Crystal Beasts Deck List & Card Guide

Crystal Beasts is a Control deck in Yu-Gi-Oh Master Duel, notable for having key monsters become Continuous Spells after beng destroyed. Check out the core deck list, key combos, as well as how to play & counters!

Crystal Beasts Deck List

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

Crystal Beasts Breakdown

Tier Evaluation

Tier Ranking
Tier 2
Deck Archetype		Deck Difficulty
Control		Hard
Deck Evaluation
Crystal Beasts become Continuous Spells/Traps when destroyed, making this its central playstyle Has a powerful Trap Card that can search out any Field Spell, making those cards splashable Aims to summon variations of Rainbow Dragon, which has immediate impact when summoneds

Crystal Beasts Deck Guide: How to Play

Playstyle and Win Condition

Crystal Beast monsters have unqiue effects that let them be turned into Continuous Spells when destroyed by battle or card effect. This fills up the Spell/Trap Zone quickly, however, but there are ways to use them to your avantage.

Main Deck Monsters

Out of all the "Crystal Beast" monsters, a select few are core cards that should be in any variation of the Deck. Crystal Beast Sapphire Pegasus in particular has to be three copies, even though its effect to place monsters on the Spell/Trap Zone upon being summoned does not have any once-per-turn clause.

Crystal Beast Rainbow Dragon was added with the release of the Strong Will Selection Pack, and it provides a free Special Summon of a Level 4 or lower "Crystal Beast" monster, albeit having its effect negated.

Crystal Beast Cobalt Eagle is a free bounce effect once it's summoned, and Crystal Beast Ruby Carbuncle is the swarm effect once it gets Special Summoned.

The original boss monster of the archetype, Rainbow Dragon,

The rest of the monsters in the Main Deck are hand traps that further disrupts the opponents from making any type of plays. Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring deals with searchers and additional draw power, while Maxx "C" gives you your own free draws for every Special Summon the opponent does.

Dimension Shifter is great if this is in your starting hand, and it makes the opponent think twice about using cards lest they want them banished at the start of the Duel. Nemeses Corridor is the Deck Recipe's cheat to Summon Thunder Dragon Colossus.

Spells and Traps

Most notable among the Spell Cards is Rainbow Bridge which searches out any "Crystal" Spell or Trap from the Deck, and Crystal Bond which both searches, and places on the Spell/Trap Zones a "Crystal Beast" monster, generating card advantage unique to the archetype.

Awakening of the Crystal Ultimates can act as a searcher if you happen to have Rainbow Dragon on hand, or a free Special Summon for a "Crystal Beast" monster.

Rainbow Bridge of the Heart provides an additional Normal Summon for a "Crystal Beast" monster, and a bounce effect if a card from the archetype gets placed in the Spell/Trap Zone--and that's on top of the search effect for a Spell/Trap.

There are two Field Spells to take note of for the Deck. Ancient City - Rainbow Ruins gains effects the more "Crystal Beast" monsters there are in your Spell/Trap Zone, which includes an omni-negate, draw and Special Summon.

Necrovalley is there to deal with the pesky Ishizu Cards Deck Engine that is running rampant in multiple Decks.

Crystal Conclave is a crucial part of the Deck, providing a Special Summon as a replacement if a "Crystal Beast" monster gets destroyed via battle or card effect.

Crystal Miracle is an additional protection against dangerous Spell/Trap effects to aid to the Control playstyle.

There Can Be Only One floodgates Decks that have multiple monster types, and forces the opponent to stick with one while the rest are sent to the Graveyard.

Extra Deck Monsters

Cheated out through Nemeses Corridor Thunder Dragon Colossus stops the opponent from being able to use search effects, only being able to get cards via drawing. Against some Decks, this is crippling enough to stop the opponent.

Number 60: Dugares the Timeless provides effects that can either generate advantage or win the game, depending on the need of the player. Light Dragon @Ignister provides good stats as an Xyz Monster, and a card destruction effect.

For Link Monsters, classic staples are pretty much essential. Knightmare Phoenix and Knightmare Unicorn provides control as soon as they are Link Summoned, and are the easiest monsters to use when Link Climbing. Wynn the Wind Charmer, Verdant helps you search out Crystal Beast Sapphire Pegasus when destroyed.

I:P Masquerena can be used to Link Summon during the opponent's turn, and gives the summoned Link Monster immunity to card destruction effects. More often than not, it's used to Special Summon the two other boss Link Monsters.

Accesscode Talker is a huge monster when it hits the field, and its card destruction effect cannot be responded to. Underworld Goddess of the Closed World can use one monster the opponent controls as material, and is a sneaky way to remove a powerful monster off the field.

Core Combos and Interactions

Wynn and Colossus

A simple combo that gets a LINK-2 Monster on the field to start Link Climbing, and Thunder Dragon Colossus to act as a floodgate against the opponent's search effects.

Card(s) Needed
Step	Description
1	Activate Crystal Bond; add a copy of Crystal Beast Rainbow Dragon from the Deck, then place a Crystal Beast Ruby Carbuncle as a Continuous Spell in the Spell/Trap Zone.
2	Normal Summon Crystal Beast Sapphire Pegasus, and activate its effect; place a second copy of Crystal Beast Rainbow Dragon from the Deck to the Spell/Trap Zone as a Continuous Spell.
3	From the Spell/Trap Zone, activate Crystal Beast Rainbow Dragon; banish it, then Special Summon a second copy of Crystal Beast Sappire Pegasus from the Deck, but negate its effect.
4	Special Summon Nemesis Corridor from the hand by shuffling the banished copy of Crystal Beast Sapphire Pegasus back into the Deck. Then, tribute it to Special Summon Thunder Dragon Colossus afterwards.
5	Using the two copies of Crystal Beast Sapphire Pegasus as materails, Link Summon Wynn the Wind Charmer, Verdant.
6	OPTIONAL If your opponent has a WIND monster in their GY upon Link Sumonning Wynn the Wind Charmer, Verdant, Special Summon it to your side of the field.

No Active Field Spell
			X
-				-

Control Combo

Let's say your opponent has a set up a field where they cannot respond to effects that bounces a card they control back to their hand; this is a simple combo that lets your have two

Card(s) Needed
Step	Description
1	Activate Rainbow Bridge of the Heart. Afterwards, activate Crystal Bond; search out a copy of Crystal Beast Sapphire Pegasus from the Deck to your hand, then place a copy of Crystal Beast Rainbow Dragon as a Continuous Spell in the Spell/Trap Zone.
2	Upon placing Crystal Beast Rainbow Dragon to the Spell/Trap Zone, trigger the secondnd effect of Rainbow Bridge of the Heart; target itself, and one of the opponent's cards to send back to the hand. Afterwards, activate it again face-up on the field.
3	Normal Summon Crystal Beast Sapphire Pegasus, and activate its effect upon being Summoned; place a copy of Crystal Beast Ruby Carbuncle from the Deck to the Spell/Trap Zone as a Continuous Spell.
4	Activate Ancient City - Rainbow Ruins. With two Crystal Beast monsters in your Spell/Trap Zone, it can use its effect negation. NOTE: The effect negation is not once per turn; you can activate it as many times as you'd like, so long as you control a "Crystall Beast" monster.

Active Field Spell: Ancient City - Rainbow Ruins
	X		X
-				-

Boss Monsters

	Thunder Dragon Colossus
	Thunder Dragon Colossus is added here due to the synergy it has with Nemeses Corridor. Once on the field, it prevents the opponent from using search effects, only able to add cards to their hand by drawing. It can also protect itself from card destruction effects by banishing a Thunder-type monster.
	Number 41: Bagooska the Terribly Tired Tapir
	More often than not, Number 41: Bagooska the Terribly Tired Tapir is summoned in Defense Position for its ability to negate monster effects and force non-Link Monsters in Defense Position. This monster is also a good pivot to go into Divine Arsenal AA-ZEUS - Sky Thunder once it has one material left.
	Divine Arsenal AA-ZEUS - Sky Thunder
	Getting the field clear of all cards is the key effect of Divine Arsenal AA-ZEUS - Sky Thunder, especially when an Xyz Monster with materials gets to attack in the battle phase. It can also attach a card as material to refresh its effect if another card is destroyed by battle or the opponent's card effect.
	Accesscode Talker
	Another easy monster to summon due to halving a LINK-3 monster, Accesscode Talker is the best LINK-4 Monster in the game. A free 3000 ATK boost if summoned using a LINK-3 monster, and being able to destroy cards on the field completely uninterrupted makes this card a good game-winning monster.
	Underworld Goddess of the Closed World
	Underworld Goddess of the Closed World can use one of the monsters the opponent controls as material, making even some of the toughest monsters to remove from the field vulnerable. Only targeting effects can deal with this card, and it can negate Effects that try to Special Summon a monster from the Graveyard.

Crystal Beasts Counters: How to Beat

Best Decks to Use Against Crystal Beasts

Eldlich Control

If Eldlich Control can stop the Crystal Beasts from getting to their key monsters like Rainbow Dragon, it will be an objective win for them. Having cards on the field to serve as floodgates against the Crystal Beasts is the win condition against this Deck.

All Eldlich Deck Lists
Eldlich Control	Budget Eldlich

Spright

Sprights combine their ability to swarm the field with numerous negates that can hinder the Crystal Beasts from playing properly. Cards like Spright Red, Spright Carrot and Spright Smashers will make it hard for this Deck to win against any version of a Spright Deck.

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

Branded Despia

Branded Despia Decks seem to have a Fusion Monster to out themselves from every situation imaginable, and depending on the state of the field, it can also use your own monsters as material if you're not careful. There are a couple of LIGHT monsters in a Crystal Beast Deck, and need extra protecting against versions of this Deck.

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

Runick Control

Crystal Beasts do not gain any advantage if their cards end up being banished; Runick Decks will stun this Deck and its plays, and will be hard to win against if it manages to banish multiple key cards before you can set up your own field.

Runick Deck Lists
Pure Runick	Spright Runick
Ishizu Runick	Naturia Runick

Best Cards to Tech Against Crystal Beasts

	Skill Drain
	Most of the effects from the "Crystal Beast" monsters are triggered while they are on the field. Skill Drain will deny them that opportunity, and will also work on their effects that turns them into Continuous Spells.
	Spright Carrot
	So long as the opponent has Level 2 monsters, Spright Carrot has a free once-per-turn negate against the Crystal Beast Deck's Spell Cards. This monster is often paired with Spright Red to cover Effect Monsters as well.
	Dark Ruler No More
	Dark Ruler No More is set up as a hard counter for Rainbow Dragon and the Extra Deck Options of the Crystal Beast Deck. Once this Spell Card is activated, it will be impossible for the opponent to respond with monster effects from the field.
	Anti-Spell Fragrance
	Due to the Crystal Beast Deck's reliance of Spell Cards (not including the secondary effect of the proper Crystal Beast monsters), Anti-Spell Fragrance will significantly slow down the Deck's ability to play unless dealt with immediately.

Related Packs to Crystal Beasts

AI Omniscience	Crystal Serpentry
Forgotten City Dwellers	Interdimensional Interlopers
Legacy Pack	Master Pack
Number Recall	Soldiers from the Storm
Space-Time Transcendents	Spiritual Mastery
Strong Will

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