Gem-Knight

Gem-Knight
Gem-Knight
Japanese	ジェムナイト Jemunaito (romanized) Gemknight (translated)
French	Chevalier-Gemmes
German	Edelstein-Ritter
Portuguese	Cavaleirogema
Spanish	Gema-Caballeros
Sets Duel Terminal - Vylon Descends!! V Jump Edition 2 Duel Terminal - Judgment of Omega!! Duel Terminal - Xyz Startup!! Generation Force Duel Terminal - Sacred Star Knights!! Hidden Arsenal 5: Steelswarm Invasion Photon Shockwave Duel Terminal - Ouroboros, Wicked Dragon of Destruction!!
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The Gem-Knight monsters are an archetype released in Duel Terminal - Vylon Descends!!. Their team symbol is a jewel droplet adorned with gold trim and two small arched points with usually the jewel color being respective of the monster or object it is attached to. All Gem-Knights are EARTH, and are Pyro, Thunder, Aqua, or Rock-Type (with one exception which is LIGHT Fairy-Type), which represents their elemental powers. There is always a trio of three Types - Thunder, Aqua, & Pyro, - for each type of monsters, such as Normal, Gemini, and Fusion Monsters.

They are all named after different minerals. Aesthetically, they appear to be a "fusion" of Jesse Anderson's "Crystal Beast" and Jaden Yuki's "Elemental HERO" cards, possibly as a homage to their friendship in the anime. This is shown on some cards, such as "Gem-Knight Fusion" (a fusion of "Crystal Release" and "Miracle Fusion"). While the three Normal Monsters are shown without weapons, the nine Fusion Monsters are shown using weapons befitting their stats and effects (or lack thereof): "Gem-Knight Aquamarine" uses a bladed shield, "Gem-Knight Ruby" uses a polearm, "Gem-Knight Topaz" uses twin bladed tonfa, "Gem-Knight Amethys" wields a shield and a form of thin blade or wand, "Gem-Knight Citrine" uses a sword, and "Gem-Knight Prismaura" uses a lance and a shield. "Gem-Knight Zirconia" has two humongous fists instead of a weapon, referencing its lack of an effect, "Gem-Knight Seraphi" uses a saber and "Gem-Knight Master Dia" uses a broadsword with gems enshrined.

"Gem-Knight" is the first and so far the only archetype which has not just one or two, but FOUR "Polymerization"-style card for a specific archetype. They are "Gem-Knight Fusion", "Particle Fusion", "Pyroxene Fusion", and "Doublet Fusion". This makes it much easier for "Gem-Knight" archetype to perform Fusions than any other archetypes. "Pyroxene Fusion" and "Doublet Fusion" in particular are Trap Cards, allowing you to fuse your "Gem-Knight" monsters even during opponent's turn.

Story

A group of knights embedded by the power of gems. Although they value honor above all else and hate useless fighting, against the provocation of the barbaric "Laval", they finally could not stand it and rose up to protect their friends. However, the "Steelswarm" started to take over the surface land. So, the Gem-Knights united with the other clans to create a temporary union lead by the "Vylons". They obtained new powers to fight back against the "Steelswarm". Soon, the union finally defeated the invaders, but conflicts haven't lowered yet; the "Vylons" decided to stop the wars between clans by... exterminating them completely. Later, the "Gem-Knights" teamed up with the other clans again in order to bring an end to the "Vylon's" actions. As a result, they managed to break through the "Vylon's" force by using their weakness against them. After the "Vylons" disappeared, the union disbanded, and the Gishki, working on their rituals, began invading the regions of "Mist Valley" for resources and leading a genocide to the "Gusto". Having to value justice above others, the "Gem-Knight" saved some of the remaining "Gustos" left. Then, "Verz" virus started to spread, and in order to support themselves, they prayed for the "Sacreds", a legend passed down for generations, to descend and help them. Knowing that the "Sacred" may not be strong enough to resist the "Verz" army by themselves, while the "Gishki" tribe spearheaded by "Evigishki Psychelone" have also joined the "Verz", the "Gem-Knights" could not stand by and let this potential threat go aside. Using all of their might, the "Gem-Knights" fuse together into their ultimate fusion form.

These are the Gem-Knight Fusions and their components.

Gem-Knight Fusion	Fusion Material 1	Fusion Material 2	Fusion Material 3
Gem-Knight Amethys	Gem-Knight	Aqua-Type
Gem-Knight Citrine	Gem-Knight	Pyro-Type
Gem-Knight Prismaura	Gem-Knight	Thunder-Type
Gem-Knight Zirconia	Gem-Knight	Rock-Type
Gem-Knight Aquamarine	Gem-Knight Sapphire	Gem-Knight
Gem-Knight Ruby	Gem-Knight Garnet	Gem-Knight
Gem-Knight Topaz	Gem-Knight Tourmaline	Gem-Knight
Gem-Knight Seraphi	Gem-Knight	LIGHT-Attribute
Gem-Knight Master Dia	Gem-Knight	Gem-Knight	Gem-Knight

These are the Gem-Knight cards and the Gem/Creature that they are based off.

Gem-Knight	Gemstone/Creature
Gem-Armadillo	Armadillo
Gem-Elephant	Elephant
Gem-Knight Alexandrite	Alexandrite
Gem-Knight Amber	Amber
Gem-Knight Amethys	Amethyst
Gem-Knight Aquamarine	Aquamarine
Gem-Knight Citrine	Madeira Citrine
Gem-Knight Crystal	Rock Crystals
Gem-Knight Emerald	Emerald
Gem-Knight Garnet	Garnet
Gem-Knight Iolite	Cordierite/Iolite
Gem-Knight Obsidian	Obsidian
Gem-Knight Prismaura	Prism
Gem-Knight Pearl	Pearl
Gem-Knight Ruby	Ruby
Gem-Knight Sanyx	Sardonyx
Gem-Knight Sapphire	Sapphire
Gem-Knight Topaz	Topaz
Gem-Knight Tourmaline	Yellow Tourmaline
Gem-Knight Zirconia	Zirconia
Gem-Knight Lazuli	Lapis Lazuli
Gem-Knight Seraphi	Seraphinite/Seraphim
Gem-Knight Master Dia	Diamond
Gem-Turtle	Turtle/Jade
Gem-Merchant	Spellcaster
Gem-Knight Fusion, Particle Fusion, Pyroxene Fusion, Doublet Fusion	Several Crystals

Play style

The "Gem-Knights" use a Beatdown strategy using the Normal "Gem-Knights" and their Fusion Counterparts that can be summoned with the easy to get "Gem-Knight Fusion". The Normal Monsters can benefit from most of the Normal Monster support cards as well as their own related "Kalut-Type" monster - "Gem-Merchant". They are relatively quick since "Gem-Knight Alexandrite" and "Gem-Armadillo" search for the "Gem-Knights" you need from your Deck.

Because of the card "Gem-Knight Fusion", which can return itself to your hand at the relatively low cost of a Gem-Knight from your Graveyard, the Deck can also use many discard effects. Use cards such as "Phoenix Wing Wind Blast" to remove threats from the field. "D.D.R. - Different Dimension Reincarnation" also enable you to re-Summon the Gem-Knights banished via Gem-Knight Fusion, which can provide materials for another Fusion Summon quickly, or just to swarm the Field with strong monsters. It also can be searched or recycled via "Hidden Armory".

With the release of the "Gem-Knight" Gemini monster, "Amber", "Iolite", and "Gem-Knight Sanyx" can be support with Gemini cards such as "Gemini Spark", "Gemini Trap Hole" and "Supervise", making these cards ideal additions. As this archetype has heavy fusion support, it would also be beneficial to include the Gemini-support Fusion Monster "Superalloy Beast Raptinus".

"Future Fusion" is also a great card to use in this deck type as it will help pull the fusions out with more ease. Since Gem-Knights have heavy fusion support other cards that might be useful in this sense are; "Branch!", "Centrifugal Field" & "De-Fusion".

With the release of Xyz Monster and "Rescue Rabbit", "Gem-Knights" have the ability to quickly pull out Xyz monsters relativity quickly. "Rescue Rabbit" can also help with bringing out the many "Gem-Knight" Fusion Monsters, making the deck quick and powerful, not to mention that Gem-Knight Amber's effect can bring a banished Rabbit back to your hand for further usage.

Weakness

Despite being powerful in terms of both flexibility and speed granted by this archetype's Fusion Summoning nature, Gem-Knights are not without their weakness. Similar to Evil HERO decks, this deck's true strength is also their greatest weakness, which is "Gem-Knight Fusion". The most effective way to cripple this deck is by activating "Cursed Seal of the Forbidden Spell" which can render "Gem-Knight Fusion" unusable for the rest of the Duel. "Non-Fusion Area" can also damaging this deck further, as it can block any other attempts on Fusion Summoning, leading Gem-Knights into severe disadvantage. You can use "Seven Tools of the Bandit" or "Royal Decree" to prevent these from happening.

Of course, anti-Special Summon cards such as "Archlord Kristya" can also shut this deck down. Fortunately, some of the Gem-Knights are also Gemini Monsters, which means you can use "Gemini Spark" to handle most of the threats. It can also helps for shutting "Macro Cosmos" or "Dimensional Fissure" so that they will not disrupt your Fusion Summoning cycle routine further.

Cards such as "Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier", "Mist Wurm" and "Neo-Spacian Grand Mole" can also get rid of your Gem-Knights Fusion Monsters easily (especially useful for dispatching "Gem-Knight Aquamarine"). To remedy this, you can use "Effect Veiler" or "Divine Wrath".

Being over-reliant on "Gem-Knight Fusion" also can be troublesome, especially if your hand is filled with Gem-Knight Normal Monsters and you don't have any single Gem-Knight Fusion in your hand. "Gem-Turtle" can help grabbing Gem-Knight Fusion faster, but some players considered it still too slow. Unfortunately, currently there's no another reliable alternative available yet to solve this problem ("Pot of Duality" can be used, but not only it will suspend your action for 1 turn, it also doesn't 100% guaranteed). Instead, you can include at least good amount of Deck Thinning cards (best examples are "Thunder Dragon" and "Volcanic Shell") so that you can raise the chance of drawing Gem-Knight Fusion. If you happen to use the two examples mentioned above, you should consider focusing your deck around "Gem-Knight Prismaura" and "Gem-Knight Citrine", since "Thunder Dragon" and "Volcanic Shell" are Thunder-type and Pyro-type, respectively. An deck thinning strategy is to use Lavalval Chain to put Gem-Knight Fusion in the grave. Summoner Monk can help bring Lavalval Chain out quicker, but at the cost of a spell card. It is also susceptible to effect veiler and warning.

Trivia

• While seen mostly as a reference to both the Elemental HERO and Crystal Beast Archetypes; this theme can also be seen as a reference to the Power Rangers/Super Sentai series (much like the Elemental HEROes paid tribute to American comic heroes).