Saturday, January 17, 2026

Archive Seed Bank: The Encyclopedia

 

Archive Seed Bank: The Encyclopedia

Archive Seed Bank Review

🔍 Meta-Search Description

Founded: 2006 (Officially) / Roots to early 2000s Founder: Fletcher Watson (The Docta / ThaDocta) Location: Portland, Oregon, USA Specialty: Heritage Preservation, OG Kush & Chem Lines, "Face Off" Genetics Reputation Tier: S-Class (The Historian)

📚 The Executive Summary

If DNA Genetics brought American weed to Europe, Archive Seed Bank kept American weed American.

Founded by the enigmatic "ThaDocta" (Fletcher Watson), Archive Seed Bank started with a singular, obsessive mission: to preserve the original clone-only cuts of the 1990s and early 2000s before they were lost to history or diluted by commercial hybridization. While others were chasing yield, The Docta was chasing authenticity.

Archive is best known for giving the world Face Off OG, a strain that has become the backbone of modern breeding. They are also unique because they are "Vertically Integrated"—they own a dispensary in Portland (Archive Portland) where they sell their own seeds and clones directly to the public. This allows them to "market test" their genetics in real-time. If it doesn't sell on the shelf, it doesn't become a seed.

🧬 The Differentiator: The "Face Off" Backbone

The male that changed the menu.

Most breeders use different males for different projects. Archive used one specific male to build an empire: Face Off OG Bx1.

  • The Origin: In the late 90s, The Docta acquired seeds from a hermaphrodite OG Kush plant in Southern California. From this batch, he selected the #4 phenotype—a skull-crushing Indica that felt like your face was melting off (hence the name, referencing the Nicolas Cage/John Travolta movie).

  • The Function: He backcrossed this cut to create a male that passes down the distinct "OG Gas" profile without messing up the structure.

  • The Result: By crossing everything with Face Off, Archive created the Dosidos era. If you have smoked a "Breath" or "Dosi" strain in the last 5 years, you are likely smoking Face Off genetics.

🚜 Breeding Methodology: The "Verification" Standard

Archive is famous for their "verification" process. They do not trust names; they trust DNA.

  1. The Library: The Docta spent decades trading clones on old internet forums (Overgrow.com), amassing a library of verified elites (Real Sour Diesel, Real Chem 91, Real Girl Scout Cookies).

  2. No "Poly-Hybrid Soup": Archive tends to breed F1 hybrids using widely different parents (e.g., Zkittlez x Face Off) to create vigorous, distinct offspring, rather than crossing two similar poly-hybrids together which leads to genetic mud.

  3. The Expedition Line: Recently, they moved beyond Face Off into their "Expedition" line, using their Moonbow 112 male (Zkittlez x Dosidos) to create the modern "Candy Gas" profile that dominates the market today (Rainbow Belts).

🏆 The Strain Catalog (33+ Cultivars)

Archive’s catalog is a history lesson in American cannabis. Below is the authoritative list.

The Face Off Legends (The OG Era)

  1. Face Off OG Bx1: The patriarch. The closest thing to the original 90s OG Kush in seed form.

  2. Dosidos: (OGKB x Face Off OG). The strain that changed the world. Purple, frosty, and insanely potent.

  3. RudeBoi OG: Irene OG x Face Off OG. A Southeast classic meets West Coast gas.

  4. Scooby Snacks: Platinum GSC x Face Off OG. One of the first major "Cookie" crosses.

  5. Casper OG: Ghost OG x Face Off OG. The truest representation of the "Ghost" cut.

  6. Grimace OG: Purple Urkle x Face Off OG. Grape soda meets skunk spray.

  7. French Toast: Paris OG x Face Off OG. A savory, buttery OG variety.

  8. Hazmat OG: Chemdog 91 x Face Off OG. Chemical funk that burns the nostrils.

  9. Hellraiser OG: Fire OG x Face Off OG. High yielding and incredibly loud.

  10. Rocket Fuel: Jet Fuel OG x Face Off OG. Pure gas.

  11. Pie Face: Cherry Pie x Face Off OG. Tart cherry mixed with rubber.

  12. Dosi-Cake: Wedding Cake x Dosidos. A frost monster.

  13. Dubba Dosi: Bubba Kush x Dosidos. Coffee, chocolate, and gas.

  14. Hashbar OG: PNW Hashplant x Face Off OG. Old school resin production.

  15. Kirkwood OG: A proprietary OG cut found by Archive, crossed with Face Off.

The "Moonbow" & "Rainbow" Line (The Zkittlez Era)

  1. Rainbow Belts: Zkittlez x Moonbow. Tastes like fizzy lime candy. A modern classic.

  2. Moonbow 112: Zkittlez x Dosidos. The bridge between gas and candy.

  3. Planet Purple: Sherbert x Moonbow. Deep purple color and heavy narcotic effects.

  4. Oishii: Flavor Pack x Moonbow. Japanese for "Delicious." Complex fruit notes.

  5. Dark Rainbow: GMO x Planet Purple. Savory garlic mixed with grape candy.

  6. Z-Face: Zkittlez x Face Off OG. When you want candy flavor but OG potency.

  7. Black Belts: Zkittlez x Moonbow (Dark Pheno). Heavier than the original belts.

  8. Blue Belts: Blue Moon Rocks x Moonbow. Blueberry fizz.

  9. Rainbow Belts 2.0: A refinement of the original line for better stability.

  10. Rainbow Belts 3.0: The newest iteration, maximizing the lime terpene.

The Exotics & Poly-Hybrids

  1. Melonade: (Lemon Tree x Midwest Best) x Lemon Tree. (Collaboration). Famous for its lemonade flavor.

  2. Cake Face: Animal Face x Face Off OG. A clash of two titans.

  3. Samoas: Forum Cut GSC x Face Off OG. Chocolate, caramel, and kush.

  4. Duct Tape: GG4 x Dosidos. Sticky, industrial adhesive aroma.

  5. Designer OG: Hollywood Pure Kush x Face Off OG. Old school floral kush.

  6. Diesel Dough: Sour Diesel x Dosidos. Sour funk with a cookie finish.

  7. Secret Formula: White Fire #43 x Dosidos. A high-testing white strain.

  8. Valley Vixen: SFV OG x Face Off OG. Pure San Fernando Valley trash-can funk.

  9. Poochie Love: Dog Shit x Face Off OG. A rare Sativa-dominant hybrid.

  10. Memory Loss: Amnesia Haze x Face Off OG. Disorienting and psychedelic.

  11. Killer Queen: G13 x Cinderella 99 (Archive's take uses Face Off in the mix for Killer Face).

  12. Crazy Hazey: Big Sur Holy Weed x Face Off OG. A rare heirloom cross.

❓ FAQ: Archive Seed Bank

Q: Are Archive seeds difficult to grow? A: Moderate to High. The Face Off genetics are known for being "stretchy." They grow tall and lanky (like true OG Kush) and require support/trellising. They are not recommended for first-time growers with small tents.

Q: Regular or Feminized? A: Historically, Archive was Regular Only (Male/Female). The Docta believed this preserved vigor. However, in recent years, they have bowed to market demand and now release highly sought-after Feminized versions of their hits (like Rainbow Belts).

Q: Where can I buy them? A: If you are in Oregon, go to the dispensary. Otherwise, they are available at most major US seed banks (Neptune, Horror Seeds, etc.). Be careful of fakes—Archive packaging is distinct (usually foil packs).

Q: Is "Dosidos" an Archive strain? A: Yes. While many breeders now sell "Dosidos," Archive Seed Bank is the original creator of the strain. If you want the real deal, you buy Archive.

🏁 The Architect's Verdict

Archive Seed Bank is the Smithsonian. They are the guardians of the flame.

They are the perfect breeder for the connoisseur and the preservationist. If you are tired of generic "Gelato" crosses and want to taste what weed tasted like in 1998—but with 2025 potency—you grow Archive. They are the gold standard for authenticity in an industry full of photocopies.

Score: 10/10 (Authenticity) Best For: OG Kush lovers, Phenotype hunters, and "Z" terpene chasers.