Forum:Deck Guide/Dark

by:Flushy

Introduction to the type

DARK has always been opposing against LIGHT in this Millennium war. Dark, is a symbol of evil, most dark decks, win by resorting underhand tactics to gain power, such as the infamously known Dark Counterparts, which are centerpieces of most Dark-Typed decks. Alternatively, Light, and Dark sometimes combines, to find new strength, to defeat newer and greater adversaries. This form of power is known as TWILLIGHT/older players would like to call it, CHAOS.

So, DARKNESS IS IN THE EYES OF THE EVIL, do you have enough eviL to start?

Mechanics

As mentioned above, Dark decks usually resorts to underhand tactics to gain more power. These underhand tactics are usually generated in the form of graveyard advantage, as such in monsters like Dark Creator, Dark Armed Dragon and Rainbow Dark Dragon. Some involve Dark swarming cards like Destiny Hero - Malicious with splashable, special summonable tuners likes Plaguespreader Zombie/Krebons with Emergency Teleport to form top rated synchro decks, like Tele-DAD. Other Dark-type decks revolves around gaining power through control, like Diablos, King of the Abyss and various Virus cards that requires DARK monsters with certain attack to be used as tribute to activate wonders. Crush Card Virus was one of the virus trios being sent into the forbidden list. Some Dark cards have enormous destruction abilities. Well-known examples are : Snipe Hunter, Demise, King of Armageddon and Earthbound Immortal Cusillu.

Rank in Meta

In current Meta context, Blackwing is one of the most successful archetypes around. But, we are not covering that. This guide is for non-archetype Dark Synchro builds. Dark has been centralising the meta for quite sometime. In its earlier forms, Diamond Dude Turbo was very popular when Dimension Fusion was unlimited. Then, it came Tele-DAD, which left Emergency Teleport limited, Destiny Hero - Malicious semi-limited. Synchro Cat/AKB, made use of Gravekeeper Spy's wall and Rescue Cat's swarm ability, for synchro. Dark Armed Dragon is one of the most common card that is included in any deck, when Dark monsters are included in that build.

Building the Deck

Costs

For that amount of destruction, be prepared to pay a BOMB! If Allure of Darkness dug holes in your pocket, be prepared as Dark Armed Dragon, and few other Dark Counterparts will cost really expensive TCG-wise, OCG-wise, Dark counterparts are fairly cheaper.

Deck Oddities

Its fairly normal. Half of the deck usually contain monsters. Some of the times, hybrid builds are used, like Chaos, mixing LIGHT with DARK a very-well known example. Otherwise, WIND with DARK, to include Dark Simorgh. Otherwise, it will be like any usual deck.

Card Choices

Cards from the theme

Monster Cards:

• Dark Armed Dragon - A Card to be played in every DARK deck, synchro or non-synchro. A free beatstick with a special summoning condition of having 3 DARK, which is not a stringent one in early game, and can let you clear the field to let you pull off an OTK. However, it is limited, which is the only negative part about this card.

• Dark Creator - Another card that is playable in any kind of DARK deck. It lets you swarm the field by removing 1 Dark in your graveyard to Special summon another DARK in your graveyard. However, you need to control no monsters on the field and have 5 DARK monsters in your graveyard to special summon this card. This card is good, as it allows you to pull off a counter attack, if your opponent cleared your field and failed to finish you of with an OTK. Do not belittle this card, and do not rely on it too much, based on my dueling experiences. This card can lead to a dead draw, as well as let you win the game.

• Dark Nephthys - A fair card to play. But nobody plays it due to its high removal costs and poor attack/destruction ability. Not really recommended to be played in every deck. If you really want to play this card, you can try it in a Black Feather deck. Its not really an A rated card, but a fair one.

• Dark Simorgh - Another fair card to play, if you decided to mix DARK with WIND. It can create a famous lockdown with Anti-Spell Fragrance, severely damaging your opponent's backrow and spell trap support. Being a Winged-Beast, you can also use Icarus Attack to abuse it with its revival abilities. There are few builds to go around with this card, so play around with it, it might inspire you with many different ideas.

• Darknight Parshath - Not a good card. Not at all. Attack modifiers like Honest, Shrink are popular in current metagame. Secondly, it is only good in late game, whereas most Dark decks are usually fast. I do not recommend the use of this card in any Dark deck.

• Dark Horus - A poorly made card. It has revival ability, but its not special summonable on its own, hence you need 2 tributes, or you must find an alternative way to special summon him. Level 4s are easily crippled and destroyed. hence, its abilities is nothing to boast and brag about. Only use in a Hopeless Dragon deck. Its attack points is the only thing to be proud of.

To be continued...