THE COMMON DECK FAQ
TABLE OF CONTENTS
DISTRIBUTION AND LEGAL
GENERAL QUESTIONS
- What is a Common Deck?
- Why should I make a Common Deck?
- What are the general rules for a Common Deck?
SPECIFIC RULES AND EXPLANATIONS
- Restricted List Exceptions
- Unrestricted Bans
- Guidelines for the use of rarity
SUGGESTIONS
- Theme Suggestions
- Suggested Cards
CREDITS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
- Suggestion and Information Credits
- Special Thanks
- Contact the Author
APPENDICES
- Complete Common Ban List
- Complete Common Restricted List
- Complete Common Semi-Restricted List
DISTRIBUTION AND LEGAL
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Yu-Gi-Oh is not owned by the author, nor are any of the cards from said game. This document is copyright ©Seph Hexen. All rights reserved.
GENERAL QUESTIONS
WHAT IS A COMMON DECK?
Though the name is only slightly misleading, a common deck is a deck made with cards mostly of common and normal rare cards, with few super rares and ultra rares, and no secret rares (with few exceptions). Common decks are a brainstorm of a small group of duelists in the United States, and none of the rules and guidlines here should be followed to the letter-- they are truly only guidelines, and can be made to suit your own particular clique of Yu-Gi-Oh players.
WHY SHOULD I MAKE A COMMON DECK?
In Yu-Gi-Oh's current metagame, there are cards known as 'staples', or cards that every duelist should put into their deck. If you do not, your deck is often considered unworthy of serious play against other duelists and this is often the case. Raigeki, Breaker the Magical Warrior, Tribe-Infecting Virus are all cards that many consider staples and cards that are found in many decks. A common deck is a way to experiment with cards and themese you've never dreamed of! Did you like the idea of unions, but they were too slow or hard to pull out? Now you can try them. Your ritual deck fall behind the times? Now is your chance to do that as well. So many new themes are now open for you to try, now that the cards that could defeat them so easily have been banned.
WHAT ARE THE GENERAL RULES FOR A COMMON DECK?
I know it sounds corny, but the only true rule for building a common deck is to HAVE FUN. Sure you have to worry about game mechanics, but any theme you want can now be accomplished within reasonable limits. If this was meant for serious, I wouldn't have made this FAQ when it's eleven-o-clock at night. As for the general deckbuilding guidelines, no cards on the restricted list are allowed. Also, all secret rares after and including Pharoah's Servant (with few exceptions) are not allowed. Most promotional cards are allowed, with the exception of any that are on the restricted list. THIS INCLUDES BOOSTER PACK TIN (BPT-xxx) VERSIONS OF RESTRICTED CARDS, AND INVASION OF CHAOS SPECIAL EDITION ULTRAS.
SPECIFIC RULES AND EXPLANATIONS
RESTRICTED LIST EXCEPTIONS
There are exceptions to the rule about banning everything on the restricted list. First of all, any card that was released as a common version of a rare/super rare/ultra rare may be used. Even though some staples are in here, this is fine for the reason that some staples are almost needed by the game. There was a reason that these cards were released as commons, and that's because if they weren't widespread the game would suffer immensely. That's why the usage of these cards have been allowed.
UNRESTRICTED BANS
There are some cards that are unrestricted yet are very widespread and popular, and therefore present a danger to the common decks they play to include the same card. There aren't many on this list for now, but there may be more after playtesting is furthered.
- Archfiend Soldier
- Mad Dog of Darkness
- Berserk Gorilla
- Gemini Elf
- Spear Dragon
- Luster Dragon (the good one)
- Axe of Despair
- Tribute to the Doomed
These cards may only be used one per deck. I'm quite sure that there are cards better suited for your theme other than these anyhow (with the exception of the dragons-- they're about as good as you get).
The following are only 2 per deck:
- Book of Moon
- Mystical Space Typhoon
- Waboku
- Fissure
- Magician of Faith
- Gravity Bind
GUIDELINES FOR THE USE OF RARITY
This is only a guideline, and not a rule: You can have infinite commons and normals rares; a maximum of 4 non-restricted super rares (not including super rares printed as commons); a maximum of 3 ultra rares (not including ultra rares printed as commons). This remains only a guideline simply because some theme decks require more than the alloted space for ultra rares or super rares.
SUGGESTIONS
THEME SUGGESTIONS
Some themes can now work with a degree of efficiency now that a lot of commonplace cards have been banned.
- STALL/BURN
Without so much monster removal at their desposal, the opponent will really have a hard time trying to get past reliable defenses! Cards to use in this deck include Bowganian, Swords of Revealing Light, and Swarm of Scarabs/Locusts.
- UNION
1900 attackers aside, 1800s and lower have a time to shine! That time is now, as the Unions of Freezing and Burning Beasts and the dragon manipulator Dark Blade have some terrifying effects! You should only focus on one union though, or else you will not end up with what you need. Cards to consider for this deck are Frontline Base, Combnation Attack, Metallizing Parasite - Lunatite, and Formation Union. Recommended cards for Freezing and Burning Beast Unions are A Legendary Ocean and Salvage, as well as Painful Choice if your clique will allow it.
- GUARDIANS
Magic and Trap removal have taken a hit since Imperial Order and Harpie's Feather Duster have been banned from common deck play, but Dust Tornado and Mystical Space Typhoon are still heavy contenders when trying to build a Guardian deck. You may want to make this a full-out equip deck however, since you can use cards like Iron Blacksmith Kotetsu more efficiently. Suggested cards for this theme type consist of the following: Iron Blacksmith Kotetsu, Arsenal Summoner, Axe of Despair, and Snatch Steal if your pals will allow it.
- RITUAL
Relinquished is a pretty good ritual monster-- his only flaw is his slow summon. Otherwise, Relinquished is a awesome monster, and a powerful contender versus any deck type. High defense monsters? Absorb them, then use alternative beatdown power. What about Dark Master Zorc? His dice roll effect is more than enough for some to run him. Don't forget about Shinato - King of a Higher Plane. Of course, if you want to stick to the common spirit, Crab Turtle and Performance of Sword aren't too bad in the common deck environment. Cards to think on are Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands, and for Relinquished decks Chaos Sorceror and Metamorphosis (for Thousand Eyes Restrict).
- ALTERNATIVE CONTROL
It can be done without Don Zaloogs and Raigeki. It needs to be played right, but Control can be done without the staples. Perhaps it won't be as reliable, but if your opponent can't enter their Main Phase I, it's hard to do much... Cards that can work here are Timeater, Non-Agression Area, and Giant Trunade.
SUGGESTED CARDS
Although the point of common decks is to break away from habitual use of staples, even common decks have some things that can be of good use in almost every deck.
- OFFERINGS TO THE DOOMED
Quickplay Magic Monster Removal. The only drawback is your missing draw phase, but that's fine if your opponent loses their ace monster.
- CURSED SEAL OF THE FORBIDDEN SPELL
A counter-trap that requires one spell card to throw away. However, it works well against nearly all theme decks, as they will have some component magic. Very deadly to the uninitiated player.
- MAGIC DRAIN
The new spell negation method. Magic Drain has a bit of unreliability built in, but that's fine since it also makes them discard their hand. A nice added touch to this oft overlooked card.
- DES LACOODA
A Flip Summon draw. This isn't bad, especially with added defenses to make sure it lasts for about three turns. Then you will be packing a good hand advantage, and it's always good to remember that hand advantage = more options.
CREDITS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
SUGGESTION AND INFORMATION CREDITS
FAQ Author - Seph Hexen
Common Deck Concept - OneWinged Badass
Information - Yu-Gi-Oh Realms for card effects, my friends for playtesting.
SPECIAL THANKS
Loving Girlfriend - Silver
Card Supplier - Mom and Dad
Teeth - Curtis
Critically Acclaimed Weapon (CAW) - Yata Garasu
CONTACT THE AUTHOR
The author may be contacted via e-mail at ||\[email protected]/||. I'm sure you can figure it out.
APPENDICES
COMPLETE COMMON BAN LIST
- Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning
- Breaker the Magical Warrior
- Butterfly Dagger - Elma
- Call of the Haunted
- Ceasefire
- Chaos Emperor Dragon - Envoy of the End
- Confiscation
- Creature Swap
- Delinquent Duo
- Exiled Force
- Exodia the Forbidden One
- Fiber Jar
- Graceful Charity
- Harpie’s Feather Duster
- Heavy Storm
- Imperial Order
- Injection Fairy Lily
- Jinzo
- Last Turn
- Left Leg of the Forbidden One
- Left Arm of the Forbidden One
- Mage Power
- Magic Cylinder
- Mirage of Nightmare
- Mirror Force
- Morphing Jar
- Painful Choice
- Raigeki
- Reflect Bounder
- Right Arm of the Forbidden One
- Right Leg of the Forbidden One
- Ring of Destruction
- Snatch Steal
- The Forceful Sentry
- Tribe-Infecting Virus
- Twin-Headed Behemoth
- United We Stand
- Vampire Lord
- Yata-Garasu
COMPLETE COMMON RESTRICTED LIST
- Archfiend Soldier
- Axe of Despair
- Berserk Gorilla
- Card Destruction
- Change of Heart
- Cyber Jar
- Dark Hole
- Gemini Elf
- Luster Dragon
- Mad Dog of Darkness
- Magical Scientist
- Manticore of Darkness
- Marauding Captain
- Monster Reborn
- Pot of Greed
- Premature Burial
- Reckless Greed
- Reinforcement of the Army
- Sangan
- Sinister Serpent
- Spear Dragon
- Swords of Revealing Light
- Tribute to the Doomed
- Upstart Goblin
- Witch of the Black Forest
COMPLETE COMMON SEMI-RESTRICTED LIST
- Book of Moon
- Fissure
- Gravity Bind
- Magician of Faith
- Morphing Jar #2
- Mystical Space Typhoon
- Nobleman of Crossout
- Waboku