Making a theme deck may be hard to some, but once you know what you’re doing it gets easier with time. First you must know, every theme deck won’t win, and most are just for fun. And there are also different stages of theme decks you can make. Don’t worry I’ll go through each, and show you some examples.

Before you learn how to make a theme deck you must learn how to make a deck (didn’t see that coming right?). Many people have great building skills and may not have to read this, but if you think you need help, or just want some more information, I’m here to help. Let me tell you first about some of the Yu-Gi-Oh deck archetypes. Knowing these give you a great start to how you should build your deck. Of these archetypes there are:
 

Current Deck Archetypes

1)      Beatdown (Aggressive (Arrgo)/Fast Speed(FS))

Þ    These kind of decks are rather easy to make, and hard to beat. A beatdown deck is made to hit hard and fast. To make a deck like this you will want nothing but the strongest monster, and best equip cards.

·        Strengths: This deck is the quick, and everything else is the dead.

·        Weaknesses: Not very many, but with the numerous cards in Yu-Gi-Oh Anti-Beatdown decks can be made.

2)      Control

Þ    This is a deck that relies on Magic and Trap cards more then the monsters. LOL, could this deck be anymore not Yu-Gi-Oh.

·        Strengths: Non really, might be able to get off some nice combos before you die.

·        Weaknesses: Like I said this deck is vary contradictive of the Yu-Gi-Oh card game.

3)      Burn (Card Discard)

Þ    This kind of deck is what Exodia lover’s hate. A deck that uses card effects to make an opponent discard card as many cards as possible so the opponent loses.

·        Strengths: It can stop Exodia! That alone is a great reason to use this deck.

·        Weaknesses: It’s slow, it you’re most likely going to stay on the defiance most of the match.

4)      Direct Damage

Þ    This deck shouldn’t be hard to figure out, you use cards that inflict direct damage. Of course you would want as little battle as possible with a deck like this. Only toons can truly pull double duty in a deck like this, but let’s face it, there not all that good right now.

·        Strengths: Not too many, just a cool way to win.

·        Weaknesses: This deck is also slow, and you must stay on the defiance. Good thing you don’t need to do battle damage.

5)      Stall

Þ    A deck archetype like this is great to make switch deck with. This deck is made, to well stall. Ways to do this is to have many high defiance monster, and ways to get your Life Points up.

·        Strengths: Great to add to Switch decks, also helpful against Beatdown decks.

·        Weaknesses: Like most of the non Beatdown archetypes this one is slow.

6)      Switch

Þ    This is really just two compatible archetypes put together to make one great deck. A deck like this allows you to go from one deck type to another for help if its needed. Some good examples are Arrgo/Control, Burn/Direct Damage, and Direct Damage/Exodia.

·        Strengths: Really you would have to look at the strengths of the archetypes your using.

·        Weaknesses: Like above you will just have to look at the weaknesses of the archetypes your using.

7)      Exodia

Þ    What? I can get an instant win if I only have five cards in my hand. What a deal! But a deck like this needs you to draw, draw, and draw some more.

·        Strengths: An instant win dose sound good.

·        Weaknesses: To bad that win takes forever, and you also have to watch out for Burn decks.

8)      Fusion

Þ    Yep even fusions have an archetype, although you might want to consider this a sub-archetype. You would really have to make a switch deck using this and another archetype.

·        Strengths: Not very good alone, but add this type to a Beatdown deck and you can have some fun.

·        Weaknesses: Like I said an all fusion deck is hard to make right now.

9)      Ritual

Þ    Just like fusions, rituals can be considered an archetype. But also you may want to make a Switch deck using this and another archetype.

·        Strengths: Although right now it’s easier to make a deck around ritual monster more then fusion ones, its best if you make a switch deck.

·        Weaknesses: Like above, it’s just a bit difficult to make.

10)  Monstar Effect

Þ    This is just an archetype where archetypes base on a certain monster would go. Although Exodia could go here, I belive that making him have his own archetype is better. Archetypes like Maha Vailo, and Toons would go in this catorgory.

·        Strengths: Depends on the monster, but most of the time you may want to put them in a switch deck with another archetype.

·        Weaknesses: This also depends on the card itself, maybe in later articles I will expand on this archetype more.

Future Deck Archetypes

1)      Quija Board

Þ    This archetype is a lot like the Exodia archetype. Some different things about this kind of archetype is that they take up your m/t zone, and also that as far as I know it hasn’t been restricted in Japan yet.

·        Strengths: A different way to instant win dose sound good.

·        Weaknesses: It takes up your m/t zone, not good even for an instant win.

Choose your Theme.

            Choosing the right theme for your deck is crucial for a win, or even fun. No matter what kind of deck you run, you are going to want some level of theming. Now depending on what level you choose may increase or decrease your chance of winning.

Level 1: Hardcore

Þ This level of theming makes sure that every cards in the deck has something to do with the over all theme. So when you make a deck like this make sure that you have it clear in your head that this deck may not win, and it’s only for fun.

·      Strengths: Not many, unless you’re very creative.

·      Weaknesses: A lot, you’ll find out soon enough trying to make a deck at this level of theming.

Level 2: Moderate

Þ This level of theming is where most decks should fall. At this level at deck has an over all theme, but still has staple cards to with the win. Keep in mind that at this level of theming you still want to put in a like cards, even if what makes them alike is vague.

·      Strengths: A lot seeing how most decks should be at this level of theming.

·      Weaknesses: The only weakness to this is if you aren’t very good at making a deck.

Level 3: Low

Þ This level of theming has little to no theming. A deck like this isn’t very good, and may get you into a lot of trouble. A deck with little to no theming is very hard to control the outcome with. If your monsters are all over the place, and you have a equip card for one type of monster, you will be hard pressed to get that to work.

·      Strengths: Not a lot, even if you are creative. Oh, wait your not very creative if you can’t come up with a simple theme.

·      Weaknesses: Many, now I’m not saying you won’t win, I’m just saying that this deck needs luck, not skill.

Keep in mind that theming a deck can be many different things. One theme is a dark main monster type deck. Depending on what level of theming you choose the amount of dark main type monsters in your deck will change. For example, a level one theming deck would have nothing but dark monsters, no Magician of Faith, no Blues Eyes White Dragon. A level 2 theming deck, would allow the Magician of Faith to help get back that monster reborn you lost, but a Blues Eyes would look very strange in the deck. And a level 3 theming deck, well lets just say you might have two or three dark monsters, and I bet you they are Summoned Skull and La Jinn. So there you go basic theming, towards the end of this article I will have some deck examples.

Time to Start Building!

            So now that you have an archetype, and a theme, its time to start on the deck itself. Now just to make sure you know this, your deck should always have some staple cards. Staple cards are just cards that are very helpful, and are most likely in your deck all ready, this is just a double check. Another thing to note is that a person’s choice for staple cards may change from one person to another.

1)      Always consider putting these in your deck.

·        Jar of Greed

·        Change of Heart

·        Monster Reborn

·        Dark Hole

·        Harpy’s Feather Sweeper

·        Heavy Storm

·        Raigeki

·        Call of the Haunted

·        Premature Burial

·        Mirror Force

·        Snatch Steal

2)      Highly consider putting these in your deck.

·        Sangan

·        Witch of the Black Forest

·        Jinzo

·        Cyber Jar

·        Imperial Order

·        Dust Tornado

·        Nobleman of Crossout

·        Goblin Attack Force

·        Man-Eater Bug

·        Mystical Space Typhoon

Ok now you have three different things to help you in building your deck lets get a little bit more in depth. Before I go through the creation of some of my very own theme decks, I’m going to point out some things that should help in creating your theme deck.

MAKE SURE YOU DECK IS BETWEEN 40 TO 45 CARDS!

            And to help you decide what cards should be in the 40 to 45 cards here is another little list to help you.

1)      Monster Cards: Half you deck should be monsters.

·        Level 4 or less: Most of your monsters in your deck.

·        Level 5 to 6: Some of your monsters in your deck.

·        Level 7 and up: Few of your monsters in your deck.

2)      Magic/Trap Cards: The other half your deck should these, just make sure you put the right amount of each for your deck.

To end this part of the article I would just like to say, test your deck as much as possible. Some good ways to test, without having to battle, is to shuffle, draw, and see what you get. Try out test battles with a friend, anything to make sure your deck is at least playable.

Some of my Decks

            Ok, in this the final section, I’m going the talk about three decks I have put together, or will put together real soon. You will notice that I don’t have a lot of the stable cards or rare cards for my deck. I also share cards with my friend, so if some of these decks seem out of reach I’m sorry, but maybe they’ll help you in creating yours. First is my Dark Direct Damage Deck, or D³ Deck for short. This deck is of course a Direct Damage archetype, and is a level 2 in theming. I started with the basics such as monster reborn, and other staple cards. Then I looked at cards that will attack directly such as cannon solider, mystic lamp, and jinzo #7. Yep those dark guys sure do have bad stats, so I’m going to include such cards as messenger of peace and gravity binds. Other cards I like that work with this deck are making there way in, such as cyber jar, which of the black forest, and sangan. Below is my finished deck.

D³ Deck
Monsters Whiptail Crow Magic Side Deck

            On to my next deck which is a turn around in the archetype, but I keep the theme. It is a Dark Beatdown Deck, which to some people is a cheap deck and easy to when with. I would just like to say, so. Just because I’m using a deck you think is cheap and easy to make doesn’t mean I didn’t spend time to make it. I thought about what cards I wanted, and I’m sorry if you think I’m trying to get a cheap win. Like my other deck I used some staple cards, and like most beatdown decks I add equip cards such as fairy meteor crush, and malevolent nuzzler. I also put in back-up cards such as cyber jar to help in a time of need. Below is my finished deck.

Dark Beatdown Deck
Monsters Magic

            My last deck is just for fun, and not very good, but I knew when I pulled that Harpy’s Brother I wanted to make this deck. I called this deck a Wind Walkers Deck, although I’m to sure about the archetype (a very loosely based beatdown). I can clearly tell you the level 2 theme is Wind type monsters. Of course the staple cards I’ve been using are there. But now the dark monsters are wind. I have harpy’s brother, harpy lady, gaia, and thousand dragon. Now this is really a dream deck for me because I don’t have some of the cards, but I thought I should a least post it. So here it is in all its glory.

Wind Walkers Deck
Monsters Magic