X-Saber Deck

"X-Saber" (Ｘ(エックス)－セイバー, Ekkusu-Seibā) is an archetype of cards, mainly EARTH Attribute monsters of the Warrior and Beast-Warrior-Types. While in the past they have been associated with hand control, and to a limited degree still are, the archetype is now more focused around Summoning many monsters in very short periods of time with powerful cards such as "Gottoms' Emergency Call" and "XX-Saber Faultroll".

Etymology

The name "X-Saber" may be a reference to the fact of the original "X-Saber" archetype consisting of ten monsters ("X" is the roman numeral for "10") - hence, the "ten sabers". The "XX-Saber" archetype also consists of ten members, making a total of twenty monsters ("XX" is the roman numeral for "20") - the "twenty sabers".

Overview & Playstyle

Many were introduced in Duel Terminal - Synchro Awakening!! followed by further support in Duel Terminal - Invasion of Worms!. With the release of "Gottoms' Emergency Call", the "X-Saber" monsters are the first Duel Terminal archetype to receive Spell and Trap support.

With the Ancient Prophecy pre-release exclusive "XX-Saber Gardestrike", "X-Sabers" were the first Duel Terminal archetype to have its own TCG-exclusive card. They also received more support in Ancient Prophecy in the form of the "XX-Saber" sub-series and were released to the TCG with the 2009 Starter Deck.

They received further support in The Shining Darkness. As a TCG-exclusive, "XX-Saber Darksoul" adds the ability to search out any "X-Saber" monster from the Deck, even high Level ones such as "XX-Saber Faultroll". "X-Saber Palomuro" and "X-Saber Pashuul" add extra lower-Level tuning ability for further versatility in the Deck's Synchro options.

Unless their user swarms the field, some of the "X-Saber" monsters will be of limited use, because several of them require the presence or Tribute of other "X-Saber" monsters to activate. The TCG exclusive release of "XX-Saber Emmersblade" has given the archetype its own version of "Giant Rat". Any "X-Saber" Deck which runs three copies of each will be able to search out most monsters in the Deck. The previous problem that "X-Sabers" had of low ATK has been solved with the release of the TCG-exclusive "XX-Saber Boggart Knight" which adds more swarm power to the Deck with its ATK. "XX-Saber Darksoul" and "XX-Saber Faultroll" represent the key cards of the Deck, "Darksoul" giving fast and easy searches off of battle and Synchro Monsters and "Faultroll" providing the muscle and swarming power that makes the Deck so dynamic.

More modern builds use "Giant Rat" and can even use EARTH monsters such as"Gigantes" and "Wind-Up Kitten" and or field spells like "Closed Forest" to support the archetype.

Offensive X-Sabers

Monsters

X-Saber Airbellum
X-Saber Pashuul
XX-Saber Boggart Knight
XX-Saber Darksoul
XX-Saber Emmersblade
XX-Saber Faultroll
XX-Saber Fulhelmknight
XX-Saber Ragigura
Effect Veiler
Gorz the Emissary of Darkness
XX-Saber Gardestrike

Extra Deck

XX-Saber Gottoms
XX-Saber Hyunlei
X-Saber Souza
Naturia Beast
Naturia Barkion
Gaia Knight, the Force of Earth
Colossal Fighter
M-X-Saber Invoker
Soul of Silvermountain
Stardust Dragon
Scrap Dragon
Crimson Blader
Gagaga Cowboy
Constellar Ptolemy M7

Spells

Enemy Controller
Reinforcement of the Army
The Warrior Returning Alive
Forbidden Lance
Forbidden Dress
Fire Formation - Tenki


Traps

Gottoms' Emergency Call
Trap Stun
Reinforce Truth
Starlight Road
Tyrant's Temper
Call of the Haunted
Fiendish Chain
Spiritual Earth Art - Kurogane

Control X-Sabers

Monsters

X-Saber Airbellum
X-Saber Pashuul
XX-Saber Boggart Knight
XX-Saber Darksoul
XX-Saber Emmersblade
XX-Saber Faultroll
XX-Saber Fulhelmknight
Effect Veiler
Super-Nimble Mega Hamster
Gorz the Emissary of Darkness
Maxx "C"

Extra Deck

XX-Saber Gottoms
XX-Saber Hyunlei
X-Saber Souza
X-Saber Urbellum
X-Saber Wayne
Naturia Beast
Naturia Barkion
Colossal Fighter
M-X-Saber Invoker
Soul of Silvermountain
Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Tiger King
Diamond Dire Wolf
Stardust Dragon

Spells

Enemy Controller
Sword of Sparkles
Saber Slash

Traps

Gottoms' Emergency Call
Reinforce Truth
Call of the Haunted
Starlight Road
Magic Cylinder

Weaknesses

Due to the use of the Graveyard on many of these cards' effects ("Gottoms' Emergency Call", "XX-Saber Ragigura", etc.), cards that banish can be used to prevent the triggering of certain effects, such as "XX-Saber Emmersblade" and "XX-Saber Darksoul". X-Sabers will not be able to operate as effectively, as the monsters will be removed from play or stripped of graveyard power.

Cards that prevent Special Summoning, such as "Vanity's Emptiness", "Vanity's Fiend", "Archlord Kristya" etc., can prove to be critical obstacles for the "X-Saber" player.

In accordance to a more reliant Graveyard strategy, the "Gravekeeper's" archetype has a natural advantage over the "X-Saber" player due mostly to the key cards "Necrovalley" and "Royal Tribute".

If using the discard strategy, cards from both the "Dark World" and "Fabled" archetypes would be triggered by the "X-Saber" cards, leaving the opponent at an advantage.

"Gottoms' Emergency Call", although an "X-Saber" support card, could also be used to combat the X-Saber Deck as it can target "X-Saber" monsters in either player's Graveyard, not just your own.

Cards that destroy multiple monsters will hinder this Deck. For example, a Dragon Deck containing multiple copies of "Burst Breath" may dramatically devastate its swarms if activated at a right timing.

X-Saber and XX-Saber decks often focus on searching for cards through the deck, and Thunder King Rai-Oh will completely shut down the searching ability.