Madolche Guide
In this article
- Why Cupcakes
- About the Chefs
- Appetizers (Introduction)
- Seasoning (Skills)
- Main Ingredients (Core Cards)
- Spices (Tech Cards)
- The Different Tastes (Playstyles)
- Fast Food or Gastronomic Restaurant (Budget)
- Head Cook’s Advice (Tips & Combos)
- The Menus (Matchups)
- Replays
- The Check (Conclusion)
- Acknowledgements
First thing first, yes Cupcakes are not the new tier 0, smashing-everything, wrecking machine.
But they are a really interesting archetype, with a lot of possibilities in terms of builds, playstyles and plays. It is a very fun and competitive archetype that does not only rely on one specific win condition.
The few Madolche cards we got from the box Burning Nova (such as Madolche Puddingcess or Madolche Messengelato) were not enough to make a serious deck out of this archetype. But the new box Dimension of the Wizards finally gave us what we were waiting for! Most importantly, Madolche Hootcake! And one day XYZ will reach Duel Links… Bringing Cupcakes to a whole new level!
Hey! I am Aankara, a 23-year-old french guy who has been playing Duel Links for more than 2 years. You might know me for my top 10 in the 2017 WCQ or as a former Moderator and MCS Admin on Duel Links Meta. I am just trying to make you think I like Madolches so that you forget I usually only play cancerous decks.
Hey, I’m Gnurrgard. I’ve started playing Yu-Gi-Oh when it came out and since then never stopped playing card games. If you play Gwent you might have heard of me or played one of my decks.
And I’m Gura. I’m pretty new to Duel Links, just started late last year. I fell in love with madolches way before I started playing and when this new wave of support came, I knew I had to build the deck and work my way to KoG. When Aankara proposed the creation of this guide, I offered my help because I want more people to have fun with this archetype. So, have fun.
The Madolche archetype is focused on swarming the field endlessly to make your opponent run out of resources. The swarming potential comes mostly from Madolche Hootcake that allows you to summon any Madolche from your deck, allowing you to adapt your swarming to the board state. The other strength of the deck is the wide space it offers for tech cards. Half of your deck will usually be tech cards to either adapt your list to your playstyle (synchro or not, aggro or control) or to the meta (examples: Cosmic Cyclone and Skull Meister).
Let’s be honest here, What Grows in the Graveyard is by far the best skill for Madolches, simply because it allows you to use Madolche Hootcake’s effect on your first turn enabling you to setup your field right away. This fact will remain as long as Madolche Angelly does not join Duel Links’ cardpool.
Though, if you want to take dangerous paths, you can also play a lot of cards to fuel Madolche Hootcake (such as Skull Meister, Treacherous Trap Hole, Enemy Controller, Psychic Wheeleder, Sangan…), then you can try skills like The Tie that Binds or Sealed Tombs. But we clearly do not recommend that.
Essential Ingredients
Madolche Hootcake (3x):
The main reason why this deck is a thing now, Hootcake in combination with What Grows in the Graveyard is one of the best starters in the game. It’s an instant +2 that establishes 2 beaters and a value threat in Chateau. You want this in your starting hand so 3 Hootcakes are mandatory.
Madolche Messengelato (1-3x):
Messengelato is your primary Hoot target. As Hoot is a beast, Messengelato will search out Chateau or Ticket when summoned. With Chateau he’s also 2100 which is just enough to run over Ancient Gear Wyvern.
Madolche Puddingcess (1-2x):
Our Boss monster. Puddingcess with Chateau boasts 2300 ATK and can pop a card every time she battles a monster (even if she gets destroyed in the process). Should your opponent have a monster stronger than 2300 you can just crash her into it and pop it. Chateau will return her back to the hand.
Madolche Chateau (1-2x):
Our primary Messengelato target. It makes your main monsters 2000+ beaters (Hootcake + Messengelato is lethal) and is a value machine. Since all your madolches become recurring resources, Chateau makes this deck a great deck for grindy games. It’s also noteworthy that Chateau is a priority target for backrow removal, thus protecting your other backrow.
Potentially Great Ingredients
Madolche Ticket (0-1x):
Similarly to Madolche Chateau, Ticket gives you back resources when your Madolches die, but instead of getting the destroyed Madolche back, it gives you access to any Madolche in the deck. If you have Puddingcess on the board, you can special summon that Madolche right away. The drawbacks compared to Chateau are the missing attack boost and the fact that Ticket blocks one of your backrow slots. Consensus is that Ticket is usually overkill in value, that’s why most lists play no more than 1, if any.
Psychic Wheeleder (0-2x):
One possible variant of this deck is a synchro version that includes Psychic Wheeleder. Both Hootcake and Mewfeuille are level 3, allowing Wheeleder to be a great extender on these 2. Madolches also don’t shuffle back into the deck after being used for a synchro summon, so Wheeleder can refuel your graveyard for further Hootcake plays. If you run Magileine, Wheeleder gives you access to Arcanite Magician (note that in that case Wheeleder only pops a monster with 400 or less, not 2400).
Madolche Mewfeuille (0-1x):
Mewfeuille is an alternative starter if we don’t have Hootcake or Puddingcess/Messengelato are stuck in our hand. The problem with it is the measly 500 ATK, which makes you vulnerable to your main lose condition: being beat over before you can enter the grind game.
Madolche Magileine (0-2x):
Magileine can search whatever Madolche we need on summon (it will mostly be Hootcake, as he can get the other ones). The drawback of her is that she uses up our normal summon and thus makes us vulnerable to being OTK’d if we can’t support her with some backrow.
This is why we would only recommend 2 in a non-synchro version that runs more backrow, as these decks can take it slower.
Madolche Cruffssant (0-1x):
Allows you to get rid of an annoying Mewfeuille on your side of the field and also triggers Madolche Ticket. Not seen in many decklists though. It’s noteworthy that it’s a lvl 3 and has decent attack with Chateau.
The Main Spices
Offerings to the Doomed (0-3x):
It is one if not the most used tech card in Madolche decks at the moment. It allows you to deal with big monsters without having to rely on Puddingcess and can lead to early OTKs. Not drawing is a big drawback but Madolche Chateau and Hootcake allow you to have decent turns even with no Draw Phase
Treacherous Trap Hole (0-2x):
We all know how impactful Treacherous Trap Hole can be. And since Madolche decks do not need to run traps TTH look like a perfect fit. You can even destroy of your own monster with TTH to fuel Hootcake.
Enemy Controller (0-2x):
If you decide to run other traps, then TTH becomes less relevant and we would encourage you to play Econ instead. This card can be used both offensively (Econ take plays can give easy lethal) or defensively, while fueling your graveyard for Hootcake. You can also use one of your opponent monster to synchro summon with Wheeleder. Sadly this card doesn’t do much in a duel versus Dinos.
Cosmic Cyclone (0-2x):
It’s a piece of backrow hate that is needed in certain matches. The 1000 LP cost can be too much sometimes because you might want to crash pudding in high atk/def monsters. Playing Cosmic Cyclone with Madolche Mewfeuille on the field can also lead to easy OTK for your opponent. But the card is still really good against Ancient Gears, Dinos, Amazonesses…
Floodgate Trap Hole (0-3x):
Strong backrow allowing to control Ancient Gear Reactor Dragon even with Ancient Gear Fortress on the field. Slow your opponent down usually giving you an extra turn which is really needed after a turn 1 Madolche Magileine for instance.
Paleozoic Canadia (0-3x):
A good card to delay your opponent for a turn, though not as good as Floodgate against Ancient Gears. Canadia as a monster can be used as fodder for an Econ take play or for a Synchro summon of Armades, Keeper of Boundaries.
Bad Aim (0-3x):
Really easy to use in the current meta. It makes Geartown miss timing by chaining it to Galaxy Cyclone/Breaker the Magical Warrior/Double Cyclone. Change any trade in a +1 for you in card advantage. Moreover, Bad Aim is often targeted by backrow hate cards from your opponent allowing you a nice plus in terms of card advantage.
Hey, Trunade! (0-2x):
Can be played in a really aggressive version of the deck since Madolches can have really quick OTKs if the opponent no backrow. But it prevents you from playing Enemy Controllers or Treacherous Trap Holes so we would only recommend it as a side deck card.
Jinzo (0-1x):
Speaking about side deck card, Jinzo can be an autowin against Amazoness and Dinos. It is not that hard to summon thanks to Madolches’ ability to flood the field with tribute fodders.
System Down/Acid Rain (0-2x):
Amazing side deck cards versus Ancient Gears. Also really good against Karakuris. Up to you to decide if you find the 1000 LP cost worth it.
Galaxy Cyclone (0-2x):
Another great replacement for CC, though not looking as good in the meta. Still a really good tech if you face a lot of Heroes using Destiny Calling, Vampires or Amazonesses.
Super Rush Recklessly (0-2x):
Potential replacement for TTH but does not seem as effective nor as easy to get off. Also forces you to run Madolche Mewfeuille. Plays around Diamond Core of Koa’ki Meiru.
Sphere Kuriboh (0-2x):
A good handtrap but simply not as impactful as Skull Meister in the current meta. Nonetheless less impactful means less expected so it can surprise your opponent.
Trap Stun (0-2x):
Usually surprises your opponent leading to quick OTKs. Recommended as side deck card.
The Madolches’ traps:
They are “fun” but competitively speaking they are not good enough or at least too situational. You can play them for fun but we clearly do not recommend them.
The Extra Spices
HTS Psyhemuth:
One of the best Synchro card for Madolche since it is a level 6, making it easy to be summoned with Madolche Hootcake or Madolche Mewfeuille. It can deal with a high attack monster by banishing it, giving another out in addition to Madolche Puddingcess. It is also a great target for a Mew + Wheeleder play turn 1.
Stardust Dragon:
Can protect you against decks with destruction effects such as Yubel. Also helps against Ancient Gears by negating Cosmic Cyclones. But it can leave you open for direct attacks an you might need to go out of your way to synchro it, since it requires Madolche Puddingcess.
Arcanite Magician:
Can pop up to two cards and provides a 1800 def body. It also makes Yubel miss timing and will force any Paleozoic Canadia/Floodgate Trap Hole/Enemy Controller take….
Powered Inzektron:
Enable your Puddingcess to attack without life costs concerns and make Yubel miss timing. Nonetheless it is an aggressive Synchros that doesn’t do anything after the turn you summoned it.
Gaia Knight, The Force of Earth:
2600 Atk, good for Wheeleder. 6 stars, easy to summon. Nespresso, what else?
Armades, Keeper of Boundaries:
One of the best Synchros in the game. Only available if you run Paleozoic Canadia.
Giganticastle:
3300 Atk allows Wheeleder to pop Masked Hero Anki, Koa’ki Meiru Maximus and Ancient Gear Reactor Dragon (if no Ancient Gear Castle)…
If you are missing some of the great synchros above and you still have some empty spaces, you can play Lightning Warrior, Flamvell Uruquizas or Gravity Warrior.
Disclaimer: all versions of the deck can perform in tournaments and reach King of Games. It is mostly a question of your playstyle preference. Though some matchups might be harder/easier and will have to be played differently depending on your choice.
The Pure Taste
The more stable version of the deck, this version has an easier time getting to the grindy part of the game where Chateau and Puddingcess can shine. In exchange for that, it often doesn’t have the tools to OTK outside of E-Con take plays.
Core Cards according to most of tournament lists
Drizzy Drake - Top 32 - MCS 16
looler_ - Top 16 - MW 65
The Synchro Taste
This version allows a larger array of plays to adapt better to the matchup and boardstate. Psychic Wheeleder second effect allow you to take care of some big threats while adding fuel to a follow-up Hootcake play.
The cons are that the list is a little bit less stable and being more combo oriented means more brick potential. Also this version usually runs less backrow which can clearly be a problem in the early turns when trying to survive an early aggression.
Core Cards according to most of tournament lists
Bendytendy - Top 16 - Pharaohs Cash Tournament
The Hybrid Taste
Playing hybrid is also a solution: heavier backrow, slower pace overall. Yet more stable than the Synchro version and still able to pop off with synchro plays.
Meta-oriented Hybrid version
Talking only about the core cards, Madolches deck is pretty cheap compared to other competitive archetypes. You need 3 Madolche Hootcakes from Dimension of the Wizards so you have to go through this Mini Box 3 times and you should get all the other Madolches from this box times 3 along the way.
Madolche Puddingcess is in Burning Nova, an older Main Box, but most lists play only one copy of this card.
Deciding to go for the Synchro version is not much more expensive since Psychic Wheeleder is in Dimension of the Wizards too. But of course you also need the Synchro monsters and that will increase the cost.
Biggest cost, same as for every other competitive deck at the moment, comes from the backrow cards which are often expensive URs.
Overall the deck is not Free to Play, but if you have been playing for some time and have gone through older boxes on your way, the new cards should not cost you more than 8,000 gems on average.
Main Tips & Combos
-
Hootcake into Messengelato to search Chateau is your bread and butter.
-
If you already have Chateau or your opponent has a threat that a +500 boost won’t answer, go for Puddingcess.
-
Ticket is your search target if you don’t need any of the above.
-
If you have a madolche monster in your grave and access to Ticket and Chateau be sure to activate Ticket first then Chateau to get Ticket’s search on your turn.
-
After a turn 1 Hoot into Messengelato, you can tribute Messengelato for Pudding. This puts Messengelato into the grave for another Hoot summon.
-
If you have Chateau in your starting hand, your first action should be to activate it. You do not want to miss your monster going back to your hand after getting TTH or Offerings.
-
A synchro play into Powered Inzektron will make Yubel miss timing, as Inzektron will be chain link 1 and Wheelder Chain link 2, same with Arcanite Magician.
-
Powered Inzektron also protects your LP, so crashing with Puddingcess is safer.
-
If you have Ticket and Puddingcess on the field do not forget Ticket’s second effect that triggers only when Puddingcess is on the field. A key special summon can be lethal in certain situations.
-
In the Synchro version, your Extra deck is your Toolbox, always keep thinking about potential outs with it, such as HTS Psyhemuth.
-
Keep in mind Wheeleder’s destruction effect, sometimes the monster you are synchroing is not what is the most important.
-
When making a synchro play with Chateau in hand consider its shuffle effect on activation: If you want more hoot fodder or draw into techs, activate chateau first. If you want puddings 800 atk boost or recycle monsters activate after.
Main Cards to be Afraid of
-
Drowning Mirror Force: Can leave you vulnerable if you overcommit but it’s possible to play around it and with ticket on field, it’s a free search on your turn.
-
Wall of Disruption: Good counter against swarm decks (like Madolche) if you are afraid of one, simply put one (or two) of your monsters in defense.
-
Floodgate Trap Hole/Paleozoic Canadia: Can stop your combo before it even started. With an aggressive hand you can try to random hit your opponent backrow. If you have backrow in your hand then try to make your opponent use them before recovering on your next turn.
-
Armades, Keeper of Boundaries: Prevent your Madolches from going back to your deck, thus preventing Chateau/Ticket. You can’t either crash Puddingcess into it. This card on the field is your main target.
-
Ancient Gear Reactor Dragon/Ancient Gear Wyvern: Kind of the same issues as with Armades except that you can crash Puddingcess into them. Reactor Dragon can all get rid of your spells and traps so you have to take him out fast or concede.
-
Amazoness Onslaught: Banishes your monsters preventing them to come back to your deck/hand (with Chateau). It is your main target with any backrow removal you have.
Madolche (Mirror Match)
Because this deck can run pure or synchro, with lots of different backrow, the mirror match can be quite unpredictable, but everything you’re afraid of can be used against your opponent too. You should try to focus on getting rid of their chateaus/tickets. Their field spell boosts your monster too so don’t be afraid to go early into princess to cut their resources, Ancient Fairy Dragon can net you huge advantage while Naturia Landoise can shut them down before they pop off.
Side Deck/Tech Choices:
Dinos
You’re the control here. Dinos basically have to kill you early, the longer the game goes the harder it gets for them. Their resources are monsters and the 3 Survival’s End, your resources replenish by either going to the hand with Madolche Chateau or into the deck. Use your disruption early game to prevent them from killing you. As you enter the grind game, try to deny Evilswarm Salamandra with Floodgate, Canadia or Offerings to deny the free Giant Rex.
If you have a really good starting hand you can go aggressive as it will force your opponent to regain tempo allowing you to get into late game. but always keep in mind not to overextend and that you have to disrupt the Survival’s End combo.
Side Deck/Tech Choices:
Ancient Gear
You have to kill Ancient Gear before your tools to deal with Ancient Gear Reactor Dragon run out. Once they attack with it it’s really hard to come back as it denies your Madolches from coming back and also eats away at your backrow. Because of this you can’t enter a grind game versus them. Making Geartown miss timing is your top priority. Prevent Ancient Gear Reactor Dragon from being summoned as much as you can, don’t hesitate to target Ancient Gear Castle with Puddingcess effect, Cosmic Cyclone or else. A turn 1 Stardust Dragon is also a great option to deny your opponent from destroying Geartown.
Side Deck/Tech Choices:
Amazoness
Amazoness usually runs a lot of backrow like Floodgates, Canadias, Walls of Disruption, etc. that can interrupt your hootcake plays or completely negate your offensive, leaving you on a bad position. Not only that, Amazoness Onslaught banishes your monsters, meaning that their effects to shuffle back into the deck won’t activate and neither your Chateau or Ticket. In this matchup Trunade, Cosmic Cyclone, Gyokkou, Galaxy Cyclone, etc, plays a big role on not only letting you do your plays but also getting rid of Onslaught’s threat. A good tip against Onslaught is that, if they attack into your Pudding, Pudding’s effect will destroy Onslaught preventing its effect from activating and banishing Pudding. So sitting on a Puddingcess while waiting to draw a tech (Cosmic Cyclone or Jinzo for instance) can be a decent strategy
Side Deck/Tech Choices:
Koa’ki Meiru
Koa’ki’s OTK potential, Koa’ki Meiru Maximus destruction effect and Diamond Core of Koa’ki Meiru’s destruction protection make it really hard to survive an offensive by your opponent. Canadia, Floodgate, Enemy Controller, can help you survive until your next turn, then, you can go into pudding and clear Koa’ki’s board. Luckily, Koa’ki’s don’t usually run a lot of backrow so you don’t have to worry too much about being constantly interrupted. Do not hesitate to prevent Diamond’s destruction protection by using Skull Meister as it will give you way more options to deal with your opponent monsters, or at least will force your opponent to reduce his resouces to keep his monsters on the field.
Side Deck/Tech Choices:
Masked Heroes
Heroes can otk easily and usually run a lot of backrow, so your plan should to never let them go into Masked Hero Anki or try to survive until they run out of resources. Skull Meister can negate Destiny HERO - Celestial’s graveyard effect, so you can lure your opponent into wasting their resources and then deny them of replenishing them. Also, remember that Celestial’s effect when declaring an attack, can destroy your Chateau/Ticket, allowing them to run over your Hootcake, so you should try to never allow Celestial to declare an attack. Puddingcess and HTS Psyhemuth are good ways of dealing with Anki. If your opponent is running Destiny Calling, dealing with his field spell could be duel-winning with the good timing.
Side Deck/Tech Choices:
Karakuri
Karakuris can get a huge card advantage burst due to Anatomy and overwhelm you with it before you have a chance to catch up. If you go first, a well timed Bad Aim or Canadia can put them on their back feet and you can try to close out the game off of that or establish enough board presence to survive their push. You want to Bad Aim/Canadia/Offerings their Ninishi as reaction to Inashichi. This leaves them with their Lvl Augmentation skill used and a 500 ATK monster that is forced to attack you. If they established a board and drew into their tech/defense cards, it might be hard to come back, otherwise try and kill their Synchros without dying. Note that you can not crash Pudding into Armades and he also prevents your Madolches or Chateau from triggering.
Side Deck/Tech Choices:
Laval
You cannot let them setup Dustflame Blast or you will most likely not recover. You have to play aggressive and force an early Dustflame Blast (Puddingcess effect, Cosmic Cyclone, etc). laval Stennon is also a big issue but Floodgate Trap Hole is a really great response to him. Otherwise you can potentially make Stennen run out of fodder for its effect with Offerings, Econs, Puddincess, Canadia, etc.
Side Deck/Tech Choices:
Spellbooks
Spellbook of Fate and Silent Magician can easily put you out of the game before you can even start, Fate can banish Hootcake and SM can negate your spells, making it quite difficult to start your combos and setup your board. Not only that, but destroying SM will bring Silent Magician LV8 to the board and then it becomes even harder to get rid of her, because your Offerings and Enemy Controller won’t work on her. Canadias and Floodgates can help by denying a face-up spellcaster on the field, turning off Fate, while also making it easier to destroy SM lvl 8 and Fate with Pudding. Naturia Landoise and Skull Meister can negate SM’s effect to bring SM lvl 8 out and landoise can also destroy Blue Boy before they have a chance to summon SM
Side Deck/Tech Choices:
Vampires
Vampires can easily swarm the field while searching for the cards they need to break your board and OTK you. You should try to deny Vampire Grace’s effect and keep an eye out for Vampire Vamp. Skull Meister on Vampire Retainer’s effect can put a hold on their plans or even stop their turn completely. Enemy Controller/Sphere Kuriboh can help you survive while setting their monsters to defense position, opening up a possible Puddingcess play. If you survive their push and are running the synchro variant, you can synchro into Ancient Fairy Dragon to destroy their field spell and Grace by Wheeleder’s effect. Don’t destroy Samurai Skull with wheleeder’s effect, ok?
Side Deck/Tech Choices:
Yubel
First of all, let’s talk about how to make Yubel miss her timing: Basically, if Yubel is destroyed on Chain Link 2, she will not get out her next form. The most common way of doing this is either chaining Offerings to any effect (her own if necessary) or summoning Powered Inzektron with Psychic Wheeleder. Inzektron’s protection will be Chain Link 1 and Wheeleders’ destruction Chain Link 2.
The mill version is a pretty free matchup. Keep one Chateau to shuffle back as many Madolches as possible, let your Madolches go back to the deck if you don’t need them and just grind your opponent out. Against the Nephtys version either Skull Meister the Cerulean or run over it and kill them as fast as possible. If you don’t have a way to deal with Yubel and they summon Disciple, Canadia/Floodgate/Econ take it. If you have Offerings, let them exhaust their resources in summoning Yubel. Stardust Dragon is close to autowin in the matchup so do not hesitate to summon it turn 1 (only out is Cerulean)
Side Deck/Tech Choices:
Sea Stealth Attack
As for any deck, the full combo (Sea Stealth Attack + Umi + Citadel Whale) is a pain to deal with. You should be fine if you do not let your opponent set up. If the combo is on then Cosmic Cyclone is the best answer. You can also use Ancient Fairy Dragon to force SSA to banish a monster and then OTK. Skull Meister prevents Whale from being summoned from the graveyard, same with Fishborg Planter.
Side Deck/Tech Choices:
Wildheart Control
This deck immunity to traps and protection from destruction with Power of the Guardians, coupled with the high attack they get from the equip spells and the fact they run Solemn Scolding and other disruption traps, means that you can’t crash with Puddingcess and you’ll probably never have a chance to summon a monster. Most you can do is bait the Solemn card and proceed to use offerings. That’ll buy you enough time to try to otk them before they recover.
Side Deck/Tech Choices:
Madolche vs Dino
Madolche vs Amazoness
To conclude, we believe that Madolches are refreshing to play, they are already competitive and have a lot of potential for the future, if a future banlist hits Canadia and Floodgate but especially with XYZ.
We hope you enjoyed reading our guide and learnt stuff along the way. Do not hesitate to come as us questions in #madolche on Duel Links Meta’s discord.
- Thanks to Dkayed and Gia Joestar for creating this competitive discord without which a lot of players would already be long gone.
- Thanks a lot to all the people who helped us in the #madolche channel on Duel Links Meta’s discord.
- Also a special thank you to superforms and Zzmondo for reviewing the whole guide before publication.
- Thanks to Bendytendy, Mordred, 6_Evans for their replays.
- Thanks to DoBa for helping us practicing matchups.
- And a final big thank you to Creative for being the best web developer ever! (he added that himself)
Perfectly formatted and uploaded by Jonesy9027.
Thumbnail designed and created by Jonesy9027.