Disaster Dragon

This deck is considered a Classic Deck, this page is used to tell the history of a deck rather than how it is played now. This can happen either from mechanics of the game changing, changes from the "TCG" or "OCG" Forbidden/Limited List, or the deck has slowly lost it's ability to be played over time due to years of no support or neglect.

While not truly unplayable, the limiting of Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon on the "TCG" Forbidden/Limited list nearly destroyed the original concept of the deck. While it it has been unbanned with an erratum, it has been powercrept since then.

See also: Hopeless Dragon

Disaster Dragon was an Aggro Lockdown Deck reliant on "Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon" to easily summon high-power Dragons.

Contents

HistoryEdit

  • Dragon pile Decks have existed in some form for most of the game's history, due to the wide array of generic Dragon support.
  • When "Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon" was released (2009-10), a Deck known as "Hopeless Dragon" was discovered, which focused on turbo'ing out DARKs in the GY to summon bombs.
  • "Disaster Dragon" is a slower, more Control/Beatdown-oriented version of "Hopeless Dragon", focusing more on "Masked Dragon" toolbox rather than getting bombs on field.
  • With the release of the Dragons Collide Structure Deck (2012), a newer variant known as "Chaos Dragon" was discovered. It is a faster-paced "Dragon" Deck, enabled by "Eclipse Wyvern" being able to search any Dragon, and using the "Chaos" monsters to banish it while getting a powerhouse on field.
  • In the September 2012 Lists, "Future Fusion" was forbidden and "Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon" was Limited, gutting "Disaster Dragon" and hurting "Chaos Dragon". (White both cards would eventually get errata and be unlimited, the Decks would be powercrept by then.)
  • The "Dragon Ruler"s (2013) were an extremely powerful archetype which made use of Dragons, which could be played with Disaster/Chaos Dragon.
  • With the hits on the "Dragon Rulers" and the release of powerful archetypes (starting with Duelist Alliance), the above Decks fell out of favor. "Chaos Dragon" would eventually turn into various builds of "Dragon Link" as more support was released.

GameplayEdit

The Deck is a toolbox-reliant beatdown Deck at its core, with two major themes.

Other important tools include "Dread Dragon" (after being destroyed by battle, adds a Dragon to hand), "Red-Eyes Wyvern" (can summon a "Red-Eyes" monster from GY), and "Dodger Dragon" (prevents Counter Traps from being used, protecting the Deck).

While "Koa'ki Meiru Drago" shuts down some of the Deck's own cards ("REDMD" is a DARK, "Future Fusion" relies on summoning the DARK "Five-Headed Dragon"), the idea is to play it after completing your field. It can be "switched off" by not paying its maintenance cost and "switched on" by summoning it from hand or with "REDMD".

The deck does not pilot itself and requires forethought and careful consideration of options. Every choice made with what you dump, search, and revive can tilt the scales in either player's favor. It plays aggressively, as almost every monster in the deck has higher ATK than opposing monsters. It can utilize this in its favor and play a momentum game. By locking down the opponent's options while you continue to amass your own, it is quite easy to take complete control of a Duel in a matter of turns.[2]

As of the September 2012 Lists, this deck has lost majority of its power, as "Future Fusion" was Forbidden and "Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon" was Limited. The "Dragon Rulers" were a notable inclusion as a powerful Dragon core, though they too were eventually Limited and then Forbidden. While "REDMD" was eventually unlimited after an erratum, this Deck was powercrept, replaced largely by "Dragon Link".

VariationsEdit

Disaster Dragon is capable of assuming many different forms to suit the players taste, often utilizing different tech cards that either strengthen the deck's base or alter part of its play style while retaining its control ability. The most famous and well-known version of Disaster is often referred to as Standard Disaster, which is a well rounded, consistent deck that serves as the basis for the many different forms the deck can take. It's very balanced in terms of offense, control, and speed.

Variations include:

Light and Darkness DisasterEdit

Focusing on lock down by summoning "Light and Darkness Dragon" via "Totem Dragon" or "Keeper of the Shrine" (either via their own effects or "Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon"), as well as recycling him by the effect of "Divine Dragon Apocralyph" which can create an infinite loop, of course as long as you can maintain the cycle. "Dodger Dragon" is an optional aid (mostly used to prevent "Solemn Warning" and "Solemn Strike".).

Recommended cards
Main Deck

Monster Cards

Effect Monsters

Tuner monsters

Spell Cards

Trap Cards

Extra Deck

Fusion Monsters

Synchro Monsters

Xyz Monsters

Frozen RayEdit

The WATER variant that can summon "Gungnir, Dragon of the Ice Barrier" since it's iconic card is "Blizzard Dragon", which can "freeze" your opponent's monster and prevent their attacks. This variant can also combined with other variants (mostly by adding "Blizzard Dragon") for strengthening your position during grind games.

This variant also gets some nice boost from Lord of the Tachyon Galaxy in the form of "Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls", which can provide another strong WATER Dragon-type monster and an ability for searching "Blizzard Dragon" when combined with either "Gold Sarcophagus" or "Sacred Sword of Seven Stars".

In the OCG, "Blizzard Dragon" and "Elder Entity Norden" open the possibility of summoning "Bahamut Shark", which grants the option of summoning "Toadally Awesome" from the Extra Deck.

Spirit WellEdit

This variant utilizes "Yamata Dragon", which acts as a generator for hand advantage through inflicting Battle Damage with the reward of drawing up to 5 cards. This variant requires "Totem Dragon" as a consistent Tribute fodder for Yamata Dragon. The rest of the cards in this build is often identical to the Standard variant or can be combined with Light and Disaster.

Catastrophe DragonEdit

Runs "Gandora the Dragon of Destruction" to decimate an opponent's field and follow up with summoning "Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon". Although not necessary, "Totem Dragon" and "Divine Dragon Apocralyph" can help you to recycle Gandora to wipe the field more often.

Egg TurboEdit

Or commonly referred as "The SOL", focuses on gaining immeasurable deck speed via drawing power. This is done by utilizing "The White Stone of Legend" and "Blue-Eyes White Dragon", with some spell cards such as "Cards of Consonance", "Trade-In" and "Dragon Ravine". This deck can also utilize many Rank 8 Xyz Monsters like the enormous "Thunder End Dragon" or "Hieratic Sun Dragon Overlord of Heliopolis" for auxiliary destruction effects.

Due to having access to "Dragon Ravine", some players can even mix this deck type along with the core components of Dragunities for adding offensive power, but at the cost of removing "Totem Dragon" (due to half of Dragunities are Winged-Beast type). The infamous Levyaten-Light and Darkness loop combo can also accessible in this type of build.

Project R.E.D.Edit

You can use the newly-supported "Red-Eyes" archetype cards to create a beatdown deck variant with significant burn damage. "Red-Eyes Black Flare Dragon" can burn for 2400 LP once Gemini summoned after damage calculation and at the end of the Battle Phase. The before-mentioned card can open up Rank 7 Xyz with the original Red-Eyes B. Dragon to summon "Red-Eyes Flare Metal Dragon" or "Odd-Eyes Rebellion Dragon" You can also add "Red-Eyes Archfiend of Lightning" to destroy your opponents monsters in attack mode. "Black Metal Dragon" can equip itself to the above monsters to increase their attack power by 600 and it can search out ANY "Red-Eyes" monster, spell, or trap card. The final pieces of the puzzle are "Red-Eyes Fusion", "Return of the Red-Eyes" and "Red-Eyes Spirit". Additionally, the deck can fusion summon with relative ease the following monsters: "B. Skull Dragon", "Archfiend Black Skull Dragon", "Meteor B. Dragon", "Red-Eyes Black Dragon Sword" and "First of the Dragons" with "Dragon's Mirror", "Fusion Conscription", "Fusion Reserve" and "Fusion Substitute".

Horus ControlEdit

Focuses on Spell lockdown via "Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV8". Although normally hard to summon, Disaster Dragon can outrun this problem by Special Summoning "Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV6" via the effect of "Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon", and further protect it from destruction with cards such as "Prime Material Dragon" or "Mirage Dragon", until it reaches it's final form. If combined with "Royal Decree", this deck can potentially lockdown several decks. "Level Up!" and "Blaster, Dragon Ruler of Infernos" can also help in this variant.

Assault and DisasterEdit

This utilizes "Stardust Dragon/Assault Mode" for additional control, by recruiting tuners such as "Delta Flyer" and "Dread Dragon". "Delta Flyer" is searchable by "Masked Dragon", and when combined with any LV 4 monsters, it can easily tune for "Stardust Dragon", any other level 8 or level 7 synchro, while "Dread Dragon" can search for the required materials.

Pandemic DragonsEdit

Incorporates "Deck Devastation Virus" and "Eradicator Epidemic Virus" to effectively stop the opponent from Synchro Summoning since most Tuner monster's are below 1500 ATK, and "Eradicator Epidemic Virus" serves to shut down either Trap or Spell usage depending on what deck it's up against or user choice.

Anti-Meta DisasterEdit

This build uses the same basic skeleton as Standard Disaster, but instead of "Totem Dragon", this build has more emphasis on Anti-Meta monsters such as "Thunder King Rai-Oh", "Doomcaliber Knight" and "Effect Veiler" to limit the opponent's options. It is designed to combat many popular meta decks, but with decreased consistency as consequences.

Ninjutsu DisasterEdit

Incorporates "Ninja Grandmaster Hanzo" for searching "Ninjitsu Art of Super-Transformation" to instantly grant access to needed Dragons in the deck, including "Koa'ki Meiru Drago", the four Adult Dragon Rulers (Currently Banned), "Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon", etc. This grants the advantage of having quicker responses to varying threats that make the difference of winning or losing. One common play is activating "Ninjitsu Art of Super-Transformation" to target "Ninja Grandmaster Hanzo" and an opposing monster, send them to the graveyard, and special summon "Koa'ki Meiru Drago" to prevent the opponent from Special Summoning Light and Dark Monsters during the opponent's turn. This engine was originally introduced as replacement of the traditional "Masked Dragon" engine, which some players considered it too slow in a fast-paced meta. Currently, the Ninja engine is used to supplement the other Disaster variants.

Recommended cards
Main Deck

Monster Cards

Effect Monsters

Spell Cards

Trap Cards

Extra Deck

Fusion Monsters

Synchro Monsters

Xyz Monsters

Dragon King's DisasterEdit

This build combines the modern aspect of Standard Disaster deck along with supports from Dragon Fusion-oriented deck. Specifically, this deck focusing on Summoning both "King Dragun" and "Queen Dragun Djinn" for reinforcing your own field with strong Dragons and protection effects. "Hieratic Dragon of Gebeb" helps immensely, since it can pull "Divine Dragon Ragnarok" straight from the Deck for Xyz Summoning "Queen Dragun Djinn" and Fusion Material for "King Dragun" later on. For the other materials needed, there's "Tour Guide From the Underworld", which can pull "Versago the Destroyer" (which can act as Fusion Substitute). They can be used for Xyz Summoning "Number 17: Leviathan Dragon", then by detaching Versago, and having Ragnarok in your Graveyard, "King Dragun" can be Fusion Summoned via "Dragon's Mirror". "The Dark - Hex-Sealed Fusion" or "King of the Swamp" (together with "Polymerization") can also useful, either as backup or alternatives. "Golem Dragon" can also be added for near-perfect protection.

Hieratic DisasterEdit

Recently popular among veterans, this Disaster Dragon variant utilizes the new deck-toolbox concept provided by "Hieratic Dragon King of Atum" instead of its traditional Graveyard-toolbox concept (due to the loss of "Future Fusion"). Atum can be easily Summoned with the combination of "Hieratic Dragon of Su" and either "Hieratic Dragon of Tefnuit" or "Hieratic Dragon of Eset", coupled with numerous Dragon-type utility monsters such as "Delta Flyer", "Divine Dragon Apocralyph, "Exploder Dragon", "Blizzard Dragon", "Koa'ki Meiru Drago", "Totem Dragon" or even high-level Dragons like "Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon" or "Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon" to address any situation.

Hieratic ArtifactsEdit

This variant is similar to the hieratic disaster listed above. However, its power plays rely heavily on triggering the newly acquired synchro dragon "Ultimaya Tzolkin" by setting the artifacts monsters or cards in your spell/trap zones so you can use them during your opponent's turn to stun and disrupt their plays. (This variant have more success against decks that use their extra deck thanks to artifact scythe). Also, as u set your cards in your spell/trap zones, you will get to special summon any level 8 or 7 synchro dragons, including "crystal wing synchro dragon".

Note that due to the fact that the artifacts are a part of the deck, koa'ki meiru drago can somewhat interfere and prevent them from being summoned and disrupting your opponents' plays.

Elemental Disaster (Traditional Format only)Edit

Also known as Sandstorm Disaster (the name given by the deck's creator, Richard Clarke) [3], it's the newest build of the deck introduced by Lord of the Tachyon Galaxy booster pack. Originally, this variant utilizes "Tempest, Dragon Ruler of Storms", "Redox, Dragon Ruler of Boulders" and "Blaster, Dragon Ruler of Infernos" bolstered with "Gold Sarcophagus", "Dragon Shrine", "Sacred Sword of Seven Stars" and "Queen Dragun Djinn" for adding massive power and consistency boost. In particular, "Tempest, Dragon Ruler of Storms" is the best support for this Deck, due to its effect can search "Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon" easily and most Disaster Dragon decks have vast number of WIND Dragon-type monsters. Because most of the Dragon Rulers used are Level 7, this deck can utilizes Rank 7 Xyz Monsters like "Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack" and "Number 11: Big Eye" easily, while still retaining the basic strategy of Standard Disaster.

Since the Limitation of all "big" version of Dragon Rulers, "Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls" becomes even more important than before. It can provide access to the other Dragon Rulers quickly, while also being good recurring beater as well with its 2600 ATK. With Tidal in the Main Deck, "Blizzard Dragon" or "Mythic Water Dragon" can also be included for stalling enemy's attack or providing Rank 8 Xyz Summoning (along with "Mythic Tree Dragon"), respectively.

Compared from any Disaster Dragon variant that can utilize "Totem Dragon" (if any), this variant is surprisingly tolerant with other monsters that isn't Dragon-type (as long as their Attribute matches with any of the Dragon Rulers used in the Deck). Because of this, the Extra Deck for this variant (especially the Xyz Monsters) is more easily adjustable for certain match-ups (such as "Crimson Blader" against Mermails and mirror-matches).

Both January 2014 TCG Lists and February 2014 OCG Lists diminishes this build's strength quite considerably (harsher in TCG List), albeit not to the point it is unplayable.

With the banning of the Adult Dragon Rulers on April 2015, this variant no longer sees play in the Advanced Format.

Maximus Sentinel (Maximum Sniper)Edit

Made possible with the release of Primal Origin booster pack, this variant heavily focused on utilizing "Diamond Core of Koa'ki Meiru" in conjunction with "Koa'ki Meiru Drago" as the central control element while also adding more explosive power with one of the strongest Koa'ki Meiru monsters in existence: "Koa'ki Meiru Maximus".

Clocking at 3000 ATK and equipped with powerful free-destruction effect, "Maximus" can quickly dispatch any threats while also dealing a substantial amount of damage. While "Koa'ki Meiru Drago" is already powerful on its own, "Maximus" makes it even more dangerous due to its sheer power, enabling the deck to quickly end the duel if the opponent cannot respond hastily. In addition, aside from "Diamond Core", "Tempest, Dragon Ruler of Storms" can also search it, and "Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon" can revive it over and over, making it much easier to preserve both "Drago" and "Maximus". Also, unlike the other Koa'ki Meiru based decks, this build only needs "Iron Core of Koa'ki Meiru" for "Maximus"' Summon, as such the "Iron Core" isn't regarded as much importance as in the other builds(unless the deck runs multiple "Maximus"). It's also searchable with "Diamond Core". Aside from those additions, this deck holds the same principle as Standard Disaster builds.

Due to this deck being able to utilize "Drago" more consistently than usual, this build can be downright terrifying for almost any LIGHT- and DARK-based strategies.

Rise of DisasterEdit

With the release of Rise of the True Dragons Structure Deck and the Shining Victories booster pack, Disaster was given "Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand", "Arkbrave Dragon", "Dragon Spirit of White", "Dragon Knight of Creation", "Paladin of Felgrand", and "Return of the Dragon Lords" as additional support. This variant is dependent on "Dragon Knight of Creation", "Dragon Shrine" and "Dragon Ravine" to send level 7 or 8 monsters to the graveyard and utilizing "Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand", "Return of the Dragon Lords", "Arkbrave Dragon", and "Dragon Knight of Creation" to special summon sent monsters to the field.

Rise of Disaster can remove on field threats, more easily than most variants, by way of "Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand", "Arkbrave Dragon", and "Dragon Spirit of White" due to the following effects:

  • Divine Dragon Lord Felgrand: If this card is Special Summoned from the Graveyard: You can target 1monster your opponent controls or in their Graveyard; banish it, and if you do, this card gains ATK and DEF equal to the banished monster's original Level/Rank x 100.
  • Arkbrave Dragon: If this card is Special Summoned from the Graveyard: You can banish as many face-up Spell/Trap Cards your opponent controls as possible, and if you do, this card gains 200 ATK and DEF for each card banished.
  • Dragon Spirit of White: When this card is Normal or Special Summoned: You cantarget 1 Spell/Trap Card your opponent controls; banish it.

Because the mentioned Dragons are Light, Koa'ki Meiru Drago can interfere with the player's ability to special summon the Light Dragons.

Many more variations exist and others will come as new cards are released with future sets and Disaster Dragon enthusiasts look for ways to improve the concept. Ever since September 2012 Lists severe limitations, this deck's players and innovators continuously improving them from time to time, following Disaster Dragon's renowned strength: adaptability.'

Recommended cards for Current TCG Advanced FormatEdit

MonstersEdit

SpellsEdit

Searchers Draw Cards Spell/Trap Removal or Monster Protection or Disruption Power or Recovery Cards Misc.
Pot of Duality Trade-In Twin Twisters Soul Charge Iron Core of Koa'ki Meiru
Dragon Shrine Cards of Consonance Mystical Space Typhoon Instant Fusion
Hieratic Seal of Convocation Forbidden Lance Dragon's Mirror
Gold Sarcophagus Book of Moon Burial from a Different Dimension
Diamond Core of Koa'ki Meiru D.D.R - Different Dimension Reincarnation
Reinforcement of the Army Solidarity (Dragon-Type Only)
Foolish Burial
Dragon Ravine
Draconnection

TrapsEdit

Extra DeckEdit

Fusion Synchro XYZ
Elder Entity Norden Orient Dragon Kachi Kochi Dragon
Five-Headed Dragon Iron Chain Dragon Number 17: Leviathan Dragon
Archfiend Black Skull Dragon Black Rose Dragon Number 82: Heartlandraco
King Dragun Black Rose Moonlight Dragon Castel, the Skyblaster Musketeer
Exploder Dragonwing Abyss Dweller
Ancient Fairy Dragon Daigusto Emeral
Ancient Pixie Dragon Dark Rebellion XYZ Dragon
Gungnir, Dragon of the Ice Barrier Number 39: Utopia
Michael, the Arch-Lightsworn Number S39: Utopia Prime
Stardust Dragon Number S39: Utopia the Lightning
Stardust Spark Dragon Bahamut Shark
Dark End Dragon Queen Dragun Djinn
Red Dragon Archfiend Diamond Dire Wolf
Hot Red Dragon Archfiend Lightning Chidori
Scrap Dragon Number 101: Silent Honor ARK
Crimson Blader Gagaga Cowboy
Trident Dragion Hieratic Dragon King of Atum
Star Eater Gaia Dragon, the Thunder Charger
Leo, the Keeper of the Sacred Tree Number 11: Big Eye
Number 74: Master of Blades
Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack
Hieratic Sun Dragon Overlord of Heliopolis
Number 107: Galaxy-Eyes Tachyon Dragon
Number 46: Dragluon
Thunder End Dragon
Divine Dragon Knight Felgrand
Galaxy-Eyes Full Armor Photon Dragon
Number 62: Galaxy-Eyes Prime Photon Dragon
Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon
Galaxy-Eyes Dark Matter Dragon

WeaknessesEdit

Disaster Dragon, while being a very versatile deck, does have quite a few vulnerabilities such as high reliability on the Graveyard. Red-Eyes Wyvern, Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon, Light and Darkness Dragon, Masked Dragon, Totem Dragon, Prime Material Dragon, and the Elemental Dragons all require use of the Graveyard to take advantage of their effects leaving them extremely vulnerable to Gravekeeper's, Macro or Chaos-based deck. Disaster Dragon decks are also extremely weak against decks with more brute force than themselves, such as Machina Gadget and Malefics. Bottomless Trap Hole can also be annoying, since it can easily banish Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon as soon as it is Summoned (usually at End Phase, via Red-Eyes Wyvern's effect, or with its own effect). However, if Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon was Summoned via Hieratic Dragon King of Atum, Bottomless Trap Hole can no longer affect it. Also, since Disaster Dragon relies mostly on high-level monsters in terms of offensive, "Evilswarm Ophion" (backed by several back-row cards including "Infestation Pandemic") can effectively deadlock this deck, so be careful if you encounter one.

Some Disaster Dragon (most notably Anti-Meta Disaster, or any other variant that includes non-Dragon monsters in the Main Deck) variants almost always suffering from consistency issues, due to their not-100%-Dragon monster lineup. Most of the cards in Disaster Dragon decks either supporting only Dragons (such as "Masked Dragon"), or need other Dragons to unlock their potential (such as "Koa'ki Meiru Drago", "Totem Dragon", or even "Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon" itself). Therefore, adding non-Dragons can usually limit the options which players can make, due to their incompatibility to many Dragon support cards and synergy that this deck includes.

"Imperial Iron Wall" can also hurts this deck (especially against Elemental Disaster variant) due to the Deck needs to banishing Dragon Rulers in order to trigger their search effects (although "Tempest, Dragon Ruler of Storms" can bypass this limitation). It will also prevent "Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon" from Special Summoning itself via its own effect, and also prevents the activation of cards like "Gold Sarcophagus", "Sacred Sword of Seven Stars", and "Castle of Dragon Souls".

Due to Limitation of "Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon", this deck can be forced into grind game if the deck cannot access it early or losing access into it due to banishment cards. However, with the right support this issue can be easily remedied.

Another weakness of Disaster Dragon decks is the difficulties for this deck's player to recover from misplays, making it not so user-friendly (unlike Chaos Dragon's beginner-friendly traits).

ReferencesEdit

  1. ↑ yugioh-card.com European Championship 2010 event coverage
  2. ↑ yugioh-card.com European Championship 2010 event coverage
  3. ↑ blog.coretcg.com Sandstorm Disaster – An Interview With Richard Clarke
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