Phoenix Saga

Phoenix Saga (不死鳥編) is the the 5th series of Duel Masters card sets.

List of Sets
It is comprised of sets released between June 24, 2006 and February 17th, 2007.
 * DM-19 Spectacle Nova
 * DM-20 The Ultimate Nova
 * DM-21 History of Devil Nova
 * DM-22 The Dragonic Nova
 * DM-23 The End of the Universe

It also features promotional cards from Year 5.

Details
Emphasis on the link between races appeared with many evolution creatures appearing. The Phoenix race, a race based on summoning over multiple races of creatures feature, as well as the Meteorburn ability.

Abilities such as Sympathy (allowing cards to cost less for each of a certain race in your battle zone) and Dynamo (allowing creatures to add power and abilities to other Dynamo creatures).

"Reanimation" cards, cards that bring creatures back into play from the graveyard into the battle zone were released on Inferno Gate.

DM-19 and DM-20 Stage
Bolmeteus Sapphire Dragon continued to appear through-out DM-19.

DM-19 was the first set to introduce a "Reanimation" card into the game, bringing forth faster ways to accelerate the deck, as well as play expensive non-evolution creatures for less mana.

Cards such as Dandy Eggplant or Lost Charger were used to send Bolmeteus Sapphire Dragon in the owners graveyard, and then using Inferno Gate to bring it back into play. "Sapphire Fang" decks that were previously common using the mana acceleration from Fighter Dual Fang to play Bolmeteus Sapphire Dragon faster were seen less because of this new deck strategy.

However, Single color haste decks such as Water or Fire were still strong and commonly used due to their cheap and efficient creatures.

Following from previous Light, Water and Darkness control decks, a deckout deck also using fire was used during this time.

At this point in the metagame, each deck was seen as fairly equal, with each having a fairly balanced chance each other.

DM-21 Stage
During January 2007, Bolmeteus Sapphire Dragon was placed directly on the Premium Hall of Fame, banning it to 0 copies, as well as other deck-out based cards; Lost Charger, Hell Slash and Future Slash. The deckout type of decks would not be seen again until much later during the Episode 1 metagame.

With those cards removed from the metagame, while mono-red rush did not gain any additional cards to strengthen the deckout, they were unharmed by the banlist.

Decks such as Guardian Removal, Bajula's Fang and Dragon Mana Destruction appeared in place of the former decks using Bolmeteus Sapphire Dragon.

DM-22 and DM-23 Stage
DM-22では《光神龍スペル・デル・フィン》や《黒神龍グールジェネレイド》、《インフィニティ・ドラゴン》などの強力龍がこぞって登場し、牙デルフィン、グールジェネレイドなどのデッキを生み、闘魂編より細々と組まれてきた連ドラを一気にメタ格へと強化させるなどした.

アクアンホワイトブラックは聖拳編より安定した強さを持ってはいたものの、やや使用率は低下していく. これにより、光の主力種族はアクアンホワイトブラックを中心としたイニシエートよりも、除去ガーディアンに活躍の場を得たガーディアンに再シフト. ガーディアンは流行するランデスへの対抗策《光波の守護者テルス・ルース》をDM-23で得たのも追い風だった.

Competitive Decks

 * Bolmeteus Sapphire Dragon
 * Sapphire Removal
 * Sapphire / Seventh Tower (F/N)
 * Sapphire / Dual Fang (F/N)
 * Sapphire / Eggplant (D/F/N)
 * Sapphire Mana Destruction (W/F/N)
 * Fire Rush (F)
 * Zamaru (W/D)
 * Deckout (L/W/D/F)
 * Light / Darkness Aquan (L/W/D)
 * Grand Devil (D)
 * Guardian Removal (L)
 * Dragon Mana Destruction
 * Necrodragon Guljeneraid Reanimation (D)
 * Infinity Dragon / Guljeneraid / Dark Lupia (D/F)

Important Cards

 * Bolmeteus Sapphire Dragon
 * Inferno Gate
 * Cloned Nightmare
 * Dandy Eggplant
 * Bajula's Soul
 * Aquan