Burning Abyss

Burning Abyss
"Alich, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss" and "Calcab, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss" in the artwork for "Fire Lake of the Burning Abyss" "Alich, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss" and "Calcab, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss" in the artwork for "Fire Lake of the Burning Abyss"
French	Abysses Ardents
German	Brennenden Abgrunds
Italian	Abisso Bruciante
Portuguese	Abismo Ardente
Spanish	Abismo Ardiente
Sets Duelist Alliance (TCG only) The New Challengers (TCG only) Secrets of Eternity (TCG only) Crossed Souls (TCG only)
Lists	Members Support

"Burning Abyss" is one of two TCG exclusive archetypes that debuted in Duelist Alliance, alongside the "U.A." archetype.

Although the hyphen in "Abyss-" does not exist in the OCG, the "Burning Abyss" have no name nor translation in the OCG as of yet, and are thus not currently its sub-archetype.

Design

The archetype is based on Inferno, the first part of Dante Alighieri's 14th-century epic poem Divine Comedy. The current Main Deck monsters are named after members of the Malebranche who guard the Malebolge – the fifth Bolgia of the Eighth Circle of Hell. They are known for their ruthless cruelty, and are responsible for the punishment of corrupt politicians by holding them under a boiling lake of pitch.

"Burning Abyss" Monster	Original character from Inferno
Alich, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss	Alichino, the "Harlequin"
Barbar, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss	Barbariccia, the "Curly Beard"
Cagna, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss	Cagnazzo, the "Nasty Dog"
Calcab, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss	Calcabrina, the "Grace Stomper"
Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss	Ciriatto, the "Wild Hog"
Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss and Dante, Pilgrim of the Burning Abyss	Dante Alighieri
Draghig, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss	Draghignazzo, the "Big Nasty Dragon"
Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss	Farfarello, the "Goblin"
Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss	Graffiacane, the "Dog-Scratcher"
Libic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss	Libicocco, the "Libyan Hothead"
Malacoda, Netherlord of the Burning Abyss	Malacoda, the "Evil Tail"
Rubic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss	Rubicante, the "Red-Faced Terror"
Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss	Scarmiglione, the "Troublemaker"
Virgil, Rock Star of the Burning Abyss	Publius Vergilius Maro "Virgil"

Playing style

So far, all Main Deck "Burning Abyss" monsters, with the exception of the Level 6 Ritual Monster "Malacoda", are Level 3 DARK Fiend-Type monsters, and share three effects: they are destroyed if the player controls a monster other than a "Burning Abyss" monster, can be Special Summoned from the hand if the player controls no Spell/Trap Cards, and have an effect that is activated when it is sent to the Graveyard ("Rubic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss" is an exception as it lacks the third effect).

Use "Tour Guide From the Underworld" to search out any "Burning Abyss" monster or use "Crane Crane" to Summon them from the Graveyard. Their effects will be negated so they won't be destroyed by their own effect. This ensures that you can overlay into Rank 3 monsters like "Dante".

The archetype's swarming abilities make it a potent Rank 3 Xyz Deck. They can perform Rank 3 Xyz Summons quickly while maintaining the player's hand advantage.

Similar to "Lightsworns", this Deck type is all about getting monsters in the Graveyard for its effects, but its milling is far more controllable than with "Lightsworns". This actually makes it potent with "Rank-Up-Magic Astral Force" as you would mill it easily. With the constant hand advantage, losing a draw doesn't hurt and it gives you access to toolbox cards.

Recommended cards

Main Deck Monster Cards Effect Monsters Alich, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss Barbar, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss Cagna, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss Calcab, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss Draghig, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss Libic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss Rubic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss Armageddon Knight Crane Crane Darkness Neosphere Djinn Releaser of Rituals Genex Ally Birdman Kuribandit Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands Mathematician Raviel, Lord of Phantasms Tour Bus From the Underworld Tour Guide From the Underworld Ritual Monsters Malacoda, Netherlord of the Burning Abyss Spell Cards Good & Evil in the Burning Abyss The Terminus of the Burning Abyss Allure of Darkness Creature Swap Final Gesture Foolish Burial Preparation of Rites Rank-Up-Magic Astral Force Recurring Nightmare Trap Cards Fire Lake of the Burning Abyss The Traveler and the Burning Abyss Grieving Fiend Karma Cut Phoenix Wing Wind Blast Extra Deck Fusion Monsters Dante, Pilgrim of the Burning Abyss Synchro Monsters Virgil, Rock Star of the Burning Abyss Any Level 6 Synchro Monster Xyz Monsters Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss Any Rank 3 Xyz Monster Downerd Magician Any Rank 5 Xyz Monster that works with "Astral Force" Number F0: Utopic Future

Weaknesses

As the Deck's core is DARK monsters, they are susceptible to "Shadow-Imprisoning Mirror". In addition, because their abilities activate in the Graveyard, cards like "Macro Cosmos", "Abyss Dweller", "Dimensional Fissure", "Soul Drain" and "Debunk" are potential threats. Finally, because they destroy themselves if a non-"Burning Abyss" monster is on your side of the field, your opponent might disrupt you with cards such as "Ojama Trio" (or other card effects that place Tokens on your field), "Santa Claws" (or other monsters they can Special Summon to your side of the field), and "Creature Swap" (or other card effects that swap their monsters to your side of the field).