Perhaps considered as the first type of Extra Deck Monster aside from Ritual Monster Cards, the Fusion Monster Cards is one of the most unique variants of Yu-Gi-Oh! cards out there. Contrary to ordinary monsters, Fusion Monsters in Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel and core Yu-Gi-Oh! gameplay rely on tributing specific kinds of Monsters in order to Fusion Summon a more powerful counterpart. These Fusion Monster Cards often pack a lot of punch with their ATK, while modern variants boast unique effects.
And with modern Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel meta boasting more Extra Deck options such as the Synchros, Pendulums, Xyzs, and Link Summons, the Fusion Monster variants may not be receiving as much love due to their simplicity. However, players who know exactly which Fusion Monsters to use can surprise enemies with devastating combos.
10 Invoked Mechaba
- Rarity: Super Rare
- Card Pack: Seekers Of Witchcraft
Centered around the themes of sorcerers summoning various beasts (and real-life occultist Aleister Crowley), the “Invoked” archetype focuses on unleashing various beasts of different archetypes, with their entire toolkit designed to bolster the Fusion arsenal of other decks. Its Invoked Mechaba is one such example, serving as the representative of the LIGHT Attribute of the “Invoked” series. When summoned after tributing Aleister and another LIGHT Monster, players may transform Mechaba into the perfect negator.
Once per turn, Mechaba has a Quick Effect whenever someone triggers a Spell Card or Trap Card, or even a Monster effect. If Mechaba’s user sacrifices a card of the same type, that former effect is not only negated but also banished. On top of Mechaba having a whopping 2500 ATK and 2100 DEF, Mechaba has a nifty way of countering a fierce opponent’s offensive.
9 Cyber Eternity Dragon
- Rarity: Super Rare
- Card Pack: Pearlescent Cyber Dragons
Kaiba equivalent Zane Truesdale in Yu-Gi-Oh! GX is a dueling genius, relying on the tactical flexibility and sheer firepower of his Cyber Dragons to dominate the match. And when fighting against the likes of Fusion-specialist Jaden Yuki, Zane has an ace in the hole in the form of Cyber Eternity Dragon. Despite its hefty cost of a “Cyber Dragon” Monster and two (2) Machine Monsters, its effects are well worth the risk.
For one, players cannot target Cyber Eternity Dragon with card effects as long as they have Machine-type Fusion Monsters in the GY. And if an opponent card sends this to the GY, players can Special Summon a “Cyber Dragon” Monster from either the GY, Deck, or Hand. Players may even banish this card from the GY to ensure opponents cannot target or destroy Fusion Monsters the player's control. Those who aim to create a Fusion-focused Cyber Dragon deck may very well have this card as part of its key components.
8 D/D/D Flame High King Genghis
- Rarity: Ultra Rare
- Card Pack: Cross-Dimension Contracts
Although already a decent meta Yu-Gi-Oh! deck in its own right, D/D/D Flame High King Genghis is one of its underappreciated Fusion Monsters due to how the Yu-Gi-Oh! deck itself needs a whole host of Monster types to take shape. If used properly, however, even Flame High King Genghis can dominate the match.
Despite its rather minuscule 2800 ATK and 2400 DEF, where this Fusion Monster excels is in its effect. Once per turn, players Normal or Special Summon another “D/D” Monster to the field with FHKG is in play, players can summon another “D/D” Monster from the GY. And as another effect once per turn, Flame High King Genghis can function as a Quick Effect and negate the activation of a Spell or Trap Card.
7 Blue-Eyes Twin Burst Dragon
- Rarity: Super Rare
- Card Pack: The Azure In The Ivory
With a win-condition reminiscent to that of Seto Kaiba’s unrelenting spirit, Blue-Eyes Twin Burst Dragon is proof that there’s success when one discards hesitation for full-blown offense. Unlike other Fusions, Twin Burst Dragon doesn’t need Polymerization and may simply be Special Summoned by sending the aforementioned monsters to the grave.
However, where the Twin Burst Dragon shines is in its effects. For one, Twin Burst Dragon cannot be destroyed in battle. Not only that, it can attack up to two (2) times in every Battle Phase. If a Monster attacked by Twin Burst isn’t destroyed in the damage step, that Monster can be banished. As with the entirety of the Blue-Eyes deck, players need to stay wary of handtraps and negates when summoning Twin Burst Dragon, which may be well worth the risk due to its benefits.
6 Performapal Gatlinghoul
- Rarity: Super Rare
- Card Pack: Captivating Curtain Call
Designed specifically to represent performers, the “Performapal” archetype emphasizes the versatile and accessible nature of Pendulum Monsters, and Performapal Gatlinghoul shows precisely how this can be dangerous. At its core, Gatlinghoul can be summoned with one (1) Performapal monster and any DARK Monster of 5-stars and above. Doing so will have Gatlinghoul immediately deal 200 damage to the opponent for each card on the field.
Not only that, but if Gatlinghoul was Fusion Summed with a Pendulum Monster, players can not only destroy a Monster the opponent controls but deal its original ATK as direct damage. On top of that is Gatlinghoul’s impressive 2900 ATK, making it a beast capable of fending its own.
5 Chaos Ancient Gear Giant
- Rarity: Ultra Rare
- Card Pack: Gargantuan Gears
Despite the complexity of some plays in the current Yu-Gi-Oh! meta, sometimes nothing trumps a good ol’ fashioned beatdown. This is courtesy of a deck like the “Ancient Gear” archetype, which is known for its rather ridiculous high-attack Monsters. Such is the case of the Chaos Ancient Gear Giant, a behemoth of a tank with 4500 ATK and 3000 DEF. It even needs four (4) Ancient Gear Monsters to be summoned.
What’s interesting here is that the Chaos Ancient Gear Giant cannot be affected by Spell Cards and Trap Cards on the get-go and stops enemies from triggering Monster Effects during the Battle Phase. Not only that, it can attack all Monsters on the opponent’s side, once each, and inflict piercing damage against defense-position Monsters.
4 ABC-Dragon Buster
- Rarity: Ultra Rare
- Card Pack: Emblazoned Armor
With the XYZ-Dragon Cannon being one of the oldest Fusion Monsters across Yu-Gi-Oh! games with a 2005 release, it’s a surprise for the “A-to-Z” archetype to resurface in the form of the ABC-Dragon Buster, yet another Fusion Monster for players to enjoy. Although classic Fusion doesn’t see much play in the current meta, players being able to Fusion Summon this strong Dragon-resembling Monster via A-Assault Core, B-Buster Drake, and C-Crush Wyvern can easily dominate the match, especially since this Monster boasts 3000 ATK and 2800 DEF.
At its core, ABC-Dragon Buster is efficient in how it practically sets up a summon-loop. This can only be summoned by banishing the above cards from the player’s control or from their GY, with no Polymerization needed. Once during the player’s turn, they can sacrifice one (1) card to banish another card on the field. Likewise, during the opponent’s turn, players can tribute this Fusion Monster to Special Summon three (3) banished LIGHT Machine Union monsters that have different names, which can very well be with the A-B-C monsters that can be sacrificed later on to re-summon this very card.
3 Dinoster Power, The Mighty Dracoslayer
- Rarity: Ultra Rare
- Card Pack: Advanced Warriors
Designed after dragon slayers, the “Dracoslayer” archetype emphasizes survivability than sheer firepower, meaning they pack a lot of DEF to withstand even the deadliest of Monster attacks. And with Dinoster Power, the Mighty Dracoslayer as the centerpiece of the Dracoslayer deck, players may very well annoy enemies to submission.
At its core, Dinoster Power needs a “Dracoslayer” Pendulum Monster and another Pendulum Monster to be Special Summoned, no Polymerization Required. As long as this card is up, Pendulum Monsters in both Monster Zones and Pendulum Zones cannot be destroyed - a nifty feature, considering much of the “Dracoslayer” Monsters are Pendulum Monsters anyway. Likewise, once per turn, Dinoster can allow players to Special Summon a “Dracoslayer” Pendulum Monster from the GY or the hand but it may not be used as Fusion Material.
2 Masked HERO Dark Law
- Rarity: Ultra Rare
- Card Pack: Transfigured Heroes
In the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX manga, the “Masked HERO” archetype serves as yet another one of the many “HERO” archetypes out there, this time serving as Jaden Yuki’s “ultimate” iteration of his Fusion-focused playstyle, as his “Elemental HERO” archetype was originally used by someone else. Contrary to the multi-Monster-reliant Fusions, the “Masked HERO” archetype is much easier to access in that it simply needs the Mask Change Quickplay Spell and a “HERO” archetype as tribute to work. And one such Fusion Monster players can use to start their Masked HERO deck is Masked HERO Dark Law.
Serving as one of the most beginner-friendly cards of the archetype, Dark Law emphasizes the straightforward beatdown playstyle of the deck. Rather than attacking opponents head-on, however, Dark Law focuses on punishing the opponent’s play. Whenever an opponent draws a card outside the Draw Phase or the Damage Step, players can banish a random card from their hand. When paired with card effects that force both players to draw cards, Dark Law can easily debilitate the opponent’s hand or even indirectly mill the opponent.
1 Mirror Force Dragon
- Rarity: Super Rare
- Card Pack: Legacy Pack
During the “Dawn of the Dragons” storyline of the Yu-Gi-Oh! series, Seto Kaiba becomes attuned with the Fang of Critias, a legendary card that allows him to fuse his Monsters with Spells or Trap Cards and acquire devastating effects. Such an example of a card is Mirror Force Dragon, literally carrying the power of the Mirror Force Trap Card and the might of a dragon with a whopping 2800 ATK. This makes for a rather interesting Yu-Gi-Oh! deck when used properly.
Essentially, Mirror Force Dragon needs the joint powers of the Fang of Critias and Mirror Force, making this a rather steep requirement. However, its effect is worth the while: if any Monster on the player’s side of the field is targeted by a card effect except in the Damage Step, Mirror Force Dragon destroys all cards - not just Monsters - that the opponent controls. While enemies can easily avoid Mirror Force Dragon, players may be able to use cards such as Savage Colosseum to force all Monsters to attack.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel was released last January 2022 for the PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, iOS, and Android.