The Six Samurai is an archetype that can easily swarm the field with lots of monsters, which than can be transitioned into a possible OTK or go into Synchro, Xyz and Link Monster plays. Read on nto learn more about the deck list, combos, counters and more!

Six Samurai Deck List

Main Deck: 42 cards
x3	x3	x3	x1	x2
x1	x1	x1	x1	x3
x3	x3	x3	x2	x1
x1	x1	x1	x1	x1
x1	x1	x1	x1	x1
Extra Deck: 15 cards
x2	x1	x1	x1	x1
x1	x1	x1	x1	x2
x1	x1	x1	-	-

Six Samurai Breakdown

Six Samurai Deck Guide: How to Play

Playstyle and Win Condition

The Six Samurai is an archetype known for swarming the field with multiple monsters, being backed up with quite a lot of support that enables resource replenishing and Special Summoning chaining. This kind of playstyle enables them to go into Extra Deck plays, with dedicated Synchro and Xyz monsters for their archetype.

Part of what makes Six Samurai was their ability to swarm the field with Special Summons, either summoning themselves or another card from the hand, Deck or Graveyard. Using their effects one after another, it would not be hard to have the entire field be filled with Six Samurai monsters.

Kizan in particular can have multiple copies Special Summoned from the hand if the player has them ready to go, and Kageki being able to Special Summon a fellow Level 4 or lower Six Samurai after being Normal Summon enables possible Synchro, Xyz and Link plays.

Gateway of the Six in particular is what enables so much resource control on top of the multiple Special Summons, and when paired with Shien's Dojo can Special Summon a Six Samurai straight from the Deck should it have enough Bushido Counters to match the monster's level. Just remember: Gateway of the Six is not restricted; so long as you have the Bushido Counters needed, you can activate its effects.

A surprising aspect to this Deck comes with a wide variety of lockdown effects, negates in particular being plentiful to protect the monsters on the field.

Legendary Six Samurai - Shi En is known for its Spell/Trap negate. In which protects your deck from field wipes like Raigeki and Lightning Storm.

Apollousa, Bow of the Goddess works perfectly for a swarming Deck like Six Samurai, and is sure meet four Effect Monsters as its maximum material requirement with ease.

Core Combos and Interactions

Six Samurai Sample Combo 1

Cards On Hand
x2+ + +
1	Activate Six Samurai United and the two copies of Shien's Dojo.
2	Normal Summon Legendary Six Samurai - Kageki, and activate its effect to Special Summon Secret Six Samurai - Kizaru from the hand. Six Samurais United Bushido Counters: 2 Shien's Dojos' Bushido Counters: 2
3	Activate the effect of Six Samurai United; send it to the Graveyard, and draw 2 cards.
4	Activate the effect of the first Shien's Dojo which has 2 Bushido Counters; send it to the Graveyard, and Special Summon Secret Six Samurai - Fuma. Shien's Dojo Bushido Counters: 3
5	Using Secret Six Samurai - Fuma and Secret Six Samurai - Kizaru as materials, Synchro Summon Legendary Six Samurai - Shi En. Shien's Dojo Bushido Counters: 4
6	Activate the effect of the first Shien's Dojo which now has 4 Bushido Counters; send it to the Graveyard, and Special Summon from the Deck Legendary Six Samurai - Kizan

No Field Spell Active
	X
-	-	-	-	-

Six Samurai Combo 2

Cards On Hand
+ +
1	Activate Gateway of the Six and Reinforcement of the Army; add a copy of Secret Six Samurai - Fuma to your hand.
2	Normal Summon Secret Six Samurai - Fuma; and immediately afterwards using its effect, Special Summon Legendary Six Samurai - Kizan from the hand. Gateway of the Six Bushido Counters: 4
3	Use the effect of Gateway of the Six by spending 4 Bushido Counters; search out a second copy of Legendary Six Samurai - Kizan from the Deck to the hand.
4	Using the Legendary Six Samurai - Kizan and Secret Six Samurai - Fuma on the field as materials, Synchro Summon Legendary Six Samurai - Shi En. Gateway of the Six Bushido Counters: 2
5	Special Summon the second copy of Legendary Six Samurai - Kizan from the hand Gateway of the Six Bushido Counters: 4
6	Use the effect of Gateway of the Six by spending 4 Bushido Counters; search out a third copy of Legendary Six Samurai - Kizan from the Deck to the hand.
7	Special Summon the second copy of Legendary Six Samurai - Kizan from the hand Gateway of the Six Bushido Counters: 2
8	Using the two copies of Legendary Six Samurai - Kizan on the field as material, Xyz Summon Shadow of the Six Samurai - Shien. Gateway of the Six Bushido Counters: 4
9	Use the effect of Gateway of the Six by spending 4 Bushido Counters; search out a second copy of Grandmaster of the Six Samurai from the Deck to the hand; Special Summon it afterwards. Gateway of the Six Bushido Counters: 2

No Field Spell Active
			X
-	-	-	-	-

Sample Hand Loop Combo

Despite having to use a full hand for this combo, this is still possible as long as you manage to invest enough Bushido Counter on Gateway of the Six.

Cards On Hand
x2+ + + 1 any card
1	Activate both Six Samurai United then Normal Summon Kageki and use its effect to Special Summon Secret of the Six Samurai from your hand. Bushido Counters on Field: 4
2	Link Summon Battle Shogun of the Six Samurai using Secret of the Six Samurai and Kageki as materials. Activate its effect by discarding the random card in your hand to add Gateway of the Six from the deck and activate it. Bushido Counters on Field: 4
3	Activate Gateway of the Six by removing 4 Bushido Counters to add Kizan from the Deck and Special Summon it to a zone where Battle Shogun points to. Do this twice. Bushido Counters on Field: 6
4	Overlay the 2 Kizan to Xyz Summon Shadow of the Six Samurai - Shien to a zone where Battle Shogun points to. Activate Gateway of the Six by removing 4 Bushido Counters to add the third Kizan from the Deck to then Special Summon it to a zone where Battle Shogun points to. Bushido Counters on Field: 12
5	Activate Gateway of the Six by removing 4 Bushido Counters to add Grandmaster of the Six Samurai from the Deck. Link Summon Isolde using Shien and Kizan as materials then add Kageki from the Deck using its effect. Bushido Counters on Field: 8
6	Activate Gateway of the Six by removing 4 Bushido Counters to add Kizan from the Graveyard to hand. Then Special Summon Kizan to a zone where Battle Shogun points to (if possible). Do this three times. Bushido Counters on Field: 9
7	Overlay the 3 Kizan to Xyz Summon Evilswarm Ouroboros. Then activate its effect to send 1 card from your opponent's hand to the Graveyard. Bushido Counters on Field: 9
8	Activate Isolde's effect by Sending Fleuret de Fleur from the Deck to the Graveyard to Special Summon Fuma from the Deck to a zone Battle Shogun points to. Bushido Counters on Field: 14
9	Activate Gateway of the Six by removing 4 Bushido Counters to add Kizan from the Graveyard. Special Summon Kizan then Synchro Summon Legendary Six Samurai - Shi En using Fuma and Kizan as materials. Bushido Counters on Field: 19
10	Activate Gateway of the Six by removing 4 Bushido Counters to add Fuma from the Graveyard. Special Summon Kizan and Grandmaster of the Six Samurai from hand. Bushido Counters on Field: 19
11	Link Summon Saryuja using Grandmaster, Battle Shogun, Ouroboros, and Isolde as materials. Activate Saryuja's on Summon Effect to Draw cards. Return to the bottom of deck any non-extender cards. Bushido Counters on Field: 19
12	Activate Gateway of the Six by removing 4 Bushido Counters to add Kizan from the Graveyard. Do this twice. Special Summon the 2 Kizan that were added. Bushido Counters on Field: 19
13	Activate Gateway of the Six by removing 4 Bushido Counters to add Fuma from the Graveyard. Activate Saryuja's effect to Special Summon Fuma from hand. Synchro Summon Trishula using 2 Kizan and Fuma as materials. Activate Trishula's on Summon effect to send a card on your opponent's hand to the Graveyard. Bushido Counters on Field: 19
14	Activate Gateway of the Six by removing 4 Bushido Counters to add Kizan from the Graveyard. Do this twice. Special Summon the 2 Kizan that were added. Bushido Counters on Field: 19
15	Xyz Summon Daigusto Emeral using the 2 Kizan as materials then use its effect to return back Ouroboros and 2 other cards to the Deck to draw 1 card. Bushido Counters on Field: 19
16	Link Summon Apollousa, Bow of the Goddess using Saryuja, Kizan, Emeral, and Trishula as materials. Bushido Counters on Field: 19
17	Activate Gateway of the Six by removing 4 Bushido Counters to add Kizan from the Graveyard. Do this three times Special Summon all 3 Kizan that were added. Bushido Counters on Field: 17
18	Overlay the 3 Kizan to Xyz Summon Evilswarm Ouroboros. Then activate its effect to send 1 card from your opponent's hand to the Graveyard. Bushido Counters on Field: 17

No Field Spell Active
	3200 Atk		X
2 Bushido Counters	2 Bushido Counters	13 Bushido Counters	-	-

Notes:

This combo can also be done in various ways, as long as Gateway of the Six is active on the Field.
In this combo, with Ouroboros activating twice, and Trishula being summoned, the opponent's already been ripped off of 3 cards in their hand.

Alternatively, instead of opting for Ouroboros recycling in Step 15, you can directly go for a Rhongomyniad play instead. Assuming you already have the proper extender to have 4 Level 4 Warriors on the Field.

Sample Extenders for this are Monster Reborn, Shade Brigandine, Shien's Dojo (with 4 Bushido Counters), World Legacy Succession, and various Equip Spell cards.

Alternative Options

Fusion Engine

Since the deck can easily utilize Saryuja, it can easily dig into the Fusion Spells in the deck.

Instant Fusion and Ready Fusion can act as an extender as it lets you Fusion Summon a Level 4 Warrior Monster (that can later be used as an Xyz Material).

Instant Contact works the same since the Neo-Spacian archetype also have a Level 4 Warrior Fusion Monster.

Other Equip Spells

The roles of Equip Spells in this deck is just a fodder for Isolde's cost. So any alternative Equip Spells will do. Some of them are better since they can act as an extender since they Special Summon from the Graveyard.

Boss Monsters

	Legendary Six Samurai - Shi En
	The first boss monster of this archetype, Legendary Six Samurai - Shi En comes equipped with a once-per-turn negate for Spells or Traps. It might not have the most firepower with only 2500 ATK, but its ability to negate Spells and Traps makes it a very fine addition to the Deck.
	Shadow of the Six Samurai - Shien
	The Xyz boss monster among the Six Samurai, Shadow of the Six Samurai - Shien provides an ample ATK boost to fellow Six Samurai monsters, increasing their original ATK to 2000 and further increase the chance to commit to an OTK with a swarm of monsters. Outside of
	Number 86: Heroic Champion - Rhongomyniad
	While this Deck may have trouble achieving its 5 or more Xyz Material effect win condition, Number 86: Heroic Champion - Rhongomyniad is still a powerful threat the opponent has to consider dealing with. Summoning the Xyz Mosnter with three materials can make it immune to card effects for a turn, unable to be destroyed by battle and let it boast a hefty stat boost.
	Saryuja Skull Dread
	Saryuja Skull Dread benefits from having more materials used for its Link Summoning, which is made easier as its only prerequiste being needing Effect Monsters. Providing a stat boost, a Special Summon once per turn, and the ability to provide card advantage, this card can be quite a powerful monster on top of its 2800 ATK.

Six Samurai Counters: How to Beat

Best Decks to Use Against Six Samurai

Compared to other Decks and archetypes, Six Samurai has somewhat stagnated, even with the introduction of its own Link Monster. Most of the Tier 1 and Tier 2 decks can easily beat this Deck, but these are the top three that can do it in style.

Floowandereeze

Floowandereeze is a strong Control Deck contending in the meta. It can also disrupt the Graveyard thanks to Dimension Shifter. Floowandereeze can easily setup the field making it hard for Six Samurai to climb back when faced with a consistent control deck.
Floowandereeze Deck Guide

Eldlich Control

If an Eldlich Control Deck goes first against Six Samurais, they have free reign to put up their control on the field without fear of negates coming from Legendary Six Samurai - Shi En.

All Eldlich Deck Lists
Eldlich Control	Budget Eldlich

Tri-Brigade

Tri-Brigade Decks maintain their advantage for far longer, being able to use the Graveyard as a secondary resource and Link Summon their signature monsters. Six Samurai's pace is s low compared to Tri-Brigade Decks, and their ability to swarm the field is not enough to overcome the latter's control and consistency.

Tri-Brigade Deck Lists
Pure Tri-Brigade	Zoodiac
Bird Up	Spright

Best Cards to Tech Against Six Samurai

	Summon Limit
	Combos can quickly get out of hand for a Six Samurai player, involving quite a lot of Special Summons. Summon Limit is an underrated Contiuous Trap that bottlenecks the ability of both players to summon, making sure that their two summons count from the get-go.
	Dark Ruler No More
	The trade-off for negating all Effect Monsters on the field may be to not deal damage for the rest of the turn, but it is a price worth paying to activate Dark Ruler No More. It further helps that the opponent cannot use monster effects in response to the activation of this Spell Card.
	The Winged Dragon of Ra - Sphere Mode
	The Deck can easily finish their turn having three or more monsters on the field. The Winged Dragon of Ra - Sphere Mode is the perfect monster to wipe out some of the more problematic monsters without having to target or destroy them, instead turning them into tribute fodder.
	Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring
	Quite a number of cards in this Deck have card searches, especially the Spell Cards that help get the needed Monster Cards from the Deck to the player's hand. Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring should help stop at least one of the searches and leaves the opponent with a negative in card advantage.
	Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit
	Ghost Ogre can gravely slow down or potentially shut down Six Samurai if Gateway of the Six is destroyed by Ghost Ogre.

Related Packs to Six Samurai

Blazing Warriors	Glacial Seal
Great Shogun's Rule	Guided by the Noble Blade
Indomitable Knights	Invaders from Outer Space
Legacy Pack	Master Pack
Number Recall	Ties to Mother Nature
Yearning Evil Body

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