The leads of the writing staff got together and decided, hey, let’s do a Noble Knight Primer. It’s among most under-rated Decks in the game right now, featuring one of the metagame’s most versatile cards. You can thank Matt Cashiola for this article’s name. Credit for the section on the final two cards goes to Cheesedude, as well as a lot of editing credit to fix my terrible grammar and shorthand. Thanks very much to these two and everyone else who convinced and helped me put over 15,000 words about this archetype onto paper. Click below to take a read into the knights, and learn how you can win with them, in 30 pages of information, none of which consist of history or lore theme. It’s purely related to the Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game.
While 901 marks the beginning of a new exclusive archetype, the Burning Abyss, the Noble Knights are far from finished, as we have three more cards to look forward to this November. We’ll report on those as they are revealed, but for now let’s take a look back through time and observe how the theme evolved.
Noble Knight Artorigus
A Level 4 LIGHT Warrior-Type monster. Pretty cliche for Yu-Gi-Oh!, but this one is an 1800/1800 Normal Monster, the highest overall stats for a non-Tribute monster in the entire game.
When this card came out, It was the first TCG exclusive to dawn an archetype. It had a unique lore in it’s description, in a unique font. It debuted in GAOV, what is known as 708, the last set in the seventh series of Yu-Gi-Oh!. It was very strange to start an archetype in the end of a cycle but this archetype actually spread across the entire eighth series, from 801 (REDU) to 808 (Primal Origin). With only one card in the Deck, naturally we didn’t have anything yet. Everyone just took interest in it for the artwork and unique flavor text, but it didn’t really do anything on it’s own.
Noble Knight Gawayn
With Return of the Duelist came Noble Knight Gawayn, the second sneak peek card to be released, and opened a few interesting doors for a Deck to form. At this point, it has two Ultra Rares (or Supers), and a Common. The sword is interesting, and we’ll get to it later, but at this point not very good or useful. The first incarnation of a ‘Noble Knight Deck’ exists now, in a HERO variant, using Rescue Rabbit, Thunder Sea Horse, Elemental HERO Voltic, Elemental HERO Stratos, Gawayn, Artorigus, Miracle Fusions and the like. It wasn’t very good, but it was something. Super Polymerization and Blade Armor Ninja were still extraordinary cards at this point, and the Deck could do moderately well, though Wind-Ups were clearly a much better Deck. Gawayn would become the second name, and the second Level 4 LIGHT Warrior, this one being a monster that Special Summons itself when you control a Normal Monster.
Abyss Rising would come next in 802, releasing a new kind of Noble Knight, the ‘Ignoble Knight’, of Black Laundsallyn. Already we’ve received Sir Lancelot himself! Being more Normal Monster support, this card wasn’t very well received, but it was still another sneak card, another Ultra Rare/Super Rare, and the first Level 5. It came paired with a regular rare Equip Spell, Noble Arms – Arfedutyr. It wouldn’t be until next set that it would become a full-fledged Deck, rather than a splashed engine. Though a A Rescue Rabbit variant also existed using Dark Blade to give the Deck access to Chaos monsters, though obviously inferior to Dino-Rabbit.
Cosmo Blazer saw the entrance of Noble Knight Medraut, Noble Arms Caliburn, and Artorigus, King of the Noble Knights! Now we’re talking! A monster that Special Summons another Noble Knight from the Deck! A sword that gives assured and unending power! A third name for Equip Spells, and a Rank 4 that comes with a built in +6! This Xyz, in similar fashion to Judgment Dragon, would end up being why a ‘name count’ would matter. At this point the Deck’s focus became clear: mill Equips until you get one of each in the Graveyard, make the Rank 4, stack on those Equips, and devastate the opponent. That thing would get up to 3500 and come with a built-in Harpie’s Feather Duster that gains you 1000 Life Points every turn! In comes Jain, Lightsworn Paladin, Charge of the Light Brigade and Ehren, Lightsworn Monk to speed the process up. It wasn’t consistent, at all, but it was finally it’s own Deck, and finally a lot of fun.
Four months later, LTGY comes out, and a dramatic shift in the game occurs. 2800 monsters for free become the norm and backrow almost entirely disappears. The Deck however is given another name for Spells, and another Knight, Gwalchavad. This Equip would end up being amazing for the Deck, and the Knight would add OTK potential. A way of dealing 8000 damage in one move, from an empty board! It would require them to be wide open, but with Dark Hole and Heavy Storm, you have your self an inconsistent possibility!
Judgment of the Light would expand on the “sit on the Knight” strategy introduced with Noble Arms of Destiny. Noble Knight Drystan, boasts 1800 ATK and protects any weaker Knight from being targeted by attacks or effects. You could Equip him with Destiny and Safe Zone further protecting your field presence. While cool in concept, the Deck is heavily reliant on it’s Normal Summons. It still focuses on a Rank 4 that destroys backrow (in a game without backrow). It had its search card limited to 1 since launch, and would be crippled by something as simple as Compulsory Evacuation Device.
Shadow Specters would force players to take a second look at this Deck by dedicating 5 World Premieres to Noble Knights. Among them included Noble Arms Excaliburn, a fifth Equip name that makes Knights immune to targeting, and Lady of the Lake, a tuner that acts like a Junk Synchron AND Level Eater for the theme. Their 2 new Extra Deck Monsters Mount a powerful offensive. Ignoble Knight of High Laundsallyn equips Arms from the Deck, and searches more when it desroys cards in battle. Sacred Noble Knight of King Artorigus Equips Noble Arms from the grave, Destroys monsters with its effect, and even gets back a knight upon death. Most importantly: Noble Knight Borz. Holy crap Borz. Goodbye Lightsworns! Hello Borz!. A Knight that +1’s and thins your Deck by 3 Noble Arms by putting 2 in your grave and 1 to your hand. He’s the ideal monster to grab with Medraut for a one two punch that ends with a super King thats at full power. The Deck finally has an end game goal. There really isn’t much more the Deck needs at this point to be a good Deck, but it doesn’t get much attention anyway. It gets it’s first regional win, the attention of Jeff Jones (who focused almost entirely on the Synchro, so there you go), and a bunch of people who happily wanted to ‘king lock’ people.
But the Deck wasn’t done here. Legacy of the Valiant while giving all Rank 4 Decks some serious love, gave this Deck two cards. Noble Knight Peredeur, who wouldn’t matter at all yet, and Gwenwyfar, Queen of Noble Arms. The best card in the entire Deck. So far anyway. An entire book can be written about Gwen, but we’ll save that for later. Taking her purely at face-value though, being able to consistently Arm your Knight each turn was an amazing boost.
Primal Origins released four more cards.
- Noble Knights of the Round Table, a field spell that would end up having four effects.
- Noble Knight Brothers, a themed Pot of Avarice that also drops up to 2 more Knights from your hand to the field.
- Avalon, an impractical but artistic card.
- Noble Knight Eachtar: a Dragon Ruler-esque Knight.
Suddenly every knight is useable, and new doors are opened left, right, and center.
This brings us to the present, as we await the release of Merlin, Bedwyr, and a Spell named The Last Chapter of the Noble Knights. In the meantime, Let’s take a look at each of the cards we currently have case-by-case, and how they interact with the knights as we get to know them. The farther in you get, the longer the list of combos you’re going to see, as well as some crazy ideas, some will be very bad, but it’s important to note that we’ve already tried them, so that you save yourself the time down the road. We’ve been there. We’ve used Anti-Spell Fragrance with Noble Arms Arfeudutyr, it’s cute, but ineffective. By the time this is over, you’ll know tricks like Breakthrough Skill cheating with Eachtar Summons, or using Gwen to make the Hands miss timing. Welcome to the Noble Knight Primer.
In order to understand how to win with a Deck, you must familiarize yourself with every single tool. We’re going to go over the monsters first, then the women, the Extra Deck, and finally the Spells. Afterwards we’ll take a look at some tech cards. What worked and what didn’t. Then an in-depth look at the Extra Deck, some interesting Side Deck choice options, and finally an in-depth look at some combos and a few key cards who deserve their own sections.
Let’s start by getting the Normal Monster out of the way. Obviously he interacts with nothing on the current list, since there’s nothing on the list to interact with. There’s nothing really to say. He’s the first Name, the Level 4, a Warrior, a LIGHT. 1800 ATK and 1800 DEF. That 1800 DEF has some interesting applications in some aspects but nothing to note thus far. I feel the best way to do this is to go over each card, and then how it interacts with the cards that have been gone over.
So lets add the second knight, Gawayn. This card is 1900/500. Pretty terrible DEF, get used to that. It’s another Level 4, another Name, another LIGHT and another Warrior.
If you control a LIGHT Normal Monster, you can Special Summon this card (from your hand) in face-up Defense Position.
It won’t do you any good in Defense Position, it’s main purpose is to create a scenario that overlays into a Rank 4. It’s the first knight that uses the example of ‘this card does what it doesn’t say’. You can still Normal Summon this monster, it doesn’t say you can’t, so it’s at the present moment, the most powerful Normal Summon in the entire Deck. The effect is purely bonus. He’s one of the best monsters in the entire Deck. Naturally, since the only other monster in the Deck is a Normal Monster, his interaction with it is pretty cut and dry.
Ignoble Knight of Black Laundsallyn
Level 5 DARK Warrior
2000/800
You can send 1 face-up LIGHT Normal Monster you control to the Graveyard; Special Summon this card from your hand or Graveyard. You can Tribute 1 “Noble Knight” monster; add 1 “Noble Arms” card from your Deck to your hand. You can only use this effect of “Ignoble Knight of Black Laundsallyn” once per turn. You can only control 1 face-up “Ignoble Knight of Black Laundsallyn”.
This was the Deck’s first Foolish Burial choice. It allows you to search for the Equips, which is always fantastic, including by Tributing himself. He Special Summons himself back from the Graveyard, or from your hand, by sending Normal Monsters from your side of the field to the Graveyard. By only being allowed to control 1 of this card, no Rank 5 options would be possible, including off of Rescue Rabbit.
Interactions
● with Artorigus
This should be pretty obvious, being a Normal Monster, it gives you a means of Special Summoning this card from either your hand or Graveyard.
● with Gawayn
There aren’t any basic interactions, but if you control a Normal Monster such as Artorigus, you can Special Summon Gawayn first and then send the normal for Black Laundsallyn. This allows you to Tribute the Gawayn and add an Equip for Black Laundsallyn to use. There are no minuses here, you are simply trading a Rank 4 play for a big monster with a sharp blade.
Noble Knight Medraut
LIGHT – Level 4 / Warrior-Effect
ATK: 1700 / DEF: 1000
This card is treated as a Normal Monster while face-up on the field. While equipped with a “Noble Arms” Equip Spell Card, this card becomes an Effect Monster with this effect.
● This card becomes DARK and its Level is increased by 1. Once per turn, if you control no other monsters: You can Special Summon 1 “Noble Knight” monster from your Deck in face-up Defense Position, except “Noble Knight Medraut”, and if you do, destroy 1 Equip Spell Card you control.
A LIGHT Warrior, Level 4, with 1700/1000. This particular knight is often hailed as the best card in the Deck. It was the card that made the deck possible in the first place. It’s the first monster in a new trend of LIGHT knights that turn DARK with Equips, which has a variety of uses we’re going to cover. The first of which being that once it’s Level 5, it adds options for Rank 5 plays!
Interactions
● with Artorigus
When Summoning Artorigus, you have two Level 4 monsters, there isn’t really a way to go wrong here. If you do choose to bring back the Equip (as almost all Equips bring themselves back), then it’s just a boost of field presence, for now.
● with Gawayn
Being that Medraut starts as a Normal Monster, you can Special Summon Gawayn beside it. If you do this you cannot use the effect of Medraut, but if you bring back the Equip on Medraut’s target, or grab a different Normal Monster with Medraut, you can then Special Summon Gawayn afterwards.
● with Black Laundsallyn
Being a Normal Monster at the start, you can send Medraut to Summon Black Laundsallyn. You can also grab Black Laundsallyn from the Deck, return the equip to Medraut, and make a Rank 5. You can Tribute Medraut or Black Laundsallyn to add a second Equip to you arsenal, or you can have Medraut grab a Normal Monster which you send for Black Laundsallyn to again get a Rank 5 play.
Noble Knight Gwalchavad
LIGHT – Level 4 / Warrior-Effect
ATK: 1500 / DEF: 1800
This card is treated as a Normal Monster while face-up on the field. While equipped with a “Noble Arms” Equip Spell Card, this card becomes an Effect Monster with this effect. You can target 1 “Noble Knight” monster in your Graveyard; add it to your hand, and if you do, destroy 1 “Noble Arms” Equip Spell Card you control. You can only use this effect of “Noble Knight Gwalchavad” once per turn.
Another monster that starts as a Normal Monster. This one doesn’t become DARK, or Level 5, but does destroys the Equip Spell on it. The first thing that this card added to the Deck was the ability to turn Medraut, Gawayn and a Noble Arms into an OTK. This was the beginning of Noble Knights using the Graveyard as a toolbox. 1 Copy is the most optimal number to use.
Interactions
● with Artorigus
It doesn’t really have any to speak of. They’re both Level 4 Warriors.
● with Gawayn
This card can add Gawayn back from the Graveyard, and then immediately drop it, for a Rank 4 play.
● with Black Laundsallyn
Being a Normal Monster, you can send it to Summon Black Laundsallyn. This isn’t something you’d often do, but if you do plan to move the Equip, it’s a nice way to recycle. Adding back a monster like Gawayn to hand, and moving the Equip to somebody else, you can send this card to bring back Black Laundsallyn, equip the other knight making it Level 5, and make an Xyz play, while gaining an in-hand monster to use next turn.
● with Medraut
This is the OTK. You use Medraut to Summon Gwalchavad from your Deck, and move the Equip to Gwalchavad. Special Summon Gawayn and Overlay him with Medraut for Blade Armor Ninja. Detatch Gawayn for ninja’s Effect and use Gwalchavad to add him back, destroying your arms. Now you can make a second Blade Armor or Heroic Champion – Excalibur, and swing for 8400-8800 damage.
Noble Knight Drystan
LIGHT Level 4 / Warrior-Effect
ATK: 1800 / DEF: 800
While you control another “Noble Knight” monster, your opponent cannot target your monsters with less than 1800 ATK, except this card, for attacks or with card effects. When a “Noble Arms” Equip Spell Card is equipped to this card: Target 1 face-up card on the field; destroy that target. You can only use this effect of “Noble Knight Drystan” once per turn.
Noble Knight Drystan is has two pretty powerful effects. The first one lets you protect your other knights; a Drystan sporting a few Equips is absolutely gross. It allows your cards like Gwalchavad just sit there and accrue advantage. It stops them from attacking -any monster- as long as you control a Noble Knight, so even your Xyz Monsters with less than 1800 are untouchable. It’s second effect allows you to pop face-up cards so long as you manage to keep equipping him with cards. This particular knight doesn’t become DARK, and is never a Normal Monster. When it first came out, we still didn’t have Excaliburn or Borz, so there was more room for cards like Pinpoint Guard and Safe Zone, which when used with this card, assured you and your desired knights would see next turn. Like Gwalchavad, it’s best to use 1. It is becoming easier and easier to toolbox our Knights for when we need them.
Interactions
● with Artorigus
Just two Level 4s. Drystan is one of the only knights that doesn’t ever treat itself as a Normal Monster.
● with Gawayn and Black Laundsallyn
Again, not a Normal Monster. His synergy is pretty low with the overall theme of the Deck.
● with Medraut
This is a place where the card actually gets some pretty legitimate use, as Medraut then moves the Equip to the Drystan and gives you a free pop, turning Medraut into a +2. You then have two Level 4 monsters since Drystan’s Level doesn’t increase allowing you to overlay for the Rank 4 King Artorigus for a potential +6 afterwards.
● with Gwalchavad
While being a valid target for the effects of Gwalchavad, and both being Level 4, these are two you won’t see used in tandem a lot. Drystan is a pretty big lone wolf due to his unnaturally pure behavior.
Noble Knight Borz
This card is treated as a Normal Monster while face-up on the field.
While equipped with a “Noble Arms” Equip Spell Card, this card becomes an Effect Monster with these effects.
This card becomes DARK and its Level is increased by 1. During your Main Phase: You can reveal 3 “Noble Arms” cards from your Deck, have your opponent randomly add 1 of them to your hand, and send the rest to the Graveyard.
You can only use this effect of “Noble Knight Borz” once per turn.
Hallelujah. The exact card the Deck has needed since Day 1. This card does everything and more, and is in my opinion, the best monster in the entire Deck. It’s yet another Level 4. Yet another knight name. Yet another Warrior. Yet another LIGHT. The more of these things the Deck has the better, but this is another monster like Medraut who becomes a Level 5 DARK. But this time instead of searching monsters, he grabs Noble Arms. It immediately reminds one of Spellbook Library of the Crescent but in this instance, all three of your choices come into play. It’s important to realize that not only can Borz pick the same card two or three times, something Crescent couldn’t do, but it also sends the two not added to the Graveyard, and if those cards are something like Gwen or Excaliburn, they will later on become pluses. In the right mindset, Borz is much more than a +1. Currently there’s no reason to run less than 3. If you don’t open with Medraut, you’ll at least want to open with him.
Interactions
● with Artorigus
Being that this card’s interactions are mostly Equip Spell driven, there isn’t much here other than the obvious ‘they’re both Level 4 Normal Monsters’ things. Obviously we have Constellar Omega as an option here, or Blade Armor Ninja, as well as all the regular Xyz plays. These two combined can hit for 3500 damage though, and with Borz being able to add Equips to the fray, you can very easily cut your opponent’s Life Points in half with this duo before an overlay.
● with Gawayn
A free Rank 4, that’s all it is. Borz counting as a Normal Monster initially allows Gawayn to drop itself before you use any of Borz’s effects. If you don’t have an Equip, time to Rank 4. If you do have an Equip, Borz unfortunately doesn’t destroy it so he will remain Level 5 (at least for now).
● with Black Laundsallyn
Again a Normal Monster on the field, so if you don’t have an Equip yet, you can swap him for Black Laundsallyn, and turn him into one.
● with Medraut
This is regarded as the best play in the Deck. It’s not far-off, it’s certainly the most recognized. Medraut grabbing Borz, and moving the destroyed Equip over to Borz, allows Borz to load up three more equips. The one you add can then be put on Medraut (or Medraut can be sent for Black Laundsallyn) to make a Rank 5, that adds back the added Equips, creating what is known as ‘the king lock’. People feel this is the only real play of the Deck, as it’s the only ‘Magician+Shark’ thing they’ve been shown. Naturally, as with all knights, you could just not bring back the Equip, and make a Rank 4 of your choosing as well.
● with Gwalchavad
Gwalchavad getting back a Borz is something that can be a bit of a game changer with the right amount of pressure. Because of the inherent Graveyard setup that comes with a used Borz, you’re likely to have access to Gwen, which will later turn into an entire arsenal. It’s not that bad a play to dump a Borz to the Graveyard with one of this Deck’s Foolish Burial effects, and have Gwalchavad acquire the Borz for you, especially early game.
● with Drystan
Two Level 4s, or just the ability to get the shield onto Drystan for a pop and a powerful field. Drystan protects Borz from being attacked or targeted due to Borz’s 1700 ATK. If you can get Drystan protected with an Equip Spell or two, so that Borz can continue to do his thing turn after turn, these two can work in tandem to steamroll the opponent.
Noble Knight Peredur
LIGHT / Warrior-Effect / Level 4
1900 ATK / 300 DEF
While equipped with a “Noble Arms” Equip Spell Card, this card becomes DARK and its Level is increased by 1. When this card is sent to the Graveyard while equipped with a “Noble Arms” Equip Spell Card: Target 1 “Noble Arms” card in your Graveyard; add that target to your hand.
Main use of this guy is to allow you to swing into backrow, without the fear of Equips natural over-extension. We always are placing a monster with an Equip on it into the line of battle, everything is two cards, so to swing into a Dimensional Prison is brutal amounts of pain. This card’s design is intended to circumvent that issue and give you a perfectly good monster to shove into their face, coupled with a powerful base ATK, and Level increasing powers that allow it to synergize. It’s unfortunately never considered a Normal Monster.
Interactions
● with Artorigus
Just two knights, nothing special
● with Gawayn
More of the same problem.
● with Black Laundsallyn
If you do Summon Black Laundsallyn and Tribute it for an Equip, you can ensure the Equip will be safe, but again by not being a Normal Monster at any point this card synergizes less with the original stuff. Most of the older Normal support wasn’t used until the release of the Round Table.
● with Medraut
Great for if you want to make a one-two punch with only 1 Equip to speak of between your knights. Pounding them for 3600 as a base damage, and ensuring that your swing won’t be at the cost of your only Equip can be very nice. This rarely comes up as Borz is more useful here, but it has been good for ensuring certain situations play out as planned.
● with Gwalchavad
Since this card should strictly be run with only one copy, Gwalchavad recycling it can come in handy.
● with Drystan
There is very little here, just two one of cards that are both Level 4 LIGHT knights.
● with Borz
Things like this are what make him a 1-of. They’re both Equip support and both capable of both Rank 4 and 5 plays, but there isn’t a lot of synergy with the other in the Deck. Pereduer wasn’t even run until Table, where names are power.
For most people, this brings us to the present. The Deck didn’t get looked at again. Shadow Specters made it a big boom in popularity, and Legacy of the Valiant underwhelmed with Peredur, but Gwen certainly gained some attention. It would be four months between LVAL and PRIO and in that time everyone abandoned the Deck. They read the four new cards, and without even realizing what Gwen does in most of the instance, dismissed the cards as ‘still not a Noble Knight searcher, oh well’ and without even testing, the ‘Round Table’ variant of the Deck is used by only a rare few.
We still have two Noble Knights, the two women, the Field Spell, and the five Equips to discuss. The remaining cards each more or less each deserve their own section. We also have to cover remaining Main Deck techs, the techs we’ve tested that don’t work, and the Side and Extra Decks.
Lady of the Lake
Level 1 Tuner LIGHT Aqua
200/1800
Cannot be used as a Synchro Material Monster, except for the Synchro Summon of a Warrior-Type monster. If this card is used for a Synchro Summon, banish it. When this card is Normal Summoned: You can target 1 “Noble Knight” Normal Monster in your Graveyard; Special Summon that target. If this card is in your Graveyard: You can target 1 Level 5 “Noble Knight” monster you control; reduce its Level by 1, and if you do, Special Summon this card from the Graveyard.
Ignoble Knight of High Laundsallyn
1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner “Noble Knight” monsters
When this card is Synchro Summoned: You can equip 1 “Noble Arms” Equip Spell Card from your Deck to this card. At the end of the Battle Phase, if this card destroyed a monster by battle and sent it to the Graveyard: You can add 1 “Noble Knight” or “Noble Arms” card from your Deck to your hand. You can only control 1 “Ignoble Knight of High Laundsallyn”.
Here we have a huge boost to the Deck in a few pretty interesting ways. Being Junk Synchron for the Normal Artorigus is pretty cool, but more often than not, you’ll be using her as Level Eater. Bringing her back from the Graveyard by eating the star of the monster allows you to make a Level 5 Synchro, such as Scarred Warrior, X-Saber Wayne, or the one we’ll actually use; Ignoble Knight High Laundsallyn. We’ll get to him in the Extra Deck section, but he is an absolute staple. Lady is pretty much a staple in the Deck, I use two because she allows access to Goyo Guardian as well. There have been some pretty cute moves with things like Genex Ally Birdman. You can Level eat a monster, bounce lady to Summon Birdman, then Normal Summon Lady and bring back Normal Artorigus. She’s packing a nice 1800 DEF, so even if you just Level Eater a knight so that you can get more field presence, it’s pretty nice. It also allows you to get monsters like Borz back to Level 4 for other overlay options. She is only banished tuned with, so there’s nothing to stop you from just bringing her back to block hits again and again!
Noble Knight Eachtar
Level 5 DARK Warrior-Type
1600/2000
You can banish 2 “Noble Knight” monsters from your Graveyard; Special Summon this card from your hand or Graveyard. You can only use this effect of “Noble Knight Eachtar” once per turn. A Synchro or Xyz Summon of a “Noble Knight” monster using this card as a Material cannot be negated, also your opponent cannot activate cards or effects when that monster is Special Summoned.
So the Deck gets it’s own little Dragon Ruler. Cool. This thing obviously is great for making Rank 5s, especially since the theme’s Rank 5 replaces itself when dying with a Knight. Grab Black Laundsallyn, then Summon this monster, and you’ve got the king lock back up all over again! From a completely empty field this card, and Lady of the Lake, can come from the Graveyard and make the Level 5 Synchro, which grabs an Equip from the Deck, and begins a field without even playing any cards. Does not even require your Normal Summon to be used yet! Not only that but, the Summon of any Xyz or Synchro using him as a material cannot be negated or responded to. That means no Solemn Warning, no Bottomless Trap Hole, no Torrential Tribute, not even a Compulsory Evacuation Device, when responding to the Summon.
But that’s the most interesting part. When that Xyz activates to equip three from the Graveyard, your opponent still cannot activate any cards, as it’s still the summon response window. Because they’re disabled, they cannot banish your Equips on you, they cannot do anything until your knight is fully protected……..but you can. Nothing stops you from using this golden opportunity to spring a Trap Stun on the opponent, that they can’t chain any Traps to. Or from using Book of Moon, even on Naturia Beast, and have it resolve since they can’t even use their Naturia Beast to negate it.
It will allow you to chain Abyss Dweller and guaranteed results, it allows you to flip over a virus card and guarantee mass destruction, and the best use, chaining Breakthrough Skill from the Graveyard to negate the effects of their most threatening monsters. They can’t chain the effects of those monsters, nor can they try to protect those monsters. Suddenly Felgrand is worthless for the turn. Beelze can now be destroyed. Midrash isn’t going to do anything to you.
The last thing worth noting about Eachtar is that like the Level 5 Synchro play, if you have Lady of the Lake and Eachtar in the Graveyard, then the Summon of any knight you can make Level 5, which is an awful lot of them, will allow both Eachtar and Lady to come back, and Synchro into Goyo Guardian. This play doesn’t even cost you that knight, it’s just a free Goyo.
Noble Knight Brothers
Level 4 LIGHT Warrior-Type
1200/2400
This card can only attack while you control exactly 3 “Noble Knight”monsters (and no other monsters). When this card is Normal Summoned: You can Special Summon up to 2 “Noble Knight” monsters from your hand, but cannot Special Summon monsters for the rest of this turn, except “Noble Knight” monsters. Once per turn: You can target 3 “Noble Knight” and/or “Noble Arms” cards in your Graveyard; shuffle all 3 into the Deck, then draw 1 card.
2400 DEF! Holy crap! This card was a three-of until Reinforcments of the Army (finally) was semi-limited and the starting hand size was reduced. Brothers helps make any drawn Level 5 Knights live, working particularly well with Black Laundsalln, who can Tribute Brothers to search for the Equip. Recycling Equips to get draws, only to then have Borz re-dump them is also really amazing. We cannot make Bujinki Amaterasu or any non-Noble Knight monster, but the options we do have are more than worth 2 copies (remember, he even recycles himself).
Gwenhwyfar, Queen of Noble Arms
Level 2 LIGHT Spellcaster-Type
300/300
You can target 1 “Noble Knight” monster you control; equip this card from your hand or Graveyard to that target. You can only use this effect of “Gwenhwyfar, Queen of Noble Arms” once per turn. The equipped monster gains 300 ATK. Apply the appropriate effect, depending on the Attribute of the equipped monster.
● LIGHT: If the equipped monster would be destroyed by a card effect, you can destroy this card instead.
● DARK: If the equipped monster battles an opponent’s monster, at the start of the Damage Step: You can destroy that monster, then destroy this card.
A very good Equip from the Graveyard, being a Noble Arms name, you can get her with Borz. This card is going to get it’s own entire section later in the article once we’re familiar with how the rest of the Deck works. A 300 ATK boost, and either another shield, or an Ally of Justice – Catastor effect.
The Noble Arms
Noble Arms – Excaliburn
Equip only to a “Noble Knight” monster. It cannot be targeted by an opponent’s card effects. During your turn, except the turn this card was sent to the Graveyard: You can banish this card from your Graveyard, then target 1 “Noble Knight” Xyz Monster you control; Special Summon from your Extra Deck, 1 “Noble Knight” Xyz Monster with a different name, by using that target as the Xyz Material. (This Special Summon is treated as an Xyz Summon. Xyz Materials attached to it also become Xyz Materials on the Summoned monster.) You can only use this effect of “Noble Arms – Excaliburn” once per turn.
This is the most important Equip Spell in the Deck, and unfortunately the only one that doesn’t have self-regeneration built-in. It also doesn’t increase any ATK but as you can see above, has two very potent effects. One that protects the equipped monster from being targeted, and the other that allows it to be used as a sort of Rank-Up-Magic, that goes in either direction.
Naturally you’ll want this to protect your Extra Deck knights from Number 101: Silent Honor ARK and the upcoming Castel, Avian Skyblaster (TCG Name pending). It’s important to note a few details about this card that differ from the other Equips as well. The first being that you can control more than one copy of it. You can protect multiple monsters, or the same monster twice (in case of MST, you are still safe from 101). The other is that this card equips to Noble Knights, not Warriors. This allows you to get around the DNA Surgery problem, but it also means your Goyo Guardian will always be targetable. One final thing to note is that you can equip this to opponent’s Noble Knights as well. This stops them from equipping their own knights. Normally this isn’t exactly the most potent use of a card, but if they have a knight with a few equips, you can place this on their Knight, and use something like Artorigus, King of the Noble Knights or MST to destroy their Equips, and they won’t be able to bring the back on the monster. It’s a great out to opposing Arms of Destiny.
Noble Arms of Destiny
You can only control 1 “Noble Arms of Destiny”. Equip only to a Warrior-Type monster. Once per turn, the equipped monster cannot be destroyed by battle or by card effects. If this face-up card on the field is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard: You can target 1 Warrior-Type “Noble Knight” monster you control; equip this card to that target. You can only use this effect of “Noble Arms of Destiny” once per turn.
The other half in our protection team, the shield to accompany the sword. This card protects the monster from destruction. Coupled with Excaliburn you opponent is limited in their ways of beating you to a non-targeting banish or bounce effect. Since today’s topic isn’t ‘how to beat Noble Knights’ I’m not going to make an extensive list, but the first one that comes to most peoples mind is Spellbook of Fate. More often than not, the monster you’ll be protecting is the Rank 5 Noble Knight, and quite often people make the -mistake- of putting all of their Equips including this one, on him. While the ‘king lock’ is a superbly powerful field, the King can replace himself upon being destroyed. By having Excaliburn on him, and some ATK boosting Equips, the only way they can destroy it is with a combination of card effects. Using Gwen to protect him instead of the shield, or no shield at all, causes them to use removal effects of destruction and fully utilize the King’s powers. Rather than them using something like Spellbook of Fate and you having nothing to show for it in the end. By making him too protected you are taking away an effect that will swing the duel in your favor, and forcing your opponent into a position where they will nearly auto-win if they can escape it. That said, it’s perfectly valid to have a Super Saiyan 2 Knight with all the fixings if you have no follow up play anyway. This card coming back from the Graveyard once per turn can be a neat way to protect multiple different knights from various card effects, but it’s pretty straightforward. It’s a shield.
Noble Arms – Caliburn
You can only control 1 “Noble Arms – Caliburn”. Equip only to a Warrior-Type monster. It gains 500 ATK. Once per turn: You can gain 500 LP. If this face-up card on the field is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard: You can target 1 Warrior-Type “Noble Knight” monster you control; equip this card to that target. You can only use this effect of “Noble Arms – Caliburn” once per turn.
This is probably most underrated Equip in the deck from the outside looking in. The 500 ATK boost is one thing, especially since it’s static, and gets even your weaker knights over the 2100 benchmark, but the 500 life gain goes a long way for cards like Soul Charge. It says it’s once per turn, but through many combos, overlays, regenerating it, popping it, and using it across multiple turns since they can rarely stop it, this card has gotten me from 8000 to 9500 on turn 1, up to 12,000 on turn 2, and over 20,000 by the end of the Duel in some (unlikely) scenarios. Very rarely do you only gain only 500 from this card, and while life gain may be the single worst effect in the entire game, a single 500 boost is the difference between life and death vs all of the 8000-8400 dealing boards (Megalo +Diva, Magician+Shark, etc). This will go a long way when paired with Soul Charge.
Noble Arms – Gallatin
You can only control 1 “Noble Arms – Gallatin”. Equip only to a Warrior-Type monster. It gains 1000 ATK. During each of your Standby Phases, it loses 200 ATK. If this face-up card on the field is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard: You can target 1 Warrior-Type “Noble Knight” monster you control; equip this card to that target. You can only use this effect of “Noble Arms – Gallatin” once per turn.
The most straightforward sword in the game. Just a big 1000 ATK boost. It depletes with each passing turn by 200, but if you pop it and bring it back, the boost starts over. This card creates a lot of pretty awesome ATK values right out of the gate.
Medraut/Borz – 2700 ATK
Artorigus/Drystan – 2800 ATK
Gawayn/Pereder – 2900 ATK
Black Laundsallyn/King Artorigus – 3000 ATK
High Laundsallyn – 3100 ATK
Sacred King Artorigus – 3200 ATK
The 500 boost from Caliburn, and 300 boost from Gwen, can also apply to these monsters, getting them as high as 4000 in one creature. Knowing how ATK and benchmarks work in this game is another article I plan to write, but part of it will teach you that any monster with 3100 or more attack, is effectively unable to be destroyed by battle. Gallatin + Gwen on any knight in the Deck worth saving, is enough to be safe from battles. There is no end difference between 3100 and 3900, it still takes three whacks to kill them, and all the 3000 or lower creatures will lose to them.
Noble Arms – Arfeudytr
You can only control 1 “Noble Arms – Arfeudutyr”. Equip only to a Warrior-Type monster. Once per turn: You can target 1 Set card your opponent controls; the equipped monster loses exactly 500 ATK, and if it does, destroy that target. (This ATK loss remains even if this card leaves the field or the monster becomes unaffected by card effects.) If this face-up card on the field is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard: You can target 1 Warrior-Type “Noble Knight” monster you control; equip this card to that target. You can only use this effect of “Noble Arms – Arfeudutyr” once per turn.
The last of our Equips, this one doesn’t protect, and it doesn’t boost ATK Rather, this one causes a permanent loss of 500 ATK in exchange for the destruction of 1 Set card. This can be heavily abused by Equipping it to opposing Warrior-Type monsters, but ridding the field of a Set Geargiarmor, or some of their more dangerous Traps, can come in handy. This is usually a good card to get with High Laundsallyn since your Normal Summon is typically unused, allowing you to make the board safer to Normal Summon into. It’s also a fantastic card to put on Pereduer or Eachtar since they‘re free cards anyway.
With the two ATK boosting Equips, the Rank 5 knight gets to 3700. Strong enough to beat a Bujin – Yamato, even if the use a Bujingi Crane. Bujintei – Mikazuchi is still 3800 however. With Gwen, the knight becomes 4000, strong enough for a two hit kill (though 3800 next turn prevents it). 3700 + 3500 the following turn is 7200, which is enough for Gagaga Cowboy to end an opponent. Speaking of such things, the Gwalchavad OTK doesn’t happen enough to dedicate the two spots to Blade Armor and Excalibur. What we do run in the Extra Deck is what we’ll discuss next.
The Extra Deck: The Noblest Knights
Ignoble Knight of High Laundsallyn
1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner “Noble Knight” monsters
When this card is Synchro Summoned: You can equip 1 “Noble Arms” Equip Spell Card from your Deck to this card. At the end of the Battle Phase, if this card destroyed a monster by battle and sent it to the Graveyard: You can add 1 “Noble Knight” or “Noble Arms” card from your Deck to your hand. You can only control 1 “Ignoble Knight of High Laundsallyn”.
Our build will run only 1 of him to make room for Goyo Guardian. Equipping from the Deck means this card will be able to grab Gallatin to destroy and search, or Destiny for self preservation. Always a DARK, always Level 5, this card is what Lady of the Lake is all about, and one of the best cards in the entire Deck. He ends up being nothing more than an Equip grab and overlay bait in one of the biggest king lock combos but even when Jeff Jones built this Deck, he focused on three Lady of the Lakes, and this monster exclusively, as opposed to:
Artrorigus, King of the Noble Knights (a.k.a. Super Saiyan Artorigus)
Rank 4
2000/2000
2 Level 4 “Noble Knight” monsters
When this card is Xyz Summoned: You can target up to 3 “Noble Arms”Equip Spell Cards with different names in your Graveyard; equip those targets to this card. Once per turn: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; destroy any number of Spell/Trap Cards on the field, up to the number of “Noble Arms” Equip Spell Cards you control.
The first Extra Deck card the Knights received, Artorigus, King of the Noble Knights, hereafter referred to as ‘Super Saiyan King’, gives the Deck it’s backrow aggression. Equipping 3 swords to it immediately, plus the additional swords that may have fallen off from the overlay that bring themselves back, this card is effectively Harpies Feather Duster. Thus card gains additional uses as well from popping your own Equips, be it to move them around, or simply refresh them. Gain 500 Life Points with Caliburn, pop it, it comes back, gain 500 again! Gallatin not giving the the full boost? Pop it, it comes back, now it’s fresh. Moving stuff to Drystan for pops, or simply trying to move Arfeudtyr after weakening the opponent’s monster, letting you hit multiple Set Cards, Artorigus was a welcome addition to the Deck that can be a +6 if your opponent really doesn’t have any responses to it. We run two copies of this card because of Excaliburn’s ability to Rank-Down into to it, or Rank-Up from it.
Sacred Noble Knight of King Artorigus (a.k.a. Super Saiyan 2 Artorigus)
Rank 5
2200/2200
2 Level 5 “Noble Knight” monsters
When this card is Xyz Summoned: You can target up to 3 “Noble Arms”Equip Spell Cards with different names in your Graveyard; equip those targets to this card. Once per turn: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card, then target 1 other monster on the field; destroy that target. If this card on the field is sent to the Graveyard: You can target 1 Level 4 or higher “Noble Knight” monster in your Graveyard; Special Summon that target.
Another Artorigus, this one Sacred, and hereafter referred to as Super Saiyan 2 King, or SS2 King. Able to pop monsters, Equips 3 Spells from the Graveyard to himself, and considered by many as the theme’s true boss monster in the Deck. It’s Graveyard sending effect is optional, but not based on a timing, so it cannot miss one, so if you Tribute this card for Black Laundsallyn to add an Equip, not only will all the Equips be able to come back, but the knight will still Summon from the Graveyard as well. Again, due to Excaliburn, not to mention the overall potency of the card, we run two copies of this.
The Number Monsters
● Number 82: Heartlanddraco
When you control a face-up Spell, such as this Deck’s Field Spell or any of its Equips, this monster cannot be attacked. On top of this, it can detach a material to attack directly for 2000.
● Number 80: Rhapsody in Berserk
This card becomes a 1200 boosting Equip, AFTER it ruins their Graveyard. An Extra Decked Transmigration Prophecy you can get at any time, that then allows you to trigger various effects in the Deck. Not only this but it can Equip to the above Xyz Monster, to make those direct swings 3200, while simultaneously creating a face-up Spell to protect it!
● Number 101: Silent Honor ARK
To most players this card needs no introduction. Among The best of Rank 4s, it comes with ‘extra lives’ as many Xyzs in this game do, dating all the way back to Gachi Gachi Gantetsu at the release of Xyz Monsters. In addition however, it has a powerful Absorption effect! This is the answer to more than half of the threats in this game, and this Deck’s biggest nightmare simultaneously. You will have to learn to both use this card, and play around this card, if you wish to find success in Yu-Gi-Oh!.
● Number 61: Volcasaurus
Volcasaurus is a Rank 5 that you make instead of SS2 Knight when you have a game push. The ability to destroy their card, and inflict that much damage, then backed up by Gaia Knight (covered later), is enough to end a game in one move, even off a topdecked knight. Gwen making most of our knights Level 5, from the Graveyard, and then Eachtar following up, allows you to Rank 5 into this off of one card. That doesn’t stop you from simply using Medraut or a variety of other options to make this, but it’s able to come out of nowhere pretty easily for some serious damage. For example, if you are hit with Judgment Dragon’s effect (and survive) a top-decked Borz with Eachtar and Lady in Graveyard means you can nuke JD, overlay Gaia, and swing. They already took 1000, Volcasaurus deals 3000, and Gaia swings for 2600 more. That puts them on 1400 Life Points at most. Quite often they have to pay twice for JD to rid your board as well, but this is one example.
Borrowed Themes
● Lavalval Chain
One of the most important cards in the Deck, this card gives you access to up to two Foolish Burials, giving us not only Gwen where Table can’t, but also Lady of the Lake where Borz can’t. Lavalval Pimp also sets up Soul Charge, stacks a crucially needed monster, or even sending Equips themselves to the Graveyard for one of your knights to use, such as Peredur, the Xyzs, or Exaliburn for its own effect.
● Bujintei Tsukuyomi
Our Bujin friends left the god of the moon behind, so we’re happy to take him off their hands. Summoned using LIGHT monsters, this card can fix your turn one hand very quickly, while setting up Soul Charge. Plenty of cards we use don’t mind being discarded so even if you have to discard more than 1 card, chances are you’ll be making use of what you discard later anyways. Its Bujin effect may not do anything, but that draw effect is pretty clutch.
● Heroic Champion – Gandiva
Borrowed from the Heroics, Gandiva is everything Steelswarm Roach and Thunder King Rai-Oh wish they could be: stops Special Summons that aren’t inherent, doesn’t die to 1900 ATK monsters, gets multiple uses, all while still being a Warrior for the various support this Deck offers.
Extra Deck Staples
● Abyss Dweller
This card is a staple in any Extra Deck right now. In the way that Rhapsody in Berserk was an already Extra-Decked Transmigration Prophecy, this card is an Extra-Decked Soul Drain. Very Potent to chain to an Eachtar Summon, this card shuts down the Hands, and any other Graveyard effects like Garunix or the entire Mermail Deck. It’s 2200 when you overlay a WATER for it, so if you find you’ve ever Mind Controlled an Ice Hand or Abysspike, not only would dweller be 2200, but you’re facing an opponent where Dweller is the correct choice, at the same time.
● Gaia Knight the Force of the Earth
This card is Summoned using a Rank 5 or 6 Xyz Monster. It’s usually the follow-up to Volcasaurus turning them inside out, but can also be used on Sacred Knight of King Artorigus for a surprise pierce effect to close a game. It can also use Durendal if you choose to Side Deck it in the way I do.
Our New Synchro
Goyo Guardian
Level 6 EARTH Warrior/Synchro
2800/2000
1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters
When this card destroys an opponent’s monster by battle and sends it to the Graveyard, you can Special Summon that monster to your side of the field in face-up Defense Position.
Back from the dead, is the game’s most revered Warrior Synchro Monster. This card’s ATK was far too high for a Level 6, and even more crazy for an effect like this. Invalidating Gaia Knight, whose 2600 was only so high due to having no effect, it’s clear Goyo Guardian wasn’t really designed with any amount of care involved. 2800 is a pretty common number right now, what with Felgrand and Blaster running around, but if this card destroys itself in the same battle it wouldn’t acquire the monster it killed.
But Goyo Guardian is a Warrior, and with Warrior powers, comes warrior weapons. Noble Arms of Destiny can make it so Felgrand crashes are survived, and Galltin or Caliburn will see Goyo getting from 3300 to as high as 3800 or even 4300, taking out Star Eater, Leoh, and even Obelisk if you’ve got him supercharged. There’s a reason this card was banned, and when you can Summon it for free via Lady and Eachtar, by simply having a knight with an Equip, and the summon doesn’t even cost you that knight, you’ve got something pretty broken on your hands.
Other options that didn’t work, or are no longer used and why
● Consteller Omega
Made with two Level 4 LIGHT monsters, this Beast-Warrior ensured you would be safe from Bottomless, Torrential, or anything else. It also ensured your swings over their crucial monsters would go through. This was the most recent cut, in favour of Goyo Guardian, as nowadays our knights are so well protected, especially by Eachtar, that this card’s purpose wasn’t needed anymore.
● Vylon Delta
This card was fantastic. 2800 DEF walled everything, and searched Equips every single turn. Birdman + Gawayn would Summon this card for free and you’d start to get all the Equips you need. Space for Birdman becoming thin enough as it is, cards like 101 coming out to shove this card out of the Deck, and Borz getting all your Equips anyway, this card became redundant.
● X-Saber Wayne
Another borrowed archetype member, This card was used when Lady of the Lake first came out, as an actually usable Synchro with her. This effect not only was used incredibly rarely, but Noble Knight Brothers full on replaced it. You would never go into this over High Laundsallyn, and it definitely wasn’t worth the space.
● Star Eater
Another card that was only in here because of Birdman. Gawayn + Birdman allowed you to turn any knight into an 11 star field, and Star Eater put in the work that could seal a Duel pretty quickly. Not really necessary just really nice to have sometimes. No Birdman, no Star Eater.
● Tiras, Keeper of Genesis
A Rank 5 that was light. Very powerful, and very good for it’s ability to pop, and not be destroyed. Hey wait, that’s what the Noble Knight Rank 5 does a lot better now. This card was cut when Shadow Specters came out. We thank him for his services but he’s never, ever relevant anymore.
● Starleige Paladynamo
There is no reason to not run this card except for space. He is the 16th slot.
Side Deck
What I personally use at the moment:
● Lightray Grepher and Lightway Daedalus
Sometimes Imperial Iron is a pain. Field Spell Power! Grepher is good when you’ve seen Iron Wall sided in against you. Imperial Iron Wall makes Lady of the Lake amazingly strong, but it cripples Eachtar and Excaliburn from doing their thing, and makes Lightray Sorcerer entirely dead. Grepher is an amazing card that during a Duel like that will see use where Sorcerer did not. With the new Field Spell rules, Daedalus is more dangerous than anything in match-ups like Spellbooks and Dark Worlds.
● Royal Decree and Trap Stun
26trap.dek won’t be as much of a pain for your Normal Summon dependence. When you rely almost entirely on your Normal Summon in the post heavybanned world, you need to be able to survive against these 26 Trap Decks like Geargia and HAT. Comboed with Eachtar, Trap Stun will eviscerate them, and an early Decree, or a major Summoning push after a Trap Stun can get you where you need to be.
● Transmigration and Soul Drain
The Transmigration Prophecy is just a potent card in general. Stopping Bujin Graveyards, names for Lightsworns, and Atlanteans/Abyssgunde in the Mermail match-up, as well as WATERs for Glacia or Tidal, this card can save you in a few match-ups. It even has its uses in the mirror match, or the upcoming Shaddoll match. Soul Drain is just a critical card in general, also powerful enough to be limited, it completely ruins the Hands, Artifacts, Burning Abyss, and so much more.. while not hurting your own Deck in the slightest.
● The Viruses – 2 DDV 1 EEV.
Deck Devastation Virus is a means of punishing hand Traps, and a few archetypes both in the present and future. Eradicator Epidemic Virus punishes a backrow of 5 Traps, or a hand of 5 Spells, especially against our worst match-ups: Sylvans and Spellbooks. The common need for these Traps? A DARK with 2000, or 2500 ATK (or higher). The Synchro is a DARK, sure, but so are many of the knights when equipped properly, and Gallatin can see to it that even Medraut can trigger EEV. Even a Gwen on Medraut triggers DDV, and a look at their hand, and next three draws, as well as removing their Effect Veilers, D.D.Crows, and whatever else, is just fantastic.
● Mind Control
This is a Deck entirely comprised of Level 4 monsters. If you duel Geargias, HAT, Bujins, or whatever else that is Level 4 focused, a Mind Control can be pretty devastating. The mirror match can even see you taking their Xyz and using a Graveyard Excaliburn effect to really pour salt into the wound.
● Another Arfeudtyr and another Table
When Dueling against a Deck that runs a lot of Warriors, or even the mirror match, Arfeudutyr on the opponent’s monster is a pretty powerful thing. The third Field Spell doesn’t have to be Main Decked anymore due to the new rules on Field Spells, but there are times where you need to set-up by turn 1, and when you are getting to choose who goes first, siding in a third copy of this is pretty useful.
● Artifact Durendal
I love siding this card. It isn’t the greatest option, you’d rarely use it, and it’s primary effect is really only good if you control a Drystan, but his ability to make them shuffle their hand back into their Deck is superb against certain rogue match-ups like Exodia, and can mess with Prophecy, where just making a King and being aggressive isn’t the answer to victory.
Why it doesn’t matter what I use.
Side Decks only matter for the event you are about to enter. If you’re going to face a ton of NK Mirrors, perhaps a Side Decked Grand Mole would come in handy? Maybe Ally of Justice Cycle Readers, or Soul Releases? There’s a lot of really powerful Side Deck options right now and an ever-evolving game. I do enjoy my current side as a ‘for the game in general’ approach but your local area will have a tremendous influence on it.
● DNA Surgery
DNA Surgery is a card that people have been using for ages to counteract this Deck. Ghostrick Jackfrost and Creature Swap have been rather popular too as ways to beat the ‘king lock’ but those cards won’t defeat you if you play to use more than 1 card. DNA Surgery calling non-Warrior makes you unable to play your Equips, and your already played equips fall off. This conundrum has caused Excaliburn to become a three of even after it already was, since Excaliburn can equip to any Noble Knight, not just Warriors. This allows you to destroy DNA Surgery using either Super Saiyan Artorigus, or Drystan. Gwen being able to do the same has made DNA Surgery almost irrelevant, and with the Spellbook Deck almost gone, and Light-Imprisoning Mirror being a better option vs Bujins, you don’t see this card very often anymore.
The rest of the Main Deck
● Breakthrough Skill
Naturally, a card like this is going to see some play. It’s like Effect Veiler…twice. This card sees play in the Deck over Fiendish Chain because it won’t occupy a backrow space, and it’s second use from the Graveyard doesn’t use one ever. It’s brilliant for stopping continuous effects of cards like Evilswarm Ophion or Majesty’s Fiend, and when you chain it to a knight Summon effect that used Eachtar, they can’t even chain their monster’s effect. Eachtar’s response window makes Breakthrough Skill from the Graveyard really awesome, you can snipe cards like Wind-Up Rabbit or Evilswarm Thunderbird and they can do nothing about it. They can’t Wiretap, they can’t do anything really, Eachtar has them pinned until the chain is done. Just like Trap Stun, Breakthrough Skill in this window is really, really good. No More Midrash. No More Beelze. No More Felgrand.
● Lightray Sorcerer
The only card in the entire Deck that doesn’t come in foil, even Release Restraint Wave got a Super Rare reprint just as it was about to see play. Lightray Sorcerer comes down after Eachtar has used his effect, and Lady has used hers. The best thing to do is bring back Eachtar, and then Lady of the Lake him for High Laundsallyn, or if you already had a knight, Lady that knight and go into Goyo Guardian, depending on your current Equip situation. Either way this will banish three LIGHT monsters for you, dropping Lightray Sorcerer, and getting back your Lady of the Lake for you, while banishing their best card. This card is likely going to be cut for Merlin and friends come November, but for now is the card I side out for the other Lightrays, and get pretty adorable use out of. It works well with the Round Table and is a sort of Burial from a Different Dimension-esque move as well.
● Foolish Burial
This card just dumps one of your many options
Priority Sequence:
1) The Women, Lady is better to dump than Gwen since Borz can still get Gwen, but Gwen is sometimes crucial when you don’t open any equips.
2) Black Launsallyn. You don’t want to draw it, and it’s good in the Graveyard.
3) Eachtar. If you have the others in there by now, Eachtar is amazing.
4) Artorigus. If you still haven’t dumped it via the Field Spell and your power grave cards are in there, you can foolish this
5) Peredur. You are basically going for a name at this point. Just a knight you don’t have, and with a Graveyard this good, Peredur isn’t going to be necessary this Duel.
6) Seriously? You have all these in the Graveyard and only just now drew Foolish? Just pick a name.
● Soul Charge
This card with Medraut is basically game, but using it after Bujintei Tsukuyomi dumps your entire hand is just brutal. Caliburn pays for this card many times throughout the Duel. It shouldn’t need any explanations no matter how experienced you are, that this card is absurdly powerful, allowing you a second shot that turn to make a big play if your Normal Summon is stopped.
● Reinforcement of the Army
This card is naturally a staple in the Deck, adding any Warrior from it to your hand, but it recently going to two copies is a bigger boost than it first appears. “Five Medrauts” is what everyone initially thinks, but where the first RoTA would usually end up getting Medraut, the second copy will let you grab any Knight to match your situation, which is significantly stronger than just ‘another Medraut search’.
Bringing it all together –
The Round Table
During your End Phase: You can activate each of these effects up to once per turn, depending on the total number of “Noble Knight” cards with different names in your Graveyard and/or you control.
● 3 or more: Send 1 “Noble Knight” card from your Deck to the Graveyard.
● 6 or more: Special Summon 1 “Noble Knight” monster from your hand, then you can equip 1 “Noble Arms” Equip Spell Card from your hand to that monster.
● 9 or more: Target 1 “Noble Knight” monster in your Graveyard; add that target to your hand.
● 12: Draw 1 card.
The Round Table is a Field Spell that changed the entire dynamic of this Deck. Four powerful effects, that activate based on the number of Noble Knight names you have between your field and Graveyard. That’s right, it counts the ones on the field too. This includes itself! By being a Field Spell, it doesn’t take up a precious S/T Zone Slot, and thanks to the new rule, their Field Spell won’t kill it anymore. Even if all this card did was Foolish Burial once per turn due to having three names (one of which was itself, so two in grave/field is pretty easy to get!) It’d be a staple in the Deck. The fact that you can use the four effects in any order, and that even the one you dump could turn 5 into 6, and allow you to use the 6 effect, is pretty silly. The 9 effect adding one to hand is really powerful, and the 12 draw effect almost never comes up but is still quite good when it does. Remember, the three Extra Deck knights count for this, too. You can dump with the 3 effect, and then add with the 9 effect to turn this card into RoTA, and then even use the 6 effect to Summon the added knight and equip it with a card before they’re able to respond (also making cards like Bottomless Trap Hole and Torrential Tribute miss their activation windows.) You could even Summon something different and just RoTA the knight for later!
What didn’t get used or once was
● Anti-Spell Fragrance
This card seemed like a no brainer at first. This combined with Arfeudutyr? Jeez. Early on in the Decks life, roughly around when Medraut was printed, and a bit before,this card was seeing a lot of use. It was pretty nasty, after all, the arms can still re-equip while this card is face-up, since that’s not you activating a Spell. Still, the continuous nature of this card, coupled with room for stuff like Royal Decree, and every set printing one..to five cards..that you have to make room for, saw this card squeezed out over time, as the backzone commitment was too great.
● Avalon
This card completely counteracts the table, Eachtar, and basically all of our goals. It’s really cute to be able to nuke the board, only to have Destiny and Gwen protect knights, and the equips simply come back, but this card will literally never resolve in a Duel that matters, especially not more than once a tournament where consistency is everything.
● Genex Ally Birdman
This card had some really awesome interactions with Lady of the Lake, and Noble Knight Gawayn.
With Gawayn, you can drop him, bounce him for Birdman, and drop him again. This allowed a free Level 7 Synchro, most notably Vylon Delta. Using the other knight also opened the door for Star Eater, but unfortunately the two Synchros took up too much room. Another really potent use was bringing back Lady of the Lake, and bouncing her, so you could Normal Summon her and get Artorigus. The Extra Deck space, and honestly Main Deck space, squeezed Birdman out.
● Release Restraint Wave
Another card that seems absurdly OP. Your Equip would come back, and everyone just Sets 5 anyway. They unfortunately just end up chaining most options, this card can be cute as a Side Deck option, but ultimately ends up unnecessary, the Rank 4 Knight will take care of you in this instance.
● Forbidden Lance
Normal Summon dependence is a real pain, and this card was a staple in the Deck as a result. With Bottomless and friends all limited, and Soul Charge able to recover from auto-loss positions, the lances came out for said Soul Charges.
● Black Luster Soldier – Envoy of the Beginning
You’d think this would be the best card ever, but you have almost no DARKs you want to banish, ever. Your DARKs in your Graveyard set up almost all of your plays. Number 80 can be nice, but you don’t want to have this card dead. After Merlin comes out, this is very likely to change however…
An In-depth look at Gwen vs the Meta
Dans ses écrits, un sage Italien
Dit que le mieux est l’ennemi du bien.
This particular card deserves all the credit in the Deck. I feel I cannot even do it justice, and part of me wishes somebody else was writing this part of the article. If you don’t leave this paragraph feeling that (Gwen) is one of the best cards in the entire meta, then I haven’t done a good enough job.
First and foremost, she gives a 300 ATK boost. that gets your guys into the 2000s. She’s also an equip that comes back from the Graveyard once per turn, so you won’t ever be without one. She comes with two effects, one for LIGHTs and one for DARKs. Being that she equips to the knights, she would therefore make the various knights become DARK. Not only this, but Gwen, unlike most equips, isn’t even limited to 1 copy on the field at a time. The Knights that Remain Light, such as Drystan or your Xyzes, gain an additional shield from card effects. Peredur gets the ability to freely get any Equip back from your Graveyard, and 2200 Catastor powers. Those Catastor powers. This is where Gwen’s real magic shines. The ability to destroy any monster you battle with, and you don’t even target to do it. This not only ensures that you win every single battle you’re in, but due to it not checking for any details of the monster, and it activating at the start of the Damage Step, the monster won’t even flip up. Not only that, but Gwen destroying herself afterwards (allowing you to move her to a different knight if you wish) means the last thing to happen isn’t the death of their monster. So any monster that says ‘when this card is destroyed.,.. …you can…” will not get to use it’s effect.
So we don’t target, that checks off Bujingi Turtle, we destroy at the start of the Damage Step, that crosses off Bujingi Crane, and the last thing to happen isn’t Yamato’s Destruction, so they can’t drop Mikazuchi either. We won’t flip up Sylvan Komushroomo when we attack it, and its death isn’t the last thing to happen, so they can’t drop Sylvan Sagequoia. Geargiarmor doesn’t get to flip, and Gear Gigant X misses its activation timing. Fire and Ice Hand don’t get to do a single thing. Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter doesn’t get to flip, none of the new Yang Zing monsters get to Special Summon a monster from the Deck, and none of the Shaddolls flip up. Gwen completely handles the entire meta.
The Deck List:
Noble Knight Artorigus
Gwenhwyfar, Queen of the Noble Arms x2
Ignoble Knight of Black Laundsallyn
Lady of the Lake x2
Lightray Sorcerer
Noble Knight Borz x3
Noble Knight Eachtar
Noble Knight Peredur
Noble Knight Brothers x2
Noble Knight Drystan
Noble Knight Gawayn x2
Noble Knight Medraut x3
Noble Knight Gwalchavad
Noble Arms – Caliburn
Noble Arms – Excaliburn x3
Noble Arms of Destiny x2
Noble Arms – Gallatin
Noble Arms – Arfeudutyr
Foolish Burial
Reinforcement of the Army x2
Noble Knights of the Round Table x2
Soul Charge x3
Breakthrough Skill x3
Extra Deck:
Ignoble Knight of High Laundsallyn
Goyo Guardian
Artorigus, King of the Noble Knights x2
Bujintei Tsukuyomi
Gaia Dragon, the Thunder Charger
Number 101: Silent Honor ARK
Heroic Champion – Gandiva
Lavalval Chain
Number 61: Volcasaurus
Number 82: Heartlandraco
Abyss Dweller
Number 80: Rhapsody in Berserk
Sacred Noble Knight of King Artorigus x2
Side Deck:
Lightray Grepher
Lightray Daedelus
Noble Arms – Arfeudutyr
Mind Control
Noble Knights of the Round Table
Eradicator Epidemic Virus
Deck Devastation Virus x2
Royal Decree x2
Trap Stun x2
The Transmigration Prophecy
Soul Drain
Artifact Durendal
http://i.imgur.com/QC6YbxA.png
Some combos
● “Borrowed Powers”
Required Cards:
Artorigus, Gawayn, Soul Charge, some knights in hand.
Dealing myself a practice hand for this one, my hand had Artorigus, Gawayn, Borz, Reinforcement of the Army, Eachtar and Soul Charge. Summon Artorigus, drop Gawayn, and Set the two Spells. Overlay for Bujintei Tsukuyomi, and detach Artorigus to discard the two monsters and draw two cards. I got Caliburn and Black Laundsallyn. Next, activate Soul Charge and bring back your three knights. I then flipped RotA for my 2nd Gawayn and dropped it due to now again controlling Artorigus. Overlaying the same two Level 4s as before, but the ideal goal of this being to Summon Lavalval Chain. Detatch the normal again, and dump Lady of the Lake. With this paritcular hand, I then equipped Borz with the Caliburn, used his effect to dump some stuff, and then overlayed him with Eachtar for the Rank 5 king, leaving my hand with Black Laundsallyn in it, my field with Lavalval Chain and Tsukuyomi, and a SS2 King with Caliburn, Destiny, and Excaliburn. After Gaining 1k, and using Soul Charge, my Life Points are 6000. Next turn this field OTK’s quite easily between Black Laundsallyn and Lady of the Lake.
● “Brothers of Borz”
Required Cards:
Noble Knight Borz, Noble Knight Brothers, another Noble Knight, a way to equip Borz.
This one is pretty cool, you summon Brothers and drop the other two knights, and put an Equip, even Gwen, onto Borz. After Borz does his thing dumping some Equips, you overlay the Brothers with the other knight for the Rank 4 king, and bring back the dumped Equips. You can also overlay for Tsukuyomi in an attempt at drawing into an Equip for Borz.
● “The King Lock”
Required Cards:
Noble Knight Medraut, a reviving Equip.
Pretty straightforward, this one is known to most people. Medraut comes into play, you place the Equip on him, use Medraut’s effect to get Borz, and then destroy the Equip so it can come back on Borz instead. Using Borz’s effect, choose three Equips you don’t have yet, so that you end up with Excaliburn, Destiny, Gallatin and Caliburn, it doesn’t matter which one you get but hope for Caliburn if you don’t have it already. Play it on Medraut, gain Life Points if possible from Caliburn, and Medraut will become Level 5 again. Overlay him with Borz for SS2 King, and the Equip placed on Medraut will bring itself back, the king will grab the other three. 3700 ATK immunity to targeting, and unable to be destroyed by card effects or battle once per turn.
● “Super King Lock”
Required Cards:
Noble Knight Medraut, a reviving Equip, Foolish Burial
This is very similar to the one above, where you simply make a supercharged king. Start with the Medraut + Equip, into Borz, move the Equip to Borz, and dump two more Equips, adding one to hand. In this instance, lets say you dumped Gwen and Excaliburn and added Gallatin, while Medraut started with Caliburn (this is the best case scenario). Gain the 500 Life Points. Gain 500 Life Points again on borz. What we do differently now is Foolish Burial a Lady of the Lake. Borz, still being Level 5, brings Lady back, and she tunes with Borz into High Laundsallyn, equipping Destiny from the Deck. Playing the Gallatin from your hand onto Medraut like before makes him Level 5 again, and this time overlays with High Laundsallyn, bringing Destiny back with its own effect, and Gallatin with its own effect, and then allowing you to equip three; you can grab back the Caliburn to now be on 9500 Life Points, and Excaliburn and in this instance you would get Gwen and have a 4000 king with three kinds of protection. Alternatively, you could grab Arfeudtyr, and have a 3700 king with all 5 original Noble Arms on him turn 1, with three cards in hand. Your Deck has 30 cards left in it, and you’re on nine cards total.
● “Apparent Betrayal”
Required Cards:
The two Level 5 DARKs in Graveyard, Drystan, SS2 King, an Equip.
After using SS2 king to blow up a card, perhaps two via Arfeudtyr, and even gaining 500 Life Points, equip something such as Gwen to Drystan, and have him betray his king. When the King dies, it will bring back Black Laundsallyn (who can then Tribute the Drystan for another Equip if need be), and you can bring back Eachtar to make another SS2 King, getting another pop that turn, possibly another Arfeudutyr that turn, and another 500 Life Points that turn.
● “Go Goyo Guardian!”
Required Cards:
Lady and Eachtar in Graveyard, any knight that becomes 5, either Gwen in Graveyard or an Equip
At any point in the Duel with these two in your Graveyard, you have a High Laundsallyn play. It’s made much worse when you can say, Summon Borz first and equip him with something, even Gwen. Attempt to get Destiny using Borz, or just in general set yourself up, but you’re going to bring back Lady using this knight, and Eachtar using his own effect, so you can Synchro Summon Goyo Guardian using them, and leaving the Summoned knight completely unaffected by this play, save for the 1 star it lost. This is a free +1 in the form of Goyo Guardian, who you can slap on Destiny or Caliburn on for some serious pain.
There are tons more but you should be able to figure them out just by knowing how your cards work together, especially if you read all the interactions above.
Match-ups
There are a lot of Match-ups in Yu-Gi-Oh!. A Deck is never truly dead, since we don’t do Set rotation. Some Mmtch-ups are more prevalent than others, so I’ll expand on those, but very quickly I’ll note down the four types of Duels you can have and which kind you want to use against the Decks I don’t expand upon.
● Duel Type 1 – Low Battle Ground
This is the type of Duel in which both players have weaker monsters with powerful effects.
● Duel Type 2 – Uphill
This is the type of Duel in which you have the weak mighty monsters and they have the powerful monsters for you to overcome
● Duel Type 3 – Downhill
When you have the 4000 monster and they are stuck with weenies in which to deal with it
● Duel Type 4 – High Battle Ground
When we both have 3k+ monsters and trade boards of lethal with eachother.
Fire King – Type 2 – don’t over invest in a big monster, and just overcome Fire King High Avatar Garunix with Gallatin.
Koa’ki Mieru – Type 1 – they won’t throw anything big at you, but their Extra Deck will wreck your big guys.
Tellarknight – This is a tough matchup, Type 3 is what you want to aim for.
Infernity – Type 1 always. Outnumber them with raw card advantage.
Harpies – Type 3 – they will power through your Equips like crazy, so try to just put a big guy into play like Goyo Guardian who even without equips is too powerful for them to get over.
Fire Fists – Type 1, very much like the Koa’ki Mieru Duel. Excaliburn will carry you in this match-up.
Mermail – Type 4. Your big guys vs theirs. Popping back and forth
Dark World – Type 4, this is the exact same Duel as the Mermail one.
Six Samurais -Type 3. Don’t even overlay, just put Gawayn or Peredur with Gallatin on board and get a free win.
Gladiator Beasts – Type 3. They can’t tag if they can’t attack you. Beware of 101.
Chain Burn – play any non-Caliburn Equips on a knight and overlay it/Tribute it to get your card count down immediately. Kill them all in one shot or not at all, and use Caliburn to heal ridiculously fast and make their life hard.
More Relevant Matchups:
● Geargias – Table drops face-up Brothers and Gwen
One of the most popular Decks in the game, and we have a superb match-up against it. Gwen as we discussed will plow over Geargiarmor without flipping it, and how she also makes Gigant X miss timing when being destroyed, but we also have another hilarious weapon: Noble Knight Brothers. 2400 DEF, all you have to do is set it, and their outs become limited to Alucard, Crazy Box, Rhapsody in Berserk over it, or Number 20: Giga Brilliant boosts. If you use Table’s 6 effect to Special Summon Brothers in Defense Position, which you should be doing anyway to make sure you have a knight on board for Equips to return to, then they lose the Alucard out. They are completely screwed. Add in an Arfeudtyr and some choice Gwen plays, SS2 King in Defense Position popping their monsters, and you’ll grind through without any problem.
● HAT
Again, Gwen shines through, beating the Hands without letting them use their overpowered effects. This is a Duel that you will want to Special Summon in Defense Position only, the entire time. Focusing on a non-Special Summoned knight to have all the power will protect you from the brutal 101, Black Horn of Heaven, and Traptrix Trap Hole Nightmare. If you do have to Special Summon into somebody big, Eachtar is your friend. Lady of the Lake him to allow you to go into the Rank 4 without their Traps being able to stop you, and flip over a Trap Stun in response, paralyzing their backrow so you can duster it. Eradicator on Traps can be cute if you find you have enough room to side out for. Be very careful of Artifact Sanctum, Breakthrough Skill will save you from the Artifact Moralltach, but focus on getting Eachtar and Gwen in the Graveyad quickly so you can always recover from whatever they do to you.
● Lightsworn
Everything about the Lightsworn Deck is just bad Yu-Gi-Oh! It does nothing but kill itself nonstop until it breaks into a completely ridiculous creature that shatters the entire Duel. You’re in nothing more than a race. Kill them before they get JD and kill you. It’s honestly just that simple. If you See JD on the horizon, use Destiny, the Rank 5 knight, and Gwen. To get a clear shot at you will take 4000 Life Points getting through all that. Rhapsody in Berserk taking the Lightsworn names out of their Graveyard will lead you to success.
● Sylvans
This is definitely an uphill matchup. Siding Eradicator is great and all, but the forest is pretty powerful. Gallatin is a must for survival, and Excaliburn will be of great help. You will want to get as much power on the field as possible, High Laundsallyn with Gallatin is fantastic for this match-up. But while you don’t need to fear Number 101, you will need to watch out for Number 11: Big eye, as well as Felgrand, Stardust Dragon, and Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack. Their Rose Archers will be of no use, but those Veilers really hurt. If they get to resolve Sylvan Charity 3+ times, you can abandon all hope of your plans working.. It can be an uphill grind but it’s certainly one you can win. Gwen beats Komushroomo, and can lock Sageqouias in their hand. Goyo and Destiny is a fantastic way to devastate their best monsters, as even Felgrand can’t get over it. The biggest vulnerability their monsters face is that they can still die by battle, if you can get big enough.
● Spellbooks
The absolute toughest match-up you have. Spellbook of Fate ruins any and all plans you have for victory. You have no hopes whatsoever in regards to this, but they only get 1 Fate. You also get Eradicator for games 2 and 3 to certainly turn the tide in your favour. I really miss Number 16: Shock Master right now. Focus on a wide field rather than a concentrated one, so fate cannot stop everything you throw at them. High Priestess of Prophecy is only one pop per turn, which will have to be Excaliburn, and you can survive nukes from World of Prophecy, so a hope for victory is there, but it will be a very tough match-up.
● Madolche
A tough match-up for sure, Madolche Queen Tiaramisu can beat the king lock, after all. Rhapsody can help interfere with her, and your Breakthrough Skills can save your entire Duel if done properly, but beware of trap stuns. Tiara gets to 2700 and that’s their peak ATK in this Deck, But between Gallatin and Goyo we can beat over her. Caliburn a few times, as they can do 8000+ Damage easily.
● Shaddoll
Yet again, Gwenwyfar showing how good she is – by not flipping a single card you have to battle. 2400 DEF walls Midrash, and even Caliburn on your weaker knights like Borz being 2200 can defeat Midrash in battle, you can very easily win this match-up by beating fusions the standard way: If you don’t Special Summon from the Extra, they have to -2 to Fusion Summon. This is going to be one of the most popular Decks in the entire game this August, and Noble Knights have a better match-up against them than many other Decks.
● Yang Zing
Each of these guys can Synchro Summon during your turn, so watch out. Gwen will make any of their replacement effects miss timing, and you should be able to overpower anything they can Summon, but this is a particularly crazy Deck to be Dueling against. Constantly keep a count of what Levels they have on the field, and make sure you’re aware of what options they have to use against you. Samsara Dragon may be optional, but it cannot miss timing, so don’t waste your Gwen effect on it. Just play your cards properly, there is no trick to winning this one.
● Bujin
Another matchup where Gwen shines as a star, trumping Turtle, Crane, and Mikazuchi, A standard king lock makes your knight 3700. Yamato with Crane is only 3600, so you’re ‘honest’ly safe most of the time, and Destiny will protect you the times you aren’t. As usual be careful of 101 in Rank 4 oriented Decks, and use Rhapsody in Berserk to take out their Bujinji Hares, as Turtles are no threat to you. Don’t let Bujintei Susanowo + Honest end a Duel on you, never put too much in Attack Position. Don’t be afraid to wall with Brothers, even 3 Fire Formation – Tenkis and their strongest monster is only 2300, and Susanowo without help is 2400 flat. Bujinji Quilin will be able to pop Excaliburn so try to get two of them – No Bujin Deck is using two Quilins. They’re reliant on keeping their monster going, so just push into it, Gwen and Destiny will get you through almost every time. Remember, Crane isn’t honest, it’s just Limiter Removal. You CAN overpower a Mikazuchi/Yamato thats been craned if you can get up to a 4k knight. Goyo Guardian + Gallatin is also 3800 and will beat a craned Yamato.
● Mythic Ruler
This Deck’s Duel is all about putting out the biggest monster, putting out Felgrand, and putting out Dracossack. It’s the type of Duel you’d win with ‘and the band played on’ if you weren’t also simultaneously killing yourself. Interestingly enough, Medraut becomes 5, grabs a 4 that you make a 5, and then you overlay, so you completely dodge the Trap. Still, Goyo Guardian + Destiny defeats this match-up pretty astutely. Good use of Rhapsody in Berserk, or a full king lock, can also make them exhaust their resources. They only get one of each Dragon Ruler, so try to cut them off at the knees while they build up steam. They will be drawing a LOT, and filling up their Graveyard a LOT, so make sure to attack the Graveyard as much as you can. EEV is brutal in this matchup as well. This Deck has Felgrand, Blaster, and Tempest for 8000. Or Ttidal makes it 8200. There is a variety of ways in which it can do 7800-8400 damage, but never 8500+ in one hit without some serious field presence, so even one resolution of Caliburn is the difference between life and death. Don’t underestimate the Life Point gain in this match-up.
● Mirror Match
The First thing you can hope for, is that they haven’t read this guide, and you have, so you’re better prepared than they are. You absolutely, 100%, want to go second here. Not only do you want to play second, but you want to -act- second. 8000 damage isn’t coming out of one play, that’s not going to happen, and after they do a big push, your return push leaves you with cards and them without. The absolute key to victory is being the -second- person to establish a field. There are some cute tricks like Arfedutyr on their monster to weaken it, or Excaliburn on their monster and then destroying their Equips, since they can’t come back. Mind Control taking their Xyz and then using your Graveyard Excaliburn effect is really awesome. It’s no longer a Table war, thanks to the new Field Spell rule, but you certainly want to get yours first. Side in the third, and immediately start dumping your DaRKS so you can overpower them and make comeback plays.
What about Joan and Eatos?:
Noble Knight Joan was used by Sherry LeBlanc in Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s. Technically speaking, its the first “Noble Knight” monster to appear anywhere. Its Japanese translation would be “Holy Knight” or “Sacred Knight”. When the rest of the “Noble Knights” were released in Japan, they chose to use the same Japanese text that Joan had, thus making her a “Noble Knight” monster, intentionally or not. Joan was brought to the TCG in Cosmo Blazer, years after the fact, so no rename was needed. Joan doesn’t have much synergy with the Deck as a result, but could still be used to get another “name” in your grave.
On a related note, we have Celestial Sword – Eatos, used by Rafael in Yu-Gi-Oh! as the corresponding Equip Card for his Guardian Eatos. It remained an anime card only card for years and years, but once the “Noble Arms” archetype was revealed, it curiously used the same Japanese text that Eatos used, which meant “Holy Sword”. Thus, when it was finally released in Dragons of Legend, it necessitated a clause that makes it a “Noble Arms” card under all circumstances. It has almost no synergy with the Deck at all, but its still a “Noble Arms” card no matter how you slice it. Archetypes are defined by their Japanese names, after all. So no, the Japanese card doesn’t require that clause, because its obvious its a member from the name. Snafus like this are bound to happen with how long Yu-Gi-Oh! has been around.
Both of these cards actually have their merits in the Deck, since they’re both names, and both can use their effects to help the Deck, though Deck space is tight.
Helpful links:
Noble Knight showcase – www.yugioh-online.net/uk/nkshowcase/index.html
Noble Knight wiki page – yugioh.wikia.com/Noble_Knight
Dueling Network www.duelingnetwork.com
quincy’s guide – ygorganization.com/nobleknight/
Noble Knight kingdom on facebook – http://facebook.com/groups/747457715270847
Noble Knight Case article – http://ygorganization.com/noble-knights-of-the-round-table-box-set/
Noble Knight Case Contents – http://ygorganization.com/tcg-more-stuff-from-the-noble-knights-deck
Follow us on Twitter or Facebook – http://twitter.com/ygorganization http://facebook.com/ygorganization
● The final helpful link I give you is “Last Chapter of the Noble Knights” https://yugiohblog.konami.com/articles/?p=6535
This card doesn’t replace Soul Charge indefinitely, but it’s certainly a big boost to the Deck. We are all looking forward to Bedwyr and Merlin, but for the time being, this guide is up to date. My humble little website is a year old now, and how she has grown. We hit a million visitors by Christmas; have been supported by CoolstuffInc, Altereality Games, TheBrotherhood, and even ideal808. I’ve made a lot of great friends, and I get to work with them every day. Our news team has come a long way to become the best English Yu-Gi-Oh! news source in the world, and I hope to dedicate this next year to growing the Theory and Strategy Article team to being just as strong. I encourage other sites to write more theory. CoreTCG, TCGPlayer, and ARG all do their part, some articles are better than others, and some are amazing. I encourage you all to write a primer like this one, if not better, for every single Deck. Let’s grow the way Magic: the Gathering has, after all, their players can come over to our game and win our Continental Championships by applying their theories and practices. We grow as a group, not as tight cliques or teams. I want to personally thank my readers, especially those of you who made it this far in this article, for their patience while we figured ourselves out, their loyalty to our site as their source for news, and their sharing and word of mouth, since we like all news, are worthless unless put in the context of humanity. Here’s to a great first year, and an even better second one!
