| abstract
| - A Skill Drain Deck uses the Trap Card "Skill Drain" (A.K.A. "SkD") to remove the negative effects from monsters like "Goblin Attack Force", "Chainsaw Insect", "Giant Orc", and "Indomitable Fighter Lei Lei" and use them for pure power purposes. Aside from the cards listed above, "Fusilier Dragon, the Dual-Mode Beast" is a much-played monster and "Beast King Barbaros" is a high valued monster with "Skill Drain". They can be Normal Summoned without Tributes being offered since it has a provision for it in its effect, which in turn, cuts their ATKs. However, "Skill Drain" would remove the ATK limit so you'd immediately have their original ATK. You can also include "Beast Machine King Barbaros Ür" for another huge monster. Monsters such as "Zombyra the Dark" which can be played without "Skill Drain" are perfect for "Skill Drain" decks for versatility. Cards like "Chainsaw Insect", "Big Shield Gardna", "Majestic Mech - Ohka", "Mist Archfiend", and cards with otherwise questionable advantages, suddenly become very playable with "Skill Drain" active. "Giant Kozaky" is perhaps the best to play with this deck, since it has 2500 ATK and 2400 DEF, and will not be destroyed by its effect. A "Vice Dragon" is also a great trump for this Deck, since he is Special Summoned and his ATK-cutting effect is negated, turning him into a 2000 ATK beatstick. "Armor Exe" can attack at the turn he was Summoned with "Skill Drain", but due to its maintenance (that is not negated by "Skill Drain") he shall only last one turn; so it's a nice addition, though is not as usable if "Skill Drain" is not available compared to other Level 4 Monsters of similar ATK. And of course, since "Skill Drain" will not negate effects that do not resolve on the field, "Solemn Judgment" and "Divine Wrath" are very worthy choices, and "Soul Drain" clears this up perfectly. "A Cat of Ill Omen" and "Mask of Darkness" may be necessary in order to draw "Skill Drain" or to recover it. Even if you already have a "Skill Drain" active, you can use either of the aforementioned monsters to obtain another, activate it, and give it up for "Magic Planter" to speed up the Deck. "Berserk Dragon" and "Ultimate Obedient Fiend" are also a great addition to this deck since they have an attack penalty and since this deck has many Level 8 Monsters that are easy to summon such as "Beast King Barbaros" (tribute for "Berserk Dragon") they're easy to summon. Other cards to negate with "Skill Drain" are "Yubel", "Yubel - Terror Incarnate", and "Yubel - The Ultimate Nightmare", since their first effects resolve on the field, and "Skill Drain" also takes care of "Yubel"'s effect of growing into its other forms. However, "The Ultimate Nightmare" cannot evolve further into another form, hindering its effectiveness. You may consider including "Final Attack Orders" in the deck as well, as it will nullify the effects of many of the cards you will use, such as "Goblin Elite Attack Force" and "Giant Orc". With the release of "Forbidden Chalice" in the Raging Battle set, "Skill Drain" decks have seen a significant increase in power as this card allows you to negate the effect of one monster and increase its ATK by 400. An ideal use for this card in a "Skill Drain" deck would be to activate it on either "Fusilier Dragon, the Dual-Mode Beast" or "Beast King Barbaros" if "Skill Drain" is not on the field, restoring their ATK back to its original amount and increasing it by a further 400 until the End Phase. "Skill Drain" decks work well with "Royal Oppression". Since many decks focus on Special Summoning quickly, "Royal Oppression" will shut down Special Summons while slowing the pace of the game to match the rate of Normal Summoning strong monsters. "Solemn Judgment"/"Dark Bribe" are very useful cards that not only force opponents to waste cards such as "Dust Tornado" and "Mystical Space Typhoon" but that protect "Skill Drain" as well. A great card to combo with "Skill Drain" is "Necrovalley". While "Skill Drain" negates the Monster Effects on the field, "Necrovalley" negates the effects involving the Graveyard. To prevent common monster effects that activate in the graveyard, such as "Mystic Tomato" and "Sangan", you may consider using or side decking "Shadow-Imprisoning Mirror" to prevent DARK monsters' effects and "Light-Imprisoning Mirror" to prevent LIGHT monsters' effects. You may use "The Tricky" with "Secret Village of the Spellcasters" with "Skill Drain" for a Lockdown, preventing your opponent from activating Spell Cards. There are several effects to overlap with "Skill Drain". If you are using a "Fusilier Dragon" Aggro Deck, use "Pole Position" to turn "Fusilier Dragon" into a 2800 ATK anti-Spell beatstick and "Burden of the Mighty" to neutralize the ATK power of Meta monsters. Because it only negates effects that resolve on the field, "Skill Drain" Decks are free to use "Cyber Dragon", "Stardust Dragon", "Exiled Force", any searcher monsters, and, to a lesser extent, "Vampire Lord" and "Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys". You cannot use Light-Imprisoning Mirror or Shadow-Imprisoning Mirror with Transplant to act as Skill Drain. The Continuous Effects will be able to get round it, as they don't activate.
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![[RDF Data]](/fct/images/sw-rdf-blue.png)