Cipher

The ideal end board for a Cipher deck is Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon on the field with an opponent's monster stolen and turned into a 3000 ATK body attacking on its behalf, or Neo Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon threatening to strip away up to three of the opponent's monsters in a single Battle Phase. Reaching those Rank 8 and 9 Xyz Monsters is the deck's central puzzle, and it solves it through a combination of self-special-summoning extenders. Cipher Wing drops from the hand the moment any Cipher monster is present, while Cipher Biplane triggers off any Cipher Normal or Special Summon and can later banish itself from the Graveyard to search a replacement. Cipher Twin Raptor recruits directly from the Deck at the cost of a discard, and its Level 4 body pairs naturally with Cipher Wing or Biplane after Biplane's effect bumps two monsters up to Level 8.

Rank-Up-Magic Cipher Ascension bridges the Rank 8 into Neo Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon during either player's Main Phase, adding a layer of disruption to an already threatening board. Cipher Etranger supplies Xyz Material on demand from the hand or Graveyard and searches a Cipher Spell or Trap on its way out, meaning Cipher Interference or a recovery trap like Cipher Spectrum can come online without spending a normal draw. The deck is strongest going second, where Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon's control-stealing effect immediately converts the opponent's best monster into an attacker, but the multiple bounce-back traps and Cipher Mirror Knight's resurrection effect give it reasonable staying power across longer games.