We have seen a slew of infectious “Virus” Trap Cards over the course of Yu-Gi-Oh! history. These corrosive curses will require you to Tribute a monster so that you can infect your opponent’s field, hand, and sometimes even Deck to erode their chances at victory. Even today, some Duelists will shudder in panic at the words "Crush Card Virus." Structure Deck: Lair of Darkness brings a brand-new Virus into the mix, and this one is bound to make you smile.

Grinning Grave Virus requires you to Tribute a DARK monster with 3000 or less ATK, so you can Tribute just about any DARK monster for its effect. So if you need to send something like Sangan to the Graveyard to use its effect, or use it to stop your opponent from taking your monster with Enemy Controller, this is an easy way to do it. However, you will get rewarded the stronger the Monster is that you Tribute, because for every 500 ATK it had, your opponent destroys a card in their hand or Deck! You can destroy up to six cards if you manage to Tribute a 3000 ATK monster, making a big opening for you to capitalize on. Depending on what your opponent destroys, you can craft your game plan around it. Did they destroy a bunch of monsters? Now you know they have less to work with. Did they get rid of a ton of Spells? If you can manage to take the field, they have less ways to come back. Did they send a lot of Traps? You can be extra aggressive now that they have less tricks up their sleeve.

Things get even better if the monster had 2000 or more ATK, because you get to check all cards your opponent draws and destroy any monsters for three consecutive turns! You get to have perfect information of what your opponent draws over the course of three turns, and if it’s a monster, you completely deny them their Draw Phase! What puts Grinning Grave Virus way over the top is that any monsters destroyed by its effect can’t activate their effects that turn. Previously this was one of the big downside to the Viruses, but now Grinning Grave Virus ensures that if it destroys a monster, there is no upside for your opponent.

Structure Deck: Lair of Darkness has great cards that can combo with Grinning Grave Virus, such as Lair of Darkness and Darkest Diabolos, Lord of the Lair, but any DARK strategy can take advantage of Grinning Grave Virus! 

Look for Structure Deck: Lair of Darkness to hit shelves April 20th!