Executive Summary

The Vendread archetype is a DARK Zombie Ritual strategy defined by a unique and powerful mechanic: its Ritual Monsters gain bonus effects based on the monsters tributed from the field for their summon. This creates a highly tactical, modular playstyle focused on building a single, formidable boss monster with multiple forms of interruption. While plagued by some internal mechanical conflicts, the deck's access to the vast pool of generic Zombie support allows it to function as a resilient, resource-looping engine capable of overwhelming opponents through sheer advantage and powerful, customized threats.

Anatomy of the Horde

The Ritual Bosses

Revendread Slayer

The core engine piece. When sent from field to GY, it searches a Ritual Spell and sends any Vendread monster from Deck to GY, starting a powerful resource loop.

Vendread Battlelord

Provides crucial protection by allowing you to declare a card type (Monster, Spell, or Trap) and preventing your opponent from activating it for the turn.

Revendread Executor

The ultimate boss monster. Prevents your opponent from targeting any other cards you control, forcing them to deal with its 3000 ATK first.

The Ritual Fodder

Vendread Revenants

Grants the most powerful inherited effect: a Quick Effect to banish any Special Summoned monster the opponent controls.

Vendread Houndhorde

Bestows a Quick Effect to banish a Spell/Trap the opponent controls, providing crucial backrow removal.

Vendread Core

Provides targeting protection, making the Ritual Monster immune to many forms of removal and enabling the "Executor Lock".

Blueprint for the Apocalypse

The deck's power comes from turning a single Ritual Summon into a cascade of advantage. This core sequence demonstrates how the undead legion fuels itself.

Revendread Slayer
Missing: 4388680
1

Summon & Sacrifice

Ritual Summon Revendread Slayer. Immediately use it as material for a Link Summon (e.g., Avendread Savior).

Revendread Evolution
Missing: 7986397
2

Trigger the Engine

When Slayer hits the GY, its effect triggers. Add a Ritual Spell like Revendread Evolution to hand and send a "Vendread" monster like Scar of the Vendread to the GY.

Vendread Charge
Missing: 76798740
3

Cascade Advantage

The "Scar" sent to the GY now triggers, letting you search for any "Vendread" Spell/Trap, such as Vendread Charge, for further extension. One summon has now generated two searches and a loaded GY.

The Final Stand: End Boards

The Executor Lock

Revendread Executor
Missing: 34093683
  • Untargetable Fortress: Summoned using Vendread Core, Executor becomes untargetable.
  • Board Protection: Executor's own effect prevents your other cards from being targeted.
  • Inherited Power: Can also gain banishing effects from Revenants and Houndhorde.

Zombie World Control

Doomking Balerdroch
Missing: 39185163
  • Floodgate & Recur: Combine with Zombie World to disrupt opponent's plays.
  • Recurring Negation: Balerdroch revives itself and provides a monster negate every turn.
  • Banishing Power: Offers a Quick Effect to banish monsters from the field or GY.

Strategic Assessment

Strengths

  • Powerful Recursion: Exceptional grind game thanks to Zombie typing and in-archetype revival.
  • High Ceiling: Capable of producing incredibly resilient and disruptive boards.
  • Flexible Ritual Spells: Trio of Ritual Spells offers unmatched versatility for different situations.

Weaknesses

  • Inconsistency: Prone to awkward hands without a mix of monsters and spells.
  • GY Dependent: Extremely vulnerable to cards that banish from the GY or prevent GY effects.
  • Clear Choke Points: A single hand trap on a key starter like Uni-Zombie can end the turn.

Key Synergies

  • Uni-Zombie Package: The heart of Zombie combo decks, providing GY setup and Synchro plays.
  • Shiranui Engine: Turns the cost of Revendread Origin into a benefit, triggering effects when banished.
  • Generic Link/Synchro Monsters: Can easily pivot to make powerful bosses like Baronne de Fleur and Chaos Angel.

Banlist Impact

Fully Unrestricted

As of the current TCG format, the Vendread archetype is entirely unrestricted, allowing it to operate at full capacity.

Maximum Consistency

Play any card at your preferred ratio without restrictions

Full Strength Plays

Access to all archetype synergies without limitations

Strategic Freedom

No banlist constraints holding back your strategy

Banlist Status Summary

+ analyzed • 0 restrictions found • All cards legal at 3 copies

Find Vendread Decks

Explore deck lists from the YGOProDeck community featuring Vendread. Find inspiration for your next build!