Card Analysis

Nekroz of Clausolas

You can Ritual Summon this card with any "Nekroz" Ritual Spell. Must be Ritual Summoned. You can only use each of these effects of "Nekroz of Clausolas" once per turn.

● You can discard this card; add 1 "Nekroz" Spell/Trap from your Deck to your hand.

● (Quick Effect): You can target 1 face-up monster on the field that was Special Summoned from the Extra Deck; until the end of this turn, that target's ATK becomes 0, also that target's effects are negated.

---

Nekroz of Clausolas is one of the main searchers for the archetype, fetching your Ritual Spells and the nonexistent Nekroz Trap card. Because Nekroz of Brionac can search it, Clausolas makes Brionac into a pseudo-Spell searcher as well. Its on-field effect is handy in the Unicore protection effort, as well as beating over Extra Deck monsters in general, but in modern-day Yu-Gi-Oh it isn't summoned anywhere near as often.

Most Nekroz decks will run at least one, and "pure" variants tend to max out on it. It should be noted that Nekroz of Unicore can bring back Clausolas from the graveyard, effectively making it extra copies of it post-use, which makes for a strong case to only use it at 1 copy in any non-pure deck.

You can Ritual Summon this card with any "Nekroz" Ritual Spell. Must be Ritual Summoned. You can discard this card, then target 1 "Nekroz" card in your GY, except "Nekroz of Unicore"; add it to your hand. You can only use this effect of "Nekroz of Unicore" once per turn. Negate the effects of face-up monsters on the field that were Special Summoned from the Extra Deck.

---

The heart and soul of the deck, being one of the most oppressive Ritual Monsters of its time. Being a Skill Drain on legs for Extra Deck monsters is nothing to sniff at, making Unicore an auto-win against many decks. Its level is extremely convenient, being capable of being summoned with Herald of the Arc Light for a search or Elder Entity N'Tss if used with Nekroz Kaleidoscope, making summoning it often part of a combo. While its Attack makes it very beatable by simply attacking it, the rest of the board that Unicore is featured on is often centred around preventing this from happening. The hand effect, while not as commonly brought up, can situationally be useful for follow-ups involving Nekroz of Brionac or Nekroz of Trishula, which may have been sent to the graveyard the previous turn. Additionally, it means you only need 1 Clausolas, as Unicore can bring it back to get another search, becoming a pseudo-searcher in the mid- to late-game.

With it being relieved from the banlist a while ago, Unicore must be run at 3, there is very little reason not to.

You can Ritual Summon this card with any "Nekroz" Ritual Spell Card. Must be Ritual Summoned without using "Nekroz 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 it. You can only use this effect of "Nekroz of Catastor" once per turn. At the start of the Damage Step, if a "Nekroz" monster you control battles an opponent's face-up monster that was Special Summoned from the Extra Deck: Destroy that monster.

---

It's very outdated...it attempts to do things the Nekroz archetype isn't meant to be doing. Being a Monster Reborn for Nekroz monsters seems enticing but you need to summon your Nekroz monsters properly to revive them, and you usually run at least one Nekroz Cycle, so it's often redundant. The field effect involves turning your monsters into worse versions of El Shaddoll Construct, which also isn't useful with the Nekroz strategy having plenty of spot removal not involving battle. It even has worse stats than Nekroz of Unicore, which only sours the taste further.

Nekroz of Catastor is generally not recommended for modern competitive Nekroz builds.

You can Ritual Summon this card with any "Nekroz" Ritual Spell. Must be Ritual Summoned, without using "Nekroz of Brionac". You can only use each of these effects of "Nekroz of Brionac" once per turn.

● You can discard this card; add 1 "Nekroz" monster from your Deck to your hand, except "Nekroz of Brionac".

● You can target up to 2 face-up monsters on the field that were Special Summoned from the Extra Deck; shuffle them into the Deck.

---

Hey, it's the Dueling Book guy!

Nekroz of Brionac is a staple of the Nekroz archetype, having amazing hand and field effects that grant it significant versatility. Searching for any member of the archetype is incredibly useful, as this also includes Nekroz of Clausolas, making it a pseudo-Spell searcher as well. This allows for Brionac to function well alongside cards like Diviner of the Herald, as it can technically revive itself using Nekroz Cycle, making for some neat one-card combos. Its field effect, while targeted removal, is astoundingly good for its time, making it a strong going second card as well. If used with cards like Fossil Warrior Skull Knight - a level 6 Kaleidoscope target - it can be even more devastating to unprepared boards. The oft-forgotten "no using Brionac for Brionac" restriction it shares with Nekroz of Catastor can be a bit awkward, make sure not to forget it.

Nekroz of Brionac should be run at 3 in most Nekroz builds, but extremely minimal engines may run 2.

You can Ritual Summon this card with any "Nekroz" Ritual Spell. Must be Ritual Summoned, without using any Level 7 monsters. You can only use each of these effects of "Nekroz of Gungnir" once per turn.

● (Quick Effect): You can discard this card, then target 1 "Nekroz" monster you control; it cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects this turn.

● (Quick Effect): You can discard 1 "Nekroz" card, then target 1 card on the field; destroy it.

---

Nekroz of Gungnir is a mixed bag, having a slightly awkward level and outdated effects. The first effect is the first of the Nekroz member's "hand trap" effects, protecting a Nekroz monster - usually Unicore - which can be useful depending on the format. Its spot removal effect has a cost that can sometimes be a bit steep, though, so it isn't usually summoned, especially given the awkward "without using any Level 7 monsters" part of its card text.

It used to be good, but these days it's run at 1 at most, sometimes in Side Decks, but normally just not at all.

You can Ritual Summon this card with any "Nekroz" Ritual Spell. Must be Ritual Summoned, without using any Level 8 monsters. You can only use each of these effects of "Nekroz of Valkyrus" once per turn.

● When an opponent's monster declares an attack: You can banish 1 "Nekroz" card from your GY and discard this card; negate the attack, then end the Battle Phase.

● During your Main Phase: You can Tribute up to 2 monsters from your hand and/or field, and if you do, draw the same number of cards you Tributed.

---

Nekroz of Valkyrus was a monster in its heyday, being the archetype's main way of beating over bigger monsters, as well as having a handy battle trap hand effect. With the game's evolution towards the Main Phase, though, it's found itself a bit out of pocket. However, in Impcantation-centric builds, it finds use on the field when tributing the excess Impcantations for field space, allowing for some useful deck-thinning, which can also trigger cards like Diviner of the Herald or Shurit, Strategist of the Nekroz. Even to this day, you'll see older players express fright at Valkyrus, it really demands that much respect!

Due to its specific nature, Valkyrus is usually seen at 1 in Impcantation or Pure Nekroz builds, otherwise not at all. Super heavy Nekroz engines in decks like Drytron may use it, though, but its time in the meta is definitely petering out at this point in the game's lifespan.

You can Ritual Summon this card with any "Nekroz" Ritual Spell. Must be Ritual Summoned, without using any Level 9 monsters. You can only use each of these effects of "Nekroz of Trishula" once per turn.

● When a card or effect is activated that targets a "Nekroz" monster(s) you control (Quick Effect): You can discard this card; negate the activation.

● When this card is Ritual Summoned, you can: Banish exactly 3 of your opponent's cards, 1 each from their hand, field, and GY. (The card in the hand is chosen at random.)

---

Nekroz of Trishula is among the stronger members of the archetype, normally being summoned through Nekroz Mirror involving Brionac and Clausolas in the graveyard, or with Shurit, Strategist of the Nekroz. When summoned, it can deal some serious damage with its triple banish, but it has two caveats: it can miss timing, and the triple banish has to have cards on the field, in the graveyard, and in the hand, so going first it tends to be a brick. The hand protection effect is similar to Sauravis, the Ancient and Ascended's effect, making it among the best cards for protecting Unicore available.

Trishula is normally run at 1 alongside Nekroz Mirror, but is very droppable depending on the format. Run by preference.

You can Ritual Summon this card with any "Nekroz" Ritual Spell Card. Must be Ritual Summoned without using any Level 10 monsters, and cannot be Special Summoned by other ways. You can only use each of these effects of "Nekroz of Decisive Armor" once per turn.

● 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.

---

Well, it's no Honest, and Honest isn't played nowadays. It used to be good for beating over 3000 Attack monsters, but with Areadbhair and all the removal Nekroz has access to these days, it's not worth it. The banishing of set cards will go off once a century and make your resident Guru Control player angry, but that's the best you'll see from its field effect.

Decisive Armor, like most Ally of Justice cards, shouldn't be run at all. Some heavier engines may employ it, but it usually isn't worth the space.

You can Ritual Summon this card with any "Nekroz" Ritual Spell. Must be Ritual Summoned, without using any Level 10 monsters. You can only use each of these effects of "Nekroz of Areadbhair" once per turn.

● You can discard this card; Tribute up to 2 "Nekroz" monsters from your hand and/or field, and if you do, send that many "Nekroz" cards from your Deck to the GY.

● When a monster effect is activated (Quick Effect): You can Tribute 1 monster from your hand or field; negate the activation, and if you do, banish that card.

---

A new face in the archetype that unfortunately didn't get a secret rare printing, Areadbhair is ok. The hand effect is quite a steep cost that unfortunately lacks any floating monsters to make good use of it, but it does technically allow for Spell searches involving the Ritual Spells. The real reason it's used is for the negation effect which, similar to Valkyrus, can be used with excess Impcantations or monsters that float when tributed in the hand. Being at 3300 Attack, it's also rendered Decisive Armor obsolete, decisively making it the better level 10 option. However, the amount of resources needed to summon and utilise Areadbhair effectively is often just too great to justify.

Areadbhair is generally run in Impcantation builds at 1, but sees little use elsewhere due to the resource sink it tends to be.

You can Ritual Summon this card with any "Nekroz" Ritual Spell Card. Must be Ritual Summoned from your hand by using 3 monsters you control with different Types, and cannot be Special Summoned by other ways. During either player's Main Phase 1: You can discard this card and 1 "Nekroz" Spell Card; your opponent cannot Special Summon monsters from the Extra Deck during this phase. When this card is Ritual Summoned: You can banish all other cards on the field and in the Graveyards. You cannot Normal Summon/Set or Special Summon other monsters the turn you activate this effect.

---

The payoff looks enticing, but Nekroz of Sophia has never seen competitive success due to its absurd summoning condition and bricky nature. Its hand effect can lock the opponent out of the Extra Deck, but Unicore alongside a few negates is typically enough to consistently keep the opponent out, and requiring the Ritual Spells you likely spent summoning your monsters in the first place worsens the issue. Its banish effect can not only miss timing, but also tends to forfeit any lead you have, ceding momentum to the opponent after use. It only gets worse when you realise it has a similar restriction to Chaos Emperor Dragon - Envoy of the End...

Unlike the other Nekroz Ritual monsters, Sophia cannot be summoned with Kaleidoscope or with Cycle or Mirror's revival or banishing effects. This is because it must specifically be summoned from your hand using monsters you control. This is the main reason its summoning condition is so difficult, as you can't use graveyard setup.

Sophia is usually played in gimmick builds aiming to get her out as soon as possible, but their lack of consistency and the dubious benefit of succeeding with her keeps them in the gimmick bracket. Run her at your own peril.

Nekroz Ritual Spells share the following traits, which should be accounted for when learning what your cards do;

• They require the exact level to be met when summoning the respective Nekroz monster.

• If you control no monsters, they can banish themselves and a Nekroz monster from the graveyard to search for the Ritual Spell.

• They have a Hard Once per Turn restriction.

This makes them slightly unwieldy to newcomers, as you can't simply "oversack" to get your big monsters out, you'll need to either have an equal level or do a bit of math. In modern Nekroz decks, you're often circumventing this by using the level 6 or lower monsters alongside Nekroz Kaleidoscope. However, digging into the more complex summoning is perfectly fine and good when learning the nuances.

Nekroz Kaleidoscope

This card can be used to Ritual Summon any number of "Nekroz" Ritual Monsters. Tribute 1 monster from your hand or field, or send 1 monster from your Extra Deck to the GY, also after that, Ritual Summon any number of "Nekroz" monsters whose total Levels exactly equal the Level of that monster. You can only use this effect of "Nekroz Kaleidoscope" once per turn. If you control no monsters: You can banish this card and 1 "Nekroz" monster from your GY; add 1 "Nekroz" Spell from your Deck to your hand.

---

Nekroz Kaleidoscope is incredible and allows the Nekroz archetype to not only swarm the field, but also use the floating effects of Extra Deck monsters, most notably Herald of the Arc Light. Oftentimes, this spell is used to summon Unicore using the aforementioned to get a search while setting up the floodgate on legs, bridging into various combos. Offensively, Fossil Warrior Skull Knight or El Shaddoll Apkallone and Nekroz of Brionac are common combinations, severely ripping into the opponent's resources. However, it doesn't only summon singular monsters: it can summon multiple, so teching out the Extra Deck with specific levels and floaters is recommended. For example, Wind Pegasus @Ignister is level 7, so Unicore + Clausolas can be summoned while setting up a safety measure for if a monster is removed. The recovery effect when no monsters are controlled is shared by each Ritual Spell, but it rarely comes up in modern Yu-Gi-Oh.

Kaleidoscope is usually run at 2 copies, but it is flexible depending on your deck build. Never leave home without it.

This card can be used to Ritual Summon any "Nekroz" Ritual Monster. Tribute monsters from your hand or field, then Ritual Summon 1 "Nekroz" Ritual Monster from your hand or GY whose Level exactly equals the total Levels of those monsters. You can only use this effect of "Nekroz Cycle" once per turn. If you control no monsters: You can banish this card and 1 "Nekroz" monster from your GY; add 1 "Nekroz" Spell from your Deck to your hand.

---

Nekroz Cycle is a neat revival Ritual Spell that's often used with Nekroz of Brionac once it's discarded itself for Clausolas, which then discards itself to search this. Alongside a level 6 monster like a Herald-pitched Diviner of the Heralds or Impcantation Talismandra, it's pretty easy to bring Brionac out. There are also a few niche plays involving using Unicore to get back a used Nekroz monster and then using Cycle to revive it during a grind game, but these don't often come up in modern day.

Nekroz Cycle is usually run at 1 or 2 copies.

This card can be used to Ritual Summon any "Nekroz" Ritual Monster. Tribute monsters from your hand or field, and/or banish "Nekroz" monsters from your GY, then Ritual Summon 1 "Nekroz" Ritual Monster from your hand whose Level exactly equals the total Levels of those monsters. You can only use this effect of "Nekroz Mirror" once per turn. If you control no monsters: You can banish this card and 1 "Nekroz" monster from your GY; add 1 "Nekroz" Spell from your Deck to your hand.

---

Nekroz Mirror banishes from the graveyard to summon your Nekroz monsters, which is usually used late-game. Most of the time, this involves using a pitched Brionac and Clausolas to bring out Trishula, then (hopefully) swinging for the win. However, these days, it almost only sees use for this play, as banished Nekroz monsters normally aren't coming back. It's normally a brick in any other instance.

Nekroz Mirror is run at 1 primarily for Trishula, otherwise it isn't run at all.

If you Ritual Summon exactly 1 "Nekroz" Ritual Monster with a card effect that requires use of monsters, this card can be used as the entire requirement. If this card is Tributed by a card effect: You can add 1 Warrior "Nekroz" Ritual Monster from your Deck to your hand. You can only use this effect of "Shurit, Strategist of the Nekroz" once per turn.

---

Once banned, Shurit is by far the strongest of the Nekroz effect monsters. It can act as the entire requirement for any Nekroz Ritual Summon, which makes it far easier to summon the higher-levelled Nekroz Ritual monsters that disallow the use of monsters of their level. Furthermore, once used, it can search for additional Warrior Nekroz Ritual monsters, most commonly Trishula or Brionac. Because Shurit functions when tributed by a card effect, it's a valid target for Valkyrus or Areadbhair's odd tributing effects. When it was banned, people would go to the extent of using Gishki Vision or Shadow to supplement its absence, it was just that important!

Shurit can be run at 0-3, it varies heavily on the build you're going for and how much it's actually needed. In pure builds, it's indispensible; in Dogmatika builds, it's completely unnecessary. The heavier your engine, the more you'll want it.

Dance Princess of the Nekroz

Your opponent cannot activate cards or effects in response to the activation of a "Nekroz" Ritual Spell Card. "Nekroz" Ritual Monsters you control cannot be targeted by an opponent's card effects. If this card is Tributed by a card effect: You can target 1 of your banished "Necroz" monsters, except "Dance Princess of the Nekroz"; add it to your hand. You can only use this effect of "Dance Princess of the Nekroz" once per turn.

---

She used to be good in formats where cards like Bottomless Trap Hole and targeted removal were relevant, but as the game has evolved she has become significantly less useful. She also has Nekroz misspelled in her card text exactly once, which makes her automatically terrible in my eyes. Given your Normal Summon should ideally be spent on something that can spark off a combo, Dance Princess tends to be an unnecessary resource sink that does more harm than good. Protection only goes so far when she ends up becoming a magnet herself.

Dance Princess should be run at 1, if at all.

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 "Great Sorcerer of the Nekroz". You can only use 1 "Great Sorcerer of the Nekroz" effect per turn, and only once that turn.

---

It used to be ok in super early Nekroz builds, but it was quickly powercrept for its somewhat paradoxical nature: it's Unicore's level, but searches essentially only Unicore in practice when tributed. Valkyrus and Sophia are valid targets as well, but not common ones. Its banish effect, like Areadbhair's effect, suffers from not really having anything to accumulate advantage off of, and since it only sends Nekroz monsters, it can't send the Spells like Areadbhair either.

Great Sorcerer is generally not recommended in competitive Nekroz builds.

Once per turn: You can reveal any number of "Nekroz" cards in your hand; increase or reduce this card's Level by the number of revealed cards until the end of this turn. If this card is Tributed by a card effect: You can add 1 "Nekroz" monster from your Deck to your hand, except a Ritual Monster. You can only use this effect of "Ariel, Priestess of the Nekroz" once per turn.

---

The level modulation is nice, but since Nekroz is typically used alongside other archetypes in modern Yu-Gi-Oh, this effect is quite inconsistent. Its tribute effect was almost good, but it excludes the good Ritual monsters that you want to search off of an effect like this, which just makes her flat-out bad.

Ariel is generally not recommended in competitive Nekroz builds.

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 that monster. You can only use 1 "Exa, Enforcer of the Nekroz" effect per turn, and only once that turn.

---

The sole Dragon-type Nekroz Ritual Monsters are Nekroz of Catastor and Decisive Armor, which are decidedly poor monsters already. It was workable in extremely early builds, but like Great Sorcerer, it quickly fell off. Its banish effect is the only way to recur banished Nekroz monsters, but it does little in the way of making it worth running.

Exa is generally not recommended in competitive Nekroz builds.