Greetings, everyone! Michael Boyd here from The Edison Club with my inaugural Edison Format article! I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to all the readers for joining me today. A special thanks also goes to E&T’s very own Tim Bailey for affording me this platform to share valuable insights with the community.
Now, let’s delve into the substance of today’s discussion. Lately, I’ve been receiving numerous inquiries on Discord, many of which are from fellow competitors seeking my perspective on which variant of Lightsworn best navigates the current metagame.
In this article, we’ll be conducting an in-depth analysis of each variant (Pure Lightsworn, Kristyasworn, and finally, Twilightsworn), carefully weighing the strengths and limitations of each strategy.
The Fundamentals: Introducing Pure Lightsworn
This is the version that dominated the scene during the initial emergence of Edison Format when players were still deciphering the intricacies of the metagame.
The essence of the Lightsworn archetype is straightforward yet potent: deploy formidable monsters while disrupting the board with cards like Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress, and Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter, all while self-milling cards from the top of your deck to the graveyard during each End Phase. This strategy ultimately paves the way for the game-ending powerhouse, Judgment Dragon, while incidentally sending useful utility cards like Plaguespreader Zombie and Necro Gardna to the graveyard.
Pure Lightsworn excels at leveraging multiple copies of its signature powerhouses, including Wulf, Lightsworn Beast, Celestia, Lightsworn Angel, and, as previously highlighted, Judgment Dragon.
However, as a self-mill deck, it inherently risks losing key resources. Therefore, it is imperative to optimize cards like Gold Sarcophagus, Beckoning Light, or Monster Reincarnation to ensure your most crucial assets remain accessible at all times.
Although undeniably powerful, I would rank pure Lightsworn as the weakest variant among the three we’ll be discussing today. Judgment Dragon carries the majority of the weight, but without consistent access to JD, the pure build lacks the necessary tools to effectively handle opposing threats. Often, applying pressure with Judgment Dragon without a decisive game-ending play can be challenging. For instance, imagine having to deploy your strongest card merely to deal with something like Elemental HERO Absolute Zero. The lack of consistent follow-up can be a real setback.
Next on our list is a variant that holds a special place in my heart: The deck I piloted to a top 4 finish at YCS Richmond in November of 2023.
The Krystyasworn Varient
Kristyasworn capitalizes on many of the staple cards you’ll find across all three variants, such as Solar Recharge, Beckoning Light, Honest, the core Lightsworn monsters, and of course, Judgment Dragon.
In addition to these powerful cards, this variant gains access to several others that set it apart: Archlord Kristya, Herald of Orange Light, Soul of Purity and Light, and even the extra Lightsworn name of Shire, Lightsworn Spirit.
I recently released a video highlighting just how formidable Archlord Kristya is. The inherent ability to summon a Vanity’s Fiend-type monster in Game 1 is an asset that very few decks possess—especially one that can special summon itself, recycle resources, and sustain its own presence.
The synergy between Kristya and Herald of Orange Light is particularly lethal, as it significantly mitigates many threats prevalent in the format. This combination handles Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter, Snowman Eater, D.D. Warrior Lady, and more.
Herald of Orange Light stands out as one of the rare non-battle-related hand traps in Edison Format, with D.D. Crow being the most notable. Herald’s ability to instantly shift momentum is invaluable, transforming typically non-interactive decks (e.g., Dragon Turbo) into ones that can suddenly disrupt key plays.
While we've highlighted the strengths of these two decks, let’s briefly consider some critical downsides before we move on to our final variant.
Post-side deck, you need to be prepared for cards like Light-Imprisoning Mirror, D.D. Crow, Soul Release, Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer, and Royal Oppression—just to name a few of the hurdles you'll face going into Game 2.
Cards like Mystical Space Typhoon, Trap Eater, Dust Tornado, Twister, and the formidable Royal Decree are effective in neutralizing many of these threats.
Dealing with Soul Release and D.D. Crow can be trickier, but one highly recommended side deck tech for both Pure Lightsworn and Kristyasworn is Imperial Iron Wall. This card disrupts your opponent's ability to banish key cards, which is often more impactful than you might expect. Imperial Iron Wall renders cards like D.D. Crow and Soul Release completely dead, while also nullifying several others: Bottomless Trap Hole, Dimensional Prison, Caius the Shadow Monarch, Blackwing - Vayu the Emblem of Honor, Miracle Fusion, and Dark Armed Dragon. I strongly suggest siding two to three copies in your Pure Lightsworn or Kristyasworn builds.
Now, let's dive into our final variant of the day—a strategy that stands apart due to its distinctive approach.
The Twighlight Strategy
Twilight had little to no representation from the inception of the Edison format until just a few months ago. The deck was revitalized by James Arc, "The Professor," and achieved a top 16 finish at the 2024 NAWCQ Ultimate Time Wizard Tournament, piloted by FrozenSoul.
While this variant shares similarities with others we’ve discussed, it stands out as the most distinct. When you consider the most powerful monsters in Edison, many of them share one key trait: The Dark Attribute.
Dark Armed Dragon, Necro Gardna, Plaguespreader Zombie, Chaos Sorcerer, D.D. Crow, Sangan—the list is extensive. As a bonus, decks that leverage these monsters also get access to the powerful limited spell card, Allure of Darkness, adding even more consistency.
Twilight, with its wealth of powerful cards, arguably boasts the highest ceiling given how the meta has evolved. A significant advantage lies in its resistance to Light-Imprisoning Mirror, effectively neutralizing one of Lightsworn’s greatest weaknesses.
Typically, when facing Lightsworn, players are keen to monitor the number of distinct names in the opponent’s graveyard. With Twilight, additional layers of complexity are introduced. Not only does your opponent need to track the Lightsworn names, but they must also consider the number of Dark monsters.
This often forces opponents to decide: Should they focus on limiting Lightsworn names or preventing access to Dark monsters? Navigating around Judgment Dragon, Chaos Sorcerer, and Dark Armed Dragon simultaneously is no easy feat.
Earlier in this article, we discussed the advantages of main decking a card like Archlord Kristya. Similarly, the main deck inclusion of D.D. Crow offers a significant edge. It’s a card that isn’t always respected in theory, making it unexpectedly devastating in practice. Being at least moderately effective in almost every matchup makes it a crucial component for winning game one.
Removing targets like Blizzard, Treeborn Frog, Hero Blast targets, and Plaguespreader Zombie can be game-changing against many strategies across the format. On top of that, you have the option of side-decking a third copy of D.D. Crow.
These various tools at your disposal make Twilight not just formidable, but downright lethal. If you haven’t given it a try yet, I highly recommend doing so.
And with that, we’ve covered the three main variants of Lightsworn in Edison format. Each offers unique dynamics and playstyles, and you may find that you enjoy how differently each one functions. Don’t be afraid to experiment, even if some call you "crazy" for it.
Above all, get out there, have fun, and make some unforgettable memories!
Until next time,
Much Love,
Mike 🫶
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