Introduction:
"Nekroz" (Necloth in OCG) is an archetype of WATER monsters that debuted in Booster SP: Tribe Force with further support in Secrets of Eternity.
They're a clan that perfected magical rituals to weave the power of legendary monsters into armors via a magical mirror, and clad themselves into them. This power allows them to even control the power of the "Ice Barrier Dragons".
The archetype is based on Ritual Summoning humanoids that are wearing armor modeled after deceased monsters. The "Nekroz" monsters are based on monsters from Duel Terminal archetypes, such as "Ice Barrier", "Gishki", "Mist Valley", "Ally of Justice", and "Fabled", and have similar effects; also,
the Ritual Monsters are counterparts of existing Synchro monsters from the aforementioned archetypes whose Levels range from 3 to 10.
Archtype Cards :
Archmage of the Nekroz :
If this card is Tributed by a card effect: You can add 1 Spellcaster-Type "Nekroz" Ritual Monster from your Deck to your hand. If this card is banished: You can send 1 "Nekroz" monster from your Deck to the Graveyard, except "Archmage of the Nekroz". You can only use 1 "Archmage of the Necloth" effect per turn, and only once that turn.
Dance Princess of the Nekroz :
Your opponent cannot activate cards or effects in response to the activation of "Nekroz" Ritual Spell Cards, also "Nekroz" Ritual Monsters you control cannot be targeted by your opponent's card effects. If this card is Tributed by a card effect: You can target 1 of your banished "Nekroz" monsters, except "Dance Princess of the Nekroz"; add that target to your hand. You can only use this effect of "Dance Princess of the Nekroz" once per turn.
Exa, Warrior of the Nekroz :
If this card is Tributed by a card effect: You can add 1 Dragon-Type "Nekroz" Ritual Monster from your Deck to your hand. If this card is banished: You can target 1 of your banished "Nekroz" monsters, except this card; Special Summon it. You can only use 1 "Exa, Warrior of the Nekroz" effect per turn, and only once that turn.
Schritt, Caster of the Nekroz :
If you Ritual Summon exactly 1 "Nekroz" Ritual Monster, this card can be used as the entire Tribute. If this card is Tributed by a card effect: You can add 1 Warrior-Type "Nekroz" Ritual Monster from your Deck to your hand. You can only use this effect of "Shrit, Caster of the Nekroz" once per turn.
The Nekroz Armor of Clausolas :
You can Ritual Summon this card with any "Nekroz" Ritual Spell Card. Must be Ritual Summoned, and cannot be Special Summoned by other ways. You can discard this card; add 1 "Nekroz" Spell/Trap Card from your Deck to your hand. During either player's turn: You can target 1 monster on the field that was Special Summoned from the Extra Deck; its ATK becomes 0, also its effects are negated. These changes last until the end of this turn. You can only use each effect of "The Nekroz Armor of Clausolas" once per turn.
The Nekroz Armor of Unicore :
You can Ritual Summon this card with any "Nekroz" Ritual Spell Card. Must be Ritual Summoned, and cannot be Special Summoned by other ways. You can discard this card, then target 1 "Nekroz" card in your Graveyard, except "The Nekroz Armor of Unicore"; add it to your hand. You can only use this effect of "The Nekroz Armor of Unicore" once per turn. Negate the effects of all face-up monsters on the field that were Special Summoned from the Extra Deck.
The Nekroz Armor of Catastor :
You can Ritual Summon this card with any "Nekroz" Ritual Spell Card. Must be Ritual Summoned by using monsters other than "The Nekroz Armor of Catastor", and cannot be Special Summoned by other ways. You can discard this card, then target 1 "Nekroz" monster in your Graveyard; Special Summon that target. You can only use this effect of "The Nekroz Armor of Catastor" once per turn. At the start of the Damage Step, if a "Nekroz" monster you control battles a monster that was Special Summoned from the Extra Deck: Destroy that monster.
The Nekroz Armor of Brionac :
You can Ritual Summon this card with any "Nekroz" Ritual Spell Card. Must be Ritual Summoned by using monsters other than "The Nekroz Armor of Brionac", and cannot be Special Summoned by other ways. You can discard this card; add 1 "Nekroz" monster from your Deck to your hand, except "The Nekroz Armor of Brionac". You can target up to 2 monsters on the field that were Special Summoned from the Extra Deck; shuffle them into the Deck. You can only use each effect of "The Nekroz Armor of Brionac" once per turn.
The Nekroz Armor of Gungnir :
You can Ritual Summon this card with any "Nekroz" Ritual Spell Card. Must be Ritual Summoned by using monsters other than Level 7 monsters, and cannot be Special Summoned by other ways. During either player's turn: You can discard this card, then target 1 "Nekroz" monster you control; this turn, it cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects. During either player's turn: You can discard 1 "Nekroz" card, then target 1 card on the field; destroy it. You can only use each effect of "The Nekroz Armor of Gungnir" once per turn.
The Nekroz Armor of Valkyrus :
You can Ritual Summon this card with any "Nekroz" Ritual Spell Card. Must be Ritual Summoned by using monsters other than Level 8 monsters, and cannot be Special Summoned by other ways. When an opponent's monster declares an attack: You can banish 1 "Nekroz" card from your Graveyard, then discard this card; negate that attack, then end the Battle Phase. During your Main Phase: You can Tribute up to 2 monsters from your hand and/or your side of the field, and if you do, draw 1 card for each card Tributed. You can only use each effect of "The Nekroz Armor of Valkyrus" once per turn.
The Nekroz Armor of Trishula :
You can Ritual Summon this card with any "Nekroz" Ritual Spell Card. Must be Ritual Summoned by using monsters other than Level 9 monsters, and cannot be Special Summoned by other ways. During either player's turn, when a card or effect is activated that targets a "Nekroz" monster(s) you control: You can discard this card; negate the activation. When this card is Ritual Summoned: You can banish 1 card from your opponent's side of the field, hand (at random) and Graveyard. You can only use each effect of "The Nekroz Armor of Trishula" once per turn.
The Nekroz Armor of Decisive Armor :
You can Ritual Summon this card with any "Nekroz" Ritual Spell Card. Must be Ritual Summoned by using monsters other than Level 10 monsters, and cannot be Special Summoned by other ways. During either player's turn: You can discard this card, then target 1 "Nekroz" monster you control; it gains 1000 ATK and DEF until the end of this turn. You can target 1 Set card your opponent controls; destroy it, and if you do, banish it. You can only use each effect of "The Nekroz Armor of Decisive Armor" once per turn.
Nekroz Exomirror :
This card can be used to Ritual Summon any "Nekroz" Ritual Monster. You must also Tribute monsters from your hand or field and/or banish "Nekroz" monsters from your Graveyard, whose total Levels equal the Level of that Ritual Monster. You can only use this effect of "Nekroz Exomirror" once per turn. If you control no monsters: You can banish both this card and 1 "Nekroz" monster from your Graveyard; add 1 "Nekroz" Spell Card from your Deck to your hand.
Nekroz Kaleidomirror :
This card can be used to Ritual Summon any number of "Nekroz" Ritual Monsters. You must also Tribute 1 monster from your hand or field, OR send 1 monster from your Extra Deck to the Graveyard, whose Level equals the total Levels of that Ritual Monster(s). You can only use this effect of "Nekroz Kaleidomirror" once per turn. If you control no monsters: You can banish both this card and 1 "Nekroz" monster from your Graveyard; add 1 "Nekroz" Spell Card from your Deck to your hand.
Nekroz Cycle :
This card can be used to Ritual Summon any "Nekroz" Ritual Monster from your hand or Graveyard. You must also Tribute monsters from your hand or field whose total Levels equal the Level of that Ritual Monster. You can only use this effect of "Nekroz Cycle" once per turn. If you control no monsters: You can banish both this card and 1 "Nekroz" monster from your Graveyard; add 1 "Nekroz" Spell Card from your Deck to your hand.
Cards to consider :
Denko Sekka
Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls
Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands
Senju of the Ten Thousand Hands
Gishki Chain
Gishki Shadow
Gishki Vision
Djinn Demolisher of Rituals
Djinn Releaser of Rituals
Djinn Cursenchanter of Rituals
Necroface
Burial from a Different Dimension
Contact with the Aquamirror
Preparation of Rites
Ritual Cage
Salvage
Ascending Soul
Reinforcement of the Army
Moray of Greed
Aquamirror Cycle
Grisaille Prison
Spiritual Water Art
Playing Style
Nekroz is an archetype that relies on Ritual Summoning. Its Ritual Monsters are counterparts of existing Synchro Monsters and feature similar effects. The Effect Monsters serve as conventional ritual support, either fulfilling tribute requirements or fetching key cards to maintain consistency.
Primarily, the "Nekroz" Ritual Monsters bear high ATK or DEF and a strong effect similar to that of their Synchro counterparts. The effects of those ones with Level from 3 to 6 are used to suppress monsters Summoned from the Extra Deck, while the effects of those ones whose Levels range from 7 to 10 give to the player more card advantage, either by destroying and/or banishing other cards or letting the player draw cards. In addition, all of them feature a second ability that can be activated by discarding them; these effects range from protecting and empowering your Nekroz monsters to reviving them and searching for Spell/Trap Cards. This remarkable property alleviates the recurring problem with Ritual monsters becoming dead draws when the player does not have means of Ritual Summoning them. Also, the monsters (with the exception of "Unicore" and "Clausolas") have restrictions on the materials that can be used for their Ritual Summons.
Weaknesses
Despite its versatility, all "Nekroz" Ritual Monsters are primarily vulnerable to effects that shut down on-hand effects, such as "Mind Drain", "Debunk", etc Aswell as cards that stop you from Speical Summoning such as ''Vanity's Emptiness'', '' Vanity's Fiend'' etc. "Imperial Iron Wall" can lock your Graveyard from the effect of the Ritual Spell Cards and the effects of "The Nekroz Armor of Valkyrus", "Trishula" and "Decisive Armor". The variety of Types also makes them vulnerable to floodgate cards like "Rivalry of Warlords". Because all "Nekroz" Monsters are WATER, the archetype is vulnerable to effects that specifically target single Attributes, such as that of "Vylon Disigma".
Deck Samples :
Last edited by Tequila on Sat Oct 03, 2015 12:21 am; edited 2 times in total
