Getting into Yugioh can be a daunting experience, especially for those who already have a lot of friends who compete competitively. There’s quite a lot to pick up, learning it all takes time but it’s not difficult either. You don’t need to start off as a world-beater, just get a deck and start playing casually. To help get you started, here’s the top 10 Yugioh tips for newbies!

10. Equipment

You’ll need some basic equipment to get started, these are used to keep track of your cards as well as protect them. The basic stuff you’ll need are a card binder for your rare cards, some kind of tin/box for your commons, a game mat and card protectors for your decks. Don’t waste money on stuff like dice as there are plenty of free apps for your phone that allow you to keep track of Life Points & use dice.

9. Organisation

You don’t really have to do this but it makes your dueling life much easier in the long run. Keep all archetypes together, maybe even have separate boxes for your monsters/spells/traps. Any kind of basic organisation will turn editing a deck from a pain to an ease.

8. Don’t spend too much

So many new duelists spend way too much money too quickly when they get started. You don’t need to go out and spend £50 for an awesome deck, of course Yugioh is pay2win competitively but you’re just getting started, don’t throw your wallet at Konami just yet. Look out for offers, sales and promotions, use trading with other players to your advantage. It’s fine to spend money, every hobby requires some kind of investment, but just don’t go on a spending spree.

Also, do not buy booster packs! Buy the individual cards you need online!

7. Practice with yourself

I know this sounds weird but playing with yourself is a great way to get going. You do need two decks for this but it can work wonders. Have 1v1s with yourself, test your best decks against each-other, learn their strengths and weaknesses. It’s the best way to test a deck you’ve just made instead of facing another player and getting creamed, only to realise you missed out a strategy.

6. Consistency

Consistency is key for a competitive deck, you need to make sure your strategy is consistent and reliable. Don’t shove 5 different combos and win conditions into one deck, keep it simple and have a clear purpose. Without consistency, you’ll find yourself with 5 cards in your hand thinking ‘I can’t do anything!’.

5. Don’t waste cards

It’s tempting to go balls deep when you realise you can do a lot with your first hand. Do the best you can do with as little cards as possible. If you use your entire hand to deal some damage, the likely situation to follow is your opponent clearing your field, putting you at a field and hand disadvantage.

4. Spell cards

One of the biggest mistakes I see new players make is playing their spell cards face down without good reason. Quick-Play spell cards are fine as they can be activated in your opponents turn but no others should go face down unless you need them to be. Keep them in your hand, they are vulnerable while on the field and, if you can’t activate them, they take up spell/trap zones and could get your zones locked.

3. Size of your deck

Try to get your deck to as close to 40 cards as possible, this is a big decider in determining the consistency of your deck. The less cards you have, the more likely you are to draw the cards you need. The minimum you can have is 40, the maximum is 60.

2. Save your traps

Traps are some of your only ‘get out of jail free’ cards, do not blindly waste them! Save them for other situations, so many duels have been lost by new players simply using their traps as soon as they can, rather than when is best.

1. Have Fun

Dueling is about having fun, never forget this. The art of making your own deck, using it in battle and winning is extremely satisfying, don’t let this motivation disappear. If you’re playing competitively then tell fun to sod off, you’re there to win. But if you’re playing casually, make sure both you and your opponent are having fun, otherwise what’s the point?