Red-Eyes

"Red-Eyes" (レッドアイズ Reddoaizu) is an archetype of mostly Dragon monsters used most notably by Joey Wheeler in Yu-Gi-Oh! and Atticus Rhodes in Yu-Gi-Oh! GX.

The archetype is based mainly on supporting "Red-Eyes B. Dragon", whose card was created to rival the strength of "Blue-Eyes White Dragon". The first Yu-Gi-Oh! movie stated that while "Blue-Eyes" brings power, "Red-Eyes" brings potential.

Prior to its rename from "Red-Eyes B. Chick", "Black Dragon's Chick" was specifically excluded from the archetype because it does not have 「レッドアイズ」 in its Japanese name.

Appearances
In the first movie, Shougo Aoyama got a "Red-Eyes B. Dragon" card but was too timid to use it. Yugi Muto used it against Seto Kaiba, demonstrating how "Red-Eyes" brings potential by fusing it with "Meteor Dragon" to Summon "Meteor B. Dragon".

In the Yu-Gi-Oh! manga and anime, "Red-Eyes B. Dragon" became one of the signature cards of Joey Wheeler after he won it from Rex Raptor in Duelist Kingdom. Joey used it and a few of its support cards throughout the series.

In Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, Nightshroud and Atticus Rhodes use "Red-Eyes" Decks, including a number of "Red-Eyes" cards and their support.

In Yu-Gi-Oh! 3D Bonds Beyond Time, Paradox banished a "Red-Eyes B. Dragon" to Special Summon "Malefic Red-Eyes B. Dragon".

In Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL, "Red-Eyes B. Dragon" appeared as a statue as one of the legendary monsters and Roku played a "Statue" version of it in a Statue Duel against Yuma Tsukumo.

Design
Most of the cards in this archetype and its related cards that were released after the original "Red-Eyes B. Dragon" are based on cards used by Joey Wheeler and Yugi Muto, the former of whom is a prominent user of "Red-Eyes". Most of them changed card type, usually changing from Non-Effect Monsters to Effect Monsters or even from Trap Cards to Effect Monsters.

History
The first strategy for the "Red-Eyes" archetype lies in the Structure Deck Structure Deck: Dragon's Roar, which focuses on mainly on "LV" monsters and powering up "Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon" by sending Dragon monsters to the Graveyard.

Prior to the release of the "Dragon Ruler" archetype, "Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon" and "Red-Eyes Wyvern" made the "Hopeless Dragon" Deck and its more aggressive counterpart, "Disaster Dragon", possible, using multiple copies of "Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon" to swarm the field until it was Limited.

With the release of Clash of Rebellions, new "Red-Eyes" support based on Gemini monsters and effect damage was introduced. This contrasted with the "Performage" archetype's ability to avoid opposing effect damage and the "D/D" archetype's ability to cut the player's own LP to gain advantage.

Invasion: Vengeance provides more support for this archetype's Fusion and Gemini Summoning strategies.

Duelist Pack: Legend Duelist introduced three new members to the archetype, namely "Red-Eyes Baby Dragon", "Red-Eyes Slash Dragon" and "Red-Eyes Metal Knight Gearfried"; as well as a new Trap Card: "Red-Eyes Fang with Chain".

Playing style
"Red-Eyes" deck mainly focuses on massive Effect Damage in one instance with card like "Inferno Fire Blast" or "Archfiend Black Skull Dragon", and domination over the field using "Red-Eyes Flare Metal Dragon".

Since the release of "Red-Eyes Wyvern" in 2008 cemented "Red-Eyes" as an archetype, the deck has undergone many changes in card design leading to a wide variety of playstyles.

As each of its effects can be used per turn, "The Black Stone of Legend" can alternate each turn between Special Summoning a "Red-Eyes" monster from the Main Deck, and returning itself to the hand and a "Red-Eyes" monster from the Graveyard to the Deck.

"Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon" benefits from this archetype's support cards and can Special Summon a Dragon monster from the hand or Graveyard every turn, greatly improving field presence.

"Keeper of the Shrine" (for any Dragon Normal Monster) and "Red-Eyes Retro Dragon" (for any "Red-Eyes" monster) serve the same purpose as each other for Normal Summoning a "Red-Eyes" monster from the hand on your turn and protecting it during the opponents turn.

"Black Metal Dragon" can equip itself to a "Red-Eyes" monster for an ATK boost and can search for a "Red-Eyes" card when sent to the Graveyard. "The Black Stone of Legend" and "Black Metal Dragon" can be revived by the effect of "Kinka-byo" which can allow for Contact Fusion to Summon "Beast-Eyes Pendulum Dragon" (since "Kinka-byo" and "Black Metal Dragon" are sent to the Graveyard simultaneously, "Black Metal Dragon" can then search a "Red-Eyes" card via its effect.

"Kuribandit" can use its mill effect in combination with "Rank-Up-Magic Astral Force". "Red-Eyes Flare Metal Dragon" is a typical target to Summon "Number 95: Galaxy-Eyes Dark Matter Dragon".

"Catalyst Field" can Normal Summon the "Red-Eyes" Gemini monsters without Tributing, then the second Normal Summon granted can unlock their effects.

Fusion Version
The Fusion version utilizes "Red-Eyes Fusion" to use Normal and Gemini Monsters as Fusion Materials from the hand, Deck, or field, but it cannot use Gemini monsters from the Deck, as they are not treated as Normal Monsters there. Afterward, the Fusion Materials can be revived using "Return of the Red-Eyes". While "Archfiend Black Skull Dragon" can prevent your opponent from using card effects during its battles and recycling "Red-Eyes" Normal Monsters after inflicting damage, it has very strict Summoning requirements, as it requires a "Red-Eyes" Normal monster and a Level 6 "Archfiend" Normal Monster, forcing the inclusion of "Summoned Skull", "Red-Eyes Archfiend of Lightning", or "Beast of Talwar" in the Deck. "Meteor Black Comet Dragon" is a more flexible alternative that can be Summoned with "Red-Eyes Fusion", as it only requires any Level 6 Dragon monster in addition to a Level 7 "Red-Eyes" monster. "Red-Eyes Fusion" and "Return of the Red-Eyes" can be searched by "Red-Eyes Insight".

The "Hieratic" archetype has support for Dragon Normal Monsters, which can be used in combination with "Return of the Red-Eyes" and "Meteor Black Comet Dragon", which requires any Level 6 Dragon monster as Fusion Material.

Ritual Version
The Ritual version uses "Lord of the Red" and "Paladin of Dark Dragon" as disruption and support, respectively. "Junk Synchron" can Special Summon a Level 1 Monster from Graveyard and Synchro Summon "Herald of the Arc Light". When "Arc Light" is sent to the Graveyard, it can search for either "Paladin of Dark Dragon", "Lord of the Red" or their Ritual Spells; "Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands" can search the other piece, while "Pre-Preparation of Rites" can search both.

"Paladin of Dark Dragon" can Special Summon "Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon" from your Deck, allowing faster swarming of Dragon monsters. "Dark Dragon Ritual" can banish itself from the Graveyard to search for a "Red-Eyes" Spell/Trap.

Effect Damage FTK
"Red-Eyes" can achieve an FTK by using "Red-Eyes Fusion" and two copies of "Inferno Fire Blast".

First use "Red-Eyes Fusion" to Fusion Summon "Meteor Black Comet Dragon" and, using its effect, send a "Red-Eyes" monster with more than 2000 ATK from the Deck to the Graveyard. Since "Red-Eyes Fusion" treats the monster it summons as being named "Red-Eyes B. Dragon", "Meteor Black Comet Dragon" is a viable target for "Inferno Fire Blast" which will deal 3500 Effect Damage for each copy you activate.

The consistency of this FTK can be improved using "Red-Eyes Insight", "Left Arm Offering" and/or "Serial Spell".