Lore Archive
"Mutants with awakened powers fight each other and break the law in outrageous ways, so KEEPER answered with mutants of its own: the K9 squadron. They wear their restraints as a uniform, and unleash their full power only when HQ approves it."
KEEPER, the military police squadron that keeps the peace, was split into units K1 to K8, but mutant crime outgrew all of them. So it secretly planned a mutant unit of its own, and more than ten years after the idea was first raised, with its early troubles kept quiet, the K9 squadron was formed.
One of the new squadron's commanders, Izuna takes her code name, the weasel, from the whirlwind mononoke of distant lands whose power she wields. She is diligence and honesty itself, but on operations her caution often gets in the way of her squad's teamwork.
K9 members can release only a fraction of their power without KEEPER's approval, to keep them from rampaging and losing their humanity, and they wear restraints as their uniform. Released, Izuna is registered as Ripper, with razor-sharp bio-blades on both arms.
Pushed to her limit on a mission, she released so much power that she could not turn back on her own. It revealed the truth: her power comes from the sennen itachi, the legendary raijū, and the kamaitachi was only a fraction of it.
An expert in onmyōdō, something like an ancient scientist, who also has the powers of a bakegitsune. Noroi came from KEEPER HQ, on loan to Izuna's squad with Jokul and Lantern, but he has the authority to act on his own, and his forced releases of their powers keep clashing with Izuna's cautious wait-and-see approach.
The monster of frost and the devil of fire: Jokul and Lantern, mutants designed by KEEPER HQ to be a matched pair. Without each other's powers, neither can keep their body, or the air around them, at a steady temperature, in daily life or on missions.
So they must release their powers at the same time, and the order is never theirs to give: it comes from KEEPER HQ, or from Noroi, watching on site. Released together, they are Jacks.
A mutant with the power of the legendary werewolf, and a mystery. Lupis is ØØ, the Lost Number in the records of K9's founding, and at the same time on K9's wanted list. He keeps slipping KEEPER's pursuit, often crossing paths with Izuna's squad, and steps into mutant crime scenes as a vigilante.
Instead of the official uniform he wears a prototype restraint, and his release is extremely powerful, but unstable.
Executive Summary: The Paradigm Shift
The introduction of K9-X "Ripper/M" in the Burst
Protocol expansion represents a paradigm shift for the K9 archetype. Historically a
reactive engine reliant on the fragile "Quinquery Lock" (Plan A), the deck has evolved into a
high-velocity, interactive powerhouse centered on "Plan B": Reactive
Annihilation.
With "Ripper/M" acting as a 0-Point boss monster in the Genesys Format, the deck can now deploy a non-targeting board wipe that
negates monster effects, pierces through defense, and shuffles resources—all while leaving room for
maximum "Power Staples."
The K9 Unit: Operatives & Toolbox
Main Deck Operatives
Missing: 47960073
K9-04 Noroi (Intel & Consistency)
The 1-Card Revolution. Beyond being a starter, Noroi allows you to look at the opponent's hand, providing the critical intel needed to time the K9-X Forced Release "nuke."
Missing: 91025875
K9-ØØ Lupis (The Protector)
CRITICAL Grants targeting protection to Xyz monsters using it as material. This makes "Ripper/M" immune to Infinite Impermanence and Effect Veiler, guaranteeing the board wipe resolves.
Missing: 28642461
K9-66a Jokul (Resource Engine)
Ensures the "Rank 5 per turn" consistency required for the new playstyle. Searches Noroi or Lupis and facilitates proactive board building.
Extra Deck Toolbox
Missing: 31286915
K9-X "Ripper/M" (The Nuke)
The new Rank 9 Boss. Summoned via "Forced Release".
- Offense: 3100 ATK with Piercing Damage.
- Control: Shuffles 2 cards from GY/Banishment on summon.
- Disruption: Detach 2 to negate a monster effect and destroy ALL cards on the field.
K9-17 "Ripper"
The Rank 5 base. Still essential for searching "A Case for K9" and serving as the primary material ("ladder") for the "Ripper/M" summon.
K9-66X "Jacks" (The Pop)
Used when a board wipe is overkill. "Jacks" provides spot removal and can also step up into Ripper/M if needed.
Protocol: "Plan B" Execution
The "Double Interruption" Sequence
This interaction condenses destruction, GY hate, and an omni-negate board wipe into a single Spell activation window.
The Setup
End your turn with a Rank 5 (e.g., K9-17 "Ripper") with K9-ØØ Lupis attached as material. Set K9-X Forced Release.
Activate & Destroy
On opponent's turn, activate Forced Release. Summon K9-X "Ripper/M" using the Rank 5. Destroy 1 card immediately upon resolution.
Missing: 31286915
Shuffle & Nuke
1. Ripper/M triggers: Shuffle 2 opponent's GY/Banished cards into deck.
2. Quick Effect: When opponent activates a monster effect,
detach 2 materials to negate it and destroy ALL
cards on the field.
End Board Configurations
Plan B: Ripper/M Control
Missing: 31286915
- The Nuke: Quick Effect board wipe ready to resolve.
- Protection: Untargetable via Lupis material.
- Follow-Up: "A Case for K9" searches next turn starter if destroyed.
Plan A: The Floodgate
- Total Lockdown: "Spell Canceller" prevents all Spell cards.
- Context: Use against Spell-heavy decks like Sky Striker or Runick where the Nuke is less effective.
Hybrids & Synergies
Vanquish Soul K9
The "Simultaneous Destruction" Loop.
- The Interaction: Use Vanquish Soul, Start! (or similar protection) when Ripper/M nukes the field.
- The Result: The board wipe resolves, destroying all opponent's cards, but your VS monsters survive due to the protection applying simultaneously.
- Status: YCS Bologna Winner (Pierre Burgals).
Orcust K9
The Indestructible Board.
- Dingirsu Synergy: When Ripper/M detonates, detach from Dingirsu, the Orcust of the Evening Star instead of destroying your board.
- Result: One-sided Raigeki.
Interactive Combo Replays
Step through real K9 combo lines recorded from live duels. Use the controls to advance each step and watch the board come together.
The K9 Full Combo — Triple Gustav Max
Beginner Guide Available
An ambitious combo starting with K9-04 Noroi's Normal Summon, which searches and special summons K9-66a Jokul for an immediate Xyz Summon into K9-17 "Ripper". The line chains through K9-66b Lantern, Infinitrack River Stormer, Heavy Freight Train Derricrane, Revolving Switchyard, Flying Pegasus Railroad Stampede, and the Infinitrack engine to build toward a three-copy Superdreadnought Rail Cannon Gustav Max endboard supported by Clockwork Knight. Heads-up: this line uses K9-04 Noroi, which is Forbidden in the TCG (as of 5 October 2026), so it isn't legal at TCG events as shown.
✨ Combo by TC May 3, 2026
Banlist Impact
SIGNIFICANT IMPACT: The K9 archetype faces significant restrictions on the TCG banlist with K9-04 Noroi forbidden. Additionally, 2 cards are limited.
Archetype Cards
Forbidden
- • K9-04 Noroi
Limited
- • "A Case for K9"
- • K9-66a Jokul
Synergistic Cards
Forbidden
- • K9-04 Noroi
Limited
- • K9-66a Jokul
- • "A Case for K9"
- • Crossout Designator
- • Called by the Grave
Meta Implications: The loss of K9-04 Noroi significantly impacts the archetype's power level and consistency. Players will need to adapt their strategies accordingly.
Banlist Status Summary
Core cards checked:
• "A Case for K9"
• K9-04 Noroi
• K9-17 "Ripper"
• K9-17 Izuna
• K9-66X "Jacks"
• K9-66a Jokul
• K9-66b Lantern
• K9-EW Special Release Experiment
• K9-LC Release Restraint
• K9-X "Ripper/M"
• K9-X "Werewolf"
• K9-X Forced Release
• K9-ØØ "Hound"
• K9-ØØ Lupis
+ Related cards checked:
• "A Case for K9"
• Ancient Gear Ballista
• Ancient Gear Box
• Called by the Grave
• Convex Knight
• Crossout Designator
• Double Headed Anger Knuckle
• Flying Pegasus Railroad Stampede
• Heavy Armored Knight Babeldecker
• Infinitrack Brutal Dozer
• Infinitrack Goliath
• Infinitrack River Stormer
• K9-04 Noroi
• K9-66X "Jacks"
• K9-66a Jokul
• K9-X "Ripper/M"
• K9-X Forced Release
• Night Train Blue Traveler
• Qliphort Genius
• Revolving Switchyard
• Scrap Recycler
• Spell Canceller
• Superdreadnought Rail Cannon Flying Launcher
• Urgent Schedule analyzed •
8 total restrictions found
• 3 archetype cards
• 5 synergistic cards
