However, Branded suffers from two major weaknesses: Ash Blossom (On esp. on Branded Fusion) and Nibiru. Lucklily, Nibiru doesn't get used much for now because it isn't very effective against Tearlaments and Spright, the two biggest meta threats. However, Ash Blossom is being used by 80%+ of decks played right now (According to Masterduel stats), especially because Maxx "C" basically renders Ash mandatory in top tier play.
This version of Branded somewhat alleviates Branded's weakness to ash by giving the pilot so much gas and plays to work with so that you can play through devastating handtraps and eventually out-resource your opponent! This "gas" variant of Branded can keep playing, even though Branded Fusion is negated!
Want to see the deck in action? Scroll to the very bottom for the Youtube video!
ARCHETYPES, ENGINES AND DECKBUILDING
This core of this deck is composed of the traditional Branded and Despia cards. 3 Tragedy is included as a banish target for Allure of Darkness (essentially a +1!). Due to the semi-limit of Branded Fusion, the third copy has been replaced by a Springans Kitt, who can search the card.
The Bystial package is relatively small, since there is hardly any space in the maindeck for staples. 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 protection/search power or Branded Regained as a potent resource generator with its +1 draw and summon from the GY of a Bystial monster.
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 2 targets each serve a distinct function. Albaz can break boards when summoned, and Albaz + Super Poly cracks most boards with ease. 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 by quick fusing them away.
The Maxx "C" package is played in this deck to both deter and abuse the win in the "Masterduel Maxx C minigame." Crossout Designator targets Ash, Maxx "C," Bystials, and Imperm which are the current most common handtraps.
3 Super Poly and its fusion targets are placed in the Extra deck, enabling the pilot to smash through established boards. Super Poly is a game deciding card on it's own in certain common match-ups, especially vs. Spright, Dragonlink and Tearlaments.
50 cards are used in this deck rather than around ~40 since every important piece (esp. Branded Fusion) is highly searchable 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, Spright Red, or on-board interruption. The only handtrap this deck really has difficulty with is Droll & Lockbird, and nobody really plays it in Masterduel in the current metagame.
COMBOS AND GAMEPLAN
This "Gas" variant of Branded is designed to play through your opponent's interruption to create gigantic fusion beatsticks and overwhelm with high ATK and massive resource generation. From testing during my ladder climb, I can say with confidence that most hands can play through Spright and Tearlament boards with due to it's draw power and board breaking capabilities. 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!
If Branded Fusion ends up being negated, the second best board you can make is double Masquerade the Blazing Dragon which is often doable due to the Polyermizations, Cartesia and excess of fusion material available to the pilot. Most decks would be hard-pressed to out double tax Dragons before 5 effects!
End boards are very hand dependant, but here are the mainline combos:
Branded Fusion + Dark Monster + Discard = Mirrorjade (banish), Bystial Lubellion + Branded Regained (+1 Draw, reborn Bystial from GY), 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 Regained. 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.
Aluber + Frightfur Patchwork = Mirrorjade (banish), Bystial Lubellion + Branded Lost (Search for Mercourier - monster negate), Set Branded in Red
- Activate Frightfur Patchwork, searching for Edge Imp Chain and Polyermization.
- Normal summon Aluber to search for Branded Fusion from deck.
- 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.
- Lubellion discards Edge Imp Chain and fusion summons Mirrorjade by shuffling back Albaz from banished pile and Lubellion the Searing Dragon on the field.
- Edge Imp Chain searches for another Frightfur Patchwork.
- Summon Bystial Lubellion from the GY by tributing Albion.
- Activate Lubellion's card effect to activate from deck Branded Lost.
- Activate Polymerization fusing Aluber + Lubellion to summon Masquerade the Blazing Dragon.
- Activate trigger effect of Branded Lost to search for Mercourier.
- 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.
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 Branded Regained's resource generation, and a set Branded in Red. Depending on the hand, your opponent may also be dealing with Mercourier's monster negate, Masquerade's -600 burn, and Granguinol can summon Proskenion from the Extra Deck. 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 follow-up during the end phase.
Going second, Branded can smash through boards and force it's way past interruption to beat down your opponent's monsters with high ATK fusion monsters. 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. A common ladder experience is fusing away your opponent's Spright Elf + Red/Carrot for Garura! Against the occasional Dragonlink deck, Albaz can contact fuse their problematic Dragons away like Borreload Savage Dragon and Borrelend Dragon into Alba-Lenatus. Just set Albaz and contact fuse everything away!
All the support for Branded over the last couple Masterduel packs creates a consistent, strong and resilient deck. Despite the semi-limit of the deck's crux - Branded Fusion, the deck is consistent and powerful enough to compete with the meta. Naturally playing through established boards while having a robust grind game is only something that few decks can boast, and now we have most of this support in Masterduel! 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 recreate the same experience as you pilot Branded all the way to Masters 1 in Masterduel ladder!
GLHF Duelists!
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