CDP: Tistina Gem-Knight, with Shaddoll & Traptrix support

Crystals and Gems, what a perfect combination…

Replays:

Strategic Summary:

Today’s CDP features another one of my IRL deckbuilds, and I cannot wait to share the power of this deck with you all. This deck is extremely versatile at playing going first or second, so that’s how I’m going to breakdown this description.

When going first, this deck leans heavily upon the Gem-Knight engine to kick off advantage and take it all to the bank. Starting with any of Gem-Armadillo, Gem-Knight Nepyrim, or Gem-Knight Dispersion, you can quickly build towards an endboard with the endless material offered by the engine. You see, Armadillo leads into Gem-Knight Hollowcore, both turn into Gem-Knight Phantom Quartz which grabs you Dispersion, then the world becomes your oyster from there. If you started with Armadillo itself and didn’t need to search for it, this play gets even better because when you Fusion Summon with Dispersion, Nepyrim will Special Summon itself back to your board for free, and grab you an extra Gem-Knight card to boot. Regardless of path, you will be left with multiple Level 4 monsters to turn into Traptrix Rafflesia, giving you the protection of Gravekeeper’s Trap Hole to avoid an unfortunate Nibiru situation. This then allows you to combo off the Tistina side of the deck with ample protection.

When going second, this deck leans on the Tistina engine to break through the opponents’ board. You see, with Fallen of the Tistina, Sentinel of the Tistina, Demigod of the Tistina, and Breath of the Tistina, you will almost always have access to a copy of Divine Domain Baatistina, even if you don’t draw it. This Field Spell forces your opponent to react, since allowing it to resolve will give you a free Crystal God Tistina and Miasma Dragon Tistina to completely break their board with the one-two punch of Crystal God’s effect, followed by the Xyz Summon of Tistina, the Divinity that Defies Darkness. Even if they can stop the field spell, I’m using a Shaddoll Fusion engine to enhance board-breaking possibilities, especially if the opponent left a monster summoned from the Extra Deck on the board. Either way, once the opponent’s disruptions have been depleted, the Gem-Knight engine and the rest of your Tistina can flood material onto the board, Special Summon after Special Summon.

After Game 1, this deck also offers the opportunity to optimize one way or the other, depending on if you’re going first or second. If going second, swap out some of the ‘going first’ cards like the extraneous Trap Cards for more options. When going first, the Shaddoll engine offers a lot of free space to side out and side in other options of your choice. That’s ultimately where this deck shines – adapting to the situation, able to conquer anything the opponent may throw your way!

Provided Decklist:

Monsters:
1 Crystal God Tistina
1 Miasma Dragon Tistina
2 Demigod of the Tistina
1 Gem-Knight Hollowcore
1 Shaddoll Beast
1 Nehshaddoll Genius
1 Hound of the Tistina
2 Gem-Armadillo
3 Gem-Knight Nepyrim
1 Gem-Knight Quartz
3 Sentinel of the Tistina
1 Shaddoll Hedgehog
3 Fallen of the Tistina

Spells:
1 Gem-Knight Fusion
3 Gem-Knight Dispersion
1 Triple Tactics Talent
2 Triple Tactics Thrust
3 Shaddoll Fusion
1 Play of the Tistina
1 Called by the Grave
1 Brilliant Fusion
2 Breath of the Tistina
3 Divine Domain Baatistina

Traps:
3 Gravedigger’s Trap Hole
1 Different Dimension Ground
1 Dimensional Barrier
1 Discordance of the Tistina

Extra Deck:
1 Gem-Knight Master Diamond Dispersion
1 El Shaddoll Construct
1 Gem-Knight Lady Rose Diamond
1 Gem-Knight Amethyst
1 Gem-Knight Seraphinite
1 Super Starslayer TY-PHON – Sky Crisis
1 Varudras, the Final Bringer of the End Times
1 Tistina, the Divinity that Defies Darkness
1 Traptrix Rafflesia
1 Underworld Goddess of the Closed World
1 Ritual Beast Ulti-Reirautari
1 Gorgon of Zilofthonia
1 S:P Little Knight
1 Gem-Knight Phantom Quartz
1 I:P Masquerena

Side Deck:
3 Veidos the Eruption Dragon of Extinction
1 Contact “C”
3 Artifact Lancea
3 Retaliating “C”
3 Droll & Lock Bird
1 Chaotic Elements
1 Ashened for Eternity

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, Suship, Ghoti, Magnifistorm, Lunalight, Artmage, Rokket, Enneacraft, Synchron, Killer Tune, Heachands

Coming Soon: