Steelswarm

Steelswarm
"Steelswarm Hercules" and "Steelswarm Scout", in the artwork of "Infestation Tool".
Japanese	インヴェルズ Inveruzu (romanized) Inverz (translated)
French	Colonie de Chrome
German	Stahlschar
Italian	Brancoacciaio Steelherd (translated)
Korean	인벨즈 Inbeljeu (romanized) Invelz (translated)
Portuguese	Hordeum de Aço
Spanish	Horda de Acero
Sets Hidden Arsenal 5: Steelswarm Invasion Hidden Arsenal 6: Omega Xyz TCG Duel Terminal 5b Duel Terminal 6a Generation Force Collectible Tins 2012 Wave 2.5 Extreme Force OCG Duel Terminal - Raid of the Inverz!! Duel Terminal - Judgment of Omega!! Duel Terminal Overlay Guide promotional card Duel Terminal Chronicle 4 - Chapter of Opposites Duelist Set: Version Dark Returner LINK VRAINS Pack Korean X-Saber: Special Edition
Anime appearances
Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS
Lists	Members Support

"Steelswarm", known as "Inverz" (インヴェルズ Inveruzu) in the OCG, is an archetype of DARK Fiend monsters with 0 DEF (excluding "Steelswarm Gatekeeper"), first released in Duel Terminal - Raid of the Inverz!!. "Steelswarm" is a sub-archetype of "lswarm". Their team symbol is a black demon mask that also resembles a claw or beetle (being appropriate since all "Steelswarm" are insectoid in form) which is tattooed on to the bodies of all its members. According to promotional material for Duel Terminal - Judgment of Omega!!, they are enemies of all the other teams in the set. At least one member of the Knights of Hanoi uses a "Steelswarm" Deck in the Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS anime.

Lore

Main articles: Master Guide 3 card storylines § File Number 02: Duel Terminal History (New War) and Duel Terminal Master Guide card storylines § The Absolute Predators Swarm Out onto the Planet's Surface

The "Steelswarm" crest.

"Steelswarm" are demons that were sealed in the deepest abyss during the ancient times, after losing their battle for control of the world against the "Vylon". After being awaken from the chaos coming from the war between the "Gusto" and "Gishki" tribes on the land, they began to invade the surface in order to regain their lost power. The "Vylon", who were trying to stop another war that was between the "Gem-Knight" and "Laval" tribes. As their leader "Steelswarm Hercules" released his destructive shock-wave on the surface world, the light emitting from "Vylon Omega" prevented the attack of "Steelswarm Hercules", turning any "Steelswarm" it reached into smithereens and scattering them across the battle field.

Members

Main Deck High-Level (5+)

"Steelswarm" high-level monsters are named after various insects; in the Japanese OCG, their names are written in katakana, indicating that they are given names and not an assigned title. These reflect their status as upper-level "Steelswarm" who are strong enough to have individual names, and have power over other lower-level "Steelswarm".

Steelswarm	Origin
Caucastag	Cacostomus Stag-Beetle
Girastag	Giraffe Stag-Beetle
Hercules	Hercules beetle
Longhorn	Longhorn beetle
Mantis	Mantis
Moth	Moth

Main Deck Low-Level (1-4)

"Steelswarm" low-level monsters have various titles as their names; in the Japanese OCG, these titles are written with kanji and hiragana. Each low-Level "Steelswarm" has a visual design apparently inspired a stage in the juvenile development of an insect.

Steelswarm	Origin
Caller	Nymph
Cell	Cell/Egg
Gatekeeper	Pupa
Genome	Genome/Larva
Sentinel	Cockroach
Sting	Stinger

Extra Deck

"Steelswarm" Extra Deck monsters are primarily support for the Evilswarm playstyle, rather than "Steelswarm".

Steelswarm	Origin
Roach	Cockroach
Steelswarm Origin	The "Steelswarm" Crest

Playing style

Their main strategy is to take advantage of Tribute Summoning, which their effects generally support or trigger upon. This is a similar structure to the "Monarchs"- the Steelswarm even have their own version of "Treeborn Frog" (similar to the "Frog Monarchs"). The non-Tribute monsters usually help or support Tribute Summoning, such as being easy to summon, resistant to attacks or having effects that activate when they are Tributed. The main non-Tribute monster is "Steelswarm Scout" which can Special Summon itself from the Graveyard each turn and be Tributed for another Steelswarm. It works similarly to "Treeborn Frog". All Tribute monsters (except "Steelswarm Longhorn") activate their effect when they are Tribute Summoned and most of them activate their effects by paying 1000 Life Points; although there are some exceptions, such as "Caucastag's" no cost effect, "Hercules'" half Life Points cost and "Girastag's" effect that actually increases your Life Points. Usually, their effects will result in a partial or total field clearing, so they can capitalize with direct attacks. Their first two support cards, "First Step Towards Infestation" and "Infestation Wave" return a selected "Steelswarm" Tribute monster to the player's hand. This can be used to reactivate their effects that trigger when they are Tribute Summoned, as well as saving them from destruction effects. Furthermore, the effects can allow to draw an additional card or allow for the destruction of one of your opponent's. "Infestation Tool" can help you put "Scout" in your Graveyard and "Infestation Ripples" works like a Trap version of "Monster Reborn" (although with a 500 Life Points cost).

Recommended cards

Recommended cards

Main Deck Monster Cards Effect Monsters Steelswarm Cell Steelswarm Caller Steelswarm Girastag Steelswarm Mantis Steelswarm Moth Steelswarm Scout Steelswarm Sting Armageddon Knight Dark Grepher Evilswarm Castor Evilswarm Kerykeion Evilswarm Mandragora Dark Honest Spell Cards Normal Spells Allure of Darkness Creeping Darkness Foolish Burial One for One Recurring Nightmare Reinforcement of the Army Spell Card: "Soul Exchange" Ties of the Brethren Equip Spells Living Fossil Continuous Spells March of the Monarchs Quick-Play Spells First Step Towards Infestation Infestation Pandemic Trap Cards Normal Traps Infestation Ripples Infestation Terminus Infestation Tool Infestation Wave Archfiend's Ghastly Glitch Fiend Griefing Dark Sacrifice Counter Traps Dark Illusion Dark World Punishment Overwhelm Continuous Traps Infestation Infection Ultimeat Offering Escalation of the Monarchs Extra Deck Xyz Monsters Steelswarm Roach Evilswarm Bahamut Evilswarm Exciton Knight Evilswarm Ophion Evilswarm Ouroboros Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack Number 11: Big Eye Link Monsters Steelswarm Origin Isolde, Two Tales of the Noble Knights Wee Witch's Apprentice Dharc the Dark Charmer, Gloomy Muckraker From the Underworld

Official Konami Decklists

The following Decklists may or may not contain copies of cards that exceed the maximum amount allowed by the current Forbidden & Limited List. These should not be changed, as these Decklists are copied verbatim at the time they were published.

Keystone Predator 蘇りし絶対捕食者（キーストーン・プレデター）

Main Deck Monster Cards (18) Effect Monsters Steelswarm Caller x3 Steelswarm Cell x3 Steelswarm Genome x2 Steelswarm Girastag Steelswarm Hercules Steelswarm Mantis x2 Steelswarm Moth x2 Steelswarm Scout Steelswarm Sting x3 Spell Cards (13) Allure of Darkness First Step Towards Infestation Heavy Storm Infestation Pandemic x2 Monster Reborn Mystical Space Typhoon x3 Pot of Duality x2 Recurring Nightmare x2 Trap Cards (9) Compulsory Evacuation Device x2 Infestation Ripples x2 Infestation Tool Infestation Wave Solemn Judgment Solemn Warning Ultimate Offering Extra Deck (8) Xyz Monsters Evilswarm Bahamut x2 Evilswarm Ophion x3 Evilswarm Ouroboros Evilswarm Thanatos Steelswarm Roach

Invasion Cell 侵略侵喰感染細胞（インヴェイジョン・セル）

Main Deck Monster Cards (20) Effect Monsters Armageddon Knight x2 Dark Armed Dragon Evilswarm Mandragora x2 Steelswarm Caller x3 Steelswarm Cell x3 Steelswarm Girastag x2 Steelswarm Mantis x3 Steelswarm Sting Stygian Street Patrol x3 Spell Cards (12) Allure of Darkness Dark Hole Heavy Storm Infestation Pandemic Monster Reborn Mystical Space Typhoon x3 One for One Recurring Nightmare x3 Trap Cards (8) Infestation Infection x3 Raigeki Break x2 Solemn Judgment Torrential Tribute x2 Extra Deck (15) Xyz Monsters Diamond Dire Wolf Evilswarm Bahamut Evilswarm Nightmare Evilswarm Ophion x2 Evilswarm Ouroboros Evilswarm Thanatos Gagaga Cowboy Lavalval Chain Maestroke the Symphony Djinn Number 11: Big Eye Number 39: Utopia Number 50: Blackship of Corn Number 61: Volcasaurus Steelswarm Roach

Weaknesses

The majority of "Steelswarm" monsters have 0 DEF. Merely putting them into Defense Position with cards such as "Level Limit - Area B", "Book of Moon", "Earthquake" and "No Entry!!", along with destroying them in battle, especially with Piercing monsters can really mess up this archetype before "Steelswarm"s can influence the Duel at all. To alleviate this, you can throw in a card like "Darkness Neosphere" to send "Steelswarm monsters to the Graveyard until you can get your "Steelswarm" cards in action as well as have fodder for DARK Attribute support cards. In addition, "Skill Drain", "Effect Veiler" and/or "Koa'ki Meiru Doom" can negate the effects of Tribute Summoned "Steelswarms", " "Forced Back" can stall "Steelswarm" summons in general, "Intercept" can rob you of your Level 5/6 "Steelswarm" monsters, "Blast Held by a Tribute" can destroy "Steelswarm" monsters in Attack Position along with dealing Life Point damage to you and "Mask of Restrict"/"Fog King" can lock down "Steelswarm" card effects by preventing Tribute Summons in the first place. This all being noted, "Steelswarm" players should make it high priority to use basic card removal and effect counter cards to negate/destroy any such one that may highly hamper "Steelswarm" monsters. As all "Steelswarm" monsters are Fiend, and rely on tribute summoning to access their best effects, "Zombie World" can quickly ruin this deck by locking out all non-Zombie tribute summons. Due to "Scout" being DARK, a "Koa'ki Meiru Drago" (prevents LIGHT and DARK monsters from being special summoned) can be trouble due to the majority of the Deck being DARK, which in turn will make it hard to create tributes for the Decks stronger monsters. Finally, "Steelswarm" Tribute Summons can be heftily slowed with "Soul Drain" and "Mind Drain"; the former can cease the quick Tribute Summon kudos to "Steelswarm Cell" and the latter can do such similarly against "Steelswarm Scout".

Trivia

• In the OCG, the name of "Steelswarm" monsters that are Level 5 or 6 starts with "M" (probably for Mega), while those who are Level 7 or 8 starts with "G" (probably for Giga).
• All "Steelswarm" Tribute Summoned monsters have original ATK equal to 1200 plus their Level × 200.
• The Level 5 and higher "Steelswarm" monster have distinct colorings unique to each of them, as opposed to the all-black colors of the Level 4 and lower "Steelswarm" monsters.

References

V Jump editorial department (February 26, 2013). 遊☆戯☆王デュエルターミナルマスターガイド (in Japanese). Shueisha. ISBN 4-08-782493-4.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)