Prophecy

This article is about the archetype. For the anime and manga card, see "Prophecy (card)".

Prophecy
"Spellbook of Life" "Spellbook of Life"
Japanese	魔（ま）導（どう） 魔導 (base) まどう (ruby) Madō (romanized) Magical (translated)
German	Prophezeiung
Portuguese	Profecia
Sets Return of the Duelist Abyss Rising
Lists	Members Support

"Prophecy", known as "Magical" (魔（ま）導（どう） Madō) in the OCG, is an archetype of Spellcaster-Type monsters with effects based around "Spellbook" Spell Cards.

Each Prophecy Monster is based on a Tarot card of the Major Arcana. The English names come from the Rider-Waite tarot deck which uses the names "The High Priestess" and "The Hierophant" instead of "The Popesse" and "The Pope" which is found in other decks. The Japanese names of the Prophecy monsters make reference to the Tarot of Marseilles tarot deck.

Card name	Tarot card	Tarot number
Spellbook Magician of Prophecy	The Magician	I
High Priestess of Prophecy	The High Priestess	II
Empress of Prophecy	The Empress	III
Emperor of Prophecy	The Emperor	IV
Hierophant of Prophecy	The Hierophant	V
Amores of Prophecy	The Lovers	VI
Charioteer of Prophecy	The Chariot	VII
Justice of Prophecy	Justice	VIII or XI
Hermit of Prophecy	The Hermit	IX
Strength of Prophecy	Strength	XI or VIII
Hanged Man of Prophecy	The Hanged Man	XII
Temperance of Prophecy	Temperance	XIV
Prophecy Destroyer	The Devil	XV
The Grand Spellbook Tower	La Maison Dieu, French for The Tower	XVI
Spellbook Star Hall	The Star	XVII
Spellbook Library of the Crescent	The Moon	XVIII
Spellbook Library of the Heliosphere	The Sun	XIX

Several other cards include 魔（ま）導（どう） in their Japanese names and are thus technically a part of this archetype. Examples include "Armor Exe", "Defender, the Magical Knight", "Magical Scientist", etc. However, these cards do not have effects relating to "Spellbook" cards so they are seldom of use to the Deck as they lack synergy.

Playing Style

The archetype focuses on Spellcaster-Type monsters and the effects and presence of "Spellbook" Spell Cards. "Spellbook" cards focus on creating advantage, like raising a monster's ATK ("Spellbook of Power"), protecting monsters, "Spellbook of Wisdom", or Xyz Summoning "Spellbook of Life", and manipulating the amount on the field, in the hand and in the Graveyard to activate effects.

Spellbook Recycle

A loop is possible using "High Priestess of Prophecy" that can ensure the monster gains 1000 ATK every turn, provided that she destroys a monster. You also need "Spellbook of Power" and "Alma Spellbook". Have "High Priestess of Prophecy" on the field, then play "Spellbook of Power". When it is in the Graveyard, use "High Priestess of Prophecy" to banish the Spellbook then attack to destroy a monster. The effect of "Spellbook of Power" activates and you can search for "Alma Spellbook". Next turn you can use "Alma Spellbook" to add "Spellbook of Power" to your hand. This loop can be prolonged by using "The Grand Spellbook Tower" to return "Alma Spellbook" to your Deck. If you need to dump Spellbook cards into your grave for whatever reason this can be possible by searching for "Spellbook of Secrets" instead of "Spellbook of Power". Then you can use "Spellbook of Secrets" to search for "Spellbook or Power" to continue the loop or a separate "Spellbook" card if needed.

This loop is easily broken if you cannot destroy a card with the effect of "High Priestess of Prophecy" or cannot destroy a monster by battle. However if this is your situation you may use the same technique to reuse "Spellbook" cards by banishing needed cards instead, then adding them to your hand via "Alma Spellbook".

Used in conjuction with "Spell Absorption" this loop can potentially be an extra 1000 life points every turn and an extra card in every standby phase.

Another way to recycle Spellbook of Power is with "The Grand Spellbook Tower" and "Spellbook of Secrets". Play "Spellbook of Power", use it to search for "Spellbook of Secrets". Then use "La Maison" to put "Spellbook of Power" back into the deck.

You can also perform a mini-loop using Strength of Prophecy, by summoning it, and using Spellbook of Power to bring Strength to 2500 attack. Next you can use Strength's effect to recycle Power from the grave to bring itself to 3000 attack. Then attack a monster and destroy it to add a Spellbook of Secrets from the deck via Spellbook of Power.

Trivia

• These cards are similar to the "Arcana Force" archetype in that they are based on Tarot Cards.
  • There are still several of the Major Arcana that have not had a Prophecy counterpart created. These include The Fool, The Wheel of Fortune, Death, Judgment and The World.
• These cards are similar to the "Koa'ki Meiru" archetype in that they revolve around the use of a specific name of spells.
• The ATK/DEF values and Level/Rank of "Empress of Prophecy", "High Priestess of Prophecy", and "Hierophant of Prophecy" are the same as the ATK/DEF and Level/Rank of the Dark Magicians, except for "Empress" who is Rank 5, just one Rank below the Level of "Dark Magician Girl".
• The Xyz "Prophecy" Monsters show the relationship they have with other "Prophecy" Monsters.
  • "High Priestess of Prophecy" being a Level 7 and being The High Priestess, which can be called by, The Popess. "And "Hierophant of Prophecy" being a Rank 7 and being The Hierophant which can be called by, The Pope.
    • "Empress of Prophecy" being a Rank 5 and being The Empress. And "Emperor of Prophecy" being a Level 5 and being The Emperor.
• These cards have elements in this order; WATER (Levels 1-2), EARTH (Level 3), WIND/FIRE (Level 4), DARK (Levels 5-6), LIGHT (Level 7).