Yu-Gi-Oh is a popular trading card game, but it can be difficult for beginners to build a competitive deck. On the market there are predefined decks, very simple to use. For true fans, however, the right way is to select all the cards, one by one. Whether you're a rookie looking to break out of your shell or a totally inexperienced but ambitious player looking to get started on the right foot, this article will tell you how to build a deck from scratch.
Steps
Step 1. Get some Yu-Gi-Oh cards
If you already have them, arrange them all somewhere so you can see and order them. It's a good idea to have plenty of them available so you have more choice. If you think that the material you have is not enough, buy another pack or two that contain many papers of various editions. If you already know what you need, you can purchase single cards on the internet or at a local store. Alternatively, you can compose and test a deck with an online simulation program, such as the Dueling Book site (Dueling Network is no longer active), before deciding which cards to buy.
You will need between 40 and 60 cards to make up a complete deck. Always try to get as close as possible to the minimum limit, in order to reduce the chances of drawing a useless card
Step 2. Learn the rules
Before you begin, make sure you know the rules. If you don't know how to play Yu-Gi-Oh, you can find the manual and many tutorials on the internet. If you know the basic rules, familiarize yourself with more complex mechanics, such as chains, losing timing and conjunctions.
Step 3. Decide what kind of deck you want to create
The best decks of Yu-Gi-Oh focus on a single archetype: a group of similarly named cards that support each other. A deck built this way is much more powerful and reliable than one that focuses on one attribute or type, thanks to synergies and supporting cards. Additionally, a list should also focus on a single mechanic or trait, such as banishing enemies or performing a Synchro Summon.
Before composing your deck, you may want to observe a few games or play with a friend's deck, so you can figure out which strategies you prefer. Also, you can find good lists to copy on the internet
Step 4. Add the monsters
These are the most important cards of Yu-Gi-Oh, used in almost all decks to attack and defend. About 12-18 items on your list should be monsters that support your archetype or offer some synergy. Avoid putting in too many creatures that you cannot summon; most should be level 4 or lower. Only employ 3 or 4 of level 5 and 6; do not enter more than 2 of level 7 or higher if you don't have a way to easily summon high level cards. Use monsters with useful effects if you don't have a deck that focuses on normal creatures.
Step 5. Add the spells
Almost all of these cards help you develop your game or get out of trouble. The best spells to use are: cards that support an archetype, spells that allow you to draw (like Army Reinforcements or Preparation of Rites), cards that can destroy monsters (like Raigeki or Black Hole), that protect them (such as Forbidden Spear), which destroy other spells or traps (such as Mystical Space Typhoon) and which prune your deck (such as Goblin Richard and Pot of Duality). Some lists also include land spells and ritual spells.
Step 6. Add the trap cards
These cards are useful for interfering with the opponent's play. On average, there are 5-10 traps in decks, but some players only use 3. The best traps are those that: prevent attacks (such as Mirror Force), prevent summoning (such as Solemn Warning), negate activation of traps and spells (such as Bug), negate some effects (such as Resolving Ability or Demonic Chain), remove monsters (such as Ring of Destruction or Mandatory Rescue Device), and prevent the opponent from playing (such as Vanity Emptiness). You should use trap cards to balance your deck's weaknesses.
Step 7. Build your Extra Deck
Almost all existing decks benefit from the presence of an Extra Deck. If you have at least 3 summonable creatures of the same level, include some generic monsters of that level. If you have a Tuner monster, add a couple of Synchro creatures of a level equal to the sum of the Tuner level and that of the monsters you summon most often.
Step 8. Build a Side Deck
The Side Deck is optional and you won't need it unless you decide to participate in a tournament. In fact, you can use the cards from the Side Deck to replace those from the main deck between duels in a match. The secondary list is limited to 15 units and should contain cards that are useful against some strategies, but too specific to be included in the main list. If you want to build a Side Deck, choose cards based on the decks you are most likely to play, such as those of friends or members of a local tournament.
Step 9. When composing your list, consider the "metagame"
Consider what the best cards are right now and prepare strategies to counter the most popular decks and tactics.
Step 10. Once you've built your deck, try it out and learn about its strengths and weaknesses
At this point, you could replace some cards and build the Side Deck.
Step 11. Make sure the deck offers consistent performance
This is one of the key features. To draw the cards you need, you need to add several copies of the most important ones.
- The more copies of a card you put in your deck, the higher the chance of drawing it. This step assumes your list is 40 cards and not 60. With 40 cards in the deck and three copies of a card, you have a 1/13 chance to draw it. This means that you will draw the card you are looking for once out of 13.
- In addition to inserting multiple copies of a card, use spells that thin your deck or special summons along with cards that draw, so your deck becomes truly lethal.
Advice
- There is no perfect deck. You will have to continually adapt and improve it.
- Make sure you have a deck that performs consistently and performs well. You must avoid finding yourself with a hand of useless cards!
- When building a deck, be sure to try it out and make the necessary changes. Be creative.
- Cards that make you win the game instantly are not recommended, as it is very difficult to use them successfully. If you are going to use them, you need to compose the entire deck in support of that strategy.
- If you are a beginner or don't have a large budget, you can start by purchasing a beginner deck.
- If you are looking for particular cards, you can save a lot by buying them individually, instead of buying numerous sleeves in the hope of finding them.
- Decks based on an attribute or type are usually not effective. Almost all competitive lists in existence are centered around an archetype.
