User:InleWarrior/Turning Tricks

How to utilize the adorable Ghostricks.

Spooky beginnings
So for the past few booster packs, we have seen a new archetype be born and slowly start to gather some attention. Ghostrick. When they first appeared in Shadow Specters, they were just in time for the Halloween festivities. At the start, the archetype played fairly well utilizing the unique ability of flipping face down and back up at ease and relying on Ghostrick Mansion to save themselves from being destroyed (and since the player took half the battle damage from this field spell, it was an added bonus). With the release of Legacy of the Valiant the support grew, and with Primal Origin coming out, this deck can go from being cute and gimmicky, to a force to be feared. Focusing on destroying set cards, quick swarming and a good supply of hand traps, Ghostricks create their own experience and novelty into the world of Yu-Gi-Oh.

What to use, and what not to use
Now with any archetype, there are needed cards, good cards, and cards that no duelist would ever play with. Ghostricks are no exception to this unwritten rule.

These are the cards to utilize in any Ghostrick build. Ghostrick Lantern- A given. Helps protect you from direct attacks and also provides an easy tribute (if you want to run a Monarch build) and another material for an Xyz Monster. Also its an annoying hand trap.

Ghostrick Stein- His effect allows you to search for a Ghostrick spell or trap card when he does battle damage. This is crucial to ensure that you get the desired field spell in order to monopolize the board. Also he is one of the monsters with the highest attack, which can help when you can attack directly.

Ghostrick Jackfrost- Similar to Ghostrick Lantern, this hand trap monster protects you from direct attacks. But the extra bonus with him is that when he prevents the attack, he also changes the battle position of the monster that attacked to face down. This helps to get your opponents monsters into face down so that you can either destroy them with Ghostrick Alucard or attack directly if you have any of the field spells out.

Ghostrick Jiangshi- She is another crucial card in any Ghostrick build. Not only does she have a high defense (which is unusual for most of the monsters of this archetype) which could block some attacks, but when you flip her, you can search for a Ghostrick whose levels are less than or equal to the number of Ghostrick monsters that are face up on the field. So even is the only one flipped up, you can search for Ghostrick Lantern, Ghostrick Jackfrost or even Ghostrick Specter if you wish to run them.

Ghostrick Mary- She is a good card to start swarming with. Her effect is when you take battle damage, you discard her to the graveyard and set 1 Ghostrick monster in face down defense position. You can use her to set Ghostrick Jiangshi to start using her flip ability to gather more monster support.

Ghostrick Alucard- The Boss of this deck (and the most expensive as of now). He only needs 2 rank 3 monsters so he is relatively easy to summon. He also protects your other Ghostrick monsters because as long as he is face up, you can only attack him. If you detach a material, you can destroy one set card on the field. Which if you use that effect after you activate a Ghostrick Jackfrost, you destroy a very powerful monster. This can also be used to clear the backfield of your opponent. His final effect is when he is destroyed, you can add 1 Ghostrick card from the graveyard to your hand. (And yes his name is Dracula backwards).

Ghostrick Mansion, Ghostrick Museum or Ghostrick Parade- Any of these field spells are crucial in your quest to dominate the field. I personally prefer to use Ghostrick Mansion, but any of these field spells (or a combination thereof) can be used to your advantage.

Ghostrick Scare- The best trap card for this deck. It allows you to flip up all Ghostrick monsters into face up defense, and turn your opponents' monsters into face down defense. A great way to negate a strong attack, or make it possible to attack directly.

Swords of Concealing Light- This spell card, while not a member of the archetype, is a very useful card to utilize. Since it flips all your opponents monsters, it provides an alternate approach to attacking directly.

Recurring Nightmare- Another good staple. This spell allows you to bring back your Ghostrick Stein, Ghostrick Lantern and even Ghostrick Specter if you decide to run him.

Book of Moon- A good spell to utilize the effect of having your opponents monsters being flipped face down. These are the cards you can use in a Ghostrick deck. Ghostrick Specter- Depending on how early you get your field spell, Specter can be a gamble. Because in order to activate his effect, a Ghostrick monster has to be sent to the graveyard. Though thankfully by either battle or by card effect.

Ghostrick Witch- This cutie is a great level 2 monster to either use as Xyz Material or to use her effect. Her effect is that once per turn, you can change one monster your opponent controls to face down defense position. This, alongside of Ghostrick Jackfrost can further help get your opponents monsters to face down to attack directly.

Ghostrick Doll- One of the new supporting monsters that is coming out in Primal Origin that is beneficial for swarming and is a level 2, which is good if one wants to run any rank 2 Xyz. Her effect is like a reverse Ghostrick Jiangshi, instead of setting a monster when she is flipped up, it activates when she is flipped down. Another good swarming monster.

Ghostrick Socuteboss- She is a good Xyz because her effects are good stacked together. First- she cant be targeted when there is another face up Ghostrick monster (a good pairing if you have Alucard on the field). You can detach one material to destroy 1 of your opponent's monsters with attack less than or equal to the combined attack of all Ghostrick monsters. And the kicker is that if a monster is destroyed by that effect, the Monster Card Zone cannot be used. Pretty powerful for a adorable Ghostrick.

Ghostrick Werewolf- Another new support monster. He does 100 points of burn damage for every set card on the field. Not a bad last minute resort card but risky

Ghostrick Mummy- Good if you want to swarm since he allows you an extra normal summon of a Ghostrick monster when he is face up. Also he is a level 3, which could be good material for Ghostrick Alucard or any other Rank 3 Xyz.

Ghostrick Dullahan- He is a bit of a gamble, he can cut the attack of your opponents monster in half, which can be good. But he looses 200 attack when you detach a material from him. He also has

Monarchs- Since most of the monsters here can summon themselves from an effect of another Ghostrick or by themselves, 'Narchs are a good idea if you want to go competitive with this deck because you have ample supply of tributes. The two Monarchs that I recommend are Caius the Shadow Monarch and Raiza the Storm Monarch. Caius because you can banish a card on the field and if it is a DARK Attribute, you inflict 1000 points of damage (since all Ghostricks are dark you can even banish one of them or Caius himself for the effect burn). And Raiza because you get to send one card back to the top of the deck, thus slowing draws and getting rid of any pesky cards on the field.

Tour Guide From the Underworld- If you want to run her, I recommend 2 or 3 of her. She is great for getting Ghostrick Alucard or any other rank 3 Xyz monster on the field.

Mirror Force- Do I need to say why you should run these? Better cover my bases just in case. Since your opponent can attack directly when one of the Ghostrick Field Spell Card is active, this is a good back up if you don't have any Lantern, Jackfrost or Mary's available.

Needle Ceiling- Good trap to get rid of your opponents face up monsters. Cards that you should NOT run in this deck.

Any of the Ghostrick monsters that are not listed here. Some of them have seemingly good effects, but can slow down the draw power or they are very situational.

My Deck List
Here is what I play in my own Ghostrick deck and extra deck. I do play a little monster heavy, but that is just my preference.

Monsters (24):

Ghostrick Stein-2

Ghostrick Jiangshi-3

Ghostrick Doll-2

Ghostrick Witch-2

Ghostrick Jackfrost-3

Ghostrick Lantern-3

Ghostrick Specter-2

Ghostrick Mary-2

Tour Guide From the Underworld-2

Caius the Shadow Monarch-3

Spells (9):

Ghostrick Mansion-3

Recurring Nightmare-3

Swords of Concealing Light-2

Book of Moon- 1

Traps (7):

Ghostrick Scare-3

Mirror Force-2

Needle Ceiling-1

Compulsory Evacuation Device-1

Mirror Force-2

Needle Ceiling-1

Extra Deck (10):

Ghostrick Alucard-2

Ghostrick Socuteboss-2

Ghostrick Dullahan-2

Number 49: Fortune Tune-1

Wind-Up Zenmaines-1

Number 39: Utopia Roots-1

Slacker Magician-1

Last Thoughts
Well I hope you enjoyed reading this article about Ghostricks and please feel free to comment with your deck ideas or any other further support!

Have a good one, --InleWarrior