Dragunity

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Dragunity

Dragunity

Japanese (base text)

ドラグニティ－

Japanese (translated)

Dragunity

Appears in (sets)
Lists

Dragunity is an Archetype released in the Duel Terminal, the term "Dragunity" is a portmanteau of the words Dragon and Unity. Their effects mainly revolve around equipping any level 3 or lower Dragon-Type monsters in your Graveyard to your Winged Beast-Type monsters in play (in the sense of the Dragon-Types transforming into weapons, or the Winged-Beast "Dragunity" monsters "uniting" with their Dragon "steeds" as "Dragunity Knights"). Because of their heavy focus on sending monsters to the Spell & Trap Card Zones, the "Dragunity" archetype is often compared to the "Crystal Beast", "Cyberdark" archetypes and also been refered to the likes of a "poor mans Tele-DAD". They also utilize powerful Dragon-Type Synchro Monsters, although they require Dragon-Type Tuner Monsters as well as Winged Beast-Type non-Tuners. All of the Dragunity monsters that have been released so far are WIND monsters. The Dragon-Type monsters in this Archetype so far all have armor which either covers most of their body ("Dragunity Phalanx"), or they have a piece of armor that they resemble, and is named after a weapon ("Dragunity Darkspear"). By contrast, the Winged Beast-Type monsters seem to be named after historical warriors (Ex. - "Dragunity Legionnaire" is named after the common solider in the Roman army). Their archetype symbol is the green emerald for the Dragon-Type monsters, and for the Winged Beast-Type monsters is the green emerald surrounded by a gold outline of wings. Like "Blackwings", there is a heavy distinction between the Tuner monsters and the non-Tuner monsters in terms of appearance. Similar to "Blackwings", the non-Tuner monsters are all humanoids in bird costumes while the Tuner monsters are all small dragons (whereas the "Blackwing" Tuner monsters are all small birds).

Playing style

The main purpose of "Dragunity" decks is to have versatile and easy Synchro Summons. "Dragunity Phalanx" is one of the key cards here - it's a level 2 Tuner monster that can Special Summons itself when it is equipped to a monster. Thanks to the effects of "Dragunity Dux" and "Dragunity Legionnaire", you can easily summon Level 5 or 6 Synchro Monster - however, if you decide to Synchro Summon "Dragunity Knight - Vajrayana" with "Dux" and "Phalanx", you can use one of the deck's most powerful combos. "Vajrayana" is a Level 6 monster that can also equip a Level 3 or lower Dragon-Type "Dragunity" monster from the Graveyard. Because the "Once per turn" effect of "Phalanx" resets when it is sent to the Graveyard, if you re-equip "Phalanx" it can Special Summon itself again and you can Synchro Summon a Level 8 Synchro Monster - effectively turning one card in your hand into a Level 8 monster from your Extra Deck (idealistic "Stardust Dragon", however, there are a vast amount of choices such "Scrap Dragon", "Thought Ruler Archfiend", "Collossal Fighter"). Or another powerful combo with "Vajrayana" is to equip "Dragunity Aklys" and use "Vajrayana's" effect to send a monster equipped to him to the grave, this will essentially double his attack into a 3800 atk beatstick for a turn as well as triggering "Dragunity Aklys" effect. Another fast combo to summon Level 8 synchros is to use the level 6 "Dragunity Arma Mystletainn." Its effect lets you special summon it by tributing a Dragunity Monster, and then it equips a Level 3 or lower Dragon-Type Dragunity from the graveyard. Equipping Phalanx, and then summoning it with its effect can grant you an instant level 8 Synchro Monster. However, this card has no way of being recruited, and, although "Mystletanin" can capitalize off any lone "Dragunity" monster it is rarely run in a competitive environment as it is often a dead draw. Dragon Ravine is the core of the "Dragunity" deck because it essentially searches any level 4 or lower "Dragunity" monster, or can alternatively dump any Dragon-type monster from your deck to your graveyard - essentially turning any card in your hand into either a "Dragunity" version of "Reinforcement of the Army" or "Foolish Burial", which makes combo set-ups easy.

The main combos of the "Dragunity" deck include:

The infamous Synchro Climb

This combo only requires "Dux" in your hand and "Phalanx" in your Graveyard, and it is incredibly simple to set up with the help of "Dragon Ravine". Normal Summon "Dragunity Dux" then use his effect to equip "Dragunity Phalanx". Now simply un-equip "Dragunity Phalanx" with his effect, then synchro into a level 6 Synchro monsters, preferably either "Dragunity knight - Gae Dearg" - to help solidify your set up or "Dragunity Knight - Vajrayana" to continue the Synchro climb. "Vajrayana" equips "Dragunity Phalanx" akin to "Dragunity Dux", then simply un-equip "Dragunity Phalanx" again and synchro into a level 8 Synchro monster. It is important that you choose the appropriate level 8 Synchro for the situation, normally, Stardust Dragon is used as a defensive wall.

However, the "Dragunity" monsters have many alternate strategies. Even without Synchro Monsters, the archetype can hold its own in battle: "Dragunity Legionnaire" takes out tough monsters with its effect - you can send an equipped Dragon-Type monster to the graveyard to destroy one of your opponent's face-up monsters. This is especially useful with "Dragunity Aklys", as when it is equipped and sent to the Graveyard, one card on the field is destroyed. As such, one of the main "Dragunity" combos is to Normal Summon "Dragunity Legionnaire", equip "Drgunity Aklys", and send it to the Graveyard to destroy one your opponent's Face-up monsters and another one of his/her cards, in a devastating one-two punch that costs you nothing. This also works with the second effect of "Dragunity Knight - Vajrayana", which can send a card equipped to itself to the Graveyard to double its own ATK until the end of the turn. If you equip and then send "Dragunity Aklys" to the Graveyard, you will end up with a 3800 ATK monster that turn while destroying one of your opponent's cards, allowing for brutal pushes for game.

Combo list

    • Legionnaire + Aklys = 1 Monster and 1 Card destroyed.
    • Legionnaire + Phalanx = Catastor/ Tech Genus Hyper Librarian.
    • Legionnaire floating = Mystletainn Summon.
    • Mystletainn + Phalanx = Level 8.
    • Mystletainn + Brandistock = 2100 dual attacker, sometimes this is better than a level 8, I mean, lets be honest thats 4200 damage.

Using Aklys to summon Mystletainn or Leyvaten from the hand with its first effect; they miss the timing on their equip, but are immune to Bottomless Trap Hole and Torrential Tribute.

    • Dux + Phalanx = Level 6 Synchro.
    • Dux + Brandistock = 1900 dual attacking 4 star, that can be really brutal. Especially against a heavy backrow where a Synchro climb is a weaker choice.
    • Dearg: It doesn't set up the climb, it sets up the deck. If you've got it out, sure you have Phalanx in grave but do you have Brandi? Aklys? If not the only play open to you is the Synchro Climb, which means you're screwed in a competitive game. Opening Canyon + Dust is a standard strong play, it ensures you have a field spell next turn, but opening Canyon + Dearg ensures all your plays are live and they realistically will find it very difficult to remove both Dearg and the Field Spell in one turn. There is a choice.
    • Vajrayana + Aklys = 3800ATK + 1 card destroyed.
    • Vajrayana + Phalanx = Level 8 Synchro.
    • Vajrayana + Brandistock = 1900 dual attacker (I'd just stick with Dux since it gains ATK and is level 4, this is a play I've never seen tbh).
    • Leyvaten + Phalanx = Trident Dragion
    • Leyvaten + Brandistock = 2600 dual attacker, in situations where you are low on advantage or Trident Dragion is risky this can be better than going into Trident. Considering Leyvaten can pop out of the graveyard for the cost of a Normal Summon its a pretty amazing play.
    • Dragon Ravine searches all Cards of Consonance targets as well as Legionnaire and Dux, it can also dump Leyvaten. I run 3 Mystletainn because it can't be dumped or searched via Ravine (if you want its effect).
    • Obviously Mystletainn can also Special Summon itself off any Dragunity or Dragunity Knight in play so you can even Normal Summon Phalanx, SS Mystletainn, equip Phalanx, and go into a Level 8. But thats a rather strained play, I concede Dragunitys have issues with maintaining hand advantage so such plays are really only when you have no other outlet.
    • Dux + Legionnaire + Phalanx = Level 9 Synchro.

Consistency of Dragunity

Consistency is one of the vital aspects of a deck in Yu-Gi-Oh and "Dragunity" have some of the best cards to maintain its consistency. The basic cards that help for the overall consistency of the deck are "Dragon Ravine", "Cards of Consonance", "Terraforming" and "Dragunity Knight - Gae Dearg". The main form for consistency is made with "Dragon Ravine" and "Cards of Consonance" which is the back bone of the deck. They simply fuel each other, "Dragon Ravine" searches out fodder for "Cards of Consonance" which in returns helps provide a set up for "Dragunity Dux" or "Dragunity Legionnaire" by dumping "Dragunity Phalanx" or "Dragunity Aklys". Likewise, "Cards of Consonance" helps draw out "Dragon Ravine" and helps create set-ups as explained previously. "Terraforming" supports the back bone by simply searching out the core of the deck, while, "Gae Dearg" is used for maintaining consistency when the decks core "Dragon Ravine" is threatened or non-existent at the time as well as helping to complete set-ups with his nifty searching effect. These cards are the heart and soul of the deck. The added use of "Pot of Duality", "Pot of Avarice" and "Blackwing - Zephyros the Elite" all contribute to furthering the consistency an set-up of "Dragunity". "Pot of Duality" is self-explanatory as it helps draw out "Dragon Ravine" or vital cards a hand may require regardless of the limitation of special summoning the turn "Pot of Duality" is used. "Pot of Avarice" is a great addition as it helps refuel "Dragon Ravine" which may become vital in a prolonged game. "Blackwing - Zephyros the Elite" is a prime set-up tool alongside "Dragon Ravine" and is also a Winged-Beast meaning it can be used with "Dragunity Phalanx" to Synchro into a "Dragunity Knight". The reason "Blackwing - Zephyros the Elite" is used in "Dragunity" is to get the main "Dragunity" set up easily. Firstly, ditch "Blackwing - Zepyhros the Elite" for "Dragon Ravine" to search out "Dragunity Phalanx". "Blackwing - Zepyhros the Elite" can then bounce "Dragon Ravine" and allowing it to be used again, as its "Once per turn" will be reset once leaving the field. This gives the "Dragunity" the abilities to set up either a double Synchro climb to fuel "Pot of Avarice" or Synchro into a level 9 or 10 Synchro monster depending on how you play the move out. For instance if you play "Dragon Ravine" again and search out "Dragunity Legionnaire" you will be able to Normal Summon him and equip, then un-equip "Dragunity Phalanx" to Synchro into "Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier". Alternatively, you can grab "Dragunity Dux" instead of "Dragunity Legionnaire" then Synchro into "Ally of Justice - Decisive Arms". Or even XYZ by overlaying "Dragunity Dux" and "Blackwing - Zephyros the Elite" to get out a rank 4 such as "Numbers 39: Utopia". As you may already be able to tell, Dragunities have a lot of potential combos.

Recommended cards

Sample deck-list:

40 - Dragunity

13 - Monsters

1 - Blackwing - Zephyros the Elite

3 - Dragunity Dux

3 - Dragunity Phalanx

3 - Dragunity Legionnaire

1 - Dragunity Aklys

2 - Effect Veiler


17 - Spells

3 - Cards of Consonance

3 - Dragon Ravine

3 - Mystical Space Typhoon

1 - Pot of Avarice

1 - Monster Reborn

1 - Dark Hole

1 - Heavy Storm

1 - Book of Moon

3 - Terraforming


10 - Traps

2 - Mind Crush

2 - Solemn Warning

2 - Bottomless Trap Hole

1 - Trap Dustshoot

1 - Torrential Tribute

1 - Solemn Judgment

1 - Starlight Road


15 - Extra Deck

1 - Dragunity Knight - Gae Dearg

3 - Dragunity Knight - Vajrayana

1 - Ally of Justice Catastor

1 - T.G. Hyper Librarian

1 - Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier

2 - Stardust Dragon

1 - Thought Ruler Archfiend

1 - Scrap Dragon

1 - Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier

1 - Trident Dragion

1 - Number 39: Utopia

1 - Steelswarm Roach


  • Note that another Dragunity Aklys is considered to be very liable.


Main (recommended) cards

Dragunity Dux Dragunity Phalanx Dragunity Legionnaire Dragunity Aklys Blackwing - Zephyros the Elite

Dragon Ravine Cards of Consonance

Other (recommended) monsters Reborn Tengu

Possible Support Cards

  • "Cards of Consonance": This card can be very good in a "Dragunity" deck. It's a 2 for that sets up your combos. However, "Dragunity" decks don't use a lot of targets for this card and aren't as likely to actually draw them as in Dragon Draw Exodia, so "Cards of Consonance" isn't as useful as it is in other decks.
  • "Pot of Avarice": This deck sends monsters to the Graveyard very quickly thanks to its Synchro Summons, discards from "Cards of Consonance" and "Dragon Ravine", and plain destruction by battle. "Pot of Avarice" rewards the filling of the graveyard with two new cards, as well as a chance to get another use out of used "Duxes", "Darkspears" and/or "Legionnaires".
  • "Terraforming": This card is the easiest way to search out "Dragon Ravine", so running two or three is recommended. This card can also serves as discard fodder for "Dragon Ravine"'s effect, so it will never be dead draw.
  • "Five-Headed Dragon: Combine with "Future Fusion" to fill the grave and have a massive monster two turns later. It may not stay on the field for a long time, but it will give you lots of access to quick "Dragunity" combos.
  • "T.G. Hyper Librarian: "Dragunity" decks can easily Synchro Summon level 5 Synchro Monsters with "Dragunity Legionnaire". Afterward, you can do the standard double Synchro Summon with "Dux" and "Vajrayana", and you will draw two cards.
  • "Blackwing - Zephyros the Elite": Although it's not a "Dragunity" monster, it is useful for "Dragunity" because you can return a "Legionnaire" to your hand after using its effect and Special Summon "Zephyros" or return a "Dux" to your hand after Special Summoning "Phalanx" and still get to Synchro Summon "Vajrayana" since "Zephyros" is a Winged Beast-Type monster.

Weakness

Competitively Dragunities have not gotten far this format (Sept 2011). This is mainly because "Dragunity" are a fragile deck, they are broken with the likes of staple cards, such as "Mystical Space Typhoon", "Effect Veiler", "Bottomless Trap Hole", "Mind Crush" and "Solemn Warning" which is mained in a vast amount of decks and will disrupt plays. "Mystical Space Typhoon" can be chained to "Dragon Ravine's" effect, which means the player with "Dragon Ravine" will be required to pay the cost and "Dragon Ravine's" effect will not resolve. Perhaps, the biggest issue "Dragunity" face is the side deck with the likes of "Thunder King Rai-Oh", "D.D. Crow", "Compulsory Evacuation", "Maxx "C" " and "Chain Disappearance" which destroy Dragunities foundations. "Thunder king Rai-Oh" stops any player from adding cards from their deck which essentially shuts down "Dragon Ravine's" search power. In addition to this effect he can tribute himself to negate a special summon while also being a 1900 beatstick. "D.D. Crow" and "Chain Disappearance" are used to remove "Dragunity Phalanx" or "Dragunity Aklys". "D.D. Crow" can be discarded remove 1 card from the graveyard during any turn, while, "Chain Disappearance" removes all copies of a summoned monster with 1000 or less attack. These are massive concerns that break the deck. And there are a vast number of cards that can have a similar effect to the "Dragunity" deck. However, "Dragunity" also have ways of dealing with these cards."Smashing Ground", "Debunk", "Malefic Stardust Dragon" and "Enemy Controller" can help fight against possible threats, some better then others. It is a matter of finding the best way to deter these disruptive plays while making sure you do not effect the consistency of the build which is difficult to achieve.

Future Cards

Future Cards to look out for include: "Crimson Blader" and "Daigusto Emeral". They are both powerful in their own rights with "Crimson Blader" capable of stunning level 5 or higher monsters summon-able during your opponents turn if he destroys a monster by battle and sends it to the graveyard. While "Daigusto Emeral" can help refuel "Dragon Ravine" just like "Pot of Avarice". to a weaker extent.


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