First off, I'm not as good at this sort of thing as Waldo or Pyrofire, so help would be very greatly appreciated.
The reason for this Thread is simple: there's an ungodly amount of inexperianced people trying to build Dragon decks at the moment without the slightest idea what they're doing, so I thought it would be good to have a Thread where they can read up on Dragon Tactics before attempting to create a deck ^^

I'll begin by discussing the Monster Cards themselves, then move on to the Spells and Traps.
So, without farther ado, the Dragon discussion begins!

Monsters (sorted by Attack): Most Dragon Monsters, although powerful, tend to have high Tribute costs, making them difficult to summon. For this purpose, it's important to understand the support each Dragon will require. Here are the most commonly seen Dragons:

B. Skull Dragon
Attribute: DARK
Level: 9
Attack: 3200
Defense: 2500
Card Text:
'Summoned Skull' + 'Red-Eyes B. Dragon'

Attack-wise, this is the most powerful Dragon available in the English Yu-Gi-Oh! world at the moment. Use him in Red-Eyes decks with a King Of The Swamp to substitute for Skull, or use Summoner Of Illusions to get him out, and Book Of Moon or Interdimensional Matter Transfer to keep him on the field.

Blue-Eyes White Dragon
Attribute: LIGHT
Level: 8
Attack: 3000
Defense: 2500
Card Text:
This legendary dragon is a powerful engine of destruction. Virtually invincible, Very few have faced this awesome creature and lived to tell the tale.

My personal favorite Dragon, and definitely the most famous. Best used in combination with Paladin Of White Dragon to get him out fast.

Chaos Emperor Dragon - Envoy of the End
Attribute: DARK
Level: 8
Attack: 3000
Defense: 2500
Card Text:
This card can only be Special Summoned by removing 1 LIGHT and 1 DARK monster in your Graveyard from play. Pay 1000 of your Life Points to send all cards in both players' hands and on the field to the Graveyard. Inflict 300 points of damage to your opponent's Life Points for each card that is sent to the Graveyard by this effect.

Probably one of the most controversial Monsters of all time. Loved, hated, and feared in equal portions, this is definitely one of the most potent Dragon Monsters. Use it together with Blue-Eyes to do some serious damage! (please note that CED is banned in the advanced format)

Tyrant Dragon
Attribute: FIRE
Level: 8
Attack: 2900
Defense: 2500
Card Text:
When there is a monster on your opponent's side of the field after the first attack of your Battle Phase, this monster can attack once again during the same Battle Phase. In addition, negate the effect of a Trap Card that specifically designates this card as a target and destroy it. If this monster is Special Summoned from the Graveyard, you must offer 1 Dragon-Type monster on your side of the field as a Tribute.

Only 100 Atk less than Blue-Eyes and a great effect to boost, this is another of my favorite Dragons. Use Cost Down or Soul Exchange to help bring it to the field, or if you use Lord Of D., you can bring it out with Flute Of Summoning Dragon. Use Tyrant Dragon in a deck with plenty of other Dragon Types, so you can afford to bring him back from the Graveyard, or try a more original approach by using Soul Rlease to remove it from play, and Dimension Fusion to bring it back.

Red-Eyes Black Metal Dragon
Attribute: DARK
Level: 8
Attack: 2800
Defense: 2400
Card Text:
This card can only be Special Summoned from the Deck to the field by offering 'Red-Eyes B. Dragon' equipped with 'Metalmorph' as a Tribute. Your Deck is then shuffled.

While not strictly a Dragon (it is Machine after all), I thought I'd list it here since it's part of the Red-Eyes family. Difficult to use because it must be Summoned from your Deck. Possible for fun/casual play in a Red-Eyes deck, but I wouldn't advise it for competitive play.

Yamata Dragon
Attribute: FIRE
Level: 7
Attack: 2600
Defense: 3100
Card Text:
This card cannot be Special Summoned. This card returns to the owner's hand during the End Phase of the turn that this card is Normal Summoned, Flip Summoned or flipped face-up. When this card inflicts Battle Damage to your opponent's Life Points, draw cards from your Deck until you have 5 cards in your hand.

Not often seen because it's difficult to use, Yamata Dragon is still a very potent and deadly card, mainly because it can add much needed drawing power to the usually slow Dragon decks. If you want to use it you'll need Cost Down or Soul Exchange, because it can't be Summoned by Flute.

Red-Eyes B. Dragon
Attribute: DARK
Level: 7
Attack: 2400
Defense: 2000
Card Text:
A ferocious dragon with a deadly attack.

Another one of the famous Dragons. While relatively weak for a Dragon, new support cards added in Soul Of The Duelist make him far more playable. Red-Eyes B. Chick can bring him from your hand to the field in one turn, and of course the good old Lord Of D./Flute combo works, too. If you can, you could experiment adding Metalmorph and Black Metal Dragon to a Red-Eyes deck.

Rare Metal Dragon
Attribute: DARK
Level: 4
Attack: 2400
Defense:1200
Card Text:
This Card cannot be Normal Summoned or Set.

An extremely strong Dragon, and advisable in any Dragon deck that uses Lord Of D. There are different ways to summon this Dragon, the most popular being by Flute or by Familiar Knight. You could also dump it in the Graveyard to be revived later, do this with Spirit Ryu to make use of his effect too ^^

Kaiser Glider
Attribute: LIGHT
Level: 6
Attack: 2400
Defense: 2200
Card Text:
This card is not destroyed as a result of battle when this card battles with a monster with the same ATK. When this card is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, return 1 monster on the field to its owner's hand.

Only 1 Trib needed, a useful effect, and a free Jinzo take down, make this a fantastic Dragon Card. Even better, Cost Down'll let you bring it out for free.

Luster Dragon #2
Attribute: WIND
Level: 6
Attack: 2400
Defense: 1400
Card Text:
This dragon feeds on emerald. Enchanted by this monster even when attacked, few people live to tell of its beauty.

Although it lacks an Effect, this Dragon has a pretty high attack and only requires one Tribute. Use it if you don't have Kaiser Glider.

Fiend Skull Dragon
Attribute: WIND
Level: 5
Attack: 2000
Defense: 1200
Card Text:
"Cave Dragon" + "Lesser Fiend" This monster can only be Fusion Summoned by the above Fusion-Material Monsters. As long as this card remains face-up on the field, negate all Flip Effect Monsters' effects. In addition, negate the effects of a Trap Card that specifically designates this card as a target and destroy it.

Kind of like a Ha Des for Dragons, Fiend Skull Dragon is best used with Magical Scientist.

Kiryu
Attribute: DARK
Level: 5
Attack: 2000
Defense: 1500
Card Text:
Once per turn, during your Main Phase, if you control this monster on the field, you can equip it to your "Dark Blade" as an Equip Spell Card, OR change it back to a monster in face-up Attack Position. When equipped to a monster by this card's effect, that monster's ATK/DEF is increased by 900 points, and you can offer this card as a Tribute to allow the equipped monster to attack your opponent's Life Points directly this turn. (1 monster can only be equipped with 1 Union Monster at a time. If the monster that this card is equipped to is destroyed in battle, this card is destroyed instead.)

Played in Dragon decks that use Dark Blade, Kiryu is a powerful Union Monster that can get you a free shot at your opponent's LP with Dark Blade.

Luster Dragon
Attribute: WIND
Level: 4
Attack: 1900
Defense: 1600
Card Text:
A very beautiful dragon covered with sapphire. It does not like fights, but has incredibly high attack power.

Basically the Dragon Beatstick, they are versatile and can be used in just about any Dragon Deck. Try to run them in 2s and 3s if you can.

Paladin of White Dragon
Attribute: LIGHT
Level: 4
Attack: 1900
Defense: 1200
Card Text:
This monster can only be Ritual Summoned with the Ritual Spell Card, "White Dragon Ritual." You must also offer monsters whose total Level Stars equal 4 or more as a Tribute from the field or your hand. When this monster attacks a face-down Defense Position monster, destroy the face-down monster immediately with this card's effect without flipping it face-up or damage calculation. You can Special Summon 1 "Blue-Eyes White Dragon" from your hand or your Deck by offering this card as a Tribute during your Main Phase. (Blue-Eyes White Dragon cannot attack during that turn.)

While still a strong card in its own right, Paladin is usually used for bringing out Blue-Eyes. It adds great speed and deck thinning to Blue-Eyes decks, especially when used with Manju Of The Ten Thousand hands to bring it out faster. With Paladin in your deck, it is entirely possible to bring out 3 Blue-Eyes White Dragons in just 1 turn, which could prove deadly once the Ultimate Dragon is released in english.

Spear Dragon
Attribute: WIND
Level: 4
Attack: 1900
Defense: 0
Card Text:
If this card attacks with an ATK that is higher than the DEF of your opponent's Defense Position monster, inflict the difference as Battle Damage to your opponent's Life Points. When this card attacks, it is changed to Defense Position at the end of the Damage Step.

The second of the Dragon Beatsticks, this Dragon can pierce through opponent's defense and do some serious damage.

Twin-Headed Behemoth
Attribute: WIND
Level: 3
Attack: 1500
Defense: 1200
Card Text:
If this monster is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, this monster is Special Summoned with an ATK and DEF of 1000 during the End Phase of the turn. This effect can be used only once during the current Duel.

Thanks to its recursion Effect, this card can prove very useful as Tribute fodder. Say your opponent controls a 1900 Atk Monster on the field, and you have no defense, and a Kaiser Glider in your hand. Next turn you draw Behemoth. Normally, you wouldn't have a chance of getting Glider out, but thanks to Behemoth's recursion ability, you can play him face-down, let your opponent destroy him, he returns to the Field in the End Phase and is ready to be Tribbed for Kaiser Glider.

Different Dimension Dragon
Attribute: LIGHT
Level: 5
Attack: 1200
Defense: 1500
Card Text:
The effect of a Spell or Trap Card cannot destroy this card unless the Spell or Trap Card specifically designates a target. This card is not destroyed as a result of battle when this card battles with a monster with an ATK of 1900 or less.

Normally not a very good Monster because of its high Level, D.D. Dragon was given new life by the introduction of Masked Dragon in SOD. While still not overly effective in Dragon decks, except ones that use Equipment cards, D.D. Dragon can be used with Metamorphosis to get Fusions out, Fiend Skull Dragon for example.

Spirit Ryu
Attribute: WIND
Level: 4
Attack: 1000
Defense: 1000
Card Text:
Each time you discard 1 Dragon-Type monster from your hand to the Graveyard during your Battle Step, increase the ATK and DEF of this monster by 1000 points until the End Step of that turn.

Use this cards in decks with plenty of Dragons, and combine it with Super Rejuvenation to get drawing power as well. Example: Activate Super Rejuvenation, then use Ryu's effect to discard 2 Dragons from your hand. Ryu gets 3000 Atk for this turn, and you get to draw 2 Cards during the End Phase. Sweet deal, isn't it?

Pitch-Dark Dragon
Attribute: DARK
Level: 3
Attack: 900
Defense: 600
Card Text:
Once per turn, during your Main Phase, if you control this monster on the field, you can equip it to your "Dark Blade" as an Equip Spell Card, OR change it back to a monster in face-up Attack Position. When equipped to a monster by this card's effect, that monster's ATK/DEF is increased by 400 points, and when it attacks with an ATK that is higher than the DEF of a Defense Position monster, inflict the difference as Battle Damage to your opponent's Life Points. (1 monster can only be equipped with 1 Union Monster at a time. If the monster that this card is equipped to is destroyed in battle, this card is destroyed instead.)

Another Card Played in conjunction with Dark Blade, this Card basically turns DB into a more powerful version of Spear Dragon, without the annoying 'switch to Defense Mode' effect.

Troop Dragon
Attribute: WIND
Level: 2
Attack: 700
Defense: 800
Card Text:
When this card is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, take 1 "Troop Dragon" from your Deck and Special Summon it to the field in face-up Attack or Defense Position. The Deck is then shuffled.

To be perfectly honost, I don't really like this card much, because it's only capable of searching itself and has no really useful effect (like Giant Germ damaging your opponent's LP)
Useful as a Deck thinner if you don't have anything else.

New Dragons: You may or may not have heard of these Dragons from the new Booster set, Soul Of The Duelist.

SOD-EN006 Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV4
Fire/Dragon/4/1600/1000
As long as this card remains face-up on your side of the field, control of this card cannot switch. During the End Phase of a turn that this card destroyed a monster as a result of battle, send this card to the Graveyard to Special Summon 1 “Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV6” from your hand or Deck.


SOD-EN007 Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV6
Fire/Dragon/6/2300/1600
As long as this card remains face-up on your side of the field, no Spell Cards can affect this card. During the End Phase of a turn that this card destroyed a monster as a result of battle, send this card to the Graveyard to Special Summon 1 “Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV8” from your hand or Deck.


SOD-EN008 Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV8
Fire/Draqon/8/3000/1800
This card cannot be Normal Summoned or Set. This card cannot be Special Summoned except by the effect of “Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV6”. As long as this card remains face-up on your side of the field, you can negate the activation of any Spell Cards and destroy them.

The famous Horus family. Horus Lv. 6 is probably one of the best Dragons in the game, with a built-in Spell Protection.

SOD-EN013 Armed Dragon LV3
Wind/Dragon/3/1200/900
During your Standby Phase, send this face-up card to the Graveyard to Special Summon 1”Armed Dragon LV5” from your hand or Deck.

SOD-EN014 Armed Dragon LV5
Wind/Dragon/5/2400/1700
Send 1 Monster Card from your hand to the Graveyard to destroy 1 face-up monster on your opponent’s side of the field with an ATK equal to or less than the ATK of the sent monster. During the End Phase of a turn that this card destroyed a monster as a result of battle, send this card to the Graveyard to Special Summon 1 “Armed Dragon LV7” from your hand or Deck.

SOD-EN015 Armed Dragon LV7
Wind/Dragon/7/2800/1000
This card cannot be Normal Summoned or Set. This card cannot be Special Summoned except by the effect of “Armed Dragon LV5”. Send 1 Monster Card from your hand to the Graveyard to destroy all face-up monsters on your opponent’s side of the field with an ATK equal to or less than the ATK of the sent monster.

Again, very powerful Dragon cards that are seeing plenty of play at the moment.

SOD-EN017 Red-Eyes B. Chick
Dark/Dragon/1/800/500
Send this face-up card on your side of the field to Graveyard to Special Summon 1 “Red-Eyes B. Dragon” from your hand.

I don't think I need to explain this one. Use it in Red-Eyes decks to make the Black Dragon easier to get on the Field.

SOD-EN023 Element Dragon
Light/Dragon/4/1500/1200
This monster gets the following effect(s) while there is a monster(s) with the following Attribute(s) on the field:
• FIRE: Increase the ATK of this card by 500 points.
• WIND If this card destroyed your opponent’s monster as a result of battle, it can attack once again in a row.

This is a very useful card in most Dragon decks that run Luster Dragons, Spear Dragons and Tyrant Dragons, and is searchable by Masked Dragon.

SOD-EN026 Masked Dragon
Fire/Dragon/3/1400/1100
When this card is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard as a result of battle, you can Special Summon 1 Dragon-Type monster with an ATK of 1500 or less to your side of the field from your Deck. Then shuffle your deck.

The Dragon equivelent of Mystic Tomato, use this to add a bit of searchability and speed to Dragon Decks.


This was a basic introduction to the most commonly seen Dragon Monsters. I realise my comments on the SOD cards were a bit short, this is because I'm still experimenting with ways to use these cards. Besides, this is intended more as introduction to Dragon Monsters than anything else, and by now you should have an idea which Dragons you'd like to use :)
Up next: Dragon Support Monsters.

Although everyone likes horus dragons, fitting them into your deck just because they're dragons is a bad Idea. however, Armed dragons, are pretty decent in a dragon deck. I think that will be the new addition to my deck when i remake dragons.

Plus I was a fan of burst breath before Torrential was restricted to 1

Now I'd almost swear by them.

Actually, Horus Lv.6 can fit into just about any Dragon theme except Blue-Eyes or Red-Eyes, you could use it instead of Kaiser Glider. Personally, I don't like the Horus Dragons much, but then I'm a hardcore BEWD fan, after all :)

Dragon Supporters: These are Monster cards that can help or support your Dragon Deck. Most will find use in many Dragon Decks.

Lord of D.
Attribute: DARK
Level: 4
Attack: 1200
Defense: 1100
Card Text:
As long as this card remains face-up on the field, all Dragon-Type monsters cannot be targeted by Spell Cards, Trap Cards, or effects of monsters that designate a target.

The most commonly used (and abused) Dragon Supporter. Use Flute Of Summoning Dragon with this Monster to get 2 more Dragons on the field at no extra cost. However, contrary to popular belief, it is not needed in all Dragon decks. Here's a couple of ways to figure whether or not to use Lord Of D.:

Use him if....
- Your deck includes 6 or more Dragons. This means Flute is bound to come in handy.
- You're having trouble protecting your Dragons from Spells/Traps. In post-ban play, most Spells/Traps used specify a target, so Lord Of D. can give some added protection.

Don't use him if...
- The limit of the Dragons in your deck are 3 Blue-Eyes. You'd just be wasting spac by adding in Flutes where Paladin Of White Dragon is more effective.
- You have no searchability in your deck (i.e. Mystic Tomato) Lord Of D. is very slow, and is also a bad top deck card.

Familiar Knight
Attribute: DARK
Level: 4
Attack: 1200
Defense: 1400
Card Text:
When this card is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard as a result of battle, each player can Special Summon 1 Level 4 monster from their hand.

Best used when your deck includes Luster Dragons, Spear Dragons, and Rare Metal Dragons, this card can provide you with a definite field advantage, especially since RMD is the most powerful Lv. 4 attacker.

Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands
Attribute: LIGHT
Level: 4
Attack: 1400
Defense: 1000
Card Text:
When this card is Normal Summoned or Flip Summoned, you can select 1 Ritual Monster Card or 1 Ritual Spell Card from your Deck and add it to your hand.

Use this Monster to support Paladin Of White Dragon in a Blue-Eyes deck.

Mystic Tomato
Attribute: DARK
Level: 4
Attack: 1400
Defense: 1100
Card Text:
When this card is sent to the Graveyard as a result of battle, you may select 1 DARK monster with an ATK of 1500 or less from your Deck and Special Summon it to the field (no Tribute is required for monsters of Level 5 or more). The Deck is then shuffled.

Not so much a 'Dragon' supporter as a supporter of the supporters :p
This card can bring out Lord Of D., Familiar Knight, Red-Eyes B. Chick, Pitch Dark Dragon etc., giving some badly needed speed to Dragon decks.

Kaiser Seahorse
Attribute: LIGHT
Level: 4
Attackk: 1700
Defense: 1650
Card Text:
If you Tribute Summon a LIGHT monster, you can treat this one monster as two tribute monster for the tribute summon.

This card is capable of supporting Blue-Eyes White Dragon, however it should be noted that it is very slow, usually not a good topdeck card, and will require protection while on the field. Only use him if you have other high-level Light Tributes besides BEWD, i.e. Guardian Angel Joan.


Next I'll add some typical Dragon-based Spell and Trap cards, then I'll move on to discussing the different types of Dragon Decks, their strengths and weaknesses.

Arrrgh so many tactics ah so many:p

if your making a Blue Eyes or Red Eyes Deck you must never forget the supporting spells that came within the sets


Blue Eyes - Burst Stream of Destruction
Red Eyes - Inferno Fire Blast

hehe, did someone order Spells :p ;)

Spell And Trap Cards: These are Dragon based Spells and Traps that can give Dragons some powerful advantages, especially in a post-ban environment.

Spells:

Stamping Destruction
Card Text:
You can activate this card only when you have a face-up Dragon-Type monster on your side of the field. Destroy 1 Magic or Trap Card on the field to inflict 500 points of Direct Damage to the destroyed card's controller.

The Dragon equivalent of Mystical Space Typhoon, with the added advantage of doing damage to your opponent's Life Points.

A Wingbeat of Giant Dragon
Card Text:
Return 1 face-up Level 5 or higher Dragon-Type monster on your side of the field to the owner's hand and destroy all Magic and Trap Cards on the field.

Best used in Blue-Eyes decks that run 3 Blue-Eyes and 3 Paladins, this is basically a non-limited Heavy Storm for Dragons.

Super Rejuvenation
Card Text:
During the End Phase of the turn this card is activated, draw 1 card for each Dragon-Type monster discarded from your hand and/or offered as a Tribute during this turn.

Adds drawing power to Dragon decks. Combo with Spirit Ryu for some serious drawing power.

Dragon's Gunfire
Card Text:
You can activate this card only when you have a face-up Dragon-Type monster on your side of the field. Select and activate 1 of the following effects: ?Inflict 800 points of Direct Damage to your opponent's Life Points. ?Destroy 1 face-up monster with a DEF of 800 points or less.

Yet another effective card in Dragon-heavy decks, this card can also add a Burn Effect to Dragon Decks.

The Flute of Summoning Dragon
Card Text:
Playing this card when you have a Lord of D. card face-up on the field allows you to play up to two Dragon-Type cards from your hand as a Special Summon.

Use it with Lord Of D. to swarm the field with Dragons. Simple, yet effective.

Burst Stream of Destruction
Card Text:
You can only activate this card when there is a face-up "Blue-Eyes White Dragon" on your side of the field. Destroy all monsters on your opponent's side of the field. "Blue-Eyes White Dragon" cannot attack during the turn you activate this card.

Non-limited Raigeki for Blue-Eyes decks. 1 or 2 of these should be in every Blue-Eyes deck. Three's pushing it, though.

Inferno Fire Blast
Card Text:
Select 1 face-up “Red-Eyes B. Dragon” on your side of the field to activate this card. Inflict damage to your opponent’s Life Points equal to the original ATK of the selected “Red-Eyes B. Dragon”. “Red-Eyes B. Dragon” cannot attack during the turn you use this card.

The ultimate Burner card in Red-Eyes decks. 2400 Direct Damage is nothing to be sneezed at.

Traps:

The Dragon's Bead
Card Text:
Discard 1 card from your hand to negate the effect of a Trap Card that specifically designates 1 face-up Dragon-Type monster as a target and destroy it.

In a post-ban environment, this card could save your life. With increased play of things like Raigeki Break and Sakuretsu Armor, this card becomes very useful.

D. Tribe
Card Text:
All monsters on your side of the field are treated as Dragon-Types until the end of the turn this card is activated.

Wouldn't it be nice if Lord Of D. was a Dragon, so he could benefit from his own effect? Well, this card makes it so! (at least for 1 turn)
Best used if you run a lot of non-Dragons as well in your Dragon deck.

Dragon's Rage
Card Text:
As long as this card remains face-up on the field, when Dragon-Type monsters on your side of the field attack with an ATK that is higher than the DEF of your opponent's Defense Position monster, inflict the difference as Battle Damage to your opponent's Life Points.

Spear Dragon's effect for everyone! You should always try to include at least 1 of these in a Dragon deck.

Burst Breath
Card Text:
Offer 1 Dragon-Type monster on your side of the field as a Tribute to destroy all face-up monsters on the field whose DEF is equal to or lower than the ATK of the Tribute monster.

Activate this card. Tribute Blue-Eyes. Play Premature Burial. Watch your opponent weep. 'Nuff said XD


These are examples of the most commonly used Spells and Traps for Dragons.

Types Of Dragon Decks

Here are four basic Types of Dragon decks. Dragon decks on the whole tend to be Beatdown/Power decks, with some limited field control.

Type 1: The Pure Dragon Deck

Pure Dragon decks focus all their power on the Dragons themselves. While they will usually also include non-Dragons such as Lord Of D. or Familiar Knight, these are strictly for support purposes.
A Pure Dragon Deck should contain 3 Luster Dragons and 3 Spear Dragons, and possibly 2 Rare Metal Dragons. Element Dragon, Armed Dragon and Tyrant Dragon are also good choices.

Example Of A Pure Dragon Deck:

Dragon's Dawn Deck: 42 Cards

Special Monsters: 2

2x Armed Dragon Lv. 7

Tribute Monsters: 3

1x Tyrant Dragon
2x Armed Dragon Lv. 5

Monsters: 14

2x Armed Dragon Lv. 3
2x Luster Dragon
2x Spear Dragon
2x Rare Metal Dragon
2x Lord Of D.
2x Familiar Knight
2x Mystic Tomato

Spells: 16

1x Cost Down
2x The Flute Of Summoning Dragon
1x Pot Of Greed
1x Mage Power
1x Premature Burial
3x Stamping Destruction
1x A Wingbeat Of Giant Dragon
2x Dragon's Gunfire
2x The Graveyard in the Fourth Dimension
2x Level Up!

Traps: 7

1x Call Of The Haunted
1x Torrential Tribute
1x Ring Of Destruction
2x Dragon's Rage
2x Burst Breath

Type 2: The mixed Dragon Deck

This is a deck style that combines the most powerful Dragon Cards with powerful Monsters of other Types. A good example of these kind of decks are Kaiba Decks.
Again, 3 Lusters and 3 Spears are very useful in this kind of deck.

Example Of A Mixed Dragon Deck:

Tribute To Kaiba Deck:

Fusion Monsters:

2x XY-Dragon Cannon
2x XZ-Tank Cannon
2x XYZ-Dragon Cannon
2x YZ-Tank Dragon

Tribute Monsters:

2x Blue-Eyes White Dragon
1x Vampire Lord

Monsters:

2x Luster Dragon
2x Spear Dragon
1x Slate Warrior
3x Giant Germ
2x X-Head Cannon
2x Y-Dragon Head
2x Z-Metal Tank
1x Tribe-Infecting Virus

Spells:

1x Pot Of Greed
1x Premature Burial
2x Burst Stream Of Destruction
1x Inferno Tempest
1x Heavy Storm
2x Cost Down
1x Mystical Space Typhoon
1x Change Of Heart
1x Snatch Steal

Traps:

2x Negate Attack
2x Return From The D.D.
1x Call Of The Haunted
2x Interdimensional Matter Transporter
2x Cursed Seal Of The Forbidden Spell
2x Trap Jammer

Type 3: The Blue-Eyes Deck

Blue-Eyes White Dragon decks tend to revolve around getting Blue-Eyes out as fast as possible to do some serious damage. If you want an all-out Blue-Eyes deck, you should use 3 Blue-Eyes and no other Tributes.

Example Of A Blue-Eyes Deck:

Behind Blue-Eyes Deck: 40 Cards

Fusion Monsters: 8

2x XZ-Tank Cannon
2x XY-Dragon Cannon
2x YZ-Tank Dragon
2x XYZ-Dragon Cannon

Tribute Monsters: 6 (3 Ritual)

3x Blue-Eyes White Dragon
3x Paladin Of White Dragon

Monsters: 13

3x Manju Of The Ten-Thousand Hands
1x D.D. Warrior Lady
2x Freed, The Brave Wanderer
2x X-Head Cannon
2x Z-Metal Tank
2x Y-Dragon Head


Spells: 12

3x White Dragon Ritual
2x Burst Stream Of Destruction
2x Luminous Spark
2x Dimension Fusion
1x Pot Of Greed
1x Premature Burial
1x Heavy Storm

Traps: 10

1x Call Of The Haunted
1x Beckoning Light
2x Solar Ray
2x Waboku
2x Magic Drain
2x Dust Tornado

Type 3: The Red-Eyes Deck

Decks that focus on Red-Eyes Black Dragon. Use Red-Eyes Chick to get the Black Dragon out faster, and B. Skull Dragon can provide some powerful assistence as well.

Example Of A Red-Eyes Deck:

Fury Of The Black Dragon: 42 Cards

Fusion Cards: 3

2x B. Skull Dragon

Tribute Monsters: 5

3x Red-Eyes B. Dragon
2x Different Dimension Dragon

Monsters: 13

3x Red-Eyes B. Chick
2x King Of The Swamp
3x Masked Dragon
3x Luster Dragon
2x Spear Dragon

Spells: 14

2x Polymerization
3x Dark Factory of Mass Production
3x Inferno Fire Blast
3x Stamping Destruction
1x A Wingbeat Of Giant Dragon
1x Pot Of Greed
1x Premature Burial

Traps: 10

1x Call Of The Haunted
1x Final Attack Orders
1x Ring Of Destruction
1x Torrential Tribute
2x Dragon's Rage
2x Burst Breath
2x Spirit Barrier


These are some Basic Deck Types for Dragons. Advanced types include Armedmorphosis Decks and Horus Decks, which I'm not going to post yet since this is intended as an introduction to Dragon usage.

By now you should have a rough idea what type of deck you want to use, and what Monsters you want to include in it, so let's take a closer look at the strengths and weaknesses for each deck type:

Type 1: Pure Dragons

Strengths:
- relatively fast for Dragon decks
- swarming ability thanks to Lord Of D.
- Powerful Attackers
- Dragon support Spells and Traps easily used

Weaknesses:
- susceptible to Dragon-specific countermeasures, i.e. Dragon Capture Jar
- heavy reliance on supporting cards
- can often result in bad topdecks
- lack of recursion cards

Type 2: Mixed Dragons

Strengths:
- opens up more options, i.e. mix Dragons and Warriors to gain swarming and recursion abilities
- all the strengths of a pure Dragon deck, plus the strengths of the Types mixed in.

Weaknesses:
- having to cater for 2-3 different types of monsters can result in bad hand management

Type 3: Blue-Eyes

Strengths:
- insane attack power
- blinding speed for a Dragon deck

Weaknesses:
- occasional bad hands (hands full of Blue-Eyes)
- solely dependent on Blue-Eyes

Type 4: Red-Eyes

Strengths:
- strong Fusion
- extremely strong supporting cards
- possible use of Dark Factory Of Mass Production adds more recursion

Weaknesses:
- weak main monster (Red-Eyes)
- slightly slower than Blue-Eyes decks

With Dragons, it is very important to understand the strengths and weaknesses of your Deck Type, so that you can attempt to combat them. Experimentation is the key to success ;)

Well, I'm done for today, tomorrow I'll post some basic all-round card combos and strategies.

element dragon is sub par for the fact that the majority of the time you will need to have one of those types on the field to get the bonus. if all they have is one wind monster out and you kill it, you dont get a second attack. fire type has very few commonly played cards. troop dragons are great for those tribute heavy dragon decks. use masked dragon for troop dragons, twin headed behemoth, and dd dragon. unless its a blue eyes deck, tyrant dragon is more effective than blue eyes when brought of by the flute. targeting traps will see more play so protection is nice, especially from cylinder and ring with its high attack, not to mention it can possibly attack twice. powd is great without blue eyes, i use it in my light deck and love it. f/d monsters are a pain for dragons that take alot to get out, dont wanna hit a cyber or fiber jar, etc. horus decks i expect to be good, but not great. well see how they do.

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D.D. Dragon can be used with Metamorphosis to get Fusions out, Fiend Skull Dragon for example.

. Sweet deal, isn't it?

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I believe that I was the first to post that in the offical thread of dragons, except I use Dark Balter, spell + efect negating>Flip negating + no trap targeting. I also use Reaper on the Nightmare, any way it's nice to have my ideas included.

One card that seems to help with dragon decks would be a long forgotten card known as Ante. Since many dragon decks run 2-3 lv7-8 tributes, Ante can be quite helpful.

Of all deck types in Yugi the most difficult and frustrating deck type to make is a Dragon deck. The reason no one knows what dragons are supposed to do!

You look at Fiends you think pure Cruelty, Burn speaks for itself as well as Controll, Warriors have can be played in various strategies, but Dragons what are they good for?!

When it comes down to it Dragons are true beatdown monsters. If you want to run an entire deck of them you have to really understand how the game works and you will have to know your metagame.

There are so many combos with dragons that it is crazy, but what really works? Should you run the Lord of D. and Flute combo then you have to worry bout that wimpy lil guy, or do you try something new?

Here are a few key combos that have truly opened the door for running Dragons.

Masked Dragon, Element Dragon and all of the Lvl Dragons and thats it...wha?! You say no way let me show you.

Dragon users are often faced with one big problem not haveing enough dragons on the field and/or not having enough big dragons on the field. Masked Dragon now solves that problem not only is it a 1400 hitter that has all of the strengths of a Tomato but it has all of the strategy and when combined with Last will what you will get is a Element Dragon on the field with your Masked Dragon, but thats not enough you say. Well you have a choice of running either 3 luster Dragons (1900 atk) or 3 Spear Dragons whom all happen to be Wind monsters, but wait thats all gravy but where is the real power behind dragons, the effect monsters that add so much diversity to the game, they are the Lvl dragons. Each one has an effect that can cripple in one way or another.

This really just proves why we need a Dragon Tactics Thread so badly >.<
Think on this for a sec: In a pure Dragon deck (which is what I recommended Element Dragon for), you'll already have loads of Wind Monsters (3 Lusters and 3 Spears at least), also in a Tyrant Dragon deck there's your Fire Type.
Really, Element Dragon is only really hurt if the Fire Type isn't there, because then its attack resets, however, Waldo (god of card combos that he is) happened to post a neat little trick for this: Element Dragon + Scroll of Bewitchment
Declare Fire and Element Dragon gives itself a 500 point power boost.

Didn't know that, actually. It was pretty common knowledge even before SOD came out that Masked Dragon could be used for D.D. Dragon, but D.D. Dragon is still a weak card, so substituting it for a Fusion seemed the next logical step to me.