Yu-Gi-Oh Master Duel: How to counter Maliss decks

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If you’ve recently launched Yu-Gi-Oh Master Duel, you might have found that the current state of the game’s competitive scene feels quite unusual. The introduction of Maliss has caused a significant impact on the ranked mode, with many players from Gold rank and higher incorporating this archetype into their decks.

Maliss is a formidable and persistent character, seemingly possessing endless adaptability, making it hard to counteract. It heavily relies on the graveyard and banishment zone, has an uncanny ability to bounce back from nearly any game situation, sets up defensive measures to avoid negates, and can dodge or circumvent most strategies you might devise.

While it’s not completely foolproof, there are some cards that can provide an advantage when facing Maliss decks. These cards won’t guarantee an easy win, but they increase your chances of competing effectively, preventing your opponent from quickly amassing a decisive victory.

In this tutorial, we’ll discuss some top strategies for combatting Maliss in Yu-Gi-Oh Master Duel, and offer a few suggestions to help you manage your encounters more smoothly.

Artifact Lancea 

Artifact Lancea functions as a hand trap for monsters that temporarily halts both players from banishing cards until the end of the turn. Unlike other traps, it doesn’t require additional costs beyond discarding and it won’t draw any cards, making it immune to Ash Blossom effects. However, it can still be targeted by Called by the Grave, as expected.

In simpler terms, when you disable Maliss’ ability to use banishing and unbanishing cards, it temporarily stops the deck’s combination of moves for one turn. This means you should utilize your next turn efficiently, either by establishing multiple negates or by winning the game immediately following a Lancea activation. However, disabling this card provides the best and most versatile assistance in countering Maliss.

Imperial Iron Wall 

The Imperial Iron Wall consistently forbids both players from discarding cards, and it acts as a trap card that persists throughout the game. However, to fully utilize it, playing it first is advantageous. Despite this, when activated, it can effectively hinder Maliss’ abilities, but only if your opponent doesn’t have a spell or trap card for removal.

Soul Drain 

Soul Drain functions as a countermeasure to certain monster abilities, by keeping banished and graveyard monsters from activating their effects continuously. However, it won’t hinder an opponent who uses Maliss from banishing cards for cost. Instead, its primary role is to prevent the return of banished monsters, which is usually self-activated by the banished card itself. The cost for this card is 1000 life points, a relatively small amount compared to other costs in the game, but like Imperial Iron Wall, its effectiveness depends on your opponent’s lack of spell or trap removal cards.

Chaos Hunter 

The “Chaos Hunter” could be a daring selection, offering potential benefits based on your specific deck setup. It’s a creature that you can summon following your opponent’s summons of a monster, which is a common tactic in Maliss decks. With this card on the battlefield, your opponent will no longer be able to banish cards. Typically, Maliss decks won’t attack over it once disrupted, making it a potential obstacle for them.

The potential issue is that your adversary might possess a Triple Tactics Skill, enabling them to seize your Chaos Hunter and proceed with their combos without obstruction. In some cases, this could even give them an advantage, as they won’t need to expend as much effort gathering resources on the field. However, it remains a tactic worth considering; simply be cautious and use it judiciously.

A few well-timed hand traps 

Beyond the mentioned cards, there are several points in the Maliss combo where strategies and bottlenecks can be utilized by employing common hand traps. Maxx C, for instance, can apply pressure to deter your opponent from executing their entire combo immediately, giving you moments to place a few cards on the field. Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring can interfere with certain effects – it won’t halt an experienced player with a strong deck, but less skilled players might stumble upon it.

Ghost Bell & Haunted Mansion proves to be a formidable choice against both novice and seasoned players, as it efficiently counters Maliss’ potent field spell, Maliss in Underground, upon activation, and her troublesome trap card, Maliss C GWC-06. Additionally, it thwarts one of Maliss’ Link cards, Maliss Q White Binder. While this doesn’t completely halt the combo, it significantly impedes its further development.

If you manage to activate Maliss Q Red Ransom’s revival effect, consider using Nibiru, the Ancient Entity, as it could potentially disrupt their strategy. However, keep in mind that this won’t completely stop their combo, and be aware of any traps they might have that could restart the combo. Nevertheless, it’s a useful card to play, one you should consider including in your deck.

Type manipulation

When building strategies against Maliss decks, focusing on controlling or limiting Cyberse monsters is often effective, as it can help slow down the power of these decks. Clockwork Night, a continuous spell card, is an excellent choice for this purpose because it can be played instantly without setup, and it doesn’t mind if your own monsters are changed to Machine types. DNA Surgery, on the other hand, serves a similar role but more gradually, as it’s a trap card. It becomes especially useful when your deck has concerns about its type, since you can manipulate the type in your favor while denying your opponent’s Cyberse type advantage.

If your deck has the versatility, “There Can Be Only One” could be an effective choice, as it restricts the summoning of only one monster of the same type per turn. Given that all Maliss monsters belong to the Cyberse type, this rule can hinder your opponent from amassing resources for Link summoning, significantly reducing their chances of expanding and strengthening their board.

If you can’t beat them… 

Another strategy for tackling Maliss involves creating your very own Maliss deck. This deck is quite costly, as the majority of its crucial cards are UR rarity. However, it’s undeniable that it’s the most potent deck in Master Duel, and it seems it will maintain this status for a considerable period. A new ban list may be announced soon, but it’s uncertain whether Maliss will be included, and even if it is, there’s no assurance that the changes will significantly affect the deck.

In the interim, why not experience one of the strongest decks in recent years, as it offers an exhilarating experience? Facing off against opponents in Maliss is thrilling due to its demand for skilled piloting and strategic mental combat. Maliss provides a wealth of opportunities for interaction, during both your turn and your opponent’s, and it can effectively play either the first or second role, which isn’t common among most decks.

It seems like it will take some time until Maliss faces serious competition, as Ryzeal and Live/Evil Twins are about to receive significant support boosts that significantly improve their rankings. However, it might be a couple of months before their Alliance Insight cards become available in Master Duel.

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2025-07-17 17:17