NEXUS

Executive Summary

The Cloudian archetype is a unique strategy centered around "Fog Counters" and swarming the field with low-level monsters. While they are immune to battle destruction, they have a critical weakness: they are destroyed if they are in face-up Defense Position. Modern Cloudian decks have pivoted from a slow control strategy to a fast-paced combo deck that uses its monsters as material for powerful, generic Link and Xyz summons. Their whimsical, weather-based designs hide a surprisingly explosive potential, as explored in their lore.

Foundational Mechanics: The Eye of the Storm

Fog Counters

The core resource of the archetype. Fog Counters are placed on Cloudian monsters and can be removed to activate various effects, from destroying cards to swarming the field with tokens.

Link & Xyz Swarm

The modern strategy focuses on using Cloudian - Turbulence to summon multiple Cloudian - Smoke Balls, which are then used as material for powerful Extra Deck monsters.

Core Combo: The Perfect Storm

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The main combo uses Cloudian - Turbulence and Cloudian Aerosol to quickly fill your board and set up your end board.

Cloudian - Turbulence
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1

The Gathering Clouds

Normal Summon Cloudian - Turbulence. Then, activate Cloudian Aerosol, discarding a high-level Cloudian monster to place a large number of Fog Counters on Turbulence.

Cloudian - Smoke Ball
Missing: 80825553
2

The Downpour

Use Turbulence's effect to remove Fog Counters and Special Summon multiple copies of Cloudian - Smoke Ball from your Deck and Graveyard, swarming the field.

Apollousa, Bow of the Goddess
Missing: 4280258
3

The Aftermath

Use your swarm of monsters to Link Summon powerful boss monsters like Apollousa, Bow of the Goddess or Xyz Summon Toadally Awesome.

The Final End Board

A typical Cloudian end board is a formidable wall of negations and disruptions, created from a surprisingly small number of starting cards.

Apollousa, Bow of the Goddess
Missing: 4280258

Multiple Monster Negates

Currently Banned in TCG

Apollousa is currently banned. Modern builds use Accesscode Talker or Knightmare Unicorn instead.

Apollousa, Bow of the Goddess can be summoned with 3 or 4 materials, providing that many monster negates to shut down your opponent's turn.

Toadally Awesome
Missing: 90809975

Omni-Negate and Recursion

Toadally Awesome offers a powerful omni-negate that can also steal the negated card, and it can recycle your WATER monsters from the Graveyard.

Competitive Analysis

Strengths

  • Explosive Swarm: Can easily fill the board with monsters from a one-card starter.
  • Powerful End Board: Capable of creating multiple negates and disruptions.
  • Good Recursion: Can recycle its resources for follow-up plays.

Weaknesses

  • Normal Summon Reliant: Very vulnerable to hand traps that negate the first summon.
  • Fragile Combo: The main combo is linear and can be easily disrupted.
  • Lack of Protection: Cloudian monsters are easily removed by card effects.

Key Tech & Synergies

  • WATER Extenders: Cards like Silent Angler help make your Xyz plays more consistent.
  • Fairy Support: Archlord Kristya can be a powerful floodgate that shuts down your opponent.
  • Generic WATER support: Cards like Salvage can help you recover resources for a grind game.

The Cloud Atlas

An overview of the essential cards that make up this surprisingly powerful weather-based strategy.

Cloudian - Turbulence

Fairy/Effect

The heart of the combo. This monster uses Fog Counters to summon a storm of Smoke Balls to the field.

Cloudian - Smoke Ball

Fairy/Normal

The fuel for your Extra Deck plays. These Level 1 tokens are the key to swarming the field and making your powerful boss monsters.

Cloudian Aerosol

Normal Spell

This spell card loads your Turbulence with Fog Counters and can even special summon a Cloudian from your deck.

Toadally Awesome

Aqua/Xyz/Effect

One of the deck's main boss monsters. It provides a powerful omni-negate and can recycle your resources.

Banlist Impact

While the Cloudian core remains untouched, the archetype's moderate (benefits from WATER Frog toolbox and weather control cards) means restrictions on generic support cards do have an impact.

Affected Synergistic Cards

Forbidden

  • Ronintoadin
  • Apollousa, Bow of the Goddess
  • Borreload Savage Dragon

Limited

  • Called by the Grave
  • Crossout Designator
  • Triple Tactics Talent
  • Pot of Prosperity

Meta Implications: Despite restrictions on support cards, Cloudian's moderate (can be played pure or hybrid with Frog engine) allows the deck to remain viable with alternative tech choices.

Banlist Status Summary

+ analyzed • 0 archetype restrictions • 7 synergistic cards restricted