Qli

Sets
	The New Challengers; Secrets of Eternity; Invasion: Vengeance;
TCG
	The New Challengers: Super Edition; Secrets of Eternity: Super Edition; 2015 Mega-Tin Mega Pack; Pendulum Evolution; Extreme Force;
OCG
	20th Anniversary Pack 2nd Wave; LINK VRAINS Pack;
Korean
	Advanced Event Pack 2015 Vol.1

Qli
Qli
	The original 10 "Qli" monsters
Japanese	クリフォート; Kurifōto (romanized); Qliphort (translated);
Simplified Chinese	机壳; Machine Husk (translated);
French	Qli;
German	Qli;
Italian	Qli;
Korean	클리포트; Keullipoteu (romanized); Qliphort (translated);
Portuguese	Qli;
Spanish	Qli;
Sets
Sets
	The New Challengers; Secrets of Eternity; Invasion: Vengeance;
TCG
	The New Challengers: Super Edition; Secrets of Eternity: Super Edition; 2015 Mega-Tin Mega Pack; Pendulum Evolution; Extreme Force;
OCG
	20th Anniversary Pack 2nd Wave; LINK VRAINS Pack;
Korean
	Advanced Event Pack 2015 Vol.1
Lists	Members; Support;

"Qli", known as "Qliphort" (クリフォート Kurifōto) in the OCG, is an archetype of EARTH Machine monsters introduced in The New Challengers that are designed to take advantage of the Pendulum Summon mechanic. This is reflected in the eye-shaped motifs visible in their appearances; these motifs are flanked by two crystals, one blue and another red, that are identical to the indicators of a Pendulum Scale.

Booting in Replica Mode...
An error has occurred when executing C:\sophia\zefra.exe
Unknown publisher.
Allow C:\tierra\qliphort.exe ? <Y/N>...[Y]
Booting in Autonomy Mode...
— Flavor text of "Qliphort Scout"

In the TCG, "Qli" monsters all contain the term "Qliphort" in their names, despite card texts using the more general "Qli" name.

DesignEdit

"Qliphort" is a portmanteau of Qliphoth (קְלִיפּוֹת, lit. "husks", the representation of evil or impure spiritual forces in Jewish mysticism) and "fort". The Japanese names of several Spell/Traps use the corresponding kanji of 機殻 (lit. "machine husk") for their readings of "Qliphort" (クリフォート Kurifōto), referencing the literal meaning of the word "qliphoth".

The Qliphoth is documented in some texts of Kabbalah, a set of teachings originating in Judaism. The ten emanations of the Qliphoth form the Kabbalistic Tree of Death, and each Qliphah is the polar opposite of a corresponding Sefirah on the Kabbalistic Tree of Life.

The majority of the names of the "Qli" monsters are related to computing. "Genome" (OCG name of "Qliphort Helix") refers to the genomes of biological organisms, as they bear resemblance with how computers store their data.

Each name also references each emanation of the Qliphoth, specifically the interpretation of the Qliphoth from William G. Gray's The Tree of Evil.^[1]

#	Pyroxene	Qliphort			Qliphah		Corresponding "Infernoid"	Opposing "Zefra"
		TCG	OCG		Rōmaji	English
		TCG	Rōmaji	English	Rōmaji	English
1	White	Skybase	Kāneru	Kernel	Bachikaru	Bacikal	Pirmais	Zefrasaber
2	Gray	Stealth	Eiriasu	Alias	Ēīrī	Iweleth	Antra	Zefraxciton
3	Black	Shell	Sheru	Shell	Sheridā	Sheriruth	Harmadik	Zefraniu
4	Blue	Disk	Disuku	Disk	Adishesu	Adyeshach	Patrulea	Zefraxi
5	Red	Cephalopod	Akusesu	Access	Akuzeryusu	Akzeriyyuth	Piaty	Zefrathuban
6	Yellow	Scout	Tsūru	Tool	Kaitsūru	Kaitul	Sjette	Zeframpilica
7	Green	Carrier	Ākaibu	Archive	Tsākabu	Shakah	Seitsemas	Zefrawendi
8	Orange	Helix	Genomu	Genome	Kemudā	Chemdah	Attondel	Zefraxa
9	Purple	Monolith	Asenbura	Assembler	Ayīatsubusu	Aiyatsbus	Devyaty	Zefranaga
10	Rainbow	Towers	Kirā	Killer	Kimuranūto	Qimranut	Onuncu	Zefracore

"Qliphort Genius" doesn't follow this pattern, being a reference to the genii of Roman mythology instead.

LoreEdit

Playing styleEdit

"Qlis" focus on Pendulum Summoning monsters to fuel Tribute Summons, with effects that activate when Tributed or when Summoned by Tributing members of the archetype. Historically, their goal was to bring out the aces of the archetype - "Apoqliphort Towers" and "Apoqliphort Skybase" - while recurring monsters each turn through the Pendulum mechanic.

All "Qli" Pendulum Monsters have 2400/2800 ATK and 1000 DEF (except "Scout", who has 1000 ATK and 2800 DEF), like the "Monarchs", and possess the following effects:

Pendulum Effect: You cannot Special Summon monsters, except "Qli" monsters. This effect cannot be negated.
- Each monster except "Scout" and "Monolith" also has an ATK manipulating effect: those with a Pendulum Scale of 1 boost the ATK of your "Qli" monsters by 300, while those with a Scale of 9 reduce your opponent's monsters' ATK by 300.
Monster Effect: You can Normal Summon this card without Tributing. If this card is Normal Summoned without Tributing, or is Special Summoned, its Level becomes 4 and its original ATK becomes 1800. If this card is Normal Summoned/Set, it is unaffected by activated effects from any monster whose original Level/Rank is lower than this card's current Level.

Finally, each "Qli" Pendulum Monster is a unique combination of a Level from 5 to 8, and a Scale of 1 or 9, with the Level 5 ones being Normal Monsters with Pendulum Effects that provide card advantage for its owner, the Level 6 ones activating effects whenever they are Tributed and serving as spot removal, and the Level 7 and 8 triggering their effects when they are Tribute Summoned. The Level 9 and 10 are not Pendulum Monsters and each of them require 3 "Qli" monsters to be tributed for their Normal Summon.

	Level 5	Level 6	Level 7	Level 8	Level 9	Level 10
Scale 1	Monolith	Carrier	Disk	Stealth	—	—
Scale 9	Scout	Helix	Cephalopod	Shell	—	—
No Scale	—	—	—	—	Skybase	Towers

StrategyEdit

The main strategy is to use "Qliphort Scout's" Pendulum effect to gain card advantage, then Pendulum Summoning material for "Towers", which is unaffected by practically any effect (except Link Monsters and non-activated monster effects). Because "Scout" is not a hard once per turn, cards that can bounce or reset Pendulum Scales (namely "Performapal Trampolynx" and "Sky Iris") can net more advantage. "Summoner's Art", "Saqlifice" and "Pot of Duality" contribute to the consistency of searching "Scout".

Since "Qli" Decks support Tribute Summoning, it is possible to run cards like the "Monarch" monsters or Egyptian Gods. However, since only 1 Normal Summon is allowed per turn, these cards were rarely played.

"Skill Drain" is useful as it can negate the downsides of "Qli" Pendulum Monsters, turning them into swarmable, high ATK beatsticks. "Laser Qlip" is also worth including, as not only does it allow you to Normal Summon an extra "Qli" monster, and prevents your opponent from negating the Normal Summons of your "Qli" monsters. Other powerful Trap Cards like "Vanity's Emptiness" and "Torrential Tribute" (as the "Qli" monsters can be Pendulum Summoned) are suggested as well.

Pendulum Decks can use "Scout" with a card that destroys Pendulum Scales, like "Sky Iris", "Performapal Pendulum Sorcerer" or any of the "Metalfoes" Pendulum Monsters. Use "Scout" to search "Monolith", then Pendulum Summon "Scout" and "Monolith" to make a Rank 5 Xyz.

The archetype was severely hampered by the New Master Rules, which limited how many monsters could be Pendulum Summoned "for free" from the Extra Deck. Also, it introduced Link Monsters, which could easily out "Towers", as Link Monsters do not have a Level or Rank. While the former could be partially mitigated with "Qlimate Change", the latter effectively ruined one of the Deck's major gameplans.

WeaknessesEdit

Searching with "Qliphort Scout" is important to the Deck, so removing it with a card like "Cosmic Cyclone" or "Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit" can cause the Deck to lose a lot of momentum very quickly. Backrow removal is also helpful for dealing with floodgates like "Skill Drain" or "Lose 1 Turn."
Historically, the Deck focused on the near-invincibility of "Apoqliphort Towers" and "Skybase". Both monsters can be dealt with in a few ways:
- Modern Link Monsters, like "Accesscode Talker" and "S:P Little Knight", can be used to remove or beat over them.
- The Continuous Effects of monsters, such as "Destiny HERO - Plasma", will still affect them.
- Cards like "Kaijus" and "Chimeratech Fortress Dragon" can Tribute opposing monsters as part of their summoning conditions, bypassing the protection of "Towers"/"Skybase".
- Cards like "Number S39: Utopia the Lightning" and "Number 52: Diamond Crab King" can beat over them in battle.
Floodgates:
- Anti-Pendulum cards, like "Dimensional Barrier" and "Blue-Eyes Spirit Dragon", shut down the Deck.
- Anti-Tribute Summon cards, like "Mask of Restrict", "Zombie World", or "Crimson Blader", will halt their gameplan.