Cats the Musical the Archetype [WRITTEN]

[Tinkerer]

Hello, fine peoples!

I just finished watching Sideways' video essay about the Cats 2019 movie again and I figured why not make an archetype around the musical?

I haven't actually seen Cats since I was really young, so I just made a few cards based on the summary that Sideways gave.  The deck aims to be a Field Spell-centric deck focused around destruction/self-destruction and retaining advantage.  The deck runs 2 Field Spells which gives the deck 2 different strategies: The first protects your monsters from your own destruction effects, and the second is an instant win button if you destroy enough of your own cards.

Let's jump right to the cards, shall we?

Spells:

Quote

Jellicle Ball
Field Spell
When this card is activated: You can add 1 "Jellicle" monster from your Deck to your hand.  This card cannot be targeted while it has a Lives Counter.  You can remove 1 Lives Counter from this card; place 1 Lives Counter on 1 "Jellicle" monster you control. (If a monster with a Lives Counter would be destroyed by battle or card effect, you can remove the counter instead.).  You can only activate 1 "Jellicle Ball" per turn.

Heaviside Layer
Field Spell
You can only activate this card if you control a Field Spell with 1-8 Lives Counters on it.  When this card is activated: You can target 1 "Jellicle" monster in your GY; Special Summon it.  Once per turn: You can target 1 "Jellicle" monster or 1 "Grizabella, the Glamour Cat" you control; destroy it, and if you do, Special Summon 1 monster with the same name as that target from your Deck.  While you control this card with exactly 1 Lives Counter, you win the duel.

Monsters:

Quote

Deuteronomy, Leader of the Jellicles
EARTH 7*
Beast/Effect
If a "Jellicle" monster(s) is destroyed by battle or card effect: You can Special Summon this card from your hand, then you can return 1 "Jellicle" monster from your GY to your hand.  Once per turn: You can destroy 1 card on the field, then, either destroy 1 card you control OR remove 1 Lives Counter from a card you control.
2600/1900

Growltiger, the Ferocious Jellicle
FIRE 6*
Beast/Effect
If you control no monsters or all monsters you control are Beast monsters: You can Special Summon this card from your hand.  While you control a Field Spell, this card gains 600 ATK/DEF, also, your opponent cannot activate cards or effects during the Battle Phase.  If this card is destroyed: Place 9 Lives Counters on 1 Field Spell on the field without any Counters OR: Remove 1 Lives Counter from 1 card on the field, then, inflict 500 damage to your opponent.
2000/1000

Rum Tum Tugger, the Rock Star Jellicle
EARTH 5*
Beast/Effect
While you control a Field Spell, you can Normal Summon this card without tributes.  Once per turn: You can Special Summon 1 "Jellicle" monster from your hand, then destroy 1 monster you control.  If this card is destroyed: Place 9 Lives Counters on 1 Field Spell on the field without any Counters OR: Remove 1 Lives Counter from 1 card on the field, then, draw 1 card.
1800/1800

Grizabella, the Glamour Cat
EARTH ***
Beast/Effect
This card is treated as a "Jellicle" monster in the GY.  If this monster is Normal or Special Summoned: You can send 1 "Jellicle" monster from your Deck to the GY; add 1 "Jellicle" Spell/Trap or 1 "Heaviside Layer" from your Deck to your hand.  If this card is destroyed: activate 1 of the following effects.

• Place 1 Lives Counter on all monsters you control (If a monster with a Lives Counter would be destroyed by battle or card effect, you can remove the counter instead.)
• Remove 1 Lives Counter from 1 Field Spell you control; Special Summon 1 "Grizabella, the Glamour Cat" from your hand or Deck.

You can only use each effect of "Grizabella, the Glamour Cat" once per turn.
900/1200

Mistoffelees, the Mystical Jellicle
LIGHT ***
Beast/Effect
While you control a Field Spell: You can target 1 "Jellicle" monster in your GY; Special Summon it, then destroy 1 "Jellicle" monster you control.  You can only use this effect of "Mistoffelees, the Mystical Jellicle" once per turn.  If this card is destroyed: Place 9 Lives Counters on 1 Field Spell on the field without any Counters OR: Remove 1 Lives Counter from 1 card on the field, then, gain 500 LP.
0/1900

Macavity, the Hidden Paw
DARK 7*
Beast/Effect
If a "Jellicle" monster(s) is destroyed by battle or card effect: You can Special Summon this card from your hand to your opponent's side of the field.  This card inflicts no battle damage.  The first time you Normal or Special Summon a monster(s) each turn, give control of 1 of those Summoned monsters to your opponent, then, destroy 1 Beast monster your opponent controls (if possible).  This card cannot be tributed or used as Material while a Field Spell is face-up on the field.
2600/2000

 

 

[Loleo]

I love the 9 lives theming. I wonder how easy it is to acomplish the alternate win condition?

[Tinkerer]

32 minutes ago, Loleo said:

I love the 9 lives theming. I wonder how easy it is to acomplish the alternate win condition?

That's a good question.  Even though Mistoff, Rum Tum, and Growltiger's float effects are not once per turn (and Deut is only a SOPT), I can't think of any reasonable way of getting them to trigger 11 times in one turn, so an FTK is pretty much out of the equation.

Getting it by your second turn is potentially doable, but still seems really difficult.  In all likelihood, because an opponent can easily just pop the field spell with Phoenix or something, it is never actually going to be your aim unless you already have it on the field with like 6 counters at the start of your turn.  There are cards that can help trigger the float effects, but none that directly help the strategy by removing a small number of counters (Counter Cleaner removes all counters, which would set you back).

 

[Loleo]

I would love if the live counter effect would be modified to specify "card" instead of "monster". Then it would be a huge threat harder to get rid of (your best option being cosmic cyclone)