Pendulum Switch

This article is about the archetype. For the anime and manga card, see "Prophecy" (card).

Prophecy
From left to right: "High Priestess", "Temperance", "Hierophant" and "Spellbook Magician".
Japanese	魔（ま）導（どう） 魔導 (base) まどう (ruby) Madō (romanized) Magical (translated)
French	Prophétie
German	Prophezeiung
Italian	Profezia
Korean	마도 魔道 (Hanja) Mado (romanized) Magical (translated)
Portuguese	Profecia
Spanish	Profecía
Sets Metal Raiders Tournament Pack: 2nd Season Pharaoh's Servant Labyrinth of Nightmare Legacy of Darkness Tournament Pack 4 Magician's Force Duel Master's Guide promotional cards Ancient Sanctuary Cybernetic Revolution Tournament Pack 7 Structure Deck: Spellcaster's Judgment Duelist Pack: Yugi Starstrike Blast Return of the Duelist Abyss Rising Cosmo Blazer Lord of the Tachyon Galaxy Judgment of the Light Duelist Alliance Yu-Gi-Oh! The Dark Side of Dimensions Movie Pack The Dark Illusion Structure Deck: Yugi Muto Code of the Duelist Structure Deck: Powercode Link TCG Dark Beginning 1 Dark Revelation Volume 1 Master Collection Volume 2 Dark Revelation Volume 2 Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship 2006 prize cards Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship 2007 prize cards Dark Revelation Volume 4 Champion Pack: Game Five Gold Series Champion Pack: Game Six Spellcaster's Command Structure Deck Retro Pack 2 Duel Terminal 3 Demo Pack Dragunity Legion Structure Deck Battle Pack: Epic Dawn Duelist League 14 participation cards Gold Series: Haunted Mine Legendary Collection 3: Yugi's World Mega Pack Collectible Tins 2012 Wave 2.5 Astral Pack Two Battle Pack 2: War of the Giants Duelist League 16 participation cards Astral Pack Three Legendary Collection 4: Joey's World Mega Pack 2013 Collectible Tins Wave 2 Starter Deck: Yugi Reloaded War of the Giants: Round 2 War of the Giants Reinforcements Astral Pack Four Star Pack 2014 Premium Gold Astral Pack Five Battle Pack 3: Monster League 2014 Mega-Tin Mega Pack Weekly Shonen Jump November 2014 membership promotional card Starter Pack Volume 3 Premium Gold: Return of the Bling Dimension of Chaos Yugi's Legendary Decks OTS Tournament Pack 1 Millennium Pack Shining Victories Sneak Peek Participation Card Shining Victories Shining Victories: Special Edition 2016 Mega-Tin Mega Pack Duelist Pack: Rivals of the Pharaoh Yu-Gi-Oh! The Dark Side of Dimensions Movie Pack: Gold Edition Pendulum Domination Structure Deck OTS Tournament Pack 4 Weekly Shonen Jump April 2017 membership promotional card Battles of Legend: Light's Revenge 2017 Mega-Tin Mega Pack Legendary Dragon Decks 2018 Mega-Tin Mega Pack WSJ Jump Pack Fall 2018 promotional card Duel Power The Infinity Chasers OTS Tournament Pack 10 Dragons of Legend: The Complete Series 2020 Tin of Lost Memories Egyptian God Deck: Slifer the Sky Dragon King's Court OTS Tournament Pack 18 Hidden Arsenal: Chapter 1 2022 Tin of the Pharaoh's Gods Magnificent Mavens Maze of Memories OCG Booster 5 Vol.6 Booster 7 Booster R3 Thousand Eyes Bible Metal Raiders (Japanese) Spell of Mask Booster Chronicle Mythological Age Champion of Black Magic Duelist Legacy Volume.3 Limited Edition 5 Structure Deck: Yugi Volume 2 The Sanctuary in the Sky (set) Beginner's Edition 1 Expert Edition Volume.1 World Ranking Promos: Series 6 Expert Edition Volume 4 Tournament Pack 2008 Vol.1 Structure Deck: Lord of the Magician Duel Terminal - Champion of Chaos!! Gold Series 2010 Structure Deck: Dragunity Drive Beginner's Edition 1 (2011) Duelist Box 2012 Gold Series 2013 Extra Pack: Sword of Knights Duelist Set: Version Lightlord Judgment V Jump April 2014 promotional card Deck Custom Pack 01 Booster SP: Raging Masters Memories of the Duel King: Ceremonial Battle Arc Starter Pack Volume 2 Duelist Road -Piece of Memory- Side: Yami Yugi Structure Deck: Pendulum Domination Gold Pack 2016 Collectors Pack: Duelist of Flash Version V Jump August 2016 promotional card Extra Pack 2016 V Jump November 2016 promotional card 20th Anniversary Pack 1st Wave Special Pack LINK VRAINS Pack 20th Anniversary Duelist Box Structure Deck R: Lord of Magician Legendary Gold Box Premium Pack 2020 Prismatic Special Pack Structure Deck: Masters of the Spiritual Arts Battle of Chaos +1 Bonus Pack Secret Utility Box Rarity Collection Quarter Century Edition Korean Expansion Pack Vol.2 Duelist Pack: Yugi (OCG) Tournament Pack 2010 Vol.5 X-Saber: Special Edition Spring Battle 2013 promotional cards Advanced Event Pack 2013 Vol.1 Advanced Event Pack 2013 Vol.2 Premium Pack Vol.10 Premium Pack Vol.11 Premium Pack Vol.12 Special Pack Vol.4 Premium Pack Vol.15
Anime appearances
Yu-Gi-Oh! Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie: Pyramid of Light Yu-Gi-Oh! GX Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Yu-Gi-Oh! 3D Bonds Beyond Time Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V
Manga appearances
Yu-Gi-Oh! Duelist Yu-Gi-Oh! R
Lists	Members Support

"Prophecy", known as "Magical" (魔（ま）導（どう） Madō) in the OCG, is an archetype of mostly Spellcaster monsters with effects based around "Spellbook" Spell Cards. It is supported exclusively by "Stoic of Prophecy". "Hierophant of Prophecy" is used by Kev Ravenwood in the Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V anime.

Lore

Main articles: Gagaga Academy Tospedia card storylines § "Primer on the Prophecy's Facilities" Edition, Master Guide 4 card storylines § File No. 04: The Wisdom of the Latest Magical Research, and the Fate of One Boy, and Master Guide 6 card storylines § File No. 08: The People Living in the Magical Nation Centered Around "Endymion"

Naming

Due to their Japanese names containing 魔（ま）導（どう）, a number of older cards, such as "Armor Exe" ("Magical Armor Exe") and "Dark Paladin" ("Super-Magical Swordsman - Black Paladin"), also fall into this archetype. Even some cards released after "Stoic of Prophecy", such as "Ebon Illusion Magician", that fall into this archetype do not include "Prophecy" in their English names. However, because TCG and OCG support for this archetype only works on Level 3 Monster Cards in the Main Deck, most do not qualify for it and lack synergy with the Deck. Each "Spellbook"-related "Prophecy" monster is based on a Tarot card of the Major Arcana. "Crowley, the First Propheseer" being the "creator" of the "Prophecy" monsters shows that they're based on the Thoth tarot deck. The English names come from the Rider-Waite tarot deck which uses the names "The High Priestess" and "The Hierophant" instead of "The Popesse" and "The Pope" which is found in other decks. The Japanese names of these "Prophecy" monsters make reference to French-language tarot decks.

English full name	Japanese given name	Tarot card	Tarot number
Fool of Prophecy	Mat	The Fool (Le Mat)	0
Spellbook Magician of Prophecy	Batel	The Magician (Le Bateleur)	I
High Priestess of Prophecy	Junon	The High Priestess (Junon)	II
Empress of Prophecy	Trice	The Empress (L'Impératrice)	III
Emperor of Prophecy	Empéur	The Emperor (L'Empéreur)	IV
Hierophant of Prophecy	Hieron	The Hierophant	V
Amores of Prophecy	Lamour	The Lovers (Les Amoureux)	VI
Charioteer of Prophecy	Chario	The Chariot (Le Chariot)	VII
Strength of Prophecy	Force	Strength (La Force)	VIII
Hermit of Prophecy	Ermite	The Hermit (L'Ermite)	IX
Wheel of Prophecy	Rouede	Wheel of Fortune (La Roue de Fortune)	X
Justice of Prophecy	Stice	Justice (La Justice)	XI
Stoic of Prophecy	Lepend	The Hanged Man (Le Pendu)	XII
Reaper of Prophecy	Lamor	Death (La Mort)	XIII
Temperance of Prophecy	Tempér	Temperance (Tempérance)	XIV
Prophecy Destroyer	Diable	The Devil (Le Diable)	XV
The Grand Spellbook Tower	La Maison	The Tower (La Maison Dieu)	XVI
Spellbook Star Hall	Étoile	The Star (L'Étoile)	XVII
Spellbook Library of the Crescent	Crescent	The Moon	XVIII
Spellbook Library of the Heliosphere	Solein	The Sun (Le Soleil)	XIX
Spellbook of Judgment	Divine Judgment	Judgment	XX
World of Prophecy	Tout le Monde	The World (Le Monde)	XXI

Playing style

The archetype focuses on Spellcaster monsters and the effects and presence of "Spellbook" Spell Cards. "Spellbook" cards focus on creating advantage, like raising a monster's ATK ("Spellbook of Power"), protecting monsters ("Spellbook of Wisdom"), or Xyz Summoning ("Spellbook of Life"), and manipulating the amount on the field, in the hand and in the Graveyard to activate effects.

Recommended cards

Recommended cards

Main Deck Monster Cards Effect Monsters Fool of Prophecy High Priestess of Prophecy Justice of Prophecy Reaper of Prophecy Spellbook Magician of Prophecy Stoic of Prophecy Temperance of Prophecy Wheel of Prophecy World of Prophecy Chaos Sorcerer Dark Magician of Chaos Jowgen the Spiritualist Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress Spell Cards The Grand Spellbook Tower Spellbook of Eternity Spellbook of Fate Spellbook of Judgment Spellbook of Knowledge Spellbook of Life Spellbook of Power Spellbook of Secrets Spellbook of Wisdom Spellbook Star Hall Allure of Darkness Secret Village of the Spellcasters Terraforming Trap Cards Dark Renewal Metaverse Trap Trick Extra Deck Xyz Monsters Empress of Prophecy Hierophant of Prophecy Magi Magi ☆ Magician Gal Norito the Moral Leader Number 11: Big Eye Number 38: Hope Harbinger Dragon Titanic Galaxy Link Monsters Crowley, the First Propheseer Selene, Queen of the Master Magicians Akashic Magician Wee Witch's Apprentice

Weakness

The "Prophecy" archetype is overall so diverse in terms of monster stats (minus their Type) and strategies that it's almost impossible if at all to completely render this Deck moot as well-built "Prophecy" Decks can be very resilient and multi-faceted in terms of play strategies. However, there are some cards that can deter these kind of Decks:

• "Spell Canceller", "Cursed Seal of the Forbidden Spell", "Morphing Jar 2" and/or "Eradicator Epidemic Virus" - Can deadlock "Spellbook" Spells from being played, however the first may also lock your own Deck. The second could be a temporary reprieve if you run a good amount of Spells, but may backlash against you if your opponent gets monsters out, which well-built "Prophecy" Decks will have a diverse way of doing so. The third may often rely on chance, yet if your opponent lacks monsters in their Deck or better yet have used most of them along with having a lot of them on the Field, it could severely Deck your opponent out. The last card does not stay on the Field and forces your opponent to reveal every card they draw for a few turns, but not every Deck will be able to use it either at all or very easily, given its pre-effect Cost.
• "Spell Shattering Arrow" - While more staple S/T removal (i.e. "Mystical Space Typhoon") can also be temporary alleviators against "Prophecy" Decks too, this card in particular can be harshly judgmental by not only wiping Spell Cards en masse at no cost to the user, but also inflicting hefty damage as well.
• "Attention!" and/or "Unification" + "Gozen Match" and/or "Battle of the Elements" - These two pairs of cards go hand-in-hand as "Prophecy" monsters have a diverse range of Levels and Attributes. Even if that's not the case "Prophecy" monsters like "High Priestess of Prophecy" and "Hierophant of Prophecy" can quickly clear the field of these deterrents
• "Droll & Lock Bird", "Prohibition" and/or "Psi-Blocker" - Can stop many Spellbook-theme cards: "Spellbook of Judgment", "Spellbook Library of the Heliosphere", "Spellbook Star Hall", "Spellbook of Power", "Spellbook of Secrets", and "The Grand Spellbook Tower" as well as key "Prophecy" monsters from being used. Again though, these "one-card armies" can be easily put down, especially in the current meta, which has focused more on Field control.
• "Deck Lockdown" and/or "Mistake" plus/minus "Thunder King Rai-Oh" - "Prophecy" Decks often times substantially rely on Toolbox tactics to add "Prophecy" monsters and "Spellbook" Spells from the Deck to the Hand to keep Hand resources and play options motley. That being said, these cards can extensively make Hand advantage much more sluggish by making Toolbox card effects useless.
• "Puppet Plant" - This card can flich a high-powered "Prophecy" monster in a pinch; it's not as easy to interdict unless it is discarded beforehand or if "Mind Drain" is used. Better yet, the monster can afterwards be either Tributed, used for an effect or even as Synchro or Xyz Material (i.e. with Xyz Summons, use two of this card to embezzle two "High Priestess of Prophecy"s and then Xyz Summon "Number 11: Big Eye" (in the TCG) or "Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack").

Trivia

• "Spellbook"-related "Prophecy" monsters share the trait of being based on Tarot cards with the "Arcana Force" archetype.
• "Spellbook"-related "Prophecy" monsters' Attributes seem to be linked with their Levels: WATER (Levels 1-2), EARTH (Level 3), WIND/FIRE (Level 4), DARK (Levels 5-6, 8), LIGHT (Level 7, 9).
• All "Spellbook"-related "Prophecy" monsters (except "Prophecy Destroyer") wear long flowing ribbons or sashes that feature magical runes on them.
• All "Spellbook"-related "Prophecy" monsters, as well as the "Spellbooks" themselves, feature the mirror-like crest of the "Prophecy" archetype.
• Several "Prophecy" monsters share the same ATK/DEF as some of Yugi Muto's signature monsters.