So many of the best decks in Edison format have cards that play out of the Graveyard. Cards like Blackwing – Vayu the Emblem of Honor, Machina Fortress, Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis. And while any deck playing those cards will likely have bespoke ways of getting them to the GY, there is a small handful of cards that are simply so efficient at the job that they’ve become their own iconic Edison engine.
First off, it’s the dog, the myth, the legend: Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter. Alongside Caius the Shadow Monarch, maybe the most iconic and prolific card in Edison format. Ryko does it all, offering flexible removal AND milling you for 3 cards. The fact that the mill happens after the destruction is also occasionally relevant for making effects miss their timing, because Yu-Gi-Oh is a well designed game with intuitive rules.
These 3 are Ryko’s partners in crime. Charge of the Light Brigade is effectively a fourth1Since it is limited, otherwise it would be your 5th and 6th as well copy of Ryko, with an extra mill for added fun. Super-Nimble Mega Hamster is nearly as iconic an Edison card as Ryko itself, despite literally2Okay I have very occasionally seen spicy brews that run other low-level beasts that like being facedown. Not often though. only ever grabbing Ryko with its flip effect. Still, being able to play even more Rykos, but with an 1800 butt and generating a special summon is surprisingly good, giving all the benefits of Ryko while often leaving a body for you to tribute or synchro with after. Lyla sees less play, but she’s another Charge target, gives additional backrow removal, and is more proactive than Ryko, being something you can normal summon turn 1 to immediately get a mill. More aggressive graveyard-focused decks will play her.
Card Trooper was once so menacing it coined a depressing mnemonic: Troop-Dupe-Scoop. You would summon Card Trooper, use the spell card Machine Duplication to summon two more troopers from your deck, and then your opponent would scoop their cards up because facing 5700 combined ATK points, 9 cards milled, and 3 future draws if they mange to clear the troopers was simply overwhelming advantage. In Edison Card Trooper is limited, so the salt is kept to tasteful levels. But Card Trooper is still an elite card and the ideal opening for many top decks.
Foolish Burial isn’t quite a staple, simply because all it does is send one card to the GY. Depending on your deck, that might be too underwhelming to include. But getting to specifically send exactly what you need is still very strong in the right circumstances, landing Foolish on the limited list and also a spot in many Edison decks.
Finally, we have Necro Gardna. If you’re doing a lot of milling, it’s harder to play traditional trap cards, since they don’t do anything for you when milled. Necro is a monster that acts like a trap, letting you negate an attack. Many GY decks are quite explosive, so getting to survive just one extra turn could be all they need to go off and win. Necro Gardna is as a result limited, but still an auto-include in most GY engine decks. Also in most DARK engine decks, come to think of it. This guy could have been in either article.
So, why don’t we look at a deck that plays both of these engines? Next time, we profile Vayu Turbo.