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Digimon starter decks and
cheap upgrades
Digimon Ivan Kandrač Feb 08, 2022
Digimon Card Game Double Digimon Card Ga
Diamond Booster Pack (12 Omni Booster Bo
cards) BT06 BT05
35,00 kn 760,00 kn
The Digimon TCG has one of the best new player
experiences in the space, this is almost completely
due to how excellent their starter decks are. Each
starter deck has meta-relevant cards for the time that
it releases, and they’re significantly cheaper than
simply buying each card in singles.
Today, we’ll be going over what comes in a starter
deck, which one you should buy, as well as how you
can upgrade each of them!
What Does A Starter Deck Contain?
Although starter decks mostly have similar contents,
there are subtle differences between “generations.”
We’ll refer to generations as a collective name for
starter decks that are released at the same time as
each other.
The first generation of Starter Decks comes with:
A set of 54 cards.
16 different cards.
7 Commons
5 Uncommons
3 Rares
1 Super Rare
2 Memory Gauges alongside Pop-Out Counters.
English Starter Decks come together with 1 Pack of
BT01-03: Release Special Booster Ver.1.0.
The second generation of Starter Decks comes with:
A set of 54 cards.
16 different cards.
7 Commons
5 Uncommons
3 Rares
1 Super Rare
2 Memory Gauges alongside Pop-Out Counters.
English Starter Decks come packed with 1 Pack of
BT-04: Booster Great Legend..
By buying 2 English Starter Decks you get 1 Great
Dash Pack for free!
The third(and current) generation of Starter Decks
contains:
A set of 54 cards.
16 different cards.
5 Commons
6 Uncommons
3 Rares
2 Super Rare
2 Memory Gauges.
6 Bonus cards.
The Japanese version comes with 1 Playsheet.
All in all, this is a sweet haul for the low price of
around 15 EUR. Even the older starter decks that
have mostly had the cards within them reprinted or
phased out of the meta still provide more value than if
you bought them as singles.
First Generation
The first generation had by far the least focused
decks, with quite a few weak cards making the cut.
Starting the Digimon TCG in 2022 with one of these
decks is only advisable if you’re just looking to have
the absolute simplest experience possible.
ST-1: Starter Deck Gaia Red
Deck List:
ST1-01Koromon
ST1-02Biyomon
ST1-02Biyomon
ST1-02Biyomon
ST1-03Agumon
ST1-03Agumon
ST1-03Agumon
ST1-03Agumon
ST1-03Agumon
ST1-04Dracomon
ST1-05Birdramon
ST1-06Coredramon
ST1-06Coredramon
ST1-07Greymon
ST1-07Greymon
ST1-08Garudamon
ST1-08Garudamon
ST1-09MetalGreymon
ST1-09MetalGreymon
ST1-09MetalGreymon
ST1-10Phoenixmon
ST1-10Phoenixmon
ST1-11WarGreymon
ST1-11WarGreymon
ST1-11WarGreymon
ST1-12Tai Kamiya
ST1-13Shadow Wing
ST1-13Shadow Wing
ST1-14Starlight Explosion
ST1-15Giga Destroyer
ST1-16Gaia Force
ST1-16Gaia Force
The 1st starter deck is a very cut-and-dry
aggressive deck. The deck has an excellent curve
and is pretty much all-in on boosting WarGreymon
as much as possible so that it kills your opponent in
one or two turns.
Now, let’s look at some cheap upgrades you can add
to the deck. With this deck, since its only real main
gameplan is boosting WarGreymon to untold heights,
we’ll be leaning into that completely and going full
Greymon-tribal with a list like:
1 Sakuttomon BT4-001
4 Koromon BT5-001
4 Monodramon BT1-009
2 Agumon BT1-010
2 WarGreymon BT1-025
2 Lavogaritamon BT2-016
3 BlitzGreymon BT3-018
1 Marcus Damon BT4-092
4 Agumon BT5-007
4 Greymon BT5-010
4 Monochromon BT5-012
3 MetalGreymon Alterous Mode BT5-015
2 ZeigGreymon BT5-017
3 Omnimon BT5-086
4 Nokia Shiramine BT5-092
1 Omnimon X Anti-body BT5-111
4 Agumon ST1-03
4 Greymon ST1-07
3 Metal Greymon ST1-09
The Omnimons can be replaced with any other Lv 7
digimon the deck can support(which are mostly
cheaper varieties of Omnimon.) Alternatively, you
can include AncientGreymon as a side win condition.
The deck is really fun to play, and quite beginner-
friendly as well.
Note that a lot of the good cards in this deck are
reprinted in ST-7: Starter Deck Gallantmon so unless
you’re really attached to getting this specific deck,
you’d be better off with that one.
ST-2: Starter Deck Cocytus Blue
Deck List:
ST2-01Tsunomon
ST2-02Gomamon
ST2-02Gomamon
ST2-03Gabumon
ST2-04Bearmon
ST2-05Ikkakumon
ST2-06Garurumon
ST2-07Grizzlymon
ST2-07Grizzlymon
ST2-08WereGarurumon
ST2-08WereGarurumon
ST2-08WereGarurumon
ST2-09Zudomon
ST2-10Plesiomon
ST2-11MetalGarurumon
ST2-11MetalGarurumon
ST2-12Matt Ishida
ST2-13Hammer Spark
ST2-13Hammer Spark
ST2-14Sorrow Blue
ST2-15Kaiser Nail
ST2-16Cocytus Breath
ST2-16Cocytus Breath
ST2-06Garurumon
ST2-09Zudomon
ST2-02Gomamon
As a parallel of Gaia Red, Cocytus Blue is about
getting the most out of the multiple attacks you get
with your Metalgarurumon. It’s a bit less aggressive
than Gaia Red, opting to keep a few key control
options.
As for upgrades, this one’s fairly straightforward:
4x ST2 Tsunomon + 4x BT1 Upamon
+1 DemiVeemon BT2
Replace all rookies that cost more than 2 with BT1
Elecmon and BT1 Gabumon
Take out all Campion-level digimon bar Grizzlymon
and replace them with BT1 Garurumon, BT1
Leomon, or an aggressive Champion you pull from
later booster packs.
Replace any 4 Ultimate-level digimon for BT01
Zudomon
Replace Metalgarurumon with either the BT1
Metalgarurumon or Leopardmon BT1, as the
starter Metalgarurumon is simply atrocious
Ideally, add in a couple Omnimon if you have them
And you’re done!
Note that a lot of the good cards in this deck are
reprinted in ST-7: Starter Deck UlforceVeedramon
so unless you’re really attached to getting this
specific deck, you’d be better off with that one.
ST-3: Starter Deck Heaven's Yellow
Deck List:
ST3-01Tokomon
ST3-02Salamon
ST3-02Salamon
ST3-03Tapirmon
ST3-04Patamon
ST3-04Patamon
ST3-04Patamon
ST3-05Angemon
ST3-05Angemon
ST3-05Angemon
ST3-06Gatomon
ST3-07Unimon
ST3-07Unimon
ST3-08MagnaAngemon
ST3-08MagnaAngemon
ST3-08MagnaAngemon
ST3-09Angewomon
ST3-09Angewomon
ST3-10Magnadramon
ST3-11Seraphimon
ST3-12T.K. Takaishi
ST3-13Heaven's Gate
ST3-13Heaven's Gate
ST3-14Heaven's Charm
ST3-14Heaven's Charm
ST3-15Holy Flame
ST3-16Seven Heavens
The Yellow Starter deck is all-round the weakest of
the first three, and by extension, the weakest starter
deck. While it comes with some useful cards, most of
the deck is rather underwhelming when it comes to
gameplay.
With that being said, if you’re absolutely adamant
about running it, the deck revolves around lowering
the BP of your opponent’s digimon to 0 in order to
destroy them.
Upgrading the deck is a bit of a hassle, as you’ll
ideally only be keeping a few cards from the starter
deck, but some cards you should be on the lookout for
are:
BT3 Upamon
BT1 Petermon & Tinkermon
BT1 MagnaAngemon
BT2 MagnaDramon
The BT2 ShineGreymon evolution line
Second Generation
The second-generation starter decks are quite a bit
better than the first generation. Their game plans are
generally more focused, despite still being meant to
introduce the basic ideals of their colors.
ST-4: Starter Deck Giga Green
Deck List:
ST4-01Motimon
ST4-02Floramon
ST4-03Tentomon
ST4-03Tentomon
ST4-04Palmon
ST4-05Kunemon
ST4-06Togemon
ST4-07Kuwagamon
ST4-08Kabuterimon
ST4-08Kabuterimon
ST4-08Kabuterimon
ST4-08Kabuterimon
ST4-09Okuwamon
ST4-10Lillymon
ST4-10Lillymon
ST4-11MegaKabuterimon
ST4-12Rosemon
ST4-13HerculesKabuterimon
ST4-14Izzy Izumi
ST4-15Needle Spray
ST4-16Electro Shocker
This is most likely the best deck out of the 2nd
generation. Its main theme is attacking over your
opponent’s Digimon, while performing gimmicks or
targeting their security. One of the biggest benefits of
this deck is how easily it can be upgraded.
As for upgrades, doing something like this is a good
idea:
1 Tanemon BT1-007
3 Goblimon BT1-064
3 Mimi Tachikawa BT1-089
1 Argomon BT2-047
4 Minomon BT3-004
2 Terriermon BT3-046
3 Gargomon BT3-048
4 Stingmon BT3-050
1 Blossomon BT3-054
2 MegaGargomon BT3-057
2 BanchoStingmon BT3-058
1 Hidden Potential Discovered! BT3-103
3 Lalamon BT4-052
3 Lilamon BT4-059
2 Chaosmon BT4-090
3 Tentomon ST4-03
4 Palmon ST4-04
4 Kabuterimon ST4-08
4 MegaKabuterimon ST4-11
3 HerculesKabuterimon ST4-13
2 Needle Spray ST4-15
The upgrades are quite budget, sitting at around $40
but really breathe a new life into the deck, making it
competitive at a local level with ease. The deck
essentially keeps the same playstyle of attacking
over your opponent’s Digimon, with the biggest
difference being that attacking directly is more often
an option with this version.
ST-5: Starter Deck Machine Black
Deck List:
ST5-01Kapurimon
ST5-02Jazamon
ST5-03Agumon
ST5-03Agumon
ST5-04ToyAgumon
ST5-05Commandramon
ST5-06Greymon
ST5-07Jazardmon
ST5-08DarkTyrannomon
ST5-09MetalGreymon
ST5-10MetalTyrannomon
ST5-11Megadramon
ST5-12Machinedramon
ST5-13BlitzGreymon
ST5-14Tai Kamiya
ST5-15Laser Eye
ST5-16Dark Side Attack
Aside from the edgy aesthetic, the black deck is quite
unique, having a strategy that revolves around
blocking your opponent’s Digimon. Although this kind
of reactive playstyle isn’t for everyone, the deck
heavily rewards patient play.
Furthermore, black is the color that is most attached
to its starter deck, with many of the cards within
appearing even in top-tier black builds.
A budget list we would recommend to branch into is:
1 Kapurimon BT2-005
3 Gotsumon BT2-054
4 ToyAgumon BT2-055
4 Greymon BT2-057
1 Andromon BT2-061
3 MetalGreymon BT2-063
1 Tai Kamiya BT2-089
1 Infinity Cannon BT2-106
2 CresGarurumon BT3-073
4 Craniamon BT3-075
2 Joe Kido BT3-095
3 Beast Cyclone BT3-106
4 Sealsdramon BT4-067
1 Meteormon BT4-070
2 Chaosmon BT4-090
4 Kapurimon ST5-01
3 Agumon ST5-03
4 ToyAgumon ST5-04
2 Greymon ST5-06
2 DarkTyrannomon ST5-08
3 Megadramon ST5-11
1 Genocide Attack ST5-16
It maintains the blocking agenda of the Starter Deck
while making it a bit more fun to play and a hell of a
lot more consistent. Alternatively, you can look at
playing a D-Brigade shell like this one.
ST-6: Starter Deck Venomous Violet
Deck List:
ST6-01Pagumon
ST6-02DemiDevimon
ST6-03Gabumon
ST6-04Dracmon
ST6-05Elecmon
ST6-06Garurumon
ST6-07Youkomon
ST6-08Devimon
ST6-08Devimon
ST6-08Devimon
ST6-08Devimon
ST6-09Kyukimon
ST6-10SkullSatamon
ST6-11WereGarurumon
ST6-12VenomMyotismon
ST6-13CresGarurumon
ST6-14Matt Ishida
ST6-15Death Claw
ST6-16Nail Bone
In our opinion, this is the most fun deck to play out of
