Executive Summary

The Labrynth archetype is a premier Trap-based control strategy in modern Yu-Gi-Oh!. It excels at slowing the game's tempo and generating overwhelming resource advantage through a recursive engine. The core mechanic revolves around activating monster effects whenever "a monster leaves the field by your Normal Trap effect." This transforms simple traps into catalysts for powerful chain reactions, creating a dynamic where the Labrynth player profits from every interaction, turning the opponent's plays into their own victory condition.

The Inhabitants of the Labyrinth

The castle's power lies in the intricate synergies between its residents, from the ruling matriarchs to the diligent servants and the enchanted furniture that enables their work.

The Matriarchs & Servants

Lovely Labrynth of the Silver Castle

The primary offensive tool. Protects your traps and converts removal into devastating hand disruption.

Lady Labrynth of the Silver Castle

The defensive cornerstone. Summons herself easily and tutors any Normal Trap from the deck, making her a versatile toolbox.

Arianna the Labrynth Servant

The most crucial starter. Searches any "Labrynth" card on summon and generates card advantage from trap activations.

The Castle's Architecture

Welcome Labrynth

The primary engine starter. Summons a "Labrynth" from the deck and recycles itself from the Graveyard.

Big Welcome Labrynth

A flexible extender and disruption tool. Summons from hand, deck, or GY and can bounce cards on the field.

Labrynth Labyrinth

The Field Spell. Adds a destruction effect to your "Welcome" traps and revives Fiends from the Graveyard.

The "Turn 0" Offensive

The deck's most feared capability is its ability to build a board during the opponent's first turn using the "Furniture" monsters and Labrynth Cooclock.

Labrynth Stovie Torbie
Missing: 74018812
1

Set the Trap

During the opponent's turn, use a "Furniture" monster's effect (like Stovie Torbie) from your hand to set Big Welcome Labrynth from the deck.

Labrynth Cooclock
Missing: 2511
2

Spring the Trap Early

Discard Labrynth Cooclock to allow the activation of Big Welcome Labrynth on the same turn it was set.

Lovely Labrynth of the Silver Castle
Missing: 2347656
3

Generate Advantage

Activate Big Welcome Labrynth to summon a monster (e.g., Lovely Labrynth), triggering its effect to destroy a card in the opponent's hand and recycling your Stovie Torbie from the GY.

The Labrynth End Board

Unlike combo decks that create static boards of negates, a Labrynth "end board" is a dynamic state of potential, measured in layers of interaction and guaranteed follow-up. A typical end state includes:

On-Field Presence

  • A Matriarch (Lady or Lovely)
  • A resource generator (Arianna)
  • Furniture in GY for recursion

Set Backrow

  • A "Welcome" trap for engine continuation
  • A powerful generic trap (e.g., Karma Cannon)
  • Potentially 2-3 additional traps

This board's strength lies in its ability to adapt and respond, generating overwhelming advantage through the resource loop.

Competitive Analysis

Strengths

  • Exceptional grind game and resource loop.
  • Proactive "Turn 0" disruption capability.
  • Flexible toolbox for searching specific trap answers.

Weaknesses

  • Vulnerable choke point on "Welcome" trap resolution.
  • Can struggle against decks that benefit from destruction.
  • Backrow removal like Harpie's Feather Duster can be devastating.

Allies & Armaments

  • Fiend Engines: Unchained and Fiendsmith synergize perfectly.
  • Generic Traps: Karma Cannon, Ice Dragon's Prison, Transaction Rollback.
  • Floodgates: Skill Drain and Rivalry of Warlords can be powerful alternatives.

Live TCG Banlist Status

Banlist Impact

While the Labrynth core remains untouched, the archetype's benefits from Unchained and Fiendsmith engines means restrictions on generic support cards do have an impact.

Affected Synergistic Cards

Semi-Limited

  • Unchained Soul of Sharvara

Meta Implications: Despite restrictions on support cards, Labrynth's versatile control deck that can incorporate various Fiend and trap support allows the deck to remain viable with alternative tech choices.

Banlist Status Summary

+ analyzed • 0 archetype restrictions1 synergistic card restricted