Want to see the deck in action? Scroll to the very bottom for the Youtube video!
ARCHETYPES, ENGINES AND DECKBUILDING
Red Dragon Archfiend is optimally played with the Bystial cards, since they support each other exceptionally well.
The RED DRAGON ARCHFIEND cards comprise the main core of this deck, comprising of 18 cards. Your 10 one card combo starters are x3 Soul Resonator, x3 Resonator Call, x3 Crimson Gaia and x1 Foolish Burial (Send Vision Resonator, search Crimson Gaia). You have 6 conditional two card combo starters and they are x3 Vision Resonator (has to be sent to GY to search Crimson Gaia, starting combo) and x3 Bone Archfiend (sends to GY Vision Resonator, searching Crimson Gaia, starting combo).
The BYSTIAL cards comprise the main core of this deck, comprising of 8 cards. The Bystial cards fulfill many functions - they are resource generation, interruption, extenders, beatsticks and combo pieces. Branded Regained and Branded Beast are incredible cards to have in the backrow and have inherent synergy with Red Dragon Archfiend synchro monsters. In the sidedeck, you have a searchable floodgate Branded Etude which acts as a "Macro Cosmos," banishing your opponent's material for an Extra Deck/Ritual summon.
The rest of the cards are STAPLE cards. TT Talent, TT Thrust, Called By, Ash Blossoms, Imperms function very well in this meta due to the prevalence of handtraps. Droplet is used since Kashtira Ariseheart is gone and Red Dragon Archfiend/Bystial cards love being sent to the GY.
In the SIDE DECK x3 Crossouts with it's respective targets are present since your opponents are likely to side in Droll (Droll hurts this deck a lot) and Dimensional Barrier in games 2/3. Archfiend Eccentrick is searchable S/T destruction with Soul Resonator. Red Resonator is used to win in time since it gains you lifepoints (yeah that's right this card is used competitively in a non-Spright deck for once). x3 Anti-Spell is the strongest card this deck can use going first, since it doesn't conflict directly with the spells in this strategy.
COMBOS AND GAMEPLAN
Being a synchro deck, Red Dragon Archfiend is inherently combo-focused. This strategy features several combos, and they are resilient and can pivot to another direction depending on the gamestate (For example, this deck can play through high impact handtraps like Nibiru, or if certain chokepoints like Red Rising Dragon and Crimson Resonator are negated/interrupted). This strategy has many combos, but I'll just feature the three I like to use.
Here is the deck's bread-and-butter 1 card combo:
Crimson Gaia = Bystial Dispater (Monster negate or destroy) + Hot Red Dragon Archfiend (Omni-negate any card on opponent's field) + Red Zone (Targeted destuction, summons Dark Dragon Synchro from banished) + Crimson Gaia (follow-up search and summons Red Dragon Archfiend if a monster is destroyed) + Soul Resonator in GY (destruction protection) + Bone Archfiend in GY (follow-up) + Synkron Resonator (follow-up).
- Activate Crimson Gaia. Search Soul Resonator.
- Normal summon Soul Resonator. Search Bone Archfiend.
- Special summon Bone Archfiend from hand by sending a card from hand/field to GY. (For a true 1 card combo, you'd send Crimson Gaia, but typically you have other cards in hand to send since it is ideal to keep Crimson Gaia on field).
- Activate Bone Archfiend's level modification effect targeting Soul Resonator reducing it's level by 1 making level 2. Send from deck to GY Crimson Resonator. (If Crimson Resonator is already in GY, send Uvualoop instead).
- Synchro summon Red Rising Dragon using Bone Archfiend + Soul Resonator.
- Red Rising Dragon summons from GY Crimson Resonator.
- Activate Crimson Resonator's effect to summon Vision Resonator and Synkron Resonator from deck.
- Synchro summon Scarred Dragon Archfiend using Crimson Resonator + Red Rising Dragon.
- Synchro summon Bystial Dispater using Scarred Dragon Archfiend + Vision Resonator.
- CL1 Vision Resonator to search Red Zone, CL2 Scarred Dragon Archfiend to special summon (counts as synchro summon) Red Dragon Archfiend from Extra Deck.
- Synchro summon Hot Red Dragon Archfiend using Red Dragon Archfiend + Synkron Resonator.
- Activate Synkron Resonator's effect to add from GY a resonator from GY (Soul Resonator for follow-up next turn or Vision Resonator tuner extender).
- Summon any other extenders, summon additional Dark Synchro Dragon monsters (Tyrant Red Dragon Archfiend can negate S/T during battle phase, like Evenly Matched or summon another Scarred Dragon since it floats and is "Red Dragon Archfiend" on the field turning on Red Zone). Set your spells/traps, especially Red Zone.
Even if your opponent manages to clear your entire field, your GY is set up with Bone Archfiend and your hand has Soul Resonator + more so you can repeat the same thing next turn. I'd say this deck's combo potential, resource generation and explosive power is comparable to Dragonlink!
Here is what to do if you've been Nibiru'd. This requires extenders in the form of Bone Archfiend and any Bystial.
HELP! (I'VE BEEN NIBIRU'D!) Crimson Gaia + Bystial + Bone Archfiend = Bystial Dispater (Monster negate or destroy) + Scarred Dragon Archfiend (Presence on-field turns on Red Zone, floats into OG Red Dragon Archfiend), Red Zone (Targeted destuction, summons Dark Dragon Synchro from banished) + Crimson Gaia (follow-up search and summons Red Dragon Archfiend if a monster is destroyed) + Soul Resonator in GY (destruction protection) + Bone Archfiend in GY (follow-up) + Synkron Resonator (follow-up).
- Activate Crimson Gaia. Search Soul Resonator.
- Normal summon Soul Resonator. Search Obsessive Uvualoop.
- Special summon Bone Archfiend from hand by sending a card from hand/field to GY. (For a true 1 card combo, you'd send Crimson Gaia, but typically you have other cards in hand to send since it is ideal to keep Crimson Gaia on field).
- Activate Bone Archfiend's level modification effect targeting Soul Resonator reducing it's level by 1 making level 2. Send from deck to GY Crimson Resonator. (If Crimson Resonator is already in GY, send Uvualoop instead).
- Synchro summon Red Rising Dragon using Bone Archfiend + Soul Resonator.
- Red Rising Dragon summons from GY Crimson Resonator.
- Activate Crimson Resonator's effect to summon Vision Resonator and Synkron Resonator from deck. (AT THIS POINT, TYPICALLY OPPONENTS NIBIRU SINCE THIS IS THE 5TH SUMMON)
- CL1 Synkron Resonator to add Vision Resonator back to hand, CL2 Vision Resonator to search Red Zone.
- Special summon Bystial, banishing Crimson Resonator from GY.
- Special summon Vision Resonator from hand, since you control a level 5 or higher monster (the Bystial).
- Special summon Uvualoop from hand, banishing Red Rising Dragon in GY.
- Synchro summon Bystial Dis Pater using Bystial + Uvualoop.
- Activate Bystial Dis Pater's effect to special summon from banished Red Rising Dragon.
- Synchro summon Scarred Dragon Archfiend using Vision Resonator + Red Rising Dragon.
- Summon any other extenders, summon additional Dark Synchro Dragon monsters (Tyrant Red Dragon Archfiend can negate S/T during battle phase, like Evenly Matched or summon another Scarred Dragon since it floats and is "Red Dragon Archfiend" on the field turning on Red Zone). Set your spells/traps, especially Red Zone.
The endboard isn't as good as the first combo since you've been interrupted by Nibiru, but it's more or less the same! Everything is present except for Hot Red Dragon Archfiend's on-field omni-negate.
One of the best endboards, featuring Bystial Lubellion and the one card combo:
Bystial Lubellion + Crimson Gaia = Bystial Dispater (Monster negate or destroy) + Hot Red Dragon Archfiend (Omni-negate any card on opponent's field) + Scarred Dragon Archfiend (Presence on-field turns on Red Zone, floats into OG Red Dragon Archfiend) + Red Zone (Targeted destuction, summons Dark Dragon Synchro from banished) + Crimson Gaia (follow-up search and summons Red Dragon Archfiend if a monster is destroyed) + Soul Resonator in GY (destruction protection) + Bone Archfiend in GY (follow-up) + Synkron Resonator (follow-up) + Branded Beast (Targeted destruction) + Branded Regained (+1 draw when a card is banished, summon Bystial from GY).
- Activate Crimson Gaia. Search Soul Resonator.
- Normal summon Soul Resonator. Search Bone Archfiend.
- Special summon Bone Archfiend from hand by sending a card from hand/field to GY. (For a true 1 card combo, you'd send Crimson Gaia, but typically you have other cards in hand to send since it is ideal to keep Crimson Gaia on field).
- Activate Bone Archfiend's level modification effect targeting Soul Resonator reducing it's level by 1 making level 2. Send from deck to GY Crimson Resonator. (If Crimson Resonator is already in GY, send Uvualoop instead).
- Synchro summon Red Rising Dragon using Bone Archfiend + Soul Resonator.
- Red Rising Dragon summons from GY Crimson Resonator.
- Activate Crimson Resonator's effect to summon Vision Resonator and Synkron Resonator from deck.
- Synchro summon Scarred Dragon Archfiend using Crimson Resonator + Red Rising Dragon.
- Activate Bystial Lubellion's effect to search for Bystial Saronir.
- Activate Bystial Saronir's effect to summon itself banishing Crimson Resonator from GY.
- Summon Lubellion from GY tributing Scarred Dragon Archfiend.
- Activate Scarred Dragon Archfriend's effect to special summon (counts as synchro summon) Red Dragon Archfiend from Extra Deck.
- Activate Lubellion's effect to place Branded Beast on your backrow.
- Synchro summon Bystial Dispater using Bystial Lubellion + Vision Resonator.
- Vision Resonator searches Red Zone since it was sent to GY.
- Synchro summon Hot Red Dragon Archfiend using Red Dragon Archfiend + Synkron Resonator.
- Activate Synkron Resonator's effect to add from GY a resonator from GY (Soul Resonator for follow-up next turn or Vision Resonator tuner extender).
- Synchro summon a second Scarred Dragon Archfiend using Bystial Saronir + Crimson Resonator.
- Activate Saronir's effect in the GY since it left the field. Send Branded Regained to the GY.
- Summon any other extenders, summon additional Dark Synchro Dragon monsters (Tyrant Red Dragon Archfiend can negate S/T during battle phase, like Evenly Matched or summon another Scarred Dragon since it floats and is "Red Dragon Archfiend" on the field turning on Red Zone). Set your spells/traps, especially Red Zone.
- In the End Phase, Branded Beast places Branded Regained on your backrow.
As you can see, there are many combos and variants in the Red Dragon Archfiend deck. There are more combos than listed in this strategy guide, but I only featured three. I suggest you check out other Youtube videos, practice for yourself, and cook your own playstyles! There is so much complexity and potential that this powerful strategy can now do!
GENERAL TIPS
- Good cards to consider for the side deck that this deck can abuse is Eradicator Epidemic Virus (and the other virus cards), since it's an insta-win vs. certain decks.
- Red Dragon Archfiend's usual endboard can negate Dark Ruler No More and Forbidden Droplet (if they didn't send a trap)! When your opponent activates Dark Ruler/Droplet, CL2 Red Zone to pop a card, then CL3 Hot Red Dragon Archfiend's effect to negate the card. Pretty snazzy eh? Not every deck can use a monster to negate Dark Ruler/Droplet!
- Try to leave Soul Resonator in the GY after your combo, it is destruction protection while you control any synchro monster that mentions Red Dragon Archfiend!
- Try to set up your banished pile with a card so that Bystial Dispater can at least use it's destruction effect! Sometimes depending on your cards Bystial Dispater's destroy/negation effect won't be live. The best cards to set up the banished piles are Bystials and Obsessive Uvualoop.
- Obsessive Uvualoop is an incredible extender in this deck. It's also searchable as part of this deck's combo (for example, if you already have Crimson Resonator, you can search for Uvualoop). This card can banish multiple synchro monsters at the end of the regular combo so that Dispater can summon them from the banished pile, while setting up Dispater's destroy/negation!
- Bystials do an incredible job of cracking boards and forcing interaction from your opponent. Resolve Bystial cards first before moving on to your main combo! Remember, all you have to do is resolve Crimson Gaia/Soul Resonator and you're off to the races!
Want to see the deck in action? Scroll to the very bottom for the Youtube video!
CONCLUDING COMMENTARY
Make competitive use of your x3 "Crimson King" structure deck and your opponents will feel your ABSOLUTE POWERFORCE!
Konami has really been killing it with strong structure decks in the TCG - with the deck strong enough for competition almost right out ot the box! My additions to the structure deck cards aim to make Red Dragon Archfiend as competitive as possible with the Bystial engine and plethora of staples designed to counter the current meta.
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