Forum:Deck Guide/Reactors

by Gadjiltron

Intro

5D's brought us Greiger, a recurring side character known for his love for his home village and his extremely large Duel Runner. His first appearance showed off his Reactors archetype as he proceeded to curb-stomp Leo.

However, despite showing promise when they turned up in CRMS, the Reactors remain largely underlooked due to their fragility and difficulty in summoning their key cards. Even their ace monster is given a Summon bonus in the games as recognition for the difficulty in summoning it.

Mechanics

The Reactors, as their names indicate, are a bunch of monsters which react to the opponent's moves. Each of the Reactors are capable of inflicting burn damage to the opponent under different conditions, from summoning to activating Spells and Traps. However, while they react to Spell and Trap activation, the big flaw lies in that they do not negate the effects of the card they just reacted to, making such effects best against Continuous Spells and Traps, which are cards that are not played in large numbers.

Analysis

Strengths

• Pressure strategy - Each Reactor makes the opponent somewhat hesitant to do anything, especially when they're running low on LP and risk death by playing any card. Their key card further hinders their ability to play by destroying cards the moment they touch the field.

Weaknesses

• Subpar base stats - Each component Reactor, however, has horrible stats that makes it difficult for them to survive battle while face-up. Stall-based support is hence required to even make the Deck slightly playable.

The Basics

So, let's look at the framework of the archetype.

• Summon Reactor AI (Summon Reactor・SK) - This is what the archetype would want to get out first. AI is the strongest of the base Reactors at 2000 ATK, but since it stands at LV5 it quickly becomes something you don't want in your opening hand. It also holds the requirement used to make the Reactors' ace monster. AI reacts to the first time the opponent Summons a monster through burning 800 off the opponent, and if AI is still on the field in the same turn it can negate one attack during that turn's Battle Phase.
• Trap Reactor RR (Trap Reactor・Y FI) - At stats of 800/1800, you'd find yourself Setting RR. However since it's face-down because of that you won't be doing a lot of reacting with it. RR reacts to Trap activations, destroying them and burning 800. As you can see, there's no negation, which downplays its usefulness by a fair bit. At least it's good as a wall.
• Spell Reactor AID (Spell Reactor・RE) - With 1200/800 it's the weakest of all the Reactors, and the only time you'd find yourself bringing it out is when you're all set to make the ace monster. AID reacts to Spell activations, destroying them and burning 800. As you can see, there's no negation, which downplays its usefulness by a fair bit.
• Giant Bomber Airraid (Flying Fortress SKY FIRE) - The ace monster for the Deck. Fortunately, AI can summon Airraid from anywhere, be it your hand, Deck or Graveyard. Unfortunately, you'll need all three of the Reactors out on the field, which is difficult to accomplish itself. However, summoning Airraid is worth the trouble since it does quite a few things. First, once per turn, you can send a card from your hand to the Graveyard to destroy a card on the field. Next, once during each of the opponent's turn, you can either destroy a newly Summoned monster or newly Set card and inflict 800 damage. With mighty stats of 3000/2500, it will be enough to put the opponent in a tough spot.
• Dark Dive Bomber (Dark Strike Fighter) - This used to be the Reactors' backup plan, being a LV7 Synchro beatstick with a nasty burn ability. Too bad this burn ability was also abused so much outside of the intended Decks that Dark Dive got hit with the ban-hammer.
• Dark Flat Top - A late addition to the archetype. Dark Flat Top requires a DARK Tuner and Machine non-Tuners, which makes it right at home with this archetype. At 0/3000, it's not going to do a lot of attacking, but it can summon Airraid or a Reactor from the Graveyard regardless of summon restrictions. Just one use of its effect would put the opponent in a tough spot, especially if they used extra effort to remove Airraid. Take note that you can't simply dump Airraid to Special Summon with Flat Top, since rulings dicatate that you need to properly Summon Airraid first before you can revive it that way (bummer.)
• Fake Explosion Penta - For one single attack, it prevents the attack target from being destroyed in battle, while bringing out AI from your hand or Graveyard. You'd find yourself trying to use this to bring out AI without going through the trouble of Tribute Summoning it.

Supporting Cards

As we can see, the archetype alone is not enough to make a good Deck. As such, supporting cards will be necessary.

• Genex Ally Crusher - With stats of 1000/2000, you'll either have to defend Crusher for a bit or hope the opponent attacks into this Set card. Whenever you Normal Summon a monster with the same Attribute as Crusher, you get to destroy one card. Crusher's a DARK Machine, just like the Reactors, which goes right with the archetype's lockdown strategy while adding a means of removal.
• Genex Ally Duradark - At stats of 1800/200, it makes for a good beatstick to make up for what the Reactors are lacking. Duradark can even skip attacking for the turn to destroy an Attack Position monster with the same Attribute as it, letting you pick off pesky opposing DARK monsters where necessary.
• Genex Ally Powercell - With 1700 ATK it's also a decent beatstick, and it grants 500 ATK to all your monsters that share an Attribute with it. This will make your Reactors slightly better at attacking, with AID becoming more useful at 1700 ATK.
• Black Salvo - On Summon, it can revive a LV4 DARK Machine while negating its effect. With the above Genex Ally monsters and Trap Reactor RR, Black Salvo has quite a number of targets to use. This card was intentionally used as instant LV7 Synchro to make Dark Dive Bomber, but with that banned, there's another thing to use...
• Karakuri Shogun mdl 00 “Burei” - It requires a Tuner and Machine-Type non-Tuners, something which Black Salvo can easily accomplish. Burei provides some muscle to the Deck with 2600 ATK, and the position-switch ability can be used to either put your opponent's monsters in vulnerable positions, or allow your walls to be in face-up Defense Position the turn you Summon them.
• Armageddon Knight - Use him to send a DARK monster to the Graveyard. Chances are that will be Summon Reactor AI, or a DARK Machine for revival with Salvo.
• Iron Call - Once you've established 2 of the 3 pieces of Airraid on the field and the third is sitting in your Graveyard, pull the 3rd piece back and bring out the big guns.
• Scrap-Iron Scarecrow - It negates attacks once per turn. This can be used to defend your Reactors until you're all set for Airraid. AI can also add an additional layer of attack negations each turn.

Example Deck

Ally Strike

Main Deck Monster Cards Black Bomber x3 Dark Armed Dragon Summon Reactor AI x2 Trap Reactor RR x2 Spell Reactor AID x2 Giant Bomber Airraid Armageddon Knight x3 Genex Ally Crusher x3 Cyber Dragon x2 Blackwing - Gale the Whirlwind Spell Cards Mystical Space Typhoon x2 Dark Eruption Allure of Darkness Heavy Storm Limiter Removal Monster Reborn Book of Moon Foolish Burial Reasoning Dark Hole Trap Cards Solemn Judgment Mirror Force Torrential Tribute Bottomless Trap Hole x2 Fake Explosion Penta x2 Scrap-Iron Scarecrow Call of the Haunted Extra Deck Fusion Monsters Chimeratech Overdragon Synchro Monsters Dark Flat Top Karakuri Shogun mdl 00 “Burei” Scrap Archfiend

Other Tips

Other cards can be used to help support the Reactors too.

• Geargiganto X - A new Rank 4 Xyz Monster that works very well in any general Machine Deck. Use it to recycle or search for a LV4 or lower Machine. Usually, you'd be getting RR/AID or any of the Ally Genex monsters. Doubly awesome if what you just picked up is Summoned to use with Crusher's effect.
• Mystic Tomato - It can be used to quickly search out the weaker Reactors. Just make sure that your opponent doesn't get a chance to attack them soon.
• Phantom of Chaos - If you have any dead/dumped/discarded Reactors and you need them quick, summon Phantom of Chaos to duplicate their names to summon Airraid.
• Summon Priest - Capable of searching out Crusher and RR, while also seating them nicely in Defense Position where they're less likely to be destroyed in battle.
• The Dark Creator - Your Reactors would easily die in battle, so The Dark Creator can easily bring them back late in the game.
• Messenger of Peace - Cheap stall that can help you hold off your opponent's attackers while you set up. If you do need to attack, you can just skip on paying the cost.
• Dark Illusion - As the Reactors are all DARK, this is easy protection from any targeting effects.
• Waboku and Threatening Roar - Chainable Traps that can help defend your Reactors.