Hello again, duelists! We're back this week with a topic that's very near and dear to my heart.

Many times every week, I get messages, tweets, or YouTube comments asking for help with various decks. And time and time again, one of the first things that jumps out at me when I look at those decks, is how needlessly complicated many of the ideas end up being. Today we're going to talk about how to combat that using the "K.I.S.S" principle.

The K.I.S.S. principle stands for "Keep It Short and Simple." Designed by the U.S. Navy back in 1960, it essentially dictates a focus on simplicity whenever possible. Operating systems already seek to simplify our daily lives, yet many systems are needlessly complex and can be refined; that's what "KISS" aims to do. Your brain is a muscle, and by the end of a long day of use it'll be tired. That kind of mental exhaustion is real: it's known as decision fatigue, and you want to avoid it as much as possible both for your own personal comfort, and so you can deliver peak performance.

I personally live by this model as much as I can, even down to my clothing. Taking inspiration from the late Steve Jobs I strive for simplicity in my daily life, so I wear a plain black shirt, and either pants or shorts as my go-to outfit for daily wear. Meals, habits, I apply it to everything. The benefit of following the K.I.S.S. principle is that you use less mental energy on mundane, small decisions that don't matter, and save that energy for important decisions throughout the day.

K.I.S.S. In Yu-Gi-Oh

The main reason to focus on simplicity in deck building, and even within your lines of play, is to help lower the chance that you'll make mistakes during your games. Often, when you're sitting down to play an extremely complicated deck – one with myriad avenues of play, different end fields, and so on – your likelihood of messing up is higher, just because there's so much to consider at any given time. Because of that, decks like D/D/D are famous for being incredibly powerful, but historically unsuccessful.

However, if you focused instead on keeping a simple game plan, you could devote more of your mental faculties toward playing around the various threats in the format. That kind of shift of focus is often seen as formats progress, along with innovations in how specific decks are built. The initial stages of a deck's design are generally filled with redundant plays and card choices that get eliminated over time, as the player community's understanding of the most competitive decks are refined, and less optimal choices are cast aside.

Take Dragon Link: the more recent evolutions of the deck are cuting cards like Dragon Ravine and Absorouter Dragon. Despite the power those cards offer, they're not often worth the deck space they occupy, and as such players are often passing on them. Eliminating them also makes the deck simpler and more straightforward to pilot; there are fewer lines of play to remember, leaving you with more mental energy to spend elsewhere.

Maurice Rodenburg finished in the Top 4 of the recent Remote Duel Invitational in Europe, with a much denser version of Dragon Link than the builds we'd seen before. Here's what it looked like.

Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG Deck - Dragon Link by Maurice Rodenberg

'Dragon Link' - constructed deck list and prices for the Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game from TCGplayer Infinite!

Created By: Maurice Rodenberg

Event: Remote Duel Invitational Europe

Rank: 3rd-4th

Advanced

Market Price: $274.08

Cards

World Legacy Guardragon

Market Price: $6.28

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/220705_200w.jpg

When this card is activated: You can target 1 Level 4 or lower Dragon monster in your GY; add it to your hand or Special Summon it. Once per turn: You can target 1 Dragon monster you control; move that monster you control to another of your Main Monster Zones. You can only activate 1 "World Legacy Guardragon" per turn.

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Dragonmaid Tidying

Market Price: $1.46

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/218975_200w.jpg

Target 1 Dragon monster you control and 1 card your opponent controls or in their GY; return them to the hand. You can banish this card from your GY; Special Summon 1 "Dragonmaid" monster from your hand or GY in Defense Position, but return it to the hand during the End Phase. You can only use 1 "Dragonmaid Tidying" effect per turn, and only once that turn.

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Omni Dragon Brotaur

Market Price: $0.66

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/220735_200w.jpg

If a monster you control is destroyed by battle or an opponent's card effect: You can Special Summon this card from the GY (if it was there when the monster was destroyed) or hand (even if not), but banish it when it leaves the field. If this card is Special Summoned: You can target 1 face-up monster on the field; discard 1 card, and if you do, add 1 monster from your Deck to your hand, with the same Type and Attribute as that target, but a different name. You can only use each effect of "Omni Dragon Brotaur" once per turn.

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Jizukiru, the Star Destroying Kaiju

Market Price: $0.76

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/212654_200w.jpg

You can Special Summon this card (from your hand) to your opponent's field in Attack Position, by Tributing 1 monster they control. If your opponent controls a "Kaiju" monster, you can Special Summon this card (from your hand) in Attack Position. You can only control 1 "Kaiju" monster. When a card or effect is activated that targets exactly 1 card (and no other cards) (Quick Effect): You can remove 3 Kaiju Counters from anywhere on the field; negate that effect, and if you do, you can destroy 1 card on the field.

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Red Reboot

Market Price: $0.19

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/196848_200w.jpg

When your opponent activates a Trap Card: Negate the activation, and if you do, Set that card face-down, then they can Set 1 other Trap directly from their Deck. For the rest of this turn after this card resolves, your opponent cannot activate Trap Cards. You can activate this card from your hand by paying half your LP.

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Dragunity Phalanx

Market Price: $1.96

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/162012_200w.jpg

Once per turn, while this card is equipped to a monster as an Equip Card by a card effect, you can Special Summon this card.

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Protector Whelp of the Destruction Swordsman

Market Price: $0.24

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/210216_200w.jpg

2 monsters

If this card is Link Summoned: You can send 1 "Destruction Sword" card from your Deck to the GY, then, you can Special Summon 1 "Buster Blader" monster from your hand. At the end of your Battle Phase, if your opponent controls no monsters: You can target 1 "Buster Blader" monster you control that did not declare an attack this turn; inflict damage to your opponent equal to that monster's ATK. You can only use each effect of "Protector Whelp of the Destruction Swordsman" once per turn.

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Dragunity Knight - Romulus

Market Price: $0.85

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/220870_200w.jpg

2 Dragon and/or Winged Beast monsters, except Tokens

If this card is Link Summoned: You can add 1 "Dragunity" Spell/Trap or 1 "Dragon Ravine" from your Deck to your hand. If a Dragon monster(s) is Special Summoned from the Extra Deck to a zone this card points to (except during the Damage Step): You can Special Summon 1 Dragon or Winged Beast monster from your hand in Defense Position, but for the rest of this turn, its effects (if any) are negated and it cannot be used as Link Material. You can only use each effect of "Dragunity Knight - Romulus" once per turn.

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Black Dragon Collapserpent

Market Price: $0.25

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/92734_200w.jpg

Cannot be Normal Summoned/Set. Must be Special Summoned (from your hand) by banishing 1 LIGHT monster from your Graveyard, and cannot be Special Summoned by other ways. You can only Special Summon "Black Dragon Collapserpent" once per turn this way. If this card is sent from the field to the Graveyard: You can add 1 "White Dragon Wyverburster" from your Deck to your hand.

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PSY-Frame Driver

Market Price: $0.20

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/215407_200w.jpg

A Psychic soldier that rides into battle against the Security Forces on currents of lightning, using an autonomic amplifier called "PSY-Frame".

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Linkross

Market Price: $4.12

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/213368_200w.jpg

1 Link-2 or higher Link Monster

If this card is Link Summoned: You can activate this effect; Special Summon a number of "Link Tokens" (Cyberse/LIGHT/Level 1/ATK 0/DEF 0) up to the Link Rating of the monster used for this card's Link Summon, also you cannot use "Link Tokens" as Link Material for the rest of this turn. You can only use this effect of "Linkross" once per turn.

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Quick Launch

Market Price: $1.13

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/196834_200w.jpg

Special Summon 1 "Rokket" monster from your Deck, but it cannot attack, also destroy it during the End Phase.

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Union Carrier

Market Price: $12.51

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/210217_200w.jpg

2 monsters with the same Type or Attribute

Cannot be used as Link Material the turn it is Link Summoned. You can target 1 face-up monster you control; equip 1 monster to it from your hand or Deck with its same original Type or Attribute. The equipped monster gains 1000 ATK. If you equipped it from the Deck, you cannot Special Summon monsters with that Equip Card's name for the rest of this turn. You can only use this effect of "Union Carrier" once per turn.

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Chaos Space

Market Price: $4.06

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/215382_200w.jpg

Send 1 LIGHT or DARK monster from your hand to the GY; add 1 LIGHT or DARK monster that cannot be Normal Summoned/Set from your Deck to your hand, with a Level from 4 to 8, and with a different Attribute than that monster. You can banish this card from your GY, then target 1 of your banished LIGHT or DARK monsters that cannot be Normal Summoned/Set; place that monster on the bottom of the deck, then draw 1 card. You can only use each effects of "Chaos Space" once per turn.

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Noctovision Dragon

Market Price: $0.50

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/213303_200w.jpg

When your opponent activates a card or effect that targets a face-down card(s) you control (Quick Effect): You can banish this card from your GY; negate that effect, also your opponent cannot target that face-down card(s) with card effects for the rest of this turn. You can only use each of the following effects of "Noctovision Dragon" once per turn.

• If a DARK Dragon monster(s) is Special Summoned to your field (except during the Damage Step): You can Special Summon this card from your hand.

• If this card is sent to the GY as Link Material: You can draw 1 card.

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Red Rose Dragon

Market Price: $0.67

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/230353_200w.jpg

If this card is sent to the GY as Synchro Material: You can Special Summon 1 "Rose Dragon" monster from your hand or Deck, except "Red Rose Dragon", then, if it was sent for the Synchro Summon of "Black Rose Dragon" or a Plant Synchro Monster, you can also add 1 "Frozen Rose" or 1 "Blooming of the Darkest Rose" from your Deck to your hand. You can only use this effect of "Red Rose Dragon" once per turn.

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White Dragon Wyverburster

Market Price: $0.01

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/92733_200w.jpg

Cannot be Normal Summoned/Set. Must be Special Summoned (from your hand) by banishing 1 DARK monster from your Graveyard, and cannot be Special Summoned by other ways. You can only Special Summon "White Dragon Wyverburster" once per turn this way. If this card is sent from the field to the Graveyard: You can add 1 "Black Dragon Collapserpent" from your Deck to your hand.

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PSY-Framegear Gamma

Market Price: $3.07

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/215427_200w.jpg

Cannot be Normal Summoned/Set. Must be Special Summoned by a card effect. When your opponent activates a monster effect while you control no monsters (Quick Effect): You can Special Summon both this card from your hand and 1 "PSY-Frame Driver" from your hand, Deck, or GY, and if you do, negate that activation, and if you do that, destroy that monster. During the End Phase, banish the face-up monsters Special Summoned by this effect.

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Infinite Impermanence

Market Price: $20.50

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/227476_200w.jpg

Target 1 face-up monster your opponent controls; negate its effects (until the end of this turn), then, if this card was Set before activation and is on the field at resolution, for the rest of this turn all other Spell/Trap effects in this column are negated. If you control no cards, you can activate this card from your hand.

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Dinowrestler Pankratops

Market Price: $0.30

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/177971_200w.jpg

If your opponent controls more monsters than you do, you can Special Summon this card (from your hand). You can only Special Summon “Dinowrestler Pankratops” once per turn this way. (Quick Effect): You can Tribute 1 “Dinowrestler” monster, then target 1 card your opponent controls; destroy it. You can only use this effect of “Dinowrestler Pankratops” once per turn.

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Rokket Tracer

Market Price: $2.29

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/196807_200w.jpg

(Quick Effect): You can target 1 face-up card you control; destroy it, and if you do, Special Summon 1 "Rokket" monster from your Deck, except "Rokket Tracer", also you cannot Special Summon monsters from the Extra Deck for the rest of this turn, except DARK monsters. You can only use this effect of "Rokket Tracer" once per turn.

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Sauravis, the Ancient and Ascended

Market Price: $1.35

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/210284_200w.jpg

You can Ritual Summon this card with "Sprite's Blessing". When your opponent activates a card or effect that targets a monster you control (Quick Effect): You can discard this card; negate the activation. When your opponent would Special Summon a monster(s) (Quick Effect): You can return this card to the hand; negate the Special Summon, and if you do, banish that monster(s).

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Harpie's Feather Duster

Market Price: $6.61

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/227465_200w.jpg

Destroy all Spell and Trap Cards your opponent controls.

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Droll & Lock Bird

Market Price: $4.63

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/188672_200w.jpg

If a card(s) is added from the Main Deck to your opponent's hand, except during the Draw Phase (Quick Effect): You can send this card from your hand to the GY; for the rest of this turn, cards cannot be added from either player's Main Deck to the hand.

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Crystron Halqifibrax

Market Price: $21.30

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/210209_200w.jpg

2 monsters, including a Tuner

If this card is Link Summoned: You can Special Summon 1 Level 3 or lower Tuner from your hand or Deck in Defense Position, but it cannot activate its effects this turn. During your opponent's Main Phase or Battle Phase (Quick Effect): You can banish this card you control; Special Summon 1 Tuner Synchro Monster from your Extra Deck. (This is treated as a Synchro Summon.) You can only use each effect of "Crystron Halqifibrax" once per turn.

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Rokket Recharger

Market Price: $1.27

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/196808_200w.jpg

If a DARK monster(s) you control that was Special Summoned from the Extra Deck is destroyed by battle or card effect: You can send this card from your hand or field to the GY, then target 1 of those destroyed monsters; Special Summon 1 DARK monster from your GY with a different original name from that targeted monster. You can only use this effect of "Rokket Recharger" once per turn. While you control a DARK monster Special Summoned from the Extra Deck, your opponent's monsters cannot target this card for attacks.

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Dragunity Divine Lance

Market Price: $1.44

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/95556_200w.jpg

Equip only to a "Dragunity" monster. It gains ATK equal to its Level x 100, also it is unaffected by Trap effects. During your Main Phase: You can equip 1 Dragon-Type "Dragunity" Tuner monster from your Deck to the monster equipped with this card. You can only use this effect of "Dragunity Divine Lance" once per turn.

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Borrelsword Dragon

Market Price: $7.71

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/197204_200w.jpg

3+ Effect Monsters

Cannot be destroyed by battle. Once per turn (Quick Effect): You can target 1 Attack Position monster; change it to Defense Position, also, this card can make a second attack during each Battle Phase this turn. Your opponent cannot activate cards or effects in response to this effect's activation. Once per turn, when this card declares an attack on a face-up monster: You can activate this effect; until the end of this turn, this card gains ATK equal to half that monster's current ATK, and if it does, that monster's current ATK is halved.

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Striker Dragon

Market Price: $2.69

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/200904_200w.jpg

1 Level 4 or lower Dragon monster

If this card is Link Summoned: You can add 1 "Boot Sector Launch" from your Deck to your hand. You can target 1 face-up monster you control and 1 "Rokket" monster in your GY; destroy that monster on the field, and if you do, add that other monster from the GY to your hand. You can only use each effect of "Striker Dragon" once per turn.

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Hieratic Seal of the Heavenly Spheres

Market Price: $10.58

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/186917_200w.jpg

2 Dragon monsters

Once per opponent's turn, if this card is in the Extra Monster Zone (Quick Effect): You can Tribute 1 monster from your hand or field; return 1 face-up card on the field to the hand. If this card is Tributed: Special Summon 1 Dragon monster from your hand or Deck, but make its ATK/DEF 0. You can only use this effect of "Hieratic Seal of the Heavenly Spheres" once per turn.

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Saryuja Skull Dread

Market Price: $1.29

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/199578_200w.jpg

2+ monsters with different names

This card gains effects based on the number of materials used for its Link Summon.

• 2+: If a monster(s) is Normal or Special Summoned to a zone this card points to: That monster(s) gains 300 ATK/DEF.

• 3+: Once per turn: You can Special Summon 1 monster from your hand.

• 4: When this card is Link Summoned: You can draw 4 cards, then place 3 cards from your hand on the bottom of your Deck in any order.

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Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon

Market Price: $1.42

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/57913_200w.jpg

You can Special Summon this card (from your hand) by banishing 1 face-up Dragon-Type monster you control. Once per turn: You can Special Summon 1 Dragon-Type monster from your hand or Graveyard, except "Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon".

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Vylon Cube

Market Price: $4.34

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/81361_200w.jpg

If this card is sent to the Graveyard for a Synchro Summon of a LIGHT monster: You can add 1 Equip Spell Card from your Deck to your hand.

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Rokket Synchron

Market Price: $0.14

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/220682_200w.jpg

When this card is Normal Summoned: You can target 1 Level 5 or higher DARK Dragon monster in your GY; Special Summon it in Defense Position, negate its effects, destroy it during the End Phase, also you cannot Special Summon monsters from the Extra Deck for the rest of this turn, except DARK monsters.

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Boot Sector Launch

Market Price: $0.35

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/196836_200w.jpg

All "Rokket" monsters on the field gain 300 ATK/DEF.

You can activate 1 of these effects;

• Special Summon up to 2 "Rokket" monsters with different names from your hand in Defense Position.

• If your opponent controls more monsters than you do: Special Summon "Rokket" monsters with different names from your GY in Defense Position, up to the difference.
You can only use this effect of "Boot Sector Launch" once per turn.

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Guardragon Elpy

Market Price: $0.90

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/220697_200w.jpg

1 Level 4 or lower Dragon monster

You cannot Special Summon monsters, except Dragon monsters. During your Main Phase: You can Special Summon 1 Dragon monster from your hand or Deck to your zone that 2 or more Link Monsters point to. You can only use this effect of "Guardragon Elpy" once per turn. You can only Special Summon "Guardragon Elpy(s)" once per turn.

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Dragon Buster Destruction Sword

Market Price: $0.43

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/111119_200w.jpg

You can target 1 "Buster Blader" you control; equip this monster from your hand or your side of the field to that target. While this card is equipped to a monster, your opponent cannot Special Summon monsters from the Extra Deck. While this card is equipped to a monster: You can Special Summon this equipped card. You can only use this effect of "Dragon Buster Destruction Sword" once per turn.

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Nibiru, the Primal Being

Market Price: $10.99

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/227439_200w.jpg

During the Main Phase, if your opponent Normal or Special Summoned 5 or more monsters this turn (Quick Effect): You can Tribute as many face-up monsters on the field as possible, and if you do, Special Summon this card from your hand, then Special Summon 1 "Primal Being Token" (Rock/LIGHT/Level 11/ATK ?/DEF ?) to your opponent's field. (This Token's ATK/DEF become the combined original ATK/DEF of the Tributed monsters.) You can only use this effect of "Nibiru, the Primal Being" once per turn.

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Borreload Savage Dragon

Market Price: $8.95

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/184143_200w.jpg

1 Tuner + 1+ non-Tuner monsters

If this card is Synchro Summoned: You can equip 1 Link Monster from your GY to this card, and if you do, place Borrel Counters on this card equal to that Link Monster's Link Rating. This card gains ATK equal to half the ATK of the monster equipped to it by its effect. When your opponent activates a card or effect (Quick Effect): You can remove 1 Borrel Counter from this card; negate the activation. You can only use this effect of "Borreload Savage Dragon" once per turn.

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Chaos Dragon Levianeer

Market Price: $2.13

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/227436_200w.jpg

Cannot be Normal Summoned/Set. Must first be Special Summoned (from your hand) by banishing 3 LIGHT and/or DARK monsters from your GY. When Summoned this way: You can activate this effect; apply the following effect, based on the Attribute(s) of the monsters banished for the Special Summon, also this card cannot attack for the rest of this turn. • Only LIGHT: Special Summon 1 monster from your GY in Defense Position. • Only DARK: Shuffle 1 random card from your opponent's hand into the Deck. • Both LIGHT and DARK: Destroy up to 2 cards on the field.

You can only use this effect of "Chaos Dragon Levianeer" once per turn.

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Starliege Seyfert

Market Price: $5.92

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/220882_200w.jpg

You can send any number of Dragon monsters from your hand and/or face-up field to the GY; add 1 Dragon monster from your Deck to your hand, whose Level equals the total original Levels of those monsters sent to the GY. You can banish this card from your GY, then target 1 Level 8 LIGHT or DARK Dragon monster in your GY; add it to your hand. You can only use each effect of "Starliege Seyfert" once per turn.

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White Rose Dragon

Market Price: $0.75

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/230354_200w.jpg

When this card is Normal Summoned: You can Special Summon 1 "Rose Dragon" monster from your hand or GY, except "White Rose Dragon". You can only use each of these effects of "White Rose Dragon" once per turn:

• If you control a Dragon Tuner or Plant Tuner: You can Special Summon this card from your hand.

• If this card is sent to the GY as Synchro Material: You can send 1 Level 4 or higher Plant monster from your Deck to the GY.

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Smoke Grenade of the Thief

Market Price: $0.91

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/224648_200w.jpg

When this card is destroyed by a card effect while equipped to a monster: Look at your opponent's hand and discard 1 card from their hand.


Official Tournament Stores must review their Konami OTS agreement before selling this product.

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Artifact Lancea

Market Price: $0.48

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/130004_200w.jpg

You can Set this card from your hand to your Spell & Trap Zone as a Spell Card. During your opponent's turn, if this Set card in the Spell & Trap Zone is destroyed and sent to your Graveyard: Special Summon it. During your opponent's turn: You can Tribute this card from your hand or face-up from your field; neither player can banish cards for the rest of this turn (this is a Quick Effect).

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Black Metal Dragon

Market Price: $0.69

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/123572_200w.jpg

You can target 1 "Red-Eyes" monster you control, except "Red-Eyes B. Chick"; equip this monster from your hand or field to that target. It gains 600 ATK. If this card is sent from the field to the Graveyard: You can add 1 "Red-Eyes" card from your Deck to your hand, except "Red-Eyes B. Chick".

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Parlor Dragonmaid

Market Price: $1.01

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/227443_200w.jpg

If this card is Normal or Special Summoned: You can send 1 "Dragonmaid" card from your Deck to the GY, except "Parlor Dragonmaid". At the start of the Battle Phase: You can return this card to the hand, and if you do, Special Summon 1 Level 8 "Dragonmaid" monster from your hand or GY. You can only use each effect of "Parlor Dragonmaid" once per turn.

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Guardragon Pisty

Market Price: $0.76

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/184158_200w.jpg

1 Level 4 or lower Dragon monster

You cannot Special Summon monsters, except Dragon monsters. During your Main Phase: You can target 1 of your Dragon monsters that is banished or in your GY; Special Summon it to your zone that 2 or more Link Monsters point to. You can only use this effect of "Guardragon Pisty" once per turn. You can only Special Summon "Guardragon Pisty(s)" once per turn.

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Herald of the Arc Light

Market Price: $0.86

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/227448_200w.jpg

1 Tuner + 1+ non-Tuner monsters

Any monster sent from the hand or Main Deck to the GY is banished instead. When a Spell/Trap Card, or monster effect, is activated (Quick Effect): You can Tribute this card; negate the activation, and if you do, destroy that card. If this card is sent to the GY: You can add 1 Ritual Monster or 1 Ritual Spell from your Deck to your hand.

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Living Fossil

Market Price: $0.47

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/208993_200w.jpg

Activate this card by targeting 1 Level 4 or lower monster in your GY; Special Summon it and equip it with this card, but banish it when it leaves the field (even if this card has left the field). When this card leaves the field, banish the equipped monster. The equipped monster loses 1000 ATK/DEF, also its effects are negated. You can only activate 1 "Living Fossil" per turn.

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Martial Metal Marcher

Market Price: $0.28

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/227450_200w.jpg

1 Tuner + 1+ non-Tuner monsters

If this card is Synchro Summoned: You can target 1 Tuner in your GY; Special Summon it in Defense Position, but negate its effects. You can only use this effect of "Martial Metal Marcher" once per turn. A Synchro Monster that used this card as material is treated as a Tuner while face-up on the field.

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This is a prime example of the K.I.S.S. principle in action, reflected in Rodenburg's deck building process. By eliminating redundant cards that only really served to over-complicate the streamlined strategy, he managed to further emphasize the strengths of the deck.

By slimming to a low deck count of just 43 cards, even though Maurice may not have the high percentages to see certain cards, there are so many powerful 1-of cards that it's an acceptable way to complicate the opponent's life by having so many different angles of attack, while simultaneously simplifying his decision trees by them all ending on the same paths.

K.I.S.S. To The Extreme

The Remote Duel Invitational brought perhaps the best example of the K.I.S.S. principle back into the limelight thanks to Lithium2300's favorite deck, Monarchs.

As a focal point for an entire strategy, Domain of the True Monarchs isn't a complicated play, by any means. Slapping down a large, oppressive monster, that also locks your opponent out of their Extra Deck isn't something that's going to win you many friends, let alone awards for innovative play. But it's a perfect example of a simple, concise plan that's easily executed and hard to screw up.

Look at this deck and consider how easy it would be to play.

Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG Deck - Domain Monarchs by Lithium2300

'Domain Monarchs' - constructed deck list and prices for the Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game from TCGplayer Infinite!

Created By: Lithium2300

Event: Remote Duel Invitational Europe

Rank: 2nd

Advanced

Market Price: $148.95

Cards

Domain of the True Monarchs

Market Price: $0.25

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/227516_200w.jpg

While you have no cards in your Extra Deck and you are the only player that controls a Tribute Summoned monster, your opponent cannot Special Summon monsters from the Extra Deck. If a Tribute Summoned monster you control attacks an opponent's monster, it gains 800 ATK during damage calculation only. Once per turn: You can reduce the Level of 1 monster with 2800 ATK and 1000 DEF in your hand by 2 until the end of this turn (even after they are Summoned/Set, and even if this card leaves the field).

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The Prime Monarch

Market Price: $0.22

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/227519_200w.jpg

Once per turn: You can target 2 "Monarch" Spell/Trap Cards in your GY; shuffle them into the Deck, then draw 1 card. If this card is in your GY: You can banish 1 other "Monarch" Spell/Trap from your GY; Special Summon this card in Defense Position as a Normal Monster (Fairy/LIGHT/Level 5/ATK 1000/DEF 2400). (This card is NOT treated as a Trap Card.) You can only use this effect of "The Prime Monarch" once per turn.

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Foolish Burial

Market Price: $0.38

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/208992_200w.jpg

Send 1 monster from your Deck to the GY.

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March of the Monarchs

Market Price: $0.43

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/111672_200w.jpg

Tribute Summoned monsters you control cannot be targeted by, or destroyed by, card effects. You cannot Special Summon monsters from your Extra Deck.

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Super Quantum Red Layer

Market Price: $1.28

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/224650_200w.jpg

If you control no monsters, you can Special Summon this card (from your hand). You can only use each of the following effects of "Super Quantum Red Layer" once per turn.

• When this card is Normal or Special Summoned: You can target 1 "Super Quant" card in your GY; add it to your hand.

• If this card is sent to the GY: You can target 1 "Super Quant" monster in your GY, except "Super Quantum Red Layer"; Special Summon it, but it cannot activate its effects.


Official Tournament Stores must review their Konami OTS agreement before selling this product.

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Ehther the Heavenly Monarch

Market Price: $0.90

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/111648_200w.jpg

You can Tribute Summon this card by Tributing 1 Tribute Summoned monster. If this card is Tribute Summoned: You can send 2 "Monarch" Spell/Trap Cards with different names from your hand and/or Deck to the Graveyard, and if you do, Special Summon 1 monster with 2400 or more ATK and 1000 DEF from your Deck, but return it to the hand during the End Phase. During your opponent's Main Phase, if this card is in your hand: You can banish 1 "Monarch" Spell/Trap Card from your Graveyard; immediately after this effect resolves, Tribute Summon this card (this is a Quick Effect).

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Edea the Heavenly Squire

Market Price: $1.29

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/111651_200w.jpg

If this card is Normal or Special Summoned: You can Special Summon 1 monster with 800 ATK and 1000 DEF from your Deck in Defense Position, except "Edea the Heavenly Squire", also you cannot Special Summon monsters from the Extra Deck for the rest of this turn. If this card is sent to the Graveyard: You can target 1 of your banished "Monarch" Spell/Trap Cards; add it to your hand. You can only use each effect of "Edea the Heavenly Squire" once per turn.

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Jinzo

Market Price: $0.14

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/222814_200w.jpg

Trap Cards, and their effects on the field, cannot be activated. Negate all Trap effects on the field.

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Majesty's Fiend

Market Price: $0.31

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/199587_200w.jpg

Cannot be Special Summoned. Monster effects cannot be activated.

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Eidos the Underworld Squire

Market Price: $1.48

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/111650_200w.jpg

If this card is Normal or Special Summoned: During your Main Phase this turn, you can Tribute Summon 1 monster, in addition to your Normal Summon/Set. (You can only gain this effect once per turn.) You can banish this card from your Graveyard, then target 1 monster with 800 ATK and 1000 DEF in your Graveyard, except "Eidos the Underworld Squire"; Special Summon it in Defense Position, also you cannot Special Summon monsters from the Extra Deck for the rest of this turn. You can only use this effect of "Eidos the Underworld Squire" once per turn.

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Vanity's Fiend

Market Price: $0.30

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/165475_200w.jpg

Cannot be Special Summoned. Neither player can Special Summon monsters.

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The Monarchs Stormforth

Market Price: $0.27

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/111674_200w.jpg

Once during this turn, if you would Tribute a monster(s) for a Tribute Summon, you can Tribute 1 monster your opponent controls as if you controlled it. You can only activate 1 "The Monarchs Stormforth" per turn. During the turn you activate this card, you cannot Special Summon monsters from the Extra Deck.

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Pantheism of the Monarchs

Market Price: $1.54

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/111670_200w.jpg

Send 1 "Monarch" Spell/Trap Card from your hand to the Graveyard; draw 2 cards. You can banish this card from your Graveyard; reveal 3 "Monarch" Spell/Trap Cards from your Deck, your opponent chooses 1 for you to add to your hand, and you shuffle the rest back into your Deck. You can only use this effect of "Pantheism of the Monarchs" once per turn.

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Return of the Monarchs

Market Price: $2.60

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/111673_200w.jpg

You cannot Special Summon monsters from the Extra Deck. When you Tribute Summon a monster: You can activate 1 of these effects;

- Add, from your Deck to your hand, 1 monster with 2400 ATK and 1000 DEF with a different name from that Tribute Summoned monster.

- Add, from your Deck to your hand, 1 monster with 2800 ATK and 1000 DEF with a different name from that Tribute Summoned monster.
The Tribute Summoned monster must be face-up on the field to activate and to resolve this effect. You can only activate this effect of "Return of the Monarchs" once per turn.

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One for One

Market Price: $0.86

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/71252_200w.jpg

Send 1 monster from your hand to the Graveyard; Special Summon 1 Level 1 monster from your hand or Deck.

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Upstart Goblin

Market Price: $1.93

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/22566_200w.jpg

Draw 1 card from your Deck. Your opponent gains 1000 Life Points.

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Nibiru, the Primal Being

Market Price: $10.99

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/227439_200w.jpg

During the Main Phase, if your opponent Normal or Special Summoned 5 or more monsters this turn (Quick Effect): You can Tribute as many face-up monsters on the field as possible, and if you do, Special Summon this card from your hand, then Special Summon 1 "Primal Being Token" (Rock/LIGHT/Level 11/ATK ?/DEF ?) to your opponent's field. (This Token's ATK/DEF become the combined original ATK/DEF of the Tributed monsters.) You can only use this effect of "Nibiru, the Primal Being" once per turn.

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Erebus the Underworld Monarch

Market Price: $1.22

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/111649_200w.jpg

You can Tribute Summon this card by Tributing 1 Tribute Summoned monster. If this card is Tribute Summoned: You can send 2 "Monarch" Spell/Trap Cards with different names from your hand and/or Deck to the Graveyard, and if you do, shuffle 1 card from your opponent's hand (at random), Graveyard, or their side of the field into the Deck. Once per turn, during either player's Main Phase, if this card is in your Graveyard: You can discard 1 "Monarch" Spell/Trap Card, then target 1 monster in your Graveyard with 2400 or more ATK and 1000 DEF; add it to your hand.

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Twin Twisters

Market Price: $0.73

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/224991_200w.jpg

Discard 1 card, then target up to 2 Spells/Traps on the field; destroy them.

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Evenly Matched

Market Price: $20.37

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/186992_200w.jpg

At the end of the Battle Phase, if your opponent controls more cards than you do: You can make your opponent banish cards from their field face-down so they control the same number of cards as you do. If you control no cards, you can activate this card from your hand.

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Escalation of the Monarchs

Market Price: $0.29

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/111683_200w.jpg

Once per turn, during your opponent's Main Phase or your opponent's Battle Phase, you can: Immediately after this effect resolves, Tribute Summon 1 monster.

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Thestalos the Mega Monarch

Market Price: $8.52

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/82694_200w.jpg

You can Tribute Summon this card by Tributing 1 Tribute Summoned monster. When this card is Tribute Summoned: Look at your opponent's hand and discard 1 card from their hand, then, if it was a Monster Card, inflict damage to your opponent equal to its original Level x 200. If this card was Tributed Summoned by Tributing a FIRE monster, add this additional effect.

Also, inflict 1000 damage to your opponent after that.

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Tenacity of the Monarchs

Market Price: $1.00

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/95555_200w.jpg

Reveal 1 monster in your hand with 2400 ATK & 1000 DEF, or 2800 ATK & 1000 DEF; add 1 "Monarch" Spell/Trap Card from your Deck to your hand, except "Tenacity of the Monarchs". You can only activate 1 "Tenacity of the Monarchs" per turn.

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Kuraz the Light Monarch

Market Price: $3.50

ImageURL: https://tcgplayer-cdn.tcgplayer.com/product/91445_200w.jpg

When this card is Normal or Special Summoned: You can target up to 2 cards on the field; destroy those targets, and if you do, each player can draw 1 card for each of the cards they controlled that was destroyed by this effect. This card cannot attack during the turn it is Normal or Special Summoned.

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This takes the concept of "Keep It Short and Simple" to a new height. All you're doing is slapping down powerful cards and locking down your opponent, keeping them from doing... well, anything. Combined with cards like Majesty's Fiend, Domain of the True Monarchs can cripples your opponent's chances of establishing their key lines of play. And the beauty of this deck is that it's so straightforward to play, while being frustratingly hard to stop, giving you more bandwidth to tackle tough situations when they do arise (and giving Lithium a great chance to win the tournament). In the end he came up just shy of the win, but taking second place in such a reputable field, it was a great proof of concept.

Whenever possible, take the time to sit down and write out your systems of operation. Be it in deck building, technical play, or even Side Decking. There's never a bad time to evaluate your methods, and double check that you're not over-complicating your play unnecessarily.

Check it out, and if you need any help hit me up over on my Twitter.