Sea-ing is Believing

Hello there! This is an article about the newly introduced support for Umi, most notably through Kairyu-Shin. Set to debut alongside Marincess and Shark support in Legendary Duelists: Duels From the Deep, Mako Tsunami's signature cards are a heaping pile of fishy chaos begging to be put together. As the most undesirable theme of this set, let us see what we can do with these fishes out of water.

Setting the Hooks

First of all, I would like to introduce the new cards from this set. A lot of Mako Tsunami's signature cards have received individual support, yet roughly synergizes with each other.

There are a lot of words, so you can go ahead and skip to the deck list if you would like.

Kairyu-Shin - Leviathan

Kairyu-Shin quietly accepted support through multiple spells with similarities. This is all gradually tied together with its newest form and its effects:

Kairyu-Shin - Leviathan
Sea Serpent/Effect
Level 5 ATK/ 2000 DEF/ 1700

• While "Umi" is on the field, each player can only control 1 face-up non-WATER monster. (if a player controls 2 or more face-up non-WATER monsters, they must send some to the GY so they control only 1.)
• During your Main Phase: You can add 1 "Umi", 1 "Kairyu-Shin" Spell/Trap, or 1 "Sea Stealth" Spell/Trap from your Deck to your hand.
• You can only use this ② effect of "Kairyu-Shin - Leviathan" once per turn.

Kairyu-Shin - Leviathan now wields a domineering effect to deny non-Water monsters from contaminating the field - or the sea, in this case. This is usually a strong effect given that pure Water archetypes rarely touch the metagame. Aside from this, Kairyu-Shin can tutor cards every turn. There are 3 Kairyu-Shin Spell/Traps and 2 Sea Stealth Spell/Traps as of this article, and none of them are especially meta-defining, so don't worry about those too much!

Packed with amazing effects, Kairyu-Shin's biggest setback is only its level requiring a singular tribute. But hey, a small offering for the great Water God, right? We will actually build our Water deck around this card later, so do not miss it!

Mega Fortress Whale

Fortress Whale also has its own dedicated theme of direct attacks. Naturally, this behemoth of unnecessary armory has received its second upgrade. Whaley now?

Mega Fortress Whale
Fish/Effect
Level 7 ATK/ 2550 DEF/ 2350

• If "Umi" is on the field: You can activate this effect; your WATER monsters can attack directly this turn.
• During your opponent's Battle Phase (Quick Effect): You can target 1 face-up monster they control; destroy it.
• If this card on the field is destroyed by battle or card effect: You can take 1 WATER Warrior monster from your Deck or GY, and either add it to your hand or Special Summon it.
• You can only use each effect of "Mega Fortress Whale" once per turn.

Mega Fortress Whale grants all your Water monsters the ability to hit directly - AA-Zeus anyone? This version compared to Citadel Whale is more aggressive, and continues its streak by summoning a possible The Legendary Fisherman upon destruction. Like the card above, this card only suffers from its high level. Otherwise, you should be winning easily should you manage to coax this beast onto your field.

Physalia

In Asian culture, some eat Jellyfish as a delicacy. (I could really go for some right now.) In Yu-Gi-Oh! however, Jellyfish has evolved into a deadly Physalia strong enough to consume your opponent's game plans.

Physalia
Aqua/Effect
Level 4 ATK/ 1400 DEF/ 1700

• You can send 1 "Umi" from your hand, Deck, or face-up field to the GY; Special Summon 1 WATER monster from your hand.
• When your opponent activates a Spell Card or effect, or a monster effect, while "Umi" is on the field (Quick Effect): You can negate that effect, then you can make this card gain 600 ATK/DEF.
• You can only use each effect of "Physalia" once per turn.

Physalia can accelerate monsters onto the board! This is very important especially for the monsters I discussed earlier. Physalia can bypass hefty level restrictions to develop strong Water monsters every turn. This wobbly being is also able to negate either Monster or Spell effects! The only setback is the reliance on Umi, but that should be easy to achieve. This jellyfish is able to serve as disruption, and protection for your Umi.

Doom Kraken

The thing about octopuses? They ink too much. Anyway, Fiend Kraken has evolved from a playful bully into a furious eldritch abomination ready to consume monsters every turn.

Doom Kraken
Aqua/Effect
Level 4 ATK/ 1400 DEF/ 1700

• If "Umi" is on the field (Quick Effect): You can target 1 WATER monster you control, except "Doom Kraken", and 1 monster your opponent controls; Special Summon this card from your hand, and if you do, return your targeted monster to the hand, and if you do that, destroy that opponent's monster.
• When an opponent's monster declares an attack: You can return this card to the hand, and if you do, negate that attack.
• You can only use each effect of "Doom Kraken" once per turn.

While Umi is present, Doom Kraken will be able to stealthily destroy your opponent's monsters every turn, and return back to hand at any sign of danger. This creates a mini loop that constantly threatens your opponent's monster every turn, and activating from hand means it is harder to avoid. This is no doubt a very strong effect.

Yorishiro of the Aqua

Every archetype should have a cute girl. Even in the midst of slithering, quivering deep sea monstrosities, we are blessed with Maiden of the Aqua's evolution.

Yorishiro of the Aqua
Aqua/Effect
Level 4 ATK/ 700 DEF/ 2000

• You can banish this card from your GY, then target 1 "Umi" in your GY; add it to your hand.
• You can target 1 WATER monster in your GY; apply 1 of these effects, but you cannot Special Summon monsters for the rest of this turn, except WATER monsters.
  ● Until the End Phase, this card's Level and name become that monster's.
  ● If "Umi" is on the field, Special Summon that monster in Defense Position.
• You can only use each effect of "Yorishiro of the Aqua" once per turn.

Unlike her younger form, Yorishio of the Aqua no longer represents Umi on the field. She helps recur Umis from the Graveyard, ideally from Physalia's mill. She also wields a dandy resurrection effect, or in the fringe case, adopts the name instead. This is useful to fuel the summon of specific cards like Neo-Daedalus or Thousand-Eyes Jellyfish.

Any Fin is Possible

Since the monsters got support, it is only fair to back them up with Spell/Trap support as well. Otherwise they won't be able to scale up in strength.

Fish Sonar

Fish Sonar
Normal Spell

• Add 1 Level 7 or lower monster that is a WATER Normal Monster or specifically lists "Umi" in its text from your Deck to your hand, then, if "Umi" is on the field, you can Special Summon 1 WATER Normal Monster from your Deck.
• You can only activate 1 "Fish Sonar" per turn.

This is the search spell for Umi-related monsters. Additionally, this card can summon a normal monster onto the field. The additional body is nice to have, but this also risks the idea of a "Garnet" in the deck. This card is able to tutor every card mentioned above, so it is good to have in the Umi deck.

Sea Stealth II

Along with a bolstered armory on Mega Fortress Whale, even the Sea Stealth strategy got an upgrade! These techniques only get deadlier and deadlier. I definitely would not want any whales circling me for dinner.

Sea Stealth II
Continuous Spell

• This card's name becomes "Umi" while on the field or in the GY.
• Your opponent cannot target WATER monsters you control with non-WATER monsters' effects.
• At the start of the Battle Phase: You can Special Summon 1 monster that specifically lists "Umi" in its text or 1 WATER Normal Monster from your hand or GY in Defense Position, but destroy it at the end of this Battle Phase.
• You can only use this effect of "Sea Stealth II" once per turn.

Sea Stealth II adopts the Umi name, allowing you to place it with Sea Stealth Attack. However, you still can not mill it with Physalia. This spell protects your Water stuff from other monsters, and presents an additional mirage to clear during your opponent's turns. This synergizes perfectly with Mega Fortress Whale's destroying effect, but I am sure there are more Water monsters that can be summoned like this. All in all, this is a useful card for roughly guarding your Water monsters and yourself from opposing disruption.

Kairyu-Shin of the Reef

Kairyu-Shin of the Reef
Normal Trap

• Send 1 face-up "Umi" you control to the GY; Special Summon up to 2 WATER Normal Monsters, and/or monsters that specifically list "Umi" in their text, with different names from your hand and/or Deck in Defense Position,
  then, if your opponent controls a monster, you can Special Summon any number of Level 6 or lower WATER Normal Monsters from your hand and/or Deck.
  Until the end of your next turn after this card resolves, you cannot Special Summon monsters, except WATER monsters.
• You can only activate 1 "Kairyu-Shin of the Reef" per turn.

This card with a lot of text basically translates into summoning two monsters from the deck at the cost of Umi. This Trap card can easily fill the field anytime, but losing Umi is a heavy cost. The list of monsters summoned off this traps will not be particularly impressive as well, so this card can safely be ignored. Other then resembling the dishes on display in front of the sushi restaurant, this card should be disregarded.

And that concludes all the newer and relevant support gifted in Legendary Duelists: Duels From the Deep! But how exactly do we merge them all? Never doubt, don't trout ourselves! I will now present a standard way of playing these cards.

Umi - Kairyu-Shin Version

This deck will revolve around Kairyu-Shin - Leviathan's effects. Serving as both a floodgate and searcher, Kairyu-Shin slowly sets the pace while your opponent frantically figures out how to deal with it. Stealth Kragen is a perfect partner for sniping potential threats. The other Umi monsters will weather the opponent's advances down, and you can eventually push for lethal damage. A Legendary Ocean is used to allow Kairyu-Shin to appear without a tribute.

Umi - Sea Stealth Attack Version

Duel Links players will know the pain of having to fight through the terror of Sea Stealth Attack. Now coupled with the full card pool of the game, this deck will fully abuse both Sea Stealth Attack and Sea Stealth II to weather the opponent down. Mega Fortress Whale will summon The Legendary Fisherman II, and he will tutor the whale back. This loop is fully abused through Sea Stealth II, while Sea Stealth Attack punishes any careless opponents. With enough stalling, The Legendary Fisherman III will appear to conclude the game instantly, especially if paired with Ice Barrier.
This deck also uses A Legendary Ocean since it is the best Umi spell so far.

My Thoughts and Cod-clusion

Originally, I was befuddled by the appearance of these cards. They had little to no synergy at face value, and I was ready to chuck them back into the sea. That is, until I saw an article describing the cards. You may read that article here. So I thought, if someone determined these cards were worth writing about, why not have a go? I am glad I explored the murky side of this archetype. These decks flow pretty well in a casual environment, and feels faithful to the original Mako Tsunami way of dueling. I am generally very impressed by these cards and playstyle. But please do not expect this deck to suddenly top events - there are always more unfair cards and decks in the sea!