The arrival of the Masterduel pack "Beginning of the Next Journey" gives Albaz and friends the ability to extend EVEN FURTHER BEYOND the regular Branded strategy! Not only is Branded a fusion strategy, they are now a synchro deck!
All the end phase effects of the strategy coupled with the deck's new starlet - Guiding Quem, turn the end phase into what duelists jokingly call "Main Phase 3" due to the ridiculous combos that are now possible. Sure, Ash Blossom on Branded Fusion still hurts, but this deck isn't centralized on this starter anymore - Branded can do so much more now! Synchro plays are available with the new floodgate trap card Branded Etude, allowing the pilot to synchro summon a level 10 synchro monster during your opponent's turn like Baronne De Fleur. Nadir Servant is granted enhanced usefulness as well, with its new target to send to the GY "Despian Luluwalilith." In the GY, she is able to summon either Cartesia (fusion on opponent's turn) or Quem (combo piece) in the end phase!
It is safe to say that with the new support, Branded does not wholly rely on Branded Fusion anymore (even though it's still essential) and it can do a wide variety of other plays. Extension and different combo routes Quem and Luluwalilith offer allow the strategy to extend even after Nibiru, Maxx "C" Droll and Ash Blossom - four common and debilitating handtraps that would usually end your turn. Although your singular Branded Fusion is still extremely important to resolve, Branded can do so much more with Nadir Servant and Synchro plays!
ARCHETYPES AND DECKBUILDING
This variant of Branded is played "pure" only using cards that are native and related to the archetype.
Other supplementary fusion support engines like Superpoly, Frightfur or King of the Swamp are not used, since room is needed for the Maxx "C" package. Unfortunately, the Maxx "C" package is mandatory if a deck wants to get far in Masterduel Ladder. With your rival's weakened board, you can usually break through with the Branded cards themselves.
A sizeable portion of the deck are Bystials and their related cards, since they simultaneously act as starters, combo pieces and handtraps for the deck. Although Bystials aren't as effective since many common metagame threats aren't light or dark attribute (Kashtira and Vanquish Soul), they are still essential to the Branded strategy. Also, level 6s Bystials are perfect for synchro summoning Baronne!
Dramaturge of Despia and Ad Libitum of Despia are replaced by two Quem, since the decks combos have changed dramatically since her introduction. Since Quem always counts as a "Despia" card, she will can also be summoned with Branded Opening. Quem also counts as a "Dogmatika" card, so she can be summoned if Titaniklad is sent to the GY.
Depite it's Extra Deck lock, Nadir Servant now serves as an extender and starter for Branded, eventually searching/summoning both Cartesia and Quem by the End Phase through the dump of Luluwalilith. Even if Branded Fusion gets negated, Nadir Servant allows the Branded player to continue extending and to fusion summon during the opponent's turn.
6 cards make Branded fusion directly searchable (2 Aluber, 2 Branded Opening, 1 Springans Kitt and 1 Branded Fusion). In hands where Cartesia, Albion the Shrouded Dragon and Bystial Saronir are present, the duelist can also search any Branded card, including Branded Fusion. This combo makes Branded Fusion readily accessible in most opening hands (50 cards aren't bricky, and they're optimal I swear! COPIUM ).
COMBOS AND GAMEPLAN
As usual, the Branded strategy revolves around resolving Branded Fusion and summoning giant beatsticks with interruptions on field while generating immense resource advantage to outgrind your opponent. After allowed to resolve all your effects, you probably will have 5-7 cards in hand at the conclusion of End Phase!
Quem and Luluwalilith's entry into the Branded strategy grants this deck increased flexibility and resilience. The deck can play through handtraps that would normally end a turn like Ash Blossom and Nibiru. Nadir Servant is almost as impactful as Branded Fusion, since it represents both Cartesia and Quem on board.
Depending on the quality of the hand, what cards you start with and the interruptions from your opponent, the Branded player's board will vary. Here are the combos for post "Beginning of the Next Journey" Branded Synchro:
ULTIMATE BRANDED COMBO aka the famous "Main Phase 3" --------- Aluber + Bystial Magnamhut + Any Card:
= Mirrorjade (Banish), Quem (Reborn Mirrorjade for another Banish), Cartesia (Fusion summon Granguignol + Mirrorjade into Dragostapelia's monster negate), Granguignol (Summon Luluwalilith for negate), Branded Etude (Bystial + Cartesia = Baronne) (Banish Floodgate), Mercourier (Monster Negate).
- Normal summon Aluber. Search Branded Fusion.
- Activate Branded Fusion to summon Rindbrumm, sending Albaz + Mercourier.
- Activate Magnamhut targeting Mercourier in the GY, banishing it.
- CL1 Mercourier (searching Cartesia) and CL2 Magnumhut to search dragon in End Phase.
- Activate Cartesia to summon to field since Albaz is in GY. Activate Cartesia to fusion summon Granguignol using herself + Aluber.
- Granguignol effect sends from Extra Deck Sprind to the GY.
- Proceed to End Phase (Now the REAL combo begins!). Retrieve Cartesia from GY. Magnamhut searches for Saronir.
- Sprind summons from deck Springans Kitt. Kitt searches for Branded in High Spirits from deck and places any card in hand to bottom of deck.
- Activate Branded in High Spirits revealing and discarding Saronir in hand and sending Titaniklad from Extra Deck to GY. High Spirits then adds Mercourier to hand. In a new chain, the discarded Saronir sends Branded Retribution to GY.
- Titaniklad summons from deck Quem. Quem sends to GY Branded in Red.
- Activate Branded Retribution in GY to retrieve Branded in Red from GY to hand.
- Activate Branded in Red targeting Albaz in GY. Fusion summon Lubellion using Albaz + Kitt.
- CL1 Lubellion to fusion summon Mirrorjade shuffling itself + Albaz back into the decks by discarding Cartesia, CL2 Quem to summon Cartesia from GY.
- Activate Mirrorjade's effect to send to GY Albion. In a new chain, activate Rindbrumm's effect to negate Mirrorjade's effect (so you can still use its banish effect next turn) then you can bounce Magnamhut back to hand so you can re-use it next turn.
- Albion sets Branded Etude from deck.
This is the ultimate combo that Branded is capable of post-CYAC!
Potential two non-targeting banishes with Mirrorjade because Quem can reborn Mirrorjade from the GY. Cartesia can fusion summon Granguignol + Mirrorjade for Dragostapelia for a monster negate. Granguignol can summon Luluwalilith from Extra Deck, which is another negate. Magnumhut can banish from either player's GY their light/dark monster. Baronne De Fleur can be synchro summoned through Branded Etude using Cartesia/Quem + Magnamhut for an omni-negate. Finally, Mercourier can negate a monster effect. That's a whopping potential SEVEN interruptions for your opponent!
If your opponent hasn't surrendered to your onslaught, you have so much follow-up for next turn's counter-offensive! Mirrorjade has dumped Albion, searching for you any Branded card in the end phase. Cartesia returns to your hand. Branded in High Spirits returns to hand as well. Magnamhut searches any Dragon from deck. Your hand will likely be 5-7 cards after your End Phase!
BRANDED FUSION GOT ASHED/NEGATED! --------- Quem/Cartesia + Nadir Servant + Any Card (Discard) = Quem + Cartesia + Mirrorjade + Branded Fusion and another Branded card as follow-up.
- Branded Fusion got ASHED. Have no fear! Summon Quem/Cartesia. If you summoned Quem, send to GY any Branded card. Branded Retribution is ideal here, so you can retrieve your Branded Fusion to use when its your turn again.
- Activate Nadir Servant, sending Luluwalilith to GY and search for Albaz.
- Proceed to End Phase. Summon Cartesia/Quem (whichever one you're missing) from deck with the effect of Luluwalilith.
- During your opponent's Main Phase, activate Cartesia's effect to fuse Cartesia + Albaz in hand for Albion.
- CL1 Albion's effect to fuse into Mirrorjade, using Albaz and Luluwalilith in Grave. CL2 Quem's effect to summon Cartesia from graveyard.
While getting your Branded Fusion negated isn't ideal, with Nadir Servant and the new support, it is still possible to make Mirrorjade during your opponent's turn! Not only that, you obtain follow up by recycling Branded Fusion in GY with Branded Retribution. As your Mirrorjade banishes a monster on field, it will also dump Albion to the GY grabbing you more follow-up (Any Branded Card) for next turn! With this combo, a negated Branded Fusion isn't the end of the duel for the Branded pilot.
GENERAL TIPS
- Due to the excess of tuners on board, sometimes it is better to follow up on the counterattack not with Branded Fusion (since it locks you into fusions), but with synchro summons. Lvl 6 Bystial + Cartesia/Quem make Baronne, while any level 8 dragon + Cartesia/Quem makes Luluwalilith! Both these ladies push for OTK very easily, with Baronne's pop and Lulu's fieldwide ATK boost.
- Don't underestimate Etude of the Branded coupled with a Bystial on board since it can ruin some unprepared strategies if they can't out either card. Banishing opponent's material used for Ritual, Fusion, Synchro and Link summons renders meta decks like Tearlament and Mathmech near unplayable!
- With Quem both and Mirrorjade on board, you can actually use Mirrorjade's banish effect twice in the same turn! After Mirrorjade leaves the field (most likely used as Synchro/Fusion material) Quem can re-summon Mirrorjade from the GY so it can banish once again!
- To make your board immune to Nibiru as you combo, try to obtain Mercourier early. If you already have Branded Fusion, search Branded Lost instead so when you fusion summon, you can get Mercourier.
- Be mindful you only have two Albaz in deck. Try to recycle (Lubellion/Branded Lost) and shuffle it back into deck as much as possible so you can keep using Branded Fusion.
CONCLUDING REMARKS
Albaz finally did it. He triumphed over his enemies with the power of friendship and love (classic "shounen" anime moment lol)! For the time being, the nefarious Aluber and crew take a break, having their goals accomplished. With that, the support for Branded reaches its apex with Masterduel's "Beginning of the Next Journey" pack (until season 2 of "Branded" comes out)!
The incredible conclusion of the Abyss Storyline brings some incredible cards to the Branded strategy. Quem enabling "main phase 3" and other combo routes propels the deck to even higher power levels than ever before so it can fight toe-to-toe with Masterduel meta heavyweights such as Kashtira, Purrely, Mathmech and Vanquish Soul. Just like how Albaz and friends overcame adversity, suffering and trials, you can overcome your opponent with the powerful new tools Branded received!
GLHF Duelists!
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