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Template:Infobox archetype
"Frog" (ガエル Gaeru) is an archetype of WATER Aqua-Type monsters archetype that debuted in Cybernetic Revolution. This archetype is the first WATER archetype and the first Aqua-Type archetype. The archetype is used by Princess Rose in the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX anime.
The Toad series is a related series of monsters that support the "Frog" archetype.
"Froggy Forcefield" is not a "Frog" card, because it does not have 「ガエル」 in its Japanese name. "Slime Toad", previously known as "Frog the Jam", is also not a "Frog" card because of its Japanese name, and was renamed to clarify this.
In Italian and Spanish, since November 2016, the archetype name is capitalized as "RANA". This prevents the archetype name clashing with other archetype names in those languages, such as "Ancient Gear" ("Ingranaggio Antico" in Italian). This is similar to how the "LV" and "HERO" archetypes are capitalized in all TCG languages.
Design
True to their their name, the "Frog" as well as the related Toad monsters resemble their real-life counterparts. Some "Frog" monsters like "Flip Flop Frog" and "Poison Draw Frog" showcase their long, sticky tongues in their artwork. Most of the "Frog" and Toad monsters have distinctive colorful markings on their bodies and heads, most notably "Swap Frog", "Dupe Frog", "Beelze Frog", and "Ronintoadin".
Some "Frog" and Toad monsters resemble angels like "Amphibian Angel - Frog-Hael" and "Treeborn Frog, while others resemble demons like "Beelze Frog" and "Swap Frog". This thematic resemblance to angels and demons is further highlighted by the contrasting half-angel, half-demon appearances of "Substitoad" and "Tradetoad".
Members
All members of the "Frog" (ガエル Gaeru) archetype, as well as members of the Toad (カエル Kaeru) series (which support the "Frog" archetype), integrate puns into their Japanese names. While both Gaeru and Kaeru mean "Frog" in Japanese, the latter is translated as Toad in the TCG in order to distinguish the different words.
The puns in their names mostly rely on the fact that Gaeru (ガエル) and Kaeru (カエル) are homonymous with the plain form conjugation of some Japanese verbs. These puns were not retained in the TCG names, if not replaced by different ones, since they are mostly untranslateable.
| "Frog" | Japanese (romaji) | Japanese (base) | Japanese (translation) | Japanese pun (base) | Japanese pun (translation) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amphibian Angel - Frog-Hael | Ryōseirui Tenshi - Migaeru | 両生類天使－ミ・ガエル | Amphibian Angel - Mifrog | 両生類天使－ミカエル | Amphibian Angel Michael |
| Beelze Frog | Amagaeru | 悪魔ガエル | Devil Frog | 雨蛙 | Japanese tree frog |
| D.3.S. Frog | Gaeru Sandesu | ガエル・サンデス | Frog Three-Death | ガエルさんです | I'm Mr. Frog |
| Des Frog | Desugaeru | デスガエル | Death Frog | ですがえる | to come across |
| Dupe Frog | Machigaeru | 魔知ガエル | Evil Wisdom Frog | 間違える | to make a mistake |
| Flip Flop Frog | Uragaeru | 裏ガエル | Reverse Frog | 裏返る | to be turned inside-out |
| Poison Draw Frog | Hikigaeru | 引きガエル | Draw Frog | 蟇蛙 | Japanese common toad |
| Submarine Frog | Michigaeru | 未知ガエル | Unknown Frog | 見違える | to be hardly recognized |
| Swap Frog | Onigaeru | 鬼ガエル | Ogre Frog | 着替える | to change clothes |
| Treeborn Frog | Yomigaeru | 黄泉ガエル | Underworld Frog | 蘇る | to be revived |
| Unifrog | Kangaeru | 貫ガエル | Penetrating Frog | 考える | to think about |
Playing style
Though weak, "Frog" cards can unleash devastating effects that include rapid Summoning, the option to increase their ATK or protect themselves from destruction, and wiping out all cards the opponent controls. Many "Frog" cards have low Levels, which lets them benefit from cards like "Gravity Bind", "Pride of the Weak" and "Graceful Revival".
One card that kept "Frogs" versatile and powerful was "Substitoad", but after Frog FTK won the 2010 World Championships, it was Forbidden, so many "Frog" Decks lost their supreme speed. "One for One" allows easy Summoning of "Substitoad", so a Normal Summon/Set is not spent to get "Substitoad" out.
Deck types
Wetlands Beatdown
Frog Decks benefit the most from the use the Field Spell "Wetlands" that increases the ATK of all Level 2 or lower WATER/Aqua Monsters by 1200. The goal of a Wetlands Beatdown Deck is usually to provide an early game beatdown and then lock down an increasingly defensive opponent through cards like "Gravity Bind", a Double "Dupe Frog" Lock, or the effect of "Cryomancer of the Ice Barrier". "Dewdark of the Ice Barrier" works with "Unifrog" with their ability to attack directly. "Flip Flop Frog" can be set up during a lockdown to clear the opponent's field and get an OTK.
"Terraforming" and "Metaverse" can easily search for "Wetlands". With "Wetlands", on the field, the Attribute Boosters "Star Boy" and "Mistar Boy" can further power up "Frog" and Toad monsters to staggering values in a flash. The level 2 Aqua WATER monster "Performapal Turn Toad" can easily turn defensive "Dupe Frog"s, "Ronintoadin"s, "Substitoad"s and "Tradetoad"s into offensive beatsicks.
Because this Deck heavily revolves around "Wetlands" and can easily swarm the field with "Frog" monsters, it can easily accommodate an "Earthbound Immortal". "Earthbound Immortal Chacu Challhua" works superbly because its effect lets it deal damage even with cards like "Gravity Bind" active. "Earthbound Immortals" that require Tributes for their effects, such as "Earthbound Immortal Uru", also have great synergy with the Frogs' aforementioned swarming power.
When incorporating Synchros, "Junk Synchron" works very well as almost all "Frog" monsters are Level 2 or lower, but "Cryomancer of the Ice Barrier" is also an excellent tuner as "Wetlands" grants him 2500 ATK. "Fishborg Blaster" (Traditional Format only) and "Deep Sea Diva" are good Tuners to include in a Frog Deck; they are easily Special Summoned and benefit from "Aegis of the Ocean Dragon Lord", "Water Hazard" and other WATER support "Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier" can be easily summoned using "Cryomancer of the Ice Barrier" and a "Mother Grizzly" or two of any Level two monster. The Synchro monster "Junk Warrior" can boast a very high attack by gaining the attack of every Level 2 monster on the field with its effect which means "Wetlands" makes it incredibly strong if you have at least one "Frog" monster on the field.
Frog Monarch
This Deck type uses the "Frog" monsters as an engine for the "Monarch" monsters. The idea of this Deck is to use "Treeborn Frog", "Swap Frog" and "Ronintoadin" to generate tribute fodder. Another purpose of "Swap Frog" is to send "Treeborn Frog" or "Ronintoadin" to the Graveyard and to return "Monarchs" to hand for later use. "Swap Frog" can also be used to abuse the effect of "Raiza the Storm Monarch" by returning it to the hand and reusing it to continually return a card controlled by the opponent to the top of their Deck, preventing them from drawing new cards.
- Treeborn Frog
- Poison Draw Frog
- Dupe Frog
- Flip Flop Frog
- Ronintoadin
- Swap Frog
- Nimble Angler
- Nimble Manta
- Nimble Sunfish
- Battle Fader
- Gorz the Emissary of Darkness
- Tragoedia
- Raiza the Storm Monarch
- Caius the Shadow Monarch
- Light and Darkness Dragon
- Dark Dust Spirit
- Night Assailant
- Snowman Eater
- Sea Lancer
- Poseidra, the Atlantean Dragon
- Allure of Darkness
- Salvage
- Soul Exchange
- Enemy Controller
- Book of Moon
- Raigeki
- Pot of Duality
- Mind Control
- Foolish Burial
- One for One
(It's recommended that such decks do not use traps that could potentially sit on the field for several turns, as they'll interfere with the effect of Treeborn Frog.)
- Treacherous Trap Hole
- Reckless Greed
- Hand control cards (Trap Dustshoot, Mind Crush, Spiritual Water Art - Aoi, etc.)
Toadally Awesome Beatdown
"Toadally Awesome" is a very powerful Toad monster that has an effect that can negate the activation of any Spell/Trap Card or monster effect, then Set that card on the activator's field. A well-structured usage of "Ronintoadin" and "Swap Frog" can easily swarm the field and grave with Level 2 monsters to either Summon "Toadally Awesome" or be used as fodder for it. Aditionally, "Toadally Awesome" can special summon "Frog" monsters directly from the deck, further increasing the Deck's consistency.
Lancer Frogs
This Deck uses "Ronintoadin" to banish your own frogs, while "Sea Lancer" brings them back from the banished zone and equips them onto itself. "Gachi Gachi Gantetsu" can be brought out easily with this Deck being able to Summon Level 2 monsters very quickly. It is recommended to use both "Dupe Frog" and "Poison Draw Frog" because both get their effects when they are sent as "Sea Lancer's" equip card to the Graveyard.
Des Frog OTK
The rapid summoning of "Des Frog"s can be used to OTK as follows: 1. Tribute Summon "Des Frog" when at least 2 "T.A.D.P.O.L.E.s" are in your Graveyard. See below for 1 turn set-up. 2. Use "Des Croaking" to destroy all cards on your opponent's side of the field 3. (option A): Activate "Solidarity" or "United We Stand" and then attack for 8100 damage with the 3 "Des Frogs". 3. (option B): Attack with all "Des Frog"s, then activate "Super Polymerization", summoning "D.3.S. Frog" and finally attacking for 8200 damage.
Special Summon "Ronintoadin" card from your Graveyard then, activate "Inferno Reckless Summon" and Special Summon 3 "Des Frog". Then use "Des Croaking" to clear your opponent's field. Xyz Summon Rank 5 like "Shark Fortress" then, Xyz Summon "Daigusto Phoenix" and win.
Use "Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls", "Swap Frog" and "Foolish Burial" with the help "Salvage" to send "T.A.D.P.O.L.E.", "Gazer Shark" or "Des Frog" to the Graveyard. You can banish Gazer Shark for a free Rank 5 WATER Xyz Summon. "Sea Lancer" can also be used to recycle "Gazer Shark".
There can also be an FTK if you add a "One for One" or "Swap Frog" into your Deck. If you draw a "Des Frog", a "Des Croaking", a "T.A.D.P.O.L.E." and "One for One" or a "Swap Frog", you can either:
- Activate "One for One" and discard "T.A.D.P.O.L.E." from your hand to Special Summon "T.A.D.P.O.L.E." from your Deck
OR
- Discard one "T.A.D.P.O.L.E." from your hand to Special Summon "Swap Frog", then use its effect to send the second "T.A.D.P.O.L.E." from your Deck to the Graveyard.
Tribute your Monster for a "Des Frog" and follow from stage 2 above!
It is also possible to Normal Summon "Substitoad", then Special Summon with "One for One" or "Swap Frog" to tribute for "Substitoad"'s effect. Summon "Swap Frog" and use its effect to send "T.A.D.P.O.L.E." to the Graveyard. Tribute "Swap Frog" to Summon another if you need to to make sure you have two "T.A.D.P.O.L.E."s in your Graveyard, then use "Swap Frog's effect by returning it or "Substitoad" to your hand to Tribute Summon your "Des Frog".
As an alternative for step 3.(B), use "Polymerization" after using "Des Croaking", then "De-Fusion" after attacking with "D.3.S. Frog".
You can use the Frog search cards like "Moray of Greed" and "Substitoad", "Tradetoad", along with stall cards like "Dupe Frog", "Treeborn Frog" and "Froggy Forcefield" to more reliably complete this OTK/FTK. Watch out for "Starlight Road", "Bottomless Trap Hole" and "D.D. Crow", however.
Use "Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls", "Swap Frog" and "Foolish Burial" with the help "Salvage" to send "T.A.D.P.O.L.E.", "Gazer Shark" or "Des Frog" to the Graveyard. You can banish "Gazer Shark" for a free Rank 5 WATER Xyz Summon. "Sea Lancer" can also be used to recycle "Gazer Shark".
Frog Burn FTK (Classic)
This Deck abuses the effect of the Toad monster "Ronintoadin" to continously summon itself from the graveyard as a fodder for the effect of "Mass Driver", "Cannon Soldier", or a card with the effect that tributes monsters to inflict direct damage to the opponent's life points ("Catapult Turtle" will not work because "Ronintoadin"'s attack is far too low). This "First Turn Kill" strategy involves the key card "Substitoad" to fill the graveyard with enough "Frog" monsters that will be used by "Ronintoadin" to fuel its own effect.
This FTK is hard to stop, and relatively easy to pull off. Once "Substitoad" is on the field (easy with "One for One" or "Swap Frog" + "Salvage") with another monster, the graveyard can be easily filled with as many "Frog" monsters as possible. "Swap Frog" can easily send "Ronintoadin" to the graveyard once summoned with the effect of "Substitoad". By the time that the graveyard is ready, "Mass Driver" is used to tribute a "Ronintoadin" to inflict direct damage to the ooponent. Since "Ronintoadin" can continously revive itself, "Mass Driver" can repeat the process until the opponent's LP hits 0. A "Cannon Soldier" or its Toon counterpart "Toon Cannon Soldier" (searchable by "Toon Table of Contents") can be used instead of a "Mass Driver", but since it has to be summoned to the field first, "Double Summon" will be very useful.
With the banning of "Substitoad" in September 2010 and "Mass Driver" in March 2011, this classic strategy is no longer playable in the Advanced Format.
Dragon Frog Exodia (Classic)
The strategy of this classic deck is use the effect of the Toad monster "Substitoad" to continously send Frog monsters from the field to the graveyard while the latter is affacted with and effect that Changes Type such as "DNA Surgery" and "D. Tribe", and finally use the effect of "Super Rejuvenation" to draw through the rest of the Deck during the End Phase and cause a win condition using the 5 parts of "Exodia".
Like most "Frog" combos, the use of "One for One" is crucial to easily summon "Substitoad" as fast as possible, and setting up the rest of the three card combo. Another card that could be used is "A Cat of Ill Omen" to search for "DNA Surgery", as well as "Magical Mallet" / "Hand Destruction" to allow controlled drawing of the other cards necessary for the combo without losing any parts of "Exodia".
Bear in mind that "Poison Draw Frog" or "Dupe Frog" miss timing when tributed as a cost for "Substitoad"'s effect so their effects do not activate in the graveyard.
Weaknesses
Cards such as "Zombie World" will prevent the summoning of "Toadally Awesome" at all) and cards that banish what goes into your Graveyard such as "Masked HERO Dark Law" and "Dimensional Fissure". Watch out for "Starlight Road", "Bottomless Trap Hole" and "D.D. Crow", however. cards like "Banisher of the Light" and "Dimensional Fissure" are the bane of this strategy).
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