SPYRAL

Template:Infobox archetype

"SPYRAL" (ＳＰＹＲＡＬ (スパイラル) Supairaru) is one of two formerly TCG-only archetypes that premiered in The Dark Illusion, with the other being "Subterror". It includes the "SPYRAL GEAR" and "SPYRAL MISSION" sub-archetypes.

Design

Appearance

The "SPYRAL" cards seem to be based loosely on the James Bond spy series as well as potentially the Metal Gear video game series.

Etymology

"SPYRAL" is a play on the words "spy" and "spiral". The archetype's name may also be a reference to Spyral, a DC Comics espionage agency.

Members

Main Deck

Monster	Class	Origin
Monster	Class	James Bond	Metal Gear
SPYRAL GEAR - Drone	Gadget	Espionage device	Cypher/Metal Gear MK. II
SPYRAL GEAR - Big Red		Various cars from James Bond series	Cardboard Box
SPYRAL GEAR - Fully Armed		N/A
SPYRAL GEAR - Utility Wire		Grappling hook
SPYRAL GEAR - Last Resort		Mech suit	Metal Gear REX
SPYRAL Resort	Location/Organization	MI6	FOXHOUND/Philanthropy
SPYRAL Master Plan	Supporting character	M	Courtney Collins
SPYRAL Quik-Fix	Supporting character	Q	Hal "Otacon" Emmerich
SPYRAL Sleeper	Agent	Alec Trevelyan/Sleeper agent	Revolver Ocelot/Liquid Snake
SPYRAL Super Agent		James Bond	Solid Snake/Naked Snake
SPYRAL Tough		Felix Leiter	Gray Fox/Raiden

Extra Deck

Monster	Class	Origin
Monster	Class	James Bond	Metal Gear
SPYRAL Double Helix	Agent	Double O Agent	The Twin Snakes

Support

Card	Class	Origin
Card	Class	James Bond	Metal Gear
Charming Resort Staff	Supporting character	Miss Moneypenny	Naomi Hunter
SPYGAL Misty	Supporting character	Bond girl	Meryl Silverburgh

Playing style

The "SPYRAL" archetype focuses upon quickly Summoning "SPYRAL Super Agent" and maintaining it on the field in order to derive advantages from the archetype's other cards. As such, "Super Agent" serves as the core of the archetype, with many of its other cards supporting it directly. "Super Agent" can be Special Summoned from the hand if the controller correctly declares the card type of the top card in the opponent's Deck, and if it is Special Summoned via the effect of a "SPYRAL" card, allows the controller to destroy a Spell/Trap Card the opponent controls. "SPYRAL Tough" is treated as "Super Agent" while on the field or in the Graveyard, allowing the controller to make plays even without "Super Agent". While "Tough" cannot be Special Summoned from the hand like "Super Agent" can, his effect can destroy any card on the field. While "SPYRAL Sleeper" is not treated as "Super Agent", he does offset that with more ATK points and the ability to destroy two cards during either player's turn.

"SPYRAL Resort" searches any "SPYRAL" monster from the deck, giving the player quick access to "Super Agent". "Resort" also gives protection to "SPYRAL" monsters so that they cannot be targeted by the opponent's card effects, giving "Super Agent" longevity. Lastly, a monster must be returned to the deck every turn as a maintenance cost for "Resort", otherwise it is destroyed. The controller can use this to recycle "SPYRAL" monsters to be searched next turn or any other monster he/she chooses, such as hand traps (ex. "Maxx "C"", "Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit", etc.) and monsters Special Summoned from the Extra Deck for later use.

Due to the importance of "Super Agent" to the archetype as a whole, the "SPYRAL GEAR" sub-archetype is focused upon helping the player to support it. In particular, the first effect of "SPYRAL GEAR - Drone" allows the player to manipulate the order of the top 3 cards in the opponent's Deck upon its Normal or Special Summon, thus making it significantly easier to Special Summon "Super Agent" with its own Summoning condition. For its second effect, "Drone" can also Tribute itself to increase the ATK of "SPYRAL" monster by 500 for each card the opponent controls, potentially turning "Super Agent" into a strong beatstick to allow it to go toe-to-toe with stronger monsters. The second effect of "Drone" to place itself in the Graveyard also has good synergy with its third effect, allowing the controller to banish it and another "SPYRAL" card from the Graveyard to return "Super Agent" from the Graveyard to the hand. "SPYRAL GEAR - Last Resort" can equip to a "SPYRAL" monster to protect it from destruction and allow it to attack directing, simultaneously setting up cards in your Graveyard. "SPYRAL GEAR - Big Red" allows the controller to Special Summon a "SPYRAL" monster from the Graveyard and equips itself to the Summoned monster, preventing its destruction by battle, making especially beneficial for triggering the effect of "Super Agent" and helping it to survive on the field. "SPYRAL GEAR - Fully Armed" equips to your "Super Agent", turning it into an offensive threat that can permanently remove opposition. "SPYRAL GEAR - Utility Wire" returns a card to the top of your opponent's deck, assisting in the resolution of the effect of "Super Agent".

"SPYRAL Quik-Fix" enables the player to quickly amass "SPYRAL GEAR" cards, adding 1 from the Deck to the hand when it is Normal or Special Summoned. Further augmenting its searching capabilities, "Quik-Fix" can also Special Summon itself from the Graveyard if the controller discards a card while they control "Super Agent", providing an easy avenue to place "Drone" in the Graveyard to use its third effect. It is to be noted that "Quik-Fix" banishes itself if Special Summoned with its own effect, but this can be averted by overlaying it with "Drone" or another copy of itself to Xyz Summon a Rank 1 Xyz Monster, such as "Sylvan Princessprite", setting "Quik-Fix" up to be placed back into the Graveyard for its effect to be used again. "Quik-Fix" is also an eligible target for "Machine Duplication", which will provide the player with significant card advantage.

The "SPYRAL MISSION" sub-archetype is focused around rewarding you for completing your combos. "SPYRAL MISSION - Assault" allows the controller to draw a card whenever a card the opponent controls is destroyed by a "SPYRAL" card. "SPYRAL MISSION - Recapture" takes the opponents monsters when you Special Summon a "SPYRAL" monster. "SPYRAL MISSION - Rescue" can add a "SPYRAL" monster from your deck to your hand. "SPYRAL MISSION" cards also have effects in the Graveyard, with "Assault" summoning a SPYRAL monster from the hand, "Recapture" banishing itself to protect "Super Agent" from destruction, and "Rescue" Special Summoning a "SPYRAL" monster from your Graveyard during either player's turn. "SPYRAL Master Plan" searches "SPYRAL MISSION" cards and, if sent from the field to the Graveyard, searches "Resort" and any "SPYRAL" monster. This card can be discarded as cost for the Graveyard effect of "Quik-Fix", who can search a "Big Red" in order to Special Summon this card from the Graveyard.

"Charming Resort Staff" and "SPYGAL Misty" support the "SPYRAL" archetype, but are not "SPYRAL" cards. "Resort Staff" allows "Super Agent" to beat over larger monsters. Once destroyed, "Resort Staff" Special Summons "Super Agent" from the Deck and can be banished from the Graveyard to add a destroyed "Super Agent" to the hand, further ensuring his survival. "Misty" allows the player to draw a card and can return "Super Agent" and one monster the opponent controls to the hand, allowing for "Super Agent" to be Summoned again.

Weaknesses

Because the archetype is heavily dependent on Special Summoning "Super Agent", any cards that restrict the controller's access to it by preventing it from being used, such as "Psi-Blocker" or "Prohibition", will render a majority of the archetype's combos unusable. This is also the case if "Super Agent" is banished and the controller has no way to retrieve it from the Banished Zone.

As "Super Agent" is dependent on the player knowing the card type of the top card in the opponent's Deck to trigger its own Summoning condition, any cards that rearrange the order of cards in the opponent's Deck, such as Searchers, will significantly slow the archetype down. This is also exacerbated if the opponent changes their Deck order after the controller uses the first effect of "Drone", as said effect is designed to make it easier to both Special Summon "Super Agent" and predict the opponent's strategy on the basis of what card they will draw. This weakness can be alleviated through the use of "Convulsion of Nature", which will reveal the face of the Deck's top card while it is active, eliminating any guesswork on the controller's part.

Following the release of Circuit Break and the addition of "Double Helix", the archetype received a massive consistency boost alleviating its major weaknesses. However, "Droll & Lock Bird" can completely shut down the archetype for a turn as they need to be able to search continuously to get their plays off the ground. Alternatively, you can cut off their access to the ability of "Double Helix" through "Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring" or render them permanently unable to use it through "Ghost Reaper & Winter Cherries". They like to Special Summon a lot, so "Maxx "C"" is also a viable counter.