Here are the rules for the English Yu-Gi-Oh! card game.

Winning a Duel

The outcome of a Duel is decided according to the following Official Rules

• Each player begins a Duel with 8000 Life Points.

• Life Points decrease as a result of damage calculation after battle. You win a Duel if you reduce your opponent's Points to 0. If your opponent reduces your Life Points to 0, YOU lose!

• If you and your opponent both reach 0 Life Points at the same time, the Duel is declared a DRAW.

• If either player's Deck runs out of cards during a Duel, the first player unable to draw a card is declared the LOSER.

• If at any time during the Duel you hold the following cards in your hand, you instantly win the Duel:

  • Right Leg of the Forbidden One

  • Left Leg of the Forbidden One

  • Right Arm of the Forbidden One

  • Left Arm of the Forbidden One

  • Exodia the Forbidden One

Getting Started

Preparing Your Deck
Following you'll find the basic rules for preparing your deck.

• The Deck used for dueling should contain a minimum of 40 cards. Aside from this minimum limit, your Deck can contain as many cards as you like.

• In addition to your dueling Deck, you can also have 15 additional cards in a separate pile known as the Side Deck. The Side Deck allows you to modify your Deck to better suit your strategy during a match.

Between Duels, you can exchange any card from your Side Deck with any card in your Deck - as long as you end up with the same number of cards that your Deck began the Match with. The Side Deck you create must contain exactly 15 cards at the beginning of a Match. In other words, if you don't have enough cards to create a 15 card Side Deck, you cannot use one at all. In any Match, the Deck and Side Deck combined cannot contain more than 3 copies of the same card. Also, be aware of Forbidden and Limited cards.

Gameplay
In accordance with the Official Rules, a Duel is conducted in the following manner:

Both players shuffle their respective Decks and hand them to their opponent to shuffle. The decks are then returned to their owners and placed face-down in their respective Deck Zones on the Duel Field. When using Fusion Monster Cards, place them face-down on the Fusion Deck Zone of the Duel Fiend. A Fusion Deck is a card or a group of cards consisting only of Fusion Monsters formed by fusing 2 or more monsters during a Duel. Note: The cards of the Fusion Deck are NOT counted in the 40 cards minimum limit of the deck. Show your opponent that your Side Deck contains exactly 15 cards (the cards may be counted face-down). When your Side Deck cards are exchanged with those in your Deck, count the cards of your Side Deck with your opponent once again to verify that the Deck still contains the same number of cards.

For the first Duel in a Match, decide who tarts first with a coin toss. For subsequent Duels in the Match, the loser of the previous Duel decides who starts first. Each player draws 5 cards from the top of their respective Decks. Once both players have 5 cards in their hand, the Duel begins, following the Rules in Phases of Gameplay.

Remember the following codes of conduct when facing an opponent:

• Your opponent is entitled to know the contents of your Gaveyard and the number of cards in your hand. If asked, you are obligated to answer truthfully.

• Never touch an opponent's card without asking permission.

Before you learn how a Yu-Gi-Oh! turn proceeds, it is important to fully understand the Duel Field and game cards. Understanding how each type of card works will help you plan strategies.

The Duel Field

Every card you play or discard will be placed on the Duel Fiend.

A.  Field Card Zone: Field Magic cards are played here. Only 1 Field Magic Card can be in play at any given 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.

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.  Magic & Trap Card Zone: Magic and Trap cards can be played (face-up) or Set (face-down) to the 5 spaces of the Magic 7 Trap Card Zone following the rules in Main Phase 1.

F.  Deck Zone: Place your Deck face-down in this space. Your Side Deck is not placed on the Duel Field.

GAME CARDS

Three main card types are used in Yu-Gi-Oh!: Monster Cards, Magic Cards, and Trap Cards. Additionally, each type of card is divided into further sub-categories. For now, just read the card  descriptions. After familiarizing yourself with the Phases of Gameplay, you will understand the special role of each of the cards.

   A Word on Game Text

Play - Whenever you use or activate the effects of a card, change the Attack/Defense Position of a card, or place a card on the field, you are executing a "Play". When you play a card, its effect is immediate.

Set - The act of placing a card face-down on the field is referred to as "Set". A Set card's effect s 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 Magic and Trap Cards are placed vertically on the field.

The Field - Throughout these rules, and on the card text itself, the Monster Card Zone, Magic & 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.

Monster Cards

A.  Normal Monster Cards
A Monster Card is the basic card used to attack your opponent. Monster Cards categorized by Type and Attribute. There are 20 different Types and 6 different Attributes. Type and Attribute affect each monster's ability to Attack and Defend.

GAMEPLAY RULES for NORMAL MONSTER CARDS
Normal Monster Cards are used primarily to Attack or Defend, although they can also be used as Tributes to pay a cost, or as part of a Fusion.

B.  Fusion Monster Cards
"Fusion" means using 2 or more Monster Cards together with the Magic Cared "Polymerization" to creature a new monster, represented by a Fusion Monster Card. Each Fusion Monster Card also lists the monsters necessary to creature it, and is further identified as "Fusion" next to its Type. The color of a Fusion Monster Card is VIOLET.

GAMEPLAY RULES for FUSION MONSTER CARDS
During your turn, if you have the Magic Card "Polymerization" and the Fusion Material Monsters required to form a Fusion Monster, either on the field or in your hand, you can perform a Fusion as a Special Summon by activating "Polymerization". When Fusion is performed, select the appropriate Fusion Monster Card from your Fusion Deck and place it face-up on an open Monster Card Zone space in either Attack or Defense position. The 2 (or more) Fusion Material Monster Cards that have been fused, as well as the Polymerization Magic Card used to perform the Fusion, are destroyed. When a Fusion Monster is destroyed, it is sent to the Graveyard. If a Fusion Monster Card is returned to your hand, place it back in the Fusion Deck instead.

FUSION DECK
A Fusion Deck is a group of Fusion Monster Cards that result from a successful Fusion. When a Fusion is performed, Fusion Monsters are not randomly drawn, but selected from the Fusion Deck. The Fusion Deck should always be kept separate from the Deck, and placed face-down in the Fusion Deck Zone of the Duel Field. Remember that the cards of the Fusion Deck are NOT counted in the 40 card minimum limit of the deck.

D.  Effect Monster Cards

Monster Cards that possess magical effects are referred to as Effect Monster Cards. The broad range of Effects are divided into the types listed. For details regarding the effects, refer to the instructions printed on each individual card. Effect Monster Cards are color-coded ORANGE.

MAGIC CARDS

There are several types of Magic Cards. Magic Cards can only be played during a Main Phase. The only exception to this rule is a Quick-Play Magic Card. Magic Card types are identified by the card icons listed at the end of this section. magic cards are color-coded green.

A. Normal Magic Cards
Once their magic is activated these cards are destroyed.

B. Continuous Magic Cards
These cards remain on the field once they are played and their magic effect continues until they are destroyed or removed. There is often a cost involved to maintain the effect of this type of Magic Card.

C. Equip Cards
These cards allow you to modify the strength of monsters. When playing this card to the field, place it so that it overlaps with the Monster Card that you wish to equip. Usually, this card can only be used with monsters that are face-up on the field. However, you may equip either your own OR your opponent's Monster Cards with Equip Magic Cards. In some cases, certain monsters cannot be equipped with these cards (refer to the individual card's text).

D. Field Magic Cards
These cards are used to alter the conditions on the field and modify the Attack and Defense capabilities of monsters. They are placed in the Field Card Zone and NOT included in the Magic & Trap Zone's 5-card limit. They may be placed face-down in the Field Card Zone, but will not be activated until flipped face-up. There can only be 1 active Field Magic Card on the field at any given time between both players. When a new Field Magic Card is activated, the previous active card is sent to the Graveyard. Also, if a Field Magic card is destroyed and there are no active Field Magic Card on the field, the field returns to the original state that it was at the beginning of the game. If a player's Field Magic card is Set when an active Field Magic Card is destroyed, the Set card does not automatically activate. Field Magic Cards can only be activated by the owner, but never during an opponent's turn.

E. Quick-Play Magic Cards
Aside from the Main Phase, this type of card can be activated during the Battle Phase. Also, if you have this card Set on the field, you can activate it during your opponent's turn.

TRAP CARDS

You can Set these cards on the field and activate them at any time after the start of your opponent's  next turn. Trap Card types are identified by the card icons. Trap Cards are color-coded PURPLE.

A. Normal Trap Cards
A Normal Trap card has no icon. Once activated, this type of card is destroyed.

B. Counter Trap Cards
These Trap Cards are activated in response to the Summon of monsters or to neutralize the effect of a Magic or Trap Cards. Once activated, this type of card is destroyed.

C. Continuous Trap Cards
These cards remain on the field once they are activated and their effect continues until they are destroyed or removed. There is often a cost involved to maintain the effect of this type of Trap Card.

CHAINS

A. What Is A Chain?
A Chain is a rule used to easily determine the outcome of a complex battle resulting from a series Magic or Trap cards played by both players. Using this method to deal with subsequent plays, the links are stacked from bottom to top until both players have finished playing cards. The effects are then resolved, starting at the top link and working down to the Chain Link 1 at the bottom.

B. Opponent's Chance To Respond
The player whose Trap or Magic card has been countered always has a chance to respond with another play - an opportunity that could result in adding yet another link to the Chain. When making a play on a Chain, you must always ask your opponent, "Do you wish to continue?" The outcome is determined starting with the most recent card played at the top of the Chain links, and proceeding down to Chain Link 1.

C. Spell Speed
Magic, Trap and Effect Monster Cards all have different speeds. You can only respond to a card and start a Chain by playing a card of equal or greater speed. The exception to this rule are Spell Speed 1 cards, which CANNOT be used against each other.

    I. Spell Speed 1
        This is the slowest of all the Spell Speeds.
       - Normal Magic, Equip Magic, Field Magic, Ritual Magic, Effect Monster.

    II. Spell Speed 2
       These cards can be used against a card with a spell Speed of 1 or 2.
       - Quick-Play Magic, Normal Trap, Continuous Trap, Effect Monster.

    III. Spell Speed 3
         This card can be used against any Spell Speed.
         - Counter Trap.

Phases of Gameplay

TERMINOLOGY
Turn - Gameplay progresses in a series of alternating turns. Each player's turn consists of 6 phases in which a number of actions can be undertaken.
Phase - Phases define the order in which actions can be undertaken by a player during their turn. Each phase is limited to a specific set of actions.
Step - A sub-category of a phase. This is only used in the Battle Phase.

A. Draw Phase
During this phase, you are required to draw 1 card from the top of your Deck. A player who is out of cards and unable to draw during this phase is declared the loser.

B. Standby Phase
If there are any cards in play on the field that specifically state that certain actions must be taken during this phase, there must be dealt with prior to entering the Main Phase. Refer to the cards for specific details regarding the actions to be taken. if there are no such cards in play, proceed to Main Phase 1.

C. Main Phase 1
During this phase, you may Set or play Monster, Magic, and/or Trap Cards. You may also change the Attack or Defense position of cards already placed on your field. The position of each card can be changed only once in a single turn, during either Main Phase 1 or 2. At the end of Main Phase 1, you can choose to enter the Battle Phase or proceed to the End Phase; ending your turn.

D. Battle Phase
Once attack preparations have been made in Main Phase 1, you enter the Battle Phase. If you do not wish to conduct a Battle Phase, your turn proceeds to the End Phase. The starting player cannot conduct a Battle Phase in their first turn, even if they have placed a Monster Card on the field.
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IV. End Step
Once all battles have been resolved, the player enters the End Step and announces the end of their Battle Phase.

E. Main Phase 2
When the Battle Phase is over, the turn proceeds to Main Phase 2. As in Main Phase 1, you may Set or play Monster, Magic and/or Trap Cards. Remember that you are allowed to change the Attack or Defense position of each monster or perform a Normal Summon or aSet only ONCE PER TURN.

F. End Phase
Announce the end of your turn. if your hand contains more than 6 cards, discard to the Graveyard until only 6 cards remain in your hand. The opposing player then beings his/her turn with the Draw Phase.