Summon the three Arcana Knights to call upon the legendary Egyptian God, Slifer the Sky Dragon! Slifer Arcana Knights is an Aggro deck in Yu-Gi-Oh Master Duel. Check out the core deck list, key combos, as well as how to play & counters!

Slifer Arcana Knights Deck List

Main Deck: 44 cards
x3	x3	x3	x3	x3
x3	x1	x1	x1	x3
x2	x3	x3	x2	x2
x2	x1	x1	x1	x2
Extra Deck: 15 cards
x1	x1	x1	x1	x1
x1	x1	x1	x1	x1
x1	x1	x1	x1	x1

Slifer Arcana Knights Breakdown

Tier List Evaluation

Tier Ranking
Rogue Tier
Deck Archetype		Deck Difficulty
Aggro		Hard
Deck Evaluation
Arcana Knights can swarm the field; a proper combo can let the player have three monsters on the field easily This benefits Slifer the Sky Dragon, which gets stronger for every card on hand There is dedicated support for the Egyptian God Card, which ties the two archetypes together cohesively

Slifer Arcana Knights Deck Guide: How to Play

Playstyle and Win Condition

The Arcana Knights were once seen as support to a legendary King of Games, being fodder for tribute for a certain Egyptian God Card. This Deck takes that strategy and fleshes it out more, providing more aggression while paving the way to more powerful monsters to be summoned.

Main Deck Monsters

These three monster cards are the core basis of the Deck's strategy. Most of the strategy comes from having all three of the "Arcana Knight" monsters out on the field.

Usually, King's Knight is summoned whenever Queen's Knight is on the field. Once summoned while the latter is on the field, it triggers the effect, and players can summon Jack's Knight from the Deck for free.

Joker's Knight is a cheat to complete the trio of monsters. It takes on the name of the card it sends from the Deck to the GY after being Special Summoned through its own effect, thereby often being a filler monster.

Imperial Bower helps getting monsters on the field as soon as possible, and a great monster to lead at the start of the Duel. It can only activate its effect when it's the only monster on the field, but being able to search or Special Summon two monsters from the Deck is extremely useful.

Having the three knights on the field is the center of the strategy, so players have to find some flexibility in utilizing the monsters on the field.

For example Slifer the Sky Dragon is the associated Egyptian God Card with them, and is often brought out with the help of a Quick-Play Spell. This monster forces the opponent to think about how they summon monsters once it's on the field.

Royal Straight Slasher can only be brought out through a certain card, and has an effect with an extremely hard condition to fulfill. When it does, however, it's a free field wipe, and when destroyed by battle it can Special Summon up to 3 LIGHT Warrior monsters--which is basically all of the "Arcana Knight" monsters.

The last main Deck boss monster would be Arcana Triumph Joker. This monster gets stronger for every card in both players' hands, which is extremely good if the opponent plays Maxx "C". By discarding a card, it can also destroy all cards the opponent controls with the same type--Monster, Spell or Trap.

The hand traps, besides providing control against the opponent's shenanigans, also have a secondary use in fulfilling the effect of Royal Straight Slasher of having one monster each from Levels 1 to 5.

Spell and Trap Cards

Joker's Straight is the most crucial Spell Card in the Deck, Special Summoning a Queen's Knight from the Deck, adding either a King's Knight or Jack's Knight to the add, and providing an additional Normal Summon afterwards. It may lock the player out of non-LIGHT Warrior monsters from the Extra Deck, but it is well worth getting immediate card advantage on the field.

Unexpected Dai is a quick way to get Queen's Knight on the field, while Reinforcement of the Army can search out a Level 4 Warrior monster--ideally King's Knight or Imperial Bower.

Royal Straight provides an easy way to summon key monsters like Royal Straight Slasher, Arcana Triumph Joker or Arcana Knight Joker easier. It can summon any of those monsters from basically anywhere.

Thunderspeed Summon is the card that can help you cheat out Slifer, the Sky Dragon, and the best part is that it can be activated during the Battle Phase, thereby being able to launch an attack as soon as it is Normal Summoned.. This card also works with Arcana Triumph Joker.

The Utopia OTK is also possible in this Deck, thanks with the effect of Double or Nothing! possibly raising the ATK of Number 39: Utopia to at least 10,000 ATK. That might be enough for an OTK.

The only Trap Card in this Deck, Joker's Wild takes on the effect of a Spell Card that mentions all three of the "Arcana Knights", making them able to activate those effects even during the opponent's turn.

Extra Deck Monsters

Arcana Knight Joker is the only Fusion Monster in this Deck Recipe, and can be cheated out with Royal Straight. It has a once-per-turn omni-negate, but the player has to discard the same type of card that matches the activated effect.

If PSY-Framegear Gamma manages to trigger its effect during your own turn, the player can use it and PSY-Frame Driver for PSY-Framelord Omega. Banishing a random card from the opponent's hand once per turn can disrupt their plans if the banished card is very important.

If a Deck runs Number 39: Utopia, then its most common variants like Number 39: Utopia Double are also expected to be added. The former can be used for an OTK strategy, with a possible 10,000 ATK if all conditions are met.

Number S39: Utopia the Lightning is another common variant of Utopia, and besides its ATK-boosting effect, is the perfect card to transition into Divine Arsenal AA-ZEUS - Sky Thunder

For Link Monsters, the Deck uses quite a lot of staples. Knightmare Phoenix, Knightmare Unicorn and I:P Masquerena are popular across any Deck that can Link Summon, and it remains no different in this Deck.

Isolde, Two Tales of the Noble Knights is an extra addition because of the Warrior-type focus of this Deck, and provides a free search of a Warrior monster from the Deck. It also synergizes well with Living Fossil and Infernoble Knight - Renaud.

Draco Masters of the Teny is also a special addition, being completely safe in battle against any Effect Monster. It also provides card destruction equal to the number of non-Effect monsters you control and are in your GY, which can add up really quickly.

Arcana Extra Joker is the archetype boss Link monster, and it needs three Warrior-type monsters with different names as material. It provides protection to itself and monsters in Main Monster Zones it points to, and can provide a Special Summon and a search when it is destroyed by battle.

Accesscode Talker and Mekk-Knight Crusadia Avramax are staple LINK-4 monsters that match the Deck's aggro playstyle. Both monsters are very strong in battle, and enjoy specific immunities from card effects if conditions are fulfilled.

Core Combos and Interactions

The aim of this Deck is to get the three "Arcana Knights" monsters on the field as soon as possible, providing the plays like going into Slifer the Sky Dragon, Arcana Knight Joker or Arcana Extra Joker.

The following combos are meant to be openers to get those three monsters on the field as soon as possible.

Unexpected Dai and King's Knight Opener

So long as you have these two specific cards, you can get all three Arcana Knights on the field in one turn. This is the simplest combo of the Deck, and can go into different plays depending on the game state.

Card(s) Needed
Step	Description
1	Activate Unexpected Dai, to Special Summon a copy of Queen's Knight straight from the Deck.
2	Normal Summon King's Knight afterwards. Its effect triggers because Queen's Knight is already on the field; Special Summon a copy of Jack's Knight straight from the Deck.

Joker's Knight and King's Knight Opener

Joker's Knight can work as an alternate option if it's in your hand, since it can take up the name of an "Arcana Knight" monster.

Card(s) Needed
Step	Description
1	Activate Joker's Knight from the hand; send a copy of Queen's Knight from the Deck to the GY, and Special Summon Joker's Knight afterwards. Through its effect, it adopts the name of "Queen's Knight" on the field until the End Phase.
2	Normal Summon King's Knight afterwards. Its effect triggers because Queen's Knight is already on the field; Special Summon a copy of Jack's Knight straight from the Deck.

### Imperial Bower and Joker's Knight Opener Players can still get three of the "Arcana Knights" on the field if the player starts off with the support cards Imperial Bower and Joker's Knight.

Card(s) Needed
Step	Description
1	Normal Summon Imperial Bower. Make sure it's the only monster you control upon being summoned.
2	Activate its effect, tribute it, and Special Summon from the Deck a copy of King's Knight and Queen's Kight.
3	Activate Joker's Knight from the hand; send a copy of Queen's Knight from the Deck to the GY, and Special Summon Joker's Knight afterwards. Through its effect, it adopts the name of "Queen's Knight" on the field until the End Phase.

Imperial Bower into Utopia

Just in case the only playable card you have on hand is Imperial Bower, players can make use of its effect to switch into playing Number 39: Utopia.

Card(s) Needed
Step	Description
1	Normal Summon Imperial Bower. Make sure it's the only monster you control upon being summoned.
2	Activate its effect, tribute it, and Special Summon from the Deck a copy of King's Knight and Queen's Kight.
3	Using King's Knight and Queen's Knight as materials, Xyz Summon Number 39: Utopia Double.
4	Activate the effect of Number 39: Utopia Double; detach one material, and search out a copy of Double or Nothing! from the Deck. Then, using itself and its attached material, Xyz Summon Number 39: Utopia. As Utopia Double is being used as material, the ATK of Number 39: Utopia is doubled.
5	Go into Battle Phase, and launch an attack with Number 39: Utopia, but activate its effect to negate its own attack. Then, activate Double or Nothing!, further boosting its ATK by double again. It should have 10,000 ATK as it is able to launch a second attack.

Boss Monsters

	Slifer the Sky Dragon
	The ATK of Slifer the Sky Dragon is determined by the number of cards on the player's hand. Immaculate card advantage has to be maintained to give this monster proper strength. It also reduces the ATK of Special Summoned monsters by 2000, and are automatically destroyed if it reaches 0 via this effect.
	Arcana Knight Joker
	Arcana Knight Joker is the only Fusion Monster in this Deck Recipe, and fortunately players don't need any Polymerization-esque cards to bring it out. It brings power on the field, as well as control through negating effects that target this card.
	Arcana Extra Joker
	Arcana Extra Joker is a retrain for Arcana Knight Joker, and has the same negation effect, only this time providing it to monsters on Zones this card points to. When destroyed by battle, it provides a free Special Summon and search of Level 4 Warrior monsters at the same time.
	Accesscode Talker
	A staple for Decks that can run LINK-3 monsters, Accesscode Talker is a great endgame boss monster. Often it can be summoned with 5300 ATK since it can be brought out using a LINK-3 monster as material, and the opponent cannot respond to this monster's card-destroying effect.
	Number 39: Utopia
	Number 39: Utopia is in this due to the quick combo involving Number 39: Utopia Double and Double or Nothing!. When played right, an attack from this monster can hit for 5000 ATK, or even 10000 AKT when boosted further with Number 6: Dugares the Timeless.
	Divine Arsenal AA-ZEUS - Sky Thunder
	After attacking with an Xyz Monster, players can bring out Divine Arsenal AA-ZEUS - Sky Thunder. It has a quick effect that completely clears the field of all other cards without destroying them, and provided it has enough materials attached, it can activate this effect multiple times in one turn.

Slifer Arcana Knights Counters: How to Beat

Best Decks to Use Against Slifer Arcana Knights

Branded Despia

Most of the Main Deck monsters and boss monsters from the archetype are LIGHT monsters, and the Branded Despia Decks will most certainly take advantage of this in some way. Cards like Fallen of Albaz or Super Polymerization will take advantage of this fact.

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

Spright

As of writing, Sprights are the dominant control Deck, with a near-unbreakable board when it manages to commit to a full combo. If this Deck manages to go first, it will be extremely hard to defeat the Spright monsters that have swarmed the field because of their negates.

Spright Deck Lists
Pure		Runick		Evil★Twin
Tri-Brigade		Melffy		Gishki

Runick

If Runick manages to go first against the Slifer Arcana Knights Deck, they will be able to set up their Spell Cards on hand and in the GY for their loop of constant resource refreshing. If they go second, they have ways of responding against your own cards. Their Spell Cards have to be dealt with first.

Runick Deck List & Card Guide

Best Cards to Tech Against Slifer Arcana Knights

	Nibiru, the Primal Being
	Depending on how the Deck's combo goes, it can absolutely break five summons in a single turn. That's the perfect time to activate Nibiru, the Primal Being and clear their field of monsters in one fell swoop.
	Effect Veiler
	Most of the effects coming from monsters are triggered on the field. Effect Veiler can effectively neutralize a combo before it can even start when used at the right time.
	Naturia Beast
	Aside from monster effects, the Deck is reliant on Spell Cards to complete their field. Naturia Beast can negate Spell Cards multiple times in one turn, and all it needs is to mill two cards from the Deck to the GY. This Synchro Monster is especially dangerous if the Deck likes to be milled.
	Summon Limit
	When active, both players are restricted to only two overall summons per turn. Summon Limit effectively limits the number of monsters that can be brought out per turn, forcing the player to choose the monster to summon very carefully.
	Anti-Spell Fragrance
	Anti-Spell Fragrance serves as a floodgate against the activation of Spell Cards, delaying them for a turn. This is perfect for Stun Decks and Control Decks that like to disrupt the opponent as much as they can.

Related Packs to Slifer Arcana Knights

Champions of Hope	Dragon Spirit
Guided by the Noble Blade	Legacy Pack
Master Pack	New Step for Duelists
Number Recall	Pledge of Sword
Soldiers from the Storm	Space-Time Transcendents
Star-Studded Futures	The Great Olds

Yu-Gi-Oh Master Duel Related Guides

Yu-Gi-Oh Master Duel Deck Archetypes

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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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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