Dante found a new traveling companion: GEMS!
Replays:
Strategic Summary:
Welcome back for another CDP of one of my IRL builds, and today I am showcasing a deck that gave me multiple locals tops in a row in the pre-JUHU format. This build was an upgrade to the original Burning Abyss Post-ALIN build that I experimented with, so if you want to check that out first, you can find that profile here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iX5V0mJydNo
Now that you’re back, let’s talk about why the Gem-Knights are such a good fit in here. First, this Burning Abyss deck loves to mill, and it is absolutely amazing to have more things like Gem-Knight Nepyrim that you want to mill. You see, whenever Nepyrim goes to the GY, it can Special Summon itself back and kick off the Gem-Knight engine. Even if you start with Gem-Armadillo instead, you can first use the Gem-Knight engine to then later pivot into the Burning Abyss engine, with mills offered by the R4NK Minerva, the Exalted Lightsworn you will have more than enough bodies to make. Nepyrim isn’t the only thing you will want to mill – even if you mill your Gem-Knight Fusion or Gem-Knight Hollowcore, you’re just one step closer to having that ideal endboard. Better yet, milling Vingolf’s Blessing gives you another way to bring back Nepyrim, and have even more material. What all can you use this material for? Well, A Bao a Qu, the Lightless Shadow is a great choice, since it can keep bringing back your LIGHT or DARK monsters, turn after turn. One edit I’ve made IRL since creating the video is that I also really enjoy using Ritual Beast Ulti-Reirautari now over Unchained Abomination, since it prevents either player from Tributing cards to activate effects, which can mess with Mitsurugi.
All of that said, why is this better than my original Burning Abyss build? The answer is just the number of opening plays, and the potential going 1st or 2nd. Even if you get a ‘poor’ hand and open both of your ideal Normal Summons (Tour Guide from the Underworld and Gem-Armadillo), using the second to go through its combos and end up Fusion Summoning Gem-Knight Seraphinite gives you the additional Normal Summon for the other. If you open a moderate to good hand, you can end up on a board with multiple interactions and multiple negates, and if you’re going second, the Gem-Knight engine can definitely turn into an OTK hammer with the sheer amount of power it can put out onto the board. With a strong secondary component to the deck, this build makes up for the fragility of the Burning Abyss monsters, while letting their combo strengths and unique bosses have their time to shine in the spotlight!
Provided Decklist:
Monsters:
1 Archlord Kristya
3 Sengenjin Wakes from a Millennium
1 Gem-Knight Hollowcore
1 Golem that Guards the Millennium Treasures
3 Gem-Armadillo
3 Gem-Knight Nepyrim
1 Gem-Knight Quartz
3 Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss
1 Fiendish Rhino Warrior
1 Versago the Destroyer
1 Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss
3 Buio the Dawn’s Light
2 Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss
3 Tour Guide From the Underworld
1 Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss
3 Droll & Lock BirdSpells:
1 Gem-Knight Fusion
3 Gem-Knight Dispersion
1 Triple Tactics Talent
1 Triple Tactics Thrust
1 Mutiny in the Sky
1 Called by the Grave
1 Brilliant Fusion
2 Vingolf’s Blessing
1 Wedju TempleExtra Deck:
1 Grapha, Dragon Overlord of Dark World
1 Gem-Knight Master Diamond Dispersion
1 Luce the Dusk’s Dark
1 Snake-Eyes Doomed Dragon
1 Gem-Knight Lady Rose Diamond
1 Gem-Knight Seraphinite
1 The Zombie Vampire
1 Minerva, the Exalted Lightsworn
1 Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss
1 Unchained Abomination
1 A Bao A Qu, the Lightless Shadow
1 Knightmare Unicorn
1 S:P Little Knight
1 Gem-Knight Phantom Quartz
1 Cherubini, Ebon Angel of the Burning Abyss
Note: This is continuing the style of Creative Deck Profile articles, designed to showcase a build through replays and an attached summary. If you wish to see a CDP for an archetype, theme, or strategy you love, feel free to private message me on the YGOrg Discord server, the comments section of any of my YouTube videos, or just post a comment in response to this article on our Facebook page or through the site with your ideas for me to keep under consideration! On most YGO-related communities my username is Quincymccoy, so feel free to reach out. Current pending requested profiles include: Crystal Beast, Motor, Suship, Flame Swordsman, ‘Spring’, Ghoti, Artmage, Magnifistorm, Gladiator Beast, Dracotail, K9, Megalith, Lunalight
Coming Soon:
