Gravekeepers, or Necrovalley, is the original Control Deck, being the first to deny resources and advantage from the Graveyard through the iconic Necrovalley Field Spell. Read on to learn more about the Gravekeeper playstyle, the Deck's card list, combos, counters and more!

Gravekeepers Deck List

Main Deck: 43 cards
x3	x2	x2	x2	x1
x1	x1	x1	x3	x3
x3	x3	x3	x3	x3
x3	x3	x3	-	-
Extra Deck: 15 cards
x3	x1	x1	x1	x1
x1	x1	x1	x1	x1
x1	x1	x1	-	-

Gravekeepers Breakdown

Gravekeepers Cost

60	450	600	630

Gravekeepers Deck Guide: How to Play

Playstyle and Win Condition

The Gravekeepers archetype can be considered the pioneers of control and resource denial, having one of the most influencial Field Spells in Yu-Gi-Oh! and being one of the first to negate Graveyard effects before they became a prominent strategy, used by just about every top tier Deck in the game.

They are primarily Spellcasters, and they can run a full Deck without having to use other monster types, other than very potent hand traps that further boost the controlling capabilities of the Deck.

If you want to make sure you can control the field while this Deck's all-important Field Spell is active on the field, make sure to run Gravekeeper monsters, which are all effect monsters that provide beneficial effects. Key to this Deck are Gravekeeper's Commandant which can search out Necrovalley, Gravekeeper's Spiritualist which has an in-built Polymerization dedicated to Fusion Spells, and Gravekeeper's Shaman which negates monster effects from the Graveyard and protects the Field Spell.

Necrovalley is a very infamous card that locks cards from moving out of the Graveyard; something that often happens whenever a card activates an effect from there. It also prevents monsters from having their typing annd affinity changed while in there, preventing certain Decks and archetypes from exploiting such a strategy.

Because of this, you need to make sure that you activate cards that explicitly say they are exempt from Necrovalley's condition, allowing cards to move from the Graveyard. There are a handful of cards out there, like Gravekeeper's Stele. You also need to get Necrovalley out on the field as fast as possible to actitvate the full potential of this Deck, which Necrovaley Temple should be able to help with.

Core Combos and Interactions

Compared to most meta Decks, Gravekeepers are slower in nature and make sure the Special Summons matter. It will take a while for the Deck's true strength to show, but with a good hand you should have all the necessary tools to make it through an onslaught.

This sample combo should be a goal once you have the ideal hand at bay

Cards Needed On Hand
1	Activate Gravekeeper's Commandant from the hand, discard it, and search out a copy of Necrovalley to add to your hand.
2	Immediately activate Necrovalley.
3	Normal Summon Gravekeeper's Spiritualist.
4	Activate Necrovalley Throne; search out a copy of Gravekeeper's Headman, and immediately Normal Summon from the hand Gravekeeper's Recruiter through this card's effect.
5	Activate Gravekeeper's Spiritualist's effect to conduct a Fusion Summon, using itself and Gravekeeper's Recruiter on the field to Fusion Summon Gravekeeper's Supernaturalist.
6	Activate Gravekeeper's Recruiter's effect after being sent to the Graveyard, and Special Summon Gravekeeper's Shaman from the Deck.
7	Activate Gravekeeper's Stele, and retrieve Gravekeeper's Spiritualist and Gravekeeper's Recruiter to add to the hand.

Boss Monsters

	Gravekeeper's Supernaturalist
	The key boss monster of the Gravekeeper's archetype, Gravekeeper's Supernaturalist gets stronger if you use higher-leveled monsters as its Fusion Material. So long as Necrovalley is present on the field, this card and the Field Spell will enjoy card destruction effect immunity. On top of that, it has a search effect for fellow Gravekeeper monsters that can be used once per turn.
	Quintet Magician
	Used as a last resort monster if Necrovalley gets destroyed and there are enough materials in the Graveyard to use Magicalized Fusion on. Quintet Magician immediately wipes the board if the Fusion Materials used are five different Spellcaster monsters with different names. And with 4500 ATK, this card can be a game-winning monster.
	Borrelsword Dragon
	Borrelsword Dragon is a powerhouse of a monster that cannot be destroyed by battle, acting as both a beatstick that can have the opponent's monster's ATK and and a wall to the opponent. It can also make a second attack by shifting another monster the opponent controls in Defense Position, and they cannot respond with cards or effects to this monster's effect.
	Number 11: Big Eye
	An unexpected option for the Extra Deck, Number 11: Big Eye works because there are a couple of Level 7 monsters that can be used as Xyz Material. Once per turn, it can steal a monster the opponent controls, and given it's got two Xyz Materials attached onto it, the opponent is discouraged from Summoning crucial monsters so long as this Xyz Monster has materials attached.

Budget Gravekeepers: F2P Friendly

Lower Rarity Replacements

	→

Magicalized Fusion is more of a last resort Fusion Spell card that aims to bring out Quintet Magician. However, if SR Gems are a little hard to come by or are being saved for another card, good old Polymerization can do the trick; provided it has the five Spellcasters it needs as Fusion Material.

	→

Palladium Oracle Mahad is in the Deck List is because simply by drawing it, even during the Draw Phase itself, it can be Special Summoned immediately. An instant summon is very much a benefit, but UR Gems can be too much to spare. Instead, consider Magician of Dark Illusion instead, only needing the opponent to activate a Spell Card while this card is on hand to Special Summon it immediately.

Gravekeepers Counters: How to Beat

Best Decks to Use Against Gravekeepers

Any Deck with DPE Engine

The Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer engine has been making waves around, not only because of how consistent this card is, but also how a certain number of cards alongside this can be splashed to just about any Deck in the game. This card can make sure Necrovalley does not stay on the field for long, unless its effect can be negated or be locked in or out of the Graveyard.

True Draco

True Draco is a heavy contender to be the top lockdown Deck in Master Duel, due to its oppressive playstyle and high-ATK monsters that often do not need any Tributes to be summoned. Gravekeepers can be easily overwhelmed against this Deck if the player is not careful with their moves, or does not make sure to neutralize threats as they are summoned.

True Draco Deck Guide

Sky Strikers

Sky Strikers do not nearly do as many Special Summons from the Graveyard as other Decks do, but their onslaught of Spell Cards that can interrupt play after play continues to be dangerous. On top of that, their constant presence on the field whenever their Link Monsters gets destroyed makes it hard to bypass their defense.

Sky Strikers Deck Guide

Best Cards to Tech Against Gravekeepers

	Imperial Order
	If Imperial Order gets activated before Necrovalley does, it effectively cripples the entire Gravekeeper's Deck and their reliance on the Field Spell. It also stops the Gravekeeper user from Fusion Summoning outside of Gravekeeper's Spiritualist.
	Macro Cosmos
	The whole point of Gravekeepers is locking down the Graveyard except for themselves, with cards that can bypass Necrovalley's effect. Why not bypass it instead by denying them the Graveyard through banishing them, instead? Macro Cosmos, alongside its Continuous Spell relative Dimensional Fissure, banishes card that were meant to be sent to the Graveyard.
	Dark Ruler No More
	Dark Ruler No More may have a side effect in dealing no damage for the rest of the turn, but neutralizing all monster effects on the field is a very good trade. This gives you the chance to go clear up the peskier effect monsters among Gravekeepers.

Related Packs to Gravekeepers

Darkest Magics	Guardian of Kings
Knowledge of the Mythlords	Legacy Pack
Master Pack	Natural Selection
Number Recall	Seekers of Witchcraft
Shot Through Fiction	Space-Time Transcendents

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

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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

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Lists of Best Cards for Deck Building
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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