Monarch



The Monarchs, known as Emperors in the OCG, are a series of the eight Monster Cards with "Monarch" in their card names, each of which possess an attribute reflective of the element they control.

In appearance, every Monarch has a large cloak either on its back or on its waist (in "Zaborg's" and "Granmarg's" case).

These cards may be a reference to the seven kings of Ancient Rome, but with the addition of "Delg the Dark Monarch", this is somewhat doubted, though "Delg the Dark Monarch" may be a reference to the eighth king of Rome in the book of Revelations. (Rev 17,9-11 : "Here is a clue for one who has wisdom. The seven heads represent seven hills upon which the woman sits. They also represent seven kings: five have already fallen, one still lives, and the last has not yet come, and when he comes he must remain only for a short while. The beast that existed once but exists no longer is an eighth king, but really belongs to the seven and is headed for destruction.")

These cards may be considered as an opposite to the Elemental Charmers.

The Monarchs have their own Structure Deck in the OCG, Advent of the Emperor.

Each has a unique ability that activates upon their Tribute Summoning, dealing with the removal of cards, although Kuraz the Light Monarch does not require to be tribute summoned or even normal summoned to trigger his ability. Another similarity that these cards share is that they all have 2400 ATK and 1000 DEF and are Level 6, with the exception of "Zaborg", who is Level 5.

"Mobius", "Zaborg", "Granmarg" and "Thestalos" are used by The Light Brigade in the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX anime.

The "Monarchs" cards can be the rulers of the Duel Monsters Spirit World, in respect to their own names.

Play style
"Monarch" Decks tend to be very aggressive and powerful, because "Monarchs" destroy the opponent's assets just by hitting the Field, and they are strong enough in ATK to be able to press their advantage and destroy nearly any lower-level monster the opponent may happen to use in response. Monarchs have no real weaknesses other than decks that strictly run Zombie World, which almost completely shuts down the "Monarchs", and their insatiable need to generate Tribute fodder for more "Monarchs" to be Summoned and that they cannot use their effects when Special Summoned (with the exceptions of "Kuraz" and "Delg".)

Tribute fodder

 * Tokens: Many tokens have restrictions on how they can be used, but some sources, like "Dandylion", "Fiend's Sanctuary","Phantom Skyblaster" "Goka, the Pyre of Malice" and "Stray Lambs", have few limitations on their tokens.
 * "Reborn Tengu": This is perfect for tribute fodder, for if you tribute it, another one will spawn and if it's destroyed by battle you have another one ready as tribute fodder.
 * Special Summon From Hand: Some monsters Special Summon themselves from the hand, and that saves the Normal Summon for a Monarch.  The better ones include "Cyber Dragon", "Evil Hero Infernal Prodigy", "Gilasaurus", "Jester Confit", "Level Warrior", "Spell Striker", "The Tricky", "Vice Dragon", "Oracle of the Sun","Naturia Cosmobeet" and "Swap Frog" in Frognarchs variants.
 * Trap Monsters: These provide both Tribute Fodder and defense against the opponent's tactics, but they are easily destroyed.
 * D.D. Survivor and D.D. Scout Plane: When these cards are removed from play, they automatically return themselves to the field. Use "Banisher of the Radiance", "Dimensional Fissure" or "Macro Cosmos" to keep them coming back.
 * Treeborn Frog: So long as you control no Spell or Trap cards, this card will come back every turn.  This drawback reduces the card's effectiveness in some builds, but it provides some defense in case of a cleared field.
 * Level Eater: By reducing the level of a high-level Monster, this card revives itself from the Graveyard; each Monarch, save "Zaborg the Thunder Monarch", can spawn up to two.
 * Destiny Hero - Malicious: Its effect lets you remove one copy in the Graveyard from play to Special Summon another from your Deck. This card is particularly effective for its Deck-thinning function.
 * Spirit Reaper' and Marshmallon: These cards cannot be destroyed in battle, making them good walls to use until you get the Monarch you need. Several other monsters have similar abilities, so options are plenty to suit different Deck styles.
 * Soul Exchange This card can gain extra advantage by allowing opponent's monsters to be Tributed for Monarchs.
 * Chain Summoning, Double Summon and Ultimate Offering: These cards allow multiple Normal Summons to occur in a single turn, very good for getting out Tribute Fodder and multiple Monarchs. This is particularly effective with "Samsara Kaiser".
 * Instant Fusion: At a cost of 1000 Life Points, this card can bring out a low level Fusion Monster for Tribute fodder.

Counter strategies
Monarchs can be difficult to overcome due to the fact that they destroy cards simply by appearing, but there are still some good strategies against them. These include:


 * Divine Wrath, Forced Back, Solemn Judgment, Pulling the Rug: These cards negate the Monarchs' Summon, and thereby their effects, and remove them from the field, essentially wasting the Monarch user's efforts.
 * Mask of Restrict, Fog King or Zombie World: These cards effectively prevent Tribute Summons and as a result prevent Monarchs from hitting the field and activating their effects (except for Kuraz or Delg since their effects activate when Normal Summoned without a Tribute or when Special Summoned too).
 * By Order of the Emperor, Destiny Hero - Plasma and Skill Drain: These cards negate on-field effects, turning Monarchs into beat-sticks. "Grave of the Super Ancient Organism" can be used to limit "Kuraz" and "Delg" use, but it is not recomended since it targets only special summoned monsters and they can still be tributed if needed.
 * Intercept: Lets you take control of a Monarch right when it gets summoned which can be a nasty surprise for most Monarch users.
 * Blast Held by a Tribute: Even more destructive than a "Mirror Force" since it also inflicts damage, but not as reliable as other methods of getting the better of Monarchs, since there is a chance that they will destroy this card before they attack.
 * Prime Material Dragon, Stardust Dragon and Destruction Jammer: Counteract effects that destroy cards. Note that they won't be able to stop "Raiza", "Thestalos", "Delg" or "Caius", since they don't destroy cards.
 * Turbo Warrior: His effect makes him immune to "Zaborg", "Raiza", "Caius", and "Kuraz's" effects and he has just enough attack power to be able to destroy any of them in battle.
 * Rivalry of Warlords: This card prevents having more than one Type of monsters on the field. It also prevents a new Type from being summoned, including Tribute summoning; so if the opponent controls a "Gravekeeper's Spy", they cannot Tribute it to summon any Monarch (except for Delg). "Gozen Match" is not recommended as an alternative as most tributes are DARK and "Caius" is the most used Monarch.
 * Ritual Cage: It protect Ritual Monsters from most Monarchs it can waste their effect.

Monarch Control
Monarch Control is a Deck that quickly Special Summons monsters to the Field and Tribute those monsters to summon a "Monarch" monster and activate their effects to gain more Field advantage. Some good Tributes are "Spell Striker", "Samsara Kaiser", "Marshmallon" and many more. Each "Monarch" has unique effects to gain Field advantage when Tribute Summoned, this will be the key of winning with this Deck. The "Treeborn Monarch combo" might work at this Deck, since Treeborn Frog shall always be Summoned from your Graveyard, allowing a Tribute fodder for the Monarchs. "Gorz the Emissary of Darkness" is a great addition to this Deck because this can be Tributed for Monarchs and when your Field is empty, you can Special Summon this. "Light and Darkness Dragon" is also a great addition because it will protect the "Monarchs" from getting destroyed and when this card is destroyed, you can Special Summon a monster from your graveyard to be Tributed for a "Monarch". Also, a good addition to this Deck would be some 'searchers' like "Mystic Tomato" or "Shining Angel" because if it is destroyed by battle, you can search for another monster, ensuring a monster to tribute for a "Monarch" during your next turn.

Macro Monarch
This Deck relies on reusing the effects of "D.D. Survivor" and "D.D. Scout Plane" with the help of "Macro Cosmos" and/or "Dimensional Fissure", which will allow the said monsters to keep coming back each End Phase, allowing you to Tribute Summon a "Monarch" each turn. Other cards that are commonly used in this Deck are "Cyber Valley," some of the other D.D. Monsters, like "D.D. Warrior Lady", "Soul Absorption", which can give its controller massive Life Point gain each turn, and "Gravekeeper's Servant", which can make a lock for all of your opponent's Monsters, preventing them from attacking for as long as they cannot send a card from their Deck to their Graveyard. You can use "Enemy Controller" to tribute a "D.D. Survivor" or "D.D. Scout Plane" and take control of one of your opponents monsters. Then tribute it for a Monarch, and the "D.D. Scout Plane" or "D.D. Survivor" will return in the End Phase. "Crush Card Virus" in Traditional Format can be used with "D.D. Scout Plane" as it will still return during the End Phase. By using "Divine Knight Ishzark" via battle you can increase your opponent's removed from play cards, and have a finishing move with "D.D. Dynamite's" effect.

Apprentice Monarch
An alternative to a Monarch Control Deck is an Apprentice Monarch Deck, which uses cards like "Apprentice Magician", "Crystal Seer" and "Old Vindictive Magician" to gain the upper hand in a duel. "Old Vindictive Magician" destroys your opponent's monsters and "Crystal Seer" gives you extra cards, giving you more strategies to play with. "Apprentice Magician" summons those monsters in the Damage Step when your opponent can't do much about it. These monsters are also very good tribute materials for "Monarchs".

There are many options to support the "Monarchs"; it really just depends on what works for those playing Monarch Decks. However, the "Treeborn Frog" method seems to work the best since you waste less resources to Summon the Monarchs.

Perfect Circle Monarch
This Deck uses the "Destiny Hero" engine to get an advantage in their game, but with the banning of "Destiny Hero - Disk Commander", it has become less effective. These are Graveyard based Decks that can easily bring out a level 8 Synchro Monster or draw cards.

See also:Perfect Circle

Inmato Monarchs
This Deck uses the" Inmato "engine of "Cherry Inmato" to Special Summon two more "Cherry Inmato" when it's destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard. One of these Special Summoned "Cherry Inmato" can be used as fodder to Tribute Summon any Monarch and the second can be used with the Tribute Summoned Monarch to Synchro Summon any Level 8 Synchro Monster (e.g. "Stardust Dragon")

Monsters

 * Cherry Inmato
 * Inmato
 * Mystic Tomato

Spells

 * Mark of the Rose
 * Mind Control
 * Allure of Darkness

Traps

 * Royal Oppression

Beatdown Monarch
Since "Monarchs" already have high Attack Power, this Deck isn't too complicated. You should have lots of Level 4 high attack monsters. "Cyber Dragon" is great because it has high attack power and can be used as a Tribute for "Monarchs" easily. The goal of this Deck is to clear the field with your "Monarch" and attack with your high attack monsters.

Psychic Monarch
Since release of "The Duelist Genesis" booster, there has been a new Monarch Deck called Psychic Monarchs. Cards like "Krebons" and "Psychic Commander" stall with their effects, then you can tribute them for a Monarch or use them for a Synchro Summon. "Emergency Teleport" helps search both monsters.

However, with the March 2009 banlist and "Emergency Teleport's" limiting, this Deck has become less effective.

Monsters

 * Cyber Dragon
 * Treeborn Frog
 * Sangan
 * Mystic Tomato
 * Krebons
 * Cyber Valley
 * Level Eater
 * Jester Confit
 * Gravekeeper's Spy

Spells

 * Allure of Darkness
 * Double Summon
 * Emergency Teleport
 * Soul Exchange
 * Book of Moon
 * Swords of Revealing Light
 * Token Summoning cards
 * Mind Control

Psycho-Plant Monarch
PsychoPlant Monarchs focuses on the cards like "Seed of Deception" and "Emergency Teleport" to generate "Monarch" tribute fodder. Cards like "Dark Verger" can help generate extra fodder for the next turn or even be used to Synchro Summon. This is based off of the Psychic Monarchs but since "Emergency Teleport" is now limited Seed of Deception serves as your extra E-tele. "Miracle Fertilizer" can help you bring out more tribute fodder or just an all out beatstick if you prefer it. "Graceful Revival" can help revive more tribute fodder that was already used with "Seed of Deception". This Deck creates amazing advantage with quick and easy to Summon "Monarch" beatsticks. Good thing about this "Monarch" Deck can play plant defense cards like "Wall of Thorns" can even be your second or third "Mirror Force". This Deck does tend to use cards that have similar effects to add utility to this "Monarch" Deck.

Monsters

 * Krebons
 * Psychic Commander
 * Cyber Dragon
 * Marauding Captain
 * Mystic Tomato
 * Sangan
 * Jester Confit

Spells

 * Reinforcement of the Army

Gadget Monarch
This Deck relies on using "Gadgets" to continuously add new Gadgets to the hand to serve as tribute fodder, along with obvious tribute fodder monsters such as "Treeborn Frog". One of the key cards of the Deck is "Ultimate Offering". "Ultimate Offering" allows the constant summon of "Gadgets" to add more "Gadgets" to the hand, while then Tributing them for "Monarchs". Due to the removal effect of most "Monarchs", this Deck has a high OTK rate.

Monsters

 * Any Monarchs
 * Treeborn Frog
 * Red Gadget
 * Yellow Gadget
 * Green Gadget
 * Cyber Dragon
 * Cyber Valley
 * Level Eater
 * Jester Confit

Spells

 * One for One
 * Foolish Burial
 * Brain Control
 * Break! Draw!
 * Soul Exchange

Traps

 * Ultimate Offering
 * Reckless Greed

Morphtronic Monarchs
This Deck relies on using cards that Special Summon, such as the Attack Position effect of "Morphtronic Celfon", to Special Summon a "Morphtronic" Monster, then Tributing that for a "Monarch". Cards such as "One for One", "Junk Box", "Morphtronic Repair Unit", and "Call of the Haunted" are highly recommended. "Morphtronic Boomboxen", "Morphtronic Boarden", "Morphtronic Magnen", and "Morphtronic Cameran" can protect your "Morphtronics" so you can tribute them for any Monarch.

Monsters

 * Any Monarchs
 * Morphtronic Staplen
 * Morphtronic Celfon
 * Morphtronic Boarden
 * Morphtronic Boomboxen
 * Morphtronic Magnen
 * Morphtronic Scopen
 * Cyber Dragon

Spells

 * One for One
 * Morphtronic Repair Unit
 * Junk Box
 * Pot of Avarice or Monster Reincarnation

Traps

 * Trap Stun

Plantformulafrognarchs
Deck has a similar purpose to Frognarchs. You have "Tytannial, Princess of Camellias" to give the ability to stop you opponent. You have "Spore" as a tuner. You also have "Dandylion", "Naturia Pineapple", "Naturia Cherries", and" Treeborn Frog" as tribute fodder. You can also use "Mark of the Rose" to gain "Monarch" control. The downside to this Deck is that if you cannot main only Beast-Type and Plant-Type monsters in your graveyard, "Naturia Pineapple" becomes useless. Or you run the genex undine engine with genex controller to thin the deck with the help of the plant monsters. You will always have a hand and keep something on the field.

Monsters

 * Gigaplant
 * Dandylion
 * Lonefire Blossom
 * Lord Poison
 * Naturia Pineapple
 * Naturia Cherries
 * Naturia Beans
 * Spore
 * Treeborn Frog
 * Tytannial, Princess of Camellias
 * Genex Undine
 * Genex Controller

Spells

 * Mind Control
 * Mark of the Rose