Mikanko

Mikanko
"Ohime the Manifested Mikanko", "Ha-Re the Sword Mikanko", and "Ni-Ni the Mirror Mikanko" in the artwork of "Mikanko Kagura".
Japanese	御巫（みかんこ） 御巫 (base) みかんこ (ruby) Mikanko (romanized)
French	Mikanko
German	Mikanko
Italian	Mikanko
Korean	미캉코 Mikangko (romanized)
Portuguese	Mikanko
Spanish	Mikanko
Sets Cyberstorm Access Duelist Nexus TCG Amazing Defenders OCG Deck Build Pack: Amazing Defenders Duelist Nexus +1 Bonus Pack
Lists	Members Support

"Mikanko" (御巫（みかんこ） Mikanko) is an archetype introduced in Deck Build Pack: Amazing Defenders/Amazing Defenders.

Lore

Main article: The Valuable Book EX 3 card storylines § No. 07: Mikanko

Etymology

"Mikanko" is a complex wordplay with multiples references. The reading and spelling directly reference 御巫 (mikanko, also mikan-no-ko or mikannagi). Etymologically, it derives from 御 (mi-, a divinely or imperially honorific prefix), and 巫/神子 (kamiko, kamuko, kanko, a Shinto priestess). A mikanko was a fortune-telling Shinto priestess under the Ritsuryō system of government. The dancer motif is apt, given that one of the priestessly duties was to conduct the kagura dance routine (referenced in "Mikanko Kagura"). It is also a play on mikan (蜜柑（みかん）, "citrus") and ko (子（こ）, "child"), meaning it effectively sounds like "citrus girl" - this is reflected by the emblem of theme resembling both the Imperial Seal of Japan and a lemon slice.

Members of this archetype are named for the mythological founders of Japan. Ninigi ("Ni-Ni") was the grandson of the sun goddess and ruler of heaven Amaterasu Ōmikami ("Ohime"), the father of Hoori ("Hu-Li") and the great-grandfather of Iwarebiko ("Ha-Re"). At the behest of his grandmother, Ninigi brought with him the three Imperial Regalia of Japan (the sword, the mirror and the jewel) down to rule the earth. Some of the names seem to emulate faux archaic pronunciations of the gods' names, such as Hare (from Middle Japanese Ifare/Ihare) and Fuuri/Huuri (from Middle Japanese Fowori/Howori).

Members

Effect Monsters

Attribute	Mikanko	Name origin	Sacred animal	Imperial Regalia	Dance
					Dance style	Associated Equip Spell
FIRE	Ha-Re the Sword	Kamuyamato Iwarebiko-no-Mikoto (神日本磐余彦尊)	Hinezumi ("Fire rat")	Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi ("Grass-Cutting Sword")	Kenbu ("Sword dance")	Mikanko Fire Dance Mikanko Purification Dance
WATER	Ni-Ni the Mirror	Ninigi-no-Mikoto (瓊瓊杵尊)	Nekomata ("Forked cat")	Yata-no-Kagami ("Eight-Ata Mirror")	Ballet	Mikanko Water Arabesque Mikanko Reflection Rondo
WIND	Hu-Li the Jewel	Hoori-no-Mikoto (火遠理命)	Yōko ("Fox spirit")	Yasakani-no-Magatama ("Eight-Shaku Curved Jewel")	Nihon-buyō ("Japanese dance")	Mikanko Dance - Mayowashidori

Ritual Monsters

Attribute	Mikanko	Name origin	Sacred animal	Imperial Regalia
LIGHT	Ohime the Manifested	Ōhime (大日女)	Tokoyo-no-Naganakidori ("Long-crowing chicken of Tokoyo")	Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi ("Grass-Cutting Sword")	Yata-no-Kagami ("Eight-Ata Mirror")	-
	Arahime the Manifested	Arahitogami (現人神, "Living god")	Kyūbiko ("Nine-tailed fox")			Yasakani-no-Magatama ("Eight-Shaku Curved Jewel")

Playing style

"Mikanko" is an Equip Spell Card-based theme with some Ritual Monster-based support. Its playstyle revolves around using Equip Spells as combo tools, effect enablers, and disruption. All of its monsters also have effects that can reflect battle damage back at the opponent; the Deck generally aims to go second and set up damage-reflection-based OTKs, but could play a more control-oriented strategy and set up Equip-based disruptions and recursion.

All "Mikanko" monsters have 0 ATK/DEF, and have effects that can prevent battle destruction and reflect battle damage. For the non-Ritual Monsters, this effect is only active if they are equipped with Equip Cards, while the Ritual Monsters always have the effect. Each "Mikanko" non-Ritual Monster also gain additional effects if or while they are equipped with Equips; "Ha-Re" searches "Mikanko" Equip Spells, "Ni-Ni" gains a Quick Effect stealing effect, and "Hu-Li" grants targeting protection and searches "Mikanko" Traps.

The Deck's core searcher is "Ohime the Manifested Mikanko", who can activate its effect in the hand to search any "Mikanko" card. Other important searchers are the aformentioned "Ha-Re" and "Hu-Li", "Water Arabesque" described below, as well as the GY effect of "The Great Mikanko Ceremony", a send-to-GY searcher.

Each of the Deck's Equip Spells have different functions; most also prevent their equipped monster from being destroyed by effects.

• "Water Arabesque" is a summon-from-Deck searcher and a monster removal (by equipping it onto enemy monsters).
• "Reflection Rondo" is a monster steal.
• "Purification Dance" is a bounce disruption.
• "Fire Dance" is a revival and a setup for battle damage reflection.
• "Mayowashidori" is a revival from GY and a battle phase removal.

Other "Mikanko" Spells and Traps, as well as the on-field effects of "Ohime", provide additional searchable utility across a wide range of effects related to "Mikanko" Main Deck monsters and Equip Spells.

As a go-first control strategy, "Mikanko" aims to tutor out its Spell Speed 2 disruption points (e.g. "Ni-Ni", a summoned "Ohime", "Purification Dance", "Spiritwalk", "Rivalry") and out-grind the opponent over turns 2 and 3. As a go-second OTK strategy, "Mikanko" aims to quickly remove opposing disruptions while leaving behind high ATK monsters, that "Mikanko" monsters can attack into for a damage reflection OTK.

Due to "Ha-Re" being a FIRE Warrior, the deck is compartible with various "Infernoble Knight" and generic FIRE support. Both of which allows the "Mikanko" player to explosively set up their board either when going first or second, using "Ha-Re" as a bridge to several combos.

Aside from being a deck on its own, the searching power offered by "Ohime" and the versatility of "Mikanko Water Arabesque" also means that "Mikanko" can function as a compact engine in other decks, providing various forms of "Mikanko"-based utility (e.g. removal + summon, Spell Speed 2 steal, etc).

Recommended cards

Recommended cards

Main Deck Monster Cards Effect Monsters Hu-Li the Jewel Mikanko Ha-Re the Sword Mikanko Ni-Ni the Mirror Mikanko Ashoka Pillar Cyber Egg Angel Gen the Diamond Tiger & Ken the Warrior Dragon Immortal Phoenix Gearfried Infernoble Knight - Renaud Infernoble Knight - Roland Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands Noble Knight's Spearholder Silent Wobby Sublimation Knight "Kaiju" monsters Union monsters Squeaknight (with 'Sublimation Knight') Tuner monsters Courageous Crimson Chevalier Bradamante Diviner of the Herald Ritual Monsters Ohime the Manifested Mikanko Arahime the Manifested Mikanko Sauravis, the Ancient and Ascended Cyber Angel Benten Spell Cards Normal Spells Reinforcement of the Army Preparation of Rites Golden Bamboo Sword (with 'Bamboo Sword' Equip Cards) Foolish Burial Goods Starry Knight Balefire Hidden Armory Piri Reis Map Vylon Matter Equip Spells Mikanko Dance - Mayowashidori Mikanko Fire Dance Mikanko Purification Dance Mikanko Reflection Rondo Mikanko Water Arabesque Angelica's Angelic Ring Axe of Fools Bamboo Sword Equip Cards Double-Edged Sword "Infernoble Arms - Almace" "Infernoble Arms - Durendal" "Infernoble Arms - Hauteclere" Metalsilver Armor Twin Swords of Flashing Light - Tryce Snatch Steal Stonehenge Field Spells Heavenly Gate of the Mikanko Ritual Sanctuary Ritual Spells Mikanko Kagura Continuous Spells Burning Bamboo Sword (with 'Bamboo Sword' Equip Cards) Tool Box Quick-Play Spells The Great Mikanko Ceremony Emergency Teleport Action Magic - Full Turn Arms Regeneration Metaltronus Trap Cards Normal Traps Mikanko Rivalry Mikanko Promise Mikanko Spiritwalk Armory Call Massivemorph Revenge Rally Horn of Olifant Counter Traps Drytron Meteor Shower Extra Deck Synchro Monsters Herald of the Arc Light (with "Diviner of the Herald") Xyz Monsters Number 30: Acid Golem of Destruction Number 3: Cicada King Monsters that can be summoned using "Metaltronus" Cyber Dragon Nova (by targeting "Jizukiru, the Star Destroying Kaiju") Cyber Dragon Infinity Number F0: Utopic Future (by targeting "Gen the Diamond Tiger" or "Ken the Warrior Dragon") Number F0: Utopic Draco Future Link Monsters Dyna Mondo Geonator Transverser (with "Number 30: Acid Golem of Destruction") Isolde, Two Tales of the Noble Knights

Weaknesses

• As "Mikanko" Deck is entirely reliant on dealing reflect damage, the Deck fares poorly against Decks that summons little to no monsters or using monsters with 0 ATK/DEF. Such as the burn variant of "Timelord" Deck.
• "Skill Drain" and "Scareclaw Kashtira" can pose a serious threat to "Mikanko" player, as both can easily disable the damage reflection effect and bypass the targeting protection of "Hu-Li".
• Since "Mikanko" theme utilize a large number of Equip Spell Card, players may often have their Spell & Trap Zone to be clogged by their own cards, thus preventing them from activating any other Spell/Trap on their hand.
• Being a backrow-heavy Deck, mass Spell & Trap or non-target removal effect (such as "Harpie's Feather Duster") can easily disable the effects of the Level 3 "Mikanko" monsters.