Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game

"Duel Monsters" redirects here. Not to be confused with Duel Masters.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game

File:Yugioh Trading Card Game Logo.png Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG logo
Players	1 vs. 1, 2 vs. 2, 3 vs. 3, free-for-all (unofficial) 1 to 4 players
Setup time	approx. 2–3 minutes
Playing time	approx. 5–30 minutes per game (depending on variables), 40 minutes per match
Chance	Medium
Age range	8 and up
Skills	Card playing Arithmetic Strategy Statistical Analysis Concentration Patience Logic Common sense Reading

The Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game (遊☆戯☆王オフィシャルカードゲーム, Yū☆Gi☆Ō Ofisharu Kādo Gēmu, Yu-Gi-Oh! Official Card Game) is a Japanese collectible card game developed and published by Konami. It is based on the fictional game of Duel Monsters created by manga artist Kazuki Takahashi, which is the main plot device during the majority of his popular manga franchise, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and its various anime adaptations and spinoff series. The Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game was first launched by Konami in 1999. It was named the top selling trading card game in the world by Guinness World Records on July 7, 2009, having sold over 25 billion cards worldwide. The trading card game continues to gain popularity as it is played around the world, mostly in Japan, North America, Europe and Australia.

Prior to December 2008, Konami's trading cards were distributed in territories outside of Asia by The Upper Deck Company. In December 2008, Konami filed a lawsuit against Upper Deck alleging that it had distributed unauthentic Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG cards made without Konami's authorization. Upper Deck also sued Konami alleging breach of contract and slander. A few months later, a federal court in Los Angeles issued an injunction preventing Upper Deck from acting as the authorized distributor and requiring it to remove the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG from Upper Deck's website. In December 2009, the court decided that Upper Deck was liable for counterfeiting Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG cards, and it dismissed Upper Deck's countersuit against Konami. Konami currently serves as the manufacturer and distributor of the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG; it runs Regional and National tournaments and continues to release new Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG card products.

Gameplay

Yu-Gi-Oh! is a strategic Trading Card Game in which players take turns to draw from a deck of cards forming a hand and take turns playing cards on a field. Each player has a deck of 40-60 cards, along with an Extra Deck containing up to 15 Fusion, Synchro or Xyz Monster cards, and a set number of Life Points, 8000 according to the official rules. The aim of the game is to use a variety of Monster, Spell and Trap cards to reduce your opponent's Life Points to zero.. Note that almost every rule has an exception, and that these are only a brief overview.

Each player takes it in turns going through six phases: Draw, Standby, Main, Battle, Main 2 and End (note that the player who starts the game may not attack on his/her first turn, a player does not have to conduct their battle phase every turn). The Draw phase involves a player drawing a card from his/her deck. The Standby phase is an automatic phase in which certain card effects may occur. During the Main Phases, the player may Normal Summon or Tribute Summon a monster once per turn, Special Summon monsters if possible, switch the battle position of monsters that have not attacked or have been summoned during his/her turn, and use or set Spell or Trap cards. In the Battle Phase, the player can attack the opposing player once using each monster in face-up attack position, whilst the opponent may attempt to defend him/herself using Traps, Spells, or monster effects. Depending on the result of each battle, damage to either player's Life Points may be dealt accordingly. The End Phase occurs when the player declares the end of his/her turn. Cards that have been used, tributed or destroyed are sent to the Graveyard pile. The player loses if he/she runs out of Life Points, has no cards remaining in their deck during their Draw Phase, or if the opponent is able to win using various automatic win conditions stated on certain cards(such as Exodia).

Card types

Monster

Monsters are the main way to win the game , and are used to attack and defend against the opponent. Each monster has a level (or Rank, in the case of Xyz Monsters), an ATK power and a DEF power and are played in either Attack position (face-up, upright), Defense position (Monsters can only be Summoned in Defense position by certain effects), or Set (face-down, sideways). Once per turn, players can normal summon a Level 4 or lower monster, or Tribute summon a more powerful monster by sending monsters from the field to the graveyard (Unless stated on card) (Lv 5-6 requires the tribute of one monster, Lv 7 or higher requires two tributes.) If the conditions for special summoning are met, the player can perform this as many times as possible. During the Battle Phase of each turn, players can attack once with each monster currently in Attack position during the battle phase. To destroy the opponent's monster, the player's monster must have higher or equal ATK points than that monster's ATK points, if in Attack position, (if lower, your monster will be destroyed and you will take damage to your life points) or DEF points if it's in Defense position (if lower your monster will not be destroyed, but you will take damage to your life points). If equal, both monsters will be destroyed if in Attack position but if one is in Defense position it is a standoff resulting in a draw (neither monster is destroyed). Depending on the outcome, life points may be deducted from the player's life points based on the difference between the battling monsters' ATK or DEF points. Each monster may also have a card effect denoted in its description, and may also be affected by other cards depending on their name, type and attribute.

There are several types of monsters. Most Normal and Effect monsters can be Normal or Tribute Summoned, whilst other monsters require certain methods to summon:

1. Normal/Effect (yellow/orange)

A standard monster that can be Normal or Tribute Summoned from the hand once per turn, as well as special summoned under certain conditions. Normal monsters are yellow with a description of the monster while monsters that have effects are orange with an effect detailed in their description.

2. Fusion (purple)

A monster that is summoned from the Extra Deck by using a card with a Fusion effect, such as 'Polymerization',or 'Super Polymerization', and "fusing" monster cards depicted in the Fusion monster's description from the hand or field.

Example: Using 'Polymerization' and using 'Elemental Hero Avian' and 'Elemental Hero Burstinatrix' as the monsters for the fusion allows the player to special summon 'Elemental Hero Flame Wingman.'

3. Ritual (blue)

A monster that is summoned from the hand or deck by using a Ritual Spell card and tributing monster cards from hand and/or field according to the Spell's instructions, whose summed level must not be less than the ritual monster's.

Example: Using 'Black Luster Ritual' and tributing monsters from field and/or hand whose sum of levels equal 8 or more allows player to special summon 'Black Luster Soldier.'

4. Synchro (white)

Introduced with the Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's anime series. A monster that is summoned from the Extra Deck by sending to the graveyard (referred to as 'tuning') a 'Tuner' monster (the text 'Tuner' appears where 'Effect' would appear on effect monsters) with one or more non-tuner monsters from the field, whose total level equals the level of the Synchro Monster you wish to summon. With some exceptions, this usually does not require specific monsters.

Example: Tuning 'Junk Synchron' (Lv 3 Tuner Monster) and 'Speed Warrior' (Lv 2) allows player to special summon 'Junk Warrior' (Lv 5 Synchro Monster).

5. Xyz (black)

Introduced with the Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal anime series. Xyz Monsters are summoned from the Extra Deck by 'overlaying' two or more monsters (the number is in the card's effect text) with the same level relevant to the Rank of the Xyz Monster the player wishes to summon. Material monsters are not sent to the graveyard but instead become 'Xyz Material', which are placed underneath the Xyz Monster in the Monster Zone. Xyz Material can be sent to the graveyard in order to activate an Xyz Monster's effects. Unlike other monsters, Xyz monsters don't have Levels and thus they are unaffected by cards involving a monster's level and cannot be used for Ritual or Synchro Summoning.

Example: Overlaying two Lv 4 monsters allows player to special summon 'No. 39 Utopia' (Rank 4).

6. Token (grey)

A low-powered monster summoned through card effects. These are typically used for defense or tribute purposes. Only used when a card mentions it.

In the case of Fusion, Synchro or Xyz monsters, they may be Special Summoned by certain means if sent to the Graveyard, provided they were successfully summoned beforehand. However, if they are returned to the Extra Deck, the player must meet the summoning requirements again to re-summon them.

Spell

These are cards that can be played either from the hand, or set on the field for later use. They can either power up your monsters attack/defense, destroy other cards, increase life points, etc. It is important to have a good balance of these in your deck. Spells come in 6 forms.

1. Normal

Sent to the grave after the effect resolves.

2. Quick Play (appears as a lightning bolt)

Can be set to be activated during your opponents turn as well as your own, or played during your own turn outside of the main phases. However, you cannot activate a quick-play spell on the same turn that you set it on the field.

3. Continuous (appears as a $\infty$)

Remain on the field after activation until they are removed or destroyed.

4. Equip (appears as a plus)

Attach to a monster to alter its stats, or provide an effect. If the equipped monster leaves the field, it loses Equip Spells.

5. Field (appears as a compass)

Played in a special field card zone, which provides an effect that takes place over the entire duel while active. Only one field card can be active in the duel at a time; if a player plays a field spell while one is already in play, the first field spell is destroyed.

6. Ritual (appears as a flame)

Used to summon ritual monsters.

Trap

Cards that are activated in response to certain situations, most often when an opponent activates an effect or attacks. They are set face down on the field and cannot be activated on the turn they were placed down unless there is a card effect that says it could be activated the turn the trap card is set. Some are used to destroy an attacking monster, negate battle damage, or possibly redirect damage back to the opponent, though, these effects may differ. There are three types of trap cards:

1. Normal traps

They cannot be activated during either player's turn if it was set that turn. Certain normal traps turn into equip cards but are still considered normal trap cards.

2. Continuous trap cards (appears with a $\infty$)

Their effect stays in play until its destruction circumstances are fulfilled.

3. Counter trap cards (appears with a curved arrow)

No cards except other Counter traps can be played after a Counter trap has been activated.

Spell Speed

Card effects all have certain speeds. This determines when they can be played and which effect can be "chained" to another.

• Spell Speed 1 cards can ordinarily only be played during the turn of the player who controls the card. Comprises Spell cards (excluding Quick Play) and Monster Effects.
• Spell Speed 2 cards can be played in any turn, and can be activated in response to either Spell Speed 1 or 2. Comprises Quick Play spells and Normal/Continuous traps and instant monster effects.
• Spell Speed 3 cards are only Counter trap cards. They can be activated in response to either Spell Speed 1, 2, or 3.

Formats

Tournament play

Tournaments are often hosted either by players or by card shops. In addition, Upper Deck (now no longer part of Yu-Gi-Oh's Organized Play), Konami, and Shonen Jump have all organized numerous tournament systems in their respective areas. These tournaments attract hundreds of players to compete for prizes such as rare promotional cards.

There are two styles of tournament play called "Formats;" each format has its own rules and some restrictions on what cards are allowed to be used during events.

• Advanced Format

The Advanced Format is used in all sanctioned tournaments (with the exception of certain Pegasus League formats). This format follows all the normal rules of the game, but also places a complete ban on certain cards that are deemed too advantageous for tournament play. These cards are on a special list called the Forbidden, or Banned List. There are also certain cards that are Limited or Semi-Limited to only being allowed 1 or 2 of those cards in a deck and side deck combined, respectively. This list is updated every six months(September 1, March 1) and is followed in all tournaments that use this format.

• Traditional Format

Traditional format is sometimes used in Pegasus League play and is never used in Official Tournaments and reflects the state of the game without banned cards. Cards that are banned in Advanced are limited to one copy per deck in this format.

Rating Systems

The trading card game formerly incorporated worldwide rankings, but since Konami canceled organized play, the ratings were obsolete. Konami has developed a new rating system called "COSSY," (Konami Card Game Official Tournament Support System.)

Casual play

Casual players typically agree to follow an unofficial variant of the rules, such as multiple player duel (where three or more duelists play every-man-for-themselves) and use of the Egyptian God Cards (promotional cards from the anime/manga adaptation, which are illegal in official tournaments with the exception of their legal card forms. These have recently been reprinted into legal versions, however the original promotional cards remain illegal.) For these unofficial variants of the game, the rules, such as what cards are legal or not, are agreed upon ahead of time. However, very recently, official Tag (team) Duel rules have been introduced into the main game, advertised in the form of Tag Force 2 and Championship 2008.

Product information

Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Cards are available in Starter Decks, Structure Decks, booster packs, and occasionally as promotional cards.

Booster Packs

As in all other Trading Card Games, booster packs are the primary avenue of card distribution. In Konami's distribution areas, five random cards are found in each booster pack, and each set contains between fifty and sixty different cards. However, in Upper Deck's areas, early booster packs contained a random assortment of nine cards (eight common cards and one rare card) with the whole set ranging around 130 cards. To catch up with the Japanese meta game, two or more original sets were combined into one. Now, more recent Upper Deck sets have simply duplicated the original set. Some booster sets are reprinted/reissued (e.g. Dark Beginnings Volume 1 and 2). This type of set usually contains a larger amount of cards (around 200 to 250), and they contain twelve cards along with one tip card rather than the normal five or nine. Recently, since the Release of Tactical Evolution, all booster packs that have a Holographic/Ghost Rare card, will also contain a rare, meaning if you receive a Holofoil card in a pack you will still receive 1 Rare card and 7 Common cards. Current sets have 100 different cards per set. There are also special booster packs that are given to those who attend a tournament. These sets change each time there is a different tournament and have fewer cards than a typical booster pack. There are eight Tournament Packs, eight Champion Packs, and 10 Turbo Packs.

Duelist Packs

Duelist packs are similar to booster packs, albeit are focused around the types of cards used by characters in the various anime series.

Promotional cards

Some cards in the TCG have been released by other means, such as inclusion in video games, movies, and Shonen Jump Magazine issues. These cards often are exclusive and have a special type of rarity or are never-before-seen to the public. Occasionally, cards like Cyber Valley and Chimeratech Fortress Dragon have been re-released as revisions.

Using physical cards in Yu-Gi-Oh! video games

Nearly every card has a unique 7–9 digit code printed on it. When that code is entered into one of the Yu-Gi-Oh! video games that accept it, a digital copy of that card is added to the player's virtual cards. Thus, players can port their real-world decks into the games.

Some cards do not have this code. For example, all but two copies of Japanese Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon cards say "Replica" where the code should be (They are considered replicas of the other two that were given as prizes in a Yu-Gi-Oh! tournament in Tokyo).

Some cards do not have anything at all. For example, the Shadow Ghoul monster card from the English Metal Raiders and Dark Beginning 2 booster sets has no code number, as opposed to being a replica card. Some other examples of cards that do not have any codes at all are Labyrinth Wall (and its sister card, "Wall Shadow,") Gate Guardian and its "pieces," Sanga of the Thunder, Kazijin, and Suijin.

There are also Duel Terminal cards. (Prefixed by DT in cards.) These are used in a Duel Terminal machine, which are at various locations around the country. In these machines, you can lay down a Duel Terminal card, and the machine will scan it in so you can play with it. These cards are also compatible with a Duel Scanner peripheral for the Japanese version of Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's: Duel Transer for the Nintendo Wii.

Controversy

Otherwise, due to the nature of the inspirations of some of the cards, such as ancient mythology and Japanese folklore, the card game was a potential target for religious advocate groups to accuse of promoting idolatry, among other things. Perhaps to alleviate their concerns, the English names of the cards were not always given a direct translation, instead opting for a name less controversial. For example, the "Black Magician" in the original Japanese was changed to the "Dark Magician" in English, which reduced its association with black magic and the card "Trial of Hell" was changed to "Trial of Nightmare". However, this has caused some problems with the naming of certain cards, such as Archfiends (Demons in Japan), who (before the advent of Dark Crisis) all had unique names in the English version. Thus they had to be reclassified as Archfiends to meet the new standard. In addition the use of Christian themes have also been censored out of the international edition of Yu-Gi-Oh.

See also

• List of Yu-Gi-Oh! cards

External links

• Official Konami Trading Card Game website (Konami)
• Yu-Gi-Oh! Online worldwide portal
• Yu-Gi-Oh! Wikia
• Yu-Gi-Oh! Card Rulings
• Yu-Gi-Oh! Card Database