Editing Zefra

{{Infobox archseries
| image = Zefra.png
| caption = All ten of the "Zefra" monsters in the artwork of "[[Chosen of Zefra]]".
| ja_name = セフィラ
| romaji  = Sefira
| trans   = Sephira
| fr_name = Zefra
| de_name = Zefra
| it_name = Zefra
| ko_name = 세피라
| ko_romanized = Sepira
| ko_trans = Sephira
| pt_name = Zefra
| es_name = Zefra
| sets = 
* [[Crossed Souls]]
* [[Maximum Crisis]]
| anime = 
}}

"'''Zefra'''", known as "'''Sephira'''" (セフィラ ''Sefira'') in the ''[[OCG]]'', is an archetype consisting of [[Pendulum Monster]]s making its debut in ''[[Crossed Souls]]''. Each of the members also belongs to another archetype that first appeared in the [[Series 9]] [[Booster Pack]]s (3 of them from ''[[Duelist Alliance]]'', while the other 2 from ''[[The Secret Forces]]''/''[[Booster SP: Tribe Force]]''), except [[Zefraath|one]].

==Design==
===Storyline===
{{Main|Master Guide 5 card storylines}}
[[File:Zefra-Crest.png|thumb|left|100px|The "Zefra" crest.]]
<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">''With the [[Zefra Divine Strike|gathering]] of [[Tellarknight Ptolemaeus]], [[Nekroz of Sophia]], [[Dragunity Divine Lance]], and [[Evilswarm Kerykeion]] inside of [[El Shaddoll Anoyatyllis]] in one place, the powers of the [[Sophia, Goddess of Rebirth|Goddess of Rebirth]], the power of “creation” and [[Tierra, Source of Destruction|destruction]], and the 10 “Cores” were assembled. The aura pulsating from this gathering became the key to starting up the [[Oracle of Zefra|“sefiroth” system]], the counterpart to the “[[qli]]photh” system, from within the [[Naturia Sacred Tree]]. The holy light emanating from the floating Sacred Tree chose 10 lives from the surface world to transform into the Zefra. This Zefra, just like the Qliphort, is a part of the Sacred Tree's system. Its original purpose was as a defense system that purged damaging errors to the Sacred Tree, but for this war, in order to purge the anomaly threatening to destroy the planet known as Anoyatyllis, it shared its powers with the surface lifeforms. And so the 10 chosen holy warriors stood against Anoyatyllis which threatened to destroy both the world and the Tree.''

[...]

''In the face of the [[Tierra, Source of Destruction|god of destruction]] with its true powers regained, those on the surface could do nothing but await their purgation. With her final, faint sliver of hope, Ptolemaeus released the powers of the 9 [[Yang Zing]]s she had once materialized to control the Sacred Tree at the "sefiroth" system. That power activated [[Zefraath|the hidden 11th Zefra]] of the "sefiroth" system, and re-fused the cores of the 10 Zefra. The 11th Zefra chose [[Shaddoll Zefracore|Zefracore]], who possessed auras of both light and darkness, and completed the fusion with its "Core".''

[...]

''The one who stood to face Tierra, Source of Destruction was the protector of the Naturia Sacred Tree, Zefraath. The scale of [[Zefra War|their battle]] shook the entire planet, and lasted for one thousand days and one thousand nights. At the dawn of the 1000th day, the forms of Tierra and Zefraath were nowhere to be seen. The only things left were the charred remains of the Sacred Tree, and two [[Gem-Knights]].''</div>

===Etymology===
"Sephira" is a reference to the [[wikipedia:Sephirot|Sephiroth]], the 10 attributes/emanations in [[wikipedia:Kabbalah|Kabbalah]].

===Appearance===
Members of this archetype have shining white angelic styled wings with similar pattern and design on their back. The archetype's symbol is a sphere with six-pointed star-shaped outline with the similar design as combined team symbol of the "[[Gem-Knight]]" and "[[Constellar]]", resembling some sort of a crown. (The symbol can be clearly visible in "[[Zefra Divine Strike]]".) These spheres have the same colors as the spheres present in the "[[Qli]]" monsters, as well as the glowing canisters of the "[[Infernoid]]" monsters.

{| class="wikitable" align="center" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center"
! scope="col" | Position
! scope="col" | [[Saqlifice|Pyroxene]]
! scope="col" | Zefra
! scope="col" | Origin
! scope="col" | Sephiroth
! scope="col" | Opposing [[Qli]]phort
! scope="col" | Opposing [[Infernoid]]
|-
| 1
| White
| [[Zefrasaber, Swordmaster of the Nekroz|Zefrasaber]]
| [[Great Sorcerer of the Nekroz]]
| [[wikipedia:Keter|Keter]]
| [[Apoqliphort Skybase|Skybase]]
| [[Infernoid Pirmais|Pirmais]]
|-
| 2
| Gray
| [[Stellarknight Zefraxciton|Zefraxciton]]
| [[Evilswarm Exciton Knight]]
| [[wikipedia:Chokhmah|Chokhmah]]
| [[Qliphort Stealth|Stealth]]
| [[Infernoid Antra|Antra]]
|-
| 3
| Black
| [[Zefraniu, Secret of the Yang Zing|Zefraniu]]
| [[Taotie, Shadow of the Yang Zing]] ([[wikipedia:Qiuniu|Qiuniu]] is the [[wikipedia:Nine_sons_of_the_dragon#Modern_names|modern name]] of it)
| [[wikipedia:Binah (Kabbalah)|Binah]]
| [[Qliphort Shell|Shell]]
| [[Infernoid Harmadik|Harmadik]]
|-
| 4
| Blue
| [[Zefraxi, Treasure of the Yang Zing|Zefraxi]]
| [[Jiaotu, Darkness of the Yang Zing]] ([[wikipedia:Fuxi|Fuxi]] is the modern name of it)
| [[wikipedia:Chesed|Chesed]]
| [[Qliphort Disk|Disk]]
| [[Infernoid Patrulea|Patrulea]]
|-
| 5
| Red
| [[Satellarknight Zefrathuban|Zefrathuban]]
| ''Currently unknown'' (but seems to wear a design of armor similar to "[[Chiwen, Light of the Yang Zing]]")
| [[wikipedia:Gevurah|Gevurah]]
| [[Qliphort Cephalopod|Cephalopod]]
| [[Infernoid Piaty|Piaty]]
|-
| 6
| Yellow
| [[Ritual Beast Tamer Zeframpilica|Zeframpilica]]
| [[Pilica, Descendant of Gusto]] and [[Spiritual Beast Rampengu]]
| [[wikipedia:Tiferet|Tiferet]]
| [[Qliphort Scout|Scout]]
| [[Infernoid Sjette|Sjette]]
|-
| 7
| Green
| [[Ritual Beast Tamer Zefrawendi|Zefrawendi]]
| [[Ritual Beast Ulti-Pettlephin]] ([[Ritual Beast Tamer Wen]] and [[Spiritual Beast Pettlephin]])
| [[wikipedia:Netzach|Netzach]]
| [[Qliphort Carrier|Carrier]]
| [[Infernoid Seitsemas|Seitsemas]]
|-
| 8
| Orange
| [[Zefraxa, Flame Beast of the Nekroz|Zefraxa]]
| [[Exa, Enforcer of the Nekroz]]
| [[wikipedia:Hod (Kabbalah)|Hod]]
| [[Qliphort Helix|Helix]]
| [[Infernoid Attondel|Attondel]]
|-
| 9
| Purple
| [[Shaddoll Zefranaga|Zefranaga]]
| [[Evilswarm Kerykeion]]
| [[wikipedia:Yesod|Yesod]]
| [[Qliphort Monolith|Monolith]]
| [[Infernoid Devyaty|Devyaty]]
|-
| 10
| Multi-colors
| [[Shaddoll Zefracore|Zefracore]]
| [[Shaddoll Core]] and [[wikipedia:Ohr|Ohr]]
| [[wikipedia:Malkuth|Malkuth]]
| [[Apoqliphort Towers|Towers]]
| [[Infernoid Onuncu|Onuncu]]
|-
| 11
| Multi-colors
| [[Zefraath]]
| The power of the 9 [[Yang Zing]] + the 10 Zefra
| [[wikipedia:Da'at|Da'at]]
| -
| [[Infernoid Tierra|Tierra]]
|-
| -
| Multi-colors
| [[Zefra Metaltron]]
| ''Currently unknown''
| -
| -
| -
|}

==Playing Style==

A "Zefra" Deck is primarily focused on Pendulum Summons, as all the members of the archetype are Pendulum monsters, while gaining advantage with "[[Oracle of Zefra]]" and "[[Chosen of Zefra]]". "Zefra" Decks are encouraged – through the effects of "Oracle" as well as the effects of the individual members – to incorporate [[Synchro Summon|Synchro]], [[Xyz Summon|Xyz]], [[Fusion Summon|Fusion]] and even [[Ritual Summon]]s into the Deck, enabling an astounding degree of potential variety. This deck even has the ability to summon "[[Sophia, Goddess of Rebirth]]", one of the most difficult monsters in the game to summon (This is fitting, as the Zefra are supposedly the chosen warriors of "Sophia"). The variety of cards and the search power can also provide resources for the Summon of "[[Tierra, Source of Destruction]]". The natural reusability of Pendulum Monsters fits well into this strategy, and can enable the player to perform multiple kinds of Summons every turn. "[[Shaddoll]]" [[Fusion Monster]]s especially thrive in "Zefra" Decks, which incorporate all 6 [[Attribute]]s and provides 2 "Shaddoll" Main Deck monsters on its own.

Each member can also be used in Decks of their secondary archetypes, augmenting their existing strategies with Pendulum Summons. For example, "[[Zefrasaber, Swordmaster of the Nekroz]]" can function as a reusable substitute for a [[Ritual Spell Card]] when paired with other copies of itself and "[[Zefraxa, Flame Beast of the Nekroz]]". In fact, the archetype is designed such that its 10 members form ordered pairs for each of the 5 secondary archetypes ("[[tellarknight]]", "Shaddoll", "[[Ritual Beast]]", "[[Nekroz]]" and "[[Yang Zing]]"), with one member having a scale of 7 and the other having a scale of 1. For all of the archetypes mentioned, every single Main Deck monster (with the exception of "[[Chiwen, Light of the Yang Zing]]", "[[Pulao, Wind of the Yang Zing]]" and "[[Ritual Beast Tamer Lara]]") falls within these scales, meaning that any (non-[[Nomi]]) monster in these [[archetype]]s can be [[Pendulum Summon]]ed using their respective "Zefra" pair.

Recently, with the new support released in ''[[Maximum Crisis]]'', the Deck was given more search power and aggressiveness, providing the speed, protection and responsiveness this Deck lacked until the recent past. "[[Zefraath]]" can now be considered the lynchpin of the strategy, having a Pendulum Effect that changes its own Pendulum Scale while searching a "Zefra" monster in the process, providing resources while also assisting on Pendulum Summons even further. Its Monster Effect enables 2 Pendulum Summons per turn and also Special Summons a "Zefra" from the Deck; at a first glance, this may not seem too powerful, but with the proper set-up, this can pave the way to Synchro, Ritual or Xyz Summons of powerful monsters, by combining the right "Zefra" monsters at the right moment. "[[Zefra Providence]]" is a generic search card, but its second effect can be used to protect the Pendulum Spells from being destroyed, and "[[Zefra War]]" can destroy an opposing card and can even be activated from the hand.

{{Decklist|Recommended cards
<!--This is not an exact Decklist. Please do not add multiples or staples.-->

|effect monsters = 
* [[Satellarknight Deneb]]
* [[Shaddoll Beast]]
* [[Shaddoll Dragon]]
* [[Shaddoll Falco]]
* [[Sophia, Goddess of Rebirth]]
* [[Tierra, Source of Destruction]]

|pendulum monsters =
* [[Zefraath]]
* [[Ritual Beast Tamer Zeframpilica]]
* [[Ritual Beast Tamer Zefrawendi]]
* [[Satellarknight Zefrathuban]]
* [[Stellarknight Zefraxciton]]
* [[Shaddoll Zefranaga]]
* [[Shaddoll Zefracore]]
* [[Zefrasaber, Swordmaster of the Nekroz]]
* [[Zefraxa, Flame Beast of the Nekroz]]
* [[Zefraxi, Treasure of the Yang Zing]]
* [[Zefraniu, Secret of the Yang Zing]]

|ritual monsters =
* ''"[[Nekroz]]" Ritual Monsters'' (with "[[Nekroz Cycle]]", "[[Nekroz Mirror]]" or "[[Zefrasaber, Swordmaster of the Nekroz]]")

|fusion monsters =
* ''"[[Shaddoll]]" Fusion Monsters'' (with "[[Shaddoll Fusion]]")
* [[Gem-Knight Seraphinite]] (with Zefrathuban or Zefraxciton)
* [[Gem-Knight Zirconia]] (with Zefracore)

|synchro monsters =
* ''"[[Yang Zing]]" Synchro Monsters''
* [[Metaphys Horus]]
* [[Stardust Charge Warrior]]
* [[Ignister Prominence, the Blasting Dracoslayer]]
* [[Nirvana High Paladin]]

|xyz monsters =
* ''"[[tellarknight]]" Xyz Monsters''
* [[Number 82: Heartlandraco]]
* [[Constellar Ptolemy M7]]

|link monsters =
* [[Zefra Metaltron]]
* [[Heavymetalfoes Electrumite]]

|spells =
* [[Oracle of Zefra]]
* [[Zefra Path]]
* [[Zefra Providence]]
* [[Pot of Riches]]
* [[Terraforming]]

|traps =
* [[Chosen of Zefra]]
* [[Zefra Divine Strike]]
* [[Zefra War]]
* [[Echo Oscillation]]
* [[Nine Pillars of Yang Zing]]
}}

{{Decklist|Ritual Beast Variant|Recommended cards
<!--This is not an exact Decklist. Please do not add multiples or staples.-->

|effect monsters = 
* [[Ritual Beast Tamer Wen]]
* [[Ritual Beast Tamer Elder]]
* [[Ritual Beast Tamer Lara]]
* [[Spiritual Beast Tamer Winda]]
* [[Spiritual Beast Apelio]]
* [[Spiritual Beast Cannahawk]]
* [[Spiritual Beast Rampengu]]
* [[Spiritual Beast Pettlephin]]

|pendulum monsters =
* [[Zefraath]]
* [[Ritual Beast Tamer Zeframpilica]]
* [[Ritual Beast Tamer Zefrawendi]]

|fusion monsters =
* [[Ritual Beast Ulti-Apelio]]
* [[Ritual Beast Ulti-Cannahawk]]
* [[Ritual Beast Ulti-Pettlephin]]
* [[Ritual Beast Ulti-Gaiapelio]]

|xyz monsters =
* [[Totem Bird]]
* [[The Phantom Knights of Break Sword]]
* [[Super Quantal Mech Beast Grampulse]]
* [[Wind-Up Zenmaines]]
* [[Tornado Dragon]]

|spells =
* [[Oracle of Zefra]]
* [[Zefra Providence]]

|traps =
* [[Zefra Divine Strike]]
* [[Zefra War]]
* [[Ritual Beast Steeds]]
* [[Ritual Beast Ambush]]
* [[Mind Over Matter]]
}}

{{Decklist|Obelisk Force deck|effect monsters = *[[Spiritual Beast Tamer Winda]]
*[[Shaddoll Hedgehog]] x2|tuner monsters = *[[Red Resonator]] x3|pendulum monsters = *[[Zefraath]]
*[[Zefraniu, Secret of the Yang Zing]] x3
*[[Zefraxa, Flame Beast of the Nekroz]]
*[[Satellarknight Zefrathuban]]
*[[Stellarknight Zefraxciton]]
*[[Zefrasaber, Swordmaster of the Nekroz]]
*[[Shaddoll Zefracore]]
*[[Zefraxi, Treasure of the Yang Zing]] x2
*[[Ritual Beast Tamer Zeframpilica]]
*[[Ritual Beast Tamer Zefrawendi]]
*[[Shaddoll Zefranaga]]|ritual monsters = *[[Nekroz of Valkyrus]]
*[[Nekroz of Brionac]]|fusion monsters = *[[El Shaddoll Shekhinaga]]
*[[El Shaddoll Wendigo]]
*[[Ritual Beast Ulti-Pettlephin]]
*[[Ritual Beast Ulti-Gaiapelio]]|synchro monsters = *[[Nirvana High Paladin]]
*[[Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend]]
*[[PSY-Framelord Omega]]
*[[Yazi, Evil of the Yang Zing]]
*[[Metaphys Horus]]
*[[Stardust Charge Warrior]]
*[[Denglong, First of the Yang Zing]]|xyz monsters = *[[Number 24: Dragulas the Vampiric Dragon]]
*[[Constellar Ptolemy M7]]
*[[Beatrice, Lady of the Eternal]]
*[[Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon]]|magic = *[[Oracle of Zefra]] x3
*[[Zefra Providence]] x3
*[[Resonator Call]] x1
*[[Terraforming]] x2
*[[Shaddoll Fusion]]
*[[Harpie's Feather Duster]]|traps = *[[Nine Pillars of Yang Zing]] x2
*[[Star Crusade of the Zefra]] x2}}

==Trivia==

* This is the second archetype to be based on the Sephiroth, the first being the "[[Timelord]]s".

* "[[Zefraath]]" is the first and currently the only Pendulum Main Deck Monster that cannot be Pendulum Summoned.

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[[Category:TCG and OCG archetypes]]