January 2008
 

Horus for Noobs

 

You know, with the cookie cutters out now, and the recent banlist coming in March, a few decks can shine these days.  One such deck, the one currently being discussed to you, the reader, is based around all Lvs. of Horus, the Black Flame Dragon.  Horus decks are the most well-known lockdown decks out there.  The ability to shut down most or all spells and traps can be tremendous and can ultimately end your opponent's game, if all works out. 

 

 

            But first, to understand the deck, let’s learn about the cards involved…

 

All Horus:

Type - Dragon

Attribute - Fire

 

Horus Lv. 4:

 ATK/1600, DEF/1000

“As long as this card remains face-up on the field, control of this card cannot switch.  During the End Phase of a turn where this card destroys a monster as a result of battle, send this card to the Graveyard to Special Summon 1 “Horus Lv. 6” from your hand or deck.”

 

Horus Lv. 6

ATK/2300, DEF/1600

“As long as this card remains face-up on the field, it is unaffected by Spell Cards.  During the End Phase of a turn where this card destroys a monster as a result of battle, send this card to the Graveyard to Special Summon 1 “Horus Lv. 8” from your hand or deck.”

 

Horus Lv. 8:

ATK/3000, DEF/1800

“This card cannot be Normal Summoned or Set.  This card cannot be Special Summoned except by the effect of “Horus Lv. 6”.  While this card remains face-up on your side of the field, you can negate the activation and effect of any Spell Card and destroy them.”

 

Royal Decree

Continuous Trap

“While this card is face-up on the field, all effects of Trap Cards are negated.”

 

Ø      Understanding the Deck

 

The perfect build for the paranoid: this build focuses on getting Horus and Decree out on the field to shut down all Spells or Traps your opponent may have, so it (or any other monster) can attack with almost no worries (see Drawbacks).  This type of build is known as a “lockdown deck”, where the deck focuses on limiting the opponent’s abilities, thereby gaining advantage.  In fact, it is the most well-known type of Lockdown builds in Yu-Gi-Oh, due to its simplicity, sheer effectiveness, and ability to be assisted by few other themes as well.

 

Ø      Creating the Build

 

+        The Main Cards

 

Besides staples (cards that are used in a majority of decks, such as Mystical Space Typhoon [or MST]), this deck’s basics consist of a few cards. The Horus cards from Lv. 4-8, and Decrees.  But how many of each?  Let’s start with Decree, because it is the easiest.  However many Decrees you can use, use them all (as I write this, Decree has been restricted to 2 due to Sep. ‘07 banlist).  It makes it easier to draw it in the future.  The same somewhat goes for the Horus Lvs., but not entirely.  Horus Lv. 6 is not as useful when Lv. 8 is on the field.  So, go for only a few, like say, 3 for Lv. 4, 2 for Lv. 6, and 1 for Lv. 8.   You could use two Lv. 8’s as well to keep an extra Horus, but it turns into dead draws (cards that have no use a majority of the time), so be careful.

 

+        Support Cards

 

Now that that is covered, let’s cover the… um, cover.  Now, there are a couple ways to go around it, but the most important stuff is what covers the weaknesses of Horus. Let’s go over them:

 

                                                                   I.     Monster Effects

 

While Spells and Traps are deflected, Monsters are not. It is painful to have Lv. 8 show up right when you needed him, then watching him getting blown away by an Exiled Force, or running Horus right into a Wall of Illusions.  Ouch.  Thankfully, there are a few cards that cover moves such as those.  A personal favorite is King Dragun: he not only prevents lock-on, but also helps with summoning (see below).  But having some control on the hand is helpful as well.  Bring cards that can knock cards out of the hand, such as Morphing Jar.

 

Other useful cards: Metalsilver Armor, Wicked-Breaking Flamberge – Baou, My Body as a Shield, Nobleman of Crossout, Spirit Reaper, Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch, D.D. Warrior Lady, D.D. Assailant, D.D. Crow.

 

                                                                II.     Summoning

 

Horus Lv. 8 is a powerhouse, and can end a game somewhat easily… if he comes on the field at all.  Another issue with these decks is that it is troubling to try to get Lv. 8 on the field successfully.  One obvious solution is “Level Up!”, a Spell card that, as the name suggests, levels up your Horus (or any other Lv. Monster) while ignoring the summoning conditions.

 

Other useful cards: Lv. Modulation, Premature Burial, Double Summon, Apprentice Magician (w/ Old Vindictive Magician & Magician of Faith), Hydrogeddon, Cyber Dragon, Spirit Reaper, Marshmellon.

 

                                                             III.     Getting the Right Cards

 

Sometimes you draw into what you need.  And, more often, you don’t.  Use cards that help thin out your deck a bit so you increase the chances.  Also, and more obviously, carry more of the same card (as allowed), or carry different versions of the same card, like Jinzo for “extra Decrees”.

 

         Other useful cards: Apprentice Magician (w/ Old Vindictive Magician & Magician of Faith), Morphing Jar, Hydrogeddon, Mirage Dragon (and related),  Pot of Avarice

 

                                                              IV.     S/T Support

 

Well, with Traps shut down, Sak Armor, Bottomless Trap Hole, and Divine Wrath is out of the question.  Cover it with Quick-Play Spells such as Enemy Controller to keep your monsters alive.  However, some Traps are too important to pass up, such as Torrental Tribute and Call of the Haunted, so throw those in as well.

 

Other useful cards: Shrink, Book of Moon, My Body as a Shield.

 

                                                                 V.     Losing Horus Lv. 8

 

Keep some revival or salvaging cards for whenever Horus, or any monster, for that matter, is lost to the Grave. And if you want to be safe, an extra Horus Lv. 8 wouldn’t hurt too much.

 

Useful Cards: Lv. Modulation, Pot of Avarice, Monster Reincarnation, Feather of The Pheonix.

 

+        Staples

 

This is obvious.  Mystical Space Typhoon, Heavy Storm, Smashing Ground, etc.

 

Ø  Example Deck

 

Here is a deck for reference:

 

Deck: [42]

Monsters: [22]

[1] Horus Lv. 8
[2] Horus Lv. 6
[2] Horus Lv. 4
[1] Jinzo
[1] Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch
[2] Cyber Dragon
[3] Hydrogeddon
[1] D.D. Assailant
[1] Breaker the Magical Warrior
[1] Sangan
[1] D.D. Warrior Lady
[1] Exiled Force
[1] Apprentice Magician
[1] Magician of Faith
[1] Old Vindictive Magician
[1] Spirit Reaper
[1] Marshmellon

Spells [16]

[1] Double Summon
[1] Level Up!
[1] Level Mod.
[1] Pot of Avarice
[1] Premature Burial
[1] SoRL
[1] Scapegoat
[1] Book of Moon
[1] My Body as a Shield
[3] Enemy Controller
[1] Nobleman of Crossout
[1] Smashing Ground
[1] MST
[1] Heavy Storm

Traps [4]

[2] Royal Decree
[1] Torrental Tribute
[1] CotH

 

 

     If you have more advice, want more advice, a deck r/f’d, etc., then email me (drkcastro@gmail.com).  Hope this helps.

 

Duel hard,

General G.