The Snake Card Deck also appears in the GX Manga, used by Senior Sister Little Hinoaka Seika later in the series.
However, as a passerby deck, this deck receives treatment that even many protagonist decks don't, as a significant portion of it was actually made into physical cards. But to call it a deck is a bit of a stretch, because strictly following the real-life Yu-Gi-Oh! rules, they actually don't share a common field.
In the manga, it's referred to as the Snake Card Deck, but in reality, none of the monsters in the deck have the word "snake" in their names. Yet, within the effect text of the manga cards, the term "snake" card deck frequently appears, which is quite confusing.
For example, the "Poisonous Snake's Grudge" just activated by Snake River initially said to Special Summon a snake monster below Level 4 from the deck in the original work. In the physical card, for standardization, this was changed to any Reptile Race below Level 4.
In terms of the summoning range, this is undoubtedly a substantial enhancement, turning into a general support for the Reptile Race. However, the original card could trigger as long as a Reptile Race on the field was sent to the grave, while the physical card requires destruction by battle, thus the trigger condition was severely nerfed.
"Effect of Poisonous Snake's Grudge: Special summon a new snake from the deck. I summon the second Black Mamba to the field!"
It's the second of the black snake from before, appearing at Snake River's front field as poisonous mist surged.
[Black Mamba, Attack Power 1300]
Yugen frowned.
According to the manga effect, Poisonous Snake's Grudge could be activated by simply sending a reptile on the field to the grave, and it's a Continuous Trap with no "once per turn" limitation.
In this way, the opponent's reptiles can essentially gain an infinitely regenerating immortal status, continually attacking which instead helps the opponent search the deck for resources, increasing their resources with each attack...
No, if it's just sending to the grave, even voluntary sacrifices might count as well.
It's evident that this thing can bring a substantial amount of resources and must be resolved quickly.
Yugen: "Set two cards, end the turn."
Snake River: "My turn, draw a card!"
Yet before this person could make any more moves, Yugen already took action.
"Activate Trap Card 'Vampire Transformation'," Yugen said, "If there are no cards in my Field Zone, when there is only an Undead Race monster on my field, I can activate this card from my deck..."
The deck automatically searched, ejecting a card. Yugen drew it out as the rest of the deck automatically shuffled.
The hidden compartment on the side of the Duel Disc opened, and Yugen placed the card into it. The compartment closed, incorporating it into the Duel Disc.
"The territory of the Blood Race, Demon City, Field Spell - Vampire Empire, activate!"
A red moon hung high in the sky, mist permeated like dark-red blood. A jagged castle slowly rose under the moonlight, accompanied by earth-shaking tremors, its outline sketched by blood-red moonlight, resembling a ferocious giant monster.
"Activating the Field Spell directly from the deck?" Snake River frowned.
"Not only that, Vampire Transformation has further effects."
Yugen accepted a card sent from the grave, displaying it.
"I can select a Dark Attribute monster with 'Vampire' in its name from my grave to Special Summon it in face-up Defense Position. Naturally, I summon the card Minotaur sent to the grave last turn."
He similarly placed the drawn Monster Card onto the Duel Disc.
"Vampire Grace in Defense Position!"
[Vampire Grace, Defense Power 1200]
"Summoning an Upper-Level Monster so simply?" Snake River took on a more serious tone. "So that's it, no wonder you're a lackey of the Kaiba Group, you have some skills. But in defense position, with only 1200 Defense, it's nothing formidable.
Then I summon..."
"Hold on, the preparation phase isn't over yet."
Yugen pressed a button on the Duel Disc.
"Activate another Set card, Trap Card 'Vampire Awakening'!"
The card Snake River was about to summon was suppressed back.
He glanced disdainfully at Yugen, complaining internally.
Damn, is it my turn or yours? Why do you have so much to do?
"Vampire Awakening allows me to Special Summon a 'Vampire' card from my deck, but at the end of the turn, the monster Special Summoned by this effect must be destroyed."
Yugen drew another card ejected from the deck.
"Special Summon 'Duke of Vampires'."
[Duke of Vampires, Attack Power 2000]
"Another new Upper-Level Monster so quickly?" Snake River frowned, "But it must be destroyed at the end of the turn, posing no threat..."
"Effect of Duke of Vampires. When this card is successfully Special Summoned, declare Magic, Trap, or Monster Card; your opponent must send a declared type of card to the grave.
I declare Magic."
Snake River frowned, contemplated briefly, then randomly selected a Magic card from his deck to send to the grave.
"So what?"
"At this moment, the effect of the Field Spell 'Vampire Empire' activates," Yugen said. "Once per turn, when a card is sent from the opponent's deck to the grave, send a Dark Attribute Vampire monster from your hand or deck to the grave."
Yugen's deck ejected another Vampire card through automated searching, which he placed into the grave.
"Destroy a card on the opponent's field. Destroy the Continuous Trap 'Poisonous Snake's Grudge'!"
Within the blood-mist above the Demon City, the surging mist formed blood arrows, shooting with a piercing whistle, instantly perforating the traps in Snake River's back field with countless holes.
Only then did Snake River's expression change slightly.
"I see, the target was my Poisonous Snake's Grudge..."
As this happens, his monsters all lose their immortality, and he can no longer indefinitely adjust any snake monster resources from the deck.
"Alright, now entering the main phase. It's still your turn, go ahead and operate," Yugen gestured with a please gesture.
Snake River: "..."
So you actually knew it was my turn?
"Hmph, I sacrifice 'Black Mamba' on the field to Upper-level Summon—
—Level 5, Curse Incarnation - Ouroboros!"
[Curse Incarnation - Ouroboros, Attack Power 2000]
Yugen thought if he remembered correctly, this card, after being made into a physical card, can be Special Summoned by using a Reptile Race on his field as a sacrifice, without using Summon Points, enhancing it compared to the manga original.
"Ouroboros attacks 'Minotaur'!" Snake River said, "and during the battle, the monster battling Ouroboros loses 300 Attack and Defense Points!"
[Minotaur, Attack Power 1700→Attack Power 1400]
The poisonous snake bit the arm of the Minotaur Warrior, who roared, and their body quickly corroded and disintegrated.
[Yugen, LP 4000→LP 3400]
After being turned into a physical card, as long as Ouroboros is on the field, all of the opponent's monsters lose 300 Attack and Defense, also greatly enhancing it.
Furthermore, the physical card contains a third effect not present in the manga. The physical card Ouroboros can sacrifice a monster on their own field, causing all monsters on the opponent's field to lose Attack and Defense equal to the sacrificed monster's Attack value until the end of the turn.
Epic-level enhancement compared to the original manga version.
Yugen squinted slightly.
Come to think of it, even though I don't know where this person comes from, his card deck seems to have a lot of potential for scientific research and development.
If this deck is strengthened and taken out to publish several papers, wouldn't it be another heavyweight achievement?