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Are you new to the world of Yu-Gi-Oh!? If so, you’ve come to the right place!
Yu-Gi-Oh! is an exciting universe based on a card game played with Monsters, Spells, and Traps. The Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise includes manga series, television series, several video games, the Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME, and more! This short guide will help you familiarize yourself with some of what Yu-Gi-Oh! has to offer.
New to the Yu-Gi-Oh! Animated Series
Each animated Yu-Gi-Oh! series features characters playing a strategy card game called Duel Monsters. This strategy card game lets the characters from the animated series face off against one another, without resorting to physical violence. The stakes of each game are sometimes high, as characters compete to protect their friends, help their loved ones, or determine the fate of the world! The Duel Monsters card game on the Yu-Gi-Oh! television show closely resembles the Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME that you can purchase at your local shop.
There are 4 different Yu-Gi-Oh! animated series. The oldest one is the original Yu-Gi-Oh! series, which first aired on television in North America in 2001. That series was followed by Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, which premiered in North America in 2005. The third Yu-Gi-Oh! series, Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s, aired in North America in 2008, and after it concluded, it was followed by Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL. Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL first aired in North America in 2011, and is still an ongoing series.
Every animated Yu-Gi-Oh! series takes place in a separate timeline and features a different cast of characters. Check out the brief summaries below for more information about each series!
The Original Yu-Gi-Oh! Series
Meet Yugi and his best buds Joey, Tristan and Téa. They share a love for the newest game that’s sweeping the nation: Duel Monsters!
Duel Monsters is a card-battling game in which players put different mystical creatures against one another in creative and strategic duels! Packed with awesome monsters and mighty spell cards, Yugi and his friends are totally obsessed with the game.
But there’s more to this card game than meets the eye!
Legend has it five thousand years ago, ancient Egyptian Pharaohs used to play a magical game very similar to Duel Monsters. This ancient game involved magical ceremonies, which were used to foresee the future and ultimately decide one’s destiny. They called it the Shadow Games. Since the game used so many magical spells and ferocious creatures, it wasn’t long before the game got out of hand and threatened to destroy the world. Fortunately, a brave Pharaoh stepped in and averted this cataclysm.
Now, in present times, the game has been revived in the form of playing cards.
Meanwhile, Yugi’s grandfather gives him an old Egyptian puzzle that no one can solve, but when Yugi finally pieces the puzzle together, his life is forever changed. The puzzle instills Yugi with an ancient spirit, and the two work together to form a stronger, more confident duelist.
Soon after, the mysterious creator of the Duel Monsters card game, Maximillion Pegasus, kidnaps Yugi’s grandfather, and Yugi is drawn into a Duel Monsters competition that Pegasus arranged. Now Yugi must duel his way through a tournament and defeat Pegasus in order to save his grandfather.
How will Yugi do it? Will the help of his friends, his belief in the heart of the cards and the mysterious power of his magical Millennium Puzzle be enough?
Giant monsters! Powerful magic! And ancient Egyptian legends!
Yu-Gi-Oh! is one action-packed adventure series that holds all the cards! It’s your move!
For more information about the original Yu-Gi-Oh! series, click here!
Yu-Gi-Oh! GX
Set several years after the previous Yu-Gi-Oh! series, GX follows a new generation of duelists at the prestigious Duel Academy—a highly competitive boarding school where pencils and books have been replaced by Duel Disks and monster cards! Still, it’s not just about making the grade for these up and coming students – it’s about becoming the next King of Games!
For more information about Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, click here!
Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s
The future of dueling is revving up! And with it begins a new legend! Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s!
Welcome to New Domino City! Once the playground to legendary duelist Yugi Muto, this sprawling metropolis has since been transformed into a futuristic society where dueling has kicked into overdrive. With recent technological advancements made by KaibaCorp, dueling has undergone a metamorphosis that has revolutionized the makeup and pace of the game! It’s now a heart-pounding, adrenaline-filled and fuel injected competition where duelists ride supercharged hyper cycles called Duel Runners and battle it out in hi-octane contests called “Turbo Duels.” The winners and losers aren’t just separated by skill and strength… but by SPEED!
However, for five special duelists, it’s not just about winning or losing anymore – it’s about survival, for they are the chosen “Signers” who have been marked by destiny to uncover the secrets of the five dragons!
With new cards, new players and new adventures, you’d better start your engines and get set to duel!
Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s – don’t let the revolution pass you by!
For more information about Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s, click here!
Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL
When aspiring duelist Yuma meets Astral, a mysterious visitor from another universe, it seems like destiny. Yuma needs Astral to teach him how to duel, and Astral needs Yuma to help him regain his memories!
They would be dueling’s greatest tag team…. except they don’t get along!
This dueling duo better get their act together quickly because ZEXAL is a whole new duel with greater challenges than ever before!
Fantastic new monsters!
Powerful new cards!
Augmented reality-powered duel technology!
Together, it takes dueling to the next level!
But don’t worry if you’ve never dueled before: As Astral walks Yuma through the basics, new viewers can follow along and learn how to duel. And for seasoned pros, there are plenty of never-before-seen strategies that they can use in real life!
Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL – New Rules, New Duels!
For more information about Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL, click here!
New to the Yu-Gi-Oh! Manga Series
Find out where it all began with the classic Yu-Gi-Oh! series by Kazuki Takahashi! Then advance to the sequels from Duelist to Millennium World all the way to Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL. And if you want to keep up with the latest chapters, read them in the digital edition ofWeekly Shonen Jump. For more information about Weekly Shonen Jump, click here!
Yu-Gi-Oh!
Story and Art by Kazuki Takahashi
Sitting by himself in the back of the class, 10th-grader Yugi always had his head in some game–until he solved the Millennium Puzzle, an Egyptian artifact containing a powerful spirit from the age of the pharoahs! Awakened after three thousand years, the King of Games possesses Yugi, recklessly challenging bullies and evildoers to the Shadow Games, where the stakes are high, and even the most ordinary bet may result in weirdness and danger beyond belief! Let the games…begin!
To find out more, go here!
Yu-Gi-Oh!: Duelist
Story and Art by Kazuki Takahashi
Duel Monsters is the world’s most popular collectible card game–but to Yugi Mutou, whose body contains the spirit of the world’s greatest gamer, it may be the most dangerous game he’s ever played! A mysterious videotape sends Yugi and his friends to Duelist Kingdom, the island home of super-rich American game designer Maximillion Pegasus. There, Yugi must compete with the world’s greatest Duel Monsters players for the honor of fighting the man who made the game! But this is no ordinary tournament…the fate of Yugi’s grandfather hangs in the balance. And even if he makes it to the final round, can Yugi possibly face the power of Pegasus’ Millennium Eye?
To find out more, go here!
Yu-Gi-Oh!: Millennium World
Story and Art by Kazuki Takahashi
After hundreds of battles, Yugi has finally gathered all the Egyptian God Cards… the key to unlocking his memories of his past life as an Egyptian pharaoh. When Ryo Bakura gives him the Millennium Eye, Yugi opens the door to the “world of memory,” and his mind travels back in time to ancient Egypt, when the magic and monsters were real! Now Yugi and his friends must explore the world of Yugi’s forgotten past…and fight an enemy who has been waiting for them for 3,000 years!
To find out more, go here!
Yu-Gi-Oh! R
Original Concept by Kazuki Takahashi
Story and Art by Akira Ito
It’s been many duels since Yugi defeated Maxmilion Pegasus, the super-rich designer of the collectible card game “Duel Monsters.” But Yako Tenma, Pegasus’ protégé, has never forgiven Yugi for his master’s horrible fate. To draw Yugi out, Yako kidnaps Anzu Mazaki and takes her to the heart of the Kaibacorp building, guarded by dozens of the world’s most dangerous gamers! But Yako’s true plan for Anzu is much worse than mere revenge…
To find out more, go here!
Yu-Gi-Oh! GX
Original Concept by Kazuki Takahashi
Story and Art by Naoyuki Kageyama
Considered a slacker by his peers, Jaden battles teachers and students alike to make his mark in the Duel World. Can he bring his low-level dorm, Slifer Red, to the top of the deck? Or will the champions in the Obelisk Blue dorm hang onto their winning hand?
To find out more, go here!
Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s
Story by Masahiro Hikokubo, Art by Masashi Sato
A high-speed Turbo Duel through the streets of Satellite brings Yusei Fudo and his friend Sect face-to-face with an urban legend incarnate! Will Yusei lose Sect to the Skeleton Knight? And what sinister plans does Jack Atlas, master of New Domino City, have in store for Yusei?
To find out more, go here!
Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL
Original Concept by Kazuki Takahashi
Story by Shin Yoshida, Art by Naohito Miyoshi
No one loves Dueling more than Yuma Tsukumo, but unfortunately for him, no one is worse at it! This isn’t going to stop Yuma from trying though. When Yuma calls on the memory of his parents during the Duel, a strange being called Astral appears, and the encounter is the start of Yuma’s amazing Duel journey!
To find out more, go here!
New to the Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME
The Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME allows kids, teenagers, and adults to relive the exciting Duels that take place in the animated Yu-Gi-Oh! series. In the Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME, players use the cards they’ve collected to construct Decks consisting of 40 or more cards. Then, they use their Decks to face off against opponents in a game of strategy, luck, and skill. Click here to learn the rules of the Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME!
You can purchase Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG products at local hobby stores, as well as mass market retail store. For a list of hobby stores that sell Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG products, click here.
New to Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME Booster Packs
The most common way that players of the Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME get cards is from Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG booster packs. These booster packs contain nine randomly assorted cards. Each pack contains common cards, which are easy to get, and rarer cards, which are harder to get. There are a number of different rarities—Common, Rare, Super Rare, Ultra Rare, Ultimate Rare, Secret Rare, Ghost Rare, Starfoil Rare, and Mosaic Rare —which all feature a different look to the cards. Many of the rarer cards have foil and holographic treatments that make them look flashy and cool. Here are some of the key characteristics of the different rarities:
Common cards are the most basic rarity in the Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME and have no foil embellishment on them.
Rare cards have an embossed silver foil card name, but regular card art that lacks the holographic finish characteristic of cards with higher rarities.
Super Rare cards have no foil on the name of the card, but a holographic finish on the card art.
Ultra Rare cards have a gold foil on the card name, as well as a holographic finish on the card art.
Ultimate Rare cards have a gold foil on the card name, as well as embossed foil accents on the card art, card border, and other parts of the card.
Secret Rare cards have a rainbow-colored foil on the card name, and a sparkling holographic finish on the card art.
Ghost Rare cards have a rainbow-colored foil on the card name and a unique three-dimensional hologram that makes up the card art.
Starfoil Rare cards have starburst-patterned foiling scattered across the entire front of the card.
Mosaic Rare cards have several blocks of foiling scattered across the entire front of the card.
Duelist League promo cards have card names that are printed in colors that are not available in for-sale products and can only be obtained by participating in a Duelist League.
Since there are so many different cards of different rarities, wondering what’s inside the pack you’re about to open is part of the fun!
Every authentic Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card has a numerical password on the bottom left corner of the card and a security foil on the bottom right corner of the card. The security foil on First Edition (or first printing) and Limited Edition cards is gold, while the security foil on Unlimited Edition cards (when products are printed again) is silver. The security foil has images of the “Millennium Eye” as well as the text YU-GI-OH! on it.
New types of booster packs are released every few months, adding new and interesting card effects to the card pool of the Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME. The constant updates to the Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME card pool assures that the game is constantly evolving and never gets dull for its players. Click here for more information about the different Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME booster packs!
New to Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME Products
Booster packs aren’t the only way to get Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG products. There are also lots of other products that help Duelists get the cards they want. Below is a guide about the different types of Yu-Gi-OhTCG products that you can buy to supplement the cards you pull in booster packs.
Booster Set Special Edition Boxes / Deluxe Edition Boxes
Sometimes, shortly after a booster set is released, a Special Edition product is released for that booster set. Each Booster Set Special Edition contains 3 packs of the latest Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME booster set, as well as 1 of 2 variant cards. These variant cards are often reprints of cards that are highly sought-after by tournament players.
Booster Set Special Editions are a great value for purchasers. While individual booster packs of the latest set generally have a retail price of $3.99, the Special Edition for that set usually includes 3 booster packs of that set plus a promotional card for a total MSRP of $9.99. Booster Set Special Editions are generally popular among casual and tournament players alike.
Similar to a Special Edition Box, Deluxe Edition Boxes include packs of the latest Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME booster set and special promotional cards. Deluxe Edition Boxes are a lot bigger than Special Edition Boxes. Deluxe Edition Boxes include 9 packs of the latest Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME set, multiple promotional cards, a pack of 50 sleeves for protecting your cards, and a Beginner’s Guide for new Duelists at an MSRP of $29.99. Deluxe Edition Boxes are the perfect way for new Duelists to start up a collection and begin building a Deck of their own.
For more information about Booster Set Special Edition Boxes and Deluxe Edition Boxes, click here!
Starter Decks
Starter Decks contain everything you need to start playing the Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME. Each Starter Deck with the same name contains the exact same cards, so you always know what you’re getting when you purchase a Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME Starter Deck. Starter Decks generally contain cards that work well together, but are nevertheless easy to use. That makes them perfect for young Duelists who are beginning to learn the rules of the game, and starting to figure out basic strategies. In addition to a full Deck of at least 40 cards, each Starter Deck also includes a Beginner’s Guide and a paper Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME mat.
For more information about Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME Starter Decks, click here!
Structure Decks
Like Starter Decks, Structure Decks contain everything you need to start playing the Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME, and each Structure Deck with the same name contains the exact same cards. But unlike Starter Decks, Structure Decks are designed for more advanced Duelists. The cards in Structure Decks usually have more complicated effects than the cards you would find in a Starter Deck, and the synergies between the cards found in a Structure Deck are usually much more complex than the synergies among cards found in a Starter Deck.
Structure Decks give intermediate and expert Duelists a new way to experience the Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME. In addition to a full Deck of at least 40 cards, each Structure Deck also includes a Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME Rulebook, a Dueling Guide, and a paper Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME mat. Starting to customize a Structure Deck by swapping some cards with others is a great way to learn about Deck-building strategies!
For more information about Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME Structure Decks, click here!
Collectible Tins
Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME Collectible Tins include booster packs of recent Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME booster sets, plus special promotional cards. These promotional cards are frequently reprints of cards that are used in high-level competitive play, making Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME Collectible Tins extremely popular among tournament players. While there are some differences among different collectible tins, most collectible tins include five booster packs from recent Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME booster sets, plus five holographic promotional cards that are reprints of popular and highly sought-after cards.
Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME Collectible Tins are most popular among intermediate and experienced players, as well as newer players seeking to become more competitive. Because of their slick packaging, Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME Collectible Tins also make a great gift!
For more information about Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME Tins, click here!
Duelist Packs
Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME Duelist Packs contain a random assortment of cards used by a specific character in the Yu-Gi-Oh! animated series. These Duelist packs allow players to emulate their favorite characters by replicating those characters’ Decks and reliving those characters’ fiercest Duels. Duelist Packs are designed for fans of the animated Yu-Gi-Oh! series, who want to collect and play with all of their favorite cards from the TV show.
For more information about Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME Duelist Packs, click here!
Accessories
Official Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME accessories help Duelists protect their cards in style with binders, card sleeves, and Deck cases featuring their favorite characters and monsters. Duelists of all levels of experience understand the importance of keeping their cards organized and protecting them from damage, so official Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME accessories are popular among players of various skill levels.
For more information about official Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME accessories, click here!
Other Products
Sometimes special Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME products are released that include an assortment of different cards. Each of these products is unique, and these products are designed to appeal to a wide range of Yu-Gi-Oh! fans and players.
For more information about some of the other Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME products available for purchase, and to find one that interests you, click here!
New to Yu-Gi-Oh! Organized Play
Are you ready to take your game to the next level? Konami’s Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME Organized Play events give Duelists tournaments to compete in, and places to meet up with other players who share a common interest in the Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME. There are lots of different types of Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME Organized Play events. Read on to learn about the different types of Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME Organized Play events, and find an event that suits you!
Duelist League
Many card and comic stores offer Konami’s Duelist League program. Duelist League is an event that caters to new and young Duelists. Duelist League events are Swiss tournaments that usually only last for a couple of hours. Players do not get eliminated from the tournament, and may play for as long as the event lasts. Any player young enough to participate in Dragon Duels may also enter Duelist League events. Although older players may play at an Official Tournament Store’s Duelist League early on, once a player wins three Duelist League tournaments at an Official Tournament Store, he or she becomes ineligible to participate in future Duelist League events held at that store. This ensures that the competition in Duelist League tournaments remains friendly for young kids and new players.
Duelist League offers players the chance to meet other Duelists, develop their skills, and have fun while winning exciting Duelist League exclusive promo cards, all in an environment that caters to young and inexperienced players. Every participant gets at least one Duelist League promo card. If there are several stores offering Duelist League in your area, it’s a good idea to check out more than one, since the players and judges will vary from store to store.
For a listing of stores offering Duelist League, look here!
Local Tournaments
Konami’s Official Tournament Stores (OTS) offer a variety of local tournaments. These OTS offer a wide variety of Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG products as well as offer an area for tournament play. The schedule for these events will vary from store to store. Some stores feature a more “casual” environment for local tournaments, while others are more competitive. It’s a good idea to call the stores you’re interested in, and ask what the local tournaments are like – How many Duelists usually participate? How many judges are at the store? What is the general age and skill range of the other Duelists?
For a listing of Official Tournament Stores and their local tournament schedules, look here!
Dragon Duels
Dragon Duels are tournaments for kids born after the year 2001 during the 2014 season. Judges and staff members at Dragon Duels are accustomed to working with younger players, and children Duel with other children, rather than teens. Dragon Duel tournaments are usually run at larger events such as Regional Qualifiers and Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series events.
Duelists participating in Dragon Duel events win game mats and t-shirts, along with invitations to participate in their country’s Dragon Duel World Championship Qualifier. At Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series events, there is a separate Dragon Duel tournament each day, with the winner of each tournament facing off against one another to become the ultimate winner of the weekend. Click here for more information about the YCS Dragon Duel Championships!
At the Dragon Duel World Championship Qualifier, young Duelists who previously earned an invitation to compete, vie for the ultimate honor of becoming the North American Dragon Duel Champion. Awesome prizes accompany this title, including an invitation and paid trip to the Dragon Duel World Championship. There, young Duelists from around the world compete to become the Dragon Duel World Champion!
If you want to know if there will be a Dragon Duel run at a nearby Regional or local event, please contact the Tournament Organizer for each event, or check here!
Sneak Peeks
Every three months, a new Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG booster pack is released. To celebrate the new booster packs, Konami’s Official Tournament Stores host Sneak Peek events. Sneak Peeks are exciting, because they are held the weekend before the new packs will be sold in stores, giving players an early chance to enjoy the cards. Sneak Peeks are easy and convenient events, and you don’t need a Deck to participate!
When you pay the participation fee for the Sneak Peek, you receive five of the new booster packs and a special Sneak Peek promo card (while supplies last). You use these packs to build a Deck. Sneak Peeks are casual, open play events in which Duelists can sit and play whomever they wish, without worrying about a structured tournament. You keep the cards that you open in your packs, and everyone who enters gets the chance to win an exclusive Sneak Peek Game Mat as a door prize or raffle.
Some players like to stay for the entire event, while others are finished and ready to leave in about an hour. Judges and tournament staff are available to answer your questions about the game and to help you find opponents, making Sneak Peeks a great choice for a beginner event.
Official Tournament Store listings for Sneak Peeks can be found here, usually the weekend before the release of the product!
Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series
These are big, showcase events which are run directly by Konami, in various cities around the world. Duelists from far and near come together to play the game, meet one another, and trade. Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series (YCS) are two-day events, which occur over a weekend. Attendance at YCS tournaments can range from around 600 Duelists to over 2,000. In fact, Konami holds the World Record on the largest card tournament ever held with over 4,000 Duelists! There is a large main tournament that begins on Saturday and concludes on Sunday.
There are also lots of different Public Events running all weekend, featuring events like Dragon Duels (enabling young players to Duel against each other without facing adult opponents), Win-A-Mat Tournaments (consisting of 8-player single elimination tournaments with the ultimate victor receiving a special game mat), Tag Duel Tournaments (in which players Duel in teams of two), and Regional Qualifiers (consisting of 16-player single elimination tournaments with the last player remaining receiving an invitation to the World Championship Qualifier and an assortment of other prizes). There are also events that include cards with which to build a Deck, such as Battle Pack Tournaments, Starter Deck Tournaments, and Structure Deck Tournaments. These tournaments are ideal for Duelists who don’t have their own Decks. In these events, players receive product that they use in the tournament, instead of playing with a Deck they built from the cards in their collection. There is something for everyone at the YCS, regardless of age or skill level! Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series also feature a Parents’ Lounge, where parents can relax while their children enjoy the tournament. Check here to find out if a Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series event is coming to a city near you!
KDE provides live coverage for these events. If you’d like to take a look at some of our past YCS tournaments, check out our Coverage Blog here!
Yu-Gi-Oh! Extravaganza
Yu-Gi-Oh! Extravaganzas are big events normally held in conjunction with another event or convention, such as Gen Con. Yu-Gi-Oh! Extravaganzas have all of the Public Events you’d find at a Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series event, without the main tournament that spans two days. Because Yu-Gi-Oh! Extravaganzas lack this most competitive tournament, they’re a lot more laid back and lots of fun for even the most casual attendees. Each individual event is short, so players stay for as long or as short as they’d like.
Check here to see if a Yu-Gi-Oh! Extravaganza is coming to a city near you!
Official Tournament Store Championships
Official Tournament Store Championships (or “OTS Championships”) are high-level tournaments hosted by specially chosen stores. At OTS Championships, players compete for a special game mat, as well as invitations to the World Championship Qualifier.
You can learn more about OTS Championships by clicking here!
Regional Qualifiers
A Regional event is larger than a local tournament, and the competition is keener. Duelists in Regional tournaments compete to earn invitations to participate in the World Championship Qualifier along with an exclusive game mat and Deck box awarded to the top finishers. Some Regional locations also host Dragon Duel tournaments, which restrict entry to younger players. Those young Duelists compete against each other for cool prizes and an invitation to the Dragon Duel World Championship Qualifier.
Many of the best Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG players in the area attend Regional Qualifiers. If you attend, you are expected to be familiar with the rules of the game, along with Tournament Policies, in order to fully enjoy participating in a Regional Qualifier.
For a list of locations hosting Regional Qualifiers and Dragon Duel Regional Qualifiers, check here!
World Championship Qualifiers / Dragon Duel World Championship Qualifiers
Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG World Championship Qualifiers and Dragon Duel World Championship Qualifiers are tournaments in which the best of the best compete for the chance to represent their country at the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG World Championship and Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG Dragon Duel World Championship. World Championship Qualifiers and Dragon Duel World Championship Qualifiers are invitation-only events—in order to compete, a player must have earned an invitation at a Regional Qualifier, Dragon Duel, Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series, or OTS Championship. Those who excel at the World Championship Qualifiers and Dragon Duel World Championship Qualifiers earn invitations to compete in the Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME World Championship and Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME Dragon Duel World Championship!
Over 2,000 players competed at the 2013 North American World Championship Qualifiers in Chicago, Illinois!
World Championship Qualifiers are exciting for everyone! There are cool prizes to win, lots of smaller Public Events to compete in, and plenty of Dueling fun for all who attend!
Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG World Championship / Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG Dragon Duel World Championship
The Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG World Championship and Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG Dragon Duel World Championship bring together World Championship Qualifier winners from all over the world, and the winners are crowned Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG World Champion and Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG Dragon Duel World Champion. This event has taken place in various locations around the world, including New York City, New York; Anaheim, California; Tokyo, Japan; and Berlin, Germany.
Players from all over the world compete at the 2013 Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG World Championship.
There are always lots of Public Events available for general attendees who also wish to experience the World Championship, but only an elite few Duelists are invited to compete in the main World Championship and Dragon Duel World Championship tournaments.
Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG Tournament Policy
Tournament Policy documents contain information about what is expected of Duelists and tournament officials at a tournament. These documents will explain how events will run, and what you can and cannot do while you are there. All Duelists and tournament officials are responsible for knowing this information, so it’s a good idea to read over these documents before heading to an event. Printing a copy to use as a portable reference will also be helpful, and help you get the most out of your tournament experience.
Official KDE-US Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME Tournament Policy
The Official Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG Tournament Policy was recently updated, so if you were previously familiar with it and want to know what’s new, we posted an article on our strategy site explaining the updates and changes in policy.
New to Yu-Gi-Oh! Video Games
Can’t get enough of the Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME? You’re in luck! You can also play the Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 with Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s Decade Duels Plus! Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s Decade Duels Plus – downloadable through the Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation Store – follows the rules of the official Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME and uses the same strategic thinking required by the Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME.
There are also some video games that put a cool twist on the Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME. Yu-Gi-Oh! BAM, playable on Facebook and Kongregate and Yu-Gi-Oh! BAM Pocket available on iOS devices, is a fast-paced game that features the Spells, Traps, and Monsters available in the Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME. Yu-Gi-Oh! BAM uses a different set of rules than the Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME, and gives cool new effects to your old favorites. Nevertheless, it requires the same strategic thinking to succeed, as players construct 15-card Decks to pilot against each opponent in a battle of wits.
In addition to the Yu-Gi-Oh! video games available on game consoles and Facebook, there is also an arcade machine called a “Duel Terminal,” available at special hobby stores. The Duel Terminal lets players play a series of mini-games involving popular Yu-Gi-Oh! characters and monster cards, or face off against opponents in a Duel that uses modified rules adapted from the official Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME. Plus, each time a player plays on the Duel Terminal Arcade Machine, he or she receives one random card. The cards dispensed by the Duel Terminal can be scanned into the arcade machine during future plays, and used during gameplay. Click here for a list of stores that have a Duel Terminal Arcade Machine available for you to play!
