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GOAT

Pick a deck to see how it wins.

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Top tier

Goat ControlControlHardChaos TurboControlHardChaos ControlControlHardWarrior ToolboxBeatdownMediumChaos ReturnComboHardPanda BurnBurnMediumEarth BeatBeatdownEasyReasoning Gate TurboComboHard

Rogue

Chaos WarriorBeatdownMediumZombieBeatdownMediumRelinquishedControlHardMonarchBeatdownMediumFlip ControlControlHardGearfriedBeatdownMediumBazoo ReturnComboHardChaos RecruiterSwarmMediumStein Gate TurboComboHardCat OTKOne-turn killMediumGravekeeper'sBeatdownMediumWater ReturnComboHardTiger StunLockMediumSoul ControlControlHardChaos ZombieControlHard

Fun

Stall BurnStall BurnEasyExodiaExodiaHardEconomics FTKOne-turn killHardLibrary FTKOne-turn killHardDark ScorpionsSwarmMediumOjamaStallMediumInsect QueenSwarmEasyMachine UnionBeatdownMediumArmed DragonBeatdownMedium

Characters

YugiBeatdownEasyJoeyBeatdownEasyKaibaBeatdownEasyPegasusToonsMediumMaiSwarmEasyBakuraStallMediumMarikTrapsMediumWeevilSwarmMediumRex RaptorBeatdownEasyMakoBeatdownMediumBandit KeithBeatdownMediumIshizuControlMediumOdionTrapsMediumRare HunterExodiaMedium
Top tier

Goat Control

ControlHard

How it wins

Trades one card for one of theirs, again and again, until they run out of plays. Then whatever is left on your side wins the long game.

Key cards

  • Scapegoat
  • Metamorphosis
  • Thousand-Eyes Restrict

Tip

Use Scapegoat on their turn to block attacks. On your turn, Metamorphosis turns one sheep into Thousand-Eyes Restrict, which stops all other monsters attacking.

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Top tier

Chaos Turbo

ControlHard

How it wins

Fills its graveyard (discard pile) with LIGHT and DARK monsters fast. Then Chaos Sorcerer and Black Luster Soldier remove their best monsters from the game and attack.

Key cards

  • Thunder Dragon
  • Chaos Sorcerer
  • Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning

Tip

Discard Thunder Dragon early to fetch two more. You need one LIGHT and one DARK monster in your graveyard before you can summon a Chaos monster.

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Top tier

Chaos Control

ControlHard

How it wins

Plays the slow, careful game like Goat Control, trading card for card. Black Luster Soldier and Chaos Sorcerer are kept back to finish the duel.

Key cards

  • Magician of Faith
  • Spirit Reaper
  • Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning

Tip

Set Magician of Faith face down. When it flips face up, it gets back a used spell like Pot of Greed so you can play it again.

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Top tier

Warrior Toolbox

BeatdownMedium

How it wins

Attacks every turn with Warriors that each do something useful. Traps like Sakuretsu Armor and Solemn Judgment protect the attackers.

Key cards

  • Reinforcement of the Army
  • Blade Knight
  • Exiled Force

Tip

Reinforcement of the Army fetches any Warrior from your deck. Pick Exiled Force when they have a monster too big to beat in battle.

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Top tier

Chaos Return

ComboHard

How it wins

Banishes (removes from play) its own monsters while it plays. Then Return from the Different Dimension brings them all back at once for a winning attack.

Key cards

  • Return from the Different Dimension
  • Chaos Sorcerer
  • Bazoo the Soul-Eater

Tip

Return costs half your Life Points and the monsters leave again at the end of the turn. Flip it only when that attack can win.

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Top tier

Panda Burn

BurnMedium

How it wins

Wins mostly with damage from cards, not attacks. Ojama Trio fills their side with tokens, then Just Desserts and Secret Barrel hit for every card they have.

Key cards

  • Ojama Trio
  • Just Desserts
  • Gyaku-Gire Panda

Tip

Play Ojama Trio first. Its three tokens make Gyaku-Gire Panda 1500 ATK stronger and add 1500 damage to every Just Desserts.

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Top tier

Earth Beat

BeatdownEasy

How it wins

Hits hard and fast with strong EARTH monsters that are cheap to summon. Smashing Ground and Dust Tornado clear the way.

Key cards

  • Gigantes
  • Giant Rat
  • Smashing Ground

Tip

Attack with Giant Rat early. When it loses a battle it brings another EARTH monster from your deck, and it fuels Gigantes later.

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Top tier

Reasoning Gate Turbo

ComboHard

How it wins

Reasoning and Monster Gate turn over cards from your deck until they hit a monster, then summon it free. With so few monsters in the deck, that is usually Jinzo or Dark Magician of Chaos.

Key cards

  • Monster Gate
  • Reasoning
  • Scapegoat

Tip

Monster Gate needs a monster to tribute (send to the graveyard as a cost). Scapegoat gives you four sheep to use for it.

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Rogue

Chaos Warrior

BeatdownMedium

How it wins

Warriors attack every turn, and Black Luster Soldier or Chaos Sorcerer ends the duel. Kycoo also stops the opponent using their own Chaos monsters.

Key cards

  • Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer
  • Blade Knight
  • Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning

Tip

Hit them with Kycoo early. It banishes monsters from their graveyard, so they cannot summon Chaos monsters of their own.

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Rogue

Zombie

BeatdownMedium

How it wins

Zombies keep coming back. When Pyramid Turtle loses a battle it calls a Zombie from your deck, and Book of Life revives one from your graveyard.

Key cards

  • Pyramid Turtle
  • Book of Life
  • Royal Decree

Tip

This deck has almost no traps, so play Royal Decree (it stops every trap) before you attack. Their Mirror Force will not work.

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Rogue

Relinquished

ControlHard

How it wins

Relinquished takes one of their monsters and wears it as armour, copying its ATK and DEF. Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands finds Relinquished or its ritual spell.

Key cards

  • Relinquished
  • Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands
  • Black Illusion Ritual

Tip

Black Illusion Ritual needs only one monster as the tribute, even a small one. Then take their strongest monster with Relinquished.

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Rogue

Monarch

BeatdownMedium

How it wins

Monarchs are big monsters that do something the moment they are Tribute Summoned. Zaborg destroys a monster and Mobius destroys two spells or traps.

Key cards

  • Zaborg the Thunder Monarch
  • Mobius the Frost Monarch
  • Gravekeeper's Spy

Tip

Tribute a cheap monster like Gravekeeper's Spy or Dekoichi for a Monarch. Never give up your strongest monster to summon one.

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Rogue

Flip Control

ControlHard

How it wins

Flip monsters do something when they turn face up. Book of Moon and Tsukuyomi turn them face down again so they can repeat it, while Nightmare Wheel locks their best monster.

Key cards

  • Golem Sentry
  • Magician of Faith
  • Nightmare Wheel

Tip

Use Book of Moon on your own Magician of Faith. Next turn you flip it again and get back another spell.

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Rogue

Gearfried

BeatdownMedium

How it wins

Strong, cheap monsters attack early. King Tiger Wanghu destroys any monster with 1400 ATK or less the moment it is summoned.

Key cards

  • Gearfried the Iron Knight
  • King Tiger Wanghu
  • Smoke Grenade of the Thief

Tip

Equip Smoke Grenade of the Thief to Gearfried. Gearfried destroys it at once, so you see their hand and throw away their best card.

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Rogue

Bazoo Return

ComboHard

How it wins

A Warrior deck that banishes its own monsters as it goes. Return from the Different Dimension then brings the whole team back for one big attack.

Key cards

  • Return from the Different Dimension
  • Bazoo the Soul-Eater
  • D.D. Warrior Lady

Tip

Feed Bazoo up to three monsters from your graveyard to raise its ATK. Every monster you banish is one more that Return brings back.

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Rogue

Chaos Recruiter

SwarmMedium

How it wins

Mystic Tomato and Shining Angel call a new monster from the deck each time they lose a battle. That keeps your field full and feeds Chaos Sorcerer and Black Luster Soldier.

Key cards

  • Mystic Tomato
  • Shining Angel
  • Chaos Sorcerer

Tip

Attack with Mystic Tomato even into a bigger monster. You take a little damage but get a free DARK monster from your deck.

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Rogue

Stein Gate Turbo

ComboHard

How it wins

Cyber-Stein pays 5000 Life Points to put a huge Fusion monster like Master of Oz (4200 ATK) straight onto the field. Limiter Removal doubles your Machines' ATK for a sudden win.

Key cards

  • Cyber-Stein
  • Monster Gate
  • Limiter Removal

Tip

Cyber-Stein costs 5000 of your 8000 Life Points. Use it only when the attack that follows can win, or very nearly.

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Rogue

Cat OTK

One-turn killMedium

How it wins

Builds a big field in one turn and attacks for all 8000. Rescue Cat calls two small Beasts from the deck, and Milus Radiant gives every EARTH monster 500 more ATK.

Key cards

  • Rescue Cat
  • Milus Radiant
  • Giant Trunade

Tip

Play Giant Trunade right before your big attack. All their spells and traps go back to their hand, so Mirror Force cannot stop you.

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Rogue

Gravekeeper's

BeatdownMedium

How it wins

Necrovalley stops both players using the graveyard and makes Gravekeeper monsters 500 stronger. Warriors and Gravekeepers then attack.

Key cards

  • Necrovalley
  • Gravekeeper's Spy
  • Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer

Tip

Play Necrovalley against Chaos decks. While it is on the field they cannot banish from the graveyard, so no Chaos Sorcerer or Black Luster Soldier.

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Rogue

Water Return

ComboHard

How it wins

Mother Grizzly calls WATER monsters from the deck, and Aqua Spirit and Lekunga banish WATER monsters as they go. Return from the Different Dimension then brings them all back.

Key cards

  • Mother Grizzly
  • Aqua Spirit
  • Return from the Different Dimension

Tip

Banish WATER monsters from your graveyard whenever you can with Aqua Spirit and Lekunga. They are your army for Return later.

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Rogue

Tiger Stun

LockMedium

How it wins

Stops the opponent doing things while Warriors attack. King Tiger Wanghu destroys small monsters as they arrive, and Time Seal makes them skip a draw.

Key cards

  • King Tiger Wanghu
  • Time Seal
  • Asura Priest

Tip

King Tiger Wanghu destroys your own small monsters too. Check a monster's ATK is over 1400 before you summon it.

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Rogue

Soul Control

ControlHard

How it wins

Soul Exchange and Enemy Controller let you tribute their monsters instead of yours. Thestalos then makes them discard a random card, and Sacred Phoenix keeps coming back.

Key cards

  • Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch
  • Soul Exchange
  • Enemy Controller

Tip

Soul Exchange means you cannot attack that turn. Use it on the turn you summon Thestalos, not on a turn you want to attack.

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Rogue

Chaos Zombie

ControlHard

How it wins

Wears the opponent down with monsters that come back or will not die, then Black Luster Soldier ends it. Spirit Reaper cannot be destroyed in battle.

Key cards

  • Pyramid Turtle
  • Vampire Lord
  • Spirit Reaper

Tip

Use Pyramid Turtle as a wall. When it loses a battle it brings Vampire Lord (2000 ATK) from your deck.

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Fun

Stall Burn

Stall BurnEasy

How it wins

Stops their attacks, then wins with damage. Messenger of Peace stops monsters with 1500 ATK or more from attacking, while Wave-Motion Cannon and Stealth Bird drain their Life Points.

Key cards

  • Messenger of Peace
  • Wave-Motion Cannon
  • Stealth Bird

Tip

Play Wave-Motion Cannon early. It does 1000 damage for each of your turns it stays on the field, then you fire it all at once.

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Fun

Exodia

ExodiaHard

How it wins

Get all five Exodia pieces into your hand and you win on the spot. Emissary of the Afterlife and Last Will help you dig through the deck for them.

Key cards

  • Exodia the Forbidden One
  • Emissary of the Afterlife
  • Backup Soldier

Tip

A piece in the graveyard is not lost. Backup Soldier returns up to three arms and legs to your hand once you have five monsters there.

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Fun

Economics FTK

One-turn killHard

How it wins

Tries to win on its first turn without attacking. Toon Cannon Soldier and Mass Driver tribute your own monsters for 500 or 400 damage each. Soul Release and Dimension Fusion bring them back to throw again.

Key cards

  • Spell Economics
  • Dimension Fusion
  • Toon Cannon Soldier

Tip

Play Spell Economics first. Dimension Fusion normally costs 2000 Life Points, but with Economics it is free, so you can use it again and again.

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Fun

Library FTK

One-turn killHard

How it wins

Spends its own Life Points on purpose, then Reversal Quiz swaps Life Points with the opponent. Black Pendant (500 damage when it leaves the field) finishes them.

Key cards

  • Royal Magical Library
  • Convulsion of Nature
  • Reversal Quiz

Tip

Convulsion of Nature turns your deck face up, so you always know the top card. That makes the Reversal Quiz guess a sure thing.

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Fun

Dark Scorpions

SwarmMedium

How it wins

Five Dark Scorpion members each hurt the opponent when they deal damage: a random discard, a destroyed trap, a monster sent back. Don Zaloog and Mustering of the Dark Scorpions put several out at once.

Key cards

  • Don Zaloog
  • Mustering of the Dark Scorpions
  • Dark Scorpion - Meanae the Thorn

Tip

Keep Don Zaloog safe. Mustering of the Dark Scorpions only works while Don Zaloog is face up on your field.

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Fun

Ojama

StallMedium

How it wins

The three Ojama brothers are weak alone. With Yellow, Green and Black all on your field, Ojama Delta Hurricane!! destroys every card on the opponent's side.

Key cards

  • Ojama Delta Hurricane!!
  • Ojama Trio
  • Just Desserts

Tip

Hide behind Gravity Bind and Swords of Revealing Light while you gather all three Ojamas. Use Ojama Trio and Just Desserts for damage meanwhile.

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Fun

Insect Queen

SwarmEasy

How it wins

Insect Queen gets 200 ATK stronger for every Insect on the field. Howling Insect and Pinch Hopper keep the bugs coming to feed her.

Key cards

  • Insect Queen
  • Howling Insect
  • Pinch Hopper

Tip

Insect Queen must tribute a monster every time she attacks. Keep a spare bug, or the token she makes after a win, ready for it.

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Fun

Machine Union

BeatdownMedium

How it wins

Puts X-Head Cannon, Y-Dragon Head and Z-Metal Tank together into XYZ-Dragon Cannon (2800 ATK). It throws away a card from your hand to destroy any card they have.

Key cards

  • XYZ-Dragon Cannon
  • X-Head Cannon
  • Limiter Removal

Tip

You do not need Polymerization. With all three pieces face up on your field, banish them to summon XYZ-Dragon Cannon.

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Fun

Armed Dragon

BeatdownMedium

How it wins

Armed Dragon levels up: LV3 becomes LV5 on your next turn, and LV5 becomes LV7 after it wins a battle. LV7 can wipe out their monsters.

Key cards

  • Armed Dragon LV3
  • Level Up!
  • Masked Dragon

Tip

Keep Armed Dragon LV3 alive for one turn. In your next Standby Phase it turns into LV5 straight from your deck. Level Up! skips the wait.

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Characters

Yugi

BeatdownEasy

How it wins

Yugi's deck: Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl lead the attack, backed by the Magnet Warriors and Kuriboh. Fusions like Dark Paladin hit even harder.

Key cards

  • Dark Magician
  • Dark Magician Girl
  • Sage's Stone

Tip

With Dark Magician on the field, Thousand Knives destroys a monster and Dark Magic Attack destroys all their spells and traps.

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Characters

Joey

BeatdownEasy

How it wins

Joey's deck: big hitters like Red-Eyes Black Dragon and Jinzo, plus lucky gambles. Graceful Dice and Skull Dice roll for extra power.

Key cards

  • Red-Eyes Black Dragon
  • Time Wizard
  • Graceful Dice

Tip

Time Wizard is a coin toss. Call it right and all their monsters are destroyed, wrong and yours are. Use it when you have little to lose.

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Characters

Kaiba

BeatdownEasy

How it wins

Kaiba's deck: get Blue-Eyes White Dragon (3000 ATK) out fast and overpower them. Enemy Controller and XYZ-Dragon Cannon clear the way.

Key cards

  • Blue-Eyes White Dragon
  • Kaiser Sea Horse
  • Lord of D.

Tip

Kaiser Sea Horse counts as two tributes for a LIGHT monster, so it alone can summon Blue-Eyes White Dragon.

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Characters

Pegasus

ToonsMedium

How it wins

Pegasus's deck: cartoon Toon monsters that can attack the opponent directly while they have no Toons of their own. Relinquished steals their monsters as backup.

Key cards

  • Toon World
  • Toon Table of Contents
  • Relinquished

Tip

Get Toon World out first (it costs 1000 Life Points). Toons need it on the field, and they cannot attack the turn they arrive.

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Characters

Mai

SwarmEasy

How it wins

Mai's deck: fill the field with Harpie Ladies. Harpie's Pet Dragon gains 300 ATK for each one, and Harpie Lady Sisters hit hard.

Key cards

  • Harpie Lady Sisters
  • Elegant Egotist
  • Harpie's Pet Dragon

Tip

Summon a Harpie Lady, then play Elegant Egotist to call Harpie Lady Sisters straight from your deck.

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Characters

Bakura

StallMedium

How it wins

Bakura's deck: Destiny Board puts one letter of FINAL on the field at the end of each of their turns. With all five cards out, you win.

Key cards

  • Destiny Board
  • Gravity Bind
  • Dark Necrofear

Tip

Protect Destiny Board. If it or any letter leaves the field, all the letters go and you start again.

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Characters

Marik

TrapsMedium

How it wins

Marik's deck: tricky traps and a nasty gift. Lava Golem goes onto their side by tributing two of their monsters, then burns them for 1000 every turn.

Key cards

  • Lava Golem
  • Revival Jam
  • Embodiment of Apophis

Tip

Lava Golem has 3000 ATK and will attack you. Lock it with Nightmare Wheel so it cannot attack and burns them for 500 more each turn.

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Characters

Weevil

SwarmMedium

How it wins

Weevil's deck: a swarm of bugs led by Insect Queen, who grows 200 ATK for every Insect on the field. Sneaky tricks turn their monsters into Insects too.

Key cards

  • Insect Queen
  • Parasite Paracide
  • Insect Barrier

Tip

Flip Parasite Paracide to shuffle it into their deck. When they draw it their monsters become Insects, and Insect Barrier stops them attacking.

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Characters

Rex Raptor

BeatdownEasy

How it wins

Rex Raptor's deck: big Dinosaurs stomp the opponent. Wasteland makes every Dinosaur 200 stronger, and Dark Driceratops does damage even through defenders.

Key cards

  • Two-Headed King Rex
  • Wasteland
  • Black Tyranno

Tip

Black Tyranno attacks directly if all they have on the field is monsters in defence. Use it to punish an opponent who hides.

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Characters

Mako

BeatdownMedium

How it wins

Mako's deck: an army of sea monsters powered by Umi, which makes them 200 stronger. The Legendary Fisherman cannot be attacked while Umi is on the field.

Key cards

  • The Legendary Fisherman
  • A Legendary Ocean
  • Mother Grizzly

Tip

A Legendary Ocean counts as Umi and lowers your WATER monsters' Levels by 1, so The Legendary Fisherman needs no tribute.

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Characters

Bandit Keith

BeatdownMedium

How it wins

Bandit Keith's deck: big Machines that make each other stronger. Barrel Dragon tosses three coins and destroys one of their monsters on two heads.

Key cards

  • Barrel Dragon
  • Perfect Machine King
  • Second Coin Toss

Tip

Keep Second Coin Toss on the field. If Barrel Dragon's coins miss, you can toss them all again once per turn.

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Characters

Ishizu

ControlMedium

How it wins

Ishizu's deck: tough Fairies that punish attacks. Gravekeeper's Servant makes them throw away their top card every time they attack, and Mudora grows with each Fairy in your graveyard.

Key cards

  • Mudora
  • Gravekeeper's Servant
  • Kelbek

Tip

Keep Kelbek on the field as a wall. Any monster that attacks it goes back to the opponent's hand.

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Characters

Odion

TrapsMedium

How it wins

Odion's deck: wins with traps. Embodiment of Apophis is a trap that becomes a monster, and Mask of Darkness gets used traps back so you can set them again.

Key cards

  • Embodiment of Apophis
  • Mask of Darkness
  • Mirror Force

Tip

End each turn with two or three cards set face down. The opponent cannot tell which one is Mirror Force, so they attack less.

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Characters

Rare Hunter

ExodiaMedium

How it wins

The Rare Hunter's deck: hide behind walls until all five Exodia pieces are in your hand, then you win on the spot. Jar of Greed and Upstart Goblin draw extra cards.

Key cards

  • Exodia the Forbidden One
  • Gravity Bind
  • Contract with Exodia

Tip

Gravity Bind and Messenger of Peace stop most attacks. If all five pieces end up in the graveyard, Contract with Exodia summons Exodia Necross instead.

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More to learn

Puzzles15 win-this-turn puzzles, played on the real rules engine.RulesHow a turn works and the words you will see.