Difference between revisions of "Unchained"

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{{Stub}}
 
 
{{Infobox archseries
 
{{Infobox archseries
| image        = AbominationsPrison-CHIM-JP-OP.png
+
| image        = AbominationsPrison-MADU-EN-VG-artwork.png
 
| caption      = "[[Unchained Twins - Rakea|Rakea]]", "[[Unchained Twins - Aruha|Aruha]]", and a fusion of "[[Unchained Soul of Rage|Rage]]" and "[[Unchained Soul of Anguish|Anguish]]" in the artwork of "[[Abomination's Prison]]".
 
| caption      = "[[Unchained Twins - Rakea|Rakea]]", "[[Unchained Twins - Aruha|Aruha]]", and a fusion of "[[Unchained Soul of Rage|Rage]]" and "[[Unchained Soul of Anguish|Anguish]]" in the artwork of "[[Abomination's Prison]]".
 
| ja_name      = {{Ruby|破|は}}{{Ruby|械|かい}}
 
| ja_name      = {{Ruby|破|は}}{{Ruby|械|かい}}
 
| romaji      = Hakai
 
| romaji      = Hakai
| trans        =
+
| fr_name      = Désenchaîné
| fr_name      =  
+
| de_name      = Losgekettet
| de_name      =  
+
| it_name      = Svincolato
| it_name      =  
+
| ko_name      = 언체인드
| ko_name      =  
+
| ko_romanized = Eoncheindeu
| ko_romanized =  
+
| pt_name      = Desacorrentado(a)
| pt_name      =  
+
| es_name      = Desencadenado/a
| es_name      =  
+
| sets        =
| sets        =  
 
 
* [[Chaos Impact]]
 
* [[Chaos Impact]]
 
* [[Ignition Assault]]
 
* [[Ignition Assault]]
 +
* [[Eternity Code]]
 +
* [[Duelist Nexus]]
 +
| tcg          =
 +
* [[Ignition Assault Special Edition]]
 +
* [[2020 Tin of Lost Memories]]
 +
* [[OTS Tournament Pack 22]]
 +
* [[Valiant Smashers]]
 +
| ocg          =
 +
* [[Tournament Pack 2023 Vol.2]]
 +
* [[Duelist Nexus +1 Bonus Pack]]
 
}}
 
}}
 
+
"'''Unchained'''" ({{Ruby|破|は}}{{Ruby|械|かい}} ''Hakai'') is an [[archetype]] introduced in ''[[Chaos Impact]]'', made up of [[Fiend]] monsters with various [[Attribute]]s (primarily [[DARK]]) and centered around destroying cards for benefits, usually summoning monsters.
"'''Unchained'''" ({{Ruby|破|は}}{{Ruby|械|かい}} ''Hakai'') is an [[archetype]] introduced in ''[[Chaos Impact]]'', made up of [[Fiend]] monsters with various [[Attributes]] and centered around destroying cards for benefits, usually summoning monsters.
 
 
 
 
==Lore==
 
==Lore==
 
<blockquote>
 
<blockquote>
 
;''Only One Thought Remains, "Destroy Everything"''
 
;''Only One Thought Remains, "Destroy Everything"''
''Once, there was a practitioner who mastered all the arts of the Taoist immortals. But the awe of the people at his incredible power changed into fear, and they were shackled by those who shunned their might, sealed over and over again by various means. Countless years passed, and before long, the soul of the master was stained with evil, as they became driven by their resentment to the world and all who lived in it. Little by little, their power began to leak from their seals, and the magical master created two duplicates of their original form, using them to manifest their former Shikigami and break their seals one-by-one.''
+
''Once, there was a practitioner who mastered all the arts of the Taoist immortals. But the awe of the people at his incredible power changed into fear, and they were shackled by those who shunned their might, sealed over and over again by various means. Countless years passed, and before long, the soul of the master was stained with evil, as they became driven by their resentment to the world and all who lived in it. Little by little, their power began to leak from their seals, and the magical master created two duplicates of their original form, using them to manifest their former [[wikipedia:Shikigami|Shikigami]] and break their seals one-by-one.''
 
 
 
;''The Shikigami Transformed Into An Evil Being''
 
;''The Shikigami Transformed Into An Evil Being''
''The Douji, who destroyed the devices sealing their master away, ended up calling forth a humongous Shikigami that lusted for further power. This Shikigami, that was once used by the magical master, had been transformed into a wicked beast as a result of the current shape of the soul of its master. It absorbed the Douji, transforming it into one gigantic being. The Shikigami became even stronger, marching to the place where its master was sealed, destroying everything around it. When the magical master's seals are finally broken, the world will surely be destroyed and covered in endless darkness.''<ref>https://ygorganization.com/thisfeelslikesomethingoutofsouleater/</ref>
+
''The Twins, who destroyed the devices sealing their master away, ended up calling forth a humongous Shikigami that lusted for further power. This Shikigami, that was once used by the magical master, had been transformed into a wicked beast as a result of the current shape of the soul of its master. It absorbed the Twins, transforming it into one gigantic being. The Shikigami became even stronger, marching to the place where its master was sealed, destroying everything around it. When the magical master's seals are finally broken, the world will surely be destroyed and covered in endless darkness.''<ref>https://ygorganization.com/thisfeelslikesomethingoutofsouleater/</ref>
 
 
 
;''[[Abominable Chamber of the Unchained]]''
 
;''[[Abominable Chamber of the Unchained]]''
 
''An underground space dominated by darkness. A sealed coffin, large enough for one person and approximately 2~3 meters tall, hangs suspended in the air. The coffin is bound by chains reaching out in every direction, allowing one to see how secure the entire thing is.''
 
''An underground space dominated by darkness. A sealed coffin, large enough for one person and approximately 2~3 meters tall, hangs suspended in the air. The coffin is bound by chains reaching out in every direction, allowing one to see how secure the entire thing is.''
 
 
;''[[Unchained Twins - Rakea]]''
 
;''[[Unchained Twins - Rakea]]''
 
''A copy of the sealed sorcerer, created by their leaking spiritual energy. Its mind hasn't fully matured due to having been just manifested into existence, making them both as innocent yet cruel as a child.''<ref name="lore2" />
 
''A copy of the sealed sorcerer, created by their leaking spiritual energy. Its mind hasn't fully matured due to having been just manifested into existence, making them both as innocent yet cruel as a child.''<ref name="lore2" />
 
 
;''[[Unchained Twins - Aruha]]''
 
;''[[Unchained Twins - Aruha]]''
 
''Like "Rakea", they were born from the spiritual power of the sorcerer. When they first manifested, their eyes were blindfolded and their limbs were restrained with magical sealing devices.''<ref>https://ygorganization.com/nomorefingerofdoom/</ref>
 
''Like "Rakea", they were born from the spiritual power of the sorcerer. When they first manifested, their eyes were blindfolded and their limbs were restrained with magical sealing devices.''<ref>https://ygorganization.com/nomorefingerofdoom/</ref>
 
 
;''[[Abomination's Prison]]''
 
;''[[Abomination's Prison]]''
''A Shikigami summoned from the other world by the Doujis. Its limbs were wrapped in chains, which have been torn apart by incredible power. Unlike in the past, when it served the great sorcerer, it now carries a sinister aura.''
+
''A Shikigami summoned from the other world by the Twins. Its limbs were wrapped in chains, which have been torn apart by incredible power. Unlike in the past, when it served the great sorcerer, it now carries a sinister aura.''
 
 
 
;''[[Unchained Abomination]]''
 
;''[[Unchained Abomination]]''
''The magical beast has transformed into a diabolical appearance absorbing "Aruha" and "Rakea". On its forehead is a [[wikipedia:Taijitu|Taijitu]]-esque Disaster made of "Aruha" and "Rakea", after being merged into its body. Its very surrondings are destroyed by the power it gained.''<ref name="lore2">https://ygorganization.com/demonicbratsthelotofem/</ref>
+
''The magical beast has transformed into a diabolical appearance absorbing "Aruha" and "Rakea". On its forehead are [[wikipedia:Taijitu|Taijitu]]-esque [[wikipedia:magatama|magatama]]s made of "Aruha" and "Rakea", after being merged into its body. Its very surrondings are destroyed by the power it gained.''<ref name="lore2">https://ygorganization.com/demonicbratsthelotofem/</ref>
 
</blockquote>
 
</blockquote>
 
 
==Etymology==
 
==Etymology==
The archetype's name is complex, multi-layered wordplay. First, in Japanese, it is an homophone to both 「破壊」 ("destroy"; fitting to their playstyle to say the least) and 「破戒」 ("breaking a religious commandment"; which together to the monsters' visual design might imply the members of the archetype are "tortured heretics"). In addition, the 「械」 ''kai'' kanji is part of 「機械」 ''kikai'' ("machine"), but also take the meaning of "fetter" if written separately (in which case it reads as ''kase''), alluding to the many restraining devices on the monsters' bodies.
+
The archetype's Japanese name is complex, multi-layered wordplay. First, it is an homophone to both 「破壊」 ("destroy"; fitting to their playstyle to say the least) and 「破戒」 ("breaking a religious commandment"; in reference to the theme's visual design being somewhat reminding of 'tortured heretics'). In addition, the 「械」 ''kai'' kanji is part of 「機械」 ''kikai'' ("machine"), but also takes the meaning of "fetter" or "shackles" if written separately (in which case it reads as ''kase''), alluding to the many restraining devices on the monsters' bodies.
 +
==Design==
 +
"Unchained" monsters encompass three broad designs:
 +
* "Unchained Twins": Consisting of "[[Unchained Twins - Rakea|Rakea]]", "[[Unchained Twins - Aruha|Aruha]]", and "[[Unchained Twins - Sarama|Sarama]]", they represent the projection copies of the sorcerer described in the archetype's lore. They have the appearance of children wearing loose-fitting traditional Japanese garments, with long, unkempt hair. "Rakea" and "Aruha" are also both restrained with shackles, and are color-coded with blue and red respectively, while "Sarama" is not and is color-coded with purple.
 +
** The names of "Rakea" (「ラキア」, ''rakia'')  and "Aruha" (「アルハ」, ''aruha'') are based on the kun'yomi reading of the name of famous Japanese onmyōji [[wikipedia:Abe no Seimei|Abe no Seimei]] (Japanese: 安倍晴明), ''"haru akira"''; inverting ''"haru akira"'' produces ''"rakia ruha"'', which can be split into "rakia" and "aruha".
 +
* "[[Unchained Soul]]": Consisting of "[[Unchained Soul of Disaster|Disaster]]", "[[Unchained Soul of Rage|Rage]]", "[[Unchained Soul of Anguish|Anguish]]", and "[[Unchained Abomination]]", they represent the Shikigami of the sorcerer and its powered-up forms. It takes the form of a shackled dog-like spirit, and is variously color-coded with blue, red, and purple.
 +
** The Japanese names of "Rage" and "Anguish" are "Ragia" and "Aruba". They are both are modified versions of the names of "Rakea" and "Aruha", with their middle syllable becoming voiced.
 +
** The Japanese name of "Unchained Abomination", "Raigou", is likely a reference to the [[wikipedia:Raig%C5%8D|Raigō]] concept in Japanese Buddhism.
 +
* "[[Abominable Unchained Soul]]": This monster represents the imprisoned sorcerer as described in the lore.
 +
==Playing style==
 +
The "Unchained" theme primarily focuses on [[Destroy|destruction]], either as a condition to a trigger effect, or as a part of their card effects. Secondarily, the archetype's "[[Unchained Soul]]" sub-theme focuses on using the opponent's monsters as Link Materials to Link Summon.
  
==Playing style==
+
Almost all members of the archetype have some form of [[floater|float]]ing [[Trigger Effect]] (or equivalent) that activates after the card is destroyed on the field by [[battle]] or by [[card effect]]. These floating effects give the archetype an extreme level of resilience against battle and effect destruction, and the deck's overall game plan revolves around them; the deck uses these floating effects to Special Summon monsters from the Deck, recover GY resources, and even generate card advantage.
The "Unchained" theme focuses on using the effects of their basic Main Deck monsters, "[[Unchained Twins - Aruha]]" and "[[Unchained Twins - Rakea]]", in order to destroy cards you control through two main methods: either the effect of "Aruha" that Special Summons itself from the hand, or the [[Quick Effect]] of "Rakea". The primary targets for these effects are other "Unchained" monsters and their Spells and Traps which, upon destruction, can Special Summon a "Unchained" monster from various locations: hand and Deck for the aforementioned duo, GY for "Disaster", and Deck for the Spells and Traps (if destroyed while Set).
+
{| class="wikitable" style=" text-align: center"
 +
! colspan = 2 | Unchained
 +
! Float effect summary
 +
|-
 +
! Unchained Twins
 +
| [[Unchained Twins - Rakea|Rakea]]<br/>[[Unchained Twins - Aruha|Aruha]]<br/>[[Unchained Twins - Sarama|Sarama]]
 +
| If destroyed{{efn|Except if they are destroyed by the card effect of another copy of themselves.}}: Special Summon 1 different "Unchained" monster from Hand/Deck.
 +
|-
 +
! rowspan = 3 | Unchained Soul
 +
| [[Abominable Unchained Soul|Abominable Soul]]
 +
| If destroyed: Special Summon this card from GY in the End Phase.{{efn|Place it on the bottom of the Deck when it leaves the field.}}
 +
|-
 +
| [[Unchained Soul of Disaster|Disaster]]
 +
| If destroyed: Special Summon 1 different "Unchained" monster from GY.
 +
|-
 +
| [[Unchained Soul of Rage|Rage]]<br/>[[Unchained Soul of Anguish|Anguish]]
 +
| If destroyed: Add 1 different Fiend monster from GY to hand.
 +
|-
 +
! Spell/Traps
 +
| [[Abomination's Prison|Prison]]<br/>[[Wailing of the Unchained Souls|Wailing]]<br/>[[Escape of the Unchained|Escape]]<br/>[[Abominable Chamber of the Unchained|Chamber]]
 +
| If destroyed{{efn|Must be destroyed while Set, by a card effect.}}: Special Summon 1 "Unchained" monster from Deck.
 +
|}
 +
The "Unchained Twins" low-level Main Deck monsters have effects focusing on triggering the floating effects of other "Unchained" cards. "[[Unchained Twins - Aruha|Aruha]]" can Special Summon itself from the hand by destroying 1 friendly card, "[[Unchained Twins - Rakea|Rakea]]" can destroy 1 friendly card as a [[Quick Effect]], and "[[Unchained Twins - Sarama|Sarama]]" can set 1 "Unchained" card from the GY onto the field, and then destroy 1 friendly card. While the former two's effects are card advantage neutral, "Sarama"'s effect grants a +1 in card advantage (if the floating effect of the cards they destroy successfully resolves).
  
The main choice to Special Summon is their strongest [[Main Deck]] member, "[[Unchained Soul of Disaster]]". Through the effect of "Disaster", it can use itself alongside an opponent's monster to Summon the in-theme [[Link Monster]]s, "[[Unchained Soul of Rage]]" and "[[Unchained Soul of Anguish]]". "Rage" and "Anguish" both require a "[[Unchained Soul]]" monster as [[Link Material]], making "Disaster" vital to Summon them currently. "Rage" and "Anguish" also have their own Link Summoning effects using the opponent's monsters, used to climb into the ultimate boss of the theme: "[[Unchained Abomination]]".
+
The "[[Unchained Soul]]" high-level Main Deck and Link Monsters serve as the deck's boss monsters. The Main Deck "[[Unchained Soul of Disaster|Disaster]]", as well as the Link-2 and 3 "[[Unchained Soul of Rage|Rage]]" and "[[Unchained Soul of Anguish|Anguish]]", all share an effect to use an opponent's monster as a Link Material to Link Summon a 1 DARK Link Monster. This effect serves as an efficient form of non-destruction removal and Quick Effect disruption (for "Rage"), provides a clean +1 in card advantage (in contrast to most other removal effects in the archetype, which are 1-for-1 trades), and lets the player easily Link-climb through the deck's Link Monsters.
 +
{| class="wikitable" style=" text-align: center"
 +
! Unchained Soul
 +
! Monster card type
 +
! Link effect requirements
 +
! Link effect
 +
|-
 +
| [[Unchained Soul of Disaster|Disaster]]
 +
| Level 8<br/>Main Deck
 +
| In your Main Phase, target 1 opposing face-up monster
 +
| rowspan = 3 | Link Summon 1 [different] DARK Link Monster using only this card and that monster.
 +
|-
 +
| [[Unchained Soul of Rage|Rage]]
 +
| Link 2
 +
| In your opponent's Main Phase, target 1 opposing face-up Special Summoned monster
 +
|-
 +
| [[Unchained Soul of Anguish|Anguish]]
 +
| Link 3
 +
| In your Main Phase, target 1 opposing face-up monster
 +
|}
 +
The Level 8 Main Deck "[[Abominable Unchained Soul]]" serves as an additional piece of disruption for the deck. "Abominable Soul" can Special Summon itself from the hand if a friendly card is destroyed by battle or card effect, and if Special Summoned, lets the player discard 1 card to destroy 1 card on the field. This effect triggers regardless of how it's Special Summoned; "Abominable Soul" can be summoned from the Deck with the Deck's many floating effects, or summoned from the GY with its own effect or "[[Abominable Chamber of the Unchained|Abominable Chamber]]". However, the player can only Special Summon "Abominable Soul" once per turn, restricting its power level somewhat.
  
As mentioned, all Spells and Traps of the theme feature a secondary effect that Summon a "Unchained" monster from the Deck if destroyed while Set. Their primary effects include [[searcher|searching]] for any "Unchained" card, [[destroy]]ing a card on the field when one of the Links Monsters is Link Summoned once per turn, destroying a both a "Unchained" monster and any other card on the field, and Summoning any "Unchained" monster from hand or GY.
+
The ultimate in-archetype boss monster, "[[Unchained Abomination]]", has three once-per-turn [[Trigger Effect]]s that each destroy 1 card on the field: once if an on-field card is destroyed by another card's effect, once if a monster is destroyed by battle, and once during the End Phase. "Abomination" can rapidly shift the balance of the game state towards its user, and can even be used to trigger more "Unchained" floating effects. It is also technically a fully generic monster, able to be splashed into other decks as a standalone boss monster.
  
 +
The individual effects of the archetype's Spell/Traps provide additional searching, disruption, and recovery. "[[Abomination's Prison]]" searches any "Unchained" card (but notably isn't an "Unchained" card itself, meaning that it can't be set from GY by "Sarama"), "[[Wailing of the Unchained Souls|Wailing]]" once per turn [[destroy]]s a card when an "Unchained" Links Monsters is Link Summoned, "[[Escape of the Unchained|Escape]]" destroys 1 "Unchained" monster and 1 other card on the field (making for a 1-for-1 trade if the monster's floating effect successfully resolves), and "[[Abominable Chamber of the Unchained|Abominable Chamber]]" summons 1 "Unchained" monster from hand or GY, which can be used as a disruption by summoning "Abominable Unchained Soul" or "Unchained Soul of Rage".
 
===Recommended cards===
 
===Recommended cards===
 
{{Decklist|Recommended cards
 
{{Decklist|Recommended cards
 
<!--This is not an exact Decklist. Please do not add multiples or staples.-->
 
<!--This is not an exact Decklist. Please do not add multiples or staples.-->
 
 
|effect monsters =
 
|effect monsters =
 +
* [[Abominable Unchained Soul]]
 +
* [[Unchained Soul of Sharvara]]
 +
* [[Unchained Soul of Shyama]]
 +
* [[Unchained Soul of Disaster]]
 
* [[Unchained Twins - Aruha]]
 
* [[Unchained Twins - Aruha]]
 
* [[Unchained Twins - Rakea]]
 
* [[Unchained Twins - Rakea]]
* [[Unchained Soul of Disaster]]
+
* [[Unchained Twins - Sarama]]
* [[The Abominable Unchained Soul]]
+
* [[Berserk Archfiend]]
 +
* [[Dark Spirit of Malice]]
 +
* [[Dark Spirit of Banishment]]
 +
* [[Diabolica the Draconique General]]
 +
* [[Fiendish Rhino Warrior]]
 +
* [[Luna the Dark Spirit]]
 +
* [[Outburst Dragon]]
 +
* [[Radian, the Multidimensional Kaiju]]
 
* [[Sangan]]
 
* [[Sangan]]
 
* [[Stygian Street Patrol]]
 
* [[Stygian Street Patrol]]
 +
* [[The Fiendsmith]]
 
* [[Tour Guide From the Underworld]]
 
* [[Tour Guide From the Underworld]]
 
+
* [[Artifact Lancea]]
 +
* [[Artifact Chakram]]
 +
|tuner monsters =
 +
* [[Vision Resonator]]
 +
* [[Tricorn the Cacophonous Concert]]
 +
|fusion monsters =
 +
* [[Soul Hunter]] (as a target for "Ready Fusion")
 +
|synchro monsters =
 +
* [[Chaos Angel]]
 +
* [[Groza, Tyrant of Thunder]]
 +
* [[Infernity Doom Archfiend]]
 +
|xyz monsters =
 +
* [[Leviair the Sea Dragon]]
 +
* [[D/D/D Stone King Darius]]/[[D/D/D Wave High King Caesar]]
 +
** [[D/D/D Deviser King Deus Machinex]]
 +
* [[Dingirsu, the Orcust of the Evening Star]]
 +
* [[Number 1: Infection Buzzking]]
 +
* Any generic [[Rank 8 Monster Cards|Rank 8]] monster
 
|link monsters =
 
|link monsters =
 +
* [[Unchained Abomination]]
 +
* [[Unchained Soul Lord of Yama]]
 
* [[Unchained Soul of Anguish]]
 
* [[Unchained Soul of Anguish]]
 
* [[Unchained Soul of Rage]]
 
* [[Unchained Soul of Rage]]
* [[Unchained Abomination]]
+
* [[Muckraker From the Underworld]]
 +
* [[Accesscode Talker]]
 +
* [[Baba Barber]]
 
* [[Beat Cop from the Underworld]]
 
* [[Beat Cop from the Underworld]]
 
* [[Knightmare Unicorn]]
 
* [[Knightmare Unicorn]]
* [[Baba Barber]]
 
 
* [[Wee Witch's Apprentice]]
 
* [[Wee Witch's Apprentice]]
 
+
|normal spells =
|spells =
 
* [[Wailing of the Unchained Souls]]
 
 
* [[Abomination's Prison]]
 
* [[Abomination's Prison]]
 
* [[Foolish Burial]]
 
* [[Foolish Burial]]
 +
* [[Clear New World]]
 +
* [[Dark Spirit's Mastery]]
 +
* [[Trade-In]]
 +
* [[Ready Fusion]]
 +
|continuous spells =
 +
* [[Wailing of the Unchained Souls]]
 
* [[Supply Squad]]
 
* [[Supply Squad]]
 
+
* [[Crimson Gaia]] (with "Vision Resonator")
|traps =
+
|quick-play spells =
 +
* [[Realm Eulogy]]
 +
* [[Fiendsmith Sanctus]]
 +
|normal traps =
 
* [[Abominable Chamber of the Unchained]]
 
* [[Abominable Chamber of the Unchained]]
 
* [[Escape of the Unchained]]
 
* [[Escape of the Unchained]]
 +
* [[Archfiend's Ghastly Glitch]]
 +
* [[Fiend Griefing]]
 +
* [[Wild Tornado]]
 +
* [[Statue of the Wicked]]
 +
* [[Trap Track]]
 
* [[Trap Trick]]
 
* [[Trap Trick]]
 +
|counter traps =
 +
* [[Rebound]]
 +
* [[Dark World Punishment]]
 
}}
 
}}
  
 +
==Notes==
 +
{{notelist}}
 
== References ==
 
== References ==
 
<references />
 
<references />
 
 
{{Unchained}}
 
{{Unchained}}
[[Category:Archetypes]]
+
[[Category:TCG and OCG archetypes]]

Latest revision as of 16:09, 22 March 2024

Unchained
"Rakea", "Aruha", and a fusion of "Rage" and "Anguish" in the artwork of "Abomination's Prison".
"Rakea", "Aruha", and a fusion of "Rage" and "Anguish" in the artwork of "Abomination's Prison".
Japanese
  • かい
  • 破械 (base)
  • はかい (ruby)
  • Hakai (romanized)
French
  • Désenchaîné
German
  • Losgekettet
Italian
  • Svincolato
Korean
  • 언체인드
  • Eoncheindeu (romanized)
Portuguese
  • Desacorrentado(a)
Spanish
  • Desencadenado/a
Sets
TCG
OCG
Lists

"Unchained" (かい Hakai) is an archetype introduced in Chaos Impact, made up of Fiend monsters with various Attributes (primarily DARK) and centered around destroying cards for benefits, usually summoning monsters.

Lore[edit]

Only One Thought Remains, "Destroy Everything"

Once, there was a practitioner who mastered all the arts of the Taoist immortals. But the awe of the people at his incredible power changed into fear, and they were shackled by those who shunned their might, sealed over and over again by various means. Countless years passed, and before long, the soul of the master was stained with evil, as they became driven by their resentment to the world and all who lived in it. Little by little, their power began to leak from their seals, and the magical master created two duplicates of their original form, using them to manifest their former Shikigami and break their seals one-by-one.

The Shikigami Transformed Into An Evil Being

The Twins, who destroyed the devices sealing their master away, ended up calling forth a humongous Shikigami that lusted for further power. This Shikigami, that was once used by the magical master, had been transformed into a wicked beast as a result of the current shape of the soul of its master. It absorbed the Twins, transforming it into one gigantic being. The Shikigami became even stronger, marching to the place where its master was sealed, destroying everything around it. When the magical master's seals are finally broken, the world will surely be destroyed and covered in endless darkness.[1]

Abominable Chamber of the Unchained

An underground space dominated by darkness. A sealed coffin, large enough for one person and approximately 2~3 meters tall, hangs suspended in the air. The coffin is bound by chains reaching out in every direction, allowing one to see how secure the entire thing is.

Unchained Twins - Rakea

A copy of the sealed sorcerer, created by their leaking spiritual energy. Its mind hasn't fully matured due to having been just manifested into existence, making them both as innocent yet cruel as a child.[2]

Unchained Twins - Aruha

Like "Rakea", they were born from the spiritual power of the sorcerer. When they first manifested, their eyes were blindfolded and their limbs were restrained with magical sealing devices.[3]

Abomination's Prison

A Shikigami summoned from the other world by the Twins. Its limbs were wrapped in chains, which have been torn apart by incredible power. Unlike in the past, when it served the great sorcerer, it now carries a sinister aura.

Unchained Abomination

The magical beast has transformed into a diabolical appearance absorbing "Aruha" and "Rakea". On its forehead are Taijitu-esque magatamas made of "Aruha" and "Rakea", after being merged into its body. Its very surrondings are destroyed by the power it gained.[2]

Etymology[edit]

The archetype's Japanese name is complex, multi-layered wordplay. First, it is an homophone to both 「破壊」 ("destroy"; fitting to their playstyle to say the least) and 「破戒」 ("breaking a religious commandment"; in reference to the theme's visual design being somewhat reminding of 'tortured heretics'). In addition, the 「械」 kai kanji is part of 「機械」 kikai ("machine"), but also takes the meaning of "fetter" or "shackles" if written separately (in which case it reads as kase), alluding to the many restraining devices on the monsters' bodies.

Design[edit]

"Unchained" monsters encompass three broad designs:

  • "Unchained Twins": Consisting of "Rakea", "Aruha", and "Sarama", they represent the projection copies of the sorcerer described in the archetype's lore. They have the appearance of children wearing loose-fitting traditional Japanese garments, with long, unkempt hair. "Rakea" and "Aruha" are also both restrained with shackles, and are color-coded with blue and red respectively, while "Sarama" is not and is color-coded with purple.
    • The names of "Rakea" (「ラキア」, rakia) and "Aruha" (「アルハ」, aruha) are based on the kun'yomi reading of the name of famous Japanese onmyōji Abe no Seimei (Japanese: 安倍晴明), "haru akira"; inverting "haru akira" produces "rakia ruha", which can be split into "rakia" and "aruha".
  • "Unchained Soul": Consisting of "Disaster", "Rage", "Anguish", and "Unchained Abomination", they represent the Shikigami of the sorcerer and its powered-up forms. It takes the form of a shackled dog-like spirit, and is variously color-coded with blue, red, and purple.
    • The Japanese names of "Rage" and "Anguish" are "Ragia" and "Aruba". They are both are modified versions of the names of "Rakea" and "Aruha", with their middle syllable becoming voiced.
    • The Japanese name of "Unchained Abomination", "Raigou", is likely a reference to the Raigō concept in Japanese Buddhism.
  • "Abominable Unchained Soul": This monster represents the imprisoned sorcerer as described in the lore.

Playing style[edit]

The "Unchained" theme primarily focuses on destruction, either as a condition to a trigger effect, or as a part of their card effects. Secondarily, the archetype's "Unchained Soul" sub-theme focuses on using the opponent's monsters as Link Materials to Link Summon.

Almost all members of the archetype have some form of floating Trigger Effect (or equivalent) that activates after the card is destroyed on the field by battle or by card effect. These floating effects give the archetype an extreme level of resilience against battle and effect destruction, and the deck's overall game plan revolves around them; the deck uses these floating effects to Special Summon monsters from the Deck, recover GY resources, and even generate card advantage.

Unchained Float effect summary
Unchained Twins Rakea
Aruha
Sarama
If destroyed[a]: Special Summon 1 different "Unchained" monster from Hand/Deck.
Unchained Soul Abominable Soul If destroyed: Special Summon this card from GY in the End Phase.[b]
Disaster If destroyed: Special Summon 1 different "Unchained" monster from GY.
Rage
Anguish
If destroyed: Add 1 different Fiend monster from GY to hand.
Spell/Traps Prison
Wailing
Escape
Chamber
If destroyed[c]: Special Summon 1 "Unchained" monster from Deck.

The "Unchained Twins" low-level Main Deck monsters have effects focusing on triggering the floating effects of other "Unchained" cards. "Aruha" can Special Summon itself from the hand by destroying 1 friendly card, "Rakea" can destroy 1 friendly card as a Quick Effect, and "Sarama" can set 1 "Unchained" card from the GY onto the field, and then destroy 1 friendly card. While the former two's effects are card advantage neutral, "Sarama"'s effect grants a +1 in card advantage (if the floating effect of the cards they destroy successfully resolves).

The "Unchained Soul" high-level Main Deck and Link Monsters serve as the deck's boss monsters. The Main Deck "Disaster", as well as the Link-2 and 3 "Rage" and "Anguish", all share an effect to use an opponent's monster as a Link Material to Link Summon a 1 DARK Link Monster. This effect serves as an efficient form of non-destruction removal and Quick Effect disruption (for "Rage"), provides a clean +1 in card advantage (in contrast to most other removal effects in the archetype, which are 1-for-1 trades), and lets the player easily Link-climb through the deck's Link Monsters.

Unchained Soul Monster card type Link effect requirements Link effect
Disaster Level 8
Main Deck
In your Main Phase, target 1 opposing face-up monster Link Summon 1 [different] DARK Link Monster using only this card and that monster.
Rage Link 2 In your opponent's Main Phase, target 1 opposing face-up Special Summoned monster
Anguish Link 3 In your Main Phase, target 1 opposing face-up monster

The Level 8 Main Deck "Abominable Unchained Soul" serves as an additional piece of disruption for the deck. "Abominable Soul" can Special Summon itself from the hand if a friendly card is destroyed by battle or card effect, and if Special Summoned, lets the player discard 1 card to destroy 1 card on the field. This effect triggers regardless of how it's Special Summoned; "Abominable Soul" can be summoned from the Deck with the Deck's many floating effects, or summoned from the GY with its own effect or "Abominable Chamber". However, the player can only Special Summon "Abominable Soul" once per turn, restricting its power level somewhat.

The ultimate in-archetype boss monster, "Unchained Abomination", has three once-per-turn Trigger Effects that each destroy 1 card on the field: once if an on-field card is destroyed by another card's effect, once if a monster is destroyed by battle, and once during the End Phase. "Abomination" can rapidly shift the balance of the game state towards its user, and can even be used to trigger more "Unchained" floating effects. It is also technically a fully generic monster, able to be splashed into other decks as a standalone boss monster.

The individual effects of the archetype's Spell/Traps provide additional searching, disruption, and recovery. "Abomination's Prison" searches any "Unchained" card (but notably isn't an "Unchained" card itself, meaning that it can't be set from GY by "Sarama"), "Wailing" once per turn destroys a card when an "Unchained" Links Monsters is Link Summoned, "Escape" destroys 1 "Unchained" monster and 1 other card on the field (making for a 1-for-1 trade if the monster's floating effect successfully resolves), and "Abominable Chamber" summons 1 "Unchained" monster from hand or GY, which can be used as a disruption by summoning "Abominable Unchained Soul" or "Unchained Soul of Rage".

Recommended cards[edit]

Recommended cards

Notes[edit]

  1. Except if they are destroyed by the card effect of another copy of themselves.
  2. Place it on the bottom of the Deck when it leaves the field.
  3. Must be destroyed while Set, by a card effect.

References[edit]