Notes & Combos

S53: Clear Mind — Elfnote Ensemble

With Elfnotes' new release, the meta is once again shaken up by new splashable Synchro engines! While Kewl Tune will remain the best deck, I've decided to pilot Elfnote Synchron as the hybrid of choice this season. Unlike the more mid-range Pure or Fiendsmith builds that you will see most people try, Synchrons push the deck in a more explosive fashion, providing giga high-ceiling boards that are functionally FTKs.

Note that this is a very unexplored variant in both the TCG and OCG, so I've had to improvise many combo lines during the initial hours of testing. You'll even notice that I'm running only a bare minimum of blowout HTs to prioritize going 1st, as KT eats through low-impacts like Belle and Imperm anyway. Some best practices I've found so far:

• Engine Ratios & Techs: This preliminary build maximizes all Elfnote names, but I've seen OCG lists cut down to 1-2 Regina and even less Tinia in favor of more non-engine or situational bricks like Scrap Synchron. Other non-standard choices I've made are to include Junk Synchron (without Fellowship) to make 1-card Meister lines more resilient, as well as the 2-card Rage Rose package in ED. I'd love to fit another Crimson Dragon target, but space is really limited. All of these are fully negotiable and need lots of tinkering to optimize.
• Bridging & Sequencing: Starting with Medius allows you to access both Elfnotes + Junk Speeder via Accel Synchron, as you'll have both Medius + Jet Synchron in rotation (GY) early on. Currently there is no easy way for Meister to bridge into Elfnotes unless you hard-draw Power Patron to NS, so you might have to settle for Synchron-only plays. For more awkward hands like Elfnote starter + Synchron brick, you have the potential of using the additional tuner to make more varied outputs. Just be really mindful of the Synchro math you'll have to do!
• Endboards and Interactions: Ideally with more powerful hands (e.g. Junk Meister + Elfnote starter), you can end on the entire Elfnote setup + Baronne + Crystal Wing + possibly 1-2 Synchros / handrips along the way. If you only see Elfnote engine, you can easily pivot to playing the Pure Elfnote lines.

The question remains: How good is Elfnotes in this current meta? Unfortunately without Power Patron support, this deck will float between tier 2-3 for now, but I'd still recommend this deck for its fun, dynamic play patterns!