / DEF 2000 |
Infinite Ray [UR] | |
2 Level 6 monsters You can also Xyz Summon this card by using a "Constellar" Xyz Monster you control as the Xyz Material, other than "Constellar Ptolemy M7". (Xyz Materials attached to that monster also become Xyz Materials on this card.) If Summoned this way, the following effect cannot be activated this turn. Once per turn: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card, then target 1 monster on the field or in either player's Graveyard; return that target to the hand. |
![]() Number 39: Utopia | LIGHT Warrior ★4 ATK 2500 / DEF 2000 |
Shining Hope [UR] | |
2 Level 4 monsters When any player's monster declares an attack: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; negate the attack. When this card is targeted for an attack, while it has no Xyz Materials: Destroy this card. |
![]() Number C39: Utopia Ray | LIGHT Warrior ★4 ATK 2500 / DEF 2000 |
Infinite Ray [UR] | |
3 Level 4 LIGHT monsters You can also Xyz Summon this card by using a "Number 39: Utopia" you control as the Xyz Material. (Xyz Materials attached to that monster also become Xyz Materials on this card.) You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; it gains 500 ATK and 1 monster your opponent controls loses 1000 ATK, until the End Phase. You must have 1000 Life Points or less to activate and to resolve this effect. |
![]() Stellarknight Delteros | LIGHT Warrior ★4 ATK 2500 / DEF 2100 |
Shining Hope [UR] | |
3 Level 4 monsters While this card has Xyz Material, your opponent cannot activate cards or effects when you Normal or Special Summon a monster(s). Once per turn: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card, then target 1 card on the field; destroy it. If this card is sent from the field to the Graveyard: You can Special Summon 1 "tellarknight" monster from your hand or Deck. |
![]() Number 25: Force Focus | LIGHT Machine ★6 ATK 2800 / DEF 2400 |
Shining Hope [SR] | |
2 Level 6 monsters Once per turn, during either player's turn: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card, then target 1 Level 5 or higher Effect Monster your opponent controls; negate the effects of that opponent's face-up monster, until the end of the turn. |
![]() Night Papilloperative | DARK Warrior ★4 ATK 2600 / DEF 2000 |
Ranked Rewards [SR] | |
3 Level 4 monsters Once per turn: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; this card gains 300 ATK for each Xyz Material attached to a monster on the field. |
![]() Number 28: Titanic Moth | FIRE Insect ★7 ATK 2400 / DEF 2200 |
Shark Fang [R] | |
2 Level 7 monsters If you control no other monsters, this card can attack directly, but when it does so using this effect, the battle damage inflicted to your opponent is halved. When this card inflicts battle damage to your opponent: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; inflict 500 damage to your opponent for each card in their hand. |
![]() Constellar Hyades | LIGHT Beast-Warrior ★3 ATK 1900 / DEF 1100 |
Infinite Ray [N] | |
2 Level 3 LIGHT monsters Once per turn: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; change all monsters your opponent controls to face-up Defense Position. |
[Skill] description | User |
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Destiny Draw Can be used when your Life Points decrease by 2000. In the Draw Phase, instead of conducting your normal draw, draw a card of your choice. This Skill can only be used one per Duel. | ![]() Yami Yugi |
![]() Artifact Lancea | LIGHT Fairy ★5 ATK 1700 / DEF 2300 |
Future Horizon [UR] | |
You can Set this card from your hand to your Spell & Trap Zone as a Spell Card. During your opponent's turn, if this Set card in the Spell & Trap Zone is destroyed and sent to your Graveyard: Special Summon it. During your opponent's turn: You can Tribute this card from your hand or face-up from your side of the field; neither player can banish cards for the rest of this turn (this is a Quick Effect). |
During your opponent’s turn, Artifact Lancea can be Tributed from your hand or face-up from your field to prevent both players from banishing cards during that turn.
You can chain Lancea’s effect to Invocation in order to prevent your opponent from Summoning Invoked Cocytus, Invoked Purgatrio, or Invoked Magellanica. Your opponent might still be able to resolve Invocation if they have the Fusion Materials in their hand, but chances are they searched Invocation by Normal Summoning Aleister and they don’t have another copy of the Level 4 Spellcaster in their hand.
Even if your opponent does have another Aleister, they still need a WATER, FIRE, or EARTH monster to send to the Graveyard in order to Summon something from their Extra Deck, which is going to be “very difficult” if their only other monster is Elementsaber Molehu.
Lancea can prevent Blackwings from playing Black Whirlwind from the Deck via Blackwing - Simoon the Poison Wind’s effect, it prevents Crystrons from making certain plays, and it almost completely shuts down both Shiranui and Metaphys.
Superbia gives Artifact Lancea some decent synergy with the archetype and the incredible draw power provided by Ixchel is all you need to have this Hand Trap available when you need it.
![]() Sword Breaker | EARTH Warrior ★4 ATK 2700 / DEF 1000 |
Shining Hope [R] | |
2 Level 6 monsters Once per turn: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card to declare 1 Monster Type; this card gains the following effect. At the start of the Damage Step, if this card battles a monster of a Type that has been declared: Destroy that monster. |
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