The Branded Fusion has begun making its rounds in the meta of Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel, and certain Zombies are getting a buff because of it! Read on to learn more about how the general playstyle works, the key cards needed and tips to play against this Deck, and more!

Branded Fusion Decks
Branded Tri-Brigade	Branded Despia
Branded Cyber Dragon	Branded Zombies
Branded Ishizu	Branded Dragonmaids

Branded Zombie Deck List

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

Branded Zombie Breakdown

Branded Zombie Deck Guide: How to Play

Playstyle and Win Condition

The Branded Fusion engine's style of control-based Fusion Monsters has made its rounds in the current meta of Master Duel, and Zombies just so happen to be one of the many archetypes that it can work with. Debilitating effects, numerous hand traps, and powerful Fusion Monsters on the field are all par for the course for this Deck.

Aluber the Jester of Despia and Fallen of Albaz are classic staples for their respective archetypes that provide the combo necessary, with Aluber being able to search out any Branded card, which leads to Branded Fusion. It might lock the player into only being able to use Fusion Monsters in the Extra Deck, but being able to use materials straight from the Main Deck makes the boss monsters very accessible.

Despian Comedy and Despian Tragedy are perfect Fusion fodder to use Branded Fusion on. Tragedy in particular has two separate effects that lets it search out a card either from the Deck or from the Graveyard. Comedy on the other hand acts as a hand trap to protect your Despia cards, and can Special Summon itself from the Graveyard by tributing a Fusion Monster you control.

Dramaturge of Despia is an easy-to-summon monster that acts as an anti-Extra Deck Monster counter, being able to negate amonster's effects if either a Fusion, Synchro, Xyz or Link Monster is Special Summoned onto the field. On top of that, when used as Fusion Material, this card can Special Summon itself.

Mirrorjade, Masquerade, Titaniklad, Lubellion and Albion are the five Fusion Monsters that come with the Branded Fusion engine. Because the Fusion Monsters in the Extra Deck in this Deck Recipe are more reserved for the Cyber Dragons, it's recommended to have only one copy of each of the five, but players can adjust accordingly to their tastes.

Being able to Fusion Summon using Lubellion the Searing Dragon's effect after being Fusion Summoned itself makes it very strong, but then shuffling the monster materials from the Graveyard and even face-up Banished Cards back to the Deck simply provides even more resources in the long run, allowing the player to use Aluber's and Albaz's effects trigger once they have it again.

Boosting the control playstyle would be a couple of Zombie monsters that provided additional protection on top of a unique way of controlling the field. Zombie World's effect of turning all monsters on the field into Zombies does not affect the Braded combos, but the card combo it can provide can start through the Branded Fusion engine.

The idea is to send Necroworld Banshee and Doomking Balerdroch. The former has to be there first, as it can be banished from the GY to activate the field spell straight from the Deck. If it's on the field, Banshee provides protection to Zombie World from targeting and non-targeting card effects. Balerdroch can then be Special Summoned from the GY because of Zombie World being a Field Spell, and has a negate for Zombie monsters--again, aided by Zombie World..

Dragonecro Nethersoul Dragon is a great way to make use of all monsters on the field being Zombie Monsters (like using Fallen of Albaz's effect). Any monnster that battles this card, even with having lesser ATK than this monster, will not be destroyed. Instead, their ATK will be drained to 0, and a token will be summoned that will have the original stats as the drained monster.

Core Combos and Interactions

Sample Hand 1

Sample Hand
Step	Description
1	Activate Branded Opening; discard Dramaturge of Despia and then Special Summon from the Deck Despian Tragedy.
2	Activate Branded in Red from the hand, targeting the discarded Dramaturge of Despia. Send it back to the hand, and use it and Despian Tragedy as materials to be banished to Fusion Summon Masquerade the Blazing Dragon.
3	Activate Dramaturge of Despia as Chain Link 1, then activate Despian Tragedy as Chain Link 2. Chain Link 2: Through Despian Tragedy's Effect, search out Aluber the Jeter of Despia from the Deck to the hand. Chain Link 1: Through Dramaturge's Effect, Special Summnon it back to the field.
4	Normal Summon Aluber the Jeter of Despia, and activate its effect; search out a copy of Branded Retribution from the Deck to add to the hand, then Set it.
5	Activate Branded Fusion; send Necroworld Banshee and Fallen of Albaz from the Deck to the GY as materials, then Fusion Summon Lubellion the Searing Dragon.
6	Activate Lubellion the Searing Dragon as Chain Link 1, then activate Necroworld Banshee as Chain Link 2. Chain Link 2: Through Necroworld Banshee's Effect, banish it from the GY, then activate Zombie World straight from the Deck into the Field Spell Zone. Chain Link 1: Through Lubellion's Effect; shuffle Fallen of Albaz from the GY, and Lubellion itself back to the Deck, Fusion Summon Mirrorjade the Iceblade Dragon.

No Field Spell Active
			X
	-			-
(Set)	-	-	-	-

Sample Hand 2

Sample Hand
Step	Description
1	If you go second, activate Raigeki. This is to either bait out a negate, or to clear the opponent's field of monsters if they cannot negate the Spell.
2	Normal Summon Aluber the Jester of Despia and activate its effect; search out Branded in Red to add to the hand.
3	Activate Foolish Burial to send Necroworld Banshee from the Deck to the GY. Then, activate Banshee's effect to banish itself, to activate Zombie World from the Deck to the Field Spell Zone.
4	Activate Branded Fusion; using Doomking Balerdroch and Fallen of Albaz as materials sent from the Deck to the GY, Fusion Summon Lubellion the Searing Dragon.
5	Activate Lubellion's effect, and shuffle itself and Fallen of Albaz in the GY back to their respective Decks, to Fusion Summon Mirrorjade the Iceblade Dragon.
Pass to Opponent's Turn
6	During the Standby Phase, when prompted, activate Doomking Balerdroch from the GY; Special Summoon it onto the field.

Field Spell Active: Zombie World
			X
	-		-	-
-	-	-	-	-

Branded Zombie Counters: How to Beat

Best Decks to Use Against Branded Zombie

Branded Despia

Branded Despia can be considered the best Deck in the game as of writing's current meta. Its ability to control the pace with a couple of Masquerades on the field, the ability to Fusion Summon during your own turn with Branded in Red, and the more dedicated synergy between the two archetypes makes it a far better Deck compared to Branded Zombie.

Branded Despia Deck Guide

Floowandereeze

While Floowandereeze players dread the burn effect from Masquerade, it is still a very strong card in the current metagame. The fact that it can do Normal Summons instead of Special Summons during the opponent's turn means it could surprise any Branded Fusion-using player with effects before they were even done setting up.

Floowandereeze Deck Guide

Dragon Link

Depending on how hot the start of a Dragon Link player gets if they get the first turn, the card advantage they can generate with their Deck (which are one of the rare ones that are comfortable maxing to 60 cards) can become insurmountable. When properly set up, their boss monsters will have negates for days, which will completely stop the playstyle of Branded-based decks.

Dragon Link Deck Guide

Best Cards to Tech Against Branded Zombie

	Masquerade the Blazing Dragon
	Masquerade the Blazing Dragon pressures the opponent into using as few effects as possible, as for every effect that resolves, this monster deals burn damage--and it has no restriction. A popular strategy involving this Fusion Monster is to get 2 or even all 3 copies summoned to the field, daring the opponent to burn itself to defeat for every effect they activate and resolve.
	Mirrorjade the Iceblade Dragon
	Mirrorjade the Iceblade Dragon may have a very daunting Fusion Material requirement of needing either a Fusion, Synchro, Xyz or Link Monster besides Fallen of Albaz, but this new card quickly became a Branded Deck's top boss monster. It can banish a monster from the field every other turn, and it also has a floating effect that destroys all Attack Position the monsters the opponent controls.
	Predaplant Dragostapelia
	Predaplan Dragostapelia, for its Quick Effect of negating Monster Effects through Predaplant counters, has a deceptively easy Fusion material requirement to fulfill. Any two non-token DARK monsters are enough, and through the help of Super Polymerizatio, bringing this monster out is almost cheating if the opponent's boss monsters happen to be DARK monsters as well.
	Guardian Chimera
	Another Fusion boss monster with a deceptively easy Fusion material requirement, Guardian Chimera needs three monsters with different names. Depending on whether they come from the hand or field, its summon brings along effects--draw cards equal to the number of materials from the hand, and destroy cards equal to the number of materials from the field.
	Dragonecro Nethersoul Dragon
	The premiere generic Zombie boss monster, Dragonecro Nethersoul Dragon stays true to its monster classificiation, with monsters not being destroyed when it battles this monster. Afterwards, it drains the ATK of monsters it battles to 0. Then it spawns Tokens for the player to use at their discretion.
	Doomking Balerdroch
	Doomking Balerdroch maybe a Level 8 monster, but it is pretty easy to summon so long as this is in the Graveyard, and there is a Field Spell face-up on your side of the field. With the help of Necroworld Banshee combo with Zombie World, it can be brought out. With the correct set up, it now has an negate for effect monsters, and the ability to banish a monster via Quick Effect.

Related Packs to Branded Zombie

Abyssal Underworld	Alba Abyss
Exquisite Jet-Black Rose	Fusion Potential
Invincible Raid	Legacy Pack
Master Pack	Natural Selection
The Newborn Dragon

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