How to play them
"Atlantean", is an archetype of WATER Sea Serpent-Type monsters. They were first introduced in Phantom Darkness, with "Atlantean Pikeman". They later gained more members in Return of the Duelist, Realm of the Sea Emperor Structure Deck, which also introduced their first support card, "Atlantean Marksman", and "Lord of the Tachyon Galaxy" which introduced "Legendary Atlantean Tridon".
Released 2008
"Mermail", is an archetype of WATER-Attribute and Aqua, Fish and Sea Serpent-Type monsters, introduced in the Abyss Rising
Released 2012
The focus of the Atlantean archetype was to swarm the field with Level 3 or lower WATER monsters with the effects of "Atlantean Marksman", "Deep Sea Diva" and "Atlantean Heavy Infantry" to later Tribute them for the summon of their ace monster, "Poseidra, the Atlantean Dragon", or to Synchro Summon with "Deep Sea Diva" and "Genex Controller", preferably the "Ice Barrier" Synchro Monsters. However this obviously decayed with age, and became uncompetitive.
Level 3 "Mermail" monsters all share a similar effect when they get sent to the Graveyard - they Special Summon another "Mermail", letting them swarm the field. The Level 4 "Mermail" monsters can activate their effects when they are Normal or Special Summoned by discarding a WATER monster from your Hand, which will trigger the effect of the previous monster's effect, and the Level 4 monsters help to either search the Deck or Graveyard for a Level 3 WATER monster. The higher-Level "Mermails" can Special Summon themselves with relative-ease by sending other "Mermails" to the Graveyard, which will also trigger their effects. The "boss" monster of the archetype, "Mermail Abyssgaios", is a powerful control card, with 2 effects that forces your opponent into a corner, either by preventing their most powerful monsters from attacking and/or by negating their weaker monsters' effects.
Many people believe that Mermails were created to support the Atlantean archtype, however there is no proof supporting this argument, although either way there is no dispute that Mermails are able to abuse the Atlantean cards to have complete board control and sustainability by using cards such as "Atlantean Heavy Infantry" and "Atlantean Marksman" To destroy opponents cards, while using "Atlantean Dragoons" To search cards such as "Mermail Abyssmeglo" Mermails utilise these effects by discarding the Atlanteans with effects such as "Abyssmegalo", and "Abyssteus" while also gaining the "Mermail's" effects.
The basic system "Merlantean" uses:
As previously mentioned, Mermails work around discarding WATER monsters to get the effects, and Atlanteans work by being sent to the graveyard to activate a WATER monsters effect. although you can use the level 4's to get do this, that is mainly for setting up your plays, an example of this would be "Mermail Abysspike" Who is used to search out "Mermail Abyssgunde" who is pivotal to some of the main Mermail plays. The best utilisation of this system, is using the Level 7 Mermail monsters, and swarming the field with them (Mainly "Mermail Abyssmegalo" + "Mermail Abyssteus") Which help search for sustainability but are also formidable monsters to have on the field, especially when you can summon powerful Rank 7 monsters such as "Mermail Abyssgaios", "Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack", "Number 11: Big Eye".
Atlantean Monsters:
Here are some of the Main monsters required for this deck (Other cards can be put in)
- Atlantean Dragoons:
All Level 3 or lower Sea Serpent-Type monsters you control can attack your opponent directly. When this card is sent to the Graveyard to activate a WATER monster's effect: Add 1 Sea Serpent-Type monster from your Deck to your hand, except "Atlantean Dragoons".
This is Mermails best way of searching out "Mermail Abyssmegalo", as well as other techs such as "Moulinglacia the Elemental Lord".
- Atlantean Marksman:
When this card inflicts battle damage to your opponent: You can Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower "Atlantean" Sea Serpent-Type monster from your Deck, except "Atlantean Marksman". When this card is sent to the Graveyard to activate a WATER monster's effect: Target 1 Set card your opponent controls; destroy that target.
This card is great for getting rid of your opponents backrow, and giving you confidence in your plays
- Atlantean Heavy Infantry:
During your Main Phase, you can Normal Summon 1 Level 4 or lower Sea Serpent-Type monster in addition to your Normal Summon/Set. (You can only gain this effect once per turn.) When this card is sent to the Graveyard to activate a WATER monster's effect: Target 1 face-up card your opponent controls; destroy that target.
This card can help get rid of your opponents boss monsters, really good when you just have a simple "Mermail Abysspike" play. Good for board control.
- Neptabyss the Atlantean Prince:
You can send 1 "Atlantean" monster from your Deck to your Graveyard, except "Neptabyss the Atlantean Prince"; add 1 "Atlantean" card from your Deck to your hand, except "Neptabyss the Atlantean Prince". If this card is sent to the Graveyard to activate a WATER monster's effect: Target 1 "Atlantean" monster in your Graveyard, except "Neptabyss the Atlantean Prince"; Special Summon it. You can only use each effect of "Neptabyss the Atlantean Prince" once per turn.
This card has recently been released into the OCG, It is an outstanding 1 card OTK, not only this, but this can give you complete board control, I will talk about the OTK at the end of the post. But primarily this card can send an Atlantean from your deck to the graveyard, and then add one from your deck to the hand, which in itself is a +2.
Mermail Monsters:
Again these are just ones that would seem required in an average "Merlantean" Build.
- Mermail Abyssleed:
You can discard 3 other WATER monsters to the Graveyard; Special Summon this card from your hand. When you do: You can target 1 "Abyss-" Spell/Trap Card in your Graveyard; add that target to your hand. You can Tribute 1 other face-up Attack Position "Mermail" monster; send 1 random card from your opponent's hand to the Graveyard. You can only use this effect of "Mermail Abyssleed" once per turn.
Isn't the most required Mermail monster, but is easily summoned with "Mermail Abysslinde", and "Abyss-sphere".
- Mermail Abyssmegalo:
You can discard 2 other WATER monsters to the Graveyard; Special Summon this card from your hand. When you do: You can add 1 "Abyss-" Spell/Trap Card from your Deck to your hand. You can Tribute 1 other face-up Attack Position WATER monster; this card can make a second attack during each Battle Phase that turn.
This is the main Level 7 in the build, despite needing 2 other WATER monsters in your hand to Special Summon it, the ability to attack twice and search out a Spell/Trap is Pivotal to keeping the consistency in the deck, and making plays even better!
- Mermail Abyssteus:
You can discard 1 other WATER monster to the Graveyard; Special Summon this card from your hand. When you do: Add 1 Level 4 or lower "Mermail" monster from your Deck to your hand. You can only use this effect of "Mermail Abyssteus" once per turn.
This card is an easy level 7 to summon, despite only having 1700ATK using this card in conjunction with "Mermail Abyssgunde" can make an easy Rank 7 play. As well as searching another "Mermail Abyssgunde" or "Mermail Abysspike" (others are available just depends on situation).
- Mermail Abysspike:
When this card is Normal or Special Summoned: You can discard 1 WATER monster to the Graveyard; add 1 Level 3 WATER monster from your Deck to your hand. You can only use this effect of "Mermail Abysspike" once per turn.
This card is great for getting plays going, and is one of the best Normal summons in the deck, however can be quite useless, if you don't have a good discard in your hand.
- Mermail Abyssturge:
When this card is Normal or Special Summoned: You can discard 1 WATER monster to the Graveyard, then target 1 Level 3 or lower WATER monster in your Graveyard; add that target to your hand. You can only use the effect of "Mermail Abyssturge" once per turn.
This card is great for recycling your "Neptabyss the Atlantean Prince" or "Mermail Abyssgunde"
- Mermail Abysslinde:
If this card on the field is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard: You can Special Summon 1 "Mermail" monster from your Deck, except "Mermail Abysslinde". You can only use the effect of "Mermail Abysslinde" once per turn.
This card is a great target for "Abyss-sphere" as when destroyed you can get a free Special Summon from your deck, often "Mermail Abyssleed"
- Mermail Abyssgunde:
If this card is discarded to the Graveyard: You can target 1 "Mermail" monster in your Graveyard, except "Mermail Abyssgunde"; Special Summon that target. You can only use the effect of "Mermail Abyssgunde" once per turn.
This card is the best card to discard to get a free Special Summon of a card such as "Mermail Abyssleed" or "Mermail Abyssmegalo".
They are the Main monsters you are going to want to put in your deck.
Here is a notable list of cards you may want to run:
Deep Sea Diva
Aqua Spirit
Moulinglacia the Elemental Lord
Abyss-sphere
Abyss-scale of (Cetus/Kraken/Mizuchi)
Salvage
Moray of Greed
Genex Undine
Poseidra the Atlantean Dragon
Mermail Abysshilde
Mermail Abyssdine
Abyss-squall
One for one
Soul Charge
Tatsunoko
Elder God Noden
Bahamut Shark
The Most Optimal Play of Merlanteans (Neptabyss OTK)
To do the OTK you need "Neptabyss the Atlantean Prince", and 1 other WATER monster. (There are other ways to execute this, this is just the basic way)
- first OTK step:
Summon "Neptabyss the Atlantean Prince"
- second OTK step:
Use "Neptabyss the Atlantean Prince"s effect to send "Atlantean Dragoons" from the deck to the graveyard
- third OTK step:
This allows you to add "Mermail Abyssmegalo" from your deck to your hand
- fourth OTK step:
"Neptabyss the Atlantean Prince" resolves allowing you to add an Atlantean (Heavy Infantry/Marksman are the best options)
- fitfth OTK step:
You can then Use "Mermail Abyssmegalo" to Special Summon himself
- sixth OTK step:
By sending the Atlantean, and the 1 WATER monster from your deck to the graveyard
- seventh OTK step:
In this case "Atlantean Heavy Infantry" Activates, destroys "Black-Winged Dragon"
- eighth OTK step:
Then "Mermail Abyssmegalo" is summoned
- ninth OTK step:
His effect allows you to search an Abyss-scale Equip Spell
- tenth OTK step:
You then Equip the Abyss-Scale Equip card to "Mermail Abyssmegalo" giving him 3200ATK
- eleventh OTK step:
You then Use "Mermail Abyssmegalo"s 2nd Effect by tributing "Neptabyss the Atlantean Prince" allowing him to attack twice
- thritenth OTK step:
"Neptabyss the Atlantean Prince"s 2nd effect activates allowing you to special summon an Atlantean from the graveyard "Atlantean Dragoons" should be your target
- final OTK step:
This is it for the OTK.
"Atlantean Dragoons" will deal 1800LP
"Mermail Abyssmegalo" can attack twice with 3200ATK dealing 6400LP
1800 + 6400 = 8200
There are many other plays you can make with Mermails, and many other ways to execute the OTK. but this is the most basic way, using this try and figure out other nifty ways to pull this off using your own tech cards!
Alexis Rhodes
RRA Teacher
Last edited by Alexis Rhodes on Sat May 02, 2015 7:02 pm; edited 3 times in total