How to Play in a Duelist King Tournament:
Preparing for the Tournament
(2 of 2)
What is a Side Deck? Do I really need one?
A Side Deck is used to adjust your Deck by exchanging (not adding or subtracting) cards from your Main Deck
so you have a better chance of defeating your opponent in the following Duel. In a match, you can only exchange cards from your
Side Deck after a game. You cannot draw or go into this Side Deck during a Duel. You are only allowed a maximum of 15 cards in a
Side Deck. Choosing cards for your Side Deck is based on the experience you have against other Duelists. Also, a Side Deck
can change the strategy of your Main Deck completely, which will catch your opponent off guard. Basically, having a Side Deck is
like having two Decks; both Decks having some cards the same but having two completely different strategies.
A Side Deck is recommended for Beat-Down Decks (see
Basic Advice in Creating a Deck).
Know Your Cards
It's a good idea to know the proper card rulings of each card in your Deck before entering a tournament.
Even though there are judges that can tell you if you are using your cards correctly, it's better to know how your cards work
ahead of time so that you don't look like an amateur to your opponent. Also, if certain cards require a coin or dice, remember
to bring them to the tournament. If you do not, you may be disqualified.
Attitudes from Tournament Duelists & How You Should Conduct Yourself
Most Duelists who participate in tournaments are not friendly. In fact, most of them are arrogant & rude.
A Tournament Duelist may be arrogant because he/she thinks that he/she is the best and that their Deck is unbeatable to most
'common' Duelists. As I said before in my "Basic Advice in Creating Deck"
section, no deck is unbeatable. There's always a weakness. A Tournament Duelist may be rude because he/she is participating
in a tournament for one reason only: to win the prize. Of course, this is your goal as well, but
some Duelists intensely focus on winning the prize that they forget their manners. Don't get discouraged.
There are some Duelists who are just beginning and go to tournaments to get gain experience & test their skills.
Try to be a gracious winner as well as a loser. Don't have an attitude if you're losing because it will just feed
your opponent's ego & he/she will think he/she is superior. Don't boast about winning a match because your opponent might be offended
and do something terrible (e.g. steal your cards, rip your cards, etc.)
One way to test the character of your opponent is to shake his/her hand. If your opponent shakes your hand with a
weak grip, that may indicate that he/she is either a sore loser or a boastful winner.
Ways to Know Your Opponent's Strategy Before a Match
Try to arrive at the tournament a half hour before it begins. Some Duelists come with friends who practice
before the tournament begins. Try to observe their Duels, and see what kind of cards they're playing & what strategies they're using.
Another way to know your opponent's strategy is by asking what type of Deck they're playing with. Is it a Beat-Down, Burn, Control, or
Auto-Win? Be careful when asking this question. Most experienced Duelists will not tell you, and they might give you an attitude.
But some beginning Duelists might be willing to share their strategies. Knowing the Deck-type of your opponent will
give you an idea of what to expect in your Duel.
Don't be Afraid to Ask a Question & Know When to Slow the Duel Down
Sometimes there are cards your opponent uses that you are not familiar with. Don't be afraid to ask what your
opponent's card does. This is one of the rights you have during a Duel. If your opponent has an attitude about you questioning him/her,
that's their problem, not yours.
Also, some Duelists like to duel quickly. Meaning, they activate cards without giving you time to react to them. It's
your right as a Duelist to tell them to stop & let you react to the first card that your opponent activates. Here's a situation to
illustrate:
You have one monster on the field and two trap cards, "Magic Jammer" being one of them.
You end your turn.
Your opponent draws his card. He/She activates "Dark Hole", summons a monster and attacks,
all in 3 seconds.
You tell him/her, "Stop and give me a chance to react to the first card. I activate Magic
Jammer & negate Raigeki..."
Be careful not to duel too slowly or else you might get disqualified.
(see Tournament Penalties & Violiations
- Slow Play)
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