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All Yu-Gi-Oh! Archetypes, explained

An overview of Yu-Gi-Oh! archetypes.

If you’re planning to get into the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG, or any video games, such as Duel Links or Legacy of the Duelist, it’s important to know about archetypes. Archetypes are essential to know about, as the construction of a competitive or even a casual deck depends on which type you plan on utilizing. But what are these archetypes, and how many of them exist in Yu-Gi-Oh!? Let’s go over everything that you need to know about archetypes in Yu-Gi-Oh!

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What are archetypes?

Essentially, Yu-Gi-Oh! Archetypes are the family of cards that a particular one belongs to. And the family of cards, by the way, has nothing to do with a card’s monster type or the attribute. Rather, it has to do with regards to which group of cards belong to each other.

To see which archetype a card belongs to, look no further to the name, not its attribute. To illustrate, let’s take a look at an example with one of the more popular cards that have been used in the metagame for well over a decade: Cyber Dragon.

Source: YGO Pro Deck

Cyber Dragon belongs to the Cyber archetype, including this card and other support cards that complement the crux of the deck. These support cards include, and again, let’s use the Cyber archetype as an example, monster, spell, and trap cards that work well with said archetypes. For our Cyber Dragon example, these support cards would include Cyber Dragon Drei (monster card), Cyber Repair Plant (spell card, and Cyber Network (trap card), among others. These examples have the word ‘Cyber’, meaning that all of these cards belong to the said archetype.

However, keep in mind that not all cards with a specific term in their name belong to that archetype. An example of this would be the monster card Cyber Stein, which can summon a Fusion monster from the special deck at the cost of 5000 life points. While this card would have some synergy with a Cyber Deck, considering it uses Fusion monsters such as Cyber Twin Dragon and Cyber End Dragon, it does not belong to the Cyber archetype. Suppose the card does have a similar name to another but has no relation to any said archetype card. In that case, it most likely does not have any relationship to it (If you are still unsure and want to check, a way to find out is to look at the Japanese translation. This would indicate whether there is a relationship).

(Image via Amazon)

It’s important to know which cards belong to which archetype, as in most cases, you don’t want to have random cards assembled into a deck. Rather, you want to use good monster, spell, and trap cards that revolve around one particular archetype and complement the cards that make it pop. Additionally, it’s also wise to look at trending decks, as in some cases, you can integrate one archetype with another. An example of this is with Destiny HERO and Elemental HERO cards, as both have some synergy with the Change archetype.

List of Yu-Gi-Oh! Archetypes

Here’s a listing of the Yu-Gi-Oh! archetypes that currently exist in the card game, sorted alphabetically:

/

  • /Assault Mode

@

  • @Ignister

A

  • Adamancipator
  • Advanced Crystal Beast
  • Aesir
  • Aether
  • Alchemy Beast
  • Alien
  • Alligator
  • Allure Queen
  • Ally of Justice
  • Altergeist
  • Amazoness
  • Amorphage
  • Ancient (archetype)
  • Ancient Gear
  • Ancient Warriors
  • Angel (archetype)
  • Anti
  • Apoqliphort
  • Appliancer
  • Aquaactress
  • Aquarium
  • Arcana Force
  • Archfiend
  • Armatos Legio
  • Armed Dragon
  • Armor Canine
  • Aroma
  • Artifact
  • Artorigus
  • Assassin
  • Assault Blackwing
  • Astral (archetype)
  • Atlandis
  • Atlantean
  • Attack (archetype)

B

  • B.E.S.
  • Baby
  • Bamboo Sword
  • Barbaros
  • Barian (archetype)
  • Barian’s
  • Batteryman
  • Battleguard
  • Battlewasp
  • Battlin’ Boxer
  • Beast’s Battle
  • Beastborg
  • Black Luster Soldier (archetype)
  • Blackwing
  • Blackwing Tamer
  • Blaze Accelerator (archetype)
  • Blue-Eyes
  • Bonding
  • Borrel
  • Bounzer
  • Bujin
  • Burning Abyss
  • Buster Blader (archetype)
  • Butterfly
  • Butterspy

C

  • C (archetype)
  • Carrier
  • Cat
  • Cat Girl (archetype)
  • Celestial
  • Celtic Guard
  • Cenozoic
  • Champion
  • Change
  • Chaos
  • Charmer
  • Chemicritter
  • Chronomaly
  • Chrysalis
  • Cicada
  • Cipher
  • Cipher Dragon
  • Clear
  • Clear Wing
  • Clock Knight
  • Cloudian
  • Code Talker (archetype)
  • Codebreaker
  • Comics Hero
  • Constellar
  • Cookpal
  • Crusadia
  • Crystal
  • Crystal Beast
  • Crystron
  • Cubic
  • Cubic Seed
  • CXyz
  • Cyber
  • Cyber Angel
  • Cyber Dragon (archetype)
  • Cyberdark
  • Cybernetic
  • Cynet

D

  • D-Scale
  • D/D
  • D/D/D
  • Danger!
  • Dante
  • Dark Contract
  • Dark Magician (archetype)
  • Dark Magician Girl (archetype)
  • Dark Mummy
  • Dark Scorpion
  • Dark Tuner (archetype)
  • Dark World
  • Darklord
  • Darkness (archetype)
  • Dart
  • Deskbot
  • Destiny HERO
  • Destruction Sword
  • Dice (archetype)
  • Dinomist
  • Dinowrestler
  • Dizzy
  • Djinn
  • Dododo
  • Dog
  • Dogmatika
  • Doll
  • Doll Monster
  • Doll Part
  • Doodle
  • Doodle Beast
  • Dracoslayer
  • Dracoverlord
  • Dragonmaid
  • Dragunity
  • Dream Mirror
  • Drone (archetype)
  • Druid
  • Drytron
  • Dual Avatar
  • Duel Dragon
  • Duston
  • Dyson

E

  • Earth (archetype)
  • Earthbound
  • Earthbound Immortal
  • Earthbound Servant
  • Eco Spell
  • Edge Imp
  • Elder Entity
  • Eldlich
  • Eldlixir
  • Elemental HERO
  • Elemental Lord
  • Elementsaber
  • Elf
  • Emissary of Darkness
  • Empowered Warrior
  • Endymion
  • Evil Eye
  • Evil HERO
  • Evil★Twin
  • Evolsaur
  • Evoltile
  • Evolution Pill
  • Evolzar
  • Exodia
  • Eyes Restrict

F

  • F.A.
  • Fabled
  • Fairy (archetype)
  • Familiar-Possessed
  • Fire Fist
  • Fire Formation
  • Fire King
  • Fire King Avatar
  • Fishborg
  • Flamvell
  • Flower Cardian
  • Fluffal
  • Forbidden (archetype)
  • Forbidden Beast
  • Forbidden One
  • Fortune Fairy
  • Fortune Lady
  • Fossil
  • Frightfur
  • Frightfur Unit
  • Frog
  • Fur Hire
  • Fusion (archetype)
  • Fusion Dragon

G

  • Gadget
  • Gagaga
  • Gaia The Fierce Knight (archetype)
  • Galaxy
  • Galaxy-Eyes
  • Galaxy-Eyes Tachyon Dragon
  • Gandora (archetype)
  • Geargia
  • Geargiano (archetype)
  • Gem-
  • Gem-Knight
  • Gem-Knight Lady
  • Generaider
  • Genex
  • Ghostrick
  • Gimmick Puppet
  • Gishki
  • Gladiator Beast
  • Go-D/D
  • Goblin
  • Gogogo
  • Golden Land
  • Gorgonic
  • Gottoms
  • Gouki
  • Goyo
  • Granel
  • Gravekeeper’s
  • Graydle
  • Guard
  • Guardian
  • Gusto
  • Guts Master

H

  • Hand (archetype)
  • Harpie
  • Hazy
  • Hazy Flame
  • Heart Monster
  • Heavy Industry
  • Helixx
  • Hell
  • Heraldic
  • Heraldic Beast
  • Heraldry
  • HERO
  • Heroic
  • Heroic Challenger
  • Heroic Champion
  • Hi-Speedroid
  • Hieratic
  • Hole
  • Horus the Black Flame Dragon
  • Hunder
  • Hydradrive

I

  • Ice Barrier
  • Igknight
  • Impcantation
  • Infernity
  • Infernoid
  • Infestation
  • Infinitrack
  • Inmato (archetype)
  • Inu
  • Invoked
  • Inzektor
  • Iron Chain
  • Ivy

J

  • Jester
  • Jester Puppet
  • Jinzo (archetype)
  • Junk
  • Junk Robot
  • Jurrac
  • Jutte

K

  • Kabuki Stage
  • Kaiju
  • Karakuri
  • Ki-sikil
  • King
  • Knight
  • Knightmare
  • Koa’ki Meiru
  • Koala
  • Kozmo
  • Krawler
  • Kuriboh (archetype)

L

  • Lamp
  • Landstar
  • Laundsallyn
  • Laval
  • Legendary Dragon
  • Legendary Knight
  • Lightsworn
  • Lil-la
  • Line Monster
  • Live☆Twin
  • Lswarm
  • Lunalight
  • LV
  • Lyrilusc

M

  • Machina
  • Machine Angel
  • Madolche
  • Magic Elf
  • Magical Musket
  • Magician (archetype)
  • Magician Girl
  • Magistus
  • Magna Warrior
  • Magnet
  • Magnet Warrior
  • Majespecter
  • Majestic
  • Malefic
  • Malicevorous
  • Mantis
  • Marincess
  • Masked HERO
  • Mathmech
  • Mayakashi
  • Mecha Phantom Beast
  • Megalith
  • Mekk-Knight
  • Meklord
  • Meklord Army
  • Meklord Astro
  • Meklord Emperor
  • Melffy
  • Melodious
  • Melodious Maestra
  • Melodious Songstress
  • Mermail
  • Mesozoic
  • Metalfoes
  • Metaphys
  • Mirror Imagine
  • Mist Valley
  • Monarch
  • Morphtronic
  • Mosquito
  • Motor
  • Mythical Beast
  • Myutant

N

  • Naturia
  • Necrovalley (archetype)
  • Neko
  • Nekroz
  • Neo-Spacian
  • Neos
  • Nephthys
  • Nimble
  • Ninja
  • Ninjitsu Art
  • Nitro
  • Noble Arms
  • Noble Knight
  • Nordic
  • Nordic Alfar
  • Nordic Ascendant
  • Nordic Beast
  • Nordic Relic
  • Number
  • Number 10X
  • Number 39: Utopia (archetype)
  • Number C
  • Number C10X
  • Number C39
  • Number C39: Utopia Ray (archetype)
  • Number S
  • Numeron
  • Numeron Gate
  • Numeronius

O

  • Odd-Eyes
  • Ojama
  • Old Entity
  • Onomat
  • Orcust
  • Outer Entity

P

  • Paleozoic
  • Palladium
  • Papillon
  • Parasite
  • Parshath
  • Pendulum (archetype)
  • Pendulum Dragon
  • Pendulumgraph
  • Pendulumstatue
  • Penguin
  • Performage
  • Performapal
  • Phantasm
  • Phantasm Spiral
  • Phantom Beast
  • Phantom Butterfly
  • Phantom Knights
  • Photon
  • Pixie
  • Plunder Patroll
  • Polymerization (archetype)
  • Possessed
  • Potan
  • Power Tool
  • Prank-Kids
  • Predap
  • Predaplant
  • Prediction Princess
  • Priestess
  • Prophecy
  • PSY-Frame
  • PSY-Framegear
  • Puppet

Q

  • Qli
  • Quiz
  • Quiz Panel

R

  • R-Genex
  • Raccoon
  • Raidraptor
  • Rank-Down-Magic
  • Rank-Up-Magic
  • Reactor
  • Rebellion (archetype)
  • Red (archetype)
  • Red Dragon Archfiend (archetype)
  • Red-Eyes
  • Relinquished (archetype)
  • Reptilianne
  • Resonator
  • Rikka
  • Ritual Beast
  • Ritual Beast Tamer
  • Ritual Beast Ulti-
  • Roid
  • Rokket
  • Roland (archetype)
  • Rose
  • Rose Dragon
  • Royal Cookpal

S

  • Saber
  • Salamangreat
  • Scrap
  • Seal
  • Secret Six Samurai
  • Security Force
  • Shaddoll
  • Shaman
  • Shark (archetype)
  • Shien
  • Shining
  • Shiranui
  • Shiranui Spectralsword (archetype)
  • Silent Magician (archetype)
  • Silent Swordsman (archetype)
  • Simorgh
  • Six Samurai
  • Skiel
  • Skiel Attack (archetype)
  • Sky
  • Sky Striker
  • Sky Striker Ace
  • Skyblaster
  • Skyscraper (archetype)
  • Slime
  • Smile
  • Snake
  • Speed Spell (archetype)
  • Speedroid
  • Spell Spice
  • Spellbook
  • Sphere
  • Sphinx
  • Spice
  • Spirit (archetype)
  • Spirit Gem
  • Spirit Message
  • Spiritual Beast
  • Spiritual Earth Art
  • Spiritual Fire Art
  • Spiritual Water Art
  • Spiritual Wind Art
  • Sprigguns
  • Sprout
  • SPYRAL
  • SPYRAL GEAR
  • SPYRAL MISSION
  • Star Seraph
  • Stardust (archetype)
  • Starship
  • Starving Venemy
  • Starving Venom
  • Statue
  • Steelswarm
  • Stellarknight
  • Stone
  • Stormrider
  • Strain
  • Stray Cat (archetype)
  • Subterror
  • Subterror Behemoth
  • Sunavalon
  • Sunvine
  • Super Defense Robot
  • Super Quant
  • Super Quantal Mech Beast
  • Super Quantum
  • Superheavy
  • Superheavy Samurai
  • Superheavy Samurai Soul
  • Supreme King
  • Supreme King Dragon
  • Supreme King Gate
  • Sylvan
  • Symphonic Warrior
  • Synchro Dragon
  • Synchron

T

  • T.G.
  • Tachyon
  • Tachyon Dragon
  • Tellarknight
  • Tentacluster
  • Tenyi
  • The Agent
  • The Phantom Knights
  • The Weather
  • Thorn Prisoner
  • Thunder Dragon (archetype)
  • Time Thief
  • Timelord
  • Tindangle
  • Toon
  • Top
  • Topologina
  • Toy
  • Toy (ARC-V archetype)
  • Trap Hole (archetype)
  • Trap Monster
  • Traptrix
  • Tri-Brigade
  • Triamid
  • Trickstar
  • True Draco and True King

U

  • U.A.
  • Ultimate Crystal
  • Umbral Horror
  • Unchained
  • Unchained Soul
  • Utopia (archetype)
  • Utopic
  • Utopic Future

V

  • V (archetype)
  • V (GX archetype)
  • Valkyrie
  • Vampire
  • Vehicroid
  • Vendread
  • Venom
  • Vigilante
  • Virtual World
  • Virtual World Gate
  • Vision HERO
  • Void
  • Volcanic
  • Vylon

W

  • W
  • Warrior (archetype)
  • Watt
  • White
  • White Knight
  • Wicked Rune
  • Wind-Up
  • Windwitch
  • Winged Kuriboh (archetype)
  • Wisel
  • Wisel Attack (archetype)
  • Wisel Guard (archetype)
  • Wisel Top (archetype)
  • Witchcrafter
  • World Chalice
  • World Legacy
  • Worm

X

  • X (archetype)
  • X-Saber
  • Xyz
  • Xyz Dragon

Y

  • Y
  • Yang Zing
  • Yomi
  • Yosenju
  • Yubel (archetype)

Z

  • Z
  • Z-ONE (archetype)
  • Zefra
  • ZEXAL (archetype)
  • Zombie counterpart
  • Zoodiac
  • ZS –
  • Zubaba
  • ZW –

Archtypes listed via FANDOM.


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Author
Image of Chris Studley
Chris Studley
Chris is a staff writer for Gamepur who lives on the East Coast of the U.S. Chris has covered sports games, including the Madden, FIFA, NHL, NBA 2K, and MLB The Show franchises, for Gamepur since 2020.