In Yu-Gi-Oh!, Gem-Knights make frequent use of Fusion to bring out powerful monsters. The speed at which they can Summon their heavy hitters makes them ideal for players who prefer a beatdown playstyle. If you like to swing with big numbers, Gem-Knights might be the archetype for you.
Since Fusion is so critical to Gem-Knights' strategy, pay careful attention to which cards you include in your Extra Deck, and remember to keep space in your Main Deck for Gem-Knight Fusion. If you're not sure which cards to bring, try these top-eight contenders.
8 Gem-Knight Lazuli
Stats
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Type |
Monster [Rock / Effect] |
|---|---|
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Attribute |
Earth |
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Level |
1 |
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ATK / DEF |
600 / 100 |
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Effect |
If this card is sent to the Graveyard by a card effect: You can target 1 Normal Monster in your Graveyard; add that target to your hand. |
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Printings |
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Overview
This humble Level-1 Monster makes for a fantastic Fusion Material. Whenever she's sent to the Graveyard by a card effect (including as a cost for Fusion Spells), she lets you retrieve a Normal Monster from the Graveyard back to your hand. Fusion can be costly, so an easy way to keep your hand from being depleted as you summon your larger monsters is extremely valuable.
7 Gem-Knight Obsidian
Stats
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Type |
Monster [Rock / Effect] |
|---|---|
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Attribute |
Earth |
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Level |
3 |
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ATK / DEF |
1500 / 1200 |
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Effect |
If this card is sent from the hand to your Graveyard: You can target 1 Level 4 or lower Normal Monster in your Graveyard; Special Summon that target. |
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Printings |
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Overview
An early-game threat in his own right, Gem-Knight Obsidian is another Monster that makes for a quality Fusion Material. If he goes from the hand to your Graveyard for any reason (including a forced discard), his effect allows you to Special Summon a monster from your Graveyard. This is restricted to Normal Monsters Level 4 or lower, but it essentially allows you to get a second card for which you would use your Normal Summon. As it happens, one of the best Normal Monsters in the game is both a Gem-Knight and eligible to be targeted by this effect.
6 Gem-Knight Fusion
Stats
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Type |
Spell |
|---|---|
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Effect |
Fusion Summon 1 "Gem-Knight" Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck, using monsters from your hand or your side of the field as Fusion Materials. If this card is in your Graveyard: You can banish 1 "Gem-Knight" monster from your Graveyard; add this card to your hand. |
Overview
Gem-Knight Fusion is the card that powers every Gem-Knight Deck. You'll probably use other Fusion Spells alongside it, but this card is the gift that keeps on giving. For starters, it lets you Fusion Summon your strongest Gem-Knights, which is the entire point of playing the archetype. Second, you can retrieve it from your Graveyard at any time as long as you have a Gem-Knight in the Graveyard to banish. Considering you'll have been using them as Fusion Materials throughout the game, that shouldn't be a difficult cost to pay.
5 Gem-Knight Phantom Quartz
Stats
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Type |
Monster [Rock / Link / Effect] |
|---|---|
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Attribute |
Earth |
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Link Rating |
2 |
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ATK |
1450 |
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Effect |
2 "Gem-" monsters If this card is Link Summoned: You can add 1 "Gem-Knight" card from your Deck to your hand. You can pay 1000 LP; Fusion Summon 1 "Gem-Knight" Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck, by shuffling Fusion Materials in your possession listed on it into your Deck, that are banished or in the Graveyard, but it cannot attack directly this turn. You can only use each effect of "Gem-Knight Phantom Quartz" once per turn. |
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Printings |
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Overview
Gem-Knight Phantom Quartz has only a moderate ATK but comes with serious utility. If he's Link Summoned by sending 2 faceup "Gem-" monsters from the field to the Graveyard, he lets you search out any Gem-Knight from your Deck and add it to your hand. Once he's in play, he allows you to Fusion Summon a Gem-Knight using banished cards as Fusion Materials. All those Gem-Knights banished by Gem-Knight Fusion can be returned to your Deck, giving you an engine to keep on using Fusion until your opponent is defeated.
4 Gem-Knight Lady Lapis Lazuli
Stats
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Type |
Monster [Rock / Fusion / Effect] |
|---|---|
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Attribute |
Earth |
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Level |
5 |
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ATK / DEF |
2400 / 1000 |
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Effect |
"Gem-Knight Lapis" + 1 "Gem-Knight" monster Must first be Fusion Summoned with the above Fusion Materials. You can only Special Summon "Gem-Knight Lady Lapis Lazuli(s)" once per turn. Once per turn: You can send 1 "Gem-Knight" monster from your Main Deck or Extra Deck to the Graveyard, and if you do, inflict 500 damage to your opponent for each Special Summoned monster on the field. |
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Printings |
The Secret of Evolution |
Overview
Gem-Knights are all about Fusion Summoning, and Lady Lapis Lazuli puts your opponent on the clock in a big way. Once she arrives on the field, she can start dealing damage directly to your opponent without even having to attack. You can boost her damage output by keeping your side of the field filled with Special Summoned monsters, but if your opponent is doing a lot of Special Summoning as well they might just be digging their own grave.
3 Gem-Knight Seraphinite
Stats
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Type |
Monster [Fairy / Fusion / Effect] |
|---|---|
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Attribute |
Earth |
|
Level |
5 |
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ATK / DEF |
2300 / 1400 |
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Effect |
1 "Gem-Knight" monster + 1 LIGHT monster Must first be Fusion Summoned with the above Fusion Materials. During your Main Phase, you can Normal Summon/Set 1 monster in addition to your Normal Summon/Set. (You can only gain this effect once per turn). |
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Printings |
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Overview
Doing things more often than you're normally allowed is a core part of top Yu-Gi-Oh strategies. Gem-Knight Seraphinite allows you to perform one more Normal Summon or Set than you're permitted via the main rules. When your opponent is on the ropes, Seraphinite can let you bring out extra Monsters and decisively finish the duel. Alternately, he can just keep the pressure on, forcing your opponent to deal with threats while you prepare to deliver the final blow.
Remember to include Light-Attribute monsters in your Deck so that you can Fusion Summon Seraphinite. All Gem-Knight monsters are Earth-Attribute, so you'll need to choose a card from outside the Archetype to serve as Fusion Materials.
2 Gem-Knight Lady Brilliant Diamond
Stats
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Type |
Monster [Rock / Fusion / Effect] |
|---|---|
|
Attribute |
Earth |
|
Level |
10 |
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ATK / DEF |
3400 / 2000 |
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Effect |
3 "Gem-Knight" monsters Must first be Fusion Summoned with the above Fusion Materials. You can only Special Summon "Gem-Knight Lady Brilliant Diamond(s)" once per turn. Once per turn: You can send 1 "Gem-Knight" monster you control to the Graveyard, and if you do, Special Summon 1 "Gem-Knight" Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck, ignoring its Summoning conditions. |
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Printings |
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Overview
Why bother going through the hassle of Fusion Summoning when you can just Special Summon instead? While Lady Brilliant Diamond is costly to bring onto the field, she more than pays for herself by allowing you to essentially swap out your existing Gem-Knights for any Gem-Knight you want from your Extra Deck. If that weren't enough, she boasts a beefy 3400 ATK which makes her capable of winning battles left and right. If your opponent doesn't deal with her right away, they'll need to be ready for a massive attack, especially if your Extra Deck contains...
1 Gem-Knight Master Diamond
Stats
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Type |
Monster [Rock / Fusion / Effect] |
|---|---|
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Attribute |
Earth |
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Level |
9 |
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ATK / DEF |
2900 / 2500 |
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Effect |
3 "Gem-Knight" monsters Must first be Fusion Summoned. This card gains 100 ATK for each "Gem-" monster in your Graveyard. Once per turn: You can banish 1 Level 7 or lower "Gem-Knight" Fusion Monster from your Graveyard; until the End Phase, this card's name becomes that monster's, and replace this effect with that monster's original effects. |
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Printings |
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Overview
Gem-Knight Master Diamond is currently Limited, meaning only one copy of the card is allowed in a Deck. Considering how powerful he is, you'll probably only need the one. By the time he hits the field, you should have plenty of Gem-Knights in the Graveyard to boost his ATK, and if you need an effect from a Gem-Knight that's already defeated, he can banish it from the Graveyard to copy their effects while maintaining his own ATK and DEF. It will take a skilled opponent to survive Master Diamond's onslaught.