Magistus
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This is the story of the "beginning".
— The archetype's tagline in promotional material
"Magistus" (マギストス Magisutosu) is an archetype of monsters with various Types (primarily Spellcaster) and Attributes which debuted in Deck Build Pack: Genesis Impactors.
Etymology
Magistus is based on Hermes Trismegistus, the purported author of the Hermetic Corpus, a series of sacred texts that are the basis of Hermeticism.
In Japanese, all "Magistus" cards have kanji names with a non-standard reading, with "Magistus" always forming part of this non-standard reading. "Magistus" does not correspond to any particular kanji base.
In Japanese, each of the monsters is associated with one of the the four Great Sages, including the title of their corresponding Great Sage in their own kanji name (Lawbook, Absolute Flame, Crystal, or Sacred Magic); this naming convention was not included in their TCG names.
| Magistus | Name origin | Japanese OCG name | Kanji translation | Reading translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crowley, the Magistus of Grimoires | Aleister Crowley | Great Sage of the Lawbook, Crowley | Magistus Grimoire Crowley | |
| Zoroa, the Magistus of Flame | Zoroaster | Great Sage of Absolute Flame, Zoroa | Magistus Flame Zoroa | |
| Rilliona, the Magistus of Verre | Cendrillon (OCG name) | Great Sage of Crystal, Cendrillon | Magistus Verre Cendrillon | |
| Endymion, the Magistus of Mastery | Endymion | Great Sage of Sacred Magic, Endymion | Magistus Master Endymion |
| Magistus | Name origin | Japanese OCG name | Kanji translation | Reading translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aiwass, the Magistus Spell Spirit | Aiwass | Guardian of the Lawbook, Aiwass | Magistus Saint Aiwass | |
| Vahram, the Magistus Divinity Dragon | Atash Behram | Dragon God of Absolute Flame, Vahram | Magistus Dragon Vahram | |
| Ninaruru, the Magistus Glass Goddess | Ninhursag | Goddess of Crystal, Ninaruru | Magistus Goddess Ninaruru | |
| Artemis, the Magistus Moon Maiden | Artemis | Maiden of Sacred Magic, Artemis | Magistus Maiden Artemis |
| Magistus | Japanese OCG name | Kanji translation | Reading translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zoroa, the Magistus Conflagrant Calamity | Demon of Absolute Flame, Zoroa | Magistus Daimon Zoroa | |
| Rilliona, the Wondrous Magistus Witch Wardrobe | Witch of Crystal, Cendrillon | Magistus Witch Cendrillon |
| Magistus | Name origin | Japanese OCG name | Kanji translation | Reading translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trismagistus | Trismegistus (name) Hermetica (artwork) |
Book of Three Sages | Tris-Magistus | |
| Magistus Theurgy | Theologia Germanica | Great Magic | Theologia Magistus | |
| Magistus Invocation | Invocation | Holy Lawbook | Magistus Invocation | |
| Magistus Vritra | Vritra | Manifestation of Absolute Flame | Vritra Magistus |
Design
The "Magistus" archetype depicts the younger counterparts to the key members of the "Invoked", "Witchcrafter", and "Endymion" archetypes; namely "Aleister the Invoker", "Witchcrafter Madame Verre", and "Endymion, the Mighty Master of Magic", alongside a magician character not seen in preexisting archetypes, "Zoroa, the Magistus of Flame". Based on the card artworks and preexisting card lore, "Aleister", "Verre" (real name "Rilliona"), "Endymion", and "Zoroa" were powerful magicians that formed a magical group known as the "Magistus" in the past, before they separated from each other and founded their own independent magical groups.
"Magistus" monsters are associated with one of the four great sages, reflected by the inclusion of the unique component of the great sage's title in their own name (in Japanese kanji). The monsters within each of the four groups fit one of three roles:
- A Main Deck "Magistus", depicting the titular "Magistus" great sage, who (excluding "Zoroa") is also a key member of their origin archetype
- A usually non-Spellcaster Extra Deck "Magistus", depicting the guardian deity associated with a "Magistus" magician, who usually also has a counterpart in their origin archetype
- A Spellcaster Extra Deck "Magistus" (sharing the same monster card type as their guardian deity), depicting an empowered form of a "Magistus" great sage
Members
| Title | Great sage | Empowered form | Guardian deity | Monster type | Related archetype |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 法典 (Lawbook) | Crowley, of Grimoires | - | Aiwass, the Spell Spirit | Fusion | Invoked (Aleister the Invoker) |
| 絶火 (Absolute Flame) | Zoroa, of Flame | Zoroa, the Conflagrant Calamity | Vahram, the Divinity Dragon | Synchro | - |
| 結晶 (Crystal) | Rilliona, of Verre | Rilliona, the Wondrous Witch Wardrobe | Ninaruru, the Glass Goddess | Xyz | Witchcrafter (Witchcrafter Madame Verre) |
| 聖魔 (Sacred Magic) | Endymion, of Mastery | - | Artemis, the Moon Maiden | Link | Endymion (Endymion, the Master Magician) |
Playing style
"Magistus" is an archetype focused on summoning Level 4 Spellcasters, using them to perform Fusion, Synchro, Xyz, and Link summons, and equipping "Magistus" monsters with Extra Deck "Magistus" monsters to grant beneficial effects.
The "Magistus" archetype contains 4 Main Deck Level 4 Spellcaster monsters. All "Magistus" Main Deck monsters have individual effects and a shared effect involving equipping "Magistus" monsters with "Magistus" Extra Deck monsters.
| Magistus | Equip effect | Individual effect | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zoroa | Equip 1 friendly "Magistus" monster with 1 [Extra Deck] "Magistus" monster in the Extra Deck. | If this card becomes equipped with a "Magistus" monster, Special Summon 1 Level 4 Spellcaster from Hand/GY (in Defense, except "Zoroa", effects negated). |
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| Endymion | Destroy 1 friendly face-up Spell, draw 1 card, then return 1 card from hand to Deck. |
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| Crowley | (Banish this card from GY,) Equip 1 friendly "Magistus" monster with 1 [Extra Deck][b] "Magistus" monster in the GY. |
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| Rilliona |
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The "Magistus" archetype contains multiple Extra Deck monsters of various Monster card types, including Fusion, Synchro (all Level 8), Xyz (all Rank 4), and Link Monsters. With the exception of "Zoroa, the Magistus Conflagrant Calamity", each "Magistus" Extra Deck monster has one or more effects that are only usable when they're equipped to any monster as an Equip Card, along with normal monster effects usable when they're summoned.
The "Magistus" Extra Deck monsters' Equip effects provide either Continuous protection or Ignition searching and removal. Among these Equip effects, the Ignition searching effect of "Artemis" the most important, as it generates free advantage, while the other equip effects are far more situational.
| Magistus | Equip Effects | |
|---|---|---|
| Continuous | Ignition | |
| Aiwass | The equipped monster gains 1000 ATK/DEF. | - |
| Vahram | The equipped monster cannot be destroyed by your opponent's Spell/Trap effects. | At the start of the Damage Step, if the monster this card is equipped to battles an opponent's monster: You can destroy that opponent's monster. |
| Ninaruru | The equipped monster can make up to 2 attacks on monsters during each Battle Phase. | You can target 1 "Magistus" card in your Spell & Trap Zone and 1 Spell/Trap your opponent controls; destroy them. |
| Rilliona (powered) | - | You can target 1 Effect Monster your opponent controls; negate its effects until the end of this turn. |
| Artemis | - | You can add 1 "Magistus" monster from your Deck to your hand. |
| Magistus | Type | Effect | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aiwass | Fusion | In the Main Phase (Quick Effect): Equip this card to 1 other monster. If it was an opponent's monster, take control of it (it cannot activate its effects). |
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| Vahram | Synchro | If this Synchro Summoned card is destroyed, destroy all opposing face-up cards. |
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| Zoroa (powered) | Synchro |
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| Ninaruru | Xyz | Detach 1 material, add 1 Level ≥4 Spellcaster monster from GY to hand. |
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| Rilliona (powered) | Xyz | Detach 1 material, Special Summon 1 "Magistus" monster from Deck. (Applies Extra Deck Special Summoning restriction for rest of turn, to "Magistus" monsters only) |
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| Artemis | Link |
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The deck has good consistency and recursion, but average boss monsters, and thus often has to be supported by other decks such as "Invoked" or "Dogmatika", who also feature Level 4 Spellcaster monsters. Rather unsurprisingly, "Crowley" has synergies with the "Invoked" archetype, with his effect being able to support the Fusion Summon of "Invoked" monsters. "Crowley" can also be used to change its Attribute to WATER and overlay with "Endymion" into "Bahamut Shark" to make a "Toadally Awesome". Other generic Rank 4 options may be a good idea to look into for potential synergies.
Recommended cards
Trivia
- The concept of Hermes Trismegistus is also present in the cards "Helios Trice Megistus" and "Megistric Maginician".
- The individual effects of "Endymion", "Crowley", and "Rilliona" partially synergize with the playstyles of their origin archetypes (i.e. "Endymion", "Invoked", and "Witchcrafter") respectively in addition to synergizing with the "Magistus" playstyle.
Notes
- ↑ "Zoroa" is the archetype's sole Tuner monster.
- ↑ Technically, the monster being equipped is a non-Level 4 "Magistus" monster. However, because all Main Deck "Magistus" monsters are Level 4, while all Extra Deck "Magistus" monsters are not, this effect can only equip Extra Deck "Magistus" monsters in the GY.
