Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG: Altomagia - Review of the New Archetype!

Altomagia, the new Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG archetype, was recently announced by KONAMI OCG, and will come out in the Duelist Advance set. It includes monsters of different types and attributes and centers around Medius the Innocent, the protagonist of the lore behind this archetype.

We might not know much about the lore behind Altomagia, but we know this archetype is connected to "wizards" that use art as a sort of spiritual force. This makes them strong enough to face powerful mystical entities.

Besides its unique theme, the entire Altomagia archetype stands out for its striking, gorgeous visuals. In fact, its artistic style is quite different from what we're used to seeing in Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG.

Monsters

Level 4 DARK

Fairy / Effect

You can only use each of the [1] [2] effects of this card once per turn.

[1] If this card is Normal or Special Summoned: You can take 1 "Imprisoner Deity" monster from your Deck and either add it to your hand or Special Summon it.

[2] If this card is in the GY: You can shuffle 1 monster from your hand or face-up field into the Deck, and if you do, Special Summon this card, but banish it when it leaves the field.

Medius the Innocent is the protagonist of the Altomagia lore, and is quite important for this archetype because it is a starter. This makes it better than Fallen of Albaz (another protagonist, for instance, which was a garnet in its deck. Furthermore, while it is in the graveyard, it has an effect that lets you recycle it and follow-up with other cards.)

Level 7 LIGHT

Warrior / Effect

You can only use each of the [1] [3] effects of this card once per turn.

[1] If you control an "Altomagia" card: You can Special Summon this card from your hand, then you can draw 1 card.

[2] Your opponent cannot target Level 6 or lower "Altomagia" monsters you control with effects.

[3] During the Main Phase, if you control 3 or more different monster types (Quick Effect): You can negate the effects of all monsters your opponent controls, and if you do, half their ATK until the end of the turn.

Altomagia Fynmelt is a great end board card because of its continuous effect, which protects level 6 or lower Altomagia monsters from being targeted. Besides, of course, its Quick Effect, which negates all effects of the monsters under your opponent's control, and also halves their ATK. This effect works really well both when you need to interact on your opponent's turn, and when you need to set up OTKs on your own turn.

Level 5 LIGHT

Dragon / Effect

You can only use each of the [1] [3] effects of this card once per turn.

[1] If you control an "Altomagia" card: You can Special Summon this card from your hand, then you can Set 1 "Altomagia" Spell directly from your Deck.

[2] Once per turn, if this card would be destroyed by battle, it is not destroyed.

[3] You can target 1 Spell/Trap your opponent controls; Destroy it. This is a Quick Effect if you control 3 or more different monster Types.

Altomagia Graflea is an excellent extender because of its effect, which lets you special summon it if you control an Altomagia card, and also set one Altomagia spell directly from your deck. Furthermore, it can also be a very useful interaction because it destroys 1 spell/trap under your opponent's control.

Level 3 LIGHT

Spellcaster / Effect

You can only use each of the [1] [3] effects of this card once per turn.

[1] If you control an "Altomagia" card: You can Special Summon this card from your hand, then you can add 1 "Altomagia" card from your GY to your hand, except "Altomagia Litera".

[2] You take 0 battle damage from battles involving this card.

[3] During your opponent's Main Phase (Quick Effect): You can Special Summon 1 "Altomagia" monster from your hand, then return this card on the field to the hand.

Altomagia Litera is another extender that you can special summon if you control an Altomagia card, and, next, it lets you add an Altomagia card from the graveyard to your hand. Besides recycling a card when you summon it, you can use its Quick Effect during your opponent's main phase to special summon 1 Altomagia monster from your hand and then return it from the board to your hand. This way, you'll be able to keep recycling these resources again and again.

Level 1 EARTH

Illusion / Effect

You can only use each of the [2] [3] effects of this card once per turn.

[1] You cannot Special Summon monsters from the Extra Deck, except Fusion monsters.

[2] During the Main Phase (Quick Effect): You can Fusion Summon 1 "Altomagia" Fusion monster or 1 "Sword Imprisoner Deity Nevar" using materials from your hand and/or field, including this card on the field.

[3] If this card is sent from the hand or field to the GY: You can add 1 "Altomagia" Spell/Trap with a different name to the cards in your GY from your Deck to your hand.

Altomagia Imprisoner Deity is a core card for the Altomagia strategy, and stands out because it fusion summons an Altomagia or Sword Imprisoner Deity Nevar monster through its Quick Effect. Furthermore, when you use it as material to fusion summon something, it can add an Altomagia spell/trap from your deck to your hand, so it's a great way to create an advantage. It also has a continuous effect that restricts its controller to only summon fusion monsters from their extra deck.

Level 8 LIGHT

Fairy / Fusion / Effect

1 "Medius the Innocent" + 1 "Altomagia" monster

You can only use each of the [1] [2] [3] effects of this card once per turn.

[1] You can target 1 monster on the field; Change its Battle Position.

[2] When your opponent activates an effect on the field and you control 3 or more different monster Types (Quick Effect): You can negate that activation, and if you do, destroy it.

[3] If this Fusion Summoned card is destroyed: You can Special Summon 1 "Medius the Innocent" from your hand, Deck or banishment.

Altomagia Diaktross is this deck's boss monster, and its main effect negates an activation of an enemy card, as long as you control 3 or more different monster types. Furthermore, if it is destroyed, it can summon Medius the Innocent as follow-up.

Level 10 EARTH

Illusion / Fusion / Effect

3 "Altomagia" monsters

You can only Special Summon "Sword Imprisoner Deity Nevar" once per turn.

Must be Fusion Summoned or Special Summoned in Defense Position (from your Extra Deck) by Tributing 3 monsters you control with different Types.

[1] Cannot be destroyed by effects while a card is in the Field Zone.

[2] Once per turn, when you activate an "Altomagia" monster effect (Quick Effect): You can change that effect to "Destroy all cards your opponent controls".

Sword Imprisoner Deity Nevar is an excellent card both as interaction and as a game finisher because of its second effect, which changes the effect of another Altomagia monster to "Destroy all cards your opponent controls". This effect, with its protection against other destruction effects while you control a field spell, makes it quite strong.

Spells

Field Spell

[1] During your Main Phase, you can Normal Summon 1 "Medius the Innocent" in addition to your Normal Summon/Set (You can only gain this effect once per turn).

[2] You can discard 1 Spell/Trap, then declare 1 "Altomagia" monster name with a different name to the monsters you control; Add the declared monster from your Deck to your hand, also for the rest of the turn, you cannot declare that monster name to activate this card's effect, and you cannot Special Summon monsters except "Altomagia" and Extra Deck monsters.

Divine Arts Academy Altomagia is also essential for this strategy, as it lets you normal summon Medius the Innocent on top of your regular, normal summon for that turn. Furthermore, its field spell is a ROTA for Altomagia monsters, and can add them from your deck to your hand as long as you have a 1 spell/trap to discard.

Normal Spell

You can only use each of the [1] [2] effects of this card once per turn.

[1] Send 1 "Medius the Innocent" from your Deck to the GY; Look at the top card of your opponent's Deck, and if you do, place it on the top or bottom of their Deck.

[2] You can banish this card from the GY, then target 1 face-up monster you control, then declare 1 Type and Attribute; That monster becomes the declared Type and Attribute until the end of your opponent's turn.

Contemplations Araise lets you look at the top card in your opponent's deck and put it back on the top or at the bottom of their deck, as long as you send 1 Medius the Innocent from your deck to your graveyard. Furthermore, you can banish it from the graveyard to change the type and attribute of 1 monster you control.

Quick-Play Spell

You can only use each of the [1] [2] effects of this card once per turn.

[1] During the Main Phase: Fusion Summon 1 Fusion monster using materials from your hand and/or Deck, including an "Altomagia" monster, then if a card is in the Field Zone, that Summoned monster gains 500 ATK.

[2] During your Main Phase: You can banish this card from the GY, then target 3 "Altomagia" monsters with different names in your GY; Shuffle them into the Deck.

Altomagia Masterwork - Succession is an excellent fusion spell that lets you use materials from your hand and/or deck. It also stands out because it lets you summon fusion monsters on your opponent's turn. Furthermore, it is a follow-up card because you can banish it from the graveyard to recycle 3 Altomagia monsters.

Continuous Spell

You can only activate this card once per turn.

You can only use the [2] effect of this card once per turn.

[1] When this card's activation resolves: You can add 1 "Medius the Innocent" from your Deck to your hand.

[2] You can target 1 face-up monster you control; This turn, if you use that face-up monster as Fusion Material, you can treat it as an "Altomagia" monster.

[3] If a "Divine Arts Academy Altomagia" you control would be destroyed by effect, you can send this card from your field to the GY instead.

Altomagia Vandalism - Raid is a ROTA that adds, specifically, Medius the Innocent from your deck to your hand. Furthermore, it can protect the field spell of this archetype, Divine Arts Academy Altomagia, from being destroyed.

Normal Spell

You can only use each of the [1] [2] effects of this card once per turn.

[1] Take 1 "Divine Arts Academy Altomagia" from your Deck or GY and place it face-up in your Field Zone, or if you control "Divine Arts Academy Altomagia", you can add 1 "Altomagia" card from your Deck to your hand instead, except "Altomagia Banish - Alteration".

[2] When your "Altomagia" monster is targeted for an attack: You can banish this card from your GY; Negate that attack, then you can Special Summon 1 "Medius the Innocent" from your hand.

Altomagia Banish - Alteration can activate Divine Arts Academy Altomagia directly from your deck or graveyard. However, if you can activate it while Divine Arts Academy Altomagia is already in play, Altomagia Banish - Alteration becomes a ROTA for Altomagia cards, which makes this deck very consistent. Furthermore, you can banish it from the graveyard to negate an attack declared by your opponent, and also special summon a Medius the Innocent from your hand.

Traps

Normal Trap

You can only use 1 of the [1] [2] effects of this card once per turn.

[1] Special Summon 1 "Altomagia" monster or "Medius the Innocent" from your Deck, also this turn, if you activate an effect that includes Fusion Summoning a Fusion monster, that effect cannot be negated, also your opponent cannot activate cards or effects in response to that monster's Summon.

[2] You can banish this card from your GY, then target 1 "Altomagia" monster you control; Return it to the hand or Extra Deck, and if you do, destroy 1 card your opponent controls.

Altomagia Arts - Awakening is the only trap in this archetype so far, and its effect lets you special summon Medius the Innocent straight from your deck. It also protects fusion summon effects for the rest of the turn. Furthermore, you can banish it from the graveyard to return 1 Altomagia monster under your control to your hand and destroy 1 card under your opponent's control.

Altomagia should be a solid base for a consistent deck that can recycle many resources. It can also control the board through the effects of the Altomagia monsters in the main deck, and, most of all, its fusion monsters, which are quite powerful.

This deck negates effects, destroys cards, and spams monsters from the deck or graveyard. It will keep its monsters on the board for a long time and take advantage of its multiple interactions to create versatile answers throughout the duel.

I see a lot of competitive potential in Altomagia, and believe it will stand out in the meta as soon as it's out.

What did you think of Altomagia? Will you get it? Tell us in our comment section below.

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