Executive Summary

The Nemeses archetype operates on a unique philosophy: transforming the banished zone into a renewable resource pool. Unlike strategies that banish cards permanently, the Nemeses engine is designed to actively leverage banished cards to initiate its plays, extend combos, and summon its game-altering "Archnemeses" boss monsters. This core mechanic establishes the archetype as a potent, modular engine that integrates into decks already interacting with the banished zone, turning what is typically a point of no return into a source of recurring advantage.

The Engine Components

The Nemeses engine is comprised of small, utility-focused monsters that recycle banished cards and massive "Archnemeses" bosses that act as powerful win conditions.

The Engine Starters

Nemeses Flag

The primary starter and consistency tool. On summon, it searches for any other "Nemeses" monster from the Deck.

Nemeses Umbrella

The recovery specialist. It can add a "Nemeses" monster from the GY back to the hand, creating resource loops.

Nemeses Corridor

Its main strategic role is to enable the summon of Thunder Dragon Colossus due to its Type and summoning condition.

Support & Payoffs

Nemeses Adrastea

A Quick-Play Spell that offers combo extension by reviving a "Nemeses" from the GY or banished zone.

Archnemeses Eschatos

A boss monster that can declare a Monster Type, destroy all monsters of that Type, and prevent their Special Summon for two turns.

Archnemeses Protos (Forbidden)

The archetype's most powerful boss. Its format-warping Attribute-lock power led to it being re-Forbidden on the Oct. 2025 emergency banlist.

Core Combo: The Flag Starter

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This walkthrough shows how one banished card can ignite the entire Nemeses engine.

Pot of Desires
Missing: 35261759
1

The Requirement

Start with any monster in your banished zone. This can be achieved through cards like Pot of Desires, Allure of Darkness, or another archetype's mechanics.

Nemeses Flag
Missing: 19211362
2

Summon and Recycle

Activate Nemeses Flag in hand. Target the banished monster, Special Summon Flag, and shuffle the target back into the Deck.

Nemeses Corridor
Missing: 72090076
3

Search and Extend

Activate Flag's on-field effect to search for another "Nemeses" monster, such as Nemeses Corridor, preparing you for further Synchro or Link plays.

Primary End Boards

The "Protos" Floodgate (FORBIDDEN)

Archnemeses Protos
Missing: 6728559
  • Attribute Lock: An indestructible boss monster that can wipe a specific monster Attribute and prevent its summon for two turns.
  • Game-Winning Power: Calling an attribute like DARK could instantly win the game, which led to its ban.

The "Colossus" Lock

Thunder Dragon Colossus
Missing: 15291624
  • Search Prevention: Enabled by Nemeses Corridor, this locks your opponent from adding cards from their Deck to their hand.
  • Primary Goal: With Protos banned, this is now the engine's main splashable win condition.

Competitive Analysis

Strengths

  • Resource Recursion: Shuffles key combo pieces back into the deck for reuse.
  • Free Extension: Provides Special Summons that don't use the Normal Summon.
  • High Synergy: Acts as a powerful support engine for decks like Thunder Dragon or Dark Warrior.

Weaknesses

  • Engine Dependency: Cannot start its own plays and requires another card to banish a monster first.
  • Choke Points: Highly vulnerable to hand traps like Ash Blossom on Nemeses Flag.
  • Anti-Banish: Cards like Artifact Lancea can shut down the entire engine for a turn.

Prime Hybrid Engines

  • Thunder Dragon: The premier pairing, using Corridor to summon Colossus and recycling banished Thunder Dragons.
  • Invoked: Provides monsters of various attributes in the GY to fuel Invocation fusion summons.
  • Swordsoul (Historical): Was the premier deck to summon Protos. With Protos re-Forbidden, this synergy is no longer competitively optimal.

Current TCG Banlist Status (Nov 2025)

Forbidden

  • Archnemeses Protos - After a brief, chaotic return to Limited status, Protos was re-Forbidden on the Oct. 27, 2025 emergency list.

Unrestricted (3 Copies)

  • All Main Deck Nemeses monsters (Flag, Umbrella, Corridor, etc.)
  • Archnemeses Eschatos
  • Nemeses Adrastea

Meta Implications (Post-Protos): The emergency re-banning of Archnemeses Protos has snapped the engine's identity back to its more balanced applications. The generic combo with Infernal Flame Banshee is no longer a threat. The engine's primary goal has reverted to its secondary (and now primary) functions:

  • Enabling Thunder Dragon Colossus via Nemeses Corridor.
  • Functioning as a searchable side-deck "silver bullet" with Archnemeses Eschatos against mono-Type decks like Snake-Eyes.

Banlist Impact

SIGNIFICANT IMPACT: The Nemesis archetype faces significant restrictions on the TCG banlist with Archnemeses Protos forbidden.

Archetype Cards

Forbidden

  • • Archnemeses Protos

Meta Implications: The loss of Archnemeses Protos significantly impacts the archetype's power level and consistency. Players will need to adapt their strategies accordingly.

Banlist Status Summary

analyzed • 1 total restriction found • 1 archetype card

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