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"Shaddoll" (シャドール Shadōru) is an archetype comprised primarily of DARK monsters that debuted in Duelist Alliance. Their focus is the Fusion Summon of the more powerful "El Shaddoll" monsters, which restrict or punish Special Summons. The Main Deck "Shaddoll" monsters all have Flip effects that focus on searching and field advantage, as well as secondary effects that focus on regaining advantage whenever they are sent to the Graveyard by a card effect.

Design[]

Appearance[]

The "Shaddoll" cards appear to be darker puppet versions of cards from other archetypes in the Duel Terminal world, with their threads coming from the back of "El Shaddoll Construct". Each card also takes reference from a form of ancient Jewish mysticism known as "Kabbalah".

Monsters released in later support are derived from other "Zefra"-related archetypes such as "Qli", "Infernoid" and "Ritual Beast".

"Shaddoll" card Original monster/card
El Shaddoll Anoyatyllis "El Shaddoll Construct" having stolen the powers of "Nekroz of Trishula" and fused with "Infernoid Devyaty"
El Shaddoll Apkallone "Evigishki Mind Augus"
El Shaddoll Construct/Shaddoll Construct "Gem-Knight Lapis"
El Shaddoll Grysta/Helshaddoll Hollow/Shaddoll Zefracore "Gem-Knight Crystal"/"Shaddoll Core"/"Cairngorgon, Antiluminescent Knight"/"Infernoid Devyaty"
El Shaddoll Shekhinaga "El Shaddoll Construct" and "Apoqliphort Towers"
El Shaddoll Wendigo "Ritual Beast Ulti-Pettlephin"
El Shaddoll Winda "Winda, Priestess of Gusto" and "Pulao, Wind of the Yang Zing"
Reeshaddoll Wendi "Ritual Beast Tamer Wen"
Naelshaddoll Ariel "Gishki Ariel"
Qadshaddoll Keios/Shaddoll Zefranaga "Evilswarm Kerykeion"
Shaddoll Beast "Naturia Beast"
Shaddoll Core Head of "Cairngorgon, Antiluminescent Knight"
Shaddoll Dragon "Suanni, Fire of the Yang Zing"
Shaddoll Falco "Gusto Falco"
Shaddoll Fusion "Gem-Knight Fusion"
Shaddoll Hedgehog "Neo Flamvell Hedgehog"
Shaddoll Hound Armor of "Satellarknight Sirius"
Shaddoll Squamata/Nehshaddoll Genius Armor of "Satellarknight Unukalhai", as well as "Qliphort Genius"

"Curse of the Shadow Prison" has "Satellerknight Unukalhai" with the staff from "Constellar Rasalhague", which is the card "Evilswarm Kerykeion" is based off of.

Etymology[]

"Shaddoll" is a portmanteau of the words "shadow" and "doll". "El Shaddoll" is a play on "El Shaddai", one of the Judaic names of God.

Story[]

In the abyss of this world, there is a certain something called the "Shaddoll Core" (The Primordial "Core" of Shadow-Possession) which gives birth to shadows that absorb light, the "Shaddoll". "El Shaddoll Construct" uses these shadow strings to control the manifested shadows, and with this to extend its influence and power...[1]

Playing style[]

For the "Shaddoll" Effect Monsters activating their Graveyard effects is the quickest way of gaining advantage, especially "Shaddoll Beast" who is usually the first to be sent off of "Shaddoll Fusion" or "Sinister Shadow Games"; with "Shaddoll Falco" soon to follow. And lastly, "Shaddoll Squamata" and "Shaddoll Hedgehog" are best for searching the other two or left be until they are Drawn as the 1st basically acts as any "Shaddoll" when sent and the second usually searches the other of the first two. A quick but important note on the effect of "Squamata" is it can be used to send even "Shaddoll" Spell and Trap cards, this is only important for "Shaddoll Core" who will recover another "Shaddoll" Spell or Trap from the Graveyard.

Previously "Shaddoll" Monsters were run with a LIGHT engine (notable cards in Recommended). Nowadays "Shaddolls" can be run as support with the "Railway" series with "Shekhinaga" (usually with "Kaiju"), "Prediction Princess" for Flip Effect support or the newer "Invoked" Fusion archetype

Although the main focus of this archetype is Fusion Summoning of "El Shaddoll Winda", "Shekhinaga" (with "Mathematician") and "Construct" (until it was banned; OCG lifted the ban on El Shaddoll Construct in October and more recently, in November 2019, the TCG also removed it from the ban list), the Level 4 "Shaddoll" monsters are the most disruptive on the Field, namely "Shaddoll Dragon", who bounces cards when flipped face-up and "Shaddoll Squamata", who destroys a monster. At this archetype's unrestricted phase it also had "Super Polymerization" and "Soul Charge" Spell Cards at 3 and ran "Arcanite Magician" ("Winda" + "Falco") and "Leo, the Keeper of the Sacred Tree" ("Construct" + "Falco") as the Lion was hard for some archetypes to get over.

All "Shaddoll" Main Deck monsters monsters can only use one of their effects per turn, and only once that turn, so players are advised discretion and to plan ahead. The Flip effect of "Shaddoll Falco" is ideally activated at the End Phase of the opposing turn by "Sinister Shadow Games" or for reuse by the effect of "Purushaddoll Aeon" to avoid negation. Lastly, "El Shaddoll Fusion" has some similar timings to the two Trap cards as well.

One can also take profit of their effects by using them as Fusion Material for the ace cards of the Deck: the "El Shaddoll" Fusion monsters. Since using "Shaddoll Fusion" or "El Shaddoll Fusion" involves sending "Shaddoll" monsters to the Graveyard by a card effect, their effects can be activated as soon as one attempts to Fusion Summon them, creating even more advantage. One can also use "Curse of the Shadow Prison" to not only weaken the opponent's monsters but also use their monsters as Fusion Materials.

The "Shaddoll" Link Monster, "Shaddoll Construct", is primarily intended to be Summoned to the Main Monster Zone via its revival effect. Its first effect can free up the Extra Monster Zone via using itself as Fusion Material, while its revival effect can trigger the effects of other "Shaddoll" monsters (though its Link Summon will not), and frees up to three zones for Extra Deck Summons.

The aforementioned "El Shaddoll" monsters rely on anti-supporting Special Summons, either by restricting them, negating them, destroying Special Summoned monsters in battle or destroying those ones who dare to activate their effects; also, some of them send 1 "Shaddoll" card from your hand to the Graveyard at their effect's resolution, which can trigger the effect of the sent monster. Finally, they can recycle the "Shaddoll" Spell/Trap cards as long as they are sent to the Graveyard, so even if they are destroyed during or after their Summoning they can still re-add cards like "Shaddoll Fusion" to set up a Fusion Summon the next turn.

The "El Shaddoll" monsters follow a pattern of requiring "1 "Shaddoll" monster + 1 [corresponding Attribute] monster" as Fusion Materials, and their effects become more aggressive as their Levels increase:

"El Shaddoll" Attribute Level Special Summon-related effect
Winda DARK 5 Allows only 1 Special Summon per turn.
Wendigo WIND 6 Prevents one of your monsters from being destroyed by battle with an opponent's Special Summoned monster for only one turn.
Grysta FIRE 7 Negates a Special Summon and destroys the monster.
Construct LIGHT 8 Destroys a Special Summoned monster at the start of the Damage Step.
Anoyatyllis WATER 9 Prevents monsters from being Special Summoned from the hand or Graveyard by the effect of Spell/Trap Cards.
Shekhinaga EARTH 10 Negates the activation of a Special Summoned monster's effect and destroys that monster.

Due to the requirements for the Fusion Summons, cards like "Shaddoll Core" and "Nephe Shaddoll Fusion", can be used to either substitute any Attribute or to turn a "Shaddoll" monster into one declared Attribute. One can also use cards like "Curse of the Shadow Prison" in order to use opposing monsters to Fusion Summon them.

Recommended cards[]


Lightsworn[]

A powerful "Shaddoll" variant that uses "Reinforcement of the Army" to recruit "Raiden, Hand of the Lightsworn" monster to mill a few "Shaddoll" cards or "Elemental HERO Blazeman" to search for "Polymerization".


Weaknesses[]

Since the Deck basically relies on sending the "Shaddoll" monsters to the Graveyard in order to trigger their effects, or flipping them face-up, cards like "Soul Drain", "Royal Command", "Abyss Dweller", "Armades, Keeper of Boundaries", "Majesty's Fiend", "Archfiend Black Skull Dragon", "Gem-Knight Citrine" , and can be simple and effective.

Additionally, one can also use cards that banish or return the Fusion Monsters to the Extra Deck to avoid the retriever effect. Due to cards like "El Shaddoll Winda", cards that can do this without the need to special summon, such as "Compulsory Evacuation Device", "Phoenix Wing Wind Blast," and "Karma Cut," are recommended. The variety of Types and Attributes also makes the Fusion Monsters vulnerable to floodgate cards like "Rivalry of Warlords" and "Gozen Match". "Skill Drain" is also a viable solution as it counters the anti-Special Summoning effects of the "Shaddoll" Fusion Monsters. This makes certain Decks that can use "Skill Drain" able to effectively bypass the "Shaddoll" Deck's threats. Examples of such Decks include "Qli", "Malefic", "Dark World", "Scrap", "Archfiend", "Yang Zing" and "Zombie".

As the archetype is primarily comprised of DARK Attribute monsters, "Shadow-Imprisoning Mirror" and "Stellarknight Constellar Diamond" can stop them from activating their Flip and Graveyard effects.

Cards that banish such as "Macro Cosmos" or "Masked HERO Dark Law" will prevent "Shaddoll" monsters from being sent to the Graveyard to activate their effects.

References[]

  1. YGOrganization - [Lore] Shadoll and Ryuusei


Six Attributes
DARK DARK EARTH EARTH FIRE FIRE LIGHT LIGHT WATER WATER WIND WIND
/Assault Modes Red Dragon Archfiend / Colossal Fighter Hyper Psychic Blaster / T.G. Halberd Cannon Doomkaiser Dragon Arcanite Magician n/a Stardust Dragon
@Ignisters
Base forms
Evolved forms
Doyon
Dark Templar
Doshin
Earth Golem
Achichi
Fire Phoenix
Pikari
Light Dragon
Hiyari
Water Leviathan
Bururu
Wind Pegasus
Alchemy Beasts
Summoners
(Normal Spell Cards)
Moonface the Silver
Silver Key
Leon the Lead
Lead Compass
Salamandra the Steel
Steel Lamp
Ouroboros the Bronze
Bronze Scale
Ekenas the Mercury
Mercury Hourglass
Aretos the Tin
Tin Spell Circle
Aliens Overlord / Mother / Psychic Shocktrooper / Infiltrator / Warrior Mars / Telepath Ammonite / Dog / Grey / Kid / Shocktrooper M-Frame Hunter / Hypno Skull
Altergeists Primebanshee / Multifaker / Kidolga / Fifinellag / Dragvirion / Memorygant / Pookuery Kunquery Hexstia Marionetter Meluseek / Fijialert Silquitous / Pixiel
Aromages Marjoram Cananga Bergamot Jasmine Rosemary Laurel
Attribute Boosters (500 ATK▲/400 DEF▼)
Link Monsters
(500 ATK▲/500 DEF▲)
Field Spells
(500 ATK▲/400 DEF▼)
Equip Spells
(400 ATK▲/200 DEF▼)
Witch's Apprentice
Wee Witch's Apprentice
Mystic Plasma Zone
Sword of Dark Destruction
Milus Radiant
Missus Radiant
Gaia Power
Invigoration
Little Chimera
Duelittle Chimera
Molten Destruction
Burning Spear
Hoshiningen
Hip Hoshiningen
Luminous Spark
Elf's Light
Star Boy
Mistar Boy
Umiiruka
Steel Shell
Bladefly
Greatfly
Rising Air Current
Gust Fan
Attribute Knights Armageddon Dust Brushfire Dawn Shore Altitude
Attribute Reptiles Umbral Soul Raging Earth Firestorm Prominence Radiant Spirit Silent Abyss Destruction Cyclone
Attribute Sorcerers
(4/1500/0/Spellcasters)
Dark n/a Fire Light Aqua n/a
Attribute Spirits Luna the Dark Spirit The Rock Spirit Spirit of Flames Diana the Light Spirit Aqua Spirit Garuda the Wind Spirit
Attribute Summoners Mystic Tomato Giant Rat UFO Turtle Shining Angel Mother Grizzly Flying Kamakiri #1
B.E.S. Big Core Covered Core / Blaster Cannon Core Big Core MK-2 Big Core MK-3 Crystal Core Tetran
Barrier Statues Abyss Drought Inferno Heavens Torrent Stormwinds
Beast Gear World Catapult Devilkong Motor Wolf / Trike Fox / King Convoy Ligeon Buggy Dog n/a n/a Gyro Jackal
Charmers
Familiar-Possessed
Cataclysmic Charmers
Spiritual Arts
Familiar
Possessed Familiars
Dharc
Dharc
n/a
Greed
Meda Bat
n/a
Aussa
Aussa
Avalanching Aussa
Kurogane
Marmot
Nefarious
Hiita
Hiita
Blazing Hiita
Kurenai
Fox Fire
Inari Fire
Lyna
Lyna
n/a
Hijiri
Happy Lover
n/a
Eria
Eria
Raging Eria
Aoi
Gigobyte
Jigabyte
Wynn
Wynn
Storming Wynn
Miyabi
Petit Dragon
Ranryu
Chrysalis
Neo-Spacians
Evolved forms
Contact Fusions
Evolved forms
Advanced Contact Fusions
Pantail
Dark Panther
n/a
Dark Neos
n/a
Chaos Neos
Mole
Grand Mole
n/a
Grand Neos
n/a
Nebula Neos
Larva
Flare Scarab
n/a
Flare Neos
n/a
Magma Neos
Pinny
Glow Moss
Twinkle Moss
Glow Neos
n/a
Cosmo Neos
Dolphin
Aqua Dolphin
Marine Dolphin
Aqua Neos
Marine Neos
n/a
Chicky
Air Hummingbird
n/a
Air Neos
n/a
Storm Neos
Code Talkers
(Link-3)
Decode
(Extended)
Transcode Powercode Encode Shootingcode Excode
Color Ninjas
Dragon Ninjas
Strike
Black
Senior Silver
n/a
n/a
Red
White
White
n/a
Blue
Yellow
Yellow
Cubic Vijam / Crimson Nova (Trinity) Dark Garnex Blade Garoodia Duza / Buster Gundil / Indiora Doom Volt n/a Geira Guile
CXyz Dark Fairy Cheer Girl / Mechquipped Djinn Angeneral Comics Hero Legend Arthur / Battleship Cherry Blossom / Zubaba Saikyo General Coach Lord Ultimatrainer Simon the Great Moral Leader / Barian Hope N.As.Ch. Knight Skypalace Babylon
Dice Roll Archfiends Terrorking / Masterking Vilepawn Infernalqueen Desrook Darkbishop Shadowknight
Double Tributers
Effigies
Double Coston
Dark
The Trojan Horse
Earth
Flame Ruler
n/a
Kaiser Sea Horse
Light
Unshaven Angler
n/a
Whirlwind Prodigy
Wind
Dragonmaids
Human forms
Dragon forms
Chamber
n/a
Nurse
Ernus
Kitchen
Tinkhec
House
Sheou
Laundry
Nudyarl
Parlor
Lorpar
Dustons
(1/0/1000/Fiends)
Star Yellow Red House / White Blue Green
Elemental HERO
Fusion Monsters
(1 "HERO" + 1 matching Attribute)
Escuridao Gaia Nova Master The Shining Absolute Zero Great Tornado
Elemental Lords
Elementsabers
Umbramirage
Molehu
Grandsoil
Aina
Pyrorex
Malo
Phosphorage
Lapauila (Mana)
Moulinglacia
Nalu
Windrose
Makani
Empowered Warriors
Summoners
Dragonox
n/a
Terratiger
White Tiger
Arnis
Red Sparrow
Dragodies
Golden Dragon
Hydrortoise
Green Turtle
Ventdra
Blue Dragon
Endymion Master Magician / Mighty Master of Magic Magister Rogue Crusader / Reflection Magistus of Mastery Servant
Entities Azathot Nyarla Cthugua N'tss Norden Hastorr
Fortune Fairies
Fortune Ladies
Ann
Dark / Past
Chee
Earth
En
Fire
Hikari
Light / Every
Swee
Water
Hu
Wind
Fur Hire Seal / Folgo Beat / Dyna Bravo Rafale Helmer / Wiz Donpa / Recon / Sagitta
Generaiders Hela / Harr Dovelgus / Jormungandr Naglfar / Loptr Mardel / Utgarda Nidhogg Frodi
Gizmek Orochi Uka Kaku Yata Okami Mikoto
Guardians
Weapons
(Equip Spell Cards)
Baou / Dreadscythe
Wicked-Breaking Flamberge / Reaper Scythe
Grarl
Gravity Axe
Ceal
Shooting Star Bow
Tryce
Twin Swords of Flashing Light
Kay'est
Rod of Silence
Elma / Eatos
Buttefly Dagger / Celestial Sword
Invoked
(1 "Aleister the Invoker" + 1 matching Attribute)
Caliga Magellanica Purgatrio Mechaba Cocytus Raidjin
Kaiju Radian Kumongous Dogoran Jizukiru / Mecha-Dogoran / Thunder King / Mecha-Thunder-King Gameciel Gadarla
Knightmare Iblee / Unicorn / Orcust / Idlee Cerberus Phoenix Gryphon Mermaid Goblin
Legendary Planets Sun / Jupiter / Saturn / Pluto Terra Firma Mars Venus / Uranus Mercury / Neptune n/a
Masked HEROes Dark Law / Anki Dian Goka Koga Vapor / Acid Divine Wind / Blast
Magician Girls (Toon)
Dark
(Dragon Knight)
Berry Apple Lemon Chocolate Kiwi
Magikey Clavkiys / Batosbuster / Ansyalabolas Garesglasser Transfurlmine Mafteal Vepartu Andrabime
Magistus Grimoire Crowley Goddess Ninaruru Flame Zoroa / Dragon Vafram Verre Cendrillon / Maiden Artemis Master Endymion Saint Aiwass
Mirror Force Dark Quaking Blazing Radiant Drowning Storming
Monarchs
Mega Monarchs
Related "Monarch" Spell/Trap Cards
Vassals
Caius / Erebus
Caius the Mega
Tenacity / The First
Lucius / Eidos
Granmarg
Granmarg the Mega
Return
Landrobe / Samsara Kaiser
Thestalos
Thestalos the Mega
Erupt
Berlineth
Zaborg / Ehther
Zaborg the Mega
Strike / The Prime
Mithra / Edea
Mobius
Mobius the Mega
Awaken
Escher
Raiza
Raiza the Mega
Stormforth
Garum
Musical Djinns Maestroke Temtempo n/a Melomelody Humhumming Muzurhythm
Mythyrian Numbers Djinn Buster Lion Heart / Ronin Raccoon Sandayu n/a Sky Pegasus / Dragluon Abyss Splash / Crystalzero n/a
Nemeses Protos Keystone Flag Eschatos Umbrella Corridor
Number 10X
Number C10X
n/a
Umbral Horror Masquerade
Giant Hand
Giant Red Hand
Battlin' Boxer Star Cestus
Battlin' Boxer Comet Cestus
Star Seraph Sentry / Masquerade / Galaxy-Eyes Tachyon Dragon
Archfiend Seraph / Neo Galaxy-Eyes Tachyon Dragon
Silent Honor ARK / Ragnazero
Silent Honor DARK / Ragnafinity
n/a
n/a
Odd-Eyes Dragons Odd-Eyes / Pendulum / Rebellion (Overlord) / Persona / Phantom / Mirage / Performapal Metal Claw / Raging / Supreme King / Wing / Venom / Arc Pendulum / Advance / Wizard Gravity Meteorburst Saber / Lancer / Revolution / Pendulumgraph Absolute Vortex
Pendulum Magicians Stargazer / Timegazer / Xiangke / Timebreaker / Acrobatic / Dragoncaller / Harmonizing / Double Iris / Black Fang / Purple Poison / Performapal Celestial Dragonpulse Nobledragon Wisdom-Eye / Xiangsheng / Dharma-Eye / Performapal Five-Rainbow Dragonpit Oafdragon / White Wing
Prediction Princesses Astromorrigan / Tarotreith Coinorma / Petalelf / Bibliomuse n/a Tarotrei Crystaldine Arrowsylph
Resonators Dark / Synkron / Crimson / Vision Clock Flare / Red / Double / Net / Soul Barrier / Chain / Mirror Force Creation
Road Magic N/A Diastrophism Explosion Rays Alter Backflow Tempest
El Shaddoll
Fusion Monsters
(1 "Shaddoll" + 1 matching Attribute)
Winda Shekhinaga Grysta Construct Anoyatyllis Wendigo
Signer Dragons Red Archfiend / Black-Winged Life Stream Black Rose Ancient Fairy n/a Stardust
Six Samurai
Legendary Six Samurai
Secret Six Samurai
Irou
Shi En
Doji
Yariza
Kizan
Kizaru
Kamon
Mizuho
Genba
Zanji
Enishi
Rihan
Yaichi
Shinai
Hatsume
Nisashi
Kageki
Fuma
Sky Striker Ace Raye / Zeke Kaina Kagari Roze Shizuku Hayate
Sushi Angels Spider Roll Monkey Roll n/a Garibel / Agaribel Tiger Roll Dragon Roll
Synchro Warriors
Tuner Synchrons
Junk / Satellite
Junk / Satellite
Drill
Drill
Nitro / Jet
Nitro / Jet
Road
Road
n/a
Steam
Turbo
Turbo
Tenyi Spirits Vishuda Adhara Mapura Ashuna / Sahasrara Sthana Nahata
The Weathers
Canvas
(Continuous Spell/Trap Cards)
Aurora / Moonbow
Auroral
Snow
Snowy
Sun
Sunny
Thunder / Rainbow
Thundery / Rainbowed
Rain
Rainy
Cloud
Cloudy
Timelords Vorpgate Kamion / Hailon Metaion / Lazion / Michion Sephylon / Sandaion Zaphion / Gabrion Sadion / Raphion
True Draco and True King All Calamities Lithosazim / Dreiath III Agnimazud / Ignis Heat Master Peace (King) / Metaltron XII Bahrstos / Dinomight Knight Majesty Maiden / Mariamne
Witchcrafters Haine Potterie Schmitta Edel / Madame Verre / Golem Aruru Pittore Genni
World Chalice World Legacy Beckoned / Ningirsu Chosen / Auram Lee Crowned / Ib (Priestess/Justiciar) Guardragon / Imduk / Almarduke
Yang Zing Taotie / Jiaotu / Yazi Bi'an / Zefraxi / Zefraniu Suanni Chiwen / Baxia / Chaofeng / Denglong Bixi Pulao
Yo-kai Girls Ghost Reaper & Winter Cherries Ghost Belle & Haunted Mansion Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit Ghost Sister & Spooky Dogwood Ghost Mourner & Moonlit Chill
ZW - Chimera Clad / Dragonic Halberd Ultimate Shield Phoenix Bow / Asura Strike Unicorn Spear / Lightning Blade / Leo Arms / Sleipnir Mail / Fenrir Sword / Pegasus Twin Saber / Sylphid Wing n/a Tornado Bringer / Eagle Claw
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