Getting started in Master Duel? These tips and tricks and best starter deck could be an asset for new Yu Gi Oh Master Duel players.
Yu Gi Oh Master Duel Best Starter Deck
Welcome to our Yu Gi Oh Master Duel Best Starter Deck guide. Getting started in Master Duel? These tips and tricks could be an asset for new Yu-Gi-Oh players.
10 Beginner Tips
1. Read The Cards On The Field
Here’s the most powerful Yu-Gi-Oh! technique that even the most skilled players often forget about: reading the cards. On paper, the excuse is that it can be annoying to have to actually physically pick up and read the opponent’s cards, but there’s no limitation in a digital format. The game is designed in a way that any information a player could need is readily accessible, either on the field or in the duel log.Through the power of reading, it’s easier to understand why certain interactions play out the way they do. If a play comes as a surprise at some point, reading the card is a great way to make sure to be prepared for it next time.
2. Take Time To Make Plays
After learning the game and building a deck, jumping into ranked matches can seem daunting. This is further exacerbated by the in-game timer. Traditional Yu-Gi-Oh! matches are timed as well, and it makes sense for the flow of the game to have those timers. Don’t let the timer be stressful; it’s much more forgiving than it seems. Each turn, the player is given eight full minutes to make their plays. Even for newer players, it is plenty of time to think through lines of play. Most players who are interested in playing the game competitively understand that games are going to take some time to play out.
3. Don’t Be Afraid To Lose
Competitive games like Yu-Gi-Oh are the most fun in PvP matches. However, there’s a distinct lack of a queue for casual players in the game. It’s a strange exclusion, especially since a casual queue exists in Duel Links, and one that may make a casual player feel left out. Ranked anxiety, as strange as it might seem to some, is daunting to overcome for many players. Fortunately, Master Duel is a very low-stakes game. In lower tiers of play, there are many others who are just getting started or are playing with decks found in the bottom of a well. It’s very likely new players will get blown out in matches against other constructed decks.
4. Save Craft Points For Staple Cards
Craft points can be obtained through progressing through missions, the battle pass, or through dismantling cards a deck doesn’t need. The conversion rate is simple: three cards of a rarity need to be dismantled to craft one card of the same rarity. Craft points are great for filling in those gaps in a deck list that’s missing one or cards. However, if those cards can be obtained more easily through other means, consider saving craft points to get staple cards. Staple cards in Yu-Gi-Oh are cards that can be slotted into any deck. A classic example is Pot of Greed. Modern staples are incredibly powerful and all only available at the highest rarity.
5. Focus Free Gems On Relevant Secret Packs
As a free-to-play game, a divide is created between those willing to whale and those who are looking to play for free. Master Duel is pretty good in this respect, as building one’s first deck is feasible for new players. Smart spending is the best way to create a free-to-play deck, and Secret Packs are the key. Secret Packs are special packs unlocked by obtaining an SR or UR card of an archetype or theme. Pulling Dark Magician, for example, unlocks a whole pack focused on Dark Spellcaster support. While they are hidden at first, crafting an SR or UR card in the archetype also unlocks the pack. From there, dumping free gems into the pack will eventually pull either the cards a build needs, or can be converted into resources to fill in the gaps in a decklist.
6. Use The Spectate Feature To The Fullest
Finding a deck and getting the theory behind it is great, but with so many cards in the game, it’s a challenge to learn what every single deck is capable of doing. A TCG player needs to be able to pilot their own deck while understanding how to play around their opponents. It can be hard to learn certain chokepoints and timings without a ton of hours invested. Fortunately, the spectator tool is a great way to see more decks at play.Master Duel allows players to view a random match pulled from its system, typically from higher-ranked players. As this match happened in the past, viewers are free to pause, read cards and duel logs, and watch interactions play out in real time without playing it themselves.
7. Utilize Online Resources
The game can be an okay teacher in playing through experience, but it can’t cover everything. Fortunately, the game’s popularity online and booming growth during the pandemic led to a surge in the creation of online resources. Now, even the most obscure decks have guides and videos.
When starting fresh, picking a deck and sticking with it is the best option. Building that deck, on the other hand, is going to be tough for a new player. Netdecking is perfectly fine and despite the complaints of some hardcore players in Twitch chat rooms actually a great tool for old and new players alike.
8. Find a Personal Playstyle
It may seem at first glance that there are an overwhelming number of possibilities for decks. That’s technically true, but a constructed deck with a specific game plan and win condition will end up more similar to other decks than one would initially think. The first step in getting started with constructed play is finding a style of play that fits one’s individual vibe, and building decks that fit that style.Yu-Gi-Oh decks tend to fall under the umbrella of the big three: Control, Midrange, and Aggro.Control decks choke the opponent out by controlling resources and forcing sub-optimal play.
- Midrange decks require multiple turns to get going, but quickly snowball out of control.
- Aggro decks hit fast and hit hard, but tend to struggle to recover when the tank is empty. Admittedly, Control decks are the best in the modern meta, but Midrange combo decks can easily compete. New players should use the solo mode to try out different styles, then research one that works for them.
9. Take Advantage Of The Solo Mode
While in-game tutorials on their own aren’t the most detailed, the solo mode, as a whole, works as a great teaching tool for the game. Aside from teaching players, the solo mode also serves as a great sandbox for testing new decks. The AI decks in higher-level duels will contain staple hand traps like Called By The Grave, Infinite Impermanence, and others, but mostly give the player room. Plus, the rewards aren’t bad, so it makes the time spent going through worthwhile.
10.Invest Gems Into Bundles
When shopping for cards, beginner players should take advantage of bundle deals. This is one of the best ways to build a solid pool of meta staples, which can be used in most strong meta decks. The important thing about staples is that they’re versatile, so they won’t limit newer players into choosing a specific deck right away.There are currently five bundle deals available, and they’re all worth investing free gems into. Buying all five sets guarantees the player five staple URs that will take them far. And it’s not too steep of an investment for newer players, as Master Duel provides a lot of free gems at the start of the game.
