Forum:Deck Guide/Phantom Beast

Scrap Guide
By BobaFett2

"Phantom Beasts" were introduced in Absolute Powerforce. However, the "Gazelle the King of Mythical Beasts", which is technically a "Phantom Beast", was first released in "Metal Raiders". The archetype is generally weak-it has 1 Normal Monster, 4 Effect Monsters, 1 Fusion Monster, and 1 Trap Card. The Trap Card, "Horn of the Phantom Beast", has been making its way into some decks in the summer of 2011 but other than that "Phantom Beast" cards have seen little play. This is because of two things: Beast Warrior-Type monsters have very little support (the best of which is "Horn of the Phantom Beast") and because "Phantom Beast" monsters have little support as well.

Ratings
Power: 3/10 "Phantom Beast" decks have very little power-they have one strong non-tribute monster and "Horn of the Phantom Beast" to boost ATK power. They also have a monster which boost ATK while in the Graveyard but the bonuses are marginal.

Consistency: 2/10 Likewise, "Phantom Beast" decks have next to no consistency as they have little search or draw power to increase their consistency.

Speed: 1/10 "Phantom Beast" decks have no Synchro Summoning power and no swarming power.

Draw/Search Power: 3/10 "Phantom Beast" decks can use "Rescue Rabbit" (if they're using "Gazelle") as well as "Horn of the Phantom Beast" as Search and Draw power.

Overall: 2.25 "Phantom Beast" decks are some of the weakest themed decks there are.

Monsters

 * Gazelle the King of Mythical Beasts: "Gazelle" is included in a lot of Starter Decks. It's not a very good card, but it allows you to use "Rescue Rabbit" in a "Phantom Beast" deck.
 * Phantom Beast Cross-Wing: "Cross-Wing" is not a great card alone but it does power up "Gazelle" and other "Phantom Beast" monsters.
 * Phantom Beast Rock-Lizard: Due to it being a one or two tribute monster, "Rock Lizard" is not really worth using-its effect deals minimal damage and it won't last long enough to be really useful.
 * Phantom Beast Thunder-Pegasus: "Thunder Pegasus" is weak. It's effect is basically that of "Heart of Clear Water" but it applies to a "Phantom Beast". It can be used from your "Graveyard", which can be combined with "Dark World Dealings", but "Necro Gardna" is better.
 * Phantom Beast Wild-Horn: "Wild Horn" is the best "Phantom Beast" monster. It has a decent 1700 ATK and Piercing.
 * Chimera the Flying Mythical Beast: "Chimera" is a Fusion Monster that requires you to use "Berfomet". It really doesn't add anything to a "Phantom Beast" deck and isn't supported by "Phantom Beast" support cards.

Traps

 * Horn of the Phantom Beast: "Horn of the Phantom Beast" is great-it's an Equip Trap Card. Because the equipped monster gains 800 ATK, it can be used during the Damage Step. In addition to that, you get to draw a card, allowing you to gain advantage.

Monsters

 * X-Saber Airbellum: "X-Saber Airbellum" is great-it's a target for "Horn of the Phantom Beast", it has high ATK for a Level 3 monster, it's a Tuner monster, and it can be used to make "X-Saber" Synchro Monsters.
 * XX-Saber Boggart Knight: "XX-Saber Boggart Knight" is a powerful beatstick and a Beast Warrior-Type monster. It can also Special Summon "Airbellum" from your hand for a Synchro Summon.
 * Elephun: If you use "XX-Saber Boggart Knight" you can use this to Synchro Summon "Hyunlei"
 * XX-Saber Hyunlei: "Hyunlei" gains a lot of advantage by destroying your opponent's Spell and Trap cards. You can Synchro Summon it using "Boggart Knight" and Level 2 Tuner monster.
 * X-Saber Souza: "Souza" is the Level 7 "X-Saber" Synchro Monster. You can Synchro Summon it with "Boggart Knight" and another monster.
 * Naturia Barkion: You can tune "Elephun" and another monster to make "Naturia Barkion".
 * Guldfaxe of the Nordic Beasts: "Guldfaxe" is a Level 4 Tuner that can Special Summon itself. It is also a Beast-Type monster.
 * Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter: "Ryko" is a very commonly-used card that destroys a card and sends the top three cards of your Deck to your Graveyard. It's also a Beast-Type monster.
 * Koa'ki Meiru Urnight: "Urnight" can be kept on the field by revealing a Beast Warrior-Type monster in your hand and it's a powerful beatstick.
 * Koa'ki Meiru Crusader: See "Urnight". It also can return "Urnight" or "Crusader" to your hand when it destroys one of your opponent's monsters as a result of battle.

Spells

 * Closed Forest: "Closed Forest" is great for getting rid of Field Spell Cards and keeping your opponent from playing them. It doesn't support "Phantom Beast" monsters other than "Gazelle" but it also powers up cards used with "Phantom Beast" monsters.
 * Spiritual Forest: "Spiritual Forest" prevents a Beast-Type, Beast Warrior-Type, or Plant-Type monster from being destroyed by battle once per turn. Since it's a Continuous Spell Card, it will continually protect your monsters.

Beast Warrior Beatdown
Beast Warrior Beatdown is a beatdown deck. It can be supported with "Beast-Warrior" type monsters such as the two "Urnight", "Boggart Knight", and "Crusader".

Beast Beatdown/Synchro
Beast Beatdown/Synchro decks use a combination of Beatdown and Synchro deck strategies. They use both Beast-Type and Beast Warrior-Type monsters.

Beast Control
Beast Control uses "Airbellum", "Horn of the Phantom Beast", "Ryko", and "Super-Nimble Mega Hamster" to control the field and both player's hands.

{{Decklist | Beast Hand Control
 * monsters =
 * X-Saber Airbellum x3
 * Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter x3
 * Super-Nimble Mega Hamster x3
 * spells =
 * Spiritual Forest x0-3
 * Closed Forest x0-3
 * traps =
 * Horn of the Phantom Beast x3