Tearlaments is an Aggro deck in Yu-Gi-Oh! that was once hailed as the strongest Deck in the TCG/OCG formats, but in Master Duel has suffered quite a lot of changes with hits on the banlist. Check out the core deck list, key combos, as well as how to play & counters!

Tearlaments Deck List

Main Deck: 41 cards
x3	x3	x3	x3	x2
x2	x1	x1	x1	x1
x1	x1	x1	x1	x1
x3	x3	x1	x1	x1
x1	x3	x1	x1	x1
Extra Deck: 15 cards
x1	x1	x1	x1	x1
x1	x1	x1	x1	x1
x1	x1	x1	x1	x1

Tearlaments Breakdown

Tier Evaluation

Tier Ranking
Tier 1
Deck Archetype		Deck Difficulty
Aggro		Hard
Deck Evaluation
Tearlaments can do Fusion Summons if certain monsters are sent to the GY Has synergy with quite a lot of effects that send cards to the GY Combos can get out of hand really quick if the opponent has no responses

Tearlaments Deck Guide: How to Play

Playstyle and Win Condition

The Tear Zero Format may have ended for a good while now, but the Deck still finds ways to remain strong. With so many cards now removed from its usual staples, playing the Deck is a little wonky--and it has to resort to using cards from different other archetypes in order to be functional combo-wise.

Main Deck Monsters

The only monster left in the archetype that's allowed at 3 copies is Tearlaments Reinoheart, and it needs to be at 3 copies to make full use of its Foolish Burial-esque effect to send a "Tearlaments" monster to the GY upon being summoned.

Tearlaments Scheiren can Special Summon itself by discarding a card, and then milling 3 cards from the Deck to the GY. It provides cards in the GY, and easy access to Rank 4 Xyz Monsters alongside Reinoheart.

Players must now be careful when using Tearlaments Havnis, as it is now Limited after getting hit in the banlist. Having only one copy of a hand trap like Havnis, players must make sure its usage of effects push through. After all, if you mill a "Tearlaments" monster, you have a chance to Fusion Summon.

One of the first supplements to help out the Tearlaments is Kashtira--lead by the card connecting the two archetypes together, Tearlaments Kashtira. If it's summoned, it mills cards from the Deck, and if when sent to the GY, it also mills cards to the GY.

For further pressure against the opponent from using their monster effects, run copies of Kashtira Fenrir to banish cards they have face-up, and Kashtira Unicorn to banish monsters from their Extra Deck.

The two Shaddoll monsters are to provide a way to Fusion Summon El Shaddoll Winda, and also maintain card advantage as much as possible. Shaddoll Beast provides a free draw when sent to the GY.

Though an uncommon choice, Helshaddoll Hollow can let the Deck mill up to six cards depending on the number of different monster Attributes there are on the field (seven if you count the Divine attribute).

Getting rid of pesky boss monsters off the field should be no problem by adding in Kaijus to your Deck.

Gameciel, the Sea Turtle Kaiju is the most popular choice due to it having the lowest ATK in the archetype and Aqua-type synergy, but Kumongous, the Sticky String Kaiju can make a case for itself for being Level 7--pairing perfectly with the Kashtira cards.

The rest of the monsters in the Deck are either staples in any Deck (as is the case with Maxx &quotC" and Ash Blossom), or more cards that provide either control or access to more plays in the Extra Deck.

Fairy Tail - Snow can force critical monsters face-down whenever it gets summoned, at the cost of banishing 7 cards each time this card is Special Summoned from the GY. Destrudo's effect costs half your LP, but can be great way to Synchro Summon high-powered monsters out of nowhere.

Spell & Trap Cards

Because of Kashtira and Tearlaments being the primary focus, the Deck has two Field Spells that are so strong, both cards are currently Limited in the banlist, and both share the effect of searching a monster of their respective archetypes upon activation.

Unfortunately, Primeval Planet Perlereino has been Forbidden as of October 10, 2024. Since then, Tearlaments Perlegia is the substitute for the ATK boost, but instead of a card destruction effect and a free search on activation, you get to send another Aqua-type monster.

Meanwhile Pressured Planet Wraithsoth doesn't make much use of its second effect, but it does give an ATK boost for every monster with a different Attribute on the field.

Like the previous version of the Deck, Tearlaments Scream remains at three copies, as it's essential to get it on the board as soon as possible. Free mills whenever a monster is summoned while controlling a "Tearlaments" monster just puts more pressure on the opponent.

Tearlaments Heartbeat can clear the field off of floodgates and Field Spells that can stop your combos from completing. It helps that it's a Quick-Play Spell, so setting it as part of your back row before passing your turn is a good idea.

Kashtira Birth is for support to the "Kashtira" monsters, and provicdes a chance to have three of them on the field to be used as material fodder for Kashtira Arise-Heart.

With the influx of monsters activating effects on the field once again, Infinite Impermanence is a great card to have, especially at three copies.

The three Trap Cards are for protection and card advantage, depending on how they're used. Tearlaments Cryme is a powerful Counter Trap, but when sent to the GY it can retrieve a banished "Tearlaments" monster.

Tearlaments Metanoise can force a monster to face-down Defense Position, and sends a "Tearlaments" monster from the Deck straight to the GY. Its second effect brings back a "Tearlaments" monster from the GY back to your hand.

The most potent Trap Card is Tearlaments Sulliek, which is currently Limited. It permanently negates a monster's effects on the field, after sending a mosnter you control to the GY.

Extra Deck Monsters

The Tearlaments Fusion Monsters are the front-and-center aces of the Deck, and it is your goal to use them as much as possible. Most noteworthy is Tearlaments Kitkallos, which is so potent that it is currently Limited in the banlist.

A free search when Special Summoned (which includes Instant Fusion), and a Special Summon by tributing a fellow "Tearlaments" provides so much playmaking. On top of that, if it's send to the GY via card effect--including its own effect--it can mill 5 cards from the Deck to the GY.

Tearlaments Rulkallos negates effects that even mention Special Summoning a monster, and makes other Aqua-type monsters you control immortal in battling monsters. Tearlaments Kaleido-Heart shuffles cards back to the Deck when Fusion Summoned or if another Aqua-type monster is sent to the GY.

And on top of that, both Rulkallos and Kaleido-Heart have effects that can Special Summon themselves when sent to the GY via effect.

The other two Fusion Monsters are additional control to protect your Field. El Shaddoll Winda restricts both players to only one Special Summon per turn while face-up and active, and it is immune to card destruction effects.

Predaplant Dragonstapeila also works well with this Deck due to its Fusion Material requirements, and its monster effect negate Quick Effect is one of the most potent among Fusion Monsters.

There are now more options for Synchro Monsters, so choose wisely which one you want to run for this Deck. Baronne de Fleur is a must have when running Synchro Monsters, because of its omni-negate, card destruction and Special Summon effects.

Another powerful boss mosnter to consider is Chaos Angel, with gains powerful effects depending on what materials it used to by Synchro Summoned. If it manages to use both LIGHT and DARK monsters as materials, it can gain both effects!

Our pick for a Level 8 Synchro Monster is Adamancipator Risen - Dragite, which can negate Spells or Traps once per turn--so long as you have a Spell Card in your GY.

For Xyz Monsters, nothing much has changed from the previous Deck Recipe.

Abyss Dweller is a very powerful Xyz Monster to run in the current meta. Getting this monster out early lets you prevent the opponent from activating effects from the GY for the rest of the turn as a Quick Effect.

Number 41: Bagooska the Terribly Tired Tapir can be used defensively and stop any monster effects on the field, until you're ready to go on the offensive once again.

Time Thief Redoer can steal monsters away from the top of the opponent's Deck, and can be a sneaky way to activate a "Tearlaments" monster to Fusion Summon out of nowhere.

It can be hard to summon with the focus being on the Tearlaments monsters, but Kashtira Arise-Heart is a key boss monster to play. Its Quick Effects can be a constant interrupt, and its lingering effect destroys Decks that use the Graveyard as a resource pool.

Core Combos and Interactions

Primal Planet into Kitkallos Combo

This is the most basic combo of the Tearlaments Deck, and you technically need the Fusion Monster to do it--the Field Spell is a bonus search.

You only have one copy of Primal Planet Perlereino to use. Try to avoid getting it destroyed or having its effect upon activation negated.

Card(s) on Hand
Step	Description
1	Should you have Terraforming instead of Primeval Planet Perlereino, activate it and search out the Field Spell as soon as possible. As of 0/08/2023, Terraforming has been Banned in the Forbidden & Limited Card List.
2	Activate Primeval Planet Perlereino; use its effect upon activation to search a copy of Tearlaments Reinoheart from the Deck to the hand.
3	Normal Summon Tearlaments Reinoheart; use its effect upon being Summoned to send either Tearlaments Havnis, Tearlaments Scheiren or Tearlaments Kashtira from the Deck to the GY.
4	Use the effect of the Tearlaments monster sent to the GY; using itself and Tearlaments Reinoheart as materials, shuffle them back to the Deck and Fusion Summon Tearlaments Kitkallos.
5	Activate the effect of Tearlaments Kitkallos; search out a copy of either Tearlaments Havnis or Tearlaments Scheiren.

NOTE: Because Tearlaments Reinoheart was used as material, you can Fusion Summon Tearlaments Rulkallos instead in this combo, depending on your cicrcumstances.

Alternate Card Options

Considering adding more to the Deck to give your own spin for Ishizu Tearlaments? Try out the following cards and combos!

With Super Polymerization becoming a popular Main Deck option, having a copy of Starving Venom Fusion Dragon is a popular option to choose, especially with the current dominance of DARK monster-heavy Decks.

Crystal Beast Emerald Tortoise is an Aqua-type monsters, which makes it have some sort of synergy with Tearlaments as a searcher. With Rainbow Bridge of Salvation, it has synergy to search out Primeval Planet Perlereino through its Graveyard effect.

For denying the opponent the Graveyard, you can slot in Mask Change II and take advantage of your DARK monsters, as they can be used to bring out Masked HERO Dark Law. While on the field, any card the opponent sends to the GY is banished instead.

For Extra Deck Monsters, Evilswarm Exciton Knight destroys all other cards on the field at the cost of the opponent not receiving damage until the end of the turn.

Apollousa, Bow of the Goddess provides negation against monster effects, and it gets stronger if it was summoned with more materials.

Boss Monsters

	Tearlaments Rulkallos
	One of the two Boss Monsters for Tearlaments, Tearlaments Rulkallos can deny the opponent a Special Summon once per turn. It also provides protection to Aqua-type monsters from battle, and can Special Summon itself if this card was Fusion Summoned and sent to the GY afterwards.
	Tearlaments Kaleido-Heart
	Tearlaments Kaleido-Heart already has the advantage of not able to be used as Fusion Material, making it immune to cards like Super Polymerization. It also shuffles a card the opponent controls back to the Deck if either this card is Fusion Summoned or if an Aqua-type monster gets sent to the GY. It can also Special Summon itself and toss a "Tearlaments" monster from the Deck to the GY simultaneously.
	Predaplant Dragostapelia
	Predaplant Dragostapelia is a staple for Fusion-centric DARK Decks, and Tearlaments just happens to be another addition to the Deck. Its ability to negate monsters from their effects comes in handy, and it also lowers their Level to mess with them being used for Synchro or Xyz Summons.
	Baronne de Fleur
	If a Deck can Synchro Summon, expect Baronne de Fleur to be a staple addition. Its card destruction, omni-negate, and Special Summon effects are far too efficient to overlook, and is a must-have for a Deck as powerful as Ishizu Tearlaments.
	Divine Arsenal AA-ZEUS - Sky Thunder
	Divine Arsenal AA-ZEUS - Sky Thunder might need you to attack with a different Xyz Monster in order to summon this card, but its benefits are crucial in controlling the pace of the Duel. It can trigger its full field wipe at any time, adding the pressure to the opponent to deal with this boss monster first.
	Abyss Dweller
	Abyss Dweller has risen to prominence again because of the plethora of Graveyard effects--especially with this Deck potentially being everywhere. If the opponent has any Graveyard effects, this card can shut down any chance for the opponent to activate them for the rest of the turn.
	Underworld Goddess of the Closed World
	Underworld Goddess of the Closed World can use one of the opponent's monsters as materials, becoming a safe way to remove monsters from the field. It can also negate Special Summon effects by tributing a monster you control.

Ishizu Tearlaments Counters: How to Beat

Best Decks to Use Against Ishizu Tearlaments

Rikka

Rikka Decks recently got some brilliant support, and their playstyle that involves tributing monsters does not trigger Tearlaments' GY effects when sent there. However, it will have to depend on their opening hands, and if they can deal with the barrage of Fusion Summons Ishizu Tearlaments can end up doing on your own turn.

Rikka Deck List & Card Guide

Exosisters

Exosisters have to go first against Ishizu Tearlaments for them to properly set up. If they manage to do well, they can banish key cards on the field that prevent this Deck from doing their combos. If you manage to open with a Dimension Shifter, you may have just won the Duel.

Exosisters Deck List & Card Guide

Ishizu Tearlaments

Because of how effective the Deck is with their Graveyard abilities and disruptions here and there, a mirror match between two Tearlaments players is effectively fair game. This becomes a war of attrition and luck, seeing which has the better cards at the start of the Duel.

Best Cards to Tech Against Tearlaments

	Dimension Shifter
	Because of how crucial the Graveyard is for the Tearlaments archetype, denying them that will shut down their combos. Dimension Shifter can do just that if you happen to open the Duel with it on hand, and might even singlehandedly win you the Duel if the opponent has no way of playing around i.
	D.D. Crow
	Tearlaments love to send their cards to the GY to activate their effects. D.D. Crow, when used at the right timing with its Quick Effect, can banish a card in the GY even before the opponent can go and use its effect.
	Lava Golem
	Lava Golem and the other Kaiju-like monsters (like the Kaiju archetype, and The Winged Dragon of Ra - Sphere Mode) can actually take care of the Tearlaments Fusion Monsters, as tributing them does not count as "sent to the GY due to a card effect".
	Mudora the Sword Oracle
	Mudora the Sword Oracle--and by proxy, Keldo the Sacred Protector-- can shuffle back Tearlaments cards as they activate their effects that lets them Fusion Summon. If the chain resolves and they get shuffled back to the Deck, technically they cannot Fusion Summon as their do not have the materials required.
	Naelshaddoll Ariel
	Naelshaddoll Ariel card can be slotted in Shadoll variants of Ishizu Tearlaments as a hard counter agains other Graveyard-heavy Decks like its purer version. It can banish up to 3 cards from either GYs, and when used right can deny Graveyard effects.
	Necrovalley
	A hard counter against Decks that move cards out of the GY frequently, Necrovalley ensures that cards that are sent to the Graveyard stay there while this is active. It also stops cards in the GY from being banished, which is a sharp counter against Called by the Grave.
	Evenly Matched
	In this current meta, Evenly Matched is the most effective way to clear out the opponent's field, at the cost of doing nothing during the Battle Phase. The less cards you have on the field, the stronger this cards is; and because the cards are banished, the Tearlaments Cards cannot activate their GY effects.

Related Packs to Tearlaments

Blessings of Nature	Emerging Monstrosity Recon!
Enchanted Threads of Shade	Forgotten City Dwellers
Inevitability of Chaos	Justice from Light
Legacy Pack	Legends of Old
Master Pack	Miraculous Advent
Natural Selection	Number Recall
Pyroxene Relinquished	Soldiers from the Storm
Space-Time Transcendents	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

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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