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The "Ninja" archetype, like their namesake, primarily focuses on a [[Control]] playstyle through the utilization of various "Ninjitsu Art" cards in order to disrupt the opponent, build up resources, and prepare for a larger assault through swarming the board. Many "Ninja" monsters often prefer being placed in face-down Defense Position to trigger their effects when flipped face-up, letting them surprise the opponent with various strong effects or, in some cases, unexpectedly high [[Defense Position|defense]]. Most higher-Level "Ninja" monsters, however, are not as powerful ATK-wise as those found in other themes, but make up for it with a wide variety of effects tailored to disrupt and whittle away at the opponent's Life Points.
The biggest tools of a "Ninja" deck are the "Ninjitsu Art" series of Spell and Trap Cards that serve to benefit the theme in various ways through generating sudden advantages and dishing out disadvantages for the opponent. Some examples include "[[Armor Ninjitsu Art of Rust Mist|Rust Mist]]" halving the opponent's Special Summoned monsters' ATK, "[[Ninjitsu Art of Duplication|Duplication]]" to [[Tribute]] one "Ninja" monster and summon many lower-[[Level]] "Ninja" monsters totaling the tributed monster's Level, as well as "[[Ninjitsu Art of Falling Dancing Leaves|Falling Dancing Leaves]]" and the various "Transformation" Ninjitsu Art cards ([[Ninjitsu Art of Transformation|Transformation]], [[Ninjitsu Art of Super-Transformation|Super-Transformation]], and [[Ninjitsu Art of Mirage-Transformation|Mirage-Transformation]]) to instantly [[Special Summon]] a stronger "Ninja" monster or even stronger monsters of other types. When a "Ninjitsu Art" card is no longer effective, the archetype also provides means of removing them from the field; such as "[[Armor Ninjitsu Art of Alchemy]]" to destroy them and draw cards as well as the effects of "[[Beast Ninja Baku]]" and "Ninjitsu Art of Falling Dancing Leaves" to return them to the hand and use their effect again.
Among the many different cards in the theme, "Ninjas" are often divided into a handful of sub-series that each prioritize different aspects of the theme's overall playing style:
