Strategise in the game of 10,000 cards

Fancy yourself a shrewd strategist? Get ready for a mental workout in the card game Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel, inspired by manga series Yu-Gi-Oh and its world of monsters and battles.

With a collection of more than 10,000 cards, the game gives each player the freedom to devise their own decks and playing styles out of three card types: monster cards, spell cards and trap cards. Here are a few tactics that you might want to bring to the field in your next bout.

A common strategy in turn-based card games is to choose a central card for your attack, then build upon it with cards that can support or create special effects with your selection.

Some of the best support cards in Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel are the potent and easy-to-use Blue-Eyes. For instance, if one of your monster cards is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard during battle, the Blue-Eyes Jet Dragon card will be triggered and summoned to the field, even from the Graveyard.

Putting Blue-Eyes Jet Dragon on the field will also prevent your opponent from destroying the other cards you’ve played. And playing this card in battle will return a card on your opponent’s field to their hand.

Another heavy-hitter worth adding to your deck is the Giant Beetrooper Invincible Atlas card, featuring a fantastic illustration of the insect monster’s beetle-like form and gleaming wings.

Instead of the main deck, this particular card belongs in the extra deck where special classes of monsters dwell. And when summoned, this card is played in the Extra Monster Zone.

If the card’s attack power is at 3,000 or less, it cannot be affected by your opponent’s attack or destroyed. Sending an insect monster like this one to the Graveyard also makes it possible to either special summon another Beetrooper monster or increase your attack power by 2,000, up to a 5,000 maximum.

Besides paying attention to each card’s effects, it’s also important to consider the conditions needed to trigger them. For example, many cards are activated with Adventurer Tokens, which are produced by the Rite of Aramesir.

One way you can acquire the tokens is by playing the Water Enchantress of the Temple. This card allows you to add the Rite of Aramesir to your hand, either from your deck or from the Graveyard. Then, you’re free to deploy the special effects you have in mind.

Chain reaction is another battle element that could tip duels in your favour. And the Drytron deck is built to topple your opponent’s defences with a fierce onslaught.

When you perform special summonings with a Dryton deck, you can then draw ritual monsters and ritual spell cards. Collect enough compatible ritual monsters, and you’ll build a deck and tactic that packs a surprising punch.

The mighty Floowandereeze deck is a firm crowd favourite. Many of its cards, such as Floowandereeze & Robina and Floowandereeze & Empen, have deceptively cute designs. But despite appearances, they can deal powerful damage.

When summoned, Floowandereeze & Empen adds one Floowandereeze spell or trap card to your hand while also summoning a monster. During battle, this card also reduces the opposing monster's attack and defence by half until the turn ends.

Eager to put these tips to the test? Build your deck and start duelling.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel

World Class Digital Card Game

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