Yu-Gi-Oh!: 10 Older Archetypes That Still Need Support

Some archetypes never see support in the future, no matter how interesting their appearances, effects, and strategy may seem.

If there's one thing the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG is known for, it's all the various archetypes that different Monster, Spell, and Trap cards belong to. Many of these archetypes have been getting support since the early days of the card game, with more specific support coming out later and being updated to more appropriately fit older members of the archetype into modern play.

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But because Yu-Gi-Oh! has so many different archetypes, many either rarely or sometimes never see support in the future, no matter how interesting their appearances, effects, and strategy may seem. This means many older archetypes still need support.

Despite only having three members, the monsters of the Malicevorous are still considered an archetype. This small archetype consists of three Dark attribute Fiend-type monsters whose effects revolve around swarming the Field to allow for easier Xyz Summons of Rank 2 Xyz Monsters, such as Number 96: Dark Mist, who used them in the Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal anime series.

Each Malicevorous monster holds a kitchenware utensil, a fork, knife, and spoon, respectively. Knowing this, it's surprising that this archetype hasn't been expanded since the 2013 Shadow Specters booster pack, particularly since there have been a handful of food-based archetypes over the years.

9. Orichalcos

The Orichalcos archetype introduced in the Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters anime series in 2004 first saw cards in the TCG in the 2012 Legendary Collection 3: Yugi's World booster pack. Yet even now, many members and support remain anime-exclusive, making the TCG version only a series.

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The larger archetype features several more Effect Monsters similar to Orichalcos Shunoros. It also had several Spell cards, a few of which, like Orichalcos Deutoros and Orichalchos Tritos, add layers to The Seal of Orichalcos and stack on additional effects. Among them is the Mirror Knight Calling ritual monster, which can summon four Mirror Knight Tokens and equip them with Shield Tokens that make their Attack Points equal to any monster attacking them.

8. Spider

The Spider archetype had its first cards released through the 2009 Stardust Overdrive booster pack, but it hasn't seen any support since the 2010 Absolute Powerforce booster pack. These Insect-type monsters revolve around switching the opponent's monsters into Defense Position and exploiting that; Spell cards with those effects may help, but it would be better if they were archetype-related Spells.

Plenty of members of the Spider archetype remain exclusive to the Yu-Gi-Oh! 5Ds anime series. Because there hasn't been any TCG support since 2010, they haven't kept up with modern play. Giving these arachnids more support could make older Insect-type cards viable and provide an alternative to archetypes with similar effects.

7. Reactor

The Reactor archetype debuted in the 2009 Crimson Crisis booster pack, and although many other cards with Reactor in their name are considered to belong to the archetype, the specific Reactor cards being referred to here are Summon Reactor - SK, Spell Reactor - RE, and Trap Reactor Y-FI, their combined version Flying Fortress SKY FIRE, and a few anime-exclusive cards from Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's.

Since this archetype hasn't been updated to reflect other aspects of the game, such as Synchro Summons, Xyz Summons, and Link Summons, there should be new Reactor cards to reflect them. There could also be Fusion Reactor and Ritual Reactor monsters since they hadn't happened previously when the first archetype members were introduced.

6. Inmato

Despite having only two members, Inmato and Cherry Inmato, Inmato is technically considered an archetype rather than a series. Introduced in the 2009 Crimson Crisis booster pack, Inmato's second member was introduced in the 2010 The Shining Darkness booster pack. These Dark attribute Plant-type monsters revolve around Synchro Summoning level five and six Synchro Monsters by drawing cards and Special Summoning Imato.

Although Mystic Tomato is not part of the archetype, its matching attribute and type, as well as its Special Summoning effect relating to Dark attribute monsters with under 1500 Attack Points, sync up well with the Inmato archetype.

5. Clear

The Clear archetype only has two members in the TCG, the Effect Monster Clear Vice Dragon and the Spell card Clear World, which were first released all the way back in 2005. Although there were other cards of the archetype featured in the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX anime series, they all have yet to receive TCG counterparts.

This archetype is interesting in that in the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX anime series, the monsters have no attribute, with Clear World affecting any monsters that do have one. In the TCG, the monsters of this archetype are Dark attribute but are still unaffected by Clear World.

4. Darkness

The Darkness archetype are Dark attribute monsters and supports that revolve around field swarming and Life Point recovery. It was first introduced in 2005 when Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon was included with the Dragon's Roar structure deck in 2005, with cards like Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon, Darkness Neosphere, and Darkness Destroyer releasing a few years later.

Although many cards can technically be considered a part of this archetype due to characteristics like names and attribute, the portion being referred to here are the cards that Nightshroud uses in the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX anime series. Many of these cards remain anime-exclusive, and some don't yet have proper names, being referred to as Darkness Monster, Spell, or Trap A through E.

3. LV

Besides Armed Dragon, the various members of the LV archetype that debuted in the 2004 Soul of the Duelist booster pack, which stands for Level, have not seen new support since the 2006 Cyberdark Impact booster pack, despite levels becoming more important once Xyz Monsters were introduced in the TCG. Unlike Armed Dragon, the other LV monsters never exceeded level seven or eight.

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New LV monsters could be the level 10 forms of all the LV monsters who haven't had the chance to reach it, with Dark Mimic finally going past level three. These monsters could also get retrained counterparts similar to Armed Dragon LV10 White and Armed Dragon Thunder.

2. Dark Scorpion

The Dark Scorpion archetype, introduced in the 2003 Pharaonic Guardian booster pack, has not seen any new support since the release of the Dark Crisis booster pack the same year. The Dark Scorpion archetype consists of Dark attribute Warrior-type monsters that can affect the opponent's deck, hand, or Field after inflicting battle damage.

There have been no new Dark Scorpion cards in two decades, and as a result, the archetype has not been able to update alongside the rest of the TCG. There are no Dark Scorpion Fusion Monsters, Synchro Monsters, Xyz Monsters, Pendulum Monsters, or Link Monsters, and no upgraded Effect Monsters, although they're long overdue.

1. Bugroth

The Bugroth series of cards debuted in the 2002 Metal Raiders booster pack with Ground Attacker Bugroth. It got its most recent support in 2022 with Amphibious Bugroth MK-11 but still cannot technically be considered an archetype due to lacking support. These Water attribute Machine-type monsters are based on the Warmech boss of the first Final Fantasy.

This series could be expanded to become a proper archetype and reference more mechanical enemies from various Final Fantasy entries and could include upgraded Effect Monster versions of Ground Attacker Bugroth and Amphibious Bugroth. An expansion could also include Bugroth monsters for all missing Extra Deck Monsters, all other than Fusion.

Source: thegamer.com