In Yu-Gi-Oh lore, there’s a location known as DT where a number of different archetypes exist...in constant war with one another. At the center of that world is the Shaddoll Core, which can corrupt the minds of monsters belonging to other tribes on DT. Thus, the Shaddolls are an archetype of Dark Spellcasters that were all once part of other tribes.
The deck itself is centered around two often unseen mechanics. First, the main deck monsters and their use of flip summons, granting effects when face down monsters are flipped face up...OR if they’re sent to the graveyard by a card effect. Second, they specialize in fusion summoning the El Shaddoll, fusion monsters which all possess effects to limit the opponent, suppressing their ability to special summon—and defeating most special summoned monsters with ease.
10 REESHADDOLL WENDI
A level 3 Wind Psychic, this Shaddoll has a flip effect to special summon a Shaddoll monster from the deck in face-up or face-down Defense Position. But if sent to the graveyard by a card effect, they can also special summon a monster in face down defense from the deck.
Essentially, no matter what happens it’s flooding the board with plenty of monsters, because there aren’t many ways to get it off the board that don’t involve either attacking or destroying it.
9 SHADDOLL HEDGEHOG
One of the basic monsters to the deck, Shaddoll Hedgehog adds a Shaddoll spell or trap card from the deck to hand if it’s flipped face up. If it’s sent to the graveyard by a card effect, the player can instead add a Shaddoll monster from their deck to their hand other than Shaddoll Hedgehog.
Like every other Shaddoll card, they can only use one of these effects per turn, and only once that turn. This card is useful in getting the initial fusion spell to hand, but afterwards it’s best usage is being sent to the graveyard.
8 SHADDOLL BEAST
The biggest drawback to this card is it’s a level 5 monster, but it does so much. If it’s flipped face up, the player draws two cards and discards one card from their hand.
That card could set off another Shaddoll since it would be sending them to the graveyard by a card effect. If it’s sent to the graveyard by a card effect, Beast allows it’s player to draw a card. Beast can also tribute off fusion monsters, which can aid the player during mirror matches.
7 SHADDOLL SQUAMATA
Another of Shaddolls big beaters, Squamata stands at 1800 ATK. It’s flip effect involves targeting a monster on the field and destroying it, which means it technically “wins” most battle scenarios because the monster that attacks it gets destroyed.
If the card is sent to the graveyard though, it’s even better: the player gets to send one Shaddoll card from their deck to the graveyard, instantly triggering that effect.
6 SHADDOLL DRAGON
When flipped face up, Shaddoll Dragon can target a card the opponent controls and return it to the hand. That’s solid enough, but if it’s sent to the graveyard by a card effect, the player can target a spell/trap card on the field and destroy it.
That’s probably the more useful effect, particularly considering these days back row isn’t what it once was. At the same time, Shaddoll Dragon is a beefy monster with 1900 ATK, meaning it can run over pretty much anything it wants that’s normal summoned from the deck.
5 SHADDOLL FALCO
Falco is one of the more frustrating cards to see used. If the card is flipped face up, it can revive a Shaddoll monster in the graveyard besides another version of itself. But if the card is sent to the graveyard via some card effect, it can simply special summon itself back to the field, in face-down defense.
All Shaddolls can only use one effect per turn and only once per turn, but that doesn’t make Falco any less frustrating. Imagine someone getting Falco to the field, as it’s either going to put itself back on the field or place another Shaddoll on the field.
4 RESH SHADDOLL INCARNATION
A new trap card introduce with the latest structure. The player can target a Shaddoll monster in their graveyard, special summon it in face-up or face-down defense position.
Then they can banish this card and a Shaddoll card from their graveyard to activate one of two effects. They can either change a face down monster they control to face up defense position, or a face up monster they control to face down. Effectively, this would allow a Shaddoll’s flip effect to activate at any point, making them much faster.
3 EL SHADDOLL FUSION
The key fusion spell in the deck. It’s a fusion spell that fusion summons a Fusion monster from the extra deck using monsters from the hand or their side of the field as fusion material. But the real trick to this deck is that it’s actually a quick play spell, meaning a fusion monster can be summoned during the opponent’s turn.
This means effectively the player can suddenly replace a Shaddoll monster on field during the opponent’s turn with an El Shaddoll monster, for disruption and activating that monster’s graveyard effect.
2 EL SHADDOLL WINDA
Winda is created through a Shaddoll monster and a Dark monster, which is easy enough since most of the Shaddoll monsters are DARK attribute. In any case, she can’t be destroyed by the opponent’s card effects, which is helpful. But what’s really useful about her is that each player can only special summon monsters once per turn while Winda is face up on the field.
If it’s sent to the graveyard, the player can target a Shaddoll spell/trap card in the graveyard and add it to their hand. Winda’s absolutely terrifying as she immediately demands a response, but most decks can’t get over her while only special summoning once, allowing Shaddolls to build a larger and larger board.
1 EL-SHADDOLL CONSTRUCT
Made up by fusing a Shaddoll monster with a LIGHT monster. If it’s special summoned, the player can send a Shaddoll card from the deck to the graveyard, instantly activating a Shaddoll effect. But even better? At the start of the damage step, if Construct battles a special summoned monster, that monster is automatically destroyed.
If the card is sent to the graveyard, like Shaddoll fusions in general, the player can target a Shadoll spell or trap in their graveyard and add it to their hand. Construct is the key boss to the deck, and was so oppressive she was banned for a time. But now that it’s back the deck is better than ever.