Infernoid Discussion Thread

Introduction

"Infernoid" is an archetype of FIRE Fiend-Type monsters that debuted in Secrets of Eternity. This is the first Special Summon Monster archetype. The name of the archetype is a
combination of the words Inferno and Void, and also a play on the word's Infernal and Android. In times immemorial, these messengers of the inferno were sealed away inside the Sacred Tree of the Naturia along with the "Qli". Their forms are said to be based on those of ancient monsters who were seized
and captured "Qli".

Each of the revealed Level 7 and lower "Infernoid" monsters' names are corruptions of the names of biblical demons, such as "Lucifuge" and "Beelzebub". The revealed high-Level monsters, "Nehemoth" and "Adramelech", use non-corrupted versions. Those demons are said to be the rulers of the
Qliphoth. Their Spell and Trap Cards are named after the Purgatory (in japanese) and Void (in TCG).





Playing Style

All of the "Infernoid" monsters released thus far cannot be Normal Summoned/Set, and must be Special Summoned by banishing other "Infernoid" monsters from the hand and/or
Graveyard while the combined Levels or Ranks of all Effect Monsters you control is 8 or less. The Level 4 and lower "Infernoids" all require exactly one to be banished, the Level 5 to 8 require exactly two to be banished, and the
currently only Level 10 — "Infernoid Onuncu" — requires exactly three "Infernoids" to be banished. All of them have either 0 ATK or 0 DEF, except for "Onuncu". The Level 4 and lower "Infernoid" monsters can only be
Special Summoned from the hand, and have effects that deal with individual cards on the field, by simply destroying them or by returning them to the hand or Deck. Also, during the opponent's turn, they can tribute one monster in order to banish any card in the opponent's Graveyard. The Level 5 to 8 "Infernoid" monsters can be Special Summoned from either the hand or Graveyard and have offensive effects that activate when they battle a monster; allowing them to attack a second time in a row, disrupt the opponent's hand or banish any card on the field. Their second effects also allow the player to banish any one card from the opponent's Graveyard, but can be activated during either player's turn, rather than only during the opponent's turn. This second effect is very useful as it can be used to dodge effects that target "Infernoid" monsters, as well as to disrupt your opponent's plan when he/she activates a card that targets a card in their Graveyard.
Finally, their boss monster, "Infernoid Onuncu", can also be Special Summoned from the Graveyard and destroys all other monsters on the field upon its Special Summon. Its second
effect can negate the activation of any Spell/Trap Card or effect at the cost of tributing a monster.


Weaknesses

While "Infernoids" can easily pump out monster after monster to win games, they require banishing cards from their Graveyard or hand in order to Special Summon themselves, since all revealed Infernoids are Nomi monsters. Cards such as "Necrovalley", "Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer", and "Imperial
Iron Wall" can prevent players from being able to banish cards to Special Summon any "Infernoid", locking them out of their best plays. If you require the ability to banish cards
yourself, you can play cards such as "Macro Cosmos", "Dimensional Fissure", and "D.D. Crow" instead, to prevent your opponent from having enough cards in their Graveyard,
while also being able to Special Summon "Infernoids" and still allowing you to banish cards. "Vanity's Emptiness" can also shut down "Infernoids", since the cannot be Normal Summoned or Set, and must be Special Summoned by their own effects. This forces "Infernoids" to rely on the very few monsters they can Normal Summon or Set until they can get rid of "Vanity's Emptiness", getting rid of a lot of their advantage.