The Game Mat

Every card you play or discard will be placed on the Game Mat. The example above shows where to place Yu-Gi-Oh! Decks and the cards that are brought into play during a Match.

A. Field Card Zone:
Field Spell cards are played here. Only 1 Field Spell Card can be in play at any one time

B. Monster Card Zone:
Monster Cards can be played (face-up) or Set (face-down) to the 5 spaces of the Monster Card Zone following the rules in Main Phase 1.

Important! The Monster Card Zone has a 5-CARD LIMIT. Once all 5 spaces in the Monster Card Zone are occupied, no further Monster Cards can be played or set until there is an open Monster Card space in the Monster Card Zone.

C. Fusion Deck Zone:
If you are playing with Fusion Monster Cards, put your Fusion Deck face-down in this space

D. Graveyard:
When cards are destroyed, they are discarded face-up to this space. The contents of the Graveyard are public knowledge, and your opponent can look through it at any time. Be sure to get your opponent's permission before going through their Graveyard.

E. Spell & Trap Card Zone:
Spell and Trap Cards can be played (face-up) or Set (face-down) to the 5 spaces of the Spell & Trap Card Zone following the rules in Main Phase 1.

Important! The Spell & Trap Card Zone has a 5-CARD LIMIT. Once all 5 spaces in the Spell & Trap Card Zone are occupied, no further Spell (except Field Spell Cards) OR Trap Cards can be played or Set until there is an open Spell & Trap Card space in the Spell & Trap Card Zone. This 5-CARD LIMIT includes any of your own Equip Spell Cards used to equip your opponent's Monster Card.

F. Deck Zone:
Place your Deck face-down in this space. Your Side Deck is not placed on the Game Mat. You can also play Yu-Gi-Oh! without a Game Mat. Just be sure to place the cards and Decks in the indicated positions.

The Meanings Behind Card Text

Activate - Whenever you use the effects of a Spell Card, Trap Card, and Effect Monster card, you "activate" the card's effect. When you activate a card's effect, it is immediate.

Set - The act of placing a card face-down on the field is referred to as "Set". A Set card's effect is not activated immediately. Also, a Set Monster Card is not considered to be summoned until it is turned face-up. A Set monster must be placed HORIZONTALLY, in face-down Defense Position (monsters summoned normally are placed VERTICALLY, in face-up Attack Position). Set Spell and Trap Cards are placed vertically on the field.

The Field - Throughout these rules, and on the card text itself, the Monster Card Zone, Spell & Trap Card Zone and Field Card Zone together will be referred to as the field.

Destroyed - A card that is sent to the Graveyard is destroyed.

Removed from Play - A card that is removed from play is NOT sent to the Graveyard. Instead, it is set aside and is not allowed to re-enter the current Duel.