Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game

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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^?) is a Japanese collectible card game developed and published by Konami. It is based on the fictional game of Duel Monsters created by comic artist Kazuki Takahashi, which is the main plot device during the majority of his popular comic Yu-Gi-Oh! and the Nihon Ad Systems animated series Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters, Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters GX and Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's (it appears only intermittently and under the name of Magic and Wizards, in reference to Wizards of the Coast's Magic: The Gathering, in the first seven volumes of the comic and the 1998, Toei Animation series). The Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game, often shortened TCG, is the part of the Yu-Gi-Oh! card game formerly manufactured by Upper Deck Entertainment under Konami's direction. The TCG was played Worldwide, but mostly in North America, Europe and Australia. The Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG began in 2002.

In the fictional settings of the manga, anime, and films, the game is referred to as Duel Monsters. Thus the trading card game is the realization of a fictional game which was invented by the author Kazuki Takahashi. The cards and rules of the fictional game are entirely subservient to the plot of the story, and so they cannot be made into an actual trading card game without modification. Konami has produced most of the cards named by Takahashi with the powers he gives them. The rules of the trading card game are quite distinct from those of the fictional game. They are more consistent and balanced and do not change as they do in the fictional contexts. The original manga and the first English printing of Volumes 1–3 and part of Volume 4 used the name Magic & Wizards while the other and newer English productions and both anime versions use Duel Monsters.

The trading cards are distributed in Asian countries by Konami as Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters: Official Card Game (OCG). Elsewhere, Upper Deck Entertainment served as the manufacturer under Konami's direction until 2009, when Konami took control of the Upper Deck TCG.^[1] In response, UDE had sued Konami for $75 million, supposedly the full amount of the game's global cost, citing a breach in contract.^[2] As of December 27, 2008, UDE had won the injunction with Konami, preventing the transfer of distribution rights in the western world.^[3][4] A few months later, UDE lost total control of the franchise^[5] and removed it from their website.^[6] The solid future of the franchise is currently unknown, but Konami is continuing to introduce new cards and are developing a new rating system called "COSSY."^[7]

[edit] General rules

Players start with a set number of life points and a deck of 40 to 60 cards and take it in turns to attack using Monster, Spell, and Trap cards. The aim of the game is to reduce your opponent's life points to zero.
Players usually duel on a layout with six zones:

• Deck Zone - where the player's deck is placed face down.
• Monster Zone - where Monster cards are played. Up to five monsters can be in play at once.
• Spell and Trap Zone - where Spell and/or Trap cards are placed. Up to five spells or traps can be in play at once.
• Graveyard - Destroyed or sacrificed monsters, as well as used Spell or Trap cards are placed face up here.
• Removed from Play Zone - Cards that are removed from the game via card effects. They are generally not able to played again.
• Extra Deck - Also known as the Fusion Deck. This is where Fusion and Synchro monsters are kept.
• Field Spell Zone - Where Field Spells are placed. Only one Field Spell can be active at any time.

There are several different phases to each turn:

Draw Phase

The player draws 1 card from their deck

Standby Phase

A phase in which traps and effects can be activated under the right conditions. Costs to "maintain," or keep on the field, certain cards are also paid during this Phase.

Main Phase 1

Players start to lay out their cards. They can Normal Summon, Tribute Summon or Set one monster per turn, and activate or set spell and trap cards. Normal Summoned monsters placed in defense position are placed face down unless otherwise stated.

Battle Phase

Players can attack once with each monster in attack position. The opponent may activate a quick play spell cards, trap cards or monsters with trigger effects in response to these attack. Any damage taken is deducted from life points. The player who starts the game may not attack on his first turn.

Main Phase 2

Players can lay down spell or trap cards on the field following the battle phase. If they have not normal summoned or set a monster yet this turn, the player can during this phase.

End Phase

The player ends their turn and passes it over to the opponent. Certain card effect may activate.

When attacking a monster, monsters are destroyed and/or life points are deducted based on the circumstances:

Monster attacks monster in ATK position

Weaker monster is destroyed. Owner of monster loses life points depending on difference in ATK points.

Monster attacks monster in ATK with same ATK power.

Both monsters are destroyed,but not always, because they have the same ATK and they cancel each other out. No damage is taken to either player.

Monster attacks weaker monster in DEF position.

Defense monster is destroyed. No life points are lost.

Monster attacks stronger monster in DEF position.

Neither monster is destroyed. Attacker loses life points depending on difference between ATK and DEF points.

Monster attacks player with no monsters defending him (known as a Direct Attack)

Player loses life points equal to the ATK strength of the monster.

A player loses when:

• Their life points are reduced to 0.
• He/she is no longer able to draw cards.
• The opponent fulfills the condition for an automatic victory, like gathering the five pieces of Exodia the Forbidden One in their hand for example. Other cards like "Destiny Board" and "Final Countdown" may also grant an automatic victory under certain conditions.
• He/she surrenders by placing their hand over their deck.

[edit] Anime exclusive rules

These rules apply only to the manga and the anime series. Duels in the manga and anime series start with 2000 life points up to the Duelist Kingdom arc, and 4000 life points from the Battle City arc onwards (the standard life points for real duels is 8000).

Duelist Kingdom arc

Monsters can be summoned regardless of level. Only one monster can attack per turn and direct attacks are forbidden. Field type is determined by physical location, and field spells cannot be played. The field may be divided into multiple types. Flying monsters cannot be attacked by those that can't fly. Monsters gain additional power and abilities depending on the playing field (ex. swimming monsters can't be attacked in water fields). Monsters can be placed to defend other monsters. Creative application of art/flavor text can defy normal rules. There are other exceptions to the game with specific cards. These rules are affected in the following cards:

-Toon World: There is no life point cost. All cards on your side of the field are turned into toons and can not be destroyed in battle. Toon World can not be destroyed by magic or trap cards. -Shadow of Eyes: Only affects male monsters. -Copycat: This only copies the effects of magic and effect cards. Not attack points. -Barrel Dragon: Can attack three times per battle phase. -Time Wizard: Ages things instead of destroying monsters. Other game bending rules: -Machines can not be destroyed in battle by spellcaster-type monsters. -Most fusion monsters aren't actually fusion monsters, (Flame Swordsman, Giltia the D. Knight)

Battle City arc

Fusion monsters created from "Polymerization" can not attack on the turn they are created, unless the Spell card "Quick Attack" is played. Players ante up their rarest card prior to the start of the duel, with the victor winning the loser's card. Multiple monsters can be Normal Summoned in one turn.

Virtual World arc

Players choose and remove a "Deckmaster" from their deck at the start of the game, which allows them to utilize new special abilities specific to that card. The player can put his Deckmaster into play without sacrifices, but if it is destroyed, the player automatically loses.

Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's - Turbo Duels

The field spell "Speed World" is activated at the start of the game and players can only use "Speed Spell" type Spell cards. Using these require Speed Counters, of which one is gained during each player's Standby Phase after the first turn. Player's lose one Speed Counter for each increment of 1000 life points lost in one attack. Turbo Duels can be played in the videogame, Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's: Stardust Accelerator.

Duel Disk #1 rules

Duelists put their entire hand on the field face down with one attacker monster that they can switch. Each monster can attack all the facedown cards but if they attack a trap card it is activated and if they attack a monster card with higher attack points the attacker is destroyed and damage calculation is applied normally. There can only be five cards on the field but your hand that isnt on the field can have more cards.

[edit] Duel Terminals

Duel Terminals are arcade machines developed by Konami in which players can duel against characters from the various anime series using touch screen controls. Players can scan some of their real world cards to add them to their virtual deck. There are some changes to the rules in order to suit arcade play.

• Monster and Spell/Trap Zones are restricted to three slots each.
• Players start with 3000 Life Points.
• Decks consist of only 20 cards.
• Players draw 3 cards at the duel's beginning.
• A time limit appears when players are taking their turn.

[edit] Card types

Normal Monster

A monster without an effect. Many normal monsters have high attack points, but most normal monsters are not usually used in competitive play. In the official rules, a monster with a level of 4 and under can be normal summoned once each turn, whilst a monster with a level of 5 or 6 requires a tribute of one monster, and levels 7 and above use two monsters. This is known as Tribute Summoning. Special Summoning, via the effects of certain cards, can occur several times under the right conditions.

Effect Monster

A monster that has a special effect, similar to that of a magic or trap card. Some effect monsters are tuner monsters, which are used to summon synchro monsters.

Fusion Monster

A monster that can only be summoned by sacrificing two or more monsters from either the hand or the field and using the spell card, 'Polymerization', or another card with its effect. Fusion monsters are stored in a separate deck known as the Fusion Deck or the Extra Deck.

Ritual Monster

A monster that can only be summoned by using a ritual spell card, and sacrificing the required monsters. The Ritual Monster and the appropriate Spell must be in your hand before you may perform a Ritual Summoning (in some occasions, cards will allow you to Ritual Summon without the required Ritual Spell). Ritual Monsters and Ritual Spells are stored in the deck, like regular monsters.
Ignoring the text of the summoning Conditions of a Ritual Monster, if you have correctly Summoned it beforehand, you may special summon it from the Graveyard. (If it's returned to the hand or deck, you must re-perform the Ritual Summoning)

Synchro Monster

A monster that can be summoned by 'tuning' a Tuner-type monster with one or more non-tuner monsters on the field. A Synchro Monster can be summoned from the Extra Deck based on the sum of the levels of the material monsters. Some Synchro monsters gain attributes from the material monsters used for its summoning. Essentially it's an updated way of fusion summoning without the required use of Polymerization, although most Synchro Monsters don't require specific material monsters for their summoning.

Spell

Cards that support the player or their monsters. They are played either from the hand or can be set on the field.

Trap

Cards that are activated in response to certain situations, most often when an opponent attacks. They are set face down on the field and cannot be played on the turn they were placed down.

Equip

Equip cards are Spell cards that give or "equip" effects to monsters to help them during play; increasing their Attack or Defense points, or any number of other effects. Such as "Stim-Pack" which increases the monster's attack points by 700 but decreases it by 200 every turn (giving the player four turns before the card starts to have a drawback).

Forbidden cards

Forbidden isn't a type of card, but a status given to cards in the Yu-Gi-Oh games that the player isn't allowed to use due to their powerful effects. Such as in Yu-Gi-Oh GX Spirit Caller, one of the forbidden cards is "Reborn The Monster" (Monster Reborn in the English series) as it allows the player to summon a creature of any level from either player's graveyard, (though this card was commonly used in the first season of Yu-Gi-Oh) including a "God Monster"(though only for one turn in the anime). However, Monster Reborn has recently been removed from the forbidden list. Also on the Forbidden list was "Time Seal" which forces the opposing player to skip their next "Draw Phase". Though in Yu-Gi-Oh! Gx Spirit Caller after the player beats the game they are allowed to use Forbidden cards.

Dark Synchro Monster (currently exclusive to the anime series)

A monster that can be summoned by deducting the level of a Dark Tuner-type monster from a non-tuner monster. These cards have a negative level.

[edit] Formats

[edit] Tournament play

Many local card shops that carry this game have hosted tournaments.^{[citation needed]} In addition, Upper Deck, Konami, and Shonen Jump had organized numerous tournament systems in their respective areas. These tournaments attracted hundreds of players to compete for prizes such as rare promotional cards. As of February 2009, however, all Organized Play Events in North America were canceled.^[8] However, Organized Play was re-instated April 2009 by Konami.

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 premier Upper Deck and Konami tournaments, including the World Championship. 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. This list is updated every six months and is followed in all tournaments that use this format.^[9]

• Traditional Format

Traditional format is an alternative format which reflects the state of the game before the Forbidden Card list was created. Cards that are banned in Advanced are limited to one copy per deck in this format.^[10] This format only applies to the countries where Upper Deck distributes the game and was not widely used by Upper Deck in its sanctioned tournaments, leaving only local and unsanctioned tournaments to use it.

Rating Systems

The trading card game formerly incorporated worldwide rankings, but since Konami canceled organized play, the ratings were obsolete. Konami is currently developing a new rating system called "Cossy," (Konami Card Game Official Tournament Support System) which according to a company press release, will launch in April, and possibly internationally.^[11]

[edit] Casual play

Casual players typically agree in advance to follow the rules of either the Advanced Format or the Traditional Format.^{[12][citation needed]} In addition, there are countless other unofficial variants, 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). 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. Also recently introduced alongside Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's is the use of Synchro and Tuner monsters.

[edit] Product information

It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game sets. (Discuss)

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

[edit] 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 uncommon card) with the whole set ranging around 130 cards. In order 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 Duelist Genesis, all booster packs that have a Holographic card, will also contain a rare, meaning that you can receive 2 uncommon cards and 7 common cards.

[edit] Starter Decks and Structure Decks

Starter Decks are used to help beginners. Starter Decks were released in order for new players to learn most of the basic gameplay and mechanics, also named after various characters from the second animated series. Structure Decks, however, are for more advanced players, as they are focused on a single strategy and tend to have powerful cards and combos. Each Starter Deck contains forty or fifty different cards, a game mat, and a rule book. Each Structure Deck contains exactly forty cards, a game mat, a rule book and a small leaflet with recommendations for cards, strategies and booster packs to improve the deck. Structure decks are usually built to adhere to the current Advanced-Format Forbidden Card list.

[edit] Character Structure Decks

There are also eight character-based Structure Decks released in Japan. They are similar to their U.S. counterparts except that they contain different cards and are called Structure Decks. These decks tend to be more powerful than the Starter Decks and have been notable among fans as being "playable from the box".^{[citation needed]} The Structure Decks are:

• Yugi Structure Deck (YU): features Dark Magician Girl, the Dark Magician family, and other cards used by Yugi in early parts of the Battle City arc of the anime.
• Jonouchi ("Joey") Structure Deck (JY): This deck may be a bad choice for beginners, but for experienced players it can be a shining grace.
• Kaiba Structure Deck (KA): features the Vampire Lord, Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, Blue-Eyes White Dragon (three in the deck, one with Japanese writing, one with Chinese writing, and one with English writing, referencing the Manga, which mentioned the previous owners of the BEWD's were from those countries^{[citation needed]}), and other cards used by Kaiba in early Battle City arc of anime. Also includes a coin with the Millennium Puzzle printed on it, usually for card effects which needs a toss coin.
• Pegasus Structure Deck (PE): features cards that are used by Pegasus in the Duelist Kingdom arc of the anime. Examples include the "toon" monsters and Relinquished. Also includes the three (non-playable) "invitation" cards that were sent to Yugi before the Duelist Kingdom.
• Yugi Volume 2 Structure Deck (SY2): features cards used by Yugi later in the Battle City arc in the anime. Some examples are Dark Paladin and Magical Dimension.
• Kaiba Volume 2 Structure Deck (SK2): features cards used by Kaiba later in the Battle City arc in the anime. Some examples are XYZ Dragon Cannon and Shrink.
• Jonouchi ("Joey") Volume 2 Structure Deck (SJ2): features cards used by Jonouchi later in the Battle City arc in the anime. Some examples are Gilford the Lightning and Foolish Burial.
• Marik Structure Deck (SDM): features cards used by Marik in the Battle City arc in the anime. Some examples are Lava Golem, Magic Shard Excavation, and Unholy Calamity.

[edit] Evolution Starter Decks

The Yugi and Kaiba Starter Decks have been re-released with slightly different cards since their initial release in the U.S., and the second set is known as the Evolution series. It is generally thought that the Evolution series improved the respective deck of each character, and they are more readily available than the initial release.^{[citation needed]} The codes for the Evolution Series decks are:

• Yugi Evolution Starter Deck (SYE): contains the Ritual Monster Black Luster Soldier, the Ritual Spell Card Black Luster Ritual, and Dark Magician (LOB artwork)
• Kaiba Evolution Starter Deck (SKE): includes a Kaiser Sea Horse card along with the Continuous Trap Card Shadow Spell and Blue-Eyes White Dragon (LOB artwork)

[edit] Type Structure Decks

Type Structure Decks provide new duelists a beginning deck which they can build on as they gain experience with cards of their choice.^[13] The Type Structure decks contain forty cards each. These decks do not follow the theme of being based on a character from the show, though some characters from the show may use similar decks. Instead they are based on a specific Monster type or attribute. The main purpose is to help new players start the game with stronger cards and combos.^{[citation needed]} These decks may also contain multiple copies of same named cards and common versions of hard-to-find cards, making these decks powerful even without modifications.

In addition, all decks include an instruction booklet with tips on how to use the deck's current goal (for example, the Fury of the Deep Structure Deck explains how to use Gravity Bind and A Legendary Ocean as a combo to allow four-starred monsters to attack), and how to expand on that goal with new cards. Each Structure Deck also contains one or more cards that can only be found by buying that deck. The codes for the structure deck, and what they are based on, are:

• Dragon's Roar Structure Deck (SD1): Based on Dragon Type monsters. The new card is Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon.

• Zombie Madness Structure Deck (SD2): Based on Zombie Type monsters. The new card is Vampire Genesis.

• Blaze of Destruction Structure Deck (SD3): Based on Fire Attribute monsters. The new card is Infernal Flame Emperor.

• Fury of the Deep Structure Deck (SD4): Based on Water Attribute monsters. The new card is Ocean Dragon Lord - Neo Daedalus.

• Warrior's Triumph Structure Deck (SD5): Based on Warrior Type monsters. The new cards are Gilford the Legend, Warrior Lady of the Wasteland, and Divine Sword - Phoenix Blade.

• Spellcaster's Judgment Structure Deck (SD6): Based on Spellcaster Type monsters. The new cards are Dark Eradicator Warlock, Mythical Beast Cerberus, Magical Blast, (and for TCG) Nightmare's Steelcage, Magical Dimension, and Mystic Box.

• Invincible Fortress Structure Deck (SD7): Based on Earth Attribute monsters. The new cards are Exxod, Master of the Guard; Great Spirit; and Canyon.

• Lord of the Storm Structure Deck (SD8): Based on Wind Attribute monsters. The new cards are Simorgh, Bird of Divinity; Sonic Shooter; and Hysteric Party.

• Dinosaur's Rage Structure Deck (SD09): Based on Dinosaur Type monsters. The new cards are Super Conductor Tyranno, Jurassic World, Big Evolution Pill, Tail Swipe, Hunting Instinct, Survival Instinct, Volcanic Eruption, "Tyranno Infinity", and Seismic Shockwave. The Special Edition Version of this Deck also released for the first time in the TCG the Five-Headed Dragon (known as Five-God Dragon in Japan).^[14]

• Machine Re-Volt Structure Deck (SD10): Based on Machine Type monsters. The new cards are Ancient Gear Gadjitron Dragon, Ancient Gear Engineer, Ancient Gear Gadjiltron Chimera, Boot-Up Soldier-Dread Dynamo, Ancient Gear Workshop, Ancient Gear Fist, Ancient Gear Explosive, and Ancient Gear Tank. This deck also releases in the TCG the Gadget cards Red Gadget, Yellow Gadget, and Green Gaget monsters and Stronghold the Moving Fortress.

• Surge of Radiance Structure Deck (SD11): Based on Light Attribute monsters. The new cards are Neo Parshath the Sky Paladin, Meltiel, Sage of the Sky, Harvest, Angel of Wisdom, Freya, Spirit of Victory, Nova Summoner, Radiant Jeral, Gellenduo and Aegis of Gaia. This deck has not been released in the TCG, although the new cards are already available as Secret Rares in the "Strike of Neos" set.^{[citation needed]}

• Curse of Darkness Structure Deck (SD12): Based on Dark Attribute monsters. The OCG version is available. Due to the rumors of no release for SD11 there is speculation that there will be no deck either in TCG. The new cards in this deck were released as secret rares in Force of the Breaker, except for Shield Crush.^[15]

• Rise of the Dragon Lords (SDRL),TCG: Based on reviving Dragon type monsters from the Graveyard.^[16] The new cards are: "Decoy Dragon", "Herald of Creation, "Felgrand Dragon, and "Darkblaze Dragon".

• The Dark Emperor (SDDE): Based on the infamous "Monarch" monsters and removing monsters from play. OCG release by December and TCG release in 2008. This deck was released in April 2008 and featured, the new DARK Monarch, "Caius, The Shadow Monarch" and revolves around removing monsters from play. New cards include "Dimensional Alchemist" and "Samsara Kaiser".

• Zombie World(SDZW): This Deck contains widely popular Zombie-Type monsters, adapting it to the new format to build and create new Zombie-Type decks. Also includes the Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon counterpart, the Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon.

• Spellcaster's Command (SDSC): Based on Spellcaster Type monsters, this deck uses Spell Counters as a strategy to win the duel.

[edit] Tournament Boosters

There are special booster packs that are given to those who attend a tournament. These sets change each time there is a different tournament and have less cards than a typical booster pack.

• Tournament Season 1
• Tournament Season 2
• Tournament Season 3
• Tournament Season 4
• Tournament Season 5
• Tournament Season 6
• Tournament Season 7
• Tournament Season 8
• Champion Pack: One
• Champion Pack: Two
• Champion Pack: Three
• Champion Pack: Four
• Champion Pack: Five
• Champion Pack: Six
• Champion Pack: Seven
• Champion Pack: Eight

[edit] Promo Cards

Some cards in the TCG have been released by other means, such as inclusion in video games, movies, and Shonen Jump manga magazines. 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.

[edit] Duelist Packs

• Jaden Yuki's Duelist Pack 1
• Jaden Yuki's Duelist Pack 2
• Jaden Yuki's Duelist pack 3
• Chazz Princeton's Duelist Pack
• Zane Truesdale's Duelist Pack
• Aster Phoenix's Duelist Pack
• Jesse Andersen's Duelist Pack
• Yusei Fudo's Duelist Pack
• Yugi Muto's Duelist Pack

[edit] Card rarity

Common

These cards are normal monster, spell, and trap cards that usually have made previous appearances in other booster packs.

Normal Rare

Normal Rares are identical to Commons, except they are slightly harder to find. Comparable to the now-discontinued TCG Short Print and Super Short Print rarities, Normal Rares only exist in the OCG.

Short Print

Short Prints are identical to Commons, except they are slightly harder to find. This only existed in the TCG, and were discontinued after Ancient Sanctuary, but have since been re-introduced in the TCG in Phantom Darkness.

Super Short Print

Super Short Print's are identical to Commons and Short Prints, except they are much harder to find. They only existed in the TCG, and were discontinued after Ancient Sanctuary.

Holofoil Rare

Holofoil Rares are used for early Gameboy Promos. They are akin to Super Rares, but have a coating very similar to Parallel Common cards. However, this coating has none of the consistent layout and texture of the usual Parallel coating.

Rare

A Rare card is identified by having a silver card name and the image is not holofoiled. There is a rare in every pack but would be replaced by a something higher than a rare. Starting with "The Duelist Genesis", you can get a rare and a something higher than a rare.

Super Rare

A Super Rare card is identified by having a black or white card name and the image is a holofoil. More recent video game promo cards have been Super Rares. Currently there is a 1:5 chance of getting one in a booster pack.

Ultra Rare

An Ultra Rare card is identified by having a gold card name and a holofoil image. The odds of getting an Ultra Rare in a Booster Pack was around 1:12 in Booster Packs before Soul of the Duelist. from Soul of the Duelist onwards the odds became around 1:24. However reprint sets released after Soul of the Duelist such as Dark Revelation Volume 3 use the 1:12 ratio. Although after Tactical Evolution the odds dropped back down to 1:12.

Gold Ultra Rare

Gold Ultra Rare is a new type of rarity introduced in the Gold Series. It has gold lettering and a holographic foil image like an Ultra Rare, but also has a holographic gold image border, lore text border, and card border. On Monster Cards, the Level Stars are embossed in gold foil, similar to what is found on Ultimate Rares.

Ultimate Rare

An Ultimate Rare card has an "embossed" foil on the Card Artwork, including the borders of artworks, Attribute icon, and on Monster Cards, the Level Stars. The card name is printed gold, like an Ultra Rare. When scanned, the embossed image may be muted and the image indistinct from the background. This card rarity is very hard for Scalers to find, since the card is much thinner than a normal Super Rare or Ultra Rare, with a weight comparable to that of to a Common. Ultimate Rare cards usually also come in a less rare variety that can be found in the same booster with the same card number.

OCG Ultimate Rares tend to scan much better than their TCG counterparts, due to a slightly reflective coating present on all OCG cards (but lacking on TCG cards). This has the advantage of brightening the image, and making the foil image more distinct than on a TCG equivalent. In the OCG, Ultimate Rares have been known to be printed as independent rarities, while they are used exclusively as an additional Booster Pack rarity in the TCG.

On the internet market, Ultimate Rare Cards are often much more valuable than others, even if their effectiveness in the game is only above average.

Ghost Rare

Ghost Rare is a fairly recent rarity introduced in the TCG version of Tactical Evolution. It appears to have a very shiny silver lettering, much like a Secret Rare, with some colours removed from the card image. The overall effect of these changes is a pale, "Ghost-like" appearance to the card art, especially when scanned. There are only 7 Ghost Rare TCG Cards: Rainbow Dragon, Elemental Hero Chaos Neos, Rainbow Neos, Honest, Stardust Dragon, Black Rose Dragon, and Red Dragon Archfiend/Assault Mode, which each represent alternative foil patterns for a single secret rare card in their respective sets. This is the TCG version of Holographic Rare. The odds of obtaining a ghost rare is approximately 1 in every 36 booster boxes (864 booster packs).

Holographic Rare

Holographic Rare is a fairly recent rarity introduced in the OCG version of Tactical Evolution. It appears to have silver lettering like a Secret Rare Card, with many colours removed from the card image, while the entire card appears to be holographic. Currently, there are 9 Holographic Rare cards: Rainbow Dragon, Rainbow Neos, Elemental Hero Chaos Neos, Stardust Dragon, Honest, Black Rose Dragon, Red Dragon Archfiend/Assault Mode, Power Tool Dragon, and Ancient Fairy Dragon. This is the OCG version of Ghost Rare. The angle of the card changes the reflected colour, just like a hologram.

Secret Rare

A Secret Rare card is identified by having a silver card name and the image has a unique holofoil known as a parallel holofoil (named due to the parallel dot effect on the image). In sets that are older than Tactical Evolution, secret Rares are all either the first (#000) or last cards in a set.

Secret Rares were at first discontinued due to excessive use of electronic scales, however, they have been re-introduced in Strike of Neos. Currently, the odds of getting a Secret Rare in a Booster Pack is 1:24.

Prismatic Secret Rare

This refers to European Secret Rare promos, whose glittery holographics follow a very different 'prism' pattern to their North American counterpart(s).

Ultra Secret Rare

A Ultra Secret Rare has the Ultra Rare foil over the image, but has the sparkly silver card name like a Secret Rare. There are very few of these cards; only one currently exists in English (the GSE version of "Elemental Hero Wildheart"), with the remaining ten in Japanese.

Secret Ultra Rare

A Secret Ultra Rare has the Secret Rare foil over the image, but has the Gold card name like an Ultra Rare.

There is only one image known for this type of rarity, is an apparently misprinted version of "Gaia the Dragon Champion" in the original Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon booster pack.

Parallel Rare

Parallel Rare is a generic term, used to refer to cards where the entire card surface is holographic (that shows up as an even "haze" on most scans). There are four types of Parallel Rare:

Normal Parallel Rare

Normal black or white title, normal picture. Also known as "Parallel Common."

Super Parallel Rare

A Super Parallel Rare has all the characteristics of a Super Rare (ie. foil image and a black card name) but has a coating which makes the whole surface reflect. The coating tends to stiffen the card and when scanned the coating creates a uniform haze on the card.

Duel Terminal Parallel Rare

Only found on Duel Terminal Series cards, these are based on Normal Parallel Rares, but with a different Parallel Coating design.

Ultra Parallel Rare

An Ultra Parallel Rare has a gold card title like Ultra Rares, but also has a coating across the surface to make the whole card reflect. The coating tends to stiffen the card and when scanned the coating creates a uniform haze on the card.

[edit] Using physical cards in Yu-Gi-Oh! video games

Nearly every card has a unique eight-digit code printed on it. When that code is entered into one of the Yu-Gi-Oh! video games which accept said codes, a digital copy of that card will be 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, Gate Guardian and its "pieces", Cosmo Queen, and Dian Keto The Cure Master.

[edit] Controversy

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 Christian advocate groups to accuse of promoting idolatry, among other things.^[17] 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. 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.

[edit] See also

• List of Yu-Gi-Oh! cards

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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