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The Dark Sanctuary
The Water Deck Constructed
by Dark Necrophi
May 8, 2005

Hey dudes, I’m back. Yeah, it’s been a long time, but I’ve been going through a lot of stuff, and simply didn’t have the time to sit down and write an article. I would like to write articles about things requested of me way back when, but that was near the beginning of the last banlist, and I am sure interests have changed. I will start a thread asking what you guys want me to write about after this article is posted. Anyway, onto the article.

I’m sure you guys have read articles on water decks, before, but this is a new banlist, so I figured you guys could use a refresher course. Perhaps someone on Pojo has already taken care of this, but if they have, then just think of my article as a second perspective on it. It’s always good to get more than one point of view on a subject, no?

Just because Sinister is gone, doesn’t mean water isn’t competitive anymore, it can still work. Though of course, it isn’t as good as it was (duh!) but really, it can still work. The focus isn’t as much on Abyss as it used to be, without SS, running more than 1 can be risky, 3 isn’t really a good idea at all. Water has Treeborn Frog now though, which makes summoning Mobius and Zaborg easy, which means it has gained a new tool. Though nothing will ever really replace Sinister or TIV, once again (duh!) you all knew that already. Just so you know I am not being patronizing, I just write, don’t think if I say something basic that everyone knows, I am insulting you, I just like to cover all the bases. Anyway, before we construct the deck, I am going to go over commonly suggested water cards and support cards that I will not be using, and explain why.

1) I will not be using ALO, or cards supported by ALO. It just isn’t stable enough of a build, I’m trying to make a competitive deck, ALO is not currently competitive. It’s too situational, especially with all the m/t removal around. Too much reliance on combos, if your deck relies on combos that can be destroyed with a single m/t, you’ve got a problem. Besides, we are focusing on water control, ALO doesn’t really control anything, you either attack directly or blow up the field. Levia decks are fun, but not very stable, too many bad draws. Bugroth decks were good back when we had 3 Limiter, a user called Anime did really well with something like that once. But we don’t have 3 Limiter anymore, and that was more than a year ago I believe. Mermaid Knight is nice, but it isn’t enough to win.


2) T.A.D.P.O.L.E. and all it’s other support will not be used either, it needs it’s own deck, and this is a water deck, not a frog deck. Though building a T.A.D.P.O.L.E. deck would be fun, and I have done it before, it’s not what I am here to do.


3) Lastly, Poison Draw frog will not be used. He isn’t really useful. If you tribute him, he misses his timing, and you don’t get too draw. Now, if he didn’t miss his timing, he would actually be useful, but, uhh… he does.

This is water control, with Salvage to gain advantage. Mobius, Penguin, Yomi Ship, Abyss and Zaborg control the field. With the help of Grizzly, you can quickly search out Yomi, or Treeborn (to help you summon Mobius) and Last Will makes things even better.

Okay, onto the deck. We will start with the monster lineup.

3 Mother Grizzly

Okay, I am going to assume you already know the effects of the cards, since I am not using anything obscure.

Grizzly is a staple in water, it can search out Yomi Ship, Treeborn, more Grizzly, and combine with Last Will, Swap etcetera. You need to use as many as you can.

2 Abyss Soldier

Two Abyss may be a bit much, and it might be dead some of the time. It can work however, but if your not into the idea of 2 Abyss, then run a second Zaborg instead. Which brings me to the next part of the deck.

1 Zaborg the Thunder Monarch

As I said, you could run two, and drop one Abyss. Zaborg is important, he provides important control, counters Reaper, facedowns and works well with Treeborn, he is practically a staple in this format.

1 Breaker the Magical Warrior

He’s a staple, any deck that attacks should be using him, simple as that. If you need this explained to you, you shouldn’t be playing.

1 Sangan

Same as Breaker.

2 Magician of Faith

Very important this format, for fetching back Graceful and other spells.

2 Mobius the Frost Monarch

He’s water, so he fits the theme. Monarchs are good this format. Mobius clears the field, to make way for attacking, gains advantage, keeps the opponent from setting up, and works well with Treeborn.

1 Treeborn Frog

Obvious reasons, he’s 1337, works great with the monarchs, and great for gaining advantage. Searchable by Grizzly, and simply evil. No reason not to use him.

3 Yomi Ship

Three may sound like a bit bunch, but it’s pretty important, one of the few good low level water cards that can survive on it’s own, without stuff like ALO. Retrievable with Salvage, searchable by Grizzly and Last Will. Important removal for the deck as well.

1 Nightmare Penguin

He’s just tech, not really important for the deck. However he does add a little more of a bounce element too the deck, and can make for a nice surprise. If you don’t really want to run him, run another Swap instead, as he’s not really important. This guys just personal preference.

Now onto the Magic lineup, not as much explanation needed for this, a lot of it is obvious staples.

2 Nobleman of Crossout

With all the flips in this format, everyone should be maxing out on this.

1 Snatch Steal

Staple, no explanation needed.

1 Graceful Charity

Same as above.

1 Mystical Space Typhoon

Same as above.

1 Heavy Storm

Same as above

1 Premature Burial

The extra summon can be very useful in many situations, especially when making the final push.

1 Last Will

Very nice here with 3 Grizzly, 3 Yomi, Treeborn etcetera, it can do loads of good.

1 Smashing Ground

A little magic based removal is good, just in case you need it. This deck has a lot of removal though, so it shouldn’t need more than one.

1 Creature Swap

As I mentioned, if you don’t like the Penguin, run another one of these, 2 Swap would also be very nice in this deck. It works great with Grizzly and Yomi Ship, and will really hurt your opponent if you use it at the right time.

3 Salvage

One of the most important cards in the deck, which is why I maxed out. It gains me major advantage, and I can just keep using Yomi over and over again, which, btw, makes Abyss Soldier even more useful, and I can keep using his effect over and over again. And of course, this makes the combo with Abyss + Premature even better for finishing the duel, and makes Premature even more useful.

1 Scapegoat

Good tech, still good to run in almost every deck, they hit it with removal, you chain.

1 Book of Moon

Still one of my favorite cards, in ones, it can’t do much, but it is chainable, and decent for blocking attacks.

1 Swords of Revealing Light

With Abyss, you can keep it out for awhile, and still attack, preparing for a final sweep with the help of cards like Premature Burial.

And finally, the trap lineup, explanations will be short, not much to say, monster lineup was the most important.

2 Sakuretsu Armor

Good protection, and removal, don’t really need more than two though.

2 Bottomless Trap Hole

Good for dealing with monarchs and good protection, once again, don’t really need more than two though.

1 Call of the Haunted

Has the same basic uses as Premature, though it may not have the combos with Abyss Soldier, it can be activated on your opponents turn, which gives it other uses Premature doesn’t have. No reason not to use it here, a good tool for most decks that attack.

1 Mirror Force

It’s a staple, simple as that.

1 Torrential Tribute

Mass removal is good.


Now for the final list:

3 Mother Grizzly
3 Yomi Ship
1 Treeborn Frog
1 Nightmare Penguin
2 Abyss Soldier
2 Mobius the Frost Monarch
1 Zaborg the Thunder Monarch
1 Sangan
1 Breaker the Magical Warrior
2 Magician of Faith

3 Salvage
1 Snatch Steal
1 Premature Burial
1 Mystical Space Typhoon
1 Heavy Storm
2 Nobleman of Crossout
1 Graceful Charity
1 Book of Moon
1 Swords of Revealing Light
1 Scapegoat
1 Smashing Ground
1 Last Will
1 Creature Swap

2 Sakuretsu Armor
2 Bottomless Trap Hole
1 Call of the Haunted
1 Mirror Force
1 Torrential Tribute