Gem Guide Published on December 20, 2019 by superforms

Overview

This is a living guide which automatically updates itself based on daily new top decks and weekly Tier List updates to give you the most up-to-date gem investment advice possible. The green/red arrows — / — found on cards throughout the guide represent recent trends in those cards’ usage rates.

Quick Links

Recommended Deck: The best deck for new or returning players to pick up and immediately become competitive.

Top Staples: All the cards used in multiple top-tier decks; these cards are very flexible and powerful.

Trending Cards: Take a look at which cards are currently going up or down in usage.

Set Breakdown: Full list of relevant boxes and structure decks along with the most competitive cards inside them.

Analysis Details: Technical details about how this page chooses what to show and recommend.

Recommended Deck

Top Staples

Warning: Not all box staples are in good boxes. Chasing cards from much older boxes is almost never a good idea for newer players.

Trending Cards

On the Rise In Decline

Set Breakdown

Boxes and structure decks that are not in the list below have no cards that are frequently used in current top-tier decks. Competitive free-to-play duelists should not invest in them right now.

For more information on each set, the banner images will take you to full overview pages with complete card lists.

ARENA OF SANCTUARY This box contains support for Karakuri (Tier 2). is also a strong staple in the current meta. WITCH’S SORCERY This box contains support for Witchcrafter (Tier 1).

HERO GENERATION This structure deck contains support for Masked Heroes (Tier 3). Note: This structure deck can only be purchased once with gems. Be careful about pursuing decks that use these cards if you do not want to spend money. Warning: Some relevant cards in this structure deck are also available from free, in-game sources. TRUTH UNIVERSE This box contains support for Blackwings (Tier 2).

DRAGUNITY OVERDRIVE This structure deck contains support for Invoked Neos (Tier 1) and Elementsabers (Tier 2). Note: This structure deck can only be purchased once with gems. Be careful about pursuing decks that use these cards if you do not want to spend money. FUTURE HORIZON This box contains support for Karakuri (Tier 2) and Dark Magician (Tier 3).

SOUL OF RESURRECTION This box contains support for Shiranui (Tier 3). is also a strong staple in the current meta. AERIAL ASSAULT This box contains support for Witchcrafter (Tier 1) and Blackwings (Tier 2). is also a strong staple in the current meta.

VALHALLA CALLING This box contains support for Witchcrafter (Tier 1), as well as multiple popular staple cards. CURSE OF DREAD This box contains support for Shiranui (Tier 3).

CYBERNETIC REBELLION This box contains support for Witchcrafter (Tier 1). GUARDIANS OF ROCK This box contains support for Dark Magician (Tier 3).

BLAZING ROSE This box contains support for Blue-Eyes (Tier 3). is also a strong staple in the current meta. LORDS OF SHINING This box contains support for Blue-Eyes (Tier 3).

NEOS FUSION This structure deck contains support for Invoked Neos (Tier 1). Note: This structure deck can only be purchased once with gems. Be careful about pursuing decks that use these cards if you do not want to spend money. DIMENSION OF THE WIZARDS This box contains support for Witchcrafter (Tier 1).

ABSOLUTE INFERNO This box contains support for Elementsabers (Tier 2). Warning: All relevant cards in this box have been reprinted in newer sets. Be extremely cautious about investing your gems here. REVOLUTION BEGINNING This box contains support for Karakuri (Tier 2).

SECRETS OF THE ANCIENTS This box contains support for Blackwings (Tier 2). BLACKSTORM RISING This box contains support for Blackwings (Tier 2) and Blue-Eyes (Tier 3). Warning: Some relevant cards in this box may also be found in newer sets. Think carefully before investing your gems here.

THE WHITE DRAGON OF LEGEND This structure deck contains support for Blue-Eyes (Tier 3). Note: This structure deck can only be purchased once with gems. Be careful about pursuing decks that use these cards if you do not want to spend money. STARDUST ACCELERATION This box contains support for Karakuri (Tier 2) and Blue-Eyes (Tier 3).

GAIA GENESIS This box contains support for Witchcrafter (Tier 1). BURNING NOVA This box contains support for Dark Magician (Tier 3).

VALIANT SOULS This box contains support for Karakuri (Tier 2) and Masked Heroes (Tier 3). is also a strong staple in the current meta. Warning: Some relevant cards in this box may also be found in newer sets. Think carefully before investing your gems here. RAMPAGE OF THE FOREST is a strong staple in the current meta.

DESTINY RULERS This structure deck contains support for Masked Heroes (Tier 3). Note: This structure deck can only be purchased once with gems. Be careful about pursuing decks that use these cards if you do not want to spend money. Warning: Some relevant cards in this structure deck may also be found in newer sets. Think carefully before investing your gems here. Warning: Some relevant cards in this structure deck are also available from free, in-game sources. PRIMAL BURST This box contains support for Invoked Neos (Tier 1) and Witchcrafter (Tier 1).

GALACTIC ORIGIN is one of the best staple cards in the current meta. SERVANTS OF KINGS This box contains support for Elementsabers (Tier 2).

GENERATION NEXT is a strong staple in the current meta. CRIMSON KINGDOM This box contains support for Invoked Neos (Tier 1) and Shiranui (Tier 3). Warning: Some relevant cards in this box may also be found in newer sets. Think carefully before investing your gems here.

Analysis Details

This page works by analyzing recent top decks from the past few weeks, automatically accounting for any changes to the Forbidden/Limited List and Tier List. Only cards which are used in those decks above a certain “usage threshold rate” are counted on this page, so the cards you see above are guaranteed to have been successful in multiple top decks from multiple players.

A “staple” card is classified as any card which is commonly used in multiple top-tier decks. Cards may shift from being staples to being classified as “archetype-specific support” if all but one of the decks using that card fall off the Tier List. Similarly, cards may become staples as other decks that use the card are promoted on to the Tier List.

The recommended deck is the best, most accessible deck on the Tier List, perfect for new or returning players. The price of each deck is estimated by looking at the “core” cards and then factoring in how expensive common “tech” cards are. If you’re instead looking for information on one of the non-recommended decks, the deck-type pages have full statistical breakdowns of the cards used in every deck.