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	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" is a discard-focused archetype; almost all of its monsters have Trigger Effects that provide advantage when they are discarded from the hand by a card effect (and importantly, not when they are discarded a cost, such as with "Knightmare" monsters), and provide additional advantage when said discard effect was an opponent's effect.

While earlier "Dark World" decks are beatdown decks revolving around "Grapha, Dragon Lord of Dark World", most "Dark World" decks in 2023 are combo decks focused on swarming monsters to make generic Extra Deck boss monsters and handloop the opponent with "Sillva, Warlord of Dark World".

The main "Dark World" monster discard trigger effects are as follows:

Dark World	Effect after being discarded by…
	any card effect	an opponent's card effect
Reign-Beaux (Overking)	Search 1 high level "Dark World".	Summon 1 low level "Dark World" from Deck/GY to either field.
Reign-Beaux (Overlord)	—	Summon itself.
Broww	Draw 1.	Draw 1.
Grapha	Destroy 1 card.	(Chance to) Summon 1 monster from opponent's hand to player's field.
Parl	Summon 1 "Dark World" from GY to either field.	Summon 1 Fiend from banished/hand/GY to either field.
Snoww	Search 1 "Dark World" card.	Summon 1 monster from opponent's GY to player's field.
Goldd	Summon itself.	Destroy up to 2 cards.
Latinum		Give 1 Fiend +500 ATK.
Lucent		Summon 1 Fiend from Deck to either field.
Sillva		Opponent returns two cards from hand to Deck.
Beiige		—
Ceruli	Summon itself to opponent's field.
Gren	Destroy 1 Spell/Trap.
Kahkki	Destroy 1 monster.

Many of these effects are not once per turn, meaning that, as long as the player has the discard outlet and recovery, they can repeatedly trigger "Dark World" trigger effects and repeatedly gain advantage. In-archetype, the "recovery" comes from "Grapha, Dragon Lord of Dark World" and "Reign-Beaux, Overking of Dark World"; both can revive themselves by bouncing a friendly "Dark World" monster. The player can thus discard a self-reviving "Dark World" and then bounce it with "Grapha"/"Reign-Beaux", allowing it to be discarded again for more advantage.

"Dark World" Decks require cards that discard as an effect to enable their trigger effects. In-archetype, this is primarily enabled by:

• "Dark World Dealings" (2 for 1 card cycling)
• "The Gates of Dark World" (searchable by "Genta, Gateman of Dark World"; 1 for 1 cycling)
• "Charge Into a Dark World" (revive)
• "Dark World Lightning" (destroy backrow)
• "Dark Corridor" (search "Dark World" monster)
• "Dark World Puppetry" (banish from opponent's GY)
• "Dark World Accession" (Fusion Summon with discards, and discard to add itself from GY to hand)
• "Dark World Archives" (give ATK, and 1 for 2 card cycling)
• "Dark World Punishment" (monster summon negate)

Externally, other cards that discard as an effect and provide advantage include:

• "Muckraker From the Underworld" (revive)
• "Number 60: Dugares the Timeless" (1 for 2 card cycling)
• "Danger!" monsters (summon "Danger!" monsters and draw)
• "Dark Smog" (banish from opponent's GY)

While the stronger "discarded by an opponent's effect" Trigger Effects are generally unreliable due to the rarity of such effects, a small number of cards, including some "Dark World" cards, can artificially create such situations (and sometimes even generate advantage while doing so), allowing for more consistent combos involving these Trigger Effects. These include:

• "Ceruli, Guru of Dark World": By summoning it to the opponent's field with a "Dark World" card effect (including its own), "Ceruli", now an opponent's card, will mandatorily make the "Dark World" player discard 1 card.
• "Ken the Warrior Dragon": By summoning it to the opponent's field with "Gen the Diamond Tiger", "Ken" will mandatorily make the "Dark World" player draw 2 cards and discard 1 card.
• "Dark World Brainwashing", "Fabled Dianaira", "Dark Deal", "Grapha, Dragon Overlord of Dark World": They each can change an opponent's card effect to one that causes the player to discard; this functionally also acts as a negate.

Typically, a "Dark World" deck is played alongside "Danger!" monsters to mass swarm monsters, using them to make generic Link/Xyz Extra Deck boss monsters, and also to Fusion Summon "Grapha, Dragon Overlord of Dark World" with "Dark World Accession". The "Danger Dark World" deck often also aims to summon "Ceruli" to the opponent's field and use it to discard "Sillva" twice, handlooping the opponent for 4.

Additional synergies

• 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.
• "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.
• "Neko Mane King" can be used as a discard fodder for "Grapha, Dragon Overlord of Dark World's" effect, thus enable its turn-ending effect and potentially skips the opponent's entire turn if used early.

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 Gen the Diamond Tiger & Ken the Warrior Dragon Neko Mane King 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 Dark Spirit's Mastery Equip Spells Spirit Illusion Field Spells The Gates of Dark World Continuous Spells Dark World Archives Ebon Sun Lil-la Rap Quick-Play Spells Dark World Accession Dark World Puppetry Gateway to Dark World Trap Cards Normal Traps Deck Devastation Virus Eradicator Epidemic Virus Mind Crush Archfiend's Ghastly Glitch Counter Traps Dark World Punishment Dark Illusion Continuous Traps Dark World Brainwashing Floodgate cards Skill Drain Extra Deck Fusion Monsters Grapha, Dragon Overlord of Dark World Clorless, Chaos King of Dark World The Duke of Demise Synchro Monsters Chaos Angel Chaos King Archfiend Dark Highlander Groza, Tyrant of Thunder Xyz Monsters Abyss Dweller Coach King Giantrainer D/D/D Stone King Darius/D/D/D Wave King Caesar D/D/D Marksman King Tell D/D/D Deviser King Deus Machinex Divine Dragon Knight Felgrand Evilswarm Nightmare Leviair the Sea Dragon Dingirsu, the Orcust of the Evening Star Number 1: Infection Buzzking 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 Link Monsters Muckraker From the Underworld Akashic Magician I:P Masquerena S:P Little Knight Apollousa, Bow of the Goddess Mekk-Knight Crusadia Avramax Underworld Goddess of the Closed World Saryuja Skull Dread Worldsea Dragon Zealantis

Example Decklist

2023 WCQ Crema 1st Place

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

• Floodgates this Deck is weak against:
  • Anti-GY floodgates (e.g. "Dimension Shifter", "Macro Cosmos", "Abyss Dweller").
  • Anti-Special Summoning floodgates (e.g. "Fossil Dyna Pachycephalo", "Summon Limit")
  • Anti-DARK floodgates (e.g. "Consecrated Light", "Shadow-Imprisoning Mirror")
• Because the "Danger!/Dark World" combo depends on drawing many times a turn, "Droll & Lock Bird" will shut down the deck instantly. However, this can be resolved by having "Called by the Grave".
• In a Mirror Match, any cards that make both players discard will become a double-edged sword.
• 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.