Once you have mastered the basic rules of Yu-Gi-Oh!, the next step is to create your own Deck. This is known as Deck Construction. The rules for constructing a Deck are simple, but it takes skill to put together a strong Deck. We'll also give you some hints on putting together your Deck in this section.
A. Deck Construction Rules
A Deck must contain at least 40 cards. Keep in mind that Decks with too many cards mean you will have a smaller chance of drawing the cards you need, so its best to limit your cards to around 40.

You can have up to 3 duplicates of the same card in your Deck. Cards included in your Side Deck count towards this 3 duplicate limit. Also, be aware of Forbidden and Limited Cards.


B. Deck Construction Hints
    I. Keep the Monster Card to Magic/Trap Card ratio at 1 : 1

    The building blocks of your Deck are the Monster Cards. No matter how many powerful Magic or Trap Cards you have, no monsters on the field means you've got nothing to defend your Life Points. A general rule of thumb is that roughly half of your Deck should be made up of monsters. Therefore, if you've got a Deck of 40 cards, around 20 should be Monster Cards.

    II. Keep The Number of High Level Monsters To A Minimum

    In order to perform a Tribute Summon (required for a Level 5 or higher monster), you will have to offer monsters as a Tribute. If your Deck is filled with high-level monsters, summoning them to the field will be very costly. Instead, include lots of Level 4 or lower monsters in your Deck and keep the number of high-level monsters to a minimum.

    III. Make Good Use Of Your Effect Monsters

    Effect Monsters with Magic or Trap effects play an important strategic role in your Duels. You can create a powerful Deck if you take full advantage of these effects. For example, the "Hane-Hane" card forces your opponent to return one monster from the field to their hand. Using this card at the right moment could leave your opponent's Life Points wide open for an attack from a high-level monster.

    IV. Include Cards That Increase Opportunities To Draw

    In a Duel, the basic rule is that you can only draw 1 card during the Draw Phase. Therefore, it is strategically to your advantage to be able to draw more cards than your opponent. For example, cards like "Pot Of Greed" increase your chances of drawing vital cards from your deck.

    V. How To Create Your Side Deck

    In between Duels, you are allowed to use a Side Deck of 15 cards to adjust the contents of your Deck. Prepare your Side Deck with cards that help address the weaknesses in your Deck or have the power to neutralize specific cards.

Powerful Cards

The following cards will help strengthen anyone's Deck:

• Raigeki             • Monster Reborn             • Dark Hole

 • Pot of Greed         • Change of Heart
C. Forbidden And Limited Cards
According to the Official Rules, certain cards have specific quantity restrictions that limit the number that can be included in a Deck. These limited cards are announced at Official Tournaments, and should be taken into account when customizing your Deck.