Template:Infobox archetype
Railway is a series of train-themed EARTH Machine monsters introduced in Galactic Overlord. They are prominently used by both Anna Kaboom in Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL and Allen Kozuki in Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V.
Design
Each card of this series is based on either trains or railway infrastructure.
Members
Main Deck
Extra Deck
| Rank | Monster | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Heavy-Armored Train Iron Wolf | N/A |
| 10 | Number 81: Superdreadnought Rail Cannon Super Dora | Dora |
| Superdreadnought Rail Cannon Gustav Max | Schwerer Gustav |
Support
| Property | Card | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Equip Spell | Train Connection | Railway coupling |
| Field Spell | Revolving Switchyard | Rail yard |
| Normal Spell | Special Schedule | Train schedule |
Playing style
Overview
The Deck supports the rapid Summoning of Level 10 monsters to Summon Xyz Monsters, particularly "Superdreadnought Rail Cannon Gustav Max" and "Number 81: Superdreadnought Rail Cannon Super Dora". To this end, the Level 10 members of the series have effects that let them be Special Summoned or Summoned without tribute, at the cost of some drawback.
Main Deck monsters
The series heavily relies on "Revolving Switchyard", "Ruffian Railcar" to maintain hand and field advantage in tandem with "Heavy Freight Train Derricrane" and "Night Express Knight". The player can create a loop - Summon "Night Express Knight", use the effect of "Revolving Switchyard" to Summon "Ruffian Railcar" and/or Special Summon "Derricrane" from your hand, overlay them for an Xyz Summon, and detach "Ruffian Railcar"/"Derricrane" for that monster's effect. This will trigger the effect of "Ruffian Railcar" at the End Phase, letting the player search out another "Night Express Knight" from their Deck to repeat the combo next turn, presuming "Revolving Switchyard" remains in play. You can also detach "Derricrane" to destroy 1 card your opponent controls.
Other good monsters to include in the Deck are: "Malefic Cyber End Dragon", a 4000 ATK monster and also a Level 10. With "Revolving Switchyard" already in play, this card cannot destroy itself. "Exodius the Ultimate Forbidden Lord", which recycles your entire Graveyard and can be Special Summoned. "Planet Pathfinder", which can be Tributed to bring out "Revolving Switchyard" in case you run out of "Terraformings".
Extra Deck monsters
"Number 81: Superdreadnought Rail Cannon Super Dora" should be the player's focus on Summoning, as it can instantly avoid almost any effect by detaching a Xyz Material. "Superdreadnought Rail Cannon Gustav Max" is a great option to finish off weakened opponents by instantly dealing 2000 damage. "Superdimensional Robot Galaxy Destroyer" is an excellent third option, as the Deck will not have much difficulty getting three Level 10 monsters on the field, and "Superdimensional Robot Galaxy Destroyer" possesses a 5000 ATK and an effect to destroy all of your opponent's Spell and Trap cards, while your opponent cannot respond to this effect.
As for other Extra Deck monsters, "Number 35: Ravenous Tarantula", "Number 77: The Seven Sins" and "Number 84: Pain Gainer" are also good Extra Deck options. Number 35 can bump up your monsters' ATK as long as you and your opponent have different LP values and remove all monsters with ATK lower than this card's. "Number 77" can banish all of your opponent's Special Summoned monsters, attach 1 of them as Xyz Material and avoid destruction. "Number 84" can destroy all face-up monsters your opponent controls with DEF less than or equal to this card's.
While not in play most of the time, "Skypalace Gangaridai" can help you destroy two cards your opponent controls at once when you detach "Derricrane" as a cost to activate this card's effect.
Spell and Trap Cards
The staple Spell Card for this deck is "Revolving Switchyard" as it can make "Ruffian Railcar" a Level 10 monster or discard 1 unwanted card to add "Night Express Knight" or "Derricrane" from your Deck to your hand. You can Summon "Night Express Knight", Special Summon "Ruffian Railcar" from your Deck, then Overlay both monsters for an easy Rank 10 Xyz Summon. "Limiter Removal" doubles your monster's ATK and can perform an OTK. "Terraforming" adds another option to add "Switchyard" to your hand quickly. "Xyz Unit" bumps up the ATK of Extra Deck monsters and acts as a free Xyz Material.
As for the Traps, "Skill Drain" can shut down most Effect Monsters and give you a 3000 ATK beater in the form of "Night Express Knight". "Anti-Spell Fragrance" can prevent the opponent from activating a Spell if "Revolving Switchyard" is already on the field. "Metal Reflect Slime" gives a free Level 10 monster for Xyz Summoning.
Weaknesses
"Gameciel, the Sea Turtle Kaiju" (or any "Kaiju" monster) can effectively shut down a "Railway" Deck by replacing "Number 81" or "Gustav Max" with a monster whose Level is not 10, which disrupts the main focus of the Deck: Rank 10 Xyz Monsters.
Cards that prevent Special Summoning such as "Vanity's Fiend", "Quiet Life" or "Domain of the True Monarchs" can shut down the Deck's Special Summoning capabilities.
| |||||