Phantom Knights is a control deck in Yu-Gi-Oh Master Duel. Check out the core deck list, key combos, how to play & counter as well as F2P or budget options!

May 9th Banlist Update

The Phantom Knights of Torn Scales will be Semi-Limited following the standard banlist update on May 9th! Check our Banlist update page for more information.

May 9th Banlist Update

Phantom Knights Deck List

Main Deck: 40 cards
x3	x3	x3	x3	x3
x2	x2	x1	x1	x1
x1	x1	x1	x1	x1
x2	x2	x1	x1	x1
x3	x2	x1	-	-
Extra Deck: 15 cards
x3	x1	x1	x1	x1
x1	x1	x1	x1	x1
x2	x1	-	-	-

Phantom Knights Breakdown

Phantom Knights Crafting Cost

120	390	480	570

Phantom Knights Deck Guide: How to Play

Playstyle and Win Condition

Phantom Knights is a reactive deck that focuses on controlling the board with The Phantom Knights of Rusty Bardiche and Xyz Summons. Most of your plays depend on the board state, making Phantom Knights a challenging deck to play optimally.

Generally, each duel revolves around your Trap Cards and Graveyard. The latter is your win condition, as the Phantom Knights cards are more impactful from the Graveyard.

Core Combos and Interactions

Turn One Rusty Bardiche

If going first, your priority should be getting The Phantom Knights of Rusty Bardiche on the field. This card provides removal and Graveyard value once out on the field. Keep in mind that Rusty essentially has two lives due to your Trap Cards' GY effects.

1.	Normal summon The Phantom Knights of Torn Scales. Activate its effect to discard one card (preferably a PK card) and send one The Phantom Knights of Ancient Cloak to the Graveyard.
2.	Activate Ancient Cloak's effect from the Graveyard to add The Phantom Knights of SIlent Boots to your hand. Special Summon Silent Boots to the field.
3.	Link Summon Cherubini, Ebon Angel of the Burning Abyss using Torn Scales and Silent Boots.
4.	Activate Cherubini's effect and send Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to the GY. Resolve Graff's GY effect to Special Summon Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss.
5.	Use Cherubini and Cir to Link Summon The Phantom Knights of Rusty Bardiche. Use Rusty's effect to send one PK Monster to your Graveyard, then set one Phantom Knights' Wing on the Field.
6.	Resolve Cir's GY effect to bring back Cherubini on the field. The Wing on the field will act as a cushion for Cherubini due to its negation effect. Do not place Cherubini in one of the zones Rusty is pointing to. Reserve those for your Xyz Monsters.
Tip!	Your Main Deck is littered with Level 3 Monsters and ways to get them out on the field. Torn Scales is the ideal Turn 1 monster, but it's not the only one!

Turn Two Rhongomyniad

If going second, Special Summon Number 86: Heroic Champion - Rhongomyniad as early as you can. Rhongomyniad's effects are potent even compared to other Xyz Monsters. Getting this monster out on the field guarantees a win under the right circumstances.

1.	Normal summon The Phantom Knights of Torn Scales. Activate its effect to discard one card (preferably a PK card) and send one The Phantom Knights of Ancient Cloak to the Graveyard.
2.	Activate Ancient Cloak's effect from the Graveyard to add The Phantom Knights of SIlent Boots to your hand. Special Summon Silent Boots to the field.
3.	Xyz Summon The Phantom Knights of Break Sword using Ancient Cloak and Silent Boots as materials. Activate Break Sword's effect to destroy itself and an opposing card.
4.	Activate Phantom Knight's GY effect to special summon two Level 3 monsters on the field. Use the two monsters (now Level 4) to Xyz Summon Number 86: Heroic Champion - Rhongomyniad.
Tip!	If you have ways to generate two additional Level 3 monsters, use them to Xyz Summon Number 75: Bamboozling Gossip Shadow. Use Gossip Shadow's secondary effect to attach itself to Rhongomyniad -- maximizing its effects.

Boss Monsters

	The Phantom Knights of Rusty Bardiche
	The Phantom Knights of Rusty Bardiche is the axis and main boss monster of this deck. Rusty provides removal and Graveyard support and allows you to make reactionary plays depending on the board state.
	Number 86: Heroic Champion - Rhongomyniad
	Number 86: Heroic Champion - Rhongomyniad is your main finisher. Rhongomyniad has five impactful effects that prevent opponents from interacting with this monster. You'll mainly use this card to put pressure and finish duels.
	Cherubini, Ebon Angel of the Burning Abyss
	Cherubini, Ebon Angel of the Burning Abyss sets up the board necessary to finish duels. Cherubini might not hit as hard as the other two monsters, but this card is a requisite to set up the ideal board to break your opponent's field.

Budget Phantom Knights: F2P Friendly

Lower Rarity Replacements

SR/UR		Replacements
x3	→	x1
	→
	→

Phantom Knights decks are relatively cheap compared to other decks. One way to make it cheaper, however, is by emptying your Extra Deck and leaving Cherubini, Rusty, Rhongomyniad, and one Break Sword.

Cards like Maxx “C”, Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring, and Lightning Storm are safe and recommended crafts as they have homes in most decks. But, if you don't have these three, you can replace them with Mystical Space Typhoons and Forbidden Chalices.

Phantom Knights Counters: How to Beat

Best Decks to Use Against Phantom Knights

Eldlich

Eldlich decks disrupt most of our game plan as they have a plethora of negates and Floodgates. This deck revolves around getting Eldlich the Golden Lord out on the field, but we have very little ways to remove it due to the Floodgates.

One way to combat this deck is to save up our Lightning Storms and Mystical Space Typhoons to deal with said Floodgates.

Eldlich Control Deck List and Card Guide

Numeron

Numeron is an OTK deck that outright counters Phantom Knights. This deck aims to bring out four Numeron Xyz monsters on the field to try and finish during the same turn it starts setting up. Since Phantom Knights mostly have one to two Monsters on the field, we lack blockers or ways to prevent open attacks.

As the Phantom Knights player, you can combat this deck by removing Numeron Network as Numerons have a hard time getting the OTK without their Field Spell in play.

Best Cards to Tech Against Phantom Knights

	Skill Drain
	Skill Drain is a great Floodgate to combat Phantom Knight decks. This card negates the effects of all face-up monsters on the field, which in turn negates your ability to control the board using Rusty.
	Dimensional Fissure
	Dimensional Fissure shackles most of our plays as this card banishes monsters sent to the Graveyard.
	Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring
	Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring stops most of our turn one plays as it negates cards sent to the Graveyard. Try and bait this card out first by playing filler cards before attempting your turn one combo.
	Graveyard-reliant decks such as Phantom Knights are vulnerable to Called by the Grave. This card can negate and banish monsters in the opponent's graveyard, preventing Invoked Shaddoll from getting the maximum value off its Shaddoll monsters.

Related Packs to Phantom Knights

Packs
Indomitable Knights	Master Pack

Yu-Gi-Oh Master Duel Related Guides

Yu-Gi-Oh Master Duel Deck Archetypes

Yu-Gi-Oh Master Duel Decks

Deck Tier List: Best Decks for Season 35

List of All Covered Decks

World Champion Decks

2024 World Champions: Team 7
Horus Tearlaments	Yubel	Fire King Snake-Eyes
Salamangreat	Purrely	Vanquish Soul

Decks Used in Worlds 2024

Decks Used By All Teams in Worlds 2024
snipehunters	CER	Hero's Future
BOTB	MYYGO	Thank Love
CER 2 x FCG	BRAZ IL	Maxx “Yee”
Double Noir	Rogue Ruler

Aggro Decks

List of All Aggro Decks
D/D/D Aggro	Code Talker / Prank Kids	Zoodiac
Blue-Eyes	Virtual World	SPYRAL Control
Toon Kingdom	Red-Eyes	Blue-Eyes
Zoodiac	Prank-Kids	Zoodiac Tri-Brigade
Pure Tri-Brigade	Ancient Gear	Dragonmaid
Tri-Brigade Lyrilusc (Bird Up)	Dinosaur	Raidraptor
HERO	Dragon Link	Despia
Magikey	Adamancipator	Black Luster Soldier
Pendulum Magician	Stardust Dragon	Tenyi Swordsoul
Cyberdark	@Ignister	Cyber Dragon
The Winged Dragon of Ra	Despian Predaplant	Despia Darklord
Odd-Eyes Performapal	Numeron FTK	Six Samurai
ABC	Trickstar Windwitch	Blackwings
Fluffal	Cupid Pitch Turbo	Lunalight
Vampire	Ultra Athletes	Thunder Dragon
Z-ARC Pendulum Magician	Adventurer Rose Dragon Tenyi	Adventurer P.U.N.K.
Suship	Pure D/D/D	Numeron Egyptian Gods
Galaxy Eyes OTK	Borrelend Dragon Link	Vaylantz
Beetrooper	Icejade Ra	Therion ABC
Libromancer	Mathmech	Spright Evil☆Twin
Spright Tri-Brigade	Ishizu Chaos	Slifer Arcana Knights
Gaia OTK	Vernusylph	Ancient Warriors
Ghoti	Springans	8-Axis Gizmek Orochi
Danger! Dark World	Mikanko	Scareclaw Kashtira
Zombie World P.U.N.K.	Hungry Burger Nouvelles	Obelisk the Tormentor
Mannadium	Gate Guardian	Gold Pride P.U.N.K.
Superheavy Samurai	Nemleria	Dragon Rulers
Snake-Eye	T.G. Diabellstar	Skull Servant
Kaiju	Resonators	Earthbound
Malefic	Kozmo	Armored Xyz Shark
Unchained	Battlin' Boxer	Chimera Illusion
Fire King Snake-Eyes	Vaalmonica	Memento
Horus Tearlaments	Centur-Ion	Dragon Master Magia
Ice Barrier	Infernoid	Lightsworn
Ogdoadic Ragnaraika	Genex	Tenpai Dragon
Goblin Biker	Infernoble	Armed Dragon
Flame Swordsman	Melodious

Control Decks

List of All Control Decks
Invoked Shaddoll	Eldlich Control	Drytron Fairy
True Draco	Dark Magician	Traptrix
Phantom Knights	Madolche	Relinquished
P.U.N.K.	DPE Scythe	Evil★Twin
Paleozoic Frog	Salamangreat	Gravekeepers
Monarch	Tellarknight	Agent
Exosisters	Darklord	Plunder Patrol
Rikka	Floowandereeze	Adventurer Phantom Knights
Dinomoprhia	Tri-Brigade Gladiator Beast	Adventurer Witchcrafter
Dark Magician Gravekeeper	Branded Tri-Brigade	Branded Despia
Zombie Vampire	Blue-Eyes Jet Dragon	Spellbook
Branded Cyber Dragon	Branded Zombies	Pure Scareclaw
Dinomorphia	Runick	Labrynth
Harpies	Buster Blader	Umi Control
Endymion	Nekroz	Spright
Spright Runick	Ishizu Runick	Branded Ishizu
Crystal Beasts	Orcust	Altergeist
Witchcrafter	Subterror Krawler	Mayakashi
Ishizu Tearlaments	Evilswarm	Melffy Spright
Bystial Branded	Dogmatika Bystial	Naturia Runick
Generaiders	Kashtira	Purrely
Ninja	Rescue-ACE	Gishki Spright
Prediction Princess	Vanquish Soul	Jinzo
Egyptian God	Ojama Control	Aromage
Ghostrick	Kuriboh	Anti-Meta Stun
Runick Spright Fur Hire	Horus Control	Toy Box Dark Magician
Yubel	Voiceless Voice	Rikka Ragnraika
Ritual Beast	Shining Sarcophagus

Burn Decks

List of All Burn Decks
Red-Eyes Burn	Timelord Burn	Chain Burn
D.D. Dynamite	Igknight OTK	Cubic
Dinosaur Bishbaalkin FTK	Volcanic Snake-Eyes	Transaction Rollback Burn

Alt-Win Decks

List of All Alternate Win Decks
Crooked Cook Exodia	Flower Cardian Exodia	Treasure Panda Exodia
Suicide	Defense OTK

All Budget Decks

List of All Budget Deck Guides
Budget Shark Xyz	Budget Eldlich	Budget Hippo Turbo
Budget Despia	Budget F.A. Metalfoes	Budget Blue-Eyes White Dragon
Budget Chain Burn	Budget Majespecter	Budget Yosenju
Budget Flower Cardian	Budget True Draco	Budget Amorphage
Budget Ishizu Tearlaments

Best Cards for Decks

Lists of Best Cards for Deck Building
Best Staple Cards		Best Searchers		Best Hand Traps
Best Board Wipes		Best Negates		Best Fusion Monsters
Best Synchro Monsters		Best Xyz Monsters		Best Link Monsters
Best Structure Decks			Best Decks to Go 1st or 2nd