A Technical Analysis of a Control and Utility Engine
The "Artifact" archetype is a specialized control engine that disrupts opponents by Special Summoning its monsters from the Spell & Trap Zone during the opponent's turn. Historically centered on the now-Forbidden Artifact Scythe and Artifact Mjollnir (both currently banned), the engine has been forced into a purely reactive, supplementary role. Its proactive lock strategies have been definitively removed from the game. It now focuses on providing meta-dependent disruption with cards like Artifact Lancea or facilitating niche Rank 5 Xyz plays, making it a small, specialized package for specific hybrid strategies.
Artifact monsters can be Set in the Spell & Trap Zone. When they are destroyed there during the opponent's turn, they Special Summon themselves from the Graveyard. This unique mechanic turns potential backrow removal from your opponent into a way to build your own board presence.
All main deck Artifact monsters are Level 5, giving the deck consistent and easy access to a powerful toolbox of generic Rank 5 Xyz monsters, such as the disruptive Artifact Durendal and Constellar Pleiades.
This sequence demonstrates a niche combo using Artifact Ignition. While no longer the primary strategy, it shows how to generate a Level 5 body and removal.
Set Artifact Ignition. During your opponent's turn, activate it to destroy a Spell/Trap they control. Its effect then allows you to Set an "Artifact" monster like Artifact Moralltach from your deck.
Activate a second Spell/Trap destruction effect (like another Ignition or Twin Twisters) to destroy your newly Set Moralltach.
Moralltach is Special Summoned from the Graveyard, and its effect triggers, allowing you to destroy one face-up card your opponent controls.
This non-interactive, two-turn lock is what led to Artifact Mjollnir's emergency banning in October 2025. The combo "gifted" the card's crippling downside to the opponent before their first turn began.
Summon Artifact Dagda. Use its effect to Set Artifact Mjollnir from Deck, then use another card (e.g., Artifact Ignition) to destroy Mjollnir on your own turn, sending it to the Graveyard.
Xyz Summon the generic Rank 5 Imperial Princess Quinquery. Activate its effect, detaching 1 material to target Mjollnir in your Graveyard.
Quinquery's effect Special Summons Mjollnir to the opponent's field. Mjollnir's mandatory effect activates, applying its lock to its current controller (the opponent), who is now locked out of all non-Artifact Special Summons for two full turns.
A detailed overview of the key cards in this ancient armory.
The most relevant Artifact in the modern meta. As a Quick Effect from hand or on Special Summon, it prevents both players from banishing cards for the rest of the turn, a powerful "silver bullet" effect.
Provides niche spot removal, destroying one face-up card the opponent controls when it's Special Summoned during their turn. Used as a Level 5 body in Rank 5 hybrid decks.
When Special Summoned, it revived another "Artifact" but locked its controller out of non-Artifact Special Summons for two turns. This was abused by "gifting" it to the opponent with Imperial Princess Quinquery, applying a two-turn, game-ending lock on Turn 1.
The engine's most important card. It's the only efficient way to summon an Artifact from the Deck, providing instant access to Lancea. It is also searchable by Triple Tactics Thrust.
Formerly the core enabler for Artifact Scythe and Artifact Mjollnir locks. With both now Forbidden, Dagda is competitively obsolete. Its 3-card combo to summon a simple Level 5 monster is far too inefficient for modern play.
A Quick-Play Spell that destroys a Spell/Trap, then Sets an "Artifact" from Deck. Its value has plummeted as it's a slow, multi-card combo compared to the 1-card Artifact Sanctum.
HIGH IMPACT: The Artifact archetype faces significant restrictions on the TCG banlist with Artifact Mjollnir and Artifact Scythe forbidden.
Meta Implications: While the loss of key cards is significant, Artifact players can adapt by focusing on Artifact Lancea as targeted meta-dependent disruption via Artifact Sanctum in Trap-heavy hybrid decks.
Banlist Status Summary
Core cards checked:
• Artifact Achilleshield
• Artifact Aegis
• Artifact Beagalltach
• Artifact Caduceus
• Artifact Chakram
• Artifact Dagda
• Artifact Durendal
• Artifact Failnaught
• Artifact Ignition
• Artifact Labrys
• Artifact Lancea
• Artifact Mjollnir
• Artifact Moralltach
• Artifact Sanctum
• Artifact Scythe
• Artifact Vajra
• Artifacts Unleashed
+ Related cards checked:
• Accesscode Talker
• Apollousa, Bow of the Goddess
• Arc Rebellion Xyz Dragon
• Artifact Durendal
• Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring
• Borreload Savage Dragon
• Called by the Grave
• Chronomaly Vimana
• Constellar Pleiades
• Cosmic Cyclone
• Crossout Designator
• Cyber Dragon
• Cyber Dragon Core
• Droll & Lock Bird
• Effect Veiler
• Harpie's Feather Duster
• I:P Masquerena
• Imperial Princess Quinquery
• Infinite Impermanence
• Labrynth Cooclock
• Labrynth Stovie
• Nibiru, the Primal Being
• Pot of Extravagance
• Pot of Prosperity
• S:P Little Knight
• Triple Tactics Talent
• Triple Tactics Thrust
• Twin Twisters
• Welcome Labrynth analyzed •
9 total restrictions found
• 2 archetype cards
• 7 synergistic cards
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