Revival of the Nekroz – A Beginner’s Guide

Revival of the Nekroz – A Beginner’s Guide

Remember when Nekroz of Brionac price tag was spiking at circa $150-$200 back in 2015? At that time, advanced format was dominated by the Nekroz Archetype, before Konami decided to enter the stage with a flood of bans, in a successful attempt to rebalance the metagame.

As time went by and game evolved, new sets were released with ever greater cards each time, ultimately leading Konami to reconsider its banlist, and set free the Nekroz top cards one after the other: Shurit … Brionac … until very recently, when Nekroz of Unicore finally got back to three!

Now that the deck can (almost) be played at full power, I thought it would be interesting to share some knowledge on the Nekroz mechanics & strategies, that may seem a bit obscure at first glance. Hence this extensive guide covering various aspects of the deck, as well as some insight on my personal build. Hope you like it.



Foreword:

Nowadays, there is a widespread decklist of the Nekroz that is often featured on Youtube. I invite you to check the following link first, in order to see by yourself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-tBsd1JpOg. Admittedly, this variant is much more explosive thanks to its insane 1-card combo generating an impressive card advantage. However, despite the “hype”, and after having extensively tested both versions, I still think the Impcantation build is better. Let me briefly outline the main reasons behind this statement:

• Deskbot 003, the combo starter, is not searchable: if you do not draw it, you drastically decrease your chances of winning the duel because your entire build is oriented (artificially skewed) towards this particular combo, and therefore less efficient in every other scenario.


• Tons of hard bricks: two Deskbot 001, one Mecha Phantom Beast Coltwing, and one Archlord Kristya (to a lesser extent), and you still need to play with a 40-card deck if you want to open Deskbot 003 more often. There is a 42.71% probability to open at least one brick in your starting hand (4 bricks / proba going first / 5 cards in hand), and still a 33.76% proba if you do not count Kristya. That means at least one out of 3 starting hands, which is not negligible.


• Destroyed by hand trap: if the combo is shut down only once, it is “end of turn”. Deskbot 003 into Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring = “GG” and I am not being sarcastic. Some will say: “yes but it is the same for any combo if stopped properly, right?”. Not quite actually, many combos rely on various extenders and can still survive a hand trap, while other can at least adapt themselves and achieve decent end boards while being disrupted. There is no such possibility in this case.


• Nibiru incoming: Even though the combo includes a Herald of the Arc Light early on (negate ability), it is still too late to avoid Nibiru, the Primal Being, which will not hesitate to crush your board whenever it can.


• The deck needs to run 3x Called by the Grave to protect against Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring. Should you want to have a “high” chance to go through your entire combo, you would need Deskbot 003 + CBG in hand (both not searchable). This leads to a probability of only 23.72% of drawing them (going first / 5 cards in hand), meaning 1 chance out of 4. Adding the proba of being Nibiru’ed, it does not fly… And you also have to take into account this combo can almost only be performed going first (would be countered otherwise) which once again reduces your chances of achieving it.


• Conclusion: this really is a trade-off scenario: are you willing to sacrifice stability for a powerful combo which will most likely win you the game if properly conducted? I would say this is a high risk/high reward dilemma, but I myself would rather bet on consistency on the long run. Overall, too many flaws in my opinion that drastically decrease the real chances of going through your combo.

If you disagree, I would very much like to hear your thoughts in the comments section below!

That being said, let me guide you through the mysteries of the Nekroz…

 

Strengths:

Unmatchable Search Engine: It is so powerful… it might even destabilize beginners who won’t know where to start! Nekroz of Brionac, on its own, enables you to access ANY Nekroz card, either directly, or through another layer of search thanks to Nekroz of Clausolas. Let’s not forget Nekroz of Unicore’s second ability, which can also retrieve from grave by discarding itself.

Consistent as Hell: Add the “Impcantation” package and ridiculous spells such as Preparation of Rites to the Nekroz core engine, and you get a deck thanks to which pretty much any hand can get you what you want. I really mean it, the deck is so stable (no bricks at all), you will often feel overwhelmed by the plethora of options available to you.

Absolute Power Plays: Nekroz of Unicore & Nekroz of Trishula effects are game changers: Trishula will grant you a huge card advantage while Unicore’s Extra-Deck Lock will shut down most of the strategies of your opponent if not dealt with.

Highly Versatile: You can choose whether you prefer to go 1st or 2nd… and that is pure luxury! I certainly built this deck with a “going 2nd” approach in mind (even though Vanity's Ruler is a turn 1 option), but you can aslo decide to start the duel if you feel the need to, depending on the deck you are facing. This build can clearly adapt and compete in both scenarios.

Very Resilient: So many searchers in the deck = not too difficult to sail through a sea of negates & interruptions while developing your strategy “seamlessly”. Many ways to bait your opponent & resolve crucial cards.

Double Trouble! Nekroz have a huge impact on board, that’s for sure. What if I told you they can be even better when kept in hand? All Nekroz come up with two effects: one that activates on the field, and the second one from hand. Nekroz of Trishula negates effects that target your other Nekroz monsters, while Nekroz of Valkyrus acts like a Battle Fader, ending the battle phase right after being discarded, an ability that will help you a lot to stall the game and buy some time.



Weaknesses:

Ritual Summoning Condition: Obviously, Ritual Summon is not the easiest way to summon a monster in Yu-Gi-Oh. And the restrictive conditions regarding the level of the tributes will force you to think twice before making a move. Fortunately, Impcantations are a blessing for this deck (and any other ritual-based deck) and make it much easier to summon your favorites creatures!

Search-Lock Effects: I said in the previous section that this deck worked a bit like an open bar, where you can pick any card you want with ease. However, every Nekroz player loathes cards that prevent you from searching directly from deck. Droll & Lock Bird or Mistake, to name a few, will haunt your worst nightmares…! In the current metagame (July 2020 – MR5) dominated by Adamancipator and Eldlich, these cards are not prevalent (even in sides), so don’t worry too much.

Over-Passivity: On your opponent’s turn, you can defend yourself, but you cannot actively interrupt his/her plays with the Nekroz engine at all. You will rely on your “going 2nd” cards and hand traps to do so. You have no negates available, no removal that can be activated during his/her turn.

No Signature Trap? If you read Nekroz cards carefully, you probably noticed some of them mentioned traps in their description (such as Clausolas), but no Nekroz trap has ever been released so far. Maybe Konami thought it was not necessary considering the huge impact of the archetype on the game when it first came out. Nowadays though, almost every archetype as its negating trap, and I would be glad if Nekroz had one. Famous examples are: Toon Terror, Salamangreat Roar, Orcust Crescendo etc…

 

Strategy:

Main Objective: Nekroz of Unicore + Vanity’s Ruler on board --> Prevent your opponent from special summoning + Negate all effects of monsters summoned from the Extra Deck // Trishula + Valkyrus in hand --> Protection from targeting effects (Trishula Negate ability) & Protection from battle (Valkyrus ends battle phase).

Most often, you will want to ritual summon Nekroz of Unicore with Nekroz Kaleidoscope, sending a Herald of the Arc Light to the grave in order to add any ritual card directly from your deck to your hand. I would consider this play as the main generic move you will surely repeat over and over, against a great variety of deck, when playing Nekroz.

If your opponent does not use the Extra Deck (Monarch Archetype for instance), change of plan: obviously, you should go 2nd against such decks, BUT, if your opponent lets you start, THEN: try to XYZ Nekroz of Unicore + Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands for a rank 4 play --> I suggest Number 41: Bagooska the Terribly Tired Tapir. And make sure you end the turn with Valk in hand. Bagooska will prevent any monster effect from activating on the field, and Valk will keep your health points safe. Do not try to build any sort of “Nekroz-related” board (Brionac or Clausolas or Valkyrus or anything else on turn one), it is useless. Your powerful Nekroz are meant to be unleashed on turn 2. Protect yourself, try to stay alive one more turn, and only start building up your offensive the turn after.

Main Combo when Going 1st:

You can achieve same end board with multiple combinations. The sequencing is primordial.

Nekroz of Unicore + Impcantation Chalislime + Nekroz of Brionac in hand

• Reveal Unicore, use Chalislime effect into Talismandra effect into Cyber Angel Benten in hand


• Brionac discard into Clausolas discard into Kaleidoscope in hand


• Ritual Summon Unicore with Kaleidoscope dumping Herald to Grave


• Add Cycle from deck with Herald’s effect


• Use Cycle to revive Brionac from grave dumping Benten to grave


• Use Benten effect to add Vanity’s Ruler from deck to hand


• Normal Summon Vanity by tributing Talismandra and Brionac

--> Preparation of Rites OR any impcantation can also provide you with a piece of the combo. Pretty much all your cards are combo pieces at this point 😉



When Going 2nd:

Take down your opponent defenses one by one and build up your own board:

• Evenly Matched & Super Poly to wipe their board


• Summon your Boss Monster Trishula to banish exactly 3 key cards from hand, field and grave


• Summon Valkyrus to draw by tributing your impcantations, and refill your hand


• Summon Unicore to negate effects from annoying monsters


• Summon Brionac to shuffle back up to two monsters summoned from the Extra Deck


• Swing for game, you can even super poly your own Nekroz during battle phase for extra damage --> Example: Super Poly Brionac & Unicore for Mudragon = +1900 ATK for lethal!

 

Rationale Behind Ratios:

Nekroz Core Engine:

3x Nekroz of Brionac: Nothing to discuss here, 3 is mandatory.

3x Nekroz of Unicore: Idem, at 3 since the last banlist, adding a lot consistency to your opening hands.

2x Nekroz of Clausolas: Can be searched via Brionac, no need to play at 3. You can even consider playing only 1.

2x Nekroz of Valkyrus: 3x would be a little too much (arguable), you do not want to open it, but you definitely want to end your turn with it. 1x is not enough. You need at least one to end the battle phase, and another one to recycle your dead draws & Impcantations on board. It is also a strong body.

1x Nekroz of Trishula: I main only one, but I also have another copy on my side deck. Usually, you first summon it through Mirror, and then with Cycle (from grave). However, I sometimes need two in order to deal with huge threats or powerful continuous spell/traps.

1x Nekroz of Decisive Armor: Personal tech choice (most of the time swapped in game 2 for Trish if not needed). Can be very helpful to break the 3000th ATK wall. None of your Nekroz can beat a Blue-eyes White Dragon which is annoying. And I guarantee you, you should not neglect that. You will sooner or later find yourself in a spot where you would just need a slightly higher ATK monster to make the difference and win the duel. Furthermore, its ability to destroy AND banish any set card, as well as its Honest-like ability in hand make this card a very versatile option to consider. This card is usually underrated in my view.

1x Shurit, Strategist of the Nekroz: I tried him at x3, it was too bricky. I tried him at 2x, could came in handy, but most of the time, I felt like the second copy was too much. 1x is fine according to me: Shurit can be searched with Brionac (so technically, you have 4x). You want to use it once from hand, and you can even use it twice thanks to Mirror, so it seems enough.

2x Nekroz Kaleidoscope: When Unicore was limited, I would only play one. Now that it is at 3x, 2x Kaleidoscope feels right as it is the principal option you will use to summon Unicore.

2x Nekroz Cycle: Best Nekroz ritual spell, helps you a lot in late game.

1x Nekroz Mirror: The most situational ritual spell, you will almost every time use it to summon Trishula by banishing Brionac and Clausolas OR Shurit from grave.

Remark: All these ritual spells are searchable via Clausolas, so you do not need a playset. It would be way too much.

Impcantation Package:

2x Impcantation Chalislime: Best Impcantation, you want to open it, but you do not play enough other Impcantations to run 3x copies. 2x is enough. The third one would most likely end up dead in hand.

2x Impcantation Talismandra: Talismandra into search for Brionac or Unicore is the most common play. You never want to open this card so 3x is too much. It needs to be special summoned with one of  its mates.

1x Impcantation Candoll/ 1x Impcantation Penciplume / 1x Impcantation Bookstone: Best scenario is to open one of them and special summon Talismandra. You could replace one Bookstone (the less useful) for one other Pencilplume, to improve your late game. I prefer to run one of each in order to diversify my draws and options.

1x Impcantation Inception: I see too many people running more than 1. This is wrong. This card is searchable and can even be easily retrieved from grave. What’s more, there is already 5 other ritual spells in the deck which is almost too much. With 6 ritual spells, you have a 57.71% chance to open at least one (going first / 5 cards in hand). Let’s say you want to add 2 more, proba would therefore rise to 69.40%, more than 2/3, whereas you do not want to see them in your hand!! 6 ritual cards already account for 15% of your deck, this is huge!! Be very careful about bad ratios, they can totally ruin your chances of winning.



Rest of the deck:

3x Preparation of Rites: Best spell in the deck, 3x is mandatory. How come this card is still at 3x? Thanks Konami!

3x Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands: grants you one ritual search, enables XYZ rank 4 plays with Unicore, is your only normal summon except from Vanity’s ruler. 3x is a must.

3x Evenly Matched: particularly effective in Nekroz since you never have to set any trap.

3x Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring: generic hand trap. Replace it depending on the state of the meta.

1x Cyber Angel Benten / 1x Vanity’s Ruler: for the combo play. No need for more copies, both are searchable. Why Ruler instead of Kristya? Kristya's special summoning condition is too hard to meet, you will never use it... and downside is it also prevent YOU from special summoning. Impcantations make it so easy to normal summon Ruler that I do not see any reason not to play it.

 

Useful Tips:

• Nekroz of Trishula’s effect states “banish EXACTLY 3 cards”, there is a restriction that Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier does not have. Keep in mind if your opponent has no card in hand, the effect won’t activate at all!


• When sequencing your plays, do not forget (if possible) to play Preparation of Rites after having already summoned a Nekroz, in order to retrieve the ritual spell used from grave.


• Nekroz of Brionac can bounce back monsters that were special summoned from THE EXTRA DECK. Do not extrapolate this statement. If an XYZ, Synchro, Fusion etc… monster has been summoned via Monster Reborn for instance, Brionac’s ability won’t trigger.


• Nekroz of Valkyrus’s recycling ability can be used by tributing monsters from your HAND, not only your FIELD.


• Do not forget, you are locked into summoning from the Extra Deck if you have an impcantation on board.


• Remember you need to reveal a specific card from your hand before playing any Impcantation. Always think about it before making any other play and realizing right after you cannot fulfill the requirement anymore!


• Brionac into Clausolas into Nekroz Mirror = you can invoke Trishula by banishing from grave the two above-mentioned creatures.


• Bear in mind your ritual spells have effects in grave that require you NOT HAVING any monster on the field to trigger.


• If you opt for the Manju play, you will not be able to summon Vanity. Be warned!


• If you do not ritual summon after using Chalislime's effect, you will lose 2000 HP, ouch!!


• Nekroz of Valkyrus can only be discarded by banishing a Nekorz card from grave!

 

Extra Deck:

3x Herald of the Arc Light: to get a free ritual card out of Kaleido/Unicore.

2x Elder Entity N’tss: to destroy a card out of Kaleido/Unicore.

Super Poly Targets: Classics include Starving Venom Fusion Dragon, Predaplant Dragostapelia and Mudragon of the Swamp. The latest can also be used on your own monsters, as I explained previously.

1x Number 41 Bagooska the Terribly Tired Tapir: to slow down your opponent, survive until turn 2.

1x Evilswarm Exciton Knight: emergency option ... to nuke the board!

1x Daigusto Emeral: for the very late game, to reload your deck (very rarely used).

1x Abyss Dweller: if you face a deck abusing effects from grave.

1x Shooting Quasar Dragon: any level 12 will do fine (Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, yes, you can finally use this ultimate beast!): level 12 = 2x Brionac OR Valk + Unicore OR Trish + Clausolas with Kaleidoscope.

1x Star Eater: any level 11 will do fine: level 11 = Valk + Clausolas with Kaleidoscope.

1x Shooting Star Dragon: any level 10 will do fine: level 10 = Unicore + Brionac with Kaleidoscope.



Side Deck:

3x Super Polymerization: you have some free space in your Extra Deck, so why not using it? Another strong way to avoid negates and get rid of your opponent’s monsters.

3x Lightning Storm: very helpful against backrows, as the Nekroz engine does not contain that many removals. And very op, come on!

3x Dark Ruler No More: break monster-based lockdowns, avoid negation. Useful against combo decks abusing Halqifibrax and building powerful end boards.

3x Nibiru, the Primal Being: tons of combo decks out there that cannot play against Nibiru. Best way to wreck their board.

1x Nekroz of Trishula: whenever you think one is not enough. For late game, against control decks.

--> The rest is up to you, depends on the meta as usual. 2x Twin Twisters, 2x Cosmic Cyclone, 2x D.D. Crow etc…

 

Other options to consider:

Deskbot 003: already mentioned in the foreword section of this guide. I am not a fan, but very explosive & impressive combo involving Crystron Halqifibrax and Mecha Phantom Beast Auroradon (no joke!?). If you feel luck is on your side, go for it!

The Zaborg Dilemma: I tested a lot Zaborg The Mega Monarch, and I must say I have mixed feelings regarding its viability for (semi-)competitive play. Its effect is very strong, no doubt, but the conditions required to benefit from it seem quite huge to me. It also comes with its share of drawbacks: It is not searchable, it uses your normal summon, and therefore collides with Manju and Vanity. It helps deplete your opponent’s extra deck, but you can already rely on Unicore to do the job (a bit redundant). You need to tribute a LIGHT monster in order to choose which cards you send to GY from the opponent’s Extra Deck --> it means you would have to reconsider and adjust your impcantation ratios in a way that would not be optimal otherwise. Can sometimes end up dead in hand, especially if you draw it after turn 1.

For fun/casual play however, I would highly recommend giving it a try, as you can potentially have access to some sick combos if you combine Zaborg with Miracle Synchro Fusion and specific Extra Deck monsters. Let me know in the comments if you would like more information.

Splashing Dragma: the new Dragma Archetype which will make its debut in the “Rise of the Duellist” set (only available in OCG at the moment), will most likely redefine the way we play Nekroz. I do not want to elaborate on this topic. One thing at a time, mastering the actual version of the deck is already quite complicated.

Nekroz of Gungnir: I first included it in my side deck but decided to replace it with Nekroz of Decisive Armor which comes up more often. Good removal overall that can find its place in the side deck.

Celestial Observatory: very good in this build, enables to replenish your Impcantation engine by shuffling back Talismandra in your deck. Benten and Brionac are also great targets.

Reinforcement of the Army: can search for Unicore and Shurit, but there’s so many searchers already, do you really need one more? Maybe...

Any other suggestions let me know!



If you are one of those who’ve read this far… well, thank you! I hope this guide has facilitated understanding of many key aspects of the Nekroz, and clarified most of the dark spots surrounding these mysterious knights possessed by the spirit of the dragon!

Here are some other deck profiles you might like:

Phantasms’ Awakening – How to tame the Sacred Beasts! https://ygoprodeck.com/phantasms-awakening-how-to-tame-the-sacred-beasts/

Nostalgy Time – An Extensive Guide on How to Play Toons https://ygoprodeck.com/nostalgy-time-an-extensive-guide-on-how-to-play-toons/

Lightning