[R/F] Shinobird-Impcantation Decklist (Simply aiming to be more competitive, preparing for when Savage Strike drops)

Yes I know the next set is ages away but maaan this looks fun from my online test runs.

So I made a Gishki Decklist before and had a lot of fun talking with people here, so here I am with another Ritual Archetype that got forgotten. With the new Impcantation Cards on the horizon, a deck that had issues recurring its Ritual Spell is suddenly...very, very fun. And really consistent for what it is.

And that deck is Shinobirds, which took two of the worst Card Types (Ritual/Spirit) and somehow made it work!

Without further ado, let's get to the decklist!

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Impcantation Engine (11):

Unlike in my Gishki Decklist, I run a lot more Impcantations. This is because I run Chalislime, who mitigates a lot of the possible bricks that can occur if I don't have my Ritual Monsters to get plays going. I also tend to have the Ritual Spell in my hand a lot thanks to the plethora of search options the deck provides. Manju, being the most notable.

• 3x Talismandra
  • Brings the Baron, Baroness or Chalislime to the hand, extending plays and allowing for a lot of interesting outcomes. Very useful, always run at 3.
• 3x Candoll
  • If you're not running this your consistency levels drop severely. It searches, it fills the field, nothing wrong with it at all. Bringing the Ritual Spell to the hand ASAP is one of the most important aspects of this deck, and you cannot afford to drop it.
• 2x Bookstone
  • To whoever at Konami made this, thank you. Thank you so much. This lets the Ritual Spell come back and allow Shinobirds to play the grind game when necessary. No more Preparation of Rites bricking my hand because I run it at 3 and ruining everything for everyone!
• 2x Pensilver
  • Not as useful as the rest since I have a multitude of ways to bring my Ritual Monsters back, but it does the job when it's needed.
• 1x Chalislime
  • I don't really need to ever summon it, just use it to bring out Bookstone when necessary. Thanks to the levels of searching this deck can offer, it works quite well at just 1. 2 is cloggy. Affording the Discard Cost can be daunting at times, however. Pitching the Ritual Spell and then summoning Bookstone can work for a strict plus, but it's a little...weird, y'know?

Monsters (20):

• 3x Manju of the TEN THOUSAND HANDS
  • Really though where are the other hands? Anyway, Manju is immensely helpful for searching literally half of the deck, and can get a lot of plays going. He's stood the test of time, that's for sure. No problems here, run him at 3.
• 3x Aratama
  • Why, yes, I would LOVE to search the other parts of the deck that Manju can't touch! Works great with the next card, creating a Rank 4 Engine that can also search a card thanks to this lil guy. No reason to not run at 3, this is one of the best Spirits ever made.
• 3x Nikitama
  • This is dead in the hand without a second spirit, although as Ritual/Discard fodder he can turn it into a plus (it lets you draw a card if you control another Spirit). He enables a second Normal Summon of a Spirit, meaning Link-2 and Rank 4 Plays are especially easy to perform, which is excellent. Run this at 3 when you can, you definitely can't go wrong with it.
• 3x Amano-Iwato
  • Ahaha, why would you run Shinobirds without this guy? He can be special summoned with one of the Shinobird Rituals, which means he can sit there negating monster effects even during the opponent's turn! Incredible card that can aid in Rank 4 Plays if I really want to.
• 2x Cyber Tutubon
  • This card is a little weird at first, but it is easy to summon (tribute a fairy, special summons from the hand). However, it's not used for that. It's used for the effect that happens when it's dumped for a Ritual Summon: it brings back a Ritual Spell from the grave!
• 3x Shinobaron Peacock
  • The main beater of the deck, this thing allows for explosive plays and is the center of the deck. Bouncing 3 Monsters, Special Summoning a Spirit (Amano-Iwato!), and being able to swing for game is super fun. Really, this thing is absolutely bonkers. The Tokens during the End Phase are quite helpful if they survive the next turn...which usually doesn't happen. Regardless, this thing is a literal explosion when summoned and will break almost any board when summoned.
• 3x Shinobaroness Peacock
  • When the opponent has back rows with threatening auras, the Baroness can be used to brutally rip into them, popping 3. This breaks Pendulum Scales, Altergeist Back Rows, many things if you can make it work. Usage with Amano-Iwato is highly recommended to secure a solid KO on Altergeists, otherwise they can potentially fight back. It's unlikely though since the effect works when summoned.

Spells (9);

• 1x Upstart Goblin
  • 39 Card Deck since I couldn't figure out what to put in for the last card. Probably could have raised a ratio or something, but the +1000 LP rarely matters.
• 2x Preparation of Rites
  • Brings Chalislime to the hand while reusing a Ritual Spell. Bricks when it doesn't come up while I'm popping off, but a solid card at 2 regardless.
• 3x Pre-Preparation of Rites
  • Ritual Spell specifically mentions the Shinobird Rituals, so this is important to run at 3. Raises consistency levels off the charts.
• 3x Shinobird's Calling
  • Well it summons the Ritual Monsters. I love how it allows you to exceed the level of the monster, as it makes it easier to get the Impcantations off the field to get back to Extra Deck Plays.

Extra Deck (15);

• 1x Number 38: Hope Harbringer Dragon Titanic Galaxy
  • I like to go into this after summoning 2 Shinobirds and attempting to swing for game (if I fail). It's also useful if I swarm the field enough to healthily pull it off, but that's unlikely. Basically it's there to stop a Raigeki or other worrisome spell from happening.
• 1x Number 39: Utopia -> Number S39: Utopia Prime -> Number S39: Utopia the Lightning
  • It's got a Rank 4 Engine, Utopia has to be here in some form. Immensely useful card when going in for the OTK.
• 1x Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon
  • I like using this card for those beefy 4000 Atk Monsters, although it could definitely be replaced for something else.
• 1x Tornado Dragon
  • This is part of my S/T Removal Options along with Knightmare Phoenix. Helps out in a pinch, I totally did not get traumatized by a Black Garden Deck and needed quick ways to get rid of it.
• 1x Castel, the Skyblaster Musketeer
  • Just in case the Shinobirds missed something, Castel is here for those concerning moments.
• 1x Fairy Cheer Girl
  • I...don't really know what else to put in, so she's there for those...times I need a new card I guess? Feel free to eat me alive for this one. Maybe replace with a Borrelsword Dragon?
• 1x Abyss Dweller
  • Generally a really helpful card, nothing really wrong with running it. Screwing with the 5 remaining Blue-Eyes Players is just a really fun thing to do.
• 1x Gagaga Cowboy
  • I found myself occasionally leaving my opponent just a liiitttle bit off the 8/9k target, so Gagaga Cowboy fixes that and confirms some useful kills.
• 1x Borreload Dragon
  • It's useful for taking away those problematic monsters that Shinobirds can't touch, such as dumb "Unaffected by other card's effects" things.
• 1x Gaia Saber, the Lightning Shadow
  • Purely here to climb into Borreload Dragon or get more net damage. I would run Summon Sorceress, but this is a Spirit Deck and most can't be special summoned through normal means. Plus, the Impcantations lock out the Extra Deck and thus break the climb. Only reason the Shinobirds do it is because they ignore the conditions. Thus, Gaia is here because...idk, generic as can be? Suggest a better option if you have one. Knightmare Unicorn?
• 1x Decode Talker
  • He's a cool guy that assists in the OTKs quite nicely.
• 1x Knightmare Cerberus
  • Useful removal when going in for the kill or taking out a nasty monster. Nothing wrong here. Can pitch the Ritual Spell and get it back with Preparation of Rites, for example.
• 1x Knightmare Phoenix
  • Very nice S/T removal option that helps a LOT in this deck. Nothing wrong here.

Side Deck (15);

• 2x Yamata Dragon
  • I like the card advantage this can give, and given this deck completely fucks stun decks with the removal, I can afford to summon it in those situations. Seriously, this thing is bonkers even if it is a win more card.
• 2x Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring
  • Generally a nice option against decks that are too fast for my deck to catch, such as Gouki or Rhongo Turbo. Graveyard-loving decks are also something this card can stun, which is helpful.
• 2x Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit
  • Another option against decks that use a lot of monsters, very helpful way to prevent any funny business.
• 1x Raigeki
  • Sometimes you just need a big board wipe, and this card provides. I could easily replace this with another hand trap, although sometimes I do get hit with an Extra Link Board and can't quite remove it.
• 2x Twin Twisters
  • With Shinobaroness Peacock outright popping most of the back row, I may not even need this. Could replace with Droll & Lock Bird or even Ghost Reaper really (after all, I do use a lot of common Extra Deck cards).
• 3x Evenly Matched
  • This deck lacks Field Presence after it's done doing its thing and on Turn 1, so this card can help recover after a beatdown. Very useful going second card indeed! However, usually the Shinobirds remove the cards anyway, so...eh?
• 3x Red Reboot
  • Just in case Altergeists try any funny business.

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Conclusion

When this deck pops off, chances are your entire board is being spun back to the hand and the back row nuked. The level of power this deck can have when it goes second is unreal, and without the FTKs running around it can do a lot. Practically unaffected by Extra Link Decks, it only really fears Rhongo Turbo (but so does every deck). It's extremely consistent in what it does, although the OTKs can occasionally be a bit difficult. There are sometimes problems in removing the Impcantations from the board but it doesn't really matter that often.

However, the main issues with this deck are clear;

• The Extra Deck is a little spotty and I don't quite know where I want to go with it.
• My Side Deck looks slightly excessive given the Shinobirds are so adept at removal already. Maybe go for Mirror of Yata to keep the Shinobirds on the field? I really don't know where to go with it.
• Some of my choices in cards are already solved by my Ritual Monsters, which leaves some space for potential draw power cards. However, where to go with this I'm not sure about. Pot of Indulgence is a definite idea, although I will need to reform my Extra Deck with this in mind.
• I need to fit Called by the Grave somewhere so Ghost Ogre doesn't screw up my OTK, but I really, really don't know where. I really think I should Main Deck it, but deck space is lookin mighty tight. Pensilver and the Upstart could be removed for it, but is it worth it..?