Branded currently is one of the top contenders for today's March 2023 meta. Able to consistently make gigantic fusion beatsticks with board clearing capabilities backed by a solid resource grindgame, Branded is currently the ultimate aggro-beatdown deck. Pushed into meta relevance by Konami because of it's fan favourite status as the "lore" deck of series 12, Branded post Photon Hypernova is a fusion powerhouse!
However, this Branded suffers from two major weaknesses: Ash Blossom (On esp. on Branded Fusion) and Nibiru. This version of Branded aims to fix that, by giving the pilot so much gas and plays to work with so that you can play through those devastating handtraps and eventually out-resource your opponent! This "gas" variant of Branded can keep playing, even though Branded Fusion is negated! Some hands allow the pilot to make Dragoon before you use Branded Fusion (so you can negate Ash) and before 5 summons (so you can negate Nibiru).
Dragoon is especially strong in today's meta vs. many meta decks since they all target/destroy, meaning this overpowered Deviantart OC is a nigh-invincible instant-win button!
ARCHETYPES, ENGINES AND DECKBUILDING
This core of this deck is composed of the traditional Branded and Despia cards. The only card that isn't standard is Dramaturge. I personally like to use Dramaturge since he can negate Mirrorjade if you're going first, which enables 2 uses of Mirrorjade's effect rather then 1 - thus getting you more dumps in the GY from the ED and more resources. 3 Tragedy is included as a banish target for Allure of Darkness (essentially a +1!).
The Bystial package is relatively small, since banishing Light/Dark monsters in the GY isn't very impactful and common in today's metagame. Lubellion is "searcheable" from deck since Branded Fusion dumps him to the GY,and Lubellion can summon itself from the GY by tributing the on-field Albion. Lubellion can activate from deck Branded Lost as extra protection/search power or Branded Beast for a quick effect pop during the main phase.
The Frightfur package is included as another piece of "gas" in the deck - maintaining hand advantage since all the pieces search each other and giving access to Polymerization (a powerful boardbreaker with Guardian Chimera).
Fusion Deployment functions as a toolbox in this deck, since its 3 targets each serve a distinct function. Albaz can breakboards when summoned, and Albaz + Super Poly cracks most boards nowadays. If your opponent happens to field Dragon monsters, Albaz can contact fuse them away. Cartesia enables fusion summoning as a quick effect. Not only does she give access to Granguinol (which is a foolish burial), she can protect your activating monster effects on the field from targeting negates like Impermanence and Effect Veiler. Finally, Dark Magician can be summoned from deck if you have all the pieces for Dragoon, so that you can have access to his omni-negate to deter Ash/Nibiru before you full combo.
50 cards are utilized in this deck rather than around 40ish since every important piece (esp. Branded Fusion) is highly searcheable anyways. 50 cards also reduces the likelihood of drawing garnets and bricks. This "gas" version of Branded is designed to draw alot, search alot, and to play alot to overwhelm any sort of interaction your opponent has whether it is Ash Blossom, Nibiru or on-board interruption.
COMBOS AND GAMEPLAN
"Gas" Branded is designed to play through your opponent's interruption to create gigantic fusion beatsticks and overwhelm with high ATK and massive resource generation. If given even a second of breathing space, your opponent will find that they are facing down a field full of powerful fusion monsters!
Branded Fusion is both a blessing and a curse for this strategy. The whole deck revolves around searching and resolving that card, and if it's negated, your further options are likely limited. Your obvious glaring chokepoint and weakness is Branded Fusion, so it is imperative that you can bait out the Ash Blossom or fusion summon Dragoon before you use the card. It is advisable to use every other card first like Frightfur Patchwork, Branded Opening or Lubellion so that you can bait out your opponent's Ash Blossom. Also, from experience playing the deck, I've discovered that people intentionally hold their Ash Blossom saving it for Branded Fusion - so if you don't have the card, you can bluff having it and just do all your searches/summons from deck!
End boards are very hand dependant, but here are the mainline combos:
Branded Fusion + Dark Monster + Discard = Mirrorjade (banish), Bystial Lubellion + Beast (pop), Set Branded in Red
- Activate Branded Fusion to summon Albion, sending Albaz + Bystial Lubellion from deck.
- Fusion summon Lubellion the Searing Dragon by fusing Albaz + Dark Monster with Albion. Ideal dark monsters to banish are Tragedy (search) and Dramaturge (free body on field).
- Lubellion (discards for cost) fusion summons Mirrorjade by shuffling back Albaz from banished pile and Lubellion the Searing Dragon on the field.
- Summon Bystial Lubellion from the GY by tributing Albion.
- Activate Lubellion's card effect to activate from deck Branded Beast. Alternatively, you can activate from deck Branded Lost for further searches/fusion protection.
- End phase - set your Branded card of choice from deck. Ideally, you set Branded in Red so you can fusion summon on your opponent's turn. If you already have Branded in Red, you can set Branded Opening for further searches/protection from destruction.
Branded Fusion + Discard = Red-Eyes Dragoon (Best to use if you suspect your opponent has Nibiru, or you are against a Kashtira player, or if you want to play safe).
- Activate Branded Fusion to summon Lubellion the Searing Dragon, sending Albaz + Dark Magician from deck.
- Lubellion (discards for cost) fusion summons Dragoon by shuffling back Albaz and Dark Magician from GY to deck.
Cartesia + Light/Dark monster + Either Bystial Saronir/Albion the Shrouded Dragon = Search for any Branded card (Best to use if you're missing a particular Branded card, esp. Branded Fusion!)
- Activate Cartesia's effect to fusion summon Granguinol by using Cartesia + Light/Dark monster. If Saronir is in hand, you use Saronir instead.
- Granguinol sends to GY from deck Bystial Saronir. (Or Albion the Shrouded Dragon)
- Bystial Saronir/Albion the Shrouded Dragon sends to GY Branded Retribution.
- Bystial Saronir/Albion the Shrouded Dragon sends to GY your Branded spell/trap card of choice.
- Banish Branded Retribution from GY to retrieve from GY your Branded spell/trap of choice.
Going first and uninterrupted, your opponent will likely contend with Mirrorjade's banish, a pop with Branded Beast, and a set Branded in Red. Depending on the hand, your opponent may also be dealing with Mercourier's monster negate, Dramaturge's monster negate, Masquerade's -600 burn, and Granguinol can summon Proskenion from the Extra Deck. Red-Eyes Dragoon can also be summoned, a much needed omni-negate that Branded needs. If you're lucky, you also have a facedown Super Polymerization - a devasting turn ending card if used at the right time. Your hand will likely also be sizeable and ready with follow-up for next turn since Cartesia, Alba-Lenatus and Albion generate resources during the end phase.
Going second, Branded can slog through interruption, pierce through boards and beat down your opponent's monsters with big beatsticks. Branded is naturally equipped with in-engine ways to play going second. Polymerization fusing into Guardian Chimera is a nigh-unstoppable juggernaut since it's effect is often chainblocked with the fusion material used for it's fusion summon and it is untargetable since you used Polymerization. If Branded Opening is on the field, it also can't be destroyed! Super Polymerization can fuse away most boards in today's meta, especially with Garura, only needing 2 monsters with the same type and attribute. Muddy Mudragon can fuse away your Kashtira opponent's Diablosis + Ariseheart as well! Against the rare Dragon deck, Albaz can contact fuse their problematic Dragons away like Borrload Savage Dragon and Crystal Wing into Alba-Lenatus. Alot of interruption these days involve flipping monsters facedown, destroying and banishing (For example, Traptrix, Labrynth, Ninja and Kashtira does this alot) - Branded is very comfortable with that since they can fuse face down monsters and shuffle back banished monsters with Lubellion to fusion summon.
- Try to bait out Ash Blossom by your many searches/summons from deck before you use Branded Fusion. If you don't have Branded Fusion, your opponent will likely hold Ash Blossom in their hand waiting for it, so you can bluff having the card to search/summon all you want!
- Branded lacks in-engine ways to remove backrow, except with Guardian Chimera. Backrow floodgates absolutely slaughter Branded, so if you're against an opponent using something like Rivalry of Warlords, it probably is time to proceed to next game! Be sure to side in backrow hate in those match-ups!
- Guardian Chimera is the best card to crack open established boards. With it's untargetability, beefy 3300ATK/DEF statline and non-targeting destruction, most boards fall to this offensive juggernaut. If your opponent negates Polymerization/Branded in Red to prevent Chimera from coming out, they have wasted a precious interaction paving the way for you to use Branded Fusion.
- Try to have Cartesia on board before you summon monsters on the field with important effects. Cartesia's quick effect fusion summon allows you to dodge common targeting negates like Impermanence and Effect Veiler.
- The best cards to side out is the Bystial package, especially when the match-up doesn't call for them (for ex. Traptrix/Kashtira don't have light/dark for Bystials to banish). Super Polymerization can also be sided out in certain matchups where your Super Poly targets don't work out.
- If Branded Lost is active, Fusion effect's activation cannot be negated. Cards that negate the activation like Baronne De Fleur, Borreload Savage Dragon and even Solemn Judgment cannot negate your Branded Fusion! Branded Lost is a perfect way to bait a negate or to guarantee your Fusion effect when you're against these threats.
- In certain common meta match-ups, Dragoon is untouchable by your opponent. If you can, try to summon Dragoon before you use key cards like Branded Fusion to guarantee it's resolution. Also, if you want to play around Nibiru, summon Dragoon before 5 summons. Dragoon is also your go-to answer when facing down Kashtira Ariseheart's macro-cosmos like floodgate and targeting banish.
- Want to see the deck in action? Scroll to the very bottom for the Youtube video!
The culmination of the "Abyss" storyline also coincides with the strongest form that Branded has ever fielded. All the support for Branded over the last couple years creates a consistent, strong and resilient deck. Naturally playing through established boards while having a robust grind game is only something that few decks can boast. To see for youself how this deck performs vs. meta, I highly recommend you see the deck in action by watching the Youtube video linked below!
Our hero, Albaz has faced his enemies to ultimately triumph through trials and adversity. Now, you can do the same thing as you pilot Branded!
GLHF Duelists!
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