Ritual Beast

Ritual Beast
"Ritual Beast Ulti-Gaiapelio", "Ritual Beast Tamer Lara", "Ritual Beast Tamer Zefrawendi" and "Ritual Beast Tamer Zeframpilica" in the artwork of "Ultimate Providence"
Japanese	霊（れい）獣（じゅう） 霊獣 (base) れいじゅう (ruby) Reijū (romanized) Spirit Beast (translated)
French	Bête Spirituelle Spiritual Beast (translated)
German	Geistungeheuer Spirit Beast (translated)
Italian	Bestia Spirito Spirit Beast (translated)
Korean	령수 靈獸 (Hanja) Ryeongsu (romanized) Sprite Beast (translated)
Portuguese	Besta Espiritual Spiritual Beast (translated)
Spanish	Espíritu Bestia Beast Spirit (translated)
Sets Secrets of Eternity Crossed Souls Raging Tempest TCG The Secret Forces Extreme Force Astral Pack Eight Pendulum Evolution 2017 Mega-Tin Mega Pack OCG Booster SP: Tribe Force LINK VRAINS Pack Terminal World Korean Advanced Event Pack 2015 Vol.2 Advanced Event Pack 2018 Vol.1
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"Ritual Beast", known as "Spirit Beast" (霊（れい）獣（じゅう） Reijū) in the OCG and "Spiritual Beast" in other TCG languages, is an archetype of monsters that debuted in Booster SP: Tribe Force. The emphasis of their strategy is Contact Fusion by banishing the Fusion Materials you control. This archetype includes the sub-archetypes "Ritual Beast Tamer", comprised by humanoid Psychic monsters, "Spiritual Beast", whose members are Beast, Pyro, Aqua and Thunder beast-like creatures, and "Ritual Beast Ulti", which are the Fusion Monsters of the archetype as a whole. All members of this archetype are WIND monsters, except for the LIGHT "Ritual Beast Ulti-Gaiapelio", "Spiritual Beast Tamer Lara", and "Ritual Beast Ulti-Nochiudrago".

Lore

Main article: Master Guide 5 card storylines

The Spiritual Beast have dwelt on this world since time immemorial and possess mystical powers. They live together with the Ritual Beast Tamers, and together both man and beast combine their powers together to try and prevent any disaster that comes their way.

Etymology

In French, Italian and Portuguese, the archetype is called "Spiritual Beast", since the implied "Ritual/Spiritual" pun wouldn't work in those languages due to the backward word orders. For example, in French, if "Ritual Beast" were to translate to "Bête Rituelle" and "Spiritual Beast" to "Bête Spirituelle" instead, the "Spiritual Beast" archetype would then be split from "Ritual Beast", or the whole card text wording would be unnecessarily complicated. As for German, the word "Geist" ("ghost; spirit") appears to be the most common but it seems too short and not to be able to bear such a pun.

Design

This archetype seems to be the remnants/successor of the "Gusto" archetype in the Duel Terminal storyline, as "Ritual Beast Tamer Elder" is a grown-up "Kamui, Hope of Gusto". Their team symbol is a sphere encircled by four-pointed star (different style for each pair), which shaped similarly as the crest of the "Gusto", further reinforcing the connection between them. In addition, the artwork of the cards features the coiled foliage seen in many "Naturia" cards, implying that these monsters may inhabit the "Naturia Forest". This connection is cemented by the art of "Ulti-Gaiapelio", which depicts "Naturia Gaiastrio" as part of a "Ritual Beast" pair. The Fusion monsters of the archetype also serve as a throwback to the original "Gem-Knight" Fusion Monsters, forming the same Pyro - Aqua - Thunder trinity (albeit in WIND as opposed to EARTH and with the exception of "Ulti-Gaiapelio", which is LIGHT/Psychic).

Members

Spiritual Beast		Ritual Beast Tamer	Ritual Beast Ulti
Apelio	-	Lara	Apelio
	(Naturia Gaiastrio)		Gaiapelio
(Taotie, Shadow of the Yang Zing)		Spiritual Lara	Nochiudrago
			Reirautari
Cannahawk		Elder	Cannahawk
		Winda	Cannahawk (alternate art)
(Gusto Falco)			Kimunfalcos
Pettlephin		Wen	Pettlephin
		Zefrawendi	None
Rampengu		Zeframpilica	None

Playing style

Each of the "Ritual Beast Tamer" monsters have effects that helps swarming the Field (with the exception of "Ritual Beast Tamer Zefrawendi") in order to initiate Contact Fusion, either by Special Summoning "Ritual Beast" monsters from Deck, GY or banished ones, or even grants an extra Normal Summon. On the other hand, the "Spiritual Beast" monsters banish 1 "Ritual Beast" card from the hand, Deck, GY, or Extra Deck in order to get rid of problematic opposing cards, search for a card on the long run, give power boosts, or setting up combos, respectively. Each of the Main Deck monsters also shares a restriction that only allows them to be Special Summoned once per turn. The original "Ritual Beast Ulti" Fusion Monsters are all Level 6 and their ATK and DEF have a sum of 3000. Each of them has their own unique roles:

• "Ritual Beast Ulti-Apelio" is their offensive vanguard, with 2600 ATK and immunity against any card effects while it attacks.
• "Ritual Beast Ulti-Pettlephin" is their defensive wall, with solid 2800 DEF and being indestructible by card effects.
• "Ritual Beast Ulti-Cannahawk" is the supportive pillar of the deck (and the most important one). Despite its average ATK and DEF, it can search any "Ritual Beast" card from your Deck to help accumulates resources.

All of them share the following effect: "During either player's turn: You can return this card you control to the Extra Deck, then target 2 of your banished monsters (1 "Ritual Beast Tamer" monster and 1 "Spiritual Beast" monster); Special Summon them in Defense Position." It is one of their biggest strength, allowing them to dodge most dangerous card effects. This ability also allows the player to utilize the loophole of "Once per turn" effects, allowing the player use them multiple times per turn (mostly "Spiritual Beast" monsters and "Ritual Beast Ulti-Cannahawk"), effectively accumulating numerous resources, initiating offense, and often, leads into OTK in just a few turns. "Ritual Beast Ulti-Gaiapelio" is their boss monster; with 3200 ATK and powerful negation effect (only if Summoned properly), it is best Summoned when aiming for a decisive victory that same turn. The archetype also has a pair of Pendulum Monsters, "Ritual Beast Tamer Zeframpilica" and "Ritual Beast Tamer Zefrawendi", with Pendulum Scale of 1 and 7 respectively, allowing the Deck to Pendulum Summon (albeit not always necessary). They also have their own Link Monster, "Ritual Beast Ulti-Kimunfalcos", which helps extending the combo further with more Normal Summons and provide power boosts for offensive purpose.

Recommended cards

Recommended cards

Main Deck Monster Cards Effect Monsters Ritual Beast Tamer Elder Ritual Beast Tamer Lara Ritual Beast Tamer Wen Spiritual Beast Apelio Spiritual Beast Cannahawk Spiritual Beast Pettlephin Spiritual Beast Rampengu Spiritual Beast Tamer Lara Spiritual Beast Tamer Winda Dimension Shifter Noble Knight's Shield-Bearer Pendulum Monsters Ritual Beast Tamer Zeframpilica Ritual Beast Tamer Zefrawendi Spell Cards Normal Spells Bonfire Foolish Burial Gold Sarcophagus Pot of Desires Terraforming Time-Tearing Morganite Summon Storm One for One Equip Spells D.D.R. - Different Dimension Reincarnation Field Spells Oracle of Zefra Continuous Spells Ritual Beast Inheritance Spell Absorption Floodgate cards Dimensional Fissure Quick-Play Spells Ritual Beast's Bond Ritual Beast Return Emergency Teleport Trap Cards Normal Traps Ritual Beast Ambush Ritual Beast Steeds Storm Dragon's Return Emergency Apport Continuous Traps Floodgate cards Anti-Spell Fragrance Macro Cosmos Extra Deck Fusion Monsters Ritual Beast Ulti-Apelio Ritual Beast Ulti-Cannahawk Ritual Beast Ulti-Gaiapelio Ritual Beast Ulti-Nochiudrago Ritual Beast Ulti-Pettlephin Xyz Monsters Abyss Dweller Lightning Chidori Infernal Flame Banshee Number 60: Dugares the Timeless Tornado Dragon Link Monsters Ritual Beast Ulti-Kimunfalcos Ritual Beast Ulti-Reirautari Apollousa, Bow of the Goddess Hraesvelgr, the Desperate Doom Eagle PSY-Framelord Lambda Wynn the Wind Charmer, Verdant

Weaknesses

• "Imperial Iron Wall", "Chaos Hunter" and "Artifact Lancea" prevents cards from being banished, preventing their Contact Fusion and most of their effects.
• As all of their effects activates on the field, "Skill Drain" and "Lose 1 Turn" can be a nuisance for this deck. It won't stop them from conducting Contact Fusion or de-fusing, but does shut down the search effect of "Ulti-Cannahawk" (without its de-fuse trick), or most of its Main Deck monsters.
  • However, this can also benefit "Ulti-Apelio" in some way, since without its immunity effect, it can gain ATK boosts from "Spiritual Beast Apelio", allowing it to destroy bigger monster in battle.
• Due to their "de-fusing" Quick Effects, most targeting effects are particularly ineffective against them. But it still won't save them from cards like "Artifact Moralltach", "Madolche Queen Tiaramisu", "Nekroz of Trishula" or even the opposing "Ritual Beast Steeds". Effect negation or destruction negation effect are particularly important against those threats.
• "Denko Sekka", "Royal Decree", or "Trap Stun" can shut down both "Ritual Beast Steeds" and "Ritual Beast Ambush", which most Ritual Beast decks depends on to secure field presences. "Denko Sekka" is the most dangerous of them all, since its Continuous Effect doesn't leave any chance for player to respond with on-field cards at all; but can still be stopped by either hand traps like "Effect Veiler", or Counter Traps like "Solemn Warning" or "Chaos Trap Hole".
• Counter Trap Cards that can negate Special Summons can effectively disrupt the deck's major play, since not even the de-fuse abilities of "Ritual Beast Ulti" monsters can dodge it. Negating the Summon of "Ulti-Cannahawk", in particular, can almost completely paralyze the deck.
• Kaiju monsters can eliminate their Fusion Monster immediately, without them having a chance to respond.

Trivia

• This archetype's Contact Fusion style is similar to that of A-to-Z monsters, albeit with the ability to freely reverse the fusions, and less-specific requirements.
  • Their Fusion Monsters, with the way they're Summoned and their similar "tagging out" ability, is also similar to that of Gladiator Beast Fusion Monsters.
• All monsters in this archetype have their formal names derived (in whole or in part) from Ainu, the only remaining (though nearly extinct itself) language of the ethnic group of the same name. This language was also featured on members of the "Gusto" archetype – most notably "Kamui, Hope of Gusto", whose name comes from the Ainu word for "deity".