Ghostrick

Ghostrick
"Ghostrick" monsters in the artwork of "Ghostrick Parade".
Japanese	ゴーストリック Gōsutorikku (romanized)
French	Fantôruse
German	Geistertrick
Italian	Fantasmatrucco
Korean	고스트릭 Goseuteurik (romanized)
Portuguese	Fantardil
Spanish	Fantastruco
Sets Shadow Specters Legacy of the Valiant Primal Origin Extreme Force TCG Shadow Specters Sneak Peek Participation Card Legacy of the Valiant: Deluxe Edition Battle Pack 3: Monster League 2014 Mega-Tin Mega Pack World Superstars Wing Raiders OCG Duelist Card Protector EX: Ghostrick The New Challengers Extra Pack 2015 Extra Pack: Knights of Order Rarity Collection 20th Anniversary Edition Korean Advanced Event Pack 2014 Vol.1 Advanced Event Pack 2014 Vol.2
Anime appearances
Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V
Lists	Members Support Anti-support

"Ghostrick" (ゴーストリック Gōsutorikku) is an archetype of monsters that debuted in Shadow Specters. All of its members are DARK monsters, whereas their Type varies between Fiend, Spellcaster and Zombie (with one Fairy as an exception).

Design

Appearance

"Ghostrick" monsters are based on, and named after, various characters of folklore and Halloween monsters.

Etymology

"Ghostrick" is a portmanteau of the words "ghost" and "trick".

Members

Ghostrick	Origin
Doll	Bisque doll
Ghoul	Ghoul
Jackfrost	Jack Frost
Jiangshi	Jiangshi
Lantern	Jack-o'-lantern
Mary	Bloody Mary
Mummy	Mummy
Nekomusume	Nekomusume
Skeleton	Grim Reaper
Specter	Ghost
Stein	Frankenstein's monster
Warwolf	Werewolf
Witch	Witch
Yeti	Yeti
Yuki-onna	Yuki-onna
Alucard	Count Alucard/Dracula
Angel of Mischief	Fallen angel
Dullahan	Dullahan
Socuteboss	Succubus

Playing style

All of the Main Deck monsters have a common effect:

"Cannot be Normal Summoned, unless you control a "Ghostrick" monster. Once per turn: You can change this card to face-down Defense Position".

Also, the Xyz Monsters, except for "Ghostrick Socuteboss" and "Ghostrick Angel of Mischief", share the following common effect:

"If this card is sent to the Graveyard: You can target 1 other "Ghostrick" card in your Graveyard; add that target to your hand".

With the exception of the Rank 4 Fairy "Ghostrick Angel of Mischief", the Levels and Ranks of "Ghostrick" monsters are either 1, 2, or 3, with their Types differing based on their Level/Rank, being Fiend, Spellcaster, and Zombie respectively.

They feature a variety of effects, mostly revolving around flipping monsters face-down (both yours and your opponent's) and protecting themselves as long as they are face-down. The three strata of monsters each follow a set of general effect guidelines:

• The Fiend Level 1 monsters have effects that trigger while in the hand, and they react to destruction, attacks and damage, providing bonuses and acting like hand traps; design-wise, they share a prankster, infantile appearance, maybe hinting to the "tricks" they play against the attacks of the opponent's monsters.

• The Spellcaster Level 2 monsters have effects related to Battle Position control, allowing its controller to search for a monster or stall the opponent's moves; they share a feminine, delicate, appearance.

• The Zombie Level 3 monsters all provide useful bonuses while they are face-up or when flipped face-up. Their effects range from searching to burning, or even milling the opponent's deck or giving bulk to a "Ghostrick" monster; their motif is basically of male figures of Halloween and Folklore.

The deck's main goal is to produce strong attackers over a prolonged game, which can attack directly using the field spells "Ghostrick Mansion", "Ghostrick Museum" though the archetype also contains elements of milling, burning, lockdwn and most recently an Alternative Win Condition.

Most of the Ghostrick monsters aren't strong by themselves, thus they're left relying heavily on getting "Ghostrick Mansion" on the board as soon as possible in order to launch several consecutive direct attacks early in the game. Since "Mansion" also protects any face-down monsters from attacks, it is easy to repeatedly activate Ghostrick monster's effects like "Ghostrick Jiangshi" and "Ghostrick Witch". "Ghostrick Scare", "Floodgate Trap Hole" and "Swords of Concealing Light" are also useful in this deck to provide disruptions and lockdown.

The support provided by the on-theme Spell/Trap Cards is also diverse, with effects that range from protecting "Ghostrick" monsters from targeting and destroying effects, switching the battle position of opposing monsters, reviving "Ghostrick" monsters and locking the opponent from Flip Summoning. The only Spell Cards of the Deck is a trio of Field Spell Cards that share the common effect of allowing a player from attacking direcly if all opposing monsters are in face-down Defense Position. They can either search for resources, halve the battle damage and manipulating the battle position of the opponent's monsters.

Recommended Cards

Basic Ghostrick

Main Deck Monster Cards Effect Monsters Ghostrick Doll Ghostrick Nekomusume Ghostrick Jackfrost Ghostrick Ghoul Ghostrick Jiangshi Ghostrick Lantern Ghostrick Mary Ghostrick Mummy Ghostrick Skeleton Ghostrick Specter Ghostrick Stein Ghostrick Werewolf Ghostrick Witch Ghostrick Yuki-onna Ghostrick Yeti Dark Armed Dragon Spirit monsters Kinka-byo Tuner monsters Masked Chameleon Spell Cards Ghostrick Mansion Ghostrick Museum Ghostrick Parade Allure of Darkness Book of Moon Creature Swap Dark Eruption Nobleman of Crossout Recurring Nightmare Swords of Concealing Light Ties of the Brethren Trap Cards Ghostrick Break Ghostrick Night Ghostrick Renovation Ghostrick Scare Ghostrick Vanish Ghostrick-Go-Round Floodgate Trap Hole Gozen Match Needle Ceiling Quaking Mirror Force Extra Deck Xyz Monsters Ghostrick Angel of Mischief Ghostrick Alucard Ghostrick Dullahan Ghostrick Socuteboss Downerd Magician Mechquipped Angineer Number 13: Embodiment of Crime Number 31: Embodiment of Punishment Number 39: Utopia Roots Link Monsters Linkuriboh Wee Witch's Apprentice

Ghostrick Burn

This Deck focus on lock your opponent's moves and causing effect damage. "Ghostrick Museum" is the only recommended Field as it's the only to not affect the damage.

Recommended cards

Main Deck Monster Cards Effect Monsters Ghostrick Jiangshi Ghostrick Mary Ghostrick Mummy Ghostrick Specter Ghostrick Stein Ghostrick Warwolf Shadowpriestess of Ohm Stealth Bird Flip monsters Des Koala Prediction Princess Astromorrigan Princess of Tsurugi Spell Cards Ghostrick Museum Allure of Darkness Book of Moon Recurring Nightmare Swords of Concealing Light Ties of the Brethren Trap Cards Ghostrick-Go-Round Ghostrick Night Ghostrick Vanish Anti-Spell Fragrance Blazing Mirror Force Quaking Mirror Force Ceasefire Just Desserts / Secret Barrel / Secret Blast Nightmare Wheel Ojama Trio Ring of Destruction Extra Deck Xyz Monsters Ghostrick Alucard Ghostrick Angel of Mischief Ghostrick Dullahan Number 13: Embodiment of Crime Number 31: Embodiment of Punishment Number 30: Acid Golem of Destruction (with Creature Swap) Number 54: Lion Heart Link Monsters Linkuriboh Wee Witch's Apprentice

Ghostrick Mill

This Deck focus on milling your opponent's Deck and win by Deck out. "Ghostrick Parade" is the only recommended Field because of its searching effect and damage to your opponent is unecessary. Note that sending cards to your opponent's Graveyard may help their strategy, so "Ghostrick Skeleton" and "Masked HERO Dark Law" are used to banish the cards instead.

Recommended cards

Main Deck Monster Cards Effect Monsters Ghostrick Jiangshi Ghostrick Mary Ghostrick Mummy Ghostrick Skeleton Ghostrick Specter Ghostrick Stein A/D Changer Dark Bug Delg the Dark Monarch Flip monsters Hiro's Shadow Scout Needle Worm Tuner monsters Junk Synchron Spell Cards Ghostrick Parade Allure of Darkness Book of Eclipse Book of Moon Book of Taiyou Dark Eruption Dark World Dealings / Hand Destruction Mask Change II One Day of Peace Recurring Nightmare Swords of Concealing Light The Shallow Grave Ties of the Brethren Trap Cards Ghostrick-Go-Round Ghostrick Night Ghostrick Scare Ghostrick Vanish Quaking Mirror Force Crush Card Virus Deck Devastation Virus Ojama Trio Extra Deck Fusion Monsters Masked HERO Dark Law Synchro Monsters Dark Diviner Iron Chain Dragon Xyz Monsters Ghostrick Alucard Ghostrick Angel of Mischief Ghostrick Dullahan Pilgrim Reaper Link Monsters Linkuriboh Wee Witch's Apprentice

"Ghostrick" Deck recipes sample

Deck

Main Deck Monster Cards Effect Monsters Ghostrick Jiangshi x3 Ghostrick Stein Ghostrick Yuki-onna x3 Ghostrick Witch x2 Ghostrick Specter x3 Ghostrick Lantern x2 Crane Crane x2 Flip monsters Penguin Soldier x2 Spirit monsters Kinka-byo x2 Spell Cards Ghostrick Mansion x3 Terraforming Book of Eclipse Monster Reborn Mystical Space Typhoon x3 Heavy Storm Book of Moon Nobleman of Crossout x2 Trap Cards Ghostrick Vanish x2 Ghostrick Scare x2 Torrential Tribute x2 Solemn Judgment Extra Deck Xyz Monsters Ghostrick Alucard x2 Wind-Up Zenmaines Gachi Gachi Gantetsu Slacker Magician

Weaknesses

Despite this archetype's unorthodox "bait and switch"—like tactics, "Ghostricks" have many weaknesses.

• Firstly, cards like "Dark Simorgh", "Searchlightman", and "Light of Intervention" will prevent "Ghostrick" monsters from being Set or flipped face-down in first place. Cards like "Jurrac Velphito" and "Search Striker" are also dangerous to "Ghostricks" because they destroy face-down monsters immediately without them ever flipping face-up.
• Other cards which prevent battle position changes, whether of the "Ghostrick" player's monsters or the opponent's, such as "Gaap the Divine Soldier" and "Gravity Axe - Grarl" can halt most, though often not all, of the "Ghostrick" player's moves. In addition, a monster Summoned by "Raging Cloudian" will be nearly impossible for the "Ghostrick" player to get rid of.
  • The debut of Link Monsters and Master Rule 4 have further aggravated this, as not only do they share battle postition immunity akin to "Raging Cloudian", but their essentiality to most swarm Decks makes avoiding them near close to impossible (though "Ghostrick Ghoul" and "Ghostrick Dullahan" can make quick work of them.)
• "Goblin Fan" is a continuous trap that can destroy any monster card that is Level 2 or below the second it's Flip-summoned. This includes about 2/3 of the Ghostrick monsters, and since many of them rely on their Flip effects, rather than raw power, this one trap card can be devastating to any Ghostrick user's strategy.
• Most "Ghostricks" depends on their Field Spell Cards, "Ghostrick Mansion" and "Ghostrick Museum", to deal damage, and will struggle to do much Battle damage to your opponent without it, due to most of them having low ATK stats. This can be even worse with cards like "Spell Shattering Arrow" and "Eradicator Epidemic Virus" around.
  • Cards like "Stardust Dragon", "Malefic Stardust Dragon" or "Stardust Spark Dragon" can be used to protect it.
  • Ancient Gear Decks in particular will chew through Ghostricks, due to their ability to prevent the activation of the trap cards and effects that Ghostricks heavily rely on.

Trivia

• See also their history in the Gagaga Academy Tospedia.

• The "Ghostrick" monster's battle-flipping effects resemble the activities of children pranksters or mischievous spirits: popping out and scaring people, then running away and hiding. This is underscored by the archetype name "Ghostrick" a blatant portmanteau of the words "ghost" and "trick".

• The "Ghostrick" archetype was originally released in Shadow Specters, which debuted in the U.S. in November 2013, and may have been intended to coincide with the celebration of Halloween. The "Ghostrick" monsters are largely based on mythological creatures that children in the western world would dress up as for Halloween (witch, ghost, Jack-O'-Lantern, Frankenstein's Monster, Mummy, etc.), and their playstyle (as described above) mirrors the tradition of trick-or-treating.

• "Ghostrick" monsters' artworks share the background scheme with the "Lightsworn"s, as they have the same concept of patterning.