Let's Talk About the Bystial/Byssted Archetype

 

Welcome back, today we will talk about the "Bystial" archetype that will be released as part of the Darkwing Blast expansion, due out in October.

Although the title of the expansion makes a clear reference to the "Darkwing" archetype, the most interesting cards are not the new supports for these winged beasts but the new "Bystial" cards that create an engine that can be used in many decks but which is was created right for the Branded Despia deck.

In the last post, I described a version of the Branded Despia deck suitable for the Master Duel videogame that I recommend you read as the deck's staple cards and main combos are listed.

With the release of the new Bystial supports, expect an update of this deck for the TCG version.

In terms of lore, the term Bysted represents the fusion of the word "Beast" with the word "Abyss" which seems to be the setting in which we find these new dragon-type cards that relate to Fallen of Albaz and Aluber.

Let's now pass to the analysis of these new cards and the synergies with the Branded archetype.

BYSTIAL MAGNAMHUT

The first effect of this monster tells us how to summon it. We can simply remove a Light or Dark monster from any graveyard to summon Magnamhut from the hand.

This effect can also be activated during the opponent's turn, which makes it very strong and can insert it into very interesting plays as the monster to be removed can be chosen from any graveyard and consequently can do harm to many decks that play mostly with the graveyard (will we be able to counter Tearlament?).

This ability to be summoned especially in this way is a characteristic of all Bystial monsters, so we will also find it in the subsequent cards that we are going to analyze.

The second effect is what makes it suitable for any deck based on dragons, that is: when Magnamhut is specially summoned, we can add ANY Dragon-type monster from the deck or from the graveyard to our hand.

Obviously, the first choice is to look for and add to our hand the other Bystials but theoretically, it is an excellent support also for decks that need to have a particular dragon in their hand like the Dark Armed Dragon.

As we will see as we continue reading this article, most Bystial monsters are Dark attribute, level 6 dragons with ATK 2500 and DEF 2000.

BYSTIAL SARONIR

It reminds me a lot of the Teostra and Lunastra dragons from Capcom's hunting game series: Monster Hunter.

Here too we have a dragon-type monster, Dark attribute, level 6, ATK 2500, DEF 2000 with the first effect being identical to Magnamhut.

The second effect, on the other hand, is very interesting, as when this card is sent to the graveyard we can send another Bystial monster or a Branded spell or trap card to the graveyard.

As a result, the combo that immediately comes to mind is: send Saronir to the graveyard via the Branded Fusion effect and then with the Saronir effect we send Branded Opening to the graveyard so that we can protect our fusion monsters.

BYSTIAL DRUISWURM

This is also a dragon, dark attribute, level 6, ATK 2500 and DEF 2000 and he too like Magnamhut and Soronir has the first effect that allows us to special summon it from our hand by removing a light or dark monster from any graveyard and during any turn, ours or the opponent's.

The second effect allows us to target a monster special summoned by the opponent and SEND it to the graveyard. Do not "destroy" it, not "remove" it but "send" it to the graveyard. in this way, we can be able to get rid of those monsters that cannot be destroyed by the effects of the opponent's cards.

THE BYSTIAL LUBELLION

Here is one of the most important monsters of the archetype. This monster can be summoned from the hand or from the graveyard by sacrificing one level 6 or higher dark dragon-type monster and immediately Magnamhut, Soronir and Druiswurm come to mind.

It also has a search effect that allows us to send it from hand to graveyard to add another Bystial monster from the deck to hand (and let's not forget that Bystial Lubellion can be summoned from the graveyard thanks to its first effect).

With its third effect, we can put a "Branded" spell or trap card on the field face-up, and in addition to many other cards, the main objective is certainly another card on this list: Branded Regained.

THE BYSTIAL ALBA LOS

It's time for the boss monster of the archetype. Alba Los can only be summoned from the hand or graveyard by sacrificing 2 Bystial monsters. In addition to very high attack and defense values (3500 both), this monster has the incredible effect of negating the effects of all the Link, Fusion, XYZ, Synchro and Ritual monsters that are face up on the ground.

THIS MONSTER IS AN OMNI-NEGATE FOR ALL EXTRA DECK CARDS AND RITUAL MONSTERS.

If due to an opponent's card this monster leaves the field we can banish all the cards present in both extra decks face-up until the end phase of the opponent's next turn.

This effect has a double value:

- allows you to see the cards in the opponent's extra deck;
- the opponent will not be able to summon anything from the extra deck for his entire turn;

Broken.

BLAZING CARTESIA, THE VIRTOUS

If Fallen of Albaz is in the graveyard or on the field, we can special summon this card from the hand, and then we can do a fusion summon using monsters from the hand or field. In a nutshell, it replaces Polymerization, and also it is very simple to have a Fallen of Albaz in the cemetery thanks to many cards including Branded Fusion above all.

BRANDED REGAINED

Now let's talk about The Bystial Lubellion's favorite target for its search effect.

This continuous spell card has 2 effects. The first effect is activated when a light or dark monster is banished (and this also applies to the opponent's monsters). When this happens we can choose one of those monsters and put it on the bottom of our deck and then we can draw one card.

The second effect allows us to summon a Bystial monster from the graveyard when the opponent summons a monster via normal or special summon.

Beware that this second effect can be activated once per chain and not once per turn and this makes this card very strong.

If we have 2 Branded Regained on the field face up, we will have the possibility to Special Summon 2 Bystial in the same turn but not in the same chain.

BRANDED BEAST

Once per turn, if we control a Bystial monster, we can sacrifice a dragon-type monster, target a card on the opponent's field and destroy it.

The second effect allows us to retrieve our “Branded” spell or trap cards from the graveyard and place them face up on the field.

The last one isn’t the best card of the archetype and I don’t know if I will put it into a “Branded Bystial” deck, but never say never.

Conclusions

I think that Bystial is an awesome archetype that will be very fun to play. It seems very versatile and could tackle the meta decks. 

Probably I will make a new decklist for the TCG format about this archetype and the one related to it: Branded.

Not sure if Despia will still be used, but I love challenging decklist where I have to put various engines and find various synergies. 

See you next time!