The Memento archetype operates on a seemingly paradoxical principle: strategic self-destruction as the primary engine for creation. Unlike archetypes where destroying one's own cards is a cost, for Memento, it is the central mechanic that converts on-field and in-hand resources into board presence, graveyard setup, and ultimately, overwhelming advantage. Understanding this core philosophy is the first step to mastering its complex and non-linear gameplay. This process populates the Graveyard with five "Memento" monsters of different names, setting the stage for the deck's ultimate boss monster.
The Memento archetype is composed of a diverse cast, each with a specific role. Understanding these roles?Starter, Extender, Payoff, or Utility?is essential for navigating the deck's intricate decision trees.
The premier starter. On summon, adds any "Memento" monster from Deck to hand.
Destroys a "Memento" to Special Summon another from the Deck.
Destroys a "Memento" to send others from Deck to GY, setting up combos.
Summons itself from hand when a Memento is destroyed, enabling a Fusion Summon.
The main boss. 5000 ATK, attacks all monsters, and revives Mementos from the GY as a Quick Effect.
Quick-Play Fusion. Its GY effect banishes itself to destroy a Memento and search any Memento S/T.
Quick-Play extender. Destroys a Memento from hand/field to search or summon another from Deck.
The Field Spell. Revives a Memento on destruction and recycles a Memento S/T from GY in the End Phase.
Continuous Trap that provides multiple monster effect negations by targeting your "Combined Creation".
This walkthrough demonstrates how one card, Mementotlan Tatsunootoshigo, can generate a full board by initiating the deck's cascade of self-destruction and revival.
Special Summon Tatsunootoshigo. Activate its effect, destroying itself to send Mace (Lvl 1), Goblin (Lvl 1), and Ghattic (Lvl 3) from Deck to GY. Ghattic triggers, reviving itself, then adds Mace from GY to hand.
Normal Summon Mace. Activate its effect, destroying itself to search Mementotlan Fusion. Activate Fusion, shuffling Mace, Tatsu, and Ghattic from GY to summon Creation King.
Chain Link 1: Creation King (on-field) sends Angwitch, a 2nd Goblin, and a 2nd King to GY. Chain Link 2: King (2) (in GY) banishes itself to search the Field Spell, Mementomictlan. Activate it.
Activate Fusion's GY effect, banishing it and destroying Creation King to search Bone Party. The Field Spell triggers, reviving Angwitch. Angwitch then triggers, searching Shleepy.
Shleepy summons itself from hand. Activate Shleepy's on-field effect, fusing itself (from field) and other Mementos (from GY) to summon Mementotlan Twin Dragon.
Twin Dragon pops itself, searching Horned Dragon & Combined Creation. Twin Dragon's GY effect triggers, reviving Goblin (2). Goblin pops itself to send 2 more names (like Dark Blade) to GY.
Activate Bone Party, destroying Angwitch to revive Mace from GY. Special Summon Horned Dragon from hand (since 3+ Mementos are in GY). Link Summon S:P Little Knight using Mace and Horned Dragon.
With S:P Little Knight on field, Special Summon Combined Creation by shuffling 5 Mementos (Tatsu, Angwitch, Twin Dragon, etc.) from GY to Deck. In the End Phase, the Field Spell sets Bone Party from your GY.
A powerful Memento endboard is a multi-faceted web of layered interactions designed to systematically dismantle an opponent's turn. It's not just a wall of negates, but a diverse set of disruptions.
A detailed breakdown of the archetype's most critical components and their roles in your strategy.
Monster / Starter
The best starter. On summon, searches any "Memento" monster. Also destroys a Memento to revive a Level 2 or lower Memento from the GY.
Monster / Starter
A potent starter that destroys a Memento (including itself) to Special Summon a Level 3 or lower Memento directly from the Deck.
Monster / Extender
The main mill engine. Destroys a Memento to send other Mementos from Deck to GY whose total Levels equal the destroyed monster's Level.
Monster / Extender
Critical combo piece. Summons itself from hand when a Memento is destroyed, then immediately enables a Fusion Summon.
Monster / Payoff
The 5000 ATK main boss. Attacks all monsters and has a Quick Effect to destroy a Memento to revive any Memento from the GY.
Monster / Payoff
Fusion boss that mills 3 on summon and has a Quick Effect to trade your Mementos for opponent's cards via destruction.
Spell / Utility
Quick-Play Fusion Spell. Its crucial GY effect lets you banish it and destroy a Memento to search any Memento Spell/Trap.
Spell / Extender
A vital Quick-Play extender that destroys a Memento from hand/field to summon or search another Memento from the Deck.
Spell / Utility
The Field Spell. Protects battling Mementos and revives a Memento from hand/GY when one of your monsters is destroyed.
Trap / Payoff
Continuous Trap that provides multiple monster negates per turn by targeting your "Combined Creation".
While the Memento core remains untouched, the archetype's The deck relies on generic extenders and GY setup tools to maximize its destruction triggers. means restrictions on generic support cards do have an impact.
Meta Implications: Despite restrictions on support cards, Memento's Memento can pivot between aggressive combo plays and grind-game strategies using its recursive GY effects. allows the deck to remain viable with alternative tech choices.
Banlist Status Summary
Core cards checked:
• Mementotlan Angwitch
• Mementotlan Bone Party
• Mementotlan Combined Creation
• Mementotlan Dark Blade
• Mementotlan Fusion
• Mementotlan Ghattic
• Mementotlan Goblin
• Mementotlan Horned Dragon
• Mementotlan Shleepy
• Mementotlan Tatsunootoshigo
• Mementotlan Twin Dragon
+ Related cards checked:
• Called by the Grave
• Foolish Burial
• One for One
• Small World analyzed •
0 archetype restrictions •
3 synergistic cards restricted
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