283 replies to this topic

[Tsunayoshi]

Ever end up being this guy where you are getting locked and beat down? Want to be the one doing that with some of the nastiest fiends to see the light of day? Then stick around for the profile and guide to one of the most explosive decks making its stand in the Zexal era.

Dark World when first announced way back in Elemental Energy, people were hyped up about it because of the seeming amount of control that could be had with the original unholy trinity of cards, Pot of Greed/Graceful Charity, Confiscation, and Delinquent Duo. Unfortunately the hype fell through due to the sets lackluster offering to the game. The deck soon saw some life blown back into it with the introduction of the Fabled archetype in from the Duel Terminal series, specifically thanks to Fabled Raven. The deck gained access to Synchros and a new way to begin work their way back into relevance since being released.

Now with the release of the Structure Deck in OCG and the upcoming October release for TCG, Dark World has finally gotten the boost they needed to lead an invasion on the metagame and with tools that players wouldnt expect to have thrown at them.

Meet your army:

Spoiler

Grapha, Dragon Lord of Dark World
8 Stars - Dark - Fiend/Effect
You can return 1 face-up "Dark World" monster you control to the hand, except "Grapha, Dragon God of the Dark World", to Special Summon this card from your Graveyard. If this card is discarded from the hand to the Graveyard by a card effect, select 1 card your opponent controls and destroy it. If this card was discarded by an opponent's card effect, look at 1 random card in your opponent's hand also. If that card is a Monster Card, you can Special Summon it to your side of the field.
2700 ATK 1800 DEF

This is your strongest monster and and the big boss of the deck. Its incredibly easy to fulfill summoning condition keep it a threat at all times once it reaches the graveyard. Its primary discard effect will always be of use and can be used to augment the effects of your discards and is particularly potent when combined with Dark World Lightning. Its secondary discard effect is just insane by any standard. Your opponent runs the risk of losing a card in hand when you go to take a look at the random card in hand and having it used against them if you find yourself looking at a monster. With Gate of the Dark World on the field it becomes an almost insurmountable obstacle that demands the use of removal before Grapha can start running over even the most powerful of monsters used right now.

This is a must at 3



Snow, Mage of Dark World
4 Stars - Dark - Fiend/Effect
If this card is discarded by a card effect: add 1 "Dark World" card from your Deck to your hand. If this card is discarded by an opponent's card effect: you can also select 1 monster in your opponent's Graveyard; Special Summon it to your side of the field in face-up Defense Position.
1700 ATK 0 DEF

If there wasn't anything better to add to the deck besides Grapha, Snow is it. For all intents and purposes, Snow is 3 more copies of ANY card in your deck with Dark world in its name. It can grab any monster or spell you need, making it amazingly versatile. Its secondary discard effect doesn't let down either. If it goes to the grave due to an opponent's discard, you can find yourself in possession of one of their own monsters on your side of the field to be put to work as synchro fodder or as a beatstick to use against them.

Mandatory run at 3



Beiige, Vanguard of Dark World
4 Stars - Dark - Fiend/Effect
If this card is discarded from the hand to the Graveyard by a card effect, Special Summon this card to your side of the field.
1600 ATK 1300 DEF

Simple enough effect. Discard this and you get a free monster on the field. Its a prime fodder for summoning Grapha and it combos off perfectly with Fabled Raven for setting up a synchro into a level 7 or 8 monsters.

Recommended at 2



Broww, Huntsman of Dark World
3 Stars - Dark - Fiend/Effect
If this card is discarded from the hand to the Graveyard by a card effect, draw 1 card from your Deck. If this card is discarded from the hand to the Graveyard by your opponent's card effect, draw 1 more card from your Deck.
1400 ATK 800 DEF

This is how you get your extra draws outside of using cards like Morphing Jar, Card Destruction, and Dark World Dealings. If your opponent is the one to discard it for you, then it goes from giving you 1 extra card to 2. Another good use for Broww is to combo off with Tour Guide from the Underworld for setting up into a Xyz Summon into Empty Space Sea Serpent Levaiel, making your RFG pile as live as your hand for summoning monsters.

Recommended at 2-3



Brron, Mad King of Dark World
4 Stars - Dark - Fiend/Effect
When this card inflicts Battle Damage to your opponent's Life Points, you can select 1 card in your hand and discard it to the Graveyard.
1800 ATK 400 DEF

This is a highly underestimated choice for the deck. Its battle dependent effect might not look great at first sight, but in the mirror match is when the card shines with all of the others. Push any damage out and you can discard for any of your effects to get anything from a free summon to extra card destruction and draws. The solid body it provides without the aid of Gate allows you to battle with most decks that like to put down more than small fry floaters.

Recommended at 2



Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World
5 Stars - Dark - Fiend/Effect
If this card is discarded from the hand to the Graveyard by a card effect, Special Summon it. If this card is discarded from the hand to the Graveyard by your opponent's card effect, you can select up to 2 cards your opponent controls and destroy them
2300 ATK 1400 DEF

Goldd is your big, bad, and mean beater. Special summoned off of effects that discard its an easy to drop and its large body is not the only thing it brings to the game. If it comes down from an opponents effect, they can expect to lose 2 cards from their field while you gain advantage over their field. Goldd is another monster that trades off fast and easy with Fabled Raven and can put down that first turn Stardust to give you an edge over decks like their destruction effects heavy and often.

Recommended at 0-1



Silva, Warlord of Dark World
5 Stars - Dark - Fiend/Effect
If this card is discarded from the hand to the Graveyard by a card effect, Special Summon it. If this card is discarded from the hand to the Graveyard by your opponent's card effect, your opponent selects 2 cards in their hand and returns them to the bottom of their Deck in any order.
2300 ATK 1400 DEF

Not to be ignored, Silva brings as much to the table as Goldd in almost every regard with exception for his secondary discard. Instead of having to lose up to 2 from the field, they will see 2 cards spun from their hand and back into the deck where they wont be seeing them again for a while.

Recommended at 2-3



Tour Guide From the Underworld
3 Stars - Dark - Fiend/Effect
When this card is Normal Summoned, you can Special Summon 1 Level 3 Fiend-Type monster from your hand or Deck. Its effects are negated, and it cannot be used as a Synchro Material Monster.
1000 ATK 600 DEF

Amazingly good in this deck either for bringing out a big body to either go on the offense or defend with. TGU is also just as effective as making Grapha a free summon for that turn while thinning out the deck in the process. TGU going into Leviair will also allow you to abuse the monsters you have banished for Gate to get more use from them or even remove them again so that you can use Gate's effect over and over again.

Recommended at 2-3



Fabled Raven
2 Stars - Light - Fiend/Effect/Tuner
Once per turn, you can discard any number of cards from your hand and increase the Level of this card by the number of discarded cards, until the End Phase. This card also gains ATK equal to the number of discarded cards x 400, until the End Phase.
1300 ATK 1000 DEF

Say hello to one of the best things to happen to Dark World before the Structure Deck was announced. Its effect lets you mass discard to do one of the decks best tricks while giving you a versatile beater, tuner, and Xyz material depending how far you go. With mass discards, you get to manipulate the chain so that you can neutralize or play around cards that would slow you down or keep you out of action.

Mandatory 2-3

Extra Deck:



Dark Highlander
7 Stars - Dark - Fiend/Synchro/Effect
1 Fiend-Type Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner Fiend-Type monsters
Neither player can Synchro Summon. Once per turn, you can select 1 monster your opponent controls that is equipped with an Equip Card. Destroy all Equip Cards equipped to that monster and inflict 400 damage to your opponent for each card destroyed.
2800 ATK 2300 DEF

When it comes to the king of the Dark World, Brron has nothing on Dark Highlander. The ability to shut down Synchro's is huge in a deck that won't be doing dropping anything in white often. Combined with Gate, it will outmuscle even Grapha and demand immediate attention if your opponent wants to win. This is highly recommended at at least 1 copy in the Extra Deck

Only other monster of note to recommend the deck in the main would be Morphing Jar for triggering a mass discard and hand replenishment all in one small package. It is to be used at your own risk in the mirror match since you risk losing so much more if you hit a hand full of monsters.

With the banlist making Chaos viable again, Morphing Jar is looking even more risky to play as it can set up your opponent to summon Sorcerer and BLS on you with no effort on their part.

Meet your battlefield and support:

Spoiler

The Gates of Dark World
Field Spell
Face-up Fiend-Type monsters gain 300 ATK and DEF. Once per turn: You can banish 1 Fiend-Type monster from your Graveyard; discard 1 Fiend-Type monster, then draw 1 card.

Welcome to the Gates of Hell. This card will make people think long and hard on trying to turn their attention to your backrow when you have a boost to every monster in your deck and a reusable discard engine that not only sets off a Dark World effect but replaces the discarded monster with another card.

Mandatory 3



Dark World Lightning
Select 1 face-down card on the field and destroy it, and after that, select 1 card from your hand and discard it.

Simple enough effect. Hates hard on decks like Plants and is the bane of Solemn Warning. Combined with Grapha and you start destroying cards faster than your opponent can replace them.

Mandatory 2-3



Dark World Dealings
Each player draws 1 card. Then each player discards 1 card.

This is a double-edged sword regardless to the matchup. The mirror match will force you to keep your play of this to a minimum while other matchups may punish you in other ways. Regardless of that, it sets off your effects and helps dig through the deck. Combos off well with Broww in canceling out the break even effect of the draw by giving you additional draws after the fact.

Recommended 1-3

Other cards that can help back up and support the deck are the Viruses to either strip away their small floaters (Deck Devastation Virus) or strip away their own support (Eradicator Epidemic Virus). Pot of Duality is also another choice if you expect to see plenty of Dark World in local meta

Decks:

Spoiler

2 Beiige, Hunter of Dark World

2 Broww, Huntsman of Dark World
2 Brron, Mad King of Dark World
3 Fabled Raven
3 Grapha, Dragon Lord of Dark World

1 Sangan

3 Silva, Warlord of Dark World
3 Snoww, Unlight of Dark World
2 Tour Guide From the Underworld

1 Book of Moon
1 Card Destruction
1 Dark Hole

2 Dark World Lightning

1 Heavy Storm
1 Monster Reborn

2 Mystical Space Typhoon
3 The Gates of Dark World

2 Dark Smog

1 Mirror Force
2 Solemn Warning
1 Torrential Tribute

1 Trap Dustshoot

Extra Deck:
1 AOJ Catastor
1 Ancient Sacred Wyvern
1 Black Rose Dragon
1 Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier
1 Crimson Blader
1 Dark Highlander
1 Gaia Knight, Force of the Earth
1 Scrap Dragon
1 Stardust Dragon
1 Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier

Leviair the Sea Dragon

1 No. 17 Leviathan Dragon

1 No. 39 Utopia

1 No. 61 Volcasaurus
1 Wind-Up Zenmaines

This is my personal build set for going for fast and brutal OTKs. Crimson Blader comes in handy for shutting down decks that are fond of summoning any form of large body that is not a Rank 4 (or lower) Exceed. Dark Highlander can be a complete shut down for decks like Plants which rely more on summoning synchro monsters for overtaking the field. Dark Smog is back up discard engine for the deck in the off chance that Gate is taken away, while giving the benefit of being able to remove monsters from the opp's grave to deprive them of their own resources. Brron, while looked down on for its effect not being like other Dark World monsters, has turned out to be much better than expected by either allowing for discards that could bring out another monster that could swing for game or net you more advantage in other ways like Grapha or Broww.

Spoiler

3 Tour Guide from the Underworld

3 Broww, Huntsman of Dark World

3 Grapha, Dragon Lord of Dark World

3 Snoww, Unlight of Dark World

2 Beiige, Vanguard of Dark World

1 Fabled Raven

1 Sangan

3 Dragged Down into the Grave

3 The Gates of Dark World

1 Mystical Space Typhoon

1 Foolish Burial

1 Card Destruction

1 Dark World Dealings

1 Dark Hole

1 Heavy Storm

1 Allure of Darkness

1 Monster Reborn

3 Reckless Greed

2 Mind Crush

1 Trap Dustshoo

1 Solemn Judgmen

1 Mirror Force

1 Torrential Tribute

1 Deck Destruction Virus

Whigley piloted this build to an amazing 8-0 record before Konami ruined his run on the tournament. That does not change the fact that this is a solid control build of the deck. The focus, that I can see at first glance, is on controlling the opponent with anything you can find out through cards like Dragged Down and DDV and using Mind Crush to pick off anything that is believed to be a threat in hand via Mind Crush or Dragged Down. On top of that he still has a solid attack base while keeping minimal Synchro ability open to help cover his own field while he makes pushes with big bodies like Grapha or almost any DW monster while Gate is active on the field. Reckless Greed backs up more aggressive games by replenishing the hand so that he did not burn out too soon and get into a position where would lose the ability to either control the opp's field and hand.

The Matchups:
Sabers: You should have the advantage over them through the use of Lightning to deal with their floaters and good use of your available resources. If they hit their discard loop for any reason, then you should almost auto win.
Fish: Outspeed them on your combos and aggression and the game will win itself. OCG: Beat Rescue Rabbit at all costs. Ban list made this matchup irrelevant to worry about.
Plants: Much like Sabers, control their floaters and make good use of your effects to have a good chance of taking the game.
Macro: Destroy it, Destroy it, DESTROY IT. If they keep up the RFG, you have no effects and no outs to the deck. Side into extra removal if you are not maining it in bulk. Ban list made this matchup irrelevant to worry about.
Sams: Even match up and Shi En should not be a major issue as it wont have much to negate. Well used negation should put them into their place. Ban list made this matchup irrelevant to worry about.
Gravekeepers: Keep your field on top or laugh at them if they play Royal Tribute into a hand full of monsters. Not a seriously hard matchup since they cant stop your effects or summons outside of the overuse of their negaion. Ban list made this matchup irrelevant to worry about.
Agents: Its a matter of speed and control. Play more aggressively and control them and you should come out on top. Field control is the complete name of the game. With the huge boost the deck gained from the banlist and Chaos in general being amazingly viable.

Edited by Tsunayoshi, 06 November 2011 - 10:54 AM.

[Canti]

Our opinions greatly differ with #s but thanks for doing this.

[Tsunayoshi]

I woke up with most of it in mind.

Plus opinions are opinions and I can go in to edit and fix if I get good opinions.

[MrMcThrasher]

While not always the best option, I feel you still need to discuss Cerli, Monk of Dark World, since he is a Dark World. I enjoyed your article overall.

I'm not very keen on the Tour Guides myself, but that's just me...

[Tsunayoshi]

Ewok Hunter, on 18 July 2011 - 06:24 PM, said:

While not always the best option, I feel you still need to discuss Cerli, Monk of Dark World, since he is a Dark World. I enjoyed your article overall.

I'm not very keen on the Tour Guides myself, but that's just me...

When I picked up the deck I was using 1-2 of them, but after playing with it and having it being always overshadowed by other choices in the deck. With its lack of versatility, as I would like the option to special summon it to my side of the field but since the card doesnt do that in the first place.

Its effect is generally a gimmick, albeit it one that is highly useful if you can pull it off, I dont feel it is really worth the space in the main at all. With the article being focused on cards that would be used either in main or side, I didnt want to give mention to a card where I would go 0-1 even in optimistic terms.

[Dark Riku]

Tsunayoshi, on 18 July 2011 - 07:19 PM, said:

When I picked up the deck I was using 1-2 of them, but after playing with it and having it being always overshadowed by other choices in the deck. With its lack of versatility, as I would like the option to special summon it to my side of the field but since the card doesnt do that in the first place.

Its effect is generally a gimmick, albeit it one that is highly useful if you can pull it off, I dont feel it is really worth the space in the main at all. With the article being focused on cards that would be used either in main or side, I didnt want to give mention to a card where I would go 0-1 even in optimistic terms.

I agree. It is more of a gimmick card. One of those cards that was made in a nice attempt but doesn't apply to well in practice.

[Canti]

I like 1 Celri and Tour Guide - Broww - Grappha is a monster play at times.

[Tsunayoshi]

Canti, on 19 July 2011 - 11:23 AM, said:

I like 1 Celri and Tour Guide - Broww - Grappha is a monster play at times.

Tour Guide is a cute play to make with the deck by any means. Its an instant Levaiel, which with how steady use of Gate can make it turn live very quickly.

At the very worst you could go Tour Guide > Tour Guide > Levaiel. Remove for Gate then get the monster you removed back for more lulz.

[Mad Hatter]

Tsunayoshi, on 19 July 2011 - 11:40 AM, said:

Tour Guide is a cute play to make with the deck by any means. Its an instant Levaiel, which with how steady use of Gate can make it turn live very quickly.

At the very worst you could go Tour Guide > Tour Guide > Levaiel. Remove for Gate then get the monster you removed back for more lulz.

I never actually realized that Tour Guide could bring duplicates of herself out until now. That being said, I think a lot of people tend to overlook the fact that Tour Guide herself can be used for Synchros, even though her target Fiend can't.

I too would have liked a bit more coverage on Celri, given his unique ability. Depending on how you view him, he's a nice addition to Dark Deal. Other than thatI have a very srong preference towards The Forces of Darkness, but I can see how it conflicts with newer builds running Gate.

[Tsunayoshi]

Mad Hatter, on 19 July 2011 - 02:49 PM, said:

I never actually realized that Tour Guide could bring duplicates of herself out until now. That being said, I think a lot of people tend to overlook the fact that Tour Guide herself can be used for Synchros, even though her target Fiend can't.

I too would have liked a bit more coverage on Celri, given his unique ability. Depending on how you view him, he's a nice addition to Dark Deal. Other than thatI have a very srong preference towards The Forces of Darkness, but I can see how it conflicts with newer builds running Gate.

Dark Deal doesnt have that much appeal when many of the good and actively used spells in decks usually do not fall into the Normal Spell category, outside of common deck choices and those are minimal at best. The Forces of Darkness directly goes against Gate, which is decked in every competitive build that has been topping in OCG and used in 3's consistently.

I tried to stay to a competitive angle, which after playing around with Celri and only using it as Grapha fodder, ended up with a few cards that might have been seen as good in the past falling to the wayside because they dont help the deck or the metagame just doesnt allow for them to be of use.

[Dark Riku]

This set up would make you tear up with so much win. Would make you proud.

Royal Oppression, Solemn Judgment, and Mirror Force are set. Call is dead on the field meaninglessly.

Playing against Plant Tengu and he has so many cards in hand and has to scoop because he can't Syncrho because of Dark Highlander.

[Tsunayoshi]

Dark World

Smashing face since 2011

[MrMcThrasher]

Fabled Valkyrus is awesome in the deck as well. Too much fun goes on when you have him AND Highlander out...
EDIT: Kid lied to me...

Edited by Ewok Hunter, 20 July 2011 - 05:48 PM.

[Tsunayoshi]

Ewok Hunter, on 20 July 2011 - 05:47 PM, said:

Fabled Valkyrus is awesome in the deck as well. Too much fun goes on when you have him AND Highlander out...
EDIT: Kid lied to me...

I could have told you that Valkyrus is plum in the deck.. Discard cost makes it suck.

[MrMcThrasher]

Tsunayoshi, on 20 July 2011 - 05:55 PM, said:

I could have told you that Valkyrus is plum in the deck.. Discard cost makes it suck.

LOL I know that now since I looked at the wiki. I always assumed it was a cost.
I actually lost because the guy said it wasn't, AND claimed to have a source to back him up. Don't know why I trusted him.
Wish I remembered his name...

[Tsunayoshi]

Ewok Hunter, on 20 July 2011 - 09:03 PM, said:

LOL I know that now since I looked at the wiki. I always assumed it was a cost.
I actually lost because the guy said it wasn't, AND claimed to have a source to back him up. Don't know why I trusted him.
Wish I remembered his name...

Dont worry about it. I had to learn the hard way too. Made me really start to hate Valkyrus even in Fabled after that.

[zkillm]

why does nobody use scar scout of dark world or the forces of darkness. i also think veil of darkness could be very useful with dark world since during each of your draw phases if you draw a dark monster you can reveal it send it to the grave and draw another card.

Edited by zkillm, 23 July 2011 - 06:58 AM.

[Dark Riku]

zkillm, on 23 July 2011 - 06:55 AM, said:

why does nobody use scar scout of dark world or the forces of darkness. i also think veil of darkness could be very useful with dark world since during each of your draw phases if you draw a dark monster you can reveal it send it to the grave and draw another card.

Because it says send. If it said discard then we would be getting somewhere but unfortunately it doesn't say that.

[Tsunayoshi]

zkillm, on 23 July 2011 - 06:55 AM, said:

why does nobody use scar scout of dark world or the forces of darkness. i also think veil of darkness could be very useful with dark world since during each of your draw phases if you draw a dark monster you can reveal it send it to the grave and draw another card.

No reason to use Scarr when we have Snow which can get any DW monster out of the deck + DW Lightning and Gate

Veil is just bad and only good in decks like Exodia.

[drew]

argument of the day:

goldd and silva are bad and completely outclassed by beige. Pick a side etc.