So...after a rough start, i've been told to do a article on here..here goes nothing

[CrazeeAdam]

Ok, so as some of you may know, i posted single topic and pretty much got flamed for my idea of a single card difference in the deck that i thought was better than another. But i've been told by a user on here that's also on another forum that i frequent to do an article about tournament play, how to better compete and prepare for it. So that's what I'll be discussing in this article. I'll probably update it over time and such if i don't get finished with it tonight, but first a little about me.

 

I've been playing the game since, about Metal Raiders or Pharoh's Servant, so about 6-7 years or so. I started going to regionals about two and half to three years ago. I haven't been to many larger events at all, or what I would consider larger events (nationals and YCS'). But for my second large event i did manage to top it, and as it was, it was the largest event in Yugioh history at the time. It was also in a very, what many would call "sackish" format, but to me, it was more of a format to where, it took even more skill to be able to not get OTKed/FTKed than anything and making every right move in a format like that is all you can do. My favorite deck in the past few formats has been Quickdraw/Plants, but i also have a pleatharo of tops with different Anti-Meta decks as well. But enough about me, my credentials do not write articles after all. So here it goes.

 

Phase I: Starting from scratch/entering your first local

 

So here's where it all begins. Many younger duelists are at this Phase, they don't really know how to play the game, but enter locals to get better. And that's a very key thing, if you do enter local after local, you will eventually learn certain patterns if you pay attention well enough and you will get new cards by going there alone. But if you don't have any cards to start with, my best advice would be to pick up a few structure decks (perferably Marik, Machina/Gadgets, or Dark Emperor or a combination of them), and build a fairly decent deck from those. Now don't get me wrong, a deck built from a structure deck along will probably not win you any regoinals, or locals for that matter if you're new at the game and that's all you have. But it's a good start until yo uare able to get your trades up by buying/tradeing/pulling holos from your booster pack. If you're just starting the game, that would still be the best option though is to by a structure deck and play with that until you amass your resources more.

 

Now, i know this may seem dumb to some people, but believe me, i think it would've helped me a lot more if i did it before i entered my first local (back when i was like 12 =/). Go to the local store you have in mind that you want to enter a tournament at and just watch players that seem more expierenced in tournament play than you. Playing online is one thing, and it does help, but playing in an actual tournament can be another story. So just watch what decks are playing or which ones seem to be the most popular so you'll know what to expect the week after or the next local you enter. If it gives you an edge, why not try it out?

 

Also, locals give you a good chance to guage how well your deck will do in a bigger enviornment. If your deck continuely does well, and wins/top 2s almost every week, than it's most likely ready for a regionals. Even a consistent top 4 in my opinion is a regional worthy deck. However, if you find kinks in your deck as you play in locals, it's important to iron them out and change what is nessecary before the next tournament you enter. I kid you not, if it weren't for locals, i would not have half of the regional tops i do now. Going and competeing on a regular basis with a variety of decks tests your own deck's power and sharpens your intuition, instincts, playstyle and deck building process. This may be where all duelists begin, but even duelists that have done well, still compete in locals across America to test new deck ideas and to improve on skill level.

 

When you think your just as sharp as all the other knives, it's time to head to a regional.

 

Phase II: Stepping up the game/Going to Regionals/other big tournaments

 

Regionals, are the 2nd highest form of competition. Also, tournaments like cash tournaments, PS3/XBOX/Darklord tournaments are in this as well. To get ready for regionals you need to first prep. Make sure all your sleeves are unmarked (includeing dings, bent edges, etc.). Some judges aren't too hard on it, but it's better safe than sorry just in case you get a deck check during the regionals. Next, make sure you have all the supplies that are needed for a regional includeing: Pen/Paper (if wanted), Calculator (if wanted over pen/paper), Dice, Tokens (if needed), deck, extra sleeves and my favorite supply for each regoinal, caffine. If you're going to your first regional, don't underestimate it going late into the night or evening depending on how big it is and where your regionals are located at. Regionals can range in size from 50-400+ people depending on your region of the country. So just know that you'll be faceing a much much bigger crowd than you did in local tournaments.

 

Ok, so the first regional you'd go too (seeing as if you haven't been to one), you'll probably be a little nervous about the competition and how many people there are. But just know and remember that you only have to beat 7, 8, 9, 10 people out of the whole crowd in order to go X-1 or better, not the entire field. As long as you keep that in mind you shouldn't get too worried. Take it one round at a time, don't think ahead at possible future games, don't look next to you at your opponent or chit chat with friends, as it could be to your downfall if you don't pay attention in the middle of a match. Between games it's ok if you want to talk to your opponent or if you know someone next to you. But if you plan on winning during a game, keep your focus clear and on what's happening in the game. Also something of a note. You may pick up tendencies in your locals from local players, but it's much harder to pick up them from someone you've never met. For the most part, making the correct and best move in your mind should be played (and i say for the most part, because sometimes the best move might not be what seems like "the best move")

 

Regionals can be grueling at times, espesially if you take a loss very early in the rounds and you have to win out through the rest of them. But never give up, dig deep, and perservere through each opponent and you should be on your way to a top 8 before you know it. If you lose like first or second round, don't just drop because you lost there, there's still a possiblity that yes, you could go X-1 and win out the rest of the way. So don't get discouraged, espesially if it's your first regional, sometimes it takes a few tries before you get a rythem going and get used to big tournament play.

 

Once you've topped a regional, you should be able to go to nationals, a much harder tournament filled with many more expierenced duelists. Also YCS's are across the United States, Canada, and even in Europe now, so the next portion will apply to those as well.

 

Phase III: Becoming the Master/ YCS/Nationals

 

So I titled this "Becoming the Master", because if you are ready or think you are ready for this high of competition, it's time to take a step in the league with the "Big Boys". In the U.S., nationals has been proclaimed "the hardest tournament in the world", because of the sheer size of it, and the sheer amount of high profile decks and players there. Now unless you're feeling very confident with your deck and your playstyle with it and you've topped several regionals with the deck you're using I wouldn't even suggest going to these. Nationals and YCS tournaments are the biggest and best tournaments around though. They offer the most challenge level, more so than any other tournament. You'll be competeing with both local people you may know most likely as well as up to 1000+ people you wouldn't know and have never met before in your life. These are usually about 10-11 rounds in the United States with a cut to Top 64 the past 2 years because of the amount of people entered in it. However National size ranges from country to country, however i can only speak for American/North American Nationals as I haven't seen much other national coverage other than Canada's and Mexico's.

 

But yes, these tournaments can be even more grueling than regionals. They have many more rounds than them usually, and the players in it are usually much tougher than the one's you've played before. Expect to see lots of meta decks at these. That's why i say, make sure you're comfortable with your own deck %110 if you plan on topping one of these. You have to play test like no other and hope for good matchups most of the time. So be prepared, do all the things i said you should for a regionals, and you should be good. But for this, just playtest, playtest, playtest, if your deck wins about %80-90 of games you're playing with friends (if they're good and using meta decks), you have a shot, you have a shot that is at topping.

 

But i must conclude for now. I'll probably be back and edit this later. but enjoy what is there for now. :) thanks, feedback appreciated.

[Black W Mage]

minor errors here and there, seems straight forward. The audience that is being addressed doesn't seem entirely clear.

[Yeezus]

tl;dr

[CrazeeAdam]

i'll be honest, if you don't have money, not even one cent, you won't be able to play this game and become good at it. I know that's horrible to say, but it's the truth. If you don't have at least up to like 20-30 dollars to spend then yeah.. =/

[Yeezus]

>20-30

 

 

spending this will not make you good at the game

[Zkaiser]

i'll be honest, if you don't have money, not even one cent, you won't be able to play this game and become good at it. I know that's horrible to say, but it's the truth. If you don't have at least up to like 20-30 dollars to spend then yeah.. =/

lol. I spend nothing and am a damned good player. Money is not necessary to be good at this game. It is needed to net deck though, which is probably what you do.

[Legend Zero]

Where is the part about luck stacking?

[Manjoume Thunder]

I spend nothing and am a damned good player.

 

that's what you think

[Toffee.]

@Money topic: World Champ/Tag Force games are pro

[Buttercup]

YVD and WC games can't recreate the awesomeness of IRL yugioh.

[-Lightray Daedalus-]

YVD and WC games can't recreate the awesomeness of IRL yugioh.

 

But It can save your pockets to get Wormholes inside them...

 

And anyway...metagame is everything but fun....so

[Buttercup]

You can make a decent deck cheaply.

 

It's not about meta, it's about psychology and stuff.

[-Griffin]

I automatically find a problem when a topic title include multiple grammatical errors and the word 'article'.

 

Anyway, article mostly seems to state the obvious, rather than be helpful .-.

[DARKPLANT RISING]

lol. I spend nothing and am a damned good player.

You're making yourself look like a god damn idiot, mind you.

 

And OT: The part about how you can't win with structure deck builds is wrong. 3 Machina Mayhems can top locals with some minor arrangements, mind you.

 

And as Griffin said, most things here is so obvious none of us cares. It's even harder to read since the grammar is Ancient Egyptian.

[Guest PikaPerson01]

If you can't top a locals consistently, you might as well give up on dreams of regionals.

 

I find it pretty funny you suggest people not go to Nationals if they feel un-confident, when you need an invite to go to Nats anyway.

 

All of this is really, REALLY basic stuff, and that's not even including the typos and such.