Although this deck's price and initial ratio set-up is pre-handled and tested, I recommend picking up this deck if you already understand a couple of the fundamentals of the game as this deck's obscure combos and rare mechanics can be rough for completely new players. If you're brave enough or have experienced friends you can rely on, don't let me scare you from having a great time (3/5 difficulty)!
With that in mind, let's get started on the deck's strategies!
First, the way this deck wants to win comes in two separate flavors: Amano-Iwato is a barrier that restricts monster effects; and the two aces, Shinobaron Peacock and Shinobaroness Peacock, can sweep up any remaining board presence your opponent can have when they are uninterrupted. The ritual Ace monsters are easy to understand, so the discussion will mainly revolve around playing with Amano-Iwato. Here are some sample combos to get each of them set-up!
Aratama + Stars Align Above the Shrine: Use Aratama's effect to add Sakitama, use the effect of Sakitama to summon itself by revealing it, use the field spell "Stars Align Above the Shrine" to tribute Sakitama on the field to Ritual Summon "Shinobaroness Shade Peacock" or "Shinobaron Shade Peacock." Getting to these smaller ritual monsters helps you find ways to reach either win condition.
Shinobaron Shade Peacock: It's effect to tribute itself to get both a ritual spell and a ritual monster in hand is incredibly powerful. In most cases, you can use it to grab both "Shinobaroness Shade Peacock" and "Shinobird Calling", then use Shinobird Calling to ritual summon "Shinobaroness Shade Peacock" by banishing the "Shinobaron Shade Peacock" you used to find them. If you need to start an offense however, you can easily reach into a "Shinobaron Peacock" or a "Shinobaroness Peacock" to threaten your opponent's resources.
IMPORTANT: "Stars Align Across the Milky Way" can be accessed by having "Stars Align Above the Shrine" on the field when you leave a ritual monster face-up at the End Phase. This occurs because they are spirit monsters and return to the hand at the End Phase. It is also important because it is the more consistent way to reach Amano-Iwato with its secondary effect in the Graveyard. By banishing that trap card, you can ritual summon a monster from your hand (which needs to be Shinobaron Peacock or Shinobaroness Peacock for maximum impact), resolve its effects to return cards to the deck then Special Summon a Level 4 or lower Spirit Monster by dodging the conventional means applied to them. If your opponent often leads their combo with monsters, go for "Shinobaron Peacock" and try to set up with Amano-Iwato in the hand for a Special Summon! You can do this more easily by using "Shinobaroness Shade Peacock" to add "Shinobird Power Spot" to your hand, activating it, and having it's effect occur alongside your field spell at the End Phase.
But sometimes you can get lucky, and Amano-Iwato can start in your hand with the Yata Mirror equip spell. This can be deadly enough for plenty of decks if you are going first. If you have Amano-Iwato in hand and "Sakitama" + "Stars Align Above the Shrine," you can always try to cheese its staying power by ritual summoning into "Shinobaroness Shade Peacock" to get the mirror, then use Sakitama to add it itself to your hand, then summon out Amano-Iwato with its other effect.
Once you're proficient in this deck's combos, you may find yourself trying to finish the game with as little wiggle-room for your opponent. You can use "Yata-Garasu" to lock your opponent from making a comeback once you clean their field using either Ace Ritual monster(s).
How does the Extra Deck Work?: Sometimes your opponent has ways that can turn your unlucky hand upside down with an interruption. Many of the cards here (Abyss Dweller, Giant Hand, etc.) offer a field presence to hopefully survive until you can attempt another game-winning move. Many will know what "Divine Arsenal AA-Zeus Sky Thunder" does, but just in case- it offers another way to clear the board if you can successfully battle (and not destroy) your XYZ monsters. Every "Knightmare" card in the Extra Deck offers a new form of removal at the cost of effect monsters on your field and a card in your hand. Link Spider? Your combo will sometimes naturally make cute tokens to protect your lifepoints or can used as tributes for the ritual monsters in your hand. By link summoning "Link Spider" with one of the tokens, you will be one requirement closer to a "Knightmare" when you need it.
Elder Entity N'tss does not actually accompolish anything in the Deck on its own. But there are a few strategies that attempt to send your Extra Deck cards to the GY - and this can be a surprising punish.
The Side Deck?: These cards chosen naturally boost the initial given strategy in their own unique ways while being powerful staple cards that can be splashed or explored in other archetypes. It serves more as a preview of ways you could adjust the deck or lean into other exciting strategies instead. "Dogmatika" can be a ritual archetype to consider when looking to give your ritual summons a more diverse impact (They will also utilize the N'tss in the Extra Deck a lot more efficiently too!). Harpies often boost Wind attribute strategies that stuck to the original concept of wind monsters having benefits for returning to your hand to roost. And lastly, explosive cards such as "Evenly Matched" and "Gameciel, the Sea Turtle Kaiju" are obscure methods of removing problem cards from your opponent's field in ways that are hard to block without utilizing a ton of their prepared resources and makes your Going Second turns with your Ritual Monsters even more potent!
This deck is built to carry plenty of splashable cards that make building other decks easier, alongside being cheaper than any given meta, and flexible enough to grow alongside an attentive player. Whether a new player, returning from an ancient memory of the game, or a coming back after a monthly break, I think you'll find this deck to be the perfect match navigating through the modern era of Yugioh.
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