Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG - Genesys: Best Zero-Cost Going-First Cards

In today's article, we'll go through a few essential cards for anyone who wants to dominate the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG Genesys format: the best going-first cards, that is, cards that shine when you start the duel playing first.

The new Genesys point system assigns points to each card and often limits decks to 100 points. As such, in this format, duelists will have to balance consistency, power, and control when building their lists.

As most duelists play boardbreakers in this format, we decided to show you the most impactful cards that protect your board or add more interaction to it on the very first turn.

Check out below the best zero-cost going-first cards in Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG Genesys!

Ice Dragon's Prison

Ice Dragon's Prison is the first card Genesys players think of when we talk about zero-cost cards.

Its effect is quite strong and versatile because it "steals" a monster in the opponent's graveyard and/or banishes a monster on their board if you meet its condition.

Blizzard

Blizzard isn't that popular, but it is quite efficient when you go first because it is an excellent out for "spell" boardbreakers.

Its effect is a "1 to 1" trade, but it actually works really well against a few specific spells (like Dark Ruler No More, for instance) because it disables even copies of the card it negated for the rest of the turn.

Angel Statue - Azurune

Angel Statue - Azurune is one of the continuous traps that "summon" themselves into play as a monster. Only afterward can we use its interaction effect against the opponent.

This effect, in turn, lets its controller send it to the graveyard to negate a monster summon and destroy it.

We can't really get it from our deck that easily in the Genesys format, but "Azurune" is certainly one of the best zero-cost going-first cards.

Dimensional Fissure

Dimensional Fissure is a very popular floodgate that, for some reason, doesn't cost any points in the point system, for better or worse. It is an excellent card because it disables the graveyard, which beats most strategies in the game.

On the other side, though it has been strong against the meta overall for a long time, not every deck can use it precisely because most of them need the graveyard to work.

Crackdown

Crackdown is a trap with a very unusual effect for this type of card: it "steals" one monster the opponent controls. Considering most "take" cards are boardbreakers, it is a true surprise in most duels.

Lost Wind

Lost Wind negates the effects on "special-summoned" monsters and also halves their ATK. Both of these effects are "permanent" as well.

It's not over yet. While Lost Wind is in the graveyard, it will recycle itself and put itself into play on the back row if the opponent special summons something from their extra deck.

Spellbound

Spellbound is one of the cards that could replace Dimensional Barrier, which costs all of 100 points in Genesys.

Spellbound is not as strong as "Barrier", but it can disrupt the opponent like Gnomaterial does. However, it is even more efficient because it "affects" all monsters under the opponent's control when you activate it. It also blocks tribute summons.

Stygian Dirge

Stygian Dirge is a very specific floodgate that is actually very interesting against decks centered around Xyz/Synchro summons. Considering these are the most advanced extra deck summons in the format, this card is an excellent side deck option.

Magic Deflector

Magic Deflector is a somewhat forgotten lingering floodgate, but it is actually quite fatal against decks centered around equipment spells, field spells, and quick spells. It basically negates these types of cards for the rest of the turn.

Gravity Collapse

Gravity Collapse is the only counter in this article, and besides negating summons, it is also a lingering effect. It prevents the opponent from summoning anything else for the rest of that turn.

Its only "drawback" is that, to activate it, you'll need to send one synchro monster on your board to the graveyard, so it can only see play in decks that focus on this strategy.

Do you agree with our picks? Tell us your thoughts in our comment section below.

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Thank you for reading, and see you next time!