The two biggest themes are card draw and tokens, with a little bit of copying and direct damage sprinkled in
Quick-Play Spell Card If a monster battles, during damage calculation, or when a card or effect is activated that would inflict damage to a player(s): Make the damage from that battle or effect 0, then Special Summon 1 "Blackwing" Synchro Monster from your Extra Deck with the same ATK as the original damage
Telling of its dominance, the banning of Spellbook of Judgment (which stands to this day) was the only thing toppling the deck from the top spot
C Common War Rock Skyler X EARTH Level 6 [ WarriorEffect ] ATK 2200 DEF 2200 Gains 100 ATK for each monster your opponent controls
Rather than paying five mana, you can exile a Blue card from your hand and pay one life instead
Sabin, Master Monk: A recurring consistent threat, as blitz is a great mechanic with Shadow, and Sabin can blitz from the graveyard