Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG: Time Wizard Format - Full Guide

Time Wizard events are organized by OTSs and feature old Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG formats. When OTSs organize a Time Wizard event, they implement rules and mechanics from a certain period of time, so you'll use that time's Forbidden and Limited list, its Master Rules, and its most recent products.

For instance, if a Time Wizard event uses the 2005 Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG National Championship, they'll use the April 2025 Forbidden and Limited list, and the last legal set would be Dark Beginnings 2.

After these events were officially sanctioned by Konami a few years ago, they became quite popular. Besides local Time Wizard tournaments in OTSs, they're also featured as side events in bigger tournaments, like Regionals and YCSs.

Historic formats, like the Goat Format and the Edison Format, can be used in these events.

The main goal behind Time Wizard events is to let players relive their favorite Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG time periods. So, the goal is to have fun with nostalgic formats.

Besides that, as these events are full of "ancient decks", they're a lot more accessible than Advanced, which is critical to many players.

The Time Wizard format I most recommend is the most popular format nowadays: the Edison format, a nostalgic format that brings back 2010 Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG. Its name was inspired by the 75th Shonen Jump Championship (SJC), which took place in Edison, New Jersey, in 2010.

It uses the 7.0 official rulebook, and the March 2010 Forbidden & Limited list. You can only use cards released up to the Duelist Pack: Kaiba set. However, please note that some cards that came out around this time are not legal in this format - like some cards from the Hidden Arsenal set.

Check out below all cards banned in the Edison format!

Edison Format - Forbidden

Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning;

Chaos Emperor Dragon - Envoy of the End;

Cyber Jar;

Cyber-Stein;

Dark Magician of Chaos;

Destiny HERO - Disk Commander;

Fiber Jar;

Magical Scientist;

Magician of Faith;

Makyura the Destructor;

Sinister Serpent;

Tribe-Infecting Virus;

Tsukuyomi;

Victory Dragon;

Witch of the Black Forest;

Yata-Garasu;

Thousand-Eyes Restrict;

Dark Strike Fighter;

Butterfly Dagger - Elma;

Card of Safe Return;

Change of Heart;

Confiscation;

Dark Hole;

Delinquent Duo;

Dimension Fusion;

Graceful Charity;

Harpie's Feather Duster;

Last Will;

Monster Reborn;

Metamorphosis;

Mirage of Nightmare;

Painful Choice;

Pot of Greed;

Premature Burial;

Raigeki;

Snatch Steal;

The Forceful Sentry;

Crush Card Virus;

Exchange of the Spirit;

Imperial Order;

Last Turn;

Ring of Destruction;

Time Seal.

Edison Format - Limited

Left Arm of the Forbidden One;

Left Leg of the Forbidden One;

Right Arm of the Forbidden One;

Right Leg of the Forbidden One;

Blackwing - Gale the Whirlwind;

Card Trooper;

Chaos Sorcerer;

Dark Armed Dragon;

Elemental HERO Stratos;

Exodia the Forbidden One;

Gladiator Beast Bestiari;

Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner;

Marshmallon;

Mezuki;

Mind Master;

Morphing Jar;

Necroface;

Necro Gardna;

Neo-Spacian Grand Mole;

Night Assailant;

Plaguespreader Zombie;

Rescue Cat;

Gorz the Emissary of Darkness;

Sangan;

Snipe Hunter;

Spirit Reaper;

Summoner Monk;

Tragoedia;

Black Rose Dragon;

Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier;

Goyo Guardian;

Advanced Ritual Art;

Allure of Darkness;

Brain Control;

Burial from a Different Dimension;

Card Destruction;

Charge of the Light Brigade;

Cold Wave;

Destiny Draw;

Emergency Teleport;

Foolish Burial;

Future Fusion;

Giant Trunade;

Heavy Storm;

Level Limit - Area B;

Limiter Removal;

Megamorph;

Mind Control;

Monster Gate;

Mystical Space Typhoon;

One for One;

Overload Fusion;

Reasoning;

Reinforcement of the Army;

Scapegoat;

Swords of Revealing Light;

Call of the Haunted;

Ceasefire;

Gravity Bind;

Magic Cylinder;

Magical Explosion;

Mind Crush;

Mirror Force;

Ojama Trio;

Return from the Different Dimension;

Solemn Judgment;

The Transmigration Prophecy;

Torrential Tribute;

Trap Dustshoot;

Wall of Revealing Light.

Edison Format - Semi-Limited

Cyber Dragon;

Dandylion;

Destiny HERO - Malicious;

Goblin Zombie;

Honest;

Judgment Dragon;

Lonefire Blossom;

Treeborn Frog;

Demise, King of Armageddon;

Black Whirlwind;

Chain Strike;

Gold Sarcophagus;

Magical Stone Excavation;

United We Stand;

Bottomless Trap Hole;

Royal Decree;

Royal Oppression;

Skill Drain;

Ultimate Offering.

Vayu Turbo

Vayu Turbo is quite fun. The main game plan is to get as much as you can from Blackwing - Vayu the Emblem of Honor's effect. To put it in play as fast as possible, this deck uses a "mill" strategy.

HERO Diva

HERO Diva stands out because of how aggressive it is. Besides accessing powerful Synchro monsters, it also plays the incredible Elemental HERO Absolute Zero as its boss monster. Please note that this deck can also summon multiple copies of "Absolute Zero", which is incredibly strong for this format.

Blackwing

Blackwing is very popular in the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG community even now, and is also great in the Edison format. It focuses on Synchro monsters and plays the powerful Icarus Attack trap, which is incredibly useful to deal with problematic cards on the enemy board.

Frognarch

Frognarch combines the "Frog" control engine with the powerful "Monarchs". They might seem like very different cards at a first glance, but this deck actually works really well because it locks down the game with the "Frogs" really well. This will make it easier for you to destroy your opponent with the strength of your "Monarchs".

Quickdraw

Quickdraw is considered by many the best deck in the format: it is a combo deck centered around Synchro monsters. The main card in this strategy is Quickdraw Synchron, a powerful extender that gives you access to the best Synchro monsters from this time.

So, what do you think of these Time Wizard events? Tell us your thoughts in our comment section below.

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