Edison Format – Dueling Nexus Blog by Noivern

Edison Format, and what is Edison Format?

Edison Format name comes from a format that was played in SJC Edison during March 2010, before the core set The Shining Darkness dropped in 2010 and caused a huge meta shift.

The format is also considered very diverse, since there’s a huge variety of competitive and rogue decks to pick from, such as Blackwings, Lightsworn, Frogs, and more.

Another perk of the format is that it’s more skill and tempo based gameplay and less 1-Turn hyper-combos, the format also has a lot of resource-based management such: as knowing when to Synchro Summon and be safe while doing it, playing around Gorz, knowing when to play it safe vs play it greedy, and more.

In this article, Noivern will take you to a deep dive into Edison Format, talking about the staples, the meta, the pacing, the deck diversity, and more.

Let us begin the deep dive.

The Staples of Edison Format

Edison Format’s staples are extremely different from the modern game, most of them are:

1 – Extra Deck monsters (like How Brionac or Stardust Dragon can be viewed in a similar lens to the modern game’s Extra Deck staples such as S:P Little Knight)

2 – Defensive traps(similar to how Bottomless Trap Hole or Dimensional Prison can be viewed in a similar lens to the modern game’s Handtraps such as Ash Blossom or Infinite Impermanence)

3 – Power Spells (similar to how Heavy Storm or Brain Control can be viewed in a similar lens to Board Breakers like Forbidden Droplet or Evenly Matched in the modern game)

4 – Generically good effect monsters (Such as: Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter, Caius the Shadow Monarch, or Gorz The Emissary of Darkness, which can be viewed in a simliar lens to Modern monsters like Kashtira Fenrir or Dinowrestler Pankratops that act as generic strong monsters without being handtraps)

5 – Engines and packages (Such as Flamvell Firedog-Magician–Rekindling packages, Gravekeeper’s Spy+Descendant package, Super-Nimble Mega Hamster+Ryko package, and Frogs with Swap Frog, Treeborn Frog, Dupe Frog, and Substitoad, which can be viewed in a similar lens to modern engines such as Fiendsmith, Mitsurugi, or other powerful engines)

6 – Side Deck cards (Cards that are being side decked due to being powerful into other matchups, such as:

1 – Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer being a really strong card against Vayu Turbo.

2 – Light-Imprisoning Mirror as Lightsworn hate.

3 – D.D. Crow as a generic graveyard disruption tool against decks like Zombies or Vayu Turbo.

4 – Legendary Jujitsu Master as a powerful tempo tool against combat-based decks like Gladiator Beast.

5 – System Down as hate against Machina (Though the card is too narrow in coverage)

6 – Cyber Dragon as a generic good special summonable body that also is powerful against Machine-based matchups due to the existence of Chimeratech Fortress Dragon.

7 – and Trap Stun as powerful backrow hate versus control decks or trap heavy deck.

The Side Deck options are dependent on your deck composition and matchups, but generally, you want to side cards that fit your deck composition well or provide hate against weaker matchups to patch them, can be viewed in a similar way to side deck staples in the modern era such as Different Dimension Ground as a going 1st blowout or Droll & Lock Bird as Mitsurugi hate)

Now, let’s move on the staple breakdown, the functionality of them, and their applications:

The Staples of Edison Format explained:

In this part, Noivern will explain to you the staples of Edison Format, their applications, power, and their ability to fit into decks.

Part 1 – Extra Deck Staples

Goyo Guardian

Boasting a massive 2800 ATK on a Level 6 Synchro Monster with generic (at the time) summoning conditions, Goyo Guardian is not just a strong beater, he also packs a very simple but extremely good effect:

When he destroys a monster by battle, he can steal it to your field in Defense Position.

This effect is amazing since it not only gives you more field presence and aggression, but also: It gives you your opponent’s best monster on their board after you destroy it by battle, letting you potentially swing games in your favor, especially if you steal something Like a Brionac.

Easily one of the top 3 Synchros in the format.

Brionac, Dragon of The Ice Barrier

Another extremely good generic Level 6 Synchro Monster in the format, Brionac got another simple but amazing effect: He can discard any number of cards from your hand, to target and bounce cards on the field equal to the number you discarded.

This effect is amazing in a variety of ways such as:

1 – Clearing boards to swing for massive damage

2 – Diffusing backrow/set monsters, or outing boss monsters.

3 – Setting up your Graveyard effects such as Mezuki.

4 – Even re-using your cards, like Fiendish Chain or Call of the Haunted.

Brionac is another must-run synchro, just like how Goyo Guardian is a must run.

Black Rose Dragon

A generic Level 7 Synchro Monster, Black Rose Dragon has 2 effects:

1- Her first effect is the spotlight, when she’s Synchro Summoned: You can destroy the entire board.

This is an amazing effect for making a comeback or clearing the board, especially if you’re behind on advantage or your opponent overextends.

2 – Her second effect is: You can banish a Plant from your Graveyard, to target an opponent Defense Position monster, changing it to Attack Position and reducing it’s ATK to 0.

The 2nd effect is good for forcing out set monsters or pushing for more damage.

Being a Level 7 Synchro Dragon, she has amazing synergy with Debris Dragon decks, especially if you revive Dandylion off Debris Dragon.

Ally of Justice Catastor

A generic Level 5 Synchro, Catastor has a simple but amazing effect:
When it battles a Non-DARK monster, it automatically destroys it at start of Damage Step

This effect is great for outing threatening boss monsters that are not DARK, such as Brionac, Judgment Dragon, and more.

It also can stop Face-Up “destroyed by battle” floaters like Pyramid Turtle or monsters that trigger at end of Damage step like D.D. Warrior Lady.

Easily the best and most consistently good Level 5 Synchro you can play in Edison.

Stardust Dragon

Stardust Dragon is probably the safest Level 8 Synchro to go into in Edison, because he has an effect that protects you from destruction effects.

his effect is: When a card or effect that would destroy a card on field is destroyed; You can tribute him: Negate the activation, and destroy it, then in the End Phase, if this effect resolved successfully, he can Special Summon himself back from GY

This effect makes him a great way to either: Back up your backrow against Heavy Storm, protect your monsters from field nukes like Mirror Force or Torrential Tribute, or just makes your board safer.

Be careful that it does not stop non-destruction based removal like Brionac or Caius the Shadow Monarch, and it’s effect can be countered by D.D. Crow after it resolves to permanently out it unless you run Return From a Different Dimension.

Mist Wurm

The Generic Level 9 Syncrho option of the format, that needs 2 Non-Tuners, Mist Wurm has a simple but really powerful effect:

When it’s Synchro Summoned, it can target and return to hand up to 3 cards on your opponent’s board.

This effect is amazing for clearing your opponent board when going for game, or just to out threats.

Mist Wurm is a good finisher, but it doesn’t come up as much as the other options.

Don’t get me wrong though, it’s still a good card that is worth having a spot in your Extra deck.

Chimeratech Fortress Dragon

This is a weird one to talk about, because it’s not a Synchro but rather a Fusion.

Chimeratech Fortress Dragon is a Contact Fusion made of Cyber Dragon and any amount of Machines from either board.

This card still sees universal Extra Deck play though, because it lets you weaponize Cyber Dragons in your Main or Side Deck into Machina or other decks with Machines.

With an ATK That scales by 1000 for each monster you fuse for it, it works as a surprise nuke against Machine-based decks.

Dark End Dragon

A semi-generic Level 8 Synchro that needs a DARK Non-Tuner but any Tuner, Dark End Dragon is a Soild removal tool.

It’s removal effect is a send to Graveyard at the cost of it nerfing it’s own stats by 500 ATK/DEF.

This effect is good to out monsters or clear boards, and it can bypass Stardust Dragon.

Dark End Dragon is a natural fit for Decks like Blackwings, Zombies, or DARK-based stuff such as Gravekeeper’s Spy Packages.

Thought Ruler Archfiend

Boasting 2700 ATK, this generic Psychic Level 8 Synchro has 2 Effects:

The first effect he has gains you Life Points equal to the ATK of the monster he destroys by battle.

It’s nothing too special, but it can potentially let you survive longer and you’re not playing a bad card for it.

The second effect is where he shines, he can negate a Spell/Trap that targets EXACTLY 1 Psychic monster by paying 1000 LP.

His second effect makes him immune to several powerful Spell/Traps that single-target, such as:

1 – Book of Moon

2 – Brain Control

3 – Dimensional Prison

4 – Raigeki Break

5 – Phoenix Wing Wind Blast

Colossal Fighter

Even though he’s mainly just a beatstick, Colossal Fighter comes with 2 effects on a generic Level 8 Synchro.

His first effect makes him gain 100 ATK for each Warrior in both Graveyard.

Ok, the effect is not too impressive, but it’s fine for a beatstick.

The second effect is quite good: When he gets destroyed by battle, he can revive a Warrior from either Graveyard.

The second effect has a famous application: if you can make both Armory Arm and Colossal Fighter, you OTK.

The OTK works as the following:

1 – Equip Armory Arm to an opponent monster that would be stronger than Colossal Fighter once it gains 1000 ATK.

2 – Go to Battle Phase

3 – Crash your Colossal Fighter on your opponent’s equipped monsters, Armory Arm will burn them for 2800

4 – Colossal Fighter revives himself, crash again, and keep crashing until you win.

Speaking of the second effect, it’s also good if you suspect your opponent has Honest lying somewhere in their hand.

Red Dragon Archfiend

Another generic Level 8 Synchro, Red Dragon Archfiend has 3000 ATK, which is useful for lines that want to push for damage.

He also comes with 2 effects (Though one of them is negative)

His first effect destroys all your opponent’s Defense Position monsters after he attacks one.

The first effect is really good into cards like Super-Nimble Mega Hamster or Gravekeeper’s Spy

Also, the first effect can clear walls on your opponent board or bypass floaters.

The second (The negative effect) does this:

During your End Phase: Destroy all your monsters that did not attack this turn.

While it can be risky, it’s not a bad Synchro and it’s worth in a good amount of decks.

Since we finished talking about Extra Deck staples, let’s move on to Main Deck staples.

Part 2 of the staples – Main Deck staples

As we talked about the Extra Deck staples of the format, it’s time to move on to Main Deck staples.

Edison Format’s Main Deck staples are split into 3 categories:

1 – Generically good monsters

2 – Defensive Traps/powerful Spells

3 – Splashable engines and packages

Now, let’s talk about the first section: Generically good monsters.

Main Deck staples – Generically good monsters

This section will cover the generic monsters that can fit in various decks in Edison Format.

Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter

One of the most popular turn 1 sets in the format, Ryko has a very simple but great effect:

It’s effect is:
FLIP: You can destroy 1 card on the field. Send the top 3 cards of your Deck to the Graveyard.

It’s effect is great for removal and very versatile, as it can out:

1 – Powerful boss monsters or aggressive Normal Summons such as Flamvell Firedog or Blackwing – Shura the Blue Flame.

2 – Set monsters/backrow

3 – Even floodgates like Royal Oppression or Dimensional Fissure

The mill 3 on top of destruction is a great bonus, since it helps with Graveyard setup.

Ryko is also able to fit in a huge variety of decks, and being a LV2 LIGHT Beast, it has a lot of synergies like:

1 – LIGHT For Chaos Sorcerer, which means it can naturally fit into DARK-based decks to enable Chaos Sorcerer

2 – Lightsworn name makes it fit into decks running Lightsworn as a mill engine with Charge/Solar Recharge

3 – Level 2, and 200 ATK makes it fit naturally in decks running Debris Dragon/Junk Synchron

4 – Being a Beast makes it a great target for cards like Super-Nimble Mega Hamster, who can grab it out of deck face-down, and Rescue Cat

Caius The Shadow Monarch

The undisputed king of Tribute Summons, Caius got a simple but very useful effect:

When he’s Tribute Summoned: He can target banish a card on field, and burns for 1000 if banished a DARK monster.

This effect makes him very good for outing threats, and because he banishes, he bypasses Stardust Dragon

Also, he can stop floaters like Sangan, Dandylion, and Goblin Zombie.

Being a DARK monster and a Level 6, he fits well in decks running DARK monsters or Tuners to make Synchros.

Excellent inclusion in many decks, especially:

1 – Frog Decks (great tribute fodder for him constantly generated)

2 – Zombies (DARK synergy, good level for Synchros, decent tribute fodder generation)

3 – Aggro decks

4 – TeleDAD and Vayu Turbo (also good for same reasons as Zombies)

5 – Decks that are generally good at keeping monsters on field or generating fodder.

Gorz The Emissary of Darkness

One of the most famous cards of it’s era, Gorz is famous for his ability to punish overextending.

When you take damage on an empty board state, Gorz can special summon himself from your hand, then he can:

1 – If you took battle damage: Summon a Token with same stats as the damage you took

2 – Or if you took effect damage: Burn your opponent equal to the damage you took

Gorz is amazing as a Line of defense against OTKs, or when you’re behind, as dropping a 2700 beater with a token is no joke.

There’s also another famous thing about Gorz: it completely shifted the way people attack.

The real reason why Gorz shifted how people attack is: they fear the big Token.

Which means they have to attack with their biggest monster last.

Generally: Gorz fits into literally any deck that isn’t Floodgate-heavy.

Tragoedia

Another OTK blocker tool and flexible good monster, Tragoedia comes with a bunch of cool effects:

Tragoedia’s First effect is: When you take battle damage: You can Special Summon it from your hand.

The first effect makes it a useful tool for blocking OTKs in addition to giving a free body

It also got an ATK-scaling effect, with it’s statline being 600 for each card in your hand.

The 2nd effect can potentially scale big with big hand sizes, though it’s mostly a neat bonus.

The 3rd and 4th effects are where Tragoedia really shines though.

As the 3rd effect can change it’s Level to the Level of a monster in your Graveyard, making it a flexible monster for Synchro plays.

The 4th effect lets you discard a monster to permanently steal an opponent monster with the same Level as the one you discarded. While you might not neccesarily have a suitable fodder for this, it can be a very powerful swingy effect.

Tragoedia can fit in many decks, as an OTK blocker, a free body for Synchro plays, or it’s stealing effect.

Blackwing – Gale The Whirlwind

A Level 3 DARK Tuner, Blackwing – Gale the Whirlwind has two effects:

If you control a Blackwing monster, you can Special Summon it from your hand.

Special Summoning a free tuner body is amazing. Even though it realistically only works in Vayu Turbo/Blackwing, it’s a very good effect.

It’s second effect though? Excellent, it can target a monster on opponent’s field and permanently halve it’s stats.

With 1300 ATK, it trades very well into Stardust Dragon, Caius The Shadow Monarch, or other monsters in the 2000-2500 ATK range.

Also, as a DARK monster, it fits in any deck running generic DARK support like Allure of Darkness.

Being a Level 3 Tuner, it also makes for a good fit in decks that just want a Tuner.

Plaguespreader Zombie

One of the most famous Tuners in the Edison Format, Plaguespreader Zombie has this effect:

If he’s in the GY: He can return a card from your hand to the Top of your deck, to Special Summon himself from the GY, but gets banished when he leaves the Field.

Being a DARK and a Zombie, he has a lot of room for synergy with a lot of cards and decks, such as:

1 – The obvious Zombie support (Goblin Zombie, Mezuki, Zombie Master, Pyramid Turtle, Il Blud)

2 – DARK support (Such as Armageddon Knight and Dark Grepher, which can instantly dump him from deck)

3 – Any deck that abuses the Graveyard or uses Mill effects like Lightsworn Variants.

Being a Level 2, his Level is also very useful for Synchro plays, as he unlocks Brionac/Goyo easily, or Synchro 8s with Level 6 bodies like Caius The Shadow Monarch or Destiny HERO – Malicious

Easily one of the best Tuners in the format, very splashable in various decks.

Cyber Dragon

One of the most well-known monsters in Yu-Gi-Oh!’s history, Cyber Dragon got a very simple but great effect:

If only your opponent controls a monster, you can Special Summon this card (from your hand).

With 2100 ATK, this makes for a great Turn 2 opener, easily applying pressure or forcing trades with backrow.

Being a LIGHT, it has synergy with Honest and Chaos Sorcerer, and It also can nuke Machine decks thanks to the existence of Chimeratech Fortress Dragon.

And since it’s a Level 5, it even has a useful Level for Synchro plays.

Considered a Side-Decked staple in the Edison Format, but sometimes Main-Deck worthy, depending on your deck.

Main Deck Staples – Spells and Traps:

As Noivern covered the Main Deck monsters staples, it’s time to cover the Spell and Trap staples of this format:

Heavy Storm

One of the strongest Power Spells in the format, It destroys all Spells/Traps on the field, acting (Almost) like Harpie’s Feather Duster.

It’s not just insanely strong, some people unironically think it’s banworthy in Edison.
This card is THE reason why you don’t see people setting more that 1-2 backrow in Edison until this gets used up by the opponent, it’s because they fear losing all their backrow to a sacky power 1-of.

Genuinely a must-run in every deck in the format.

Brain Control

Basically a slightly weaker(but still extremely strong) Change of Heart, it lets you pay 800 LP to steal an opponent’s face-up monster.

This card is extremely good and versatile, with a variety of powerful or game-warping uses, such as:

1 – Stealing a monster to attack for game.

2 – Stealing a monster for Tribute/Synchro fodder.

3 – Best of all, you can even use broken boss monsters, like Dark Armed Dragon, against your opponent, if your opponent summons them and you steal them with this.

Defintely an extremely good power spell.

Mystical Space Typhoon

One of the most iconic staples in the history of Yu-Gi-Oh!, MST is extremely well-known and self-explainatory:

A Quick-Play Spell that targets a backrow to destroy it.

Simple but very effective 1 for 1 trade that applies pressure very nicely.

Mind Control

Another steal-type effect Power Spell, Mind Control Targets and steals an opponent monster until the end phase. Though you cannot attack with or Tribute the stolen monster.

The key advantage this card has though is: It can steal set monsters, meaning you can easily diffuse set Ryko/Hamster/Snowman Eater and use them to your advantage. Also, despite this card not letting you attack with or Tribute the stolen monster, you still can make Synchros with it.

Excellent addition to any deck with a good Tuner density for Synchros.

Giant Trunade

Another Backrow out, Giant Trunade’s effect returns all Spells/Traps on field to hand.

While not as overused as Heavy Storm, Giant Trunade is still a great backrow out in decks that want to do a big push for 1 turn, since even the 1-Turn backrow safety can sometimes really matter for you.

Another huge advantage this card carries is that bouncing your own cards does make a difference at times, since you can bounce Call of The Haunted or Fiendish Chain to reuse them

Book of Moon

An extremely famous card, Book of Moon is a very simple but very effective card:
A Quick-Play Spell that targets and changes a monster on field to Face-Down Defense Position

As a generic Spell Card, Book of Moon has a ton of great use applications that make it very versatile such as:

1 – Reusing effects of monsters such as Ryko, Snowman Eater, and Gravekeeper’s Spy.

2 – Stopping attacks, or beating over low-DEF monsters.

3 – Dodging effects like Bottomless Trap Hole, Dimensional Prison, and Mirror Force to save your monster

4 – Cutting off Synchro summons by flipping your opponent’s materials Face-Down

Generally, a great pick if you have space for it.

Edison Format Staples – Traps

This section will cover the Traps that see play in Edison format as staples, we’ll focus mainly on good defensive cards/some other Traps:

Mirror Force

A simple but very strong (For the time) Trap, Mirror Force is a trap that destroys all your opponent’s attack position monsters when they attack.

While it can be a devestating Trap that can swing games around, it has the downsides of a Battle Trap being counter-able by backrow outs.

However, being a board wipe, it can go extremely hard.

If you want to play around it, you can shift your monsters to Defense Position intentionally to not get them nuked.

Still, a boardwipe and a defensive card IS a boardwipe and a defensive card.

Dimensional Prison

A 1-for-1 trade removal Trap, Dimensional Prison is another simple but effective card.

When an opponent monster attacks, this Trap targets and banishes the attacker.

Banishing is a very good form of removal as it stops floaters like Goblin Zombie from getting their effects off (Ok, 1100 ATK is low, but banishing Goblin Zombie does hurt the Zombie deck a lot since they don’t get their search and also makes it a lot harder to revive), and best of all: It easily outs Stardust Dragon, which is why some people make Thought Ruler Archfiend when they suspect a Dimensional Prison coming.

Generally, a very good Battle Trap removal piece in Edison Format.

Bottomless Trap Hole

Another extremely well-known removal card, Bottomless Trap Hole destroys an opponent monster with 1500 or more ATK on summon AND Banishes it after Destruction.

Though it’s worth mentioning that Ignition Effect Priority IS a thing in Edison Format, so Bottomlessing a Judgment Dragon will still nuke your board.

However, it’s still a very good reactive trap that can help with outing a lot of threats.

Trap Dustshoot

One of the most controversial cards in the Edison Format, Trap Dustshoot is the premier hand control card in the format.

It’s effect lets you peek at your opponent’s hand, choose a monster off their hand and return it to the deck, but only activate-able if they have 4 or more cards in their hand.

This effect is busted, as you get rid of their most useful monster AND get hand knowledge at once.

It’s dead later in the duel yes, but it’s extremely devestating to open turn 1

Genuinely a broken card, and opening it makes it hard for your opponent to recover from it.

Torrential Tribute

Another reactive trap, Torrential Tribute destroys all monsters on the field when one gets summoned.

This is a very powerful tool for punishing over-extension, and you can intentionally use it on your own monster to trigger it.

Also, it’s even stronger when you got a floater like Goblin Zombie or Sangan on board.

Playing around this card? don’t over-extend or summon if you’re in a winning scenario.

Call of The Haunted

A famous revival trap, Call of the Haunted revives a monster from your GY in attack position, but destroys it when this leaves the field, and if it gets destroyed this card gets destroyed.

Being a trap, it’s chainability makes it versatile, since you can:

1- Chain it to backrow removal reviving Sangan or Dandylion.

2 – Use it in Battle Phase to swing for game or extra damage.

3 – Or just get extra bodies on board for Synchro Plays/or reuse your good monsters.

Solemn Judgment

One of the most famous Counter Traps ever, Solemn Judgment negates: a Monster Summon, or a Spell/Trap by paying half your Life Points.

As a 1-of, it’s a great trap for stopping key plays or negating power staples.

While the LP Cost is high, it can be paid anytime you want.

Easily the best negation card in the format.

Dust Tornado

Another backrow hate card, Dust Tornado is basically MST as a Trap.

While not as good as MST, it’s still a good card to run if you need extra backrow outs.

Very popular Side Deck option, even if not mained as much.

Edison Format Staples – Engines/Packages

Since we covered the staples, now we will cover the engines of the Edison Format.

Engines and packages are supplementary cards you play that have synergies with your deck, or just add more plays or flexibility to your deck, this section will cover some of the engines that are popular in the Edison Format.

Gravekeeper’s Package

Gravekeeper’s package is a package that is good for:

1 – A Turn 1 Set monster with Gravekeeper’s Spy.

2 – Removal thanks to Gravekeeper’s Descendant.

3 – Extra bodies for Tribute/Synchro Fodder

4 – Dark/Spellcaster synergy, which is good for cards like Dark Armed Dragon or Arcanite Magician.

The package requirements: 3 Gravekeeper’s Spy+1 Gravekeeper’s Descendant.

Best in: Cat Synchro, Spellcasters.

Flamvell Package:

This package involves Flamvell Firedog, a 1900 ATK beater that gets you a Fire monster with 200 or less DEF from your deck when it beats something by battle, summoning Flamvell Magician as a Level 4 Tuner, making a Synchro 8, and pairs it with Rekindling, making a powerful comeback tool with these monsters.

Package requirements: 3 Flamvell Firedog, 2-3 Flamvell Magician, 3 Rekindling

Best in: Cat Synchro, some Lightsworn builds consider this package too, some decks like Fairies also consider this package for powerful Synchro plays.

Frog Package:

The Package is a very flexible and powerful package, as it provides a tons of tribute fodder, and even grind, recursion, and defense.

Swap Frog sets up Treeborn Frog in the Graveyard, Substitoad can endlessly summon out any Frog out of your deck by tributing a monster, and Dupe Frog can search your Frogs when it dies, or set up an attack lock while you control 2 of it. Treeborn Frog also can provide endless tribute fodder, and Swap Frog can re-use the Monarchs by bouncing them to your hand.

Package requirements: 3 Swap Frog, 3 Substitoad, 2 Treeborn Frog, 2 Dupe Frog

Best in: Monarchs, HERO.

Diva Package:

An instant Synchro package, Deep Sea Diva is a Level 2 Tuner that can Special Summon a Level 3 or lower Sea Serpent from Deck on Normal Summon.

The main targets for the package are either: Another Diva for another Tuner on board, or Spined Gillman, a Level 3 Non-Tuner, which can enable a Synchro Level 5 or just an aggressive 1700 body on top of a tuner.

Package requirements: 2-3 Deep Sea Diva, 0-1 Spined Gillman (Only run Gillman if you run 3 Diva)

Best in: Zombies, HERO

Hamster Package:

This package revolves around Super-Nimble Mega Hamster, a Level 4 Beast monster that Special Summons a Level 3 or lower Beast from deck in Face-Down Defense Position on a Flip Effect.

Hamster’s 1800 DEF makes it a decent blocker against a good chunk of aggressive Normal Summons, but the real good thing he does is summoning a Level 3 or Lower Beast from deck.

You get 2 main targets: Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter and X-Saber Airbellum

Ryko is a genuinely great card to summon with Hamster since against Normal Summon Attack pass you get a Safe Ryko for next turn. Airbellum is good but for another reason, being a Tuner and a hand control tool.

In addition to all of that, it makes for good Defense or Tribute fodder for Caius.

Package Requirements: any number (usually 1-2) Hamster in a deck that runs Ryko

Best in: Literally fits in any deck running Ryko or Airbellum or both.

Rescue Cat

One of the most infamous cards of it’s time, Rescue Cat is a ridiculously strong enabler, she can send herself from the Field to Graveyard to Special Summon 2 Level 3 or Lower Beasts from your deck, but destroying them in End Phase.

an instant Synchro enabler, and there’s a variety of targets for her including:

1 – X-Saber Airbellum (Level 3 Tuner and Hand Control tool)

2 – Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter (Level 2, being a Non-Tuner, it can make a Synchro 5 with just itself and Airbellum, or other monsters depending on your other levels on board)

3 – Neo-Spacian Dark Panther (More of a fringe pick, but being a DARK and a Level 3 it has some desirable traits, and it’s ability to steal effects can be hilarious)

4 – Gladiator Beast Samnite/Test Tiger (In Gladiator Beasts , you can either summon 2 Samnite for a double tag-out, or Samnite and a Tiger for a free, easy tag-out)

Package requirements: 1 Rescue Cat (Limited), 1 Summoner Monk, Targets based on deck choice(Usually 2-3 of each Airbellum and Ryko, some opt for 1 Dark Panther, and for Gladiator Beasts, you only really need Samnite and Test Tiger)

Best in: X-Sabers, Gladiator Beasts, and decks running Hamster/Ryko/Airbellum.

Now, since we finished talking about the Engines, it’s time to share some sample decklists by Noivern to get started.

Sample Edison Decklists by Noivern:

This section will cover for you readers some sample decklists to get started with Edison Format. Great for those looking to get into it.

Don’t have an Edison Format deck? this section will fill all your needs

DECK 1 – Zombie TeleDAD (Also Known as: WelleDAD)

The name “Welle-DAD” comes from Telekinetic Power Well + Dark Armed Dragon.

As a deck: This is an Edison-legal reimagining of TeleDAD, hosting Zombies, Destiny HERO – Malicious, Krebons, and Dark Grepher as an entire DARK Synchro Package.

DECK 2 – Zombie Sorcerer Diva

This is mainly a standard Zombie variant but with a small twist: it runs Chaos Sorcerer for more pushes.

A unique inclusion that might surprise you is Paladin of the Cursed Dragon, which serves as:

1 – A searchable Zombie beatstick off Goblin Zombie with 1900 ATK.

2 – More importantly, it’s a LIGHT monster, making it compaitable with Chaos Sorcerer

Deck 3 – Lightsworn

One of the most iconic decks in the format, Mill Mill Mill into JD GG.

Nothing too outlandish, just good ol’ Lightsworn mill.

Deck 4 – Blackwing

A very iconic 5Ds-era Anime Deck, Blackwings is a famous edison deck for being a powerful midranged deck with a ton of versatility.

Simple but very effective, and very versatile.

Deck 5 – Diva Absolute Zero

A deck that uses Diva to bust out Synchros, Malicious as a core engine, and Miracle Fusion to make Zero as a powerful finisher.

Very fun and very cool deck.

Deck 6 – Vayu Turbo

This deck focusing on loading up your GY with Vayu then making plays out of that.

This deck also gets to run insane nasty techs, and is very good in the format.

Deck 7 – Gladiator Beast

A control deck focused on tagging out then outvaluing your opponent.

Also, you get to run 2 extremely nasty floodgates in side deck: Dimensional Fissure and Ancient Forest.

Deck 8 – HERO Beat

A control deck that uses Neos Alius positive traits to great effect.

Deck 9 – Flamvell Cat

A deck incorprating Flamvell synchro package with Cat synchro for power plays

Deck 10 – Dragon Aggro

Dragon-based deck focusing on midrange control and aggro plays balance

Burst Breath is a genuinely underrated card that is suprisingly great

Deck 11 – Dragon Turbo

Deep Draw deck that involves busting out big dragons to Deal Massive damage

Deck 12 – Frog HERO

Uses frogs for tribute fodder and monarchs, while the HEROes fuel Absolute Zero summoning

Deck 13 – Frog OTK

A Deck that uses frogs as combo fuel, to spam out a lot of big synchros with Fishborg Blaster then OTK.

Deck 14 – Gigaplant Supervise

A Combo deck that abuses Supervise to empower Gigaplant and gain it’s powerful effects.

Deck 15 – Machina Gadget

A Control deck that uses Machina for power pushes and Gadgets for endless +1 Advantage normal summon loops while leveraging their machine synergies

Deck 16 – Quickdraw Plants:

This deck uses Quickdraw Synchron, Debris, and Dandylion for flexible and explosive synchros while maintaining control tools to form a midrange style deck

Deck 17 – Twilight

This deck uses Lightsworn monsters as mill engines, supplemented with DARK monsters for the summoning of Dark Armed Dragon and Chaos Sorcerer

Deck 18 – X-Saber

This deck focuses on Looping Gottoms and Faultroll for powerful combos

Deck 19 – Fairy deck

Control deck using Fairy Monsters with recursive and floating effects, then Kristya as a Powerful finisher and lockdown tool

Deck 20 – Phoenixian Cluster

Plant centric deck focusing on the banishing recursion of Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis

With these decks provided, you can start getting into edison format by picking a one you like

Closing thoughts

Edison Format is a very good historic format, and with this article, you’ll learn the ins and outs of the format and also get a basic idea on the decks.

That’s all i have for this article, Noivern will see you next article.