Releasing to the wider world on May 2nd, Alliance Insight is just around the corner. One of its main features is the Regenesis archetype, a set of monsters that play around the theme of self-recursion
Here are some of the best archetypes to look at if you want to try out these new cards.
As a general disclaimer, this list is not ranked in any order, nor is it exhaustive. This is a fun little thought experiment as we look at some of the best archetypes to pair with the Regenesis package as they hit western shores.
Kashtira
This is probably the most infamous archetype to pair with Regenesis. There’s no denying that Kashtira should work well alongside Regenesis, as it offers a small and consistent engine. When paired up together, both these archetypes don't need normal summons, which is a major advantage over most Yu-Gi-Oh! decks.
The Regenesis monsters offer a quick and varied response, either going first or second. This, however, is just the tip of the iceberg.
A player can easily start going into either archetype's engine, making this pair rather difficult to play against. Opponents may struggle to know which piece of interaction they need to use until it's too late.
Once a 2,500 attack stat hits the board, regardless of whether it's yours or the opponent's, a bulwark of Regenesis monsters can be made with Regenesis Sage, Regenesis Warrior, and Regenesis Dragon.
Each one gives a different quick effect: a negate, a bounce, and backrow hate, respectively. This makes it easier for Kashtira side of the deck to get through an already established board.
Depending on circumstances, either of the Kashtira XYZ boss monsters, Kashtira Shangri-Ira and Kashtira Arise-Heart can easily be brought out. Regenesis Sage and Warrior are both level 7 monsters that pair nicely with either Kashtira Unicorn or Fenrir.
It also helps that if either Sangri-Ira or Arise-Heart detach any Regenesis monster materials during the opponent's turn, that means more bodies coming back when the end phase hits.
The pairing also has access to an easy line of generic rank 8 XYZ monsters due to the rest of the Regenesis monster line-up, save for Regenesis Lord, who's a level 10.
Number 107: Galaxy-Eyes Tachyon Dragon, The Zombie Vampire, or Dingirsu, the Orcust of the Evening Star are just some examples of generic rank 8 extra deck staples that Regenesis can offer to its Kashtira half.
These synergies between these two archetypes feel like they were made to be a perfect match.
It would still have to prove itself against the leading deck archetypes (e.g. Maliss or Mitsurugi), though. But with a little fine-tuning, we might see this pair become another high-performing deck down the line.
Primite
This archetype comes with a major asterisk tacked on. The Primite engine is currently small but powerful with Primite Drillbeam in its back pocket, however, Primite is reliant on normal monster cards that Regenesis doesn’t have.
The Blue-Eyes White Dragon, though, is both a vanilla monster and fulfills one of the requirements for bringing out a Regenesis monster: an original 2,500 defense stat.
The question here is, why would you risk the diluted consistency of a deck that’s already performing well at all levels of play? A potential answer to this can be found in a very specific trap card.
The Regenesis archetype has access to a very powerful trap card in the form of Regenesis Birth.
This one trap card is a Foolish Burial, a Book of Moon, and a Return from the Different Dimension, in a single package. The additional disruption could help save that prized Drillbeam for something far more sinister.
All the player needs to do is get a Blue-Eyes White Dragon onto the board or in hand, and assuming they stick the landing, grab the Regenesis spell card via Regenesis Archfiend. From there, they go into Regenesis Lord, which can immediately set up Regenesis Birth.
All this, and you still preserve the normal summon of the turn for your Blue-Eyes line of play.
We admit, it’d take a skilled player to build and pilot this kind of setup but it wouldn’t be the first time someone smashed together more than one archetype for something cohesive and unorthodox.
Snake-Eyes & Azamina
This is going to be a two-for-one special because of one particular monster card, Diabellstar the Black Witch.
With a 2,500 attack power, Diabellstar can easily be used to summon Regenesis Archfiend onto the board. This, by itself, already starts the Regenesis lines of play.
Diabellstar can also special summon herself to get the other Regenesis monsters onto the field as well.
Should Diabellstar herself be sent to the graveyard during the opponent's turn, she can easily use about 90% of the Regenesis monsters to revive herself. Then, said Regenesis monster will come back at the end phase of the opponent’s turn.
Both archetypes will definitely enjoy the fact that the Regenesis monsters don’t need to use that valuable normal summon limit. This allows both archetypes to go through their standard combos with some added bodies on the field.
For Azamina, Regenesis Lord is an illusion monster they can use for their fusion extra deck plays.
Snake-Eyes can make use of Regenesis Warrior for Fire specific link summons like Promethean Princess, Bestower of Flames or Salamangreat Raging Phoenix.
Regardless of the archetype pairing, Regenesis just offers a formidable grind game with its ability to come back over and over again.
These are just a few of the archetypes we've noticed that could best mesh with the new Regenesis cards. There could actually be more that we haven’t noticed.
The strength of the Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game is how much freedom and creativity the players have. Maybe not all decks can compete at the highest level of organized play, but that doesn’t mean they’re any less fun to try.