Panda the Manipulator

(Update-I: There have been many changes in Main Deck and Extra Deck. With this revision, you can save up a lot of SR/UR points. You can draw tons of cards from your Main Deck. Plan is still the same when it comes to Number 43, no need to think about Yajiro shenanigans.)

Hey! Ever wanted to try Manipulator FTK but couldn't due to lack of resources? Maybe, you wanted to try with "Treasure Panda" but had no idea how. Either way, I'm here to show you. Let's jump into it:

- Before starting up, here are some key cards you need to learn...

• Earthbound Greater Linewalker: This card will set the opponent's LP to 3000, if we Normal Summon "Earthbound Immortal Cusillu". To workaround with, you need to play Double Summon >>> Cusillu combo. You need to Tribute two monsters to Normal Summon Cusillu. I must warn you that after you have set your opponent's LP to 3000, you should never play any "Upstart Goblin" card or you will mess up big time.
• XYZ Gift: Although it's nice to draw 2 cards, the main reason I put this card is to detach all materials from Number 13 to bring forth Number 43 with Rank-Up-Magic Launch. Don't forget to have Number 60 alongside Number 13 or you can't detach all materials from Number 13.
• The Phantom Knights' Rank-Up-Magic Launch: Speaking of this card, in order to bring forth Number 43, you need to detach all materials from Number 13 due to Rank-Up-Magic Launch's summoning restrictions. After you have played "XYZ Gift", you can play Rank-Up-Magic Launch to bring forth 1 Dark XYZ that is 1 Rank higher. See the pattern? If not, here you go:
  • Number 13 >>> Rank 1 Dark monster
  • Number 43 >>> Rank 2 Dark monster
  • The Phantom Knights' Rank-Up-Magic Launch >>> Number 13 >>> Number 43 is the combo.

- Let's have a look at all kinds of Synchro Summon combinations:

1) If you open up with Monk >>> Panda, this is how you can play with...

• Assuming that you have always spells to draw, this is how: Monk + Tuner = Librarian >>> Tuner + Non-Tuner = Formula >>> Formula + Non-Tuner = Martial >>> Martial brings Formula >>> Formula + Non-Tuner = Integrator >>> Martial + Integrator = Stardust >>> Stardust (Tuner due to Martial) + Non-Tuner = Ancient >>> Ancient pulls Level 1 Tuner >>> Ancient + Tuner = Accel >>> Accel pulls Formula >>> Formula + Non-Tuner = Shamisen >>> Shamisen + Non-Tuner = Cthugua >>> Bring Shamisen back onto the battlefield and shuffle Formula >>> Shamisen + Non-Tuner = Cthugua >>> Cthugua + Cthugua = Number 60 >>> Draw four cards with Number 40!
• Assuming that there is a chance you might brick, this is how: Monk + (Tuner + Non-Tuner = Formula) = Stardust >>> Stardust + Tuner = Ancient >>> Ancient pulls Panda/Monk to continue the chain with Librarian and other Synchro monsters.

2) If you start only with Panda, this is how you can play with:

• Tuner + Non-Tuner = Formula >>> Formula + Non-Tuner = Martial >>> Martial brings Formula >>> Formula + Non-Tuner = Integrator >>> Martial + Integrator = Stardust >>> Stardust (Tuner due to Martial) + Non-Tuner = Ancient >>> Ancient pulls Panda/Monk to continue the chain with Librarian and other Synchro monsters.

- Now is the time to illustrate with pictures for the big setup...

1) Have all combo pieces ready:

• As explained above, in order to place Number 43 on the battlefield, you have to detach all materials from Number 13. Make sure you don't deck-out while doing so and have both Number 13 and Number 60 present on the battlefield.
• Have "Rank-Up-Magic Launch" + "Mystik Wok" in-hand. Don't set any by accident because they are Quick-Play Spells.
• "Mystic Wok" will be utilized alongside "Psychic Blade". So, don't forget to have Blade with you.

2) Afterwards, play Rank-Up-Magic Launch >>> Number 13 >>> Number 43 combo. This is where you can start blasting:

• When Number 43 is placed, boost any minion but Number 43 with "Psychic Blade". Pay the highest value to reach the lethal range.
• Then, play "Mystik Wok" to tribute it. Select the highest value to your preference to finish your opponent with "Number 43: Manipulator of Souls".
• On a side note, I noticed that same combination can be also done with "Temple of the Kings" + "Aegis of Gaia" cards. You can check them in "Side Deck" section.

3) Congratulations, you win the game!

• If you want to watch it in action, click here!

Although I made this deck really budget friendly, there are some cards I would like to mention because they really worked well during the testing:

• Daigusto Emeral: Small variant of "Pot of Avarice" with a XYZ body, where you can shuffle 3 x Level 1 dudes and draw a card. Emeral can be proven to be very useful because you are drawing lots of card so fast that Panda might need extra charges. You can pull two of them with Panda to XYZ Summon Number 13 for future applications. In addition, shuffling more cards prevent you from deck-out and activating "XYZ Gift" without any hassle. Though it costs UR to craft, you can replace him with Number 60.
• Moray of Avarice: Expensive version of "Advance Draw", which costs UR to craft. Although you can't play "Advance Draw" right at the beginning of the game, you can gladly do so with "Moray of Avarice" if the opportunity arises. If you are planning to add "Moray of Avarice", just add one more "Water Spirit" and you are good to go.
• Space Cyclone: There can be times where you couldn't have both Number 13 and Number 60. Or, your deck has less than two cards. Either way, that means you can't detach all mats from Number 13 via "XYZ Gift" because its condition requires your opponent to have a monster placed in Defense Position to change into Attack Position and you can detach only 1 material. In that case, play two of "Space Cyclone" on Number 13 and you can play "Rank-Up-Magic Launch" no problem.
• Ghostrick Dullahan: Expensive version of Number 13, costing UR, where you can detach a mat at will. You will still need one "Space Cyclone", though. In Master Duel, there are three Rank 1 XYZ Dark Monsters which require 2 x Level 1 monsters to XYZ Summon. They are Dullahan + Number 13 + Number 31. Since the condition of Number 13 and Number 31 is the same, that leaves Dullahan the only option to just use one "Space Cyclone" not two. However, as mentioned previously, you do need to spend UR materials.

What a manipulative finish! Time to recover some SR/UR points lost during the conversion:

- "Into the Void" can be found within "The Infinite Void" Secret Pack to save 90 SR!

- "Pot of Avarice" can be collected by purchasing "Re-Contact Universe" deck. 90 SR saved and you can try a new deck!

- "Wonder Wand" and "Spellbook of Knowledge" can be collected by purchasing "Spellbook of Prophecy" deck. 120 SR saved and you can try a new deck!

- "Link Bound" is given for free, if you have picked "Link Generation". Thus, 30 SR is saved!

- "Number 60: Dugares the Timeless" can be found within "Number Recall" Secret Pack to save 30 SR!

- "Formula Synchron" can be found within "Stardust Ties" Secret Pack to save 60 SR!

- "T.G. Hyper Librarian" can be found within "Futuristic Creatures" Secret Pack to save 30 UR.

So, in total, you can save up to 420 SR and 30 UR, if you are willing to spend some gems. Other SR and UR cards I didn't mention are essential.

That's all for this one. Let me know if you have any questions and have fun in Master Duel!