Revendread Slayer ———————————————— You can Ritual Summon this card with any "Vendread" Ritual Spell. Once per battle, if this card battles an opponent's monster, during damage calculation (Quick Effect): You can banish 1 Zombie monster from your GY; this card gains 300 ATK. If this Ritual Summoned card is sent to the GY: You can add 1 Ritual Spell from your Deck to your hand, and if you do, send 1 "Vendread" monster from your Deck to the GY. You can only use this effect of "Revendread Slayer" once per turn. ———————————————— Can Be Found In: Code of the Duelist (COTD-EN082), OTS Tournament Pack (OP06-EN004)

Ritual Monsters gained a big list of improvements over the years, in part compensating the tough competition of Extra Deck strategies in most Decks. Ritual Summon requires a big investment of our Main Deck to not only obtain both a Ritual Monster and Spell, but also the enough materials to perform the summon. During the first years this was a very expensive investment unless working arround cheap monsters like "Relinquished", but as time passed Ritual Summon obtained several updates on their performance. From shortcuts on our Ritual Summons to additional effects in our Ritual Monsters, Ritual Summon took quite a while to achieve a variety of efficient builds.

"Revendread Slayer" is the lead monster of the Vendread archetype, a group of Zombies taking advantage of the Type's mechanics to Ritual Summon monsters like this one. "Slayer" has a simple effect activated during each battle against an opponent's monster, banishing a Zombie in our Graveyard for permanently gain 300 ATK. Since this will gradually make it stronger "Slayer" won't take long to be removed from the field, but if is sent to the Graveyard after being Ritual Summoned we can obtain a Ritual Spell from the Deck and dump a Vendread monster from the Deck in return. An in-battle effect and a backup plan once leaves the field might seem that "Slayer" is not that impressive compared to other Ritual Monsters, but once we apply the archetype's gimmicks it can become one of the most dangerous monsters out there.

Although Vendread has other Ritual Monsters to work with, "Slayer" will become the priority due some additional advantages it can obtain during the progress of a Duel. With "Vendread Nights" looking for "Slayer" and common Ritual tools like "Preparation of Rites" as well "Slayer" itself looking for Ritual Spells, it won't take long to have the key cards for the Ritual Summon. The non-Ritual monsters in the archetype have a diverse number of conditions to revive themselves, and combined with staple Zombie options like "Book of Life" and "Mezuki" we won't run out of materials to summon "Slayer". Not only that, but "Revendread Origin" allows us to use materials directly from our Graveyard, while "Revendread Evolution" does so with a Vendread in our Deck (Like a copy of "Slayer" paying the whole summon). "Evolution" it can become more valuable in late game, as with its ability to Ritual Summon "Slayer" from the Graveyard it can bring it back as we mill a Vendread in the process for further benefits. Don't worry is we banish too many monsters due the archetype's nature, as cards like "Vendread Anima" and "Vendread Reunion" among others will retrieve them to keep with our Ritual Summons.

"Slayer" is that kind of monster that we can't see its true potential until we apply the rest of the build to its performance. The ATK boost since is permanent can make "Slayer" a powerful attacker the longer it stays on the field, and with the protection from the Graveyard effect provided by "Revendread Origin" we can assure its safety against destructive sources. The non-Ritual monsters in the archetype not only can revive themselves but also grant additional effects to any monster Ritual Summoned by using them as materials, allowing "Slayer" to destroy cards each turn with "Vendread Houndhorde" and "Vendread Revenants", or improving its own performance thanks to "Vendread Core" and "Vendread Striges". Obviously these effects can apply to other Ritual Monsters that can make company to "Slayer", with "Vendread Battlelord" shutting down a card type during our turn or "Vendread Chimera" negating card or effect activations. However, a lone "Slayer" can still be a problem not only by the granted effects from our materials but also "Vendread Chimera", a Trap Card capable of clearing the whole board but "Slayer" itself. Keep on mind that its searching effect will trigger no matter how is sent to the Graveyard, so as long "Slayer" was Ritual Summoned it can give us a Ritual Spell no matter if was defeated or used as material for other summons.

Despite Vendread offering stronger Ritual Monsters to focus on, "Revendread Slayer" has some small yet noticeable benefits to make it the core card of the archetype. A low and solid Level to make its Ritual Summon steady from early to late game, the Vendread materials providing additional effects to work along its ATK boosts, and the Graveyard coverage provided by "Revendread Origin" and "Revendread Evolution" makes "Slayer" a sturdy monster that becomes more threatening as turns passes. "Slayer" is obviously a monster very dependant of other cards, starting with its Ritual Summon to the effects and Graveyard options to work along with. The latter is quite apparent as most of its efficiency comes from being Ritual Summoned, and although it can be revived by one of many options it will lost all its power including its ability to search for a Ritual Spell unless brought back by "Evolution". With more than enough support to work with, "Slayer" might not be the most impressive Ritual Monster on its own but can become one of the most dominant creatures in a Duel thanks to the many options involving it.

Personal Rating: A

+ In each battle against a monster it can banish a Zombie in the Graveyard to permanently gain 300 ATK + If Ritual Summoned and sent to the Graveyard it will search a Ritual Spell and mill a Vendread monster from our Deck + Greatly supported by its archetype in both performance and Ritual Summon from early to late game

- Most of its efficiency comes from working along other Vendread cards and effects

Revendread Origin ———————————————— This card can be used to Ritual Summon any "Vendread" Ritual Monster from your hand or GY. You must also Tribute monsters from your hand or field, and/or banish Zombie monsters from your GY, whose total Levels equal or exceed the Level of the Ritual Monster you Ritual Summon. If "Revendread Slayer(s)" you control would be destroyed by battle or card effect, you can banish this card from your GY instead. ———————————————— Can Be Found In: Code of the Duelist (COTD-EN084)

Vendread is an archetype which takes full advantage of the gamestyle of Zombie monsters to ease their Ritual Summons considerably. While taking the same approach of the Type to fuel the Graveyard and revive their members, Vendreads probably have some of the most accesible setups arround Ritual Monsters out there. Not only that, but most of their members will provide additional abilities to our Ritual Monsters when used as materials, not only becoming cheap setups but also powerful creatures by little to no effort.

"Revendread Origin" will be the main tool for the biggest plays arround these creatures, yet able to keep some abilities to interact arround one of their key members. Obviously is a Spell Card made towards Ritual Summon, but with the liberty to completely take advantage of our Graveyard by either summoning a Ritual Monster from there and/or banishing Zombie materials. Clearly the staple card of the entire archetype and combined with the playstyle of Vendreads, soon enough we will obtain cheap Ritual Summons as well able to revive their Ritual Monsters without any difficulties. Among those monsters there's "Revendread Slayer" which obtains a special place arround "Revendread Origin", as in case "Slayer" (Or several of it on the field) is about to be destroyed we can banish this Spell Card from our Graveyard to avoid the outcome. Clearly is more about the Graveyard setups "Origin" can interact with as can go from recycling materials to reviving Ritual Monsters, but with "Slayer" getting some coverage when on the lead is something to not ignore that easily.

Although the archetype is quite new and still lacking in some options, there's more than enough resources to prepare "Revendread Origin" and any materials needed. Starting games with the help of "Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands" and "Pre-Preparation of Rites", "Revendread Origin" will be immediately in our hand ready for its activation. However, since is so far the only Ritual Spell the archetype can work with, is recommended to add "Preparation of Rites" to our Deck so we can retrieve it from our Graveyard before is spent protecting "Revendread Slayer". When comes to materials and even the Ritual Monster we want to summon "Origin" shouldn't have any difficulties, as we can fuel our Graveyard with the help of effects like "Gozuki" or "Uni-Zombie" among others to obtain key monsters immediately. While "Origin" can use almost any Zombie as material, Vendreads will be the main priority in many matches as members like "Vendread Revenants" and "Vendread Houndhorde" will provide disruptive effects to our Ritual Monster. Otherwise, we can mix this archetype with Shiranui monsters as once we banish members like "Shiranui Spiritmaster" and "Shiranui Solitaire" we will obtain their abilities in the process. Finally, with only two Ritual Monsters to work so far in most cases "Revendread Slayer" will be the lead monster of the build, and even though "Origin" is able to provide protection against destructive sources "Slayer" can be defeated to not only be revived later on but also its effect to look for another "Revendread Origin" as well dump a Vendread from our Graveyard.

With the Graveyard fully available for the archetype's key setups, "Revendread Origin" is undoubtly the most important card in the whole build. Many supporting cards will mill our Deck with not only materials but also the Ritual Monster we want to summon, obtaining the bonus effects of Vendreads but also other Zombies like the Shiranui archetype, and with cards like "Preparation of Rites" and "Pre-Preparation of Rites" under our assistance will keep the only Ritual Spell in the build fully available from early to late game. Protecting "Revendread Slayer" is a little extra and might make the only Ritual Spell the archetype has go to waste as the Duel progresses, but with the many materials strengthening our Ritual Monster with their provided effects as well cards like "Vendread Reunion" taking over by using banished monsters as materials it might be worth the risk to keep a strong field against any danger. Clearly "Revendread Origin" is what moves the entire build, and with the cheap yet highly effective Ritual Summons that can perform will be what produces the best results arround Vendreads.

Personal Rating: A+

+ Full use of the Graveyard by banishing materials as well reviving a Vendread Ritual Monster + Can be banished from the Graveyard to protect "Revendread Slayer" and any other copies from destruction + Greatly supported by milling and searching effects + Cheap Ritual Summons in addition of bonus effects from Vendread and Shiranui materials

- As the only Ritual Spell in the archetype is riskful to banish it protecting "Revendread Slayer" - The archetype completely relies on this card to work