Introduction

Splights are a newly introduced archetype that revolves around the idea of Level 2 monsters. These cute fuzzy sprites are focused on easily churning out Rank 2/Link 2s, and pivots around this theme. This archetype has added a much needed consistency to many existing level 2 themed archetypes. But unexpectedly, this archetype is currently the undisputed best combo deck of the format.

This image below, taken from 3 days after the release of Power of the Elements, is my proof.

A whopping 49% play rate! Not even including its variants Splight Evil★Twin and Splight Tri-Brigade, that is almost half the metagame. I will cover all of these later, but let us talk about how polarizing these little punks are.

All of the Splights (all of the lights)

Main Splights

• Blue (Searches Monsters)
• Jet (Searches S/T)
• Red (Negates Monsters)
• Carrot (Negates S/T)
• Pixies (Power Boost)

All of these monsters share the same effect to summon themselves from the hand to accompany another Level/Rank 2 on board. Splight Blue and Jet tutors more Splights, while Splight Red and Carrot serves as negation. Splight Pixies is trying their best. These cards only need the presence of another Level/Rank 2 on board, so it is easy to pair these with any archetype that fits their "2" requirements. It is easy to swarm the board with Splights, and Splight Red and Carrot will ensure your combos resolve properly. This engine can be treated as an extender for Level 2 archetypes.

Extra Splights

• Gigantic Splight (Summons from Deck)
• Splight Elf (Summons from Graveyard)

Gigantic Splight is the archetype Rank 2 Xyz. It summons any Level 2 from the deck, but with a restriction that causes BOTH players to only be able to summon Level/Rank/Link 2s for the rest of the turn. This should be no issue for the Splight player, but this will prevent the opposing player from using Nibiru or Retaliating "C"! A restriction with an unexpected benefit for sure. On the other end of the size chart, Splight Elf is this deck's Link 2. Splight Elf simply revives a Level/Rank/Link 2 as a quick effect, but this effect will be as strong as the monster chosen to summon! One popular example would be to revive a Toadally Awesome that has used itself once, back for another round.

Splight Support

• Splight Starter (Summons from Deck)
• Splight Gamma Burst (Power Boost)
• Splight Smashers (Spot Removal)

These are the few quick-play Spells granted to the Splights, which are all accessible with Splight Jet. Splight Starter is a very simple tutor card similar to Emergency Teleport, which can produce Splight Red or Carrot at any notice. Gamma Burst grants all your mini monsters 1400 ATK, which combined with Splight's swarming capabilities, could threaten to end the game! Splight Smashers is a more costly card, but spot removal spells are always welcome to play around Dark Ruler No More.

Although this archetype has some generic effects, what caused this deck to suddenly overthrow the metagame? What made this suddenly so much better then even Adventurer Tenyi or Drytron at full power? Let's look at the lists, and I will provide some context!

Turning up the Splights

Frog Splight

The best Rank 2 in the game is Toadally Awesome. Therefore, it makes complete sense to form a deck around it once Level 2s got support.

This list is fine-tuned to summon Toadally Awesome using only Swap Frog and Ronintoadin, through Gigantic Splight. In fact, here is a simple combo.

Deep Sea Diva = Splight Elf + Toadally Awesome (Standard Board)

1. Normal Summon Deep Sea Diva. Use her effect to summon another from the deck.
   (Or you can use any two Level/Link 2s, as they will be overlaid into Gigantic Splight)
2. Overlay these two into Gigantic Splight.
3. Use Gigantic Splight to summon Swap Frog from the deck.
4. Swap Frog triggers to mill Ronintoadin from your deck.
5. Link Gigantic Splight and Swap Frog into Splight Elf.
6. Use Splight Elf to revive Swap Frog.
7. Swap Frog, on its second summon, mills another copy of Swap Frog.
8. Use Ronintoadin to revive itself, banishing your newly milled copy of Swap Frog.
9. Overlay Ronintoadin and Swap Frog to summon Toadally Awesome.

During your opponent's start, you can use Toadally Awesome to summon Dupe Frog as well. This board may not seem intimidating at first, but this is nigh unbreakable. Splight Elf prevents Toadally Awesome from targeting and resurrects it for a second negation, dodging Called By The Grave in the process. Dupe Frog protects your Splight Elf from getting run over. Toadally Awesome also recurs Waters like Deep Sea Diva or Swap Frog every time it touches the grave, so your follow-up is guaranteed. And all these is performed with 1 or 2 cards, leaving the rest of your hand as extenders or handtraps. The Splight engine here helps summon Gigantic Splight easier, and protects your board with Splight Red and Carrot.

Because this combo is so easy to perform under multiple interruptions, this deck can proudly flaunt their frogs and outgrind the opponent. Or provide at least 2 interruptions against them. But if you thought this was it, Splights can do so much more. What if I told you they could add Maxx "C" or all of the Ghost Sisters from deck to hand?

Splight Blue/Jet + Swap Frog = Splight Elf + Toadally Awesome + Maxx "C" in hand

You can watch this combo in video form here.

1. Normal Summon Swap Frog. Mill Ronintoadin.
2. Special Summon either Splight from your hand. Using their tutor effects, you should develop a total of at least 2+ Splights on your board.
3. Overlay any two Splights into Gigantic Splight.
4. Use Gigantic Splight to Special Summon Maxx "C" from deck.
5. Use Swap Frog's second effect, selecting your summoned Maxx "C" to return to hand. (At this point, the additional normal summon is pretty pointless)
6. Link Gigantic Splight and Swap Frog into Splight Elf.
7. From here onwards, follow (6.) of the first combo.

You can substitute Maxx "C" with any other Level 2 you want to add to hand, but Maxx "C" is the greatest Level 2 legal to the OCG. But this combo is not limited to this alone! Let me show you how to add a handtrap to hand.

Any Splight + Deep Sea Diva = Splight Elf + Toadally Awesome + any handtrap in hand

1. Normal Summon Deep Sea Diva, and summon another from your deck.
2. Special Summon your Splight. (This part can actually be any Level 2 that summons itself)
3. Link Deep Sea Divas into Crystron Halqifibrax.
4. Use it to summon any tuner from your deck. In this specific example I will summon Ash Blossom from my deck.
5. Overlay Crystron Halqifibrax and your Splight into Gigantic Splight.
6. Gigantic Splight will summon Swap Frog.
7. Swap Frog can target your special summoned tuner, Ash Blossom in this case, and return it to the hand.
8. Follow (6.) of the combo to end on the standard board.

These combos are easily substitutable as long as you access Gigantic Splight. Being able to tutor any high-impact handtrap is just one of the many ways Splight has proven itself as the top dog of its format.

Due to the deck's resilience against multiple handtraps as it has multiple extenders and the ability to output multiple negations, and hyper consistency, Frog Splights will continue to dominate as such. Will Konami turn off these Splights? Or will they stay extra bright?

You can watch this deck in action here:

• Yacine's Combo Video
• Duel Evolution's Replays

Evil★Twin Splight

Finally in the spotlight, how will the twins use their Splights?

The aim here is to resolve Artifact Dagda, to establish an Artifact Scythe on the opposing turn. Evil★Twins have natural resilience, and will win in any battle of attrition. Unfortunately I was unable to relocate the video showcasing the Dagda lock, but the general idea is to use Evil★Twin Lil-La to destroy and summon Artifact Scythe on the opponent's turn.

Artemate Slay is a brand-new card that debuted in the same set as Splights. This card is currently valued as the best way to break a standard Frog Splight board.

Artemate Slay vs Splight Elf + Toadally Awesome

1. Activate Artemate Slay, targeting Splight Elf (since Toadally Awesome has anti-target)
2. Send Evil★Twin's Trouble Sunny as your Artemate Slay's resolution.
3. Use Evil★Twin's Trouble Sunny's graveyard effect, milling Evil★Twins Ki-sikil and Lil-La and target Toadally Awesome
4. Regardless of whether Toadally Awesome negates or not, congratulations! You have dealt with 2 issues with just one spell.

Since Splights are slated to consume the entire metagame, it is safe to dedicate a few counters in the main deck against them. This is one of the best ways.

Tri-Brigade Splight

I cannot believe how long Tri-Brigade has tried to stay relevant. Regardless, here.

The general idea behind the additions of Splights is to add Splight Red and Carrot's negation effects to protect Tri-Brigade Kit. This also adds extra combos to their already-huge arsenal.

Due to the length of the combos, I will link them in video form instead.

• Frannick's Tri-Brigade Splight Combo
• Ransterzer0's Rescue Cat Combo

But in every other scenario, this deck will perform the same as every other Tri-Brigade variant you have encountered so far.

There are so many more lists and variants out there. Prank-Kid Splights, Melffy Splights, even Krawler Splights, the list goes on. There are just too many variants to cover, and I hope you readers get a general gist of exactly how flexible and important Splights are for these archetypes.

Dimming Splights

How do we counter Splights? Currently, it is impossible to find a singular chokepoint. The entire archetype is extenders, and can easily play through any handtraps. Dark Ruler No More and Forbidden Droplet are temporary solutions, but can be bested by a set Splight Starter, which summons another negation. Ra - Sphere Mode is an interesting tech players have been toying with, but losing the normal summon is painful. The best solution is currently the Artemate Slay trick I have mentioned above. As Splights rely completely on Monster effects, you can try using Mystic Mine, Skill Drain or even Ghost Reaper. And even then, you will have to deal with the added handtrap from the above mentioned combos + unknowns.

Due to the current lack of answers against Splights, it is safe to say we are entering a tier 0 format soon.

My Thoughts and Current

Wow, my second tier 0 format. I cannot deny I expected this to happen. Splight unusually thrives in this particular format where multiple handtraps and board wipes exist, and they triumph it all. With those little level 2 bodies. It is interesting to observe how the metagame will warp as players have to theorize emergency counters to these decks. But until then, Yu-Gi-Oh is returning to a game of dice, where the player going first auto-wins. This is truly the pinnacle of Yu-Gi-Oh, and it started at 2, Konami OCG's favorite number.

Amercians, please enjoy whatever little fun you have until Power of the Element releases in your region. Until then, hold tight!