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An '''Anti-Meta''' Deck is any Deck that is built to counteract the most popular Decks being played.
There are many different Anti-Meta Decks, such as, "[[Monarch]]," [[Yosenju]]," "[[Evilswarm]]," "[[Little City]]" "[[Gravekeeper's]]", "[[Gadget#GadgetOppression|Gadget Oppression]]", "[[Meklord]]" and "[[Stun]]". The usual theme of Anti-Meta Decks is to the usage of [[floodgate]]-like cards which prevent the opponent's player (usually both players) from performing a variety of common actions, including [[Special Summon]]s. In particular, as many current Decks in the metagame focus on Special Summon. Some Anti-Meta decks focus on such cards restrict [[banish]]ing your opponent's monsters, since most meta Decks require the [[Graveyard]] to work, or else can't function while certain components are banished. Likewise, some decks revolve around banishing their own cards to reach their goals, with cards like "[[Imperial Iron Wall]]" being prevalent in formats. The types of Anti-Meta decks used changes occasionally every format.
==Recommended Cards==
* "[[Doomcaliber Knight]]" is a great [[beatstick]] with 1900 ATK and a solid 1800 DEF, and Tributes itself to negate a monster's effect. This can be really annoying for your opponent to work around; if they Summon a big monster such as "[[Dark Armed Dragon]]" or "[[Judgment Dragon]]", they'll have to use up extra cards to destroy it before they can use their effects. This card can also negate monster effects that activate from the hand, such as "[[Honest]]" and "[[Gorz the Emissary of Darkness]]". Just make sure not to use your own monster effects while this card is on the field.
* "[[Justice Bringer]]" Is also a decent anti-meta card. It has 1700 ATK and its effect can be used to negate a Special Summoned monster's effect once per turn. This can be useful for negating cards such as "[[Black Rose Dragon]]", "[[Stardust Dragon]]", "[[Legendary Six Samurai - Shi En]]" etc. This card is also useful for negating an [[Xyz Monster]]'s effects, since all Xyz Monsters have to detach their [[Xyz Material]] to activate their effects. This can be useful for negating the effects of "[[Number 39: Utopia]]", to prevent it from negating attacks. Another example would be to negate the effect of "[[Number 17: Leviathan Dragon]]" to prevent it from gaining any attack while it still detaches its Xyz Material for the cost, or you can negate the effect of "[[Wind-Up Zenmaines]]" so that it doesn't destroy any card with it's effect.
* "[[Book of Moon]]" flips a monster into face-down Defense Position, which has many useful purposes such as negating attacks, stopping certain effects and preventing your opponent from [[Synchro Summon|Synchro]]ing by flipping the Tuner face-down. Great against "[[Yubel]]", "[[Mecha Phantom BeastXyz Summon|Xyz]]", "or [[RelinquishedLink Summon]]"ing by flipping the monster face-down.
* "[[Skill Drain]]" is a great Anti-Meta card. It takes away all of the power from the Decks in the current Metagame. If they Summon low-stat monsters such as "[[Gladiator Beast Murmillo]]" and you use "Skill Drain", you now have a free attack target.
* "[[Black Ray Lancer]]" is a new option for Anti-Meta Decks, with a powerful 2100 ATK, the ability to negate effects and being rather easy to Summon with only two Level 3 WATER Monsters.
* "[[Alector, Sovereign of Birds]]" is a great card, because it can negate any card's effect for 1 turn. This means you can run "[[Goblin Attack Force]]" or "[[Mask of Restrict]]" and you'll be able to negate their downside for a turn to execute a play and put your opponent back under their restrictions during theirs. It's also a great Anti-Meta card because it can Special Summon itself when your opponent controls at least 2 monsters of the same Attribute, which a lot of Meta Decks have.
* "[[Vanity's Fiend]]" and "[[Angel 07]]" prevent monster effect activation.
* "[[Holding Arms]]" targets one face up monster on your opponent's side of the field and negates its effect as well as preventing it from attacking. As long as the targeted monster is on the field, this card also can't be destroyed by battle or card effects.
* "Solemn" [[Counter Trap Card]]s (e.g. "[[Solemn Judgment]]", "[[Solemn Warning]]", "[[Solemn Strike]]") can theoretically negate the activation of most cards/monster effects or Summon (depending on the card), which can be disruptive if used to stop the opponent's most important card at the right moment (whether they were trying to Summon an important monster integral to their strategy or a card that would threaten to dismantle the user's own field).
====Preventing Special Summons====
* "[[Thunder King Rai-Oh]]" again for its repeated success against the Metagame.
* "[[King Tiger Wanghu]]" automatically destroys any monster normal or special summoned with 1,400 or less attack.
* "[[Royal Oppression]]" can negate Special Summons which can usually win the game and almost all meta Decks Special Summon often. However, it is banned from the Advanced Format.
* "[[Royal Prison]]" acts as an alternative to "Royal Oppression", though it can only negate Special Summons from the Graveyard.
* "[[Fossil Dyna Pachycephalo]]" holds back any powerful monsters that can be Special Summoned, including all [[Synchro Monsters]], "[[Gorz the Emissary of Darkness|Gorz]]", "[[Dark Armed Dragon|DAD]]", "[[Judgment Dragon]]", and most other key finishers in Meta Decks. Can also destroy Special Summoned monsters rather than just negating them in the first place.
* "[[Vanity's Fiend]]", "[[Vanity's Ruler]]", and "[[Archlord Kristya]]" can completely block Special Summonsand are more difficult bodies to beat over by battle.
* "[[Vanity's Emptiness]]" prevents both players from Special Summoning. However if any of its controller's cards are sent to the Graveyard, this card is destroyed.
* "[[Jowgen the Spiritualist]]" can also prevent Special Summons, but it's far weaker than "Fossil Dyna" and requires a cost.
* With the debut of "[[Solemn Warning]]" in [[Duelist Revolution]], preventing Special Summons becomes much easier. For a cost of 2000 LP not only can it negate the Summon of a monster, but also a card effect that Special Summons a monster.
* "[[Maxx "C"]] is a card that gives an opponent the choice of going for a [[One Turn Kill]] or not making a play unless they don't want you to draw a large number of cards.
* "[[Steelswarm Roach]]" can negate the [[Special Summon]] of a Level 5 or higher monster by simply detaching one of its two [[Xyz Material]]s.
* "[[Mirror of Oaths]]" is a good Trap to negate the Special Summon of an opponent's monster(s) from their Deck, such as "[[Gladiator Beast]]s", destroy them and draw 1 card.
* "[[Horn of Heaven]]" can prevent the Special Summon, Normal Summon, or Flip Summon of a monster at the cost of Tributing 1 monster.
* "[[Grand Horn of Heaven]]" works only during your opponent's Main Phase. When your opponent Special Summons a monster(s), this card negates the Summon, destroys that monster, and then ends the Main Phase. (at the cost of letting your opponent draw 1 card)
* "[[Summoning Curse]]": Whenever a player Special Summons a monster they must choose 1 card in their hand and [[Banish|remove it from play]]. This is a good card in Anti-Meta decks, especially if the Deck does not rely on Special Summoning, as well as working as Anti-Meta against decks such as "Gladiator Beasts", "Blackwings", Zombie, and Plant. The only drawback of this card is that during each of your End Phases, you must pay 500 Life Points or destroy it.* "[[Solemn Strike]]" negates the Special Summon of a monster(s) or the activation of a monster effect and destroys it with a cost of 1500 LP. This card is basically a combination of [[Divine Wrath]] and [[Black Horn of Heaven]]. Just as potent as Solemn Warning.
* "[[Power Filter]]" prevents both players from Special Summoning monsters with 1000 or less attack.
* "[[Discord]]" prevents both players from Synchro Summoning. Note that it is destroyed after your third end phase.
* "[[Non-Fusion Area]]" prevents both players from Fusion summoningSummoning. * "[[Consecrated Light]]" prevents Dark DARK monsters from being normal Normal or special summoned Special Summoned as well as preventing them from attacking if they were already on the field. * "[[Dimensional Barrier]]" prevents both players from Special Summoning monsters of one declared Monster Card type (Ritual, Pendululum, Fusion, Synchro or Xyz).* "Solemn" [[Counter Trap Card]]s (e.g. "[[Solemn Judgment]]", "[[Solemn Warning]]", "[[Solemn Strike]]")
====Banishing====
Almost all Meta Decks use the Graveyard, so banishing cards can be the ultimate [[negate|negation]]counter. Cards such as "[[Banisher of the Radiance]]" also prevent the activation of cards that send a card to the Graveyard as a [[Cost]], such as "[[Honest]]". Also, cards like "[[Dimensional Prison]]" are handy because they cannot be negated by "[[Stardust Dragon]]" or "[[My Body as a Shield]]".
* "[[Banisher of the Radiance]]" is one of the most Anti-Meta defining cards. This card can be quite annoying if you can keep it on the field long enough to banish vital cards; as an example, you can demolish their Deck by milling, and against "Gladiator Beasts", you'll end up destroying cards they can't get back.
* "[[Banisher of the Light]]" works exactly like "Banisher of the Radiance". Both cards work also work exacly the same as "[[Macro Cosmos]]."
* "[[Bottomless Trap Hole]]" is a nice Anti-Meta card that can be used to banish any powerful monster that is Summoned. Many monsters, such as the [[Dragon Ruler]]s, can Special Summon themselves from the Graveyard with their effects. This card can banish them to keep them from Summoning themselves back.
* "[[Bystial]]" monsters share the effect of being able to banish a key LIGHT or DARK monster from the GY then Special Summon themselves from the hand (which are Quick Effects if the opponent controls a monster).
* "[[Deep Dark Trap Hole]]" is similar to "Bottomless Trap Hole". They both banish the monster. It's also similar to "[[Steelswarm Roach]]" because they were both meant for Level 5 or higher Special Summoned monsters. Unlike "Bottomless Trap Hole", "Deep Dark Trap Hole" only banishes the monster, so it cannot be negated by cards like "[[Stardust Dragon]]".
* "[[Different Dimension Ground]]" banishes any monster sent to the graveyard the turn it was activated.
* "[[Dimension Shifter]]" is a hand trap that temporarily redirects all cards that would be sent to the GY being banished instead, though it only lasts for two turns.
* "[[D.D. Crow]]" can be chained to cards such as a "[[Gladiator Beast Darius]]", "[[Debris Dragon]]", "[[Junk Synchron]]", and "[[Call of the Haunted]]" and disrupt their plays.
* "[[D.D. Warrior Lady]]" and "[[D.D. Assailant]]" can be used to banish monsters such as "[[Stardust Dragon]]", and "[[Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning]]" to make the Duel easier for you.
* "[[Crevice Into the Different Dimension]]" banishes two monsters, but is generally outclassed by "[[D.D. Crow]]" due to having to Set it on the field, as well as the fact that there has to be two monsters of the same [[Attribute]] in the Graveyards to banish.
* "[[Gravekeeper's Servant]]" will prevent your opponent from attacking as long as you have something to continually banish your opponent's cards. "[[Banisher of the Radiance]]", "[[Macro Cosmos]]" ,and "[[Dimensional Fissure]]" are examples of this.
* "[[Macro Cosmos]]" banishes every card that would go to the Graveyard. Most Meta Decks these days send a lot of cards to the Graveyard or can get harmed when their cards are banished.
* "[[Masked HERO Dark Law]]" banishes all cards that would otherwise be sent to your opponent's Graveyard, without banishing yours unlike other popular Anti-Meta cards, which banish all cards. In addition, his second effect banishes cards that your opponent would add to their hand (other than the Draw Phase) and many Meta Decks rely on searching. "[[Mask Change II]]" allows him to be Summoned in any Deck with DARK monsters.
* "[[Safe Zone]]" is a newer addition to the Anti-Meta family that can protect your most potent monsters. It can cripple an opponent's Deck if you use it to protect a "[[Psi-Blocker]]", "[[Thunder King Rai-Oh]]" or "[[Banisher of the Radiance]]".
* "[[Gorz the Emissary of Darkness]]" is useful for stopping [[One Turn Kill]]s, and is a good last-minute save.
* "[[Neo-Spacian Grand Mole]]" can be a very annoying card since you can return your opponent's monsters to the hand easily like "[[Stardust Dragon]]".
* "[[Blackwing - Gale the Whirlwind]]" is great against high-DEF monsters, "[[Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning]]", "[[Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon]]", and is useful to bring out "[[Black Rose Dragon]]", and "[[Ancient Fairy Dragon]]".
* "[[Rebound]]" stops any effect that returns any card(s) back to the hand.
* "[[Chivalry]]" can negate any Monster Effect that activates during the Battle Phase, such as "[[Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter]]", "[[Necro Gardna]]", "[[Honest]]" or "[[Blackwing - Kalut the Moon Shadow]]".
* "[[Zombie World]]" or "[[Closed Forest]]" are both great cards to include. "Zombie World" nullifies the strategies that rely on a single Type, and prevents Tribute Summons of non-Zombies (great choice against "[[Monarch (series)|Monarch]]s" or "[[Floowandereeze]]") "Closed Forest" is also a great choice against "[[Gravekeeper's]]" Decks due to blocking "[[Necrovalley]]", even if your opponent destroys it at the same turn. Has synergy with "[[King Tiger Wanghu]]" and "[[Burden of the Mighty]]" in order to impose severe Anti-Meta strategy.
* "[[Fiendish Chain]]" targets one Effect Monster on the field and negates its effects while also preventing it from attacking. This card is quite useful as almost all Meta Decks use Effect Monsters.
* "[[Dimensional Prison]]" banishes a monster when it attacks. Due to its banishing effect, this card can stop Monsters that Summon themselves from the Graveyard. Since it does not destroy a monster, the effects of cards like "[[Stardust Dragon]]", "[[Clear Vice Dragon]]", and "[[Prime Material Dragon]]" are completely useless against this card.
* "[[The Emperor's Holiday]]" negates all [[Equip Card]] effects on the field. This card is very effective against [[Union]], "[[Dragunity]]", "[[Inzektor]]", "[[Vylon]]", "[[ZW -]]", "[[Noble Knight]]" and "[[Morphtronic]]" Decks. Since Equip Cards aren't encountered too often, you could add this card to your [[Side Deck]] instead of your [[Main Deck]] and use it just in case you encounter any of the above Decks.
* "[[The End of Anubis]]" can counter many strategies that revolve around Graveyard manipulation in any way. Zombie, "Destiny HERO", Fiend, "Lightsworn", "Dark World" and "Laval" Decks will be particularly hamstrung by this card.
* "[[Necrovalley]]" prevents cards in Graveyards from being banished and negates any effect that would move a card in the Graveyard to another place. It is also searchable by "[[Terraforming]]", "[[Metaverse]]" and "[[Gravekeeper's Commandant]]."
* "[[Stygian Dirge]]" reduces all face up monsters' Levels on your opponent's side of the field by 1. This makes it very difficult to Synchro and especially Xyz Summon.
* "[[Flying "C"|Flying C]]" prevents your opponent from Xyz Summoning.
* "[[Hero's Rule 2]]" negates any effect that targets a card(s) in the Graveyard.
* "[[Transmigration Break]]" banishes any card returned from the Graveyard back to the Deck.
* "[[Mystic Mine]]" prevents the player with more monsters from attacking or activating monster effects (though it destroys itself during the End Phase
* "[[Degenerate Circuit]]" banishes any card that would return back to the hand.
* Use "[[Mind Crush]]" when your opponent adds cards to their hand and declare the card. Not only do they have to discard all copies of it in their hand but you get to see your opponent's hand at the same time.
* "[[Anti-Spell Fragrance]]" stops your opponent from setting up Pendulum Scales since they cannot be set as well as , while also slowing down your opponent's regular Spells.
* "[[System Down]]" is great to use against any Machine-Type Deck since it banishes all Machine-Type monsters on your opponent's side of the field and their Graveyard.
* "[[Shadow-Imprisoning Mirror]]" prevents the effects of Dark Attribute DARK monsters from activating on the field and in the Graveyard. * "[[Light-Imprisoning Mirror]]" prevents the effects of Light Attribute LIGHT monsters from activating on the field and in the Graveyard.
* "[[Corridor of Agony]]" negates the effects of monsters special summoned from the deck as well as as preventing them from attacking.
* "[[Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer]]" prevents your opponent from banishing cards from both Graveyards.
* "[[Jinzo]]" negates all Trap Card effects and prevents Traps from being activated.
* "[[Spell Canceller|Spell Canceler]]" negates all Spell Card effects and prevents Spells from being activated.
* "[[Forbidden Scripture]]" negates all other card effects during damage calculation until the end of the Damage Step.
* "[[Denko Sekka]]" prevents both players from activating and setting spells Setting Spells and traps Traps as long as the controller has no current set spells Set Spells and trapsTraps.
* "[[Lightning Rod Lord]]" prevents both players from activating Spells during Main Phase 1.
* "[[Inspector Boarder]]" prevents both players from activating monster effects a number of times equal to the number of specific Monster Card types on the field per turn.
* If you run a Tributing deck without an Extra Deck such as Monarchs, "[[Domain of the True Monarchs]]" prevents your opponent from Special Summoning from the Extra Deck
* If you run a Spellcaster deck, "[[Secret Village of the Spellcasters]]" prevents your opponent from activating Spell Cards. * "[[Arkbrave Dragon]]", "[[Dragon Spirit of White]]", "[[Gandora the Dragon of Destruction]]", "[[Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand]]", "[[Cosmic Cyclone]]", and "[[Tachyon Chaos Hole]]" can banish [[Pendulum Monster]]s whether in a [[Monster Zone]] or a [[Pendulum Zone]], therefore making it difficult for most Pendulum Decks to function since banished Pendulum Monsters are not placed on the Extra Deck face-up.**The above dragons, excluding "Gandora" due to its last effect, can also be used with "[[Ruins of the Divine Dragon Lords]]" for a "[[Lose 1 Turn]]"-like effect against any monster that is not Special Summoned from the Graveyard, therefore leaving them defenseless for a turn if they would normally have built-in protecting against card effects under the right circumstances.
===Monsters===
<!-- This is not an exact Decklist. Do not add multiples or staples.-->
