Dark World

This article is about the archetype. For the card part, see "Dark" (card part).

Dark World
"Sillva, Warlord of Dark World" and "Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World"
Japanese	暗（あん）黒（こく）界（かい） 暗黒界 (base) あんこくかい (ruby) Ankokukai (romanized)
French	Monde Ténébreux
German	Finsteren Welt
Italian	Mondo Oscuro
Korean	암흑계 暗黑界 (Hanja) Amheukgye (romanized)
Portuguese	Mundo Negro Black World (translated)
Spanish	Mundo Oscuro
Sets Elemental Energy Strike of Neos Tactical Evolution Phantom Darkness Primal Origin Code of the Duelist Phantom Rage Duelist Nexus TCG Photon Shockwave Gold Series Dark Revelation Volume 4 Starter Deck: Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Starter Deck: Syrus Truesdale Gates of the Underworld Structure Deck Champion Pack: Game Three Champion Pack: Game Seven 2021 Tin of Ancient Battles Structure Deck: Dark World Speed Duel GX: Duelists of Shadows Maze of Millennia OCG Structure Deck: Devil's Gate Expert Edition Volume 4 Structure Deck R: Devil's Gate Animation Chronicle 2023 Duelist Nexus +1 Bonus Pack
Anime appearances
Yu-Gi-Oh! GX Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V
Lists	Members Support Anti-support

"Dark World" (暗（あん）黒（こく）界（かい） Ankokukai) is an archetype consisting of DARK Fiend monsters. They were introduced in Elemental Energy, with further support in Strike of Neos, Gates of the Underworld Structure Deck and Primal Origin.

Brron, Mad King of Dark World uses this archetype in the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX anime.

Etymology

The names of "Dark World" monsters are mostly based on colors, many of which feature prominently in their artwork and their army positions. The English names are based on the words for the colors with either extra letters added/removed or corrupt spellings. The Japanese names are based on the transcriptions of the English words for the colors with one or more morae deleted. The Chinese names are combinations of the color names and transcriptions/transliterations of English or Japanese words, in terms of phonetics.

Dark World	Name origin
Beiige, Vanguard	Beige
Broww, Huntsman	Brown
Brron, Mad King	Bronze
Ceruli, Guru	Cerulean
Cobal, Excavator	Cobalt
Clorless, Chaos King	Colorless
Genta, Gateman	Magenta
Goldd, Wu-Lord	Gold
Grapha, Dragon Lord & Dragon Overlord	Graphite
Gren, Tactician	Green
Kahkki, Guerilla	Khaki
Latinum, Exarch	Platinum
Lucent, Netherlord	Translucent (TCG) Sukeru [see-through] + skeleton (OCG)
Parl, Hermit	Pearl
Reign-Beaux, Overlord & Overking (OCG)	Rainbow + reign + beaux (TCG) Rainbow + reign (OCG)
Renge, Gatekeeper	Orange
Scarr, Scout	Scarlet
Sillva, Warlord	Silver
Snoww, Unlight	Snow
Zure, Knight	Azure

Playing style

"Dark World" cards are generally intended to gain advantage by Summoning, searching and destroying cards when they are discarded from the hand by a card effect. (They do not activate if discarded as a cost, such as with "Knightmare" monsters.) This results in a playstyle that can rapidly and aggressively swarm the field and overwhelm the opponent by disrupting their card advantage. The deck's main boss monster, "Grapha, Dragon Lord of Dark World", destroys cards when it is discarded and has the ability to Special Summon itself from the GY; coupled with its high ATK, it is the key card in any "Dark World" Deck. In addition, "Snoww, Unlight of Dark World" and "Reign-Beaux, Overking of Dark World" can provide quick searching and Deck thinning, allowing the archetype to get whichever card is needed for the situation; the latter also has the ability to Special Summon itself from the GY.

In order to enable their effects, "Dark World" Decks use multiple cards with effects to discard cards while gaining additional advantage. "Dark World Dealings" and their Field Spell Card "The Gates of Dark World" are some of their most versatile cards for discarding, while other cards like "Charge Into a Dark World" or "Dark Smog" provide additional field presence and disruptive banishing, respectively. The archetype also benefits from some non-archetypal Extra Deck monsters that can discard cards, such as "Muckraker From the Underworld" and "Number 60: Dugares the Timeless", as well as other archetypes that focus on discarding, such as the "Danger!" archetype.

Many "Dark World" monsters also gain extra effects if discarded by an opponent's effect. This can be achieved by Summoning "Ceruli, Guru of Dark World" to their field, at which point its mandatory effect activates and allows the "Dark World" player to discard a card; as it is on the opponent's field, it is counted as a discard by an opponent's effect. It can also be achieved by using a card that changes an opponent's card effect to one that causes the player to discard, such as "Dark World Brainwashing", "Dark Deal", and their main Fusion Monster, "Grapha, Dragon Overlord of Dark World".

Since the archetype's two strongest Main Deck monsters are Level 8 and can Special Summon themselves, Rank 8 monsters can also be included. "Coach King Giantrainer" can be helpful, since it can draw 3 cards and putting all of those monsters back in the GY to allow them to Summon themselves again.

Discard effects

This section shows which effects are activated when a "Dark World" monster is discarded, and the additional effect that applies when it was discarded by an opponent's card.

Dark World	Effect after being discarded by…
	any card effect	an opponent's card effect
Reign-Beaux (Overking)	Adds 1 Level 5 or higher "Dark World" monster from the Deck to the hand, except "Reign-Beaux, Overking of Dark World".	Special Summons 1 Level 4 or lower "Dark World" monster from the Deck or GY to either player's field.
Reign-Beaux (Overlord)	N/A	Special Summons itself, then destroys all of the opponent's monsters OR Spells/Traps.
Broww	Draw 1 card.	Draw 1 more card (simultaneously, in addition to the 1st effect).
Grapha	Destroys a card the opponent controls.	Looks at 1 random card in your opponent's hand; if it is a monster, that monster can be Special Summoned to the player's field.
Parl	Target 1 "Dark World" monster in your GY, except "Parl, Hermit of Dark World"; Special Summon it to either field.	You can Special Summon 1 of your Fiend monsters that is banished, in your hand, or in your GY to either field.
Snoww	Adds a "Dark World" card from the Deck to the hand.	Special Summons a monster from the opponent's Graveyard to the player's field in face-up Defense Position.
Goldd	Special Summons itself.	Destroys up to two cards the opponent controls.
Latinum		1 Fiend monster gains 500 ATK.
Lucent		Special Summons a Fiend monster from the Deck to either field.
Sillva		The opponent returns two cards from their hand to the bottom of their Deck in any order.
Beiige		N/A
Ceruli	Special Summons itself to the opponent's field in Defense Position.
Gren	Destroys a Spell/Trap on the field.
Kahkki	Destroys a monster on the field.

Additional synergies

• "Akashic Magician" can return a "Ceruli" on the opponent's field to the hand for reuse.
• Some "Fabled" monsters also activate effects when they are discarded, enabling Synchro Summons. "Fabled Raven" also discards cards as an effect to enable multiple "Dark World" activations.
• The effect of "Ceruli" from the opponent's field will allow a player to activate "Triple Tactics Talent" and "Triple Tactics Thrust".
• Since most "Dark World" monsters activate their effects in the GY, it is possible to use "Skill Drain" while still making the most of these effects.

Recommended cards

Recommended cards

Main Deck Monster Cards Effect Monsters Beiige, Vanguard of Dark World Broww, Huntsman of Dark World Ceruli, Guru of Dark World Genta, Gateman of Dark World Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World Grapha, Dragon Lord of Dark World Lucent, Netherlord of Dark World Parl, Hermit of Dark World Reign-Beaux, Overking of Dark World Reign-Beaux, Overlord of Dark World Sillva, Warlord of Dark World Snoww, Unlight of Dark World Diabolica the Draconique General Doomdog Octhros Ken the Warrior Dragon Gen the Diamond Tiger Tour Guide From the Underworld Zalamander Catalyzer "Danger!" Monster Cards Tuner monsters Fabled Raven The Fabled Cerburrel Spell Cards Normal Spells Charge Into a Dark World Dark World Dealings Dark World Lightning Dark Corridor Allure of Darkness Card Destruction Dragged Down into the Grave Foolish Burial Triple Tactics Talent Triple Tactics Thrust Dark Spirit's Mastery Field Spells The Gates of Dark World Continuous Spells Dark World Archives Lil-la Rap Quick-Play Spells Dark World Accession Dark World Puppetry Gateway to Dark World Trap Cards Normal Traps The Forces of Darkness Dark Deal Dark Scheme Deck Devastation Virus Eradicator Epidemic Virus Mind Crush Counter Traps Dark World Punishment Dark Illusion Continuous Traps Dark World Brainwashing Dark Smog Floodgate cards Skill Drain Extra Deck Fusion Monsters Grapha, Dragon Overlord of Dark World Clorless, Chaos King of Dark World Synchro Monsters Chaos Angel Chaos King Archfiend Dark Highlander Groza, Tyrant of Thunder Xyz Monsters Abyss Dweller Coach King Giantrainer Divine Dragon Knight Felgrand Evilswarm Exciton Knight Evilswarm Nightmare Leviair the Sea Dragon The Zombie Vampire Number 1: Infection Buzz King Number 38: Hope Harbinger Dragon Titanic Galaxy Number 41: Bagooska the Terribly Tired Tapir Number 60: Dugares the Timeless Number 90: Galaxy-Eyes Photon Lord Number 107: Galaxy-Eyes Tachyon Dragon Link Monsters Akashic Magician Apollousa, Bow of the Goddess I:P Masquerena Knightmare Cerberus Knightmare Phoenix Knightmare Unicorn Mekk-Knight Crusadia Avramax Muckraker From the Underworld Saryuja Skull Dread Underworld Goddess of the Closed World Worldsea Dragon Zealantis

Official Deck

Danger! Dark World Deck List

Main Deck Monster Cards Effect Monsters Blackwing - Zephyros the Elite Danger! Bigfoot! Danger! Chupacabra! x2 Danger! Mothman! x3 Danger! Nessie! x3 Danger!? Jackalope? Danger!? Tsuchinoko? Danger! Thunderbird! Broww, Huntsman of Dark World Ceruli, Guru of Dark World Genta, Gateman of Dark World x3 Grapha, Dragon Lord of Dark World Reign-Beaux, Overlord of Dark World x3 Sillva, Warlord of Dark World x2 Snoww, Unlight of Dark World x3 Radian, the Multidimensional Kaiju x3 Side Deck Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring x3 Denko Sekka x3 Kurikara Divincarnate x3 Spell Cards Allure of Darkness x3 Card Destruction Dark World Accession Dark World Dealings Dark World Archives The Gates of Dark World x2 Upstart Goblin Side Deck Called by the Grave Trap Cards Side Deck Eradicator Epidemic Virus x3 Skill Drain x2 Extra Deck Fusion Monsters Grapha, Dragon Overlord of Dark World x2 Xyz Monsters Coach King Giantrainer Number 41: Bagooska the Terribly Tired Tapir Number 60: Dugares the Timeless Link Monsters Akashic Magician Apollousa, Bow of the Goddess I:P Masquerena Knightmare Cerberus Knightmare Unicorn Mekk-Knight Crusadia Avramax Muckraker From the Underworld x2 Saryuja Skull Dread Security Dragon

Weaknesses and counter-strategies

• The ultimate threats to "Dark World" decks are cards that banish cards that would be sent to the GY: "Dimensional Fissure", "Karma Cut", "Kashtira Arise-Heart", "Masked HERO Dark Law", "Banisher of the Radiance", "Banisher of the Light" or "Macro Cosmos".
  • Any Decks that stop discarding effects will also completely shut down "Dark World" decks.
• "Droll & Lock Bird" will immediately shut down the effects of searchers such as "Snoww, Unlight of Dark World", "Reign-Beaux, Overking of Dark World" or "Genta, Gateman of Dark World" and may leave the player vulnerable.
• "Magical Thorn" can inflict severe damage by forcing the opponent to take 500 damage every time they discard a card.
• "Abyss Dweller", "The End of Anubis", "Shadow-Imprisoning Mirror", "Soul Drain", "Necrovalley", or "Gravekeeper's Trap" will negate or prevent activated GY effects, making most "Dark World" cards nearly useless.
  • The above cards besides "Gravekeeper's Trap" do not prevent the Summon of "Grapha" or "Reign-Beaux Overking", as their Summoning condition is not an activated effect.
• "Consecrated Light" prevents DARK monsters from attacking or being Summoned.
• In a Mirror Match against another "Dark World" Deck, any cards that make both players discard will become a double-edged sword.
• Like all Special Summon-based decks, cards that prevent Special Summons will slow this deck down.
• Due to the possible sequence of multiple effects or Special Summons performed in a single turn, "Nibiru, the Primal Being" could also be dangerous to this Deck.