Jinzo Deck List & Card Guide

Jinzo is a Control deck in Yu-Gi-Oh Master Duel. Check out the core deck list, key combos, as well as how to play & counters!

Jinzo Deck List

Main Deck: x cards
2x	2x	2x	1x	1x
3x	1x	1x	1x	3x
1x	1x	1x	2x	1x
1x	1x	3x	1x	1x
3x	3x	2x	2x	-
Extra Deck: x cards
1x	1x	1x	1x	1x
1x	1x	1x	1x	1x
1x	1x	1x	1x	1x

Jinzo Breakdown

Tier Evaluation

Tier Ranking
Rogue Tier
Deck Archetype		Deck Difficulty
Control		Hard
Deck Evaluation
Uses one of Joey Wheeler's Boss Monsters, Jinzo Uses the Phantom Knights Engine to supplement its playstyle Negates the activation and effects of all Trap Cards

Jinzo Deck Guide: How to Play

Playstyle and Win Condition

This Jinzo Deck is a take on the classic archetype with a mix of Phantom Knights/Burning Abyss engine. Jinzo as an archetype, revolves around Jinzo monsters that can lock out the use of Trap Cards.

The Deck is known for its ability to counter Trap-centered Decks like Traptrix and Labrynth with the win-condition of removing an integral part of their game plan and having the ability to end the Duel with its OTK potential.

Core Combos and Interactions

Guiding Jinzo to the Board

This combo showcases the full utilization of all the engines in this Deck and brings out Jinzo, the main monster of this Deck.

Card(s) Needed
Step	Description
1	Normal Summon Tour Guide from the Underworld then activate her effect to Special Summon Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss with their effects negated.
2	Link Summon Cherubini, Ebon Angel of the Burning Abyss using these two as materials.
3	Activate Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from the Graveyard to Special Summon Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss.
4	Activate Cherubini's effect to send The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots to the Graveyard.
5	Banish Silent Boots to search for The Phantom Knights of Shade Brigandine. Set Brigandine and Special Summon it unto the field.
6	Link Summon I:P Masquerena using Brigandine and Cir as Link Materials.
7	Activate Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from the Graveyard to Special Summon Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from the Graveyard to a zone that Cherubini is pointing to.
7	Link Summon The Phantom Knights of Rusty Bardiche using Cherubini and Graff as Link Material.
8	Activate Bardiche's effect to send Ancient Cloak to the Graveyard and set Phantom Knights' Fog Blade unto your field.
9	Banish The Phantom Knights of the Ancient Cloak to search for Brigandine and set it unto the field.
10	Special Summon Jinzo the Machine Menace from the hand by activating his effect
11	Activate Psychic Wave to send Jinzo from the Deck to the Graveyard.

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

With this combo, you have options during Turn 2:

• I:P Masquerena's effect to Link Summon either Apollousa or Knightmare Unicorn
• Access to the Phantom Knight Traps
• Jinzo the Machine Menace's effect to bring out Jinzo from the Graveyard.

Note: Activate your Phantom Knight Traps before you bring out Jinzo as you cannot use them when he is active on the field.

Main Deck

Monsters

Jinzo is the centerpiece of this Deck, as he has the simple effect of negating the activation and effects of any traps. The Deck's focus is sending Jinzo to the Graveyard and summoning him back to the Field.

These 3 cards are Jinzo retrains that enhance the potency of the archetype.

Jinzo the Machine Menace can Special Summon himself if there is any face-up Trap card in either field or Graveyard and if you do, his level is set to 6. He can Tribute himself to Special Summon Jinzo from the hand/Graveyard then reveal all set cards and destroy all Traps your opponent controls.

Jinzo - Returner can Special Summon any "Jinzo" from the Graveyard if he himself is sent there. Keep in mind, however, that he cannot activate this effect if his discard is a cost, so Cherubini and linking him off does not work.

Jinzo - Lord, while rarely summoned, is an effective duel ender. He can Special Summon himself from hand by tributing Jinzo on the field. He has the same trap-negating effects, but he can destroy all traps on the field and burn the opponent by 300 LP for each trap destroyed.

These Psychic cards act as additional support to the Jinzo archetype as protection and combo extension.

Psychic Megacyber can be Special Summoned from hand if the opponent controls more Spells/Traps than you do. Megacyber also has non-targeted removal if Jinzo is on the board, wherein it can tribute itself to place the attacked monster as a Continuous Trap in their back row.

Psychic Bounder, if Summoned by any means, you can add a "Jinzo" monster or any Spell/Trap that mentions Jinzo in their text. When a monster you control other than this card is attacked, you can destroy that attacking monster and this card.

Monsters	Sent to Graveyard Effect
	Target 1 Burning Abyss monster in the Graveyard, Special Summon it.
	Special Summon 1 Burning Abyss monster from your Deck.
	During the End Phase, if this card is in the Graveyard because it was sent there this turn: Add 1 Level 3 DARK Fiend-Type monster from your Deck to your hand.

The Burning Abyss Engine is included here for their ability to extend combos by utilizing the Graveyard. It also lets you Tribute Summon Jinzo rather early. The Burning Abyss monsters all share 2 effects:

• Destroy this card if you control a monster that is not a Burning Abyss monster.
• If you do not control any Spells/Traps, You can Special Summon this card from your hand.

The Phantom Knights of Ancient Cloak and The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots are mainly used as discard fodder to search out Brigandine and Fog Blade. Otherwise, they can be used as XYZ materials for Rank 3 XYZ monsters.

Tour Guide From the Underworld is included in this deck to easily access the Burning Abyss engine with Cherubini. She is considered the main combo starter for this Deck since she negates the self-destruction effect of the Burning Abyss monsters.

Spells

These 3 cards are the exclusive archetype spells centered around Jinzo.

Law of the Cosmos lets the opponent decide whether or not they set a Trap card from their deck. This achieves 2 different effects:

1. When they set a Trap card: Special Summon a Jinzo from your Deck
2. When they do not set a Trap card: Add a Jinzo or any monster that mentions "Jinzo" in their text.

Psychic Wave lets you send Jinzo from the hand or Deck to the Graveyard and inflict 600 LP damage if you control a Machine monster. This can extend your combos by enabling Jinzo - Returner or Jinzo the Machine Menace.

Cyber Energy Shock is a Quick Play card destruction if Jinzo is on the board. If the destroyed card is a Trap, you can choose to negate the effects of a face-up card or buff the ATK of all Jinzo cards you control.

Since this Deck is mostly composed of Dark monsters, Allure of Darkness lets you thin out your Deck and draw the cards you need.

These 2 cards are classic spells that Jinzo utilizes quite well.

Monster Reborn lets you Special Summon any monster from either Graveyard. This can extend combos or bring back your Jinzo.

Change of Heart lets you target and control a monster your opponent has until the End Phase. This Spell Card is exceptionally potent in this Deck since the monster taken control of can be used as material for the XYZ Summon of Dhampir Vampire Sheridan!

Foolish Burial and Foolish Burial Goods are used to send key cards from your Deck to the Graveyard. For this deck, the options depending on the situation are as follows:

• Any Burning Abyss monster
• Any of the Phantom Knights
• Jinzo - Returner
• Phantom Knights' Fog Blade

Traps

While Traps may seem counter-intuitive for a Jinzo Deck, the Phantom Knight Traps works surprisingly well!

The Phantom Knights of Shade Brigandine can be Special Summoned as a Normal Warrior Monster the turn it is set. This card is only considered a Trap when it is in the Graveyard or set on the field. This opens up various plays and combos in this Deck!

Phantom Knights' Fog Blade is a consistent monster Negate when you do not have Jinzo on the board. Also, this card can be sent by Foolish Burial Goods to use its effect to bring back a Phantom Knights monster from the Graveyard.

Call of the Haunted is a classic Trap combination with Jinzo as when you Special Summon him using this card, it acts as a free Monster Reborn since its other effects are negated.

Extra Deck Monsters

These are the Rank 6 XYZ monsters that this Deck revolves around. They each serve a role in different situations, which are as follows:

• Number 39: Utopia Beyond - Used as a duel-ender for its effect of reducing all monsters your opponent controls ATK to 0.
• Dhampir Vampire Sheridan - Used as non-targeted removal. Most of the time, he is XYZ summoned when Jinzo - Layered or Change of Heart resolves to use your opponent's monster as XYZ material.
• Beatrice, Lady of the Eternal - Used to send any card to the Graveyard. Jinzo - Returner can activate its effect if he is sent to the Graveyard using this card.
• Jinzo - Layered - Used to take control of a monster your opponent controls.

These are the Rank 3 XYZ monsters that help round out the deck, especially when you are interrupted.

Leviair the Sea Dragon lets you Special Summon a Level 4 or lower monster from the Banish Zone. This is to recycle either of your Phantom Knights and Allure of Darkness fodder.

Number 3: Cicada King is a defensive card that lets you set up an easy monster negate and a body on the field.

The XYZ summons prior can easily lead to a Divine Arsenal AA-Zeus - Sky Thunder, which can send all cards on the field to the Graveyard.

Downerd Magician supports this play line as she can stack materials for her XYZ Summons. She can be easily summoned during your second Main Phase by using any Level 3 XYZ Monster.

These 2 Link Summons are used to start up your combos depending on your hand.

Link Spider can use Shade Brigandine for its Link materials, thus sending a face-up Trap card in the Graveyard. This enables the use of Jinzo the Machine Menace to start your combos.

Cherubini, Ebon Angel of the Burning Abyss lets you send a Level 3 or lower monster from your Main Deck, optimally one of the Phantom Knights. Also, when Cherubini is on the field, your Burning Abyss monsters cannot be destroyed by their effects if they are summoned to a zone Cherubini points to.

The Phantom Knights of Rusty Bardiche, during your Main Phase, can send any of your Phantom Knights to the Graveyard and set a Spell/Trap on the field; setting up 2 interruptions.

These are the situational Link Summons that will make up your end-board. Link Summon any of these depending on what you want to achieve.

• I:P Masquerena: Can either summon Knightmare Unicorn or Apollousa, Bow of the Goddess during the opponent's turn.
• Knightmare Unicorn: Discard a card to bounce an opponent's card from the field back to their Deck.
• Apollousa, Bow of the Goddess: Used as a possible entry during extended combos for 3-4 omni-negates.
• Borrelsword Dragon: Summon when you aim to end the Duel. This card can steal the opponent monster's ATK and attack twice during the Battle Phase.

Boss Monsters

	Jinzo
	Jinzo is the main boss monster this Deck is centered around on. When Jinzo is active on the field, all traps are disabled from activation and their effects are negated. This effect essentially neuters all Trap-based Decks unless they can remove Jinzo from the board.
	Divine Arsenal AA-Zeus - Sky Thunder
	This Deck's flexibility in terms of their XYZ Summons makes Divine Arsenal AA-Zeus - Sky Thunder a threat. Divine Arsenal could use its Quick Effect to send all cards on the field to the Graveyard which is not a hard once-per-turn.
	The Phantom Knights of Rusty Bardiche
	The Phantom Knights of Rusty Bardiche's ability to search out Brigandine and Fog Blade will warrant the necessity to always bring him out, especially when going first, since this extends combos.
	Borrelsword Dragon
	Borrelsword Dragon is this Deck's finisher due to its ability to steal a monster's ATK and attack twice in a single Battle Phase. Borrelsword Dragon cannot be destroyed in battle and its effects cannot be responded to.
	Apollousa, Bow of the Goddess
	Due to this Deck's ability to bring out monsters, Apollousa, Bow of the Goddess is easily accessible and provides 3-4 monster negates. This can provide multiple layers of protection and keep Jinzo on the Field.

Jinzo Counters: How to Beat

Best Decks to Use Against Jinzo

Bystial Branded

A Bystial Branded Deck has an emphasis on disrupting your Graveyard effects by Banishing key cards from it. The moment Jinzo gets banished, your game plan is snuffed out.

Bystial Branded Deck List & Card Guide

Zombie World P.U.N.K.

Zombie World P.U.N.K. limits this Deck's options by turning all monsters on the Field and Graveyard to Zombies, effectively overwriting the essential Fiend/Machine typing this Deck utilizes.

Zombie World P.U.N.K. Deck List & Card Guide

Gravekeepers

Gravekeepers, one of the first resource denial decks, can completely lock out the Graveyard. Jinzo cannot counter this Deck as it utilizes Necrovalley, a Field Spell.

Gravekeepers Deck List & Card Guide

Note: This Deck is centered around countering Traps cards. If a Deck does not run Traps, it is effectively a good match-up for this Deck.

Best Cards to Tech Against Jinzo

	Dimensional Fissure
	This Deck sends Jinzo to the Graveyard all the time, and the moment Dimensional Fissure sends Jinzo to the Banish Zone, it is already over. It is also a Spell Card so it bypasses Jinzo's effect.
	Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring
	Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring can effectively stop our turn-one options as it prevents a search from the Main Deck.
	Dinowrestler Pankratops
	The opponent can Special Summon Dinowrestler Pankratops from the hand if you control more monsters than them. Pankratops can then efficiently remove Jinzo from the Field with its Quick Effect to Tribute itself to target and destroy a card you control.
	Called by the Grave
	Since this Deck benefits from having Jinzo in the Graveyard, one perfectly timed Called by the Grave can effectively finish the game. This card can banish then negate monsters from activating their effects from the Graveyard.

Related Packs to Jinzo

Fiendish Encounter	Indomitable Knights
Legacy Pack	Master Pack

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 28

List of All Covered Decks

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

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

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