Ninja

Ninja
"Kunoichi Ayame the Ninja Girl", "Ninja Commando Kabuki", "Ninja Soldier Katana" and "Ninja Commander Ikusa"
Japanese	忍（にん）者（じゃ） 忍者 (base) にんじゃ (ruby) Ninja (romanized)
French	Ninja
German	Ninja
Italian	Ninja
Korean	첩자 諜者 (Hanja) Cheopja (romanized) Spy (translated)
Portuguese	Ninja
Spanish	Ninja
Other names	Arabic النينجا
Sets Ancient Sanctuary Breakers of Shadow Force of the Breaker Invasion of Chaos Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon Order of Chaos Photon Shockwave Raging Tempest Soul of the Duelist Starstrike Blast Starter Deck: Pegasus Storm of Ragnarok Structure Deck: Warrior's Triumph Structure Deck: Lord of the Storm The Lost Millennium TCG 2016 Mega-Tin Mega Pack Abyss Rising Battle Pack 2: War of the Giants Battle Pack Tournament Prize Cards Battles of Legend: Light's Revenge Cosmo Blazer: Special Edition Dark Beginning 1 Dark Revelation Volume 2 Dark Revelation Volume 3 Return of the Duelist Shadows in Valhalla Star Pack 2013 Starter Deck: Jaden Yuki OCG Collectors Pack 2017 Expert Edition Volume.3 Extra Pack 2012 Extra Pack: Sword of Knights Half-Deck: DARK Half-Deck: LIGHT
Anime appearances
Yu-Gi-Oh! Yu-Gi-Oh! GX Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V
Lists	Members Support Anti-support

"Ninja" (忍（にん）者（じゃ） Ninja) is an archetype of mostly Warrior monsters, in addition to some Machines (such as some members of the "Karakuri" and "Superheavy Samurai" archetypes). A handful of the "Ninja" cards existed in the TCG and OCG prior to being united by support cards in later sets. Characters that used "Ninja" decks in the anime include Jean-Claude Magnum, Kaze, Moon Shadow and Sun Shadow.

Origin

"Goe Goe the Gallant Ninja", "Masked Ninja Ebisu", "Lady Ninja Yae", and "Ninja Grandmaster Sasuke" are characters based on Konami's popular video game series Legend of the Mystical Ninja. Incidentally, all the Sasuke Samurai monsters are from this series, as well.

Ninja card	Origin
Goe Goe the Gallant Ninja	Goemon
Lady Ninja Yae	Yae
Masked Ninja Ebisu	Ebisumaru
Ninja Grandmaster Sasuke	Sasuke

Some members of this archetype and their support are named after famous characters from Japan history:

Name	Origin
Goe Goe the Gallant Ninja	Ishikawa Goemon
Ninja Grandmaster Hanzo	Hattori Hanzō
Ninja Grandmaster Saizo	Kirigakure Saizō
Superheavy Samurai Ninja Sarutobi Ninja Grandmaster Sasuke	Sarutobi Sasuke
Fuhma Shuriken	Fūma Kotarō

Play style

Constructing a Deck based around "Ninja" monsters is no simple feat, as they don't fight by conventional means; the Spell, Trap and Monster cards of the "Ninja" archetype revolve around underhanded, control-based strategies rather than all-out attacking or swarming.

For offensive examples, "Strike Ninja" can temporarily remove itself from the Field (dodging a card effect). "Sasuke" can bypass walls such as "Marshmallon" and higher DEF Monsters. Other "Ninja" tend to work behind the scenes, such as the effect of "Upstart Golden Ninja" for summoning, and the effect of "Ninja Grandmaster Hanzo" toolboxing effect.

Overall, "Ninja" Decks can be made in a variety of ways, but since Ninja-specific support is few and far in between, most of their abilities are far from game-breaking, making them more of an uncommon rogue Deck to use. However, they can excel against Stall Decks that revolve around a particular, titular card (Which "Ninja" are adept at destroying). The transformation traps in their arsenal give "Ninja" splashability with "Mist Valley", "Chaos", "Dragon", "Dark Simorgh Lockdown" and "Monarch" Decks, among others.

To effectively play the Archetype, "Ninja" Duelists must consider a large variety of monsters. For example, WIND and/or Winged-Beast-oriented Decks aid "Lady Ninja Yae", while DARK monsters will keep up the stealth of "Strike Ninja". Others still, such as "Goe Goe" and "Ebisu", work better together than alone. Ideally, one should attempt to use monsters that fill several niches in one Deck; for example, "Dark Simorgh" is DARK, WIND and Winged-Beast, giving support to not only the above Ninja and "Hanzo", but is an ideal target for "Ninjitsu Art of Transformation". Continuing on this idea, "Roc from the Valley of Haze" can return to the Deck once he is discarded by "Yae" to become her transformation target within the same turn.

The age-old "Armed Ninja" and "Crimson Ninja" will be difficult to use in a Deck, as their effects are sub-par, and their low level makes them a less-than-ideal target for the transformation Traps; they instead are more useful when paired with such cards as "Ninjitsu Art of Duplication" and "Senior Silver Ninja", both of which enable the weak "Ninja" to swarm the Field, ready to Flip.

"White Dragon Ninja" is one of the strongest monsters in this archetype and is meant to be paired with "Super-Transformation" by means of her own effect that protects the controlling player's back-row. This card has a strong synergy with the card "Safe Zone", due to it then being indestructable apart from being returned to the user's hand from an effect such as "Neo-Spacian Grand Mole". Some monsters, such as "Tyrant Dragon" and "Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon", also have means to bypass the debilitating effects of Super-Transformation.

If one is using a lot of "Ninjitsu Art" cards in their Deck, they may need to consider including means to remove them once they have outlived their use; "Armor Ninjitsu Art of Alchemy" was made for this purpose, but "Magic Planter" and "Uria, Lord of Searing Flames" can also profit off of a "Ninjitsu Art"-heavy Deck. Although slow, "Karakuri Ninja mdl 339 "Sazank"" is another useful tool for dispatching an enemy monster that might have bypassed one's Traps and other Monsters. Lastly, if you run a Warrior-only "Ninja" Deck, you can use "The Immortal Bushi" to Tribute Set "Senior Silver Ninja" and start the swarming.

Weaknessess

There are ways to break the Safe Zone and White Dragon Ninja lock once it has been completed, such as using Trap Stun to temporarily remove Safe Zone's protection from White Dragon Ninja, using Trap Eater to remove Safe Zone (since it doesn't destroy), using Book of Eclipse to flip White Dragon Ninja face-down (since it doesn't target or destroy), both removing Safe Zone's protection and temporarily nullifying White Dragon Ninja's effect, or using Skill Drain.

Recommended cards

Deck

Main Deck Monster Cards Effect Monsters Yellow Ninja Ninja Grandmaster Hanzo Upstart Golden Ninja Twilight Ninja Getsuga, the Shogun White Dragon Ninja Red Dragon Ninja Reborn Tengu Dark Simorgh Alector, Sovereign of Birds Spell Cards Hidden Village of Ninjitsu Arts Armor Ninjitsu Art of Alchemy Reinforcement of the Army The Warrior Returning Alive Magic Planter World Legacy Succession Trap Cards Ninjitsu Art of Mirage-Transformation Ninjitsu Art of Transformation Ninjitsu Art of Shadow Sealing Safe Zone Call of the Haunted Anti-Spell Fragrance Extra Deck Xyz Monsters Blade Armor Ninja Link Monsters Ninja Grandmaster Saizo

"Wind Ninja"

Works well with Mist Valley themed Decks and Decks that focus on "Dark Simorgh". With the release of Order of Chaos, this type of deck can become more competitive, since it's now possible to merge some Ninja cards to strengthen this deck, mainly "Ninja Grandmaster Hanzo" which can easily search for "Ninjitsu Art of Transformation". Set the trap immediately and activate it during your opponent's Draw Phase, summoning "Mist Valley Apex Avian" or "Dark Simorgh" from your deck.

Recommended cards

Main Deck Monster Cards Effect Monsters Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning Dark Simorgh Mist Valley Apex Avian Mist Valley Falcon Mist Valley Thunderbird Red Dragon Ninja Ninja Grandmaster Hanzo Strike Ninja Upstart Golden Ninja Air Armor Ninja Masked Ninja Ebisu Lady Ninja Yae Goe Goe the Gallant Ninja Spell Cards Allure of Darkness Divine Wind of Mist Valley Reinforcement of the Army Magic Planter Trap Cards Ninjitsu Art of Transformation Escape from the Dark Dimension Fiendish Chain Anti-Spell Fragrance Extra Deck Xyz Monsters Ice Beast Zerofyne Lightning Chidori

Official Decks

“Traptrix” + “Ninja” Deck

Main Deck Monster Cards Effect Monsters Blackwing - Zephyros the Elite x1 Dogoran, the Mad Flame Kaiju x1 Kumongous, the Sticky String Kaiju x1 Ninja Grandmaster Hanzo x3 Senior Silver Ninja x1 Traptrix Dionaea x3 Traptrix Mantis x2 Traptrix Myrmeleo x3 Upstart Golden Ninja x3 Pendulum Monsters Supreme King Dragon Darkwurm x3 Supreme King Gate Zero x2 Spell Cards Armor Ninjitsu Art of Alchemy x1 Ninjitsu Art Notebook x1 Reinforcement of the Army x1 Trap Cards Acid Trap Hole x1 Back to the Front x3 Bottomless Trap Hole x2 Double Trap Hole x1 Jar of Avarice x1 Ninjitsu Art of Super-Transformation x2 Ninjitsu Art of Transformation x1 Trap Hole of Spikes x1 Traptrix Trap Hole Nightmare x2 Extra Deck Xyz Monsters Daigusto Emeral x1 Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon x1 Evilswarm Ouroboros x1 Number 103: Ragnazero x1 Number 39: Utopia x1 Number S39: Utopia the Lightning x1 Traptrix Rafflesia x3 Link Monsters Akashic Magician x1 Borreload Dragon x1 Decode Talker x1 Missus Radiant x2 Proxy Dragon x1

Trivia

• "Barrier Ninjitsu Art of Hazy Transfer", "Blind Spot Strike", "Spy Attack" and "Debunk" suggests that "Ninjas" have some sort of rivalry with the "Shien". Also, "Ninjitsu Art of Super-Transformation" implies a rivalry between the "Ninjas" and the "Karakuri" monsters.