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Red-Eyes (レッドアイズ Reddoaizu) is an archetype of mostly DARK 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 Black 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 Black Dragon" card but was too timid to use it. Yugi Mutou used it against Seto Kaiba, demonstrating how Red-Eyes brings potential by fusing it with "Meteor Dragon" to Summon "Meteor Black Dragon".

In the Yu-Gi-Oh! manga and anime, "Red-Eyes Black 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, Atticus Rhodes (and by extension, Nightshroud) uses a Red-Eyes Deck which includes a number of Red-Eyes cards and their support.

In Yu-Gi-Oh! 3D Bonds Beyond Time, Paradox sent a "Red-Eyes Black Dragon" to the Graveyard to Special Summon "Malefic Red-Eyes Black Dragon".

In Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL, "Red-Eyes Black Dragon" appeared as a statue as one of the legendary monsters in the Duel Sanctuary. 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 Black Dragon are based on cards used by Joey Wheeler, Yugi Muto, Nightshroud and Atticus Rhodes. Most of them changed card types, usually changing from Non-Effect Monsters to Effect Monsters or even from Trap Cards to Effect Monsters.

Members[]

Card Effect based on Most notable user(s)
Retrained Original
Archfiend Black Skull Dragon Black Skull Dragon Yugi Muto
Joey Wheeler (via the effect of "Graverobber")
Black Metal Dragon Dragon Nails Rex Raptor
Joey Wheeler
Gearfried the Red-Eyes Iron Knight Gearfried the Iron Knight Red-Eyes Wyvern Joey Wheeler
Meteor Black Comet Dragon Meteor Black Dragon Yugi Mutou
Trueman
Meteor Dragon Red-Eyes Impact Meteor Dragon
Red-Eyes Alternative Black Dragon Red-Eyes Black Dragon Joey Wheeler
Atticus Rhodes
Red-Eyes Archfiend of Lightning Summoned Skull Makiu, the Magical Mist Yugi Muto
Joey Wheeler (via the effect of "Graverobber")
Red-Eyes Baby Dragon Baby Dragon Joey Wheeler
Red-Eyes Black Flare Dragon Red-Eyes Black Dragon Inferno Fire Blast Joey Wheeler
Atticus Rhodes
Red-Eyes Flare Metal Dragon
Red-Eyes Retro Dragon Time Machine Bandit Keith
Joey Wheeler (via the effect of "Graverobber")
Red-Eyes Slash Dragon Sword Hunter Joey Wheeler
Red-Eyes Dark Dragoon Joey Wheeler and Yugi Moto's Ace monsters

fused

Red-Eyes Soul
Red-Eyes Black Meteor Dragon Yugi Muto

Trueman

Red-Eyes Black Dragon Sword Joey Wheeler
The Black Stone of Legend
Lord of the Red Joey Wheeler

Support[]

Card Most notable user(s)
Retrained Original
Red-Eyes Fang with Chain Kunai with Chain Joey Wheeler
Inferno Fire Blast Atticus Rhodes
Red-Eyes Fusion Polymerization Yugi Muto
Jaden Yuki

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[]

The Red-Eyes deck mainly focuses on massive Effect Damage in one instance with a 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 once 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 in order 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 Black 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".

Recommended cards[]

Standard



Darkness Metal


Official Decks[]


References[]

  1. YGOrganization 20th Legendary Collection Decks
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