Guardian Control

Overview

Guardian Control makes use of Arsenal Summoner to search out various guardian monsters which have varying effects on the game. The immediate plus one in card advantage, plus the sizeable 1600 in both ATK and DEF on Arsenal Summoner (high for a flip monster) are what draws players to the deck.

While the Equipment + Guardian lineup of Dark Crisis (Ceal, Grarl, etc) were the intended set of targets by Konomi, most are lackluster in actual play. Instead, Summoner usually grabs Guardian Sphinx, Guardian Statue, or Guardian of the Throne Room, depending on the situation. 

Versions which do run the Dark Crisis guardians usually opt for Guardian Ceal and his bow. The repeatable removal can be strong, and any needed equipment can be searched out with Iron Blacksmith Kotetsu. However, these versions are fragile, too reliant on equipment easily disrupted by Book of Moon, and tend to brick in part because of the different guardian's summoning restrictions. 

Deck List

The three main guardians are all included as search targets, with a full set of three Arsenal Summoner to find them. Gravekeeper's Spy plays defense, acts as tribute fodder, or fills the field for big attacks as needed. Tsukuyomi recycles flip monsters for incremental gains in card advantage. 

The high number of flip monsters in the list makes Book of Moon a must. It also means the deck is weak to Nobleman of Crossout, which is why Desert Sunlight made the cut. 

Monsters

3x Arsenal Summoner
1x Breaker the Magical Warrior
3x Gravekeeper's Spy
2x Guardian Sphinx
1x Guardian Statue
2x Magician of Faith
2x Night Assailant
1x Sangan
2x Tsukuyomi
1x Guardian of the Throne Room

Spells

3x Book of Moon
1x Delinquent Duo
1x Graceful Charity
1x Heavy Storm
1x Mystical Space Typhoon
2x Nobleman of Crossout
1x Pot of Greed
1x Premature Burial
1x Snatch Steal

Traps

2x Desert Sunlight
1x Mirror Force
1x Ring of Destruction
3x Sakuretsu Armor
3x Solemn Judgment

Additional Card Options

If going the Dark Crisis guardian route, Iron Blacksmith Kotetsu will find the equipment of whichever guardian you are playing. Oftentimes Abyss Soldier is played, too, since it has such powerful synergy with Big Bang Shot. Sword of Deep-Seated is sometimes used in combination with Ceal (Or Chiron the Mage) for repeated removal every turn. It does replace the player's draw every time it's used, but drawing a removal spell every turn is not always a bad thing. 

• Abyss Soldier
• Chiron the Mage
• Gearfried the Iron Knight
• Guardian Angel Joan
• Guardian Baou + Wicked-Breaking Flamberge - Baou
• Guardian Ceal +Shooting Star Bow - Ceal
• Guardian Grarl + Gravity Axe - Grarl
• Guardian Kay'est + Rod of Silence - Kay'est
• Guardian Tryce + Twin Swords of Flashing Light
• Iron Blacksmith Kotetsu
• Maha Vailo
• Guardian of the Throne Room
• Big Bang Shot
• D.D. Designator
• Horn of the Unicorn
• Mage Power
• Sword of Deep-Seated
• United We Stand
• Mind Crush
• Spell Shield Type-8