Despia
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"Despia" (デスピア Desupia) is an archetype of DARK Fairy and LIGHT Fiend monsters introduced in Dawn of Majesty.
Contents
Lore
Etymology & Design
"Despia"/"Despian" is a combination of the words "despair", "death", and "thespian". The names of "Despia" cards stems from theatrical elements and drama. The theatrical theme of the "Despia" archetype is fitting, as these monsters kept up the facade of a holy Church for a long time, as if they were playing a theatrical fiction, before revealing their true colors.
Most of the "Despia" cards consist of corrupted versions of the "Dogmatika" monsters. This may have been started with the events depicted in the artwork of "Dogmatikalamity", where "Dogmatika Maximus" opens a portal to the Hole.
Playing style
General
The "Despia" archetype is a Fusion-focused archetype, and is a part of an overarching playstyle, typically called "Branded Despia", that encompasses "Despia", the "Branded" archetype of Spell & Trap cards, "Fallen of Albaz" and its dedicated support cards, especially the Fusion Monsters that mention "Fallen of Albaz" as material. Within Branded Despia, "Despia" provides the Deck's Main Deck starters and Fusion Material fodder.
Generally speaking, "Despia" cards and their specific "Branded" support cards generically support Level 8 or higher Fusion Monsters, while specific "Despia" cards support "Branded" or "Albaz"-related cards (and vice-versa), connecting it to the other two card series in Branded Despia. Noteworthy "Branded" cards that specifically support "Despia" monsters include "Branded Opening" (which can search or Special Summon a "Despia" monster from the Deck), "Branded in Red" (which can add a "Despia" monster or "Fallen of Albaz", then can Fusion Summon a Level 8 or higher Fusion Monster by banishing monsters from the user's field or hand), "Branded Banishment" (which revives a "Despia" monster", then Fusion Summons a Level 8 or higher Fusion Monster by banishing monsters from either field).
"Aluber the Jester of Despia" searches a "Branded" Spell/Trap when Normal or Special Summoned, making it a key starter of any "Branded-Despia" strategy. The following three "Despia" Main Deck monsters provide Branded Despia with advantage-generating Fusion Materials. Both "Dramaturge of Despia" and "Ad Libitum of Despia each have Trigger Effects that generate advantage when they're sent to the GY or banished from the hand or Field as a Fusion Material for a Fusion Summon; "Dramaturge Special Summons itself while "Ad Libitum" can Special Summon back another "Despia" or a Level 8 or higher Fusion Monster from the GY or is banished. "Despian Tragedy", when banished or sent to the GY by any card effect, can search another "Despia" monster from the Deck, while also having the utility of banishing itself to recur "Branded" Spells/Traps. "Despian Comedy" can ward off against effects that target a "Despia" monster, and can situationally Tribute a Fusion Monster to revive itself from the GY.
The "Despia"-centric Fusion Monsters include "Despian Quaeritis", "Despian Proskenion" and "Masquerade the Blazing Dragon", each requiring a "Despia" monster and a LIGHT or DARK monster (or both 1 LIGHT and 1 DARK in the case of "Proskenion"). "Quaeritis" can make all monsters except Level 8 or higher Fuusion Monsters have 0 ATK, while floating into a "Despia" monster or "Fallen of Albaz", "Proskenion" can banish an opponent's Extra Deck monster (or even revive it to the user's field). Finally, "Masquerade" passively forces the opponent to pay 600 LP each time they wish to activate a card or effect.
The main strategy of "Branded-Despia" is to quickly Summon "Aluber, the Jester of Despia" who will search the "Fusion" Spell "Branded Fusion". This card can Fusion Summon "Albion the Branded Dragon" or "Lubellion the Searing Dragon" using materials from the Deck. From there, "Albion" and "Lubellion" would typically bridge into the powerful boss monster of Branded Despia, "Mirrorjade the Iceblade Dragon", whose effects can dump copies of "Albaz"-related Fusion Monsters to search and/or Special Summon more cards during the End Phase ("Albion the Branded Dragon" for more "Branded" Spells/Traps, "Brigrand the Glory Dragon" for "Tri-Brigade Mercourier" as a hand trap etc.) to complete the Deck's resource loop.
By triggering the effects of the aforementioned Main Deck "Despia" monsters on the opponent's turn with Spell Speed 2, GY-utilizing "Branded" Fusion cards like "Branded in Red" or "Branded Banishment", and by summoning Fusion Monsters with disruptive effects like "Guardian Chimera", the Deck can rapidly generate advantage in the opponent's turn, making it easier to finish the game on the player's next turn.
Other additions
Other cards that supplement the playstyle of "Branded-Despia" are those of "Fallen of Albaz"-related cards besides the aformentioned "Branded Fusion". Notably, all of these monsters alongside "Fallen of Albaz" can be searched with "Branded Lost".
- "Incredible Ecclesia, the Virtuous" can Special Summon "Fallen of Albaz" from the deck as a Quick Effect.
- "Guiding Quem, the Virtuous" (who is also treated as a "Dogmatika" card and a "Despia" card) can send a card that mentions "Fallen of Albaz" from the Deck to the GY and can revive them later if a card leaves the Extra Deck.
- "Blazing Cartesia, the Virtuous" can allow the player to conduct Fusion Summons during the Main Phase as a Quick Effect, and she can be used to Summon her own specific Fusion Monster form, "Granguignol the Dusk Dragon". If Fusion Summoned, "Granguignol" can dump any Level 6 or higher LIGHT or DARK monster from the Deck or Extra Deck, and can banish itself from the field or GY to Special Summon another "Despia" monster from the Extra Deck.
- "Springans Kitt" also acts as another "Branded" searcher (or can recycle those in the GY or are banished),
- "Tri-Brigade Mercourier" acts as a hand trap to negate monster effects while controlling a Fusion Monster that mentions "Fallen of Albaz" and if banished, it can allow a search of any of the other monsters that mention "Fallen of Albaz".
- "Albion the Shrouded Dragon can strategically send any "Branded" Spell/Trap to the GY as cost to recycle or Special Summon itself, enabling the GY effects of such cards such as "Branded Opening" protecting the deck's endboard of Fusion Monsters or retrieving other "Branded" Spells/Traps in the GY by dumping "Branded Retribution".
The Deck often likes to have their Fusion Monsters be sent to the GY (typically those that mention "Fallen of Albaz" as material) to trigger the effects of those sent monsters to search or Special Summon more cards, and effects of other cards (such as "Incredible Ecclesia" and "Blazing Cartesia") to recur themselves back to the hand. Besides the aformentioned "Mirrorjade" and "Granguignol", one can also consider using "Nadir Servant" although it locks the user from Special Summoning from the Extra Deck for the rest of the turn.
While "Branded-Despia" is primary playstyle is to Fusion Summon, the archetypes can also facilitate a small degree of Synchro plays, including the sole Synchro Monster of "Despia", "Despian Luluwalilith". Since their various cards restrict the user from Special Summoning Extra Deck monsters other than Fusion Monsters during their turn, this can only be done during the opponent's turn via "Etude of the Branded", using the various Tuners (such as Ecclesia's counterparts or "The Bystial Aluber") paired with a suitable Level 8 Dragon monster (if using a non-Dragon Tuner). Netherless, one can also send "Despian Luluwalilith" to the GY as a means to Special Summon "Incredible Ecclesia" or "Blazing Cartesia".
The "Bystial" archetype also synergizes with "Branded-Despia" in various ways besides their generic Dragon support utilized in other decks; "The Bystial Lubellion" can be used as a LIGHT material for summoning "Albion the Branded Dragon", then after using the effect of "Albion", it can then be Tributed to Summon "The Bystial Lubellion" from the GY and utilize "Branded" Continuous Spells and Traps. As a "Branded" support card, "Bystial Saronir" also has the utility of dumping "Branded" Spells/Traps in addition to "Bystial" monsters, which can be used similar to "Albion the Shrouded Dragon".
Recommended cards
Weaknesses
- Negating the effect of "Branded Fusion" with a common staple such as "Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring" can often severely limit the Deck's plays.
- As a Fusion-focused deck, cards like "Dimensional Barrier" and "Non-Fusion Area" can often shut down the Deck.
