One of the oldest Decks getting new support from Starstrike Blast are the Gravekeepers. There’s just 1 new Gravekeeper monster in Starstrike, but it’s a powerful pick. Gravekeeper’s Recruiter makes the Gravekeeper Deck stronger than it’s ever been before, by making it faster, more consistent, and by makes its older cards easier to play.

Since Recruiter can search Gravekeeper’s Commandant from your Deck, it’s suddenly much easier to find and activate Necrovalley. You’ll get the Recruiter’s effect when you Tribute it, so Caius the Shadow Monarch, Gravekeeper’s Chief, and Gravekeeper’s Visionary are suddenly far easier to play. And since Recruiter fills your Graveyard while getting you another Gravekeeper, it’s easy to load up 2 Gravekeepers so you can get them back with the Spell Card Gravekeeper’s Stele. Zackery Thomas Charles Biscardi is one of many Duelists playing Gravekeepers here this weekend: here’s what his Deck looks like…

Monsters:

3 Gravekeeper’s Spy

3 Gravekeeper’s Commandant

2 Gravekeeper’s Recruiter

2 Gravekeeper’s Descendant

2 Gravekeeper’s Chief

2 Gravekeeper’s Assailant

1 A Cat of Ill Omen

1 Spirit Reaper

2 Effect Veiler

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Spells:

2 Pot of Duality

3 Necrovalley

3 Royal Tribute

3 Book of Moon

3 GK Stele

1 Allure of Darkness

1 Giant Trunade

1 Dark Hole

1 Monster Reborn

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Traps:

3 Royal Decree

1 Royal Oppression

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Extra Deck:

2 Chimeratech Fortress Dragon

1 Armory Arm

1 A.O.J Catastor

1 X-Saber Wayne

1 Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier

1 Goyo Guardian

1 Black Rose Dragon

1 Scrap Dragon

2 Stardust Dragon

1 Colossal Fighter

1 Red Dragon Archfiend

2 Mist Wurm

The Gravekeeper Deck is all about three things: Swarming the field with monsters thanks to Gravekeeper’s Spy and Gravekeeper’s Chief; Stopping powerful monster effects that use the Graveyard with Necrovalley; and controlling the Duel with Royal Decree. With Decree and Necrovalley keeping the opponent from using so many of their cards, a Gravekeeper Duelist is able to bat cleanup and make direct attacks with smaller monsters. They can also use unique combos and tricks only available to Gravekeeper Decks, like using Royal Tribute.

Royal Tribute is a Normal Spell that you can only activate when you control Necrovalley: it forces both Duelists to reveal their hands, and discard all of their monsters. Gravekeeper’s Commandant can be discarded to search Necrovalley from the Deck, and since Gravekeeper’s Recruiter can search Commandant, Biscardi can activate Royal Tribute reliably any time he draws it. The search power of Gravekeeper’s Recruiter helps him keep monsters to attack with despite Royal Tribute’s effect, and when he discards monsters, he can get them back two at a time with Gravekeeper’s Stele. Stele and Recruiter work to ensure that Biscardi can quickly rebuild, while his opponent is left helpless. It’s even the basis of one of his favorite plays. “I like to Summon or Set Spirit Reaper, then activate Royal Tribute.” Since Reaper can’t be destroyed in battle, it’s great defense, and if Biscardi’s opponent is left open for an attack, Reaper’s discard effect can rob his opponent of a Spell or Trap Card on top of the monsters discarded by Royal Tribute.

Another favorite play with Royal Tribute? “If they attack my Set Gravekeeper’s Spy, I can Special Summon another Level 4 Gravekeeper. Next turn I’ll Summon Effect Veiler, Synchro Summon Mist Wurm, and bounce my opponent’s monsters back to their hand.” Synchro Monsters like Mist Wurm and Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier can force Monster Cards back to the hand, where Royal Tribute can discard them.

One of the Deck’s most basic combos is also one of its most important. With Gravekeeper’s Spy to Special Summon Gravekeeper’s Recruiter, Biscardi can Tribute Recruiter for Gravekeeper’s Chief, then use the Chief’s effect to Special Summon back the Recruiter. The Recruiter’s ability lets him search his Deck for Commandant, and he can discard that for Necrovalley. This allows a Gravekeeper Duelist to get to Necrovalley basically for free, while filling the Graveyard with 2 Gravekeepers for Gravekeeper’s Stele.

Most of Biscardi’s matchups are pretty favorable. Royal Decree shuts down defensive cards like Bottomless Trap Hole and Solemn Warning, while also punishing important themed Traps like Gottoms‘ Emergency Call and Icarus Attack. Necrovalley stops a ton of powerful effects, including Blackwing – Vayu the Emblem of Honor; Debris Dragon; XX-Saber Faultroll; Scrap Chimera, and many more.

With Gravekeepers more powerful than ever, Duelists like Biscardi are setting the pace for a new era of Necrovalley mayhem! Since so many of the most popular Decks focus on the Graveyard, Gravekeepers are a great choice for today’s tournament.