Swordsoul Goal

Playing style

The "Swordsoul" archetype is focused on Synchro Summoning. Instead of having archetypal Tuner monsters, "Swordsoul" cards instead have effects that Special Summon a Level 4 "Swordsoul Token" Tuner monster, which greatly increases the Deck's consistency compared to other Synchro Decks as there is no longer a need to search for Tuners. All the effects that Special Summon the "Swordsoul Token" apply the restriction that the player cannot Special Summon monsters from the Extra Deck except Synchro Monsters while the Token is on the field, in order to prevent abuse with other Extra Deck Summoning methods.

The archetype has a secondary focus on banishing cards. Several "Swordsoul" cards have effects that require banishing Wyrm monsters or "Swordsoul" cards from the GY as a cost, while other "Swordsoul" monsters banish the opponent's cards as a part of their effects. Synergizing with the former, the "Swordsoul" Spell/Trap Cards have effects that activate when banished; the Spells can modulate Levels, while the Traps can Special Summon a "Swordsoul Token".

The three main combo starters for the archetype are:

• "Mo Ye", who summons a Token by revealing a Swordsoul/Wyrm card from hand
• "Taia", who summons a Token by banishing a Swordsoul/Wyrm card from GY
• "Longyuan", who summons itself and a Token by discarding another Swordsoul/Wyrm card

Because of their need other Wyrm monsters or "Swordsoul" cards as costs, the archetype is best played pure or with other Wyrm monsters.

The archetype's consistency and ceiling is further supported by its Spell/Traps and "Incredible Ecclesia, the Virtuous". "Swordsoul Emergence" is the archetype's searcher Spell that can also search generic Wyrm monsters for more boss monster options, "Swordsoul Sacred Summit" is a revival Spell, "Swordsoul Blackout" is a Normal Trap that trades 2-for-2, and "Incredible Ecclesia" is an additional searcher for "Swordsoul" monsters, making the deck incredibly consistent at starting its combos.

"Swordsoul" can easily make a variety of Level 8 or 10 Synchro monsters with disruptive or suppressive effects, as well as Levels 7, 9, and 11 Synchro monsters with their Spell/Traps' banish Level modulation effect. Their key Extra Deck monster however is "Swordsoul Grandmaster - Chixiao", an Extra Deck searcher able to search or banish any "Swordsoul" card from the Deck when summoned (who also has its own negation disruption effect), which enables further extension by searching for more "Swordsoul" starters or banishing a Trap to make a "Swordsoul Token", or to further strengthen the end board by searching a "Blackout" or "Emergence" (for it to search a generic Wyrm boss monster, like "Archnemeses Protos").

"Swordsoul" has good synergy with the "Tenyi" archetype, as both archetypes are Wyrm-based, supports Synchro Summoning, and the "Swordsoul Token" non-Effect Monster can enable the "Tenyi" Main Deck monsters' effects.