Yu-Gi-Oh! Guide: TCG, OCG, Master Duel, Speed Duel, and Rush Duel!

Yu-Gi-Oh has grown a lot in the 25 years since it was released. We can now play our beloved game in many ways: there's the TCG, the OCG, Master Duel, Speed Duel, and Rush Duel.

Do you know how each works? In this article, we'll explore all the titles above, and see how different they are from one another.

Let's go!

The first Yu-Gi-Oh! card game started in 1999: it was based on the collectible card game created by Kazuki Takahashi for the same-name manga and anime series. Developed and released by Konami, the "real" game was a bit different from the "fictional" game, as this one had to fit the storyline. This game was originally called Yu-Gi-Oh! OCG.

However, because of how much the game grew and the differences between the Yu-Gi-Oh! market in Japan and the rest of the world, they had to split the game into two. That's how Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG was born.

Yu-Gi-Oh! OCG

The Yu-Gi-Oh! OCG (Official Card Game) was released in Japan in 1999 alongside the Yu-Gi-Oh! manga and anime. It was a success right away, and is considered the "original" version of the card game.

Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG

The Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG (Trading Card Game) is the international version of Yu-Gi-Oh, released in 2002. It is the OCG, but adapted for the western audience.

There are a few exclusive Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG alternative formats, like Time Wizard (GOAT, Edison), Heart of the Underdog, Common Charity, Deck Master, and Rivalry of Warlords.

What is the Actual Difference Between the TCG and the OCG?

The OCG, released in 1999, is played in Japan and other Asian countries, whereas the TCG is played in the rest of the world, and was released in 2002. Furthermore, the rules differ from one game to another. Finally, KONAMI usually releases cards in the OCG three months before they release them in the TCG.

Maze of the Master was released in the OCG on November 22nd, 2024, but it will only be released in the TCG on March 13th, 2025.

Furthermore, the games have different banlists. Sometimes, a card is banned or restricted in the OCG before it is on the TCG, but sometimes it is the other way around. In this sense, each has their own schedule and autonomy.

One example is Maxx "C", which is forbidden in the TCG, but only semi-limited in the OCG.

There are cards and limited promos in the OCG that don't exist in the TCG, and the cards that do exist in both games may be different - their design might be different, or their artwork, rarity, etc. There are also cards in the TCG that don't exist in the OCG. These might be released later on, or not at all.

OCG tournaments are usually different from TCG tournaments too. The rules are different from region to region, and the metagame is usually influenced by the OCG first. The TCG meta only changes after the new sets are released in both games. All of these differences reflect how different each Yu-Gi-Oh! market is, as each peculiarity is supposed to cater to different audiences.

Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship

The Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship is considered by many the most important Yu-Gi-Oh! event of the year, and it is precisely in this competition that the OCG and the TCG become one again. Asian and Western players compete for the title of best Yu-Gi-Oh! player in the world with a single banlist - a mixture of the OCG and the TCG banlists.

This way, banned and limited cards in both versions of the game are combined in a single banlist specifically for this worldwide event. When the status of a card is different from one list to another, the most restrictive version applies. This means that, if a card is banned in one of the lists and unlimited in the other, it will be banned at this tournament. The "strictest" rule applies to make sure the format is balanced and fair.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel was released in January 2022 on many platforms: desktop, PlayStation (4 & 5), Xbox (One, Series X, Series S), Nintendo Switch, Android, and iOS. Initially, many believed that Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel would be a tabletop simulator for the OCG and TCG, but it actually became "something else" entirely. It is similar to the Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship format in a way, but it doesn't work with the same mixed banlist. The Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel rules are mostly based on the TCG rules, but they also resemble the OCG rules in a few details.

So, though it isn't a simulator for the OCG or the TCG, Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel can be a good way to start playing Yu-Gi-Oh if you want to learn basics. Particularly as it uses the same rules and structures of the main Yu-Gi-Oh games.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Speed Duel is a simplified, faster Yu-Gi-Oh!. It was designed to be more accessible and dynamic, as its matches take less time to play than OCG and TCG matches. It was supposed to attract new players and offer a faster game experience for those who don't have time to play longer matches.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Speed Duel uses the same rules as Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG, but there are a few differences:

Each player starts the duel with 4000 HP.

Each player starts the duel with 4 cards in their opening hand.

There are 20 to 30 cards in both main decks.

There are up to 6 cards in both extra decks.

Each player can use up to 1 Skill Card.

Each player has 3 main monster zones, 3 spell and trap zones, 1 field zone, and 1 graveyard.

There are no extra monster zones.

There is no main phase 2.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links

Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links was originally released in Japan on November 17th, 2015. It was released worldwide on January 11th, 2017, particularly on iOS and Android. In this game, Seto Kaiba created a virtual reality called "Duel World" where the best duelists can compete against each other. Players start the game as Yami Yugi or Seto Kaiba himself, and, as they win duels, they can unlock other characters. The main game mode in Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links uses the Yu-Gi-Oh! Speed Duel rules, and it was thanks to this game that this Yu-Gi-Oh! version became so popular.

What is the Difference Between Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel and Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links?

The main differences between Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel and Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links are their formats and rules. While Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel is closer to the traditional versions, namely, the OCG or TCG, Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links is closer to the faster, simplified version, Yu-Gi-Oh! Speed Duel.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Rush Duel is a card game released in Japan alongside the Yu-Gi-Oh! Sevens anime series. Currently, it is only available in Japan and South Korea.

Rush Duel is similar to Speed Duel, but there are a few key differences:

Players can summon as many monsters as they want per turn, but they have to tribute something to summon monsters that are level 5 or above.

Each player starts with 4 cards in their opening hand and draws until they have 5 in the draw phase. If they have 5 or more cards, they draw a single extra card. There is no hand limit.

If a player can't draw cards from their deck during the draw phase, they lose the duel immediately.

The board is similar to Speed Duel's, but there are a few key differences as well. For instance, there are no extra monster zones and pendulum zones. Players start with 8000 HP and can play up to 40 or 60 cards in their deck.

You can activate monster effects once per turn. You can also activate trap cards when you meet their prerequisites, but only one at a time.

There is no main phase 2 nor standby phase, and each deck can play at most 1 Legend Card of each type.

You can also play Skills in Rush Duel, just like in Speed Duel.

Just like in Yu-Gi-Oh! Speed Duel and the TCG, you can only play cards released to Yu-Gi-Oh! Rush Duel in particular in this game. Furthermore, Yu-Gi-Oh! Rush Duel also has its own banlist. Another key detail is that Rush Duel cards use a new layout that is supposed to be simple to understand and easy on the eyes.

What is the Difference Between Yu-Gi-Oh! Speed Duel and Yu-Gi-Oh! Rush Duel?

Yu-Gi-Oh! Speed Duel is a simplified, fast version of Yu-Gi-Oh! that uses traditional mechanics, but different rules that make the game more dynamic. As for Yu-Gi-Oh! Rush Duel, it is even simpler and faster, and its rules are more flexible*, as it is geared to younger generations. It offers them more freedom to play as they wish, and is more accessible for beginners as well.

The best Yu-Gi-Oh! game for beginners depends a lot on where you live, as Asian and Western titles are different.

If you're a real beginner, a good idea is to begin with the "limited" versions of Yu-Gi-Oh!, like Speed Duel (available in Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links) or Rush Duel (exclusive to Asia). These versions use simplified rules and prebuilt decks, which makes learning the game easier, as you won't have to deal with the complex mechanics in the main versions. Both are great if you want to learn the basics of Yu-Gi-Oh!.

If you feel you can deal with more complex rules from the beginning, or if you've already played other versions, Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel is an excellent pick, particularly if you want to explore the entire franchise a bit more. Its rules are similar to the rules in the main versions, the OCG and the TCG.

So, this is an interesting order:

If you live in the West → 1. Speed Duel → 2. Master Duel → 3. TCG.

Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG

If you live in Asia → 1. Rush Duel → 2. Master Duel → 3. OCG.

Yu-Gi-Oh! OCG

Each Yu-Gi-Oh! title is different in their own way, from least complex to most complex, but you can simply pick whichever game is more fun for you. That's because all of them are a full game, as they have their own rules and peculiarities. Furthermore, each one has their own competitive circuit, so you can play them and have fun according to what you like the most. The most important part is to enjoy the unique feel of each version.

So, what did you think of all of these different Yu-Gi-Oh! games? Which one is your favorite? Tell us your thoughts in our comment section below.

To find out more about the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG universe, keep browsing our articles.

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