Konami Digital Entertainment, B.V. (KDE-E)
Official KDE-E Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME Tournament Policy
Europe, Middle East, Africa and Oceania
In Effect as of November 23, 2020
This Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME Tournament Policy document exists to explain what is required of
all attendees - Duelists, judges, event staff, spectators, etc., at any KDE-E Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME(TCG) tournament.
Tournament Policy documents help to keep events consistent, so that attendees will always know what
to expect at any KDE-E Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG event.
Everyone who attends a KDE-E Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG tournament is expected to read, understand, and adhere
to all Tournament Policy and Penalty Guideline documents.
For a complete understanding of tournament policies, please read all documents:• Official KDE-E Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME Tournament Policy• Official KDE-E Tournament Infractions and Penalties Policy• Any addendums which are posted on the yugioh-card.com website
Specific events, such as the Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series (YCS), Local Legend Duelist Series (LLDS),
Regional Qualifier tournaments, etc., may have a standardised Tournament Operations Documents (Ops
Doc) and/or Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). Any tournament-specific rules in these Ops Docs or
FAQs will supersede directions given in this policy document.
Tournament Policy documents will be updated on an as-needed-basis. There is not a set schedule for
updates, and the most current version of any KDE-E Tournament Policy document can be found on theofficial Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG website for that specific region (links below).
Territory
Link
Europe, Middle East, South https://www.yugioh-card.com/uk/gameplay/ (English)
Africa (Henceforth, “Europe”)
https://www.yugioh-card.com/de/gameplay/ (Deutsche)https://www.yugioh-card.com/fr/gameplay/ (Français)https://www.yugioh-card.com/it/gameplay/ (Italiano)
https://www.yugioh-card.com/es/gameplay/ (Español)
Oceania

https://www.yugioh-card.com/oc/gameplay/ (English)

For questions please see the “Contact Information” section of this document for a list of contacts.

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Table of Contents
I.

Preparing to Play ................................................................................................................................... 6A.

Duelists ......................................................................................................................................... 6

B.

Ineligible Duelists ......................................................................................................................... 6C.

Head Judge ................................................................................................................................... 7

D.

Floor Judge.................................................................................................................................... 9E.

Tournament Organiser ............................................................................................................... 12F.

Event Manager ........................................................................................................................... 14

G.

Scorekeeper ................................................................................................................................ 14H.

Spectators ................................................................................................................................... 14

I.

Media .......................................................................................................................................... 15II.

Duelist Responsibilities ....................................................................................................................... 17
A.

Konami Card Game Network (KCGN) CARD GAME ID Number ................................................ 17

B.

Identification .............................................................................................................................. 17

C.

Invites and other Credentials ..................................................................................................... 18

D.

Tournament Materials ............................................................................................................... 18

E.

NEURON ...................................................................................................................................... 19F.

Understand Rulings .................................................................................................................... 19

G.

Understand Policy ...................................................................................................................... 19

H.

Unacceptable Behaviour ............................................................................................................ 20

I.

Communication .......................................................................................................................... 21

J.

Hygiene ....................................................................................................................................... 22

K.

Proper Attire ............................................................................................................................... 22

III.

Tournament Information ................................................................................................................ 23

A.

Tournament Tiers ....................................................................................................................... 23

B.

Formats ....................................................................................................................................... 23

C.

Time Limits.................................................................................................................................. 24

D.

Number of Duels ........................................................................................................................ 24

E.

Sanctioning ................................................................................................................................. 24

F.

Tournament Match Structure .................................................................................................... 25

G.

Number of Rounds ..................................................................................................................... 25

H.

Publishing Tournament Information ......................................................................................... 27

I.

Reporting Tournament Results .................................................................................................. 27

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IV.

Tournament Play ............................................................................................................................. 27

A.

Sportsmanship ............................................................................................................................ 27

B.

Tournament Registration ........................................................................................................... 27

C.

Special Assistance....................................................................................................................... 28

D.

Deck Registration ....................................................................................................................... 28

E.

Shuffling ...................................................................................................................................... 29

F.

Determining Who Goes First ...................................................................................................... 30

G.

Sleeves ........................................................................................................................................ 31

H.

Tournament Materials ............................................................................................................... 32

I.

Field Layout ................................................................................................................................ 33

J.

Note-Taking ................................................................................................................................ 34

K.

Game State ................................................................................................................................. 35

L.

Public Knowledge ....................................................................................................................... 35

M.

Private Knowledge ..................................................................................................................... 35

N.

Card/Hand/Deck Verification .................................................................................................... 36

O.

Loops ........................................................................................................................................... 37P.

Appeals ....................................................................................................................................... 39

Q.

Conceding a Game or Match ...................................................................................................... 39

R.

Bribery and/or Collusion ............................................................................................................ 40

S.

Random Outcome ...................................................................................................................... 40

T.

Altering the Result of a Game or Match .................................................................................... 41

U.

Intentional Draws ....................................................................................................................... 41V.

Reporting the Match Results .............................................................................................................. 42A.

Reporting the Match Result ....................................................................................................... 42

B.

End of Match Procedures ........................................................................................................... 42C.

Tie-Breakers ................................................................................................................................ 43

VI.

Tournament Infractions .................................................................................................................. 44

A.

Procedural Errors ........................................................................................................................ 44

B.

Tardiness ..................................................................................................................................... 45

C.

Deck Errors.................................................................................................................................. 45

D.

Drawing Extra Cards ................................................................................................................... 45

E.

Marked Cards ............................................................................................................................. 45

F.

Slow Play..................................................................................................................................... 45

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G.

Unsporting Conduct ................................................................................................................... 45

H.

Cheating ...................................................................................................................................... 45

I.

Illegal Game/Match Outcomes .................................................................................................. 46

J.

Wagering..................................................................................................................................... 46

K.

Buying and Selling Cards and Other Items ................................................................................ 46

L.

Predatory Trading....................................................................................................................... 46

M.

Prohibited Items ......................................................................................................................... 46

N.

Privileged Information ............................................................................................................... 46

O.

Impersonation of Konami Employees or Representatives ....................................................... 47

P.

Suspension from KDE Organised Play ........................................................................................ 47

VII.

Constructed Deck Information........................................................................................................ 49A.

General ....................................................................................................................................... 49

B.

Main Deck ................................................................................................................................... 49

C.

Side Deck .................................................................................................................................... 49

D.

Extra Deck ................................................................................................................................... 50

E.

Advanced Format ....................................................................................................................... 50

F.

Traditional Format...................................................................................................................... 51

G.

Special Formats .......................................................................................................................... 51

VIII.

Sealed Deck Information ................................................................................................................. 51A.

General ....................................................................................................................................... 51

B.

Sealed Pack ................................................................................................................................. 52

C.

Sealed Pack Swap ....................................................................................................................... 52

D.

Booster Draft .............................................................................................................................. 52

E.

Side Deck and Extra Deck for Sealed Deck Events .................................................................... 52

IX.

Card Legality.................................................................................................................................... 53

A.

Forbidden & Limited List ............................................................................................................ 53

B.

Sets.............................................................................................................................................. 53

C.

Promotional Cards (excluding SHONEN JUMP and Yu-Gi-Oh! Graphic Novel) ........................ 54

D.

SHONEN JUMP and Yu-Gi-Oh! Graphic Novel Promotional Cards ........................................... 54

E.

Preview Cards ............................................................................................................................. 54

F.

Reprints....................................................................................................................................... 54

G.

Cards with Updated Text or Errata ............................................................................................ 54

H.

Foreign Language Cards ............................................................................................................. 55

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I.

OCG Cards ................................................................................................................................... 55

J.

Altered Cards .............................................................................................................................. 56

K.

Marked Cards ............................................................................................................................. 56

L.

Misprint Cards ............................................................................................................................ 58

M.

Card With Translation Errors ..................................................................................................... 58

N.

Counterfeit Cards ....................................................................................................................... 58

O.

Proxy Cards ................................................................................................................................. 59

X.

Contact Information............................................................................................................................ 60
A.

Contact Information ................................................................................................................... 60

B.

Resources .................................................................................................................................... 60

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I.
A.

Preparing to Play

Duelists

To participate in a Sanctioned or Official KDE-E tournament you will need a Konami Card Game Network(“KCGN”) CARD GAME ID number, or more commonly referenced as a CARD GAME ID. If you do not haveone, you can register a KCGN account online, or you can obtain a CARD GAME ID at a Sanctioned event or
at a local Official Tournament Store (OTS).
You should keep a record of your 10-digit CARD GAME ID in case you lose the card or forget the number.
•••

Please note that Duelists at Sanctioned and Official KDE-E tournaments will be referred to by their
CARD GAME ID and their first name(s) and last name(s) as the names appear on their identification
Physical CARD GAME ID cards can only be given out at sanctioned events or at a local OTS. Duelists
may print out a copy of their own CARD GAME ID card by logging into their KCGN account. Physicalcopies of a CARD GAME ID card cannot be replaced
Duelists do not need to have their card available in order to participate in a Sanctioned event,they simply need to know their CARD GAME ID

For more information on KCGN or your CARD GAME ID, please start here:•

https://cardgame-network.konami.net/

You must be in good standing and not on the Suspended Persons List (either listed online or in KCGN) in
order to participate in KDE-E Sanctioned and/or Official events.
To remain in good standing, you must adhere to all Duelist responsibilities outlined in this and otherofficial documents.
You must meet any age, nationality, and/or invitation for tournaments restricted by age, region, or
invitations.
Dragon Duel
Examples National ChampionshipWorld Championship Qualifiers

B.

Ineligible Duelists

Any tournament official associated with or working an event cannot play in that specific event.
This includes, but is not limited to the Judge Staff, Scorekeeper, Registration Staff, Vendor, Media, OTS
Owner, Event Manager, and Tournament Organiser.
Persons who have been suspended from KDE Organised Play may not play, judge, or act as event staff in
any Sanctioned event or any Official tournaments such as Premiere! events. In addition, suspended
persons are prohibited from entering tournament venues during a Sanctioned or Official tournament.

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•
•
•
•

You must have a CARD GAME ID and be in good standing in order to compete in a Sanctioned or
Official event
Suspended persons are not considered to be in good standing, and may not register, judge, vend,
or compete in Sanctioned or Official events
Suspended persons may not be on the premises of any Sanctioned or Official events
Suspended persons are not automatically reinstated, they must request to be reinstated by emailing eu-penaltysupport@konami.com on or after the date they are listed as being eligible to
do so. Even if their eligibility date has passed, they are still considered to be suspended until sucha time as they have requested reinstatement and received an e-mail from the KDE Penalty
Committee informing them that they are reinstated to Organised Play

Persons who are banned by the rules of the Tournament Organiser, venue, or by local law cannot
participate in Sanctioned or Official events held by that Tournament Organiser.
Employees of Konami Corporation and its subsidiaries and their immediate family members (children,
parents, and spouses) cannot play in Sanctioned Tier 2 or higher events.
•

There may be exceptions made to this rule, in the case of Bounty tournaments or other special
events, which will be announced beforehand

Employees of partner companies or any vendor that may have access to card information before official
on sale dates cannot participate in Sanctioned Tier 2 or higher events. These include but are not limited
to KCM-NY.
Employees of partner companies responsible for Organised Play (Devir, etc.) cannot play in Sanctioned
Tier 2 or higher events taking place in the market for which they are responsible. They may, however,participate in any event taking place outside of their market, unless they also have access to card
information before official on sale dates.

C.

Head Judge

The Head Judge oversees the tournament and the rest of the judge staff.
If there is only one judge on staff for a tournament, that judge assumes the role of the Head Judge.
At Tier 2 or higher sanction tournaments, there will usually be one or more Assistant Head Judges on staff.
At Tier 2 or higher sanction tournaments, there may be a dedicated Head Judge for Public Events. This
Judge is referred to as the Public Events Head Judge.
Assistant Head Judges, as well as Public Event Head Judges at events can answer appeals and handle other
responsibilities of the Head Judge, henceforth Head Judge or Assistant Head Judges will be referred to as“Head Judge”.
The Head Judge makes the final call for game play rulings and/or policy appeals. No other individual,
including the Tournament Organiser or a Konami employee, can overturn a game play ruling or atournament policy decision made by the Head Judge.

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The Head Judge should take this responsibility seriously and should familiarise themselves with andproperly enforce current and correct rulings and tournament policy.
The Head Judge should not create new tournament policies.
The Head Judge needs to be physically present and available during the tournament, to deal with event
issues and answer appeals promptly. The Head Judge should be adequately prepared to ensure proper
guidelines are followed.
The Head Judge should clearly identify themselves to the players at the start of the tournament. The Head
Judge is responsible for making announcements to tournament attendees to inform them of tournament
procedures, round start and end times, and any other information they may require.
The Head Judge is responsible for communicating accurate information throughout the tournament toDuelists and event staff.
Time permitting, the Head Judge should act as a mentor for the event’s judge staff and should carefully
consider individual judges’ strengths and weaknesses when building the staff list and assembling teams.
It is beneficial for judges to receive feedback and evaluation from the Head Judge, discussing the judge’s
strengths as well as anything the judge needs to improve upon.
Only the Head Judge may disqualify people from a Sanctioned event.
•

The Tournament Organiser, Event Manager, or any other member of staff may not disqualify
people from Sanctioned or Official KDE-E events.

At Tier 3 events, there will usually be one or more Assistant Head Judges on staff.
Assistant Head Judges at Tier 3 events can answer appeals and handle other responsibilities of the Head
Judge.
Assistant Head Judges cannot overrule any decision made by the Head Judge.
•

Only the KDE-E Penalty Committee may suspend players from Sanctioned and/or Official events

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D.

Floor Judge

Floor judges are present on the tournament floor, answering rulings and policy questions, doing Deckchecks, and handling pairing sheets and match result slips.
Judges are expected to be courteous, professional, and on-task while staffing an event. While judging,
judges should not engage in trading, long personal conversations, phone calls or other activities thatwould distract them from the tournament.
Judges may not wear official KDE-E Judge Program judge shirts when they are not judging an event.
Judges should respect the authority of their Head Judge and team lead(s) and address other members of
the tournament staff with respect. Judges should interact with Duelists in a polite manner that does notcompromise the judge’s authority.
Judges should avoid socialising with Duelists or other judges during a tournament.
Judges should adhere to the specific responsibilities assigned to them both on the floor and as membersof a specialised unit such as a Deck check or pairings team. In addition, they should be prepared to assist
other judges in tasks as they are assigned.
•
•
•
•
•

•

Judges should constantly observe the tournament, and maintain the tournament area by
removing trash, pushing in chairs and straightening tables
Judges should actively walk the tournament floor and observe the matches, rather than waiting
for a Duelist to call for a judge
Judges are required to step in if they observe any violation of the rules or game play – judges do
not need to wait for Duelists to call for assistance
Judges should be careful not to “coach” a Duelist or reveal information on Private Knowledge
when responding to questions
Judges should answer questions about:o Game mechanics
o The legality of the activation of an effecto Card text
Questions such as the above should have a bearing on the current Game State.
Judges do not need to wait for the Duelist to attempt an action in order to answer any of theabove questions and should not instruct Duelists to attempt an action before answering theirquestion.
Judges should not answer questions that would:
o Provide Duelists with specific strategy adviceo Instruct a Duelist how best to play their cards
o Reveal Private Knowledgeo Involve a discussion of cards that are not a part of the current Game State

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Duelist A has a face-up Beatrice, Lady of the Eternal on the fieldthat has its effects currently negated by Infinite Impermanence.
Duelist B has three or more Spell Cards in their Graveyard.
During Duelist B’s Main Phase, Duelist B activates Sky Striker
Mecha - Widow Anchor, targeting the Beatrice, Lady of theEternal.
Duelist A informs Duelist B that he will not be able to take controlof his Beatrice, Lady of the Eternal, as it has already been
negated and cannot be negated again. Player B calls for a judge.
The judge should inform the Duelists that because Beatrice, Ladyof the Eternal was already negated by another card, it cannot betargeted by Sky Striker Mecha - Widow Anchor and it is an illegal
activation. The judge should then fix the Game State asnecessary.

Examples of Questions
that should be answered

Duelist A has a face-up Beatrice, Lady of the Eternal on the fieldthat has its effects currently negated by Infinite Impermanence.
Duelist B has three or more Spell Cards in their Graveyard. During
Duelist B’s Main Phase, Duelist B calls for a judge. Duelist B asks
the judge if they would be able to take control of Beatrice, Ladyof the Eternal with Sky Striker Mecha - Widow Anchor.
Without revealing the Sky Striker Mecha - Widow Anchor to
Duelist A, the judge should inform Duelist B that the activation ofthat card would be illegal. This is protecting the Game State andis not coaching.
Duelist A Normal Summons Trickstar Candina and activates its
effect with four (4) other cards in his hand. Duelist B has Infinite
Impermanence and Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring in his hand,and no cards on his side of the field.
Duelist B calls a judge and asks, “Which one of these cards can I
use?”, showing the judge his hand.
The judge should inform Duelist B (without revealing the contentsof his hand) that either of the two cards are legal to activate at
this time. The judge should not provide additional information
until after the player makes the decision to activate a card and it
is time to resolve the chain.

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Duelist A has Gozen Match and Thunder Dragon Titan on thefield, and more than two (2) cards in his Graveyard, and Duelist B
has Sky Striker Ace - Kagari on the field, Sky Striker Maneuver Afterburners! in his hand, and three (3) or more Spell Cards in his
Graveyard.

Example of Questions
that should be answered

In Duelist B’s Main Phase he calls for a judge. Duelist B shows his
hand to the judge and asks, “If I use this on his monster, but it
does not get destroyed, can I still destroy 1 Spell/Trap on thefield?”
Without revealing the card in question or giving a yes/no answer,
the Judge should quickly explain Problem-Solving Card Text
conjunctions to the Duelists, and how those conjunctions are used
to determine how the effects will resolve.

Duelist A has a face-up Beatrice, Lady of the Eternal on the field.
Duelist B has a set Infinite Impermanence, Sky Striker Mecha Widow Anchor in the hand, and three or more Spell Cards in their
Graveyard. On Duelist B’s turn, Duelist A activates the effect ofBeatrice, Lady of the Eternal.
Duelist B calls for a judge and shows him the cards in question.
She asks if she would be able to use Sky Striker Mecha - Widow
Anchor on Beatrice, Lady of the Eternal after Infinite
Impermanence resolves.

Example of Questions
that should not beanswered

Without informing Duelist A of the cards in question, the judge
should inform Duelist B that the question cannot be answered
because it could influence her decisions and therefore consideredcoaching.
Duelist A Normal Summons Trickstar Candina and activates its
effect with four (4) other cards in his hand. Duelist B has Infinite
Impermanence and Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring in his hand,and no cards on his side of the field.
Duelist B calls a judge and asks “Which one of these would stop
his Trickstar Candina if he has Trickstar Lycoris?”, showing thejudge his hand.
The judge should inform Duelist B that he cannot answer thatquestion, as it would be coaching.

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Duelist A has Gozen Match and Ultimate Conductor Tyranno in
her hand.
Duelist B has Sky Striker Ace - Kagari on the field, and two (2)copies of Sky Striker Mobilize - Engage! in his hand.
Example of Questions
that should not beanswered

Duelist B activates Sky Striker Mobilize - Engage! and while
trying to decide what to search, calls for a judge. Duelist B asks
the judge “What will happen if she has Gozen Match and I
use Sky Striker Mecha - Widow Anchor?”
The judge should inform Duelist B that she cannot answer
questions that might influence his strategic decisions.

When a Duelist calls for a judge, the judge should:• Approach the table• Listen carefully to the question• Ask for additional information if necessary, seeking confirmation from all Duelists involved• Make a decision• Issue the ruling• Duelists have the right to appeal a ruling or policy decision made by a floor judge. If either Duelist
wishes to appeal, the judge should notify the Head Judge immediately.
o If the initial decision was made by the Head Judge, or an Assistant Head Judge (Tier 3
events), their decision is final and cannot be appealed.
Judges should stay up to date with new rulings and new cards as they are released. Judges are also
responsible for knowing policy documents and should keep themselves informed and well-versed in new
documents as they are made available.
Judges should actively seek out additional training and assist fellow judges in doing the same.
Judges are encouraged to complete certification tests to assess their ability and knowledge.
Unless they are answering a judge call or examining a current game, judges should refrain from conversing
with Duelists engaged in a Match, to avoid distracting them or creating the impression of favouritism.
This especially applies to conversations held in a language the opponent doesn’t understand.

E.

Tournament Organiser

A Tournament Organiser (TO) is the person responsible for arranging and running the tournament. In
some cases, this may or may not be the Owner of the OTS.
Anyone seeking to organise a Sanctioned or Official event should procure a venue that can safely
accommodate the expected number of attendees. Venues should be safe, clean, and in compliance withall applicable building and fire regulations.

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TOs/OTS owners/Event Managers must abide by all relevant Ops Docs, tournament policy, card legality,
etc., when organising any Sanctioned and/or Official Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG tournament.
A TO is also responsible for providing staffing for the event and reporting the event results to KDE-E.
Sanctioned and Official events are run at OTS locations or at KDE-E pre-approved venues chosen byapproved Tournament Organisers.
Certain criteria must be met in order to run Sanctioned and/or Official events. Those interested in
becoming a TO for a specific event can request more information at:https://eu-support.konami.com/hc/en-gb (EU and OC).

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F.

Event Manager

The TO may choose to delegate an Event Manager to oversee the event.
The Event Manager acts on behalf of the TO when they are not present and assists with the overallmanagement of the event. If the TO is not present at the venue, the Event Manager is responsible forfulfilling all agreements made with controllers of the venue before leaving, as well as the resolution of any
attendee issues.

G.

Scorekeeper

The Scorekeeper is responsible for creating accurate pairings and additional tournament information
throughout the event.
The Scorekeeper is responsible for understanding the program being utilised to run the event, such as
Konami Tournament Software (KTS) and/or Konami Card Game Network (KCGN), and all procedures
relevant to scorekeeping an event.
•

All Tier 2 and higher events are run using the Konami Tournament Software (KTS)

Whenever enrolling Duelists into a tournament or registering judges and staff into an event using KTS,
Scorekeepers are required to use that individual’s full name. Nicknames or abbreviated names must not
be used.

H.

Spectators

Spectating at an event is a privilege, not a right, for tournament attendees. It is a spectator’s duty toremain neutral while observing game play, and to make sure their presence does not disrupt the event.
•At the discretion of the Head Judge, spectating of a tournament may be limited or restricted

Spectators must abide by the following rules:••••

Spectators should not speak to or communicate in any way with Duelists who are currently
engaged in a match
If a spectator notices any violation of game play rules or Tournament Policy, they must alert atournament official immediately
Spectators must be prepared to move if their presence blocks judge access, throughways, fireexits, or any other paths identified by tournament staff
Spectators will be asked to move if their presence is distracting to any of the Duelists. If a judge
or tournament official instructs a spectator to move, they must comply

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I.

Media

Select Tier 2 and higher events may include a Fan Content Area, where event attendees can create photoand video content (interviews, Deck profiles, etc.) for social media use. Usage rules apply for the FanContent Area.
•
•
•
•
•
•

Users must sign a form and agree to abide by the Fan Content Area requirements
Users must sign up for a session to use the area, a form will be available on site
Individual sessions may be limited as to time, to ensure fair use for everyone. Refer to the event
FAQ and on-site Fan Content Area staff for more information
Table space, backdrops, and a limited number of power outlets (depending on venue) areavailable in the Fan Content Area for content creators
Attendees may not create their own content in any other area of the event, they may only do soin the Fan Content Area
Please see event FAQs for more information on the Fan Content Area

Members of the media who wish to attend any Sanctioned or Official event to create written,
photographic, audio, or video content must follow these rules:
•
•
•
•
•

Media pass requests must be approved and fulfilled by Konami
Media should be prepared to provide evidence of their association with a news outlet or reputableentity in the gaming industry prior to the event
Events to be capped at three (3) media channels or outlets
Each approved channel will be provided a max of two (2) media passes (one for talent, one forcameraperson). Additional passes for media channels featuring more than one talent on-screen
will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis
Media passes may be revoked at any time by KDE-E for any reason

On-Site Conduct• Media is responsible to know and adhere to all applicable laws concerning privacy• Media must conform to all rules and policies related to the tournament and event• Media is responsible for familiarising themselves with rules and policies prior to covering theevent• Media must abide by all requests made by official Konami representatives• Media agrees to provide and assume liability for all of their own equipment and employees
Event Content• Content must be sent to Konami for formal review and approval prior to the footage going live
• Content may not be live streamed, since Konami retains the right to approve content before
posting, unless filmed in the designated Fan Content Area. If content is filmed in the Fan Content
Area, then the terms and conditions applicable to the Fan Content Area will apply to all approved
Media• Content may not disparage the brand, products, venue, attendees, or staff in any way. Language
and presentation should reflect an environment that includes children and families

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On-Site Recording• Media are required to obtain their own written releases from impacted attendees at the event• Media are required to obtain their own written releases from impacted attendees’ legal guardian
if the impacted participant is underage• Media may not interfere with any ongoing match or tournament proceeding• Media may not speak to or communicate in any way with a participant engaged in a match• Media may be asked to move if their presence is distracting or interfering in any way
Equipment• All equipment must be used in a manner that does not interfere with the tournament, impede
traffic flow, or create a safety hazard• Media must always keep their equipment on their person - equipment may not be left unattended
or in hallways/areas with heavy foot traffic
Any media member wishing to attend an event, should contact eu-opsupport@konami.com for more
information.

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II.
A.

Duelist Responsibilities

Konami Card Game Network (KCGN) CARD GAME ID Number

KCGN is the global player identification and ranking system used by KDE-E. You must register for a KCGNCARD GAME ID number in order to participate in a KDE-E Sanctioned or Official event. Once your CARDGAME ID number and/or card has been issued, it is your responsibility to ensure you do not lose or forgetit. You will be required to provide your CARD GAME ID number when registering for a tournament. YourCARD GAME ID number belongs to you and may not be used by anyone else for any purpose.
•
•
•

•
•
•
•

You may not register for more than one CARD GAME ID at a time
If you previously had a COSSY ID, that same number will carry over as your CARD GAME ID. You
will still need to register online at https://cardgame-network.konami.net/
If you do not remember your previous 10-digit ID number, it is possible that your OTS, Regional
TO or the registration staff at a Tier 3 event such as a YCS can help you find your correct CARDGAME ID. Duelists should avoid acquiring new CARD GAME IDs if the previous ID number can be
found
If you did not previously have a COSSY ID number, you can get a CARD GAME ID by registering
online at https://cardgame-network.konami.net/
Please note that Duelists at Sanctioned and Official KDE-E tournaments will be referred to by their
CARD GAME ID and their first name(s) and last name(s) as the names appear on their identification
Physical CARD GAME ID cards can only be given out at sanctioned events or at a local OTS. Duelists
may print out a copy of their own CARD GAME ID card by logging into their KCGN account. Physicalcopies of a CARD GAME ID card cannot be replaced
Duelists do not need to have their card available in order to participate in a Sanctioned event,they simply need to know their CARD GAME ID number

You are responsible for the maintenance of your own KCGN information. This includes keeping contact
information up to date, as well as regularly reviewing your tournament history for accuracy.
If you have questions about your CARD GAME ID that are not covered above, please contact euopsupport@konami.com

B.

Identification

You should be prepared to produce personal photo identification if asked to do so by a tournament
official. School ID cards, ID cards, driver’s licenses, passports and birth certificates (for players under theage of 13) are all valid forms of identification.
Duelists are required to use their full legal names as the names appear on their photo identification.
Duelists with name change issues should contact eu-opsupport@konami.com prior to the event or speak
to the TO at the event.
You may contact the TO ahead of time if you have questions about providing identification.
• Approved identification is required at all events with an age limit or an invite structure. This
includes, but is not limited to, Regional Qualifiers, Dragon Duels, Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series,
and World Championship Qualifiers
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In some rare instances, the TO may be able to allow a participant to enrol without a valid ID, assuming the
TO is able to establish identity for the participant. Any prizing won by the individual should not be
distributed until a valid ID has been provided and prizing will then be mailed.
If the event is offering a Pre-Registration perk, such as some Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series or WorldChampionship Qualifiers, exceptions should not be made for Pre-Registration. The TO or the KDE-E
Representative on site may be able to make exceptions but only after Pre-Registration has concluded andregular Registration has begun. This means that a player without a valid ID is not eligible to Pre-Registerat an event and earn any of the Pre-Registration perks.

C.

Invites and other Credentials

Some tournaments require an invite in order to participate (such as World Championship Qualifiers,
World Championships, and Local Legend Duelist Series Finals). It is your responsibility to ensure that allof your invite paperwork (if any) is properly filled out, and to verify that your invite information appears
in the appropriate Invite list.
You can check relevant event FAQs posted on the relevant events page for more information onwhether or not an invite is required to participate, and how to verify your invite information.
Tournaments held at some conventions may require a convention badge in order to participate. It is the
responsibility of the Duelist to ensure that they have a valid convention badge in order to participate in
events which require a badge.
•

D.

Duelists can check the relevant event FAQs posted on the relevant events page for more
information on whether or not a badge is required to participate
Tournament Materials

You must bring a tournament legal Deck (to Constructed events); as well as extra card sleeves, paper andpens/pencils to track scores and fill out Match Result slips, and any dice, coins, counters, Tokens, etc., thatyour Deck requires.
•

Calculators may not be used to track Life Points. You may use a calculator to assist with maths
involved in adding or subtracting Life Points, but you must keep a paper record of all Life Pointchanges to help resolve any disputes

In addition to tournament supplies, you must bring the appropriate entry fee (if any), your CARD GAME
ID number, and personal identification.
You are responsible to ensure that any dice, coins, counters or Tokens you bring to the event meet
tournament-legal standards.

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E.

NEURONNEURON is a smartphone app issued by Konami, containing a number of useful Duel functions. NEURON
has an offline mode, which includes (but is not limited to) a Life Point application, coin flip and dice rollapplication, and a Camera Search feature; and an online mode, which includes (but is not limited to) Card
Database access, Forbidden and Limited List access, and News and other announcements.
During a Match, Duelists must turn off NEURON’s sound effects and music.
During a Match in a Sanctioned or Official tournament, NEURON may be used in offline mode for thefollowing functions only:•••

Life Point calculation (Duelists must also keep a paper record of Life Points)
Dice rolls/coin flips
Camera Search for card translations

Online functions, including News, Card Database searches, or accessing the Forbidden and Limited list;
may not be utilised during a Match.

F.

Understand Rulings

While there will be judges at all Tier 2 and higher Sanctioned tournaments, you will have a better
tournament experience if you prepare yourself beforehand by knowing what your cards do and how thegame works.
•••

You should read and understand the most up-to-date version of the rulebook
You should read and understand the cards you have included in your Deck
You should understand Problem Solving Card Text

A current version of the rulebook can be found online:
Language
Link
English, Spanish, Portuguese,
https://www.yugioh-card.com/uk/gameplay/detail.php?id=789
French, Italian, German

G.

Understand Policy

You should read and understand all current Tournament Policy documents, including the Official KDE-E
Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME Tournament Policy, the Official KDE-E Tournament Infractions andPenalties Policy, any policy addendums, and any event FAQs.
All this information can be found online at http://www.yugioh-card.com/
Please check the Organised Play and/or Game Play sections of the website.

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H.

Unacceptable Behaviour

When participating in a Sanctioned and/or Official KDE-E tournament, you are expected to display goodsportsmanship when interacting with other tournament attendees including Duelists, judges, and staff.
You should read the Official KDE-E Tournament Infractions and Penalties Policy before attending an event,to better understand how you are expected to behave.
You can find the current version of the Official KDE-E Tournament Infractions and Penalties Policy
Guidelines here: https://img.yugiohcard.com/ygo_cms/ygo/all/uploads/Official_KDEE_Tournament_Infractions_Penalties_Policy_V2.pdf•

Rude language, disruptive or disrespectful behaviour, inappropriate clothing or supplies,
unwarranted accusations, and/or disregard for the safety of others or the condition of the venue
will not be tolerated• If you arrive at an event intoxicated or under the influence of any narcotics or controlled
substances or become so during the course of the event, you will be Disqualified and removed
from the venue and may be subject to additional penalties• Prescription medicine may only be brought to/used at the event by the person for whom it isprescribed• Persons may not bring any items into the tournament venue that are prohibited by law in theirarea (local, state, federal or government). In addition, unlawful items/transactions, weapons ofany kind, and substance drugs which may be illegal on a local, state, and/or federal level, are notallowed at Sanctioned/Official events. Persons who bring any such items to a tournament venue
will incur penalties, including Disqualification and removal from the event, and risk suspension
from KDE Organised Play• The use of electronic and/or vapor cigarettes are not permitted on the tournament floor at any
Sanctioned/Official events, or in areas designated for tournament attendees• The following electronic devices may be used during a Match, for the following uses only:• Calculators may be used to assist with Life Point calculation, and not as the sole means of tracking
Life Points• Smartphones may be used only for the offline functions of NEURON, listed above in section II. E.
You may not text, talk, access the internet, look at files on your phone, etc. during a Match• Smart watches or similar items which can send or receive messages must have messaging
functions disabled during a Match
Other electronic devices are prohibited for use during a Match. Duelists with a medical necessity for anelectronic device other than a calculator should speak with the Head Judge prior to the start of thetournament.
•••

You may not wear headphones during a Match
You may not eat or drink on tournament tables, including between rounds. You may keep water
etc. with you, but containers must have lids and cannot be kept on the table
If you attend an event in costume, you may not wear any masks, hoods, etc., that cover your faceduring the registration process or during any Duel. You are responsible for ensuring that yourcostume or accessories will not damage tournament property or injure other persons at the event.
Face paint or makeup that obscures or hides your face is also prohibited

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•
•

I.

Certain areas may require masks or face coverings to be worn, in the interest of public health.
In these circumstances, Duelists should wear appropriate masks or face coverings as required
Duelists with a medical or religious necessity for masks or other head/face coverings should
speak with the Head Judge prior to the start of the tournament
Communication

It is your responsibility to relay accurate information at all times.
You are required to answer completely and honestly all questions relevant to maintaining an accurate
Game State or matters of Public Knowledge.
You should clearly communicate your actions during game play and ask questions of your opponent or atournament official if you are unsure about something.
You are obligated to immediately notify your opponent (and a judge, if necessary) if your opponent fails
to follow any game rules, including effects they may be playing incorrectly.
You should never touch any of your opponent’s cards or other items without first asking permission.
•

Failure to follow any of these rules may result in penalties

You should request the assistance of a judge at the time an issue arises, rather than afterwards.
You may not retract moves once you have committed to them.
•Committing to a move includes, but is not limited to, verbally stating or announcing an action, or
removing your hand from a card once the physical action has been taken

If your verbal statement contradicts an action you take in the game, and the verbal statement is a legal
play or action, the verbal statement overrules the action you performed.
If you take an action in the game that turns out to be illegal, call for a judge. The judge can assess thesituation, allow any necessary retractions or corrections, and issue the appropriate penalty.
A Duelist sets a card in the Spell/Trap Card Zone and removes his handfrom the card. The Duelist may not choose to “take back” the move and readd the Set card to his hand.
ExamplesA Duelist has two (2) face-up Attack Position monsters on the field. During
her Battle Phase, she verbally declares an attack with Monster A, while
gesturing that Monster B attacks the opponent directly. If Monster A canlegally attack, the Duelist cannot make a different choice

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Examples

A Duelist declares they will perform a Link Summon of Knightmare
Phoenix. They send two (2) copies of Mystical Shine Ball they control to theGraveyard and Summons Knightmare Phoenix. Afterwards, both Duelists
realise Knightmare Phoenix requires two (2) monsters with different
names. A judge should be called, the move will be retracted, and the judge
will issue a Procedural Error penalty
A Duelist uses a card effect to search for a card in his Deck. He selects a
card and reveals the card to his opponent. He cannot change his mind andsearch for a different card instead (even if he never took his hand off thecard).

J.

HygieneYou are expected to be clean when you enter a tournament. Neglecting to wash or put on clean clothes
contributes to an unpleasant atmosphere at the event, as the tournament can be crowded, and the day
can be long.
Persons who neglect self-care to the point that they are negatively impacting the tournament may be
asked to correct the issue in order to continue in the event.

K.

Proper Attire

You are required to be dressed appropriately for an event which may include children and families. Shirts,
shoes, and pants (UK; known as trousers/jeans/shorts) or skirts must be worn. Clothing and otheraccessories may not contain offensive pictures or wording.
Your clothing should be clean.

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III.
A.

Tournament Information

Tournament Tiers

There are four tiers of Sanctioned and Official tournaments in KDE-E Organised Play:
Tier

Event Level
Casual toCompetitive

Description
This encompasses OTS level events, Premiere! events, Yu-Gi-Oh! Day,
Duelist Leagues, etc.
This encompasses VIP Qualifiers, LLDS Qualifiers, OTS
Competitive Championships, Regional Qualifiers, all Dragon Duel events, and YuGi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME Extravaganzas.
This encompasses Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series, Local Legend
Premier
Duelist Series Finals, National Championships, and WorldChampionship Qualifiers.
World
The World Championship is a special event, run using a Forbidden
Championship and Limited List and Tournament Policy that are unique to the event.

Tier 1
Tier 2Tier 3Tier 4

Most Tier 1 events are designed for more casual play, and should provide an instructive, enjoyable
atmosphere. These events should function as a learning experience for newer Duelists.
•

Rules and tournament policy are equally important at this level and should be enforced.

In addition to enforcing rules and policy, Judges and other tournament officials should take time toeducate Duelists about mistakes or infractions, so they learn correct game play.
•

Registered Konami Judges are not required for Tier 1 events

Tier 2, 3, and 4 events are more competitive events, and require the highest level of ruling and policy
enforcement.
•

B.

Registered Konami Judges are required for all Tier 2, 3, and 4 events
Formats

There are a variety of available formats for Sanctioned or Official Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG tournaments. Duelists
should make sure they know the format for the tournament they plan to attend, and ensure they areadequately prepared.

FormatConstructed

Description
Duelists must bring their own tournament-legal Deck in order to play in a
Constructed Tournament. Constructed Tournaments are run using either the
Advanced or the Traditional card lists, according to the list legality dates posted on
www.yugioh-card.com.

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Duelists in Sealed Deck format events will be provided with card product at theevent, and they will construct their Tournament Decks from that product only.
Sealed Deck

Open DuelingSpecial Formats

C.

Sealed Deck formats include Sealed Pack (Duelists are given a set number ofboosters and/or a sealed, pre-constructed Deck with which to select their cards) or
Booster Draft (Duelists open product in groups and select cards to include in their
Deck). The tournament description for Sealed Deck tournaments will explain theformat.
Open Dueling events are casual events that have no set pairings, Win/Loss records,
or round time limits imposed on Duelists. This format is primarily used for Premiere!
events and Duelist Leagues.
KDE-E will periodically create new and unique tournament formats that can be run
as Sanctioned or Official events. Speed Duels, 3 vs. 3, Tag Duels, etc., fall under thiscategory.

Time Limits

Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG rounds are 40 minutes in length at Tier 1 and Tier 2 events.
KDE-E may choose to adjust round lengths at certain Tier 3 or 4 events such as Yu-Gi-Oh! ChampionshipSeries, National Championships, etc. Any changes made to the tournament round will be announced
before the start of the event.
For Single-Elimination playoff rounds, the time limit may be increased at the discretion of the Head Judge,
but only if the increase is announced before the start of the Playoff Rounds.

D.

Number of Duels
•
•
•

E.

Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG matches are run in a best-of-three Duels format
o It is possible to play more than three Duels in a Match, if Duels end in a Draw before theend of the round
The first Duelist to win two Duels is declared the winner of the Match
If a Duelist loses two Duels, they are considered to have lost the Matcho If both Duelists have one Game Loss in a Match and both receive a simultaneous Game
Loss, the Match is considered a Double Loss
Sanctioning

Only OTS and approved TOs can host Sanctioned Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG tournaments.
All Sanctioned events should be created via KCGN and pre-approved by KDE-E at least one (1) business
day before the event is scheduled to take place.
•

Certain tournament Ops Docs may require tournaments to be Sanctioned sooner than one (1)business day. Please refer to each event’s Ops Docs for more information

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Tournament Organisers must keep all tournament records for six (6) months after a tournament’s
completion date, which includes keeping backup digital copies or printed copies of the tournamentdetails.
•

Certain Tier 2 or higher Ops Docs may require tournament records to be kept until a specific datehas passed. Please refer to each event’s Ops Docs for more information

A minimum of four (4) players must compete in order for an event to be Sanctioned.

F.

Tournament Match Structure

A tournament can be organised as a Single-Elimination event or as an event using Swiss Rounds.
Structure
Single-Elimination

Swiss Rounds

G.

Description
Half of the tournament is eliminated after each round – the losing Duelist is outof the tournament, while the winner goes on to the next round. This continues
until only one Duelist remains, who is then declared the winner.
Duelists are paired off based on each Duelist’s Win/Loss record. Duelists are
not eliminated when they lose a Match during Swiss tournaments – instead,they will continue to be paired against Duelists with similar records for all
remaining rounds of the event. A Duelist may choose to drop from a Swiss
tournament at any time by either filling out the proper information on a Match
Result slip, or by notifying the official Scorekeeper prior to the pairing of thefollowing round.

Number of Rounds

The number of rounds played in a KDE-E Sanctioned or Official tournament is based on the total numberof Duelists enrolled in the event.
••If specific Ops Docs have been provided for an event (such as a Regional Qualifier or OTS
Championship), any round information set forth within that Ops Doc must take precedence
A TO/OTS may not choose to deviate from the Ops Docs

TO/OTS may run events with no Top Cut, provided that information is advertised before the start of theevent.
The number of rounds and Top Cut (if any) must be advertised before the start of the event and cannot
be changed afterwards.
•

If a tournament Ops Doc specifies that a Top Cut must be performed, TO/OTS may not deviate
from that document

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Number ofParticipants*
4-8
9 - 1617 - 32
33 - 64
65 - 128
129 - 256257 - 512
513 - 1024
1025 - 2048
2049 or More

Number of Swiss Rounds(Required)
3 Rounds of Swiss
4 Rounds of Swiss
5 Rounds of Swiss
6 Rounds of Swiss
7 Rounds of Swiss
8 Rounds of Swiss
9 Rounds of Swiss
10 Rounds of Swiss
11 Rounds of Swiss
12 Rounds of Swiss

Minimum Playoff
Top Cut (Optional)
None
Top 4
Top 4
Top 8
Top 8
Top 16
Top 16
Top 32
Top 32
Top 64*The number of Swiss Rounds is based on how many total Duelists are enrolled in the tournament once
registration closes.
Any Duelists added to the event after registration closes (late entries) should not affect the number of
Swiss Rounds but it does affect the Top Cut and prizing.
•

Playoff Top Cut and prizing is based on the total number of enrolled Duelists, which includes alllate registrations.

ExampleAfter registration closes, 127 Duelists have registered for the tournament.
This means that the tournament will have 7 Rounds of Swiss, followed by atleast a Top 8 playoff cut. Two Duelists register late, beginning thetournament with a Round 1 Match Loss. Even though this brings theattendance total to 129, only 7 Rounds of Swiss are played, but the Top Cut
is changed from Top 8 to Top 16.

Tournament formats are standardised in order to provide you with a consistent experience, regardless of
where you are when playing in a Sanctioned or Official event.
The number of Swiss Rounds is designed, on a best-case scenario, to have one undefeated player after
the last round of Swiss has completed.
Reducing the number of rounds in a tournament can cause multiple ties in the standings due to a lack ofproperly diluted Tie-Breakers.
All Sanctioned and/or Official Swiss Round events are required to follow the above chart in regard to thenumber of Swiss Rounds played, unless specifically allowed via an event specific Ops Doc. OTS/TOs should
not deviate from this.

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H.

Publishing Tournament Information

KDE-E and/or the TO reserve the right to publish event information such as a Duelist’s Deck List,
photographs, interviews or video reproduction of any Sanctioned and/or Official Yu-Gi-Oh! tournament,
provided that the proper Registration Forms are used, and signature of Duelists or their guardian havebeen obtained. PDFs can be found here:• https://www.yugioh-card.com/en/events/forms/KDE_RegistrationSheet.pdf
We will process your data in compliance with our Privacy Policy, which you can access at:
here.

I.

Reporting Tournament Results

It is a TO’s responsibility to report Sanctioned and Official tournament results to Konami by uploading theresults to KCGN within five (5) business days of the tournament’s completion.
•

Certain tournament’s Ops Docs may require tournaments to be reported sooner than one (1)business day or via a separate/additional means than uploading to KCGN. Please refer to thatevent’s Ops Docs for more information

IV.
A.

Tournament PlaySportsmanship

You are expected to behave in a respectful, polite manner towards all tournament attendees, including
Duelists, judges, tournament officials, and spectators.
If you engage in unsporting conduct or behaviour that endangers or detracts from the event you may be
penalised, up to and including being Disqualified and/or removed from the venue.
You should read the Official KDE-E Tournament Infractions and Penalty Policy as well as all event FAQs fora better understanding of acceptable behaviour at tournaments.

B.

Tournament Registration

When you get to the event, you will need to register in order to participate. Check event FAQs or contact
the TO if you need more information on registration times as they may differ from event to event.
To register, you’ll need a Registration form, a valid form of ID, your CARD GAME ID if you have one already,and the entry fee for the tournament. You can get a Registration form at the event, or you can get one toprint at home before the tournament by clicking on this link:•

https://www.yugioh-card.com/en/events/forms/KDE_RegistrationSheet.pdf

Make sure your Registration form is filled out completely before you reach the registration station.

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C.

Special AssistanceIf you require any special assistance at the tournament, such as a designated seating area,accommodations for an aide or service animal, etc., please speak to the Registration staff member
handling your tournament enrolment during the registration process.
You may also contact the TO ahead of time to best ensure that your needs can be met.

D.

Deck Registration

Most Tier 1 events do not require a Deck List to be submitted. TOs may require Deck Lists to be submitted
for Tier 1 events, but only if the requirement is announced before the start of the event.
Tier 2 to 4 events all require Deck Lists.
A paper copy of the Deck Lists, either legibly written or printed from a computer, must be submitted inorder to compete.
At Tier 2 or higher events, Deck Lists must be submitted using either the “Save List” function in NEURON
or the official Deck List form (link found below).
To use NEURON:
Select and view your Deck, then scroll down to the “Save List” button. Clicking this button will create a
JPG of your Deck List, which you can email to yourself then print out before heading to the event.
••••

NEURON will not fill in all the tournament details, such as your full name, the date, and the nameof the event. You will need to write that information on the Deck List after it is printed
You cannot submit an electronic copy of your Deck List at the event
You will not have access to printers at the event, you should print your Deck List before heading
to the event.
The JPG is not an editable form

To use the official Deck List form on the website or the Card Database:• NEURON is linked to the Card Database, so you can create a PDF Deck List for any Deck created in
NEURON. Use your CARD GAME ID in the Card Database to access the Decks you have created in
NEURON• You can type your Deck List into the official Deck List editable PDF form, located on the Card
Database or on the website• You can print a copy of the official Deck List and fill it out by hand

Official KDE-E Deck List
Language
Link
EN
https://www.yugioh-card.com/en/events/forms/KDE_DeckList.pdf
SPhttps://www.yugioh-card.com/lat-am/events/forms/KDE_DeckList.pdf
PThttps://www.yugioh-card.com/lat-am/pt/events/forms/KDE_DeckList-PT.pdf

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If you run out of room on the front of the Deck List, continue writing on the back of the sheet. You should
indicate that your list continues on the back of the sheet, to alert the Deck Check judges.
You may use foreign-language copies of legal-for-play cards printed for the TCG market, as long as you
can show an official translation of the card when asked to do so by an opponent or tournament official.
Translations do not have to be a local language version of the card. An official translation written down orprinted is acceptable. If you want to use a local language version of the card as your translation, you must
keep that card outside of your Deck box. For English language cards, you are not required to have anofficial translation.

ExamplesA Duelist using a Spanish Language card in the United Kingdom should havean official translation prepared for their card in English.
A Duelist using an English Language card in Germany does not require an
official translation.

You may only use shorthand terms when writing out your Deck list if:••

You use the same shorthand method for abbreviating all relative cards
You do not use shorthand that could be interpreted as more than one card

ExamplesAcceptable: BW in place of Blackwing, if all Blackwing cards are abbreviatedin this way.
Acceptable: LS in place of Lightsworn, if all Lightsworn cards are abbreviatedin this way.
Not Acceptable: “Bottomless.” This could indicate several different cards
and cannot be used as an abbreviation.

If you do not follow Deck Registration rules, you will receive Deck Error penalties such as a Game Loss orMatch Loss. For more information on Deck Error infractions and penalties, please see the Official KDE-E
Tournament Infractions and Penalty Policy.
It is ultimately your responsibility to accurately, clearly, and completely communicate the contents of yourDeck.
Once a Deck list has been submitted, it may not be altered or changed.

E.

ShufflingYour Deck must be randomised using an accepted shuffling method (riffle, pile, Hindu, etc.) and then cut.
This must be done at the start of every Duel, and whenever a game mechanic requires you to shuffle yourDeck.

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You must thoroughly randomise (shuffle) your Deck where your opponent can see.
••

You cannot check or arrange any cards while shuffling
You cannot pre-sort your Deck (sorting Monsters/Spell/Trap, etc.) without thoroughly shuffling the
Deck afterwards

After a Deck is thoroughly randomised, it must be presented to the opponent. The opponent must
randomise (shuffle) the Deck further and then return it to the original owner.
The owner may then “cut” their own Deck. If they do, they must present it to the opponent who must “cut”
the Deck again and then present it back to the original owner. No additional randomisation may be done to
the Deck after this point.
•

By presenting your Deck to your opponent, you agree that you have sufficiently randomised yourDeck and that your Deck is legal and matches your Deck List

After both Decks have been shuffled and presented to the opponent, both Duelists should ensure that all
Deck elements are placed in their respective zones.
Both Duelists should count out their Side Decks in view of their opponent, to confirm how many cards are
there.
You are not required to keep your Side Deck on the table, it can be returned to the Card Case forsafekeeping.
If the Side Deck is kept in the Card Case, the Card Case must be kept on the table in view of both Duelists.

F.

Determining Who Goes First

After both Decks have been randomised, both Duelists should use a random method to decide whochooses to go first.
•

You may roll a die, play Rock-Paper-Scissors, etc.

However, the method must be agreed upon and clearly understood by both Duelists beforehand.
If a “high roll” will determine the deciding Duelist, all Duelists should clearlyagree that the Duelist who rolls the highest number on the selected die or
Examplesdice gets to choose whether or not to go first. If a die or coin is used, both
Duelists should use the same die or coin.
When a deciding Duelist has been selected, they will choose who goes first in Duel 1 of the Match. Thisdecision must be made before ANY cards have been drawn, or any Duel play has begun.
If the deciding Duelist draws cards before stating who will go first, they must automatically go first.
Drawing cards before deciding who will go first may result in a Warning penalty.

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During Duel 2 or Duel 3 of the Match, the losing Duelist of the previous Duel will decide who may go first.
If the outcome of a Duel was determined by a Game Loss penalty, the Duelist assigned the penalty (thelosing Duelist) may still determine who will go first for the next Duel.
In the case of a Duel ending in a Draw, another random method should be employed to choose thedeciding Duelist.

G.

Sleeves

You may choose to use plastic card sleeves to protect your cards during the course of a tournament.
Sleeves are required at Tier 2 and higher events.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

All sleeves in the Main and Side Decks must be identical in terms of colour, wear, and design
You may choose to put your Extra Deck in sleeves that are different from your Main and Side
Decks. All other sleeve rules still apply to the Extra DeckAll cards must be placed into sleeves in the same direction and manner
You may have only one card in each sleeve. You may not have anything but that card in the sleeve
Sleeves with mirror-like highly reflective backs are not allowed
Sleeves with holographic fronts are not allowed
Sleeves with designs or artwork on the front that obscure card text or illustrations are not allowed
Sleeves with artwork on the backs, provided that all sleeves are identical and of non-offensive
nature, are allowed. The Head Judge will decide whether or not artwork on the back of sleeves isoffensive

You may choose to use a second sleeve (double sleeving) on each of your cards, providing you abide by
the following additional rules:••••

One of the additional sleeves must be clear. The clear sleeve may have a brand, watermark, or
artwork so long as it does not interfere with the readability of the card
The additional clear sleeve may not have a holographic pattern on the front of the sleeve
The additional clear sleeve must be placed onto the card opposite to the regular sleeve, so thecard is “sealed” inside of the two sleeves
You may only have one card in each pair of sleeves

Sleeves with excessive wear, noticeable patterns, factory defects, or other identifying characteristics will
be considered marked, and be disallowed by the Head Judge. You may also be subject to penalties. This is
more stringently enforced at tournaments at tier 2 and higher.
If you have a question about the legality of your sleeves, the Head Judge is the final arbiter as to whether
your sleeves can be used in that tournament.
If you are unsure if your sleeves are marked, you should consult a judge prior to the start of thetournament or as soon as the possible markings are discovered.

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Even if the judge does not determine the sleeves to be marked, sleeves could still become marked during
the event. You are responsible to keep track of the wear and tear on your sleeves and replace them as
needed, or you may incur Marked Cards penalties.

H.

Tournament Materials

You are responsible for providing all necessary tournament materials, including any dice, counters,
Tokens, etc., required for your Deck.
Tournament
Material

Description

A Card Case is used to carry your Deck and, in some cases, your additional tournamentmaterials. Duelists are not allowed to have additional Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG cards inside their Card
Card Case
Case that are not part of the Deck they are Dueling with in the event. If a Deck List is being
used, only cards registered on their Deck List or cards labelled as Tokens should be in theCard Case.
You are required to use paper and a pencil or pen to track Life Points. You may not use
electronic tablets or a similar writing surface that can be cleared, instead of paper. You may
Paper anduse a calculator or NEURON to assist with the math involved in adding or subtracting Life
pencil/pen
Points, but you must keep a paper record of all Life Point changes to help resolve any
disputes.
Replacement You should have access to additional card sleeves, to replace any sleeves in your Deck thatcard sleeves become damaged or otherwise marked during the course of the tournament.
Anything used as a Token must meet the following requirements:• It must be able to indicate ATK position and DEF position.
• Non-token cards used as Tokens must be marked as Tokens, by writing “Token” on
the face of the card itself. The word “Token” must be clearly and immediately visible,
so as not to create a misleading game state.
• Non-token cards that are specifically prohibited by Tournament Policy (such as nonTokens
Token OCG cards not marked as Tokens, or cards not marked as Tokens that state
they cannot be used in a Duel), cannot be used as Tokens.
• Items that could be mistaken for other game elements, are overly large, could
damage cards or other tournament property, or contain offensive text or images
cannot be used as Tokens; even if they have been labeled as Tokens.
• The Head Judge will serve as the final arbiter of Token legality.
Dice must be unweighted, with clear and readable markings. Dice that are overly large, could
Dicedamage cards or other tournament property, or contain offensive images or text cannot be
used.
Counters must be items that cannot be confused with other game elements. Items that are
overly large, could damage cards or other tournament property, or contain offensive text orimages cannot be used.
Physical counters are required – the “counter” function in NEURON cannot be used without
Counters
also using physical counters.
Counters must be added to cards in the appropriate quantity (example: if card effect(s)would place four counters on a card, Duelists should add four counters, rather than using a
die placed to show “four”.

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Coins must be unweighted, with clear and readable markings. Coins that are overly large,
could damage cards or other tournament property, or contain offensive images or text
cannot be used.
You are encouraged to use a Field Center Marker or Card, to clarify the position of cards onthe field.

Coins

Field Center
Marker/Card

Field Center Markers cannot be items that could be confused for other game elements, suchas Token cards, or other official Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG cards. Field Center Markers that are overly
large, could damage cards or other tournament property, or contain offensive text or images
cannot be used.
Both Duelists should agree on both the Field Center and the Field Center Marker prior to thestart of the Match.
Game Mats are not required for tournament play.

Game Mat

Game Mats must fit within the space allotted to you. Game Mats that are overly large, could
damage cards or other tournament property, or contain offensive text or images cannot be
used.

You are responsible to ensure that all tournament materials you bring to the event meet tournamentlegal standards.
You are responsible for ensuring you do not damage cards or tournament property when using any ofyour tournament materials.
The Head Judge will serve as the final arbiter of legality for all tournament materials.

I.

Field Layout

While a Game Mat is not required in order to play, you are responsible for placing all your cards and Deckelements according to the layout established by the current official field layout.
Specified locations include the Main Monster Zones, the Spell and Trap Zones, the Pendulum Zones, theField Zone, the Extra Monster Zone, the Deck, the Extra Deck, and the Graveyard.
You may not create your own layouts. You may, however, modify layouts if it is necessary to meet physicalneeds such as an injury, left-handedness, etc., with the exception of Tier 4 tournaments.
If you need to modify the field layout, you are responsible for clearly notifying your opponent of thechanges to the field.
You are required to maintain the positions of all cards as they are originally placed on the field, except
when directed otherwise by a card effect.
Banished cards should be kept next to the Graveyard, in clear view of both Duelists.
Both Duelists are responsible for agreeing upon the Field Center and Field Center Marker prior to the startof the Match.
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Avoid collapsing your field in order to save space.
Do not shift cards from one zone to the next unless a card effect directs you
to do so.
Examples Do not put anything in a zone reserved for something else, such as putting
Tokens or your Side Deck into the Extra Deck Zone.
Never place Banished cards underneath the Spell and Trap Zone.
It is careless to set your hand down on the field.

J.

Note-Taking

Note-taking is not allowed in Sanctioned or Official Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG tournaments, with the following
exceptions:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

You must keep a written record of both Duelists’ Life Points for each Duel
Tracking of mandatory effect reminders
Tracking of turns and turn counters
Tracking of effects or actions necessary to maintain a legal Game State
Written records are the only acceptable form of note taking. You may not use dice or othercounters as a form of note taking
Notes must be taken quickly, so as not to disrupt the flow of the Duel. Slow Play or other penalties
may apply if note-taking slows down the Duel
Notes are considered Public Knowledge and must be provided to the opponent or tournament
official upon request
The “Notes” function of NEURON may not be used during a Match
A Duelist takes 1,000 points of damage to his Life Points. Both Duelists
should write down the damage taken. Duelists may record the source of thedamage, if done in a timely manner.
During their turn, a Duelist's Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss issent to the Graveyard. The Duelist may not make a note to resolve its
searching effect during the End Phase, due to this being an optional effect.
A mandatory effect states that the Duelist may not draw a card during her
Examples next turn. The Duelist may make a written note reminding her of this.
A Duelist activates the effect of their Level 7 F.A. Dark Dragster; to reduce
its level by 3. The Duelist can make a note such as "F.A. Dark Drag Level 4"in order to maintain an accurate Game State, due to it being an effect thatwill affect other aspects of the Game State.
A Duelist activates a card with a mandatory effect which lasts for 3 turns.
Both Duelists should track on paper how many turns have passed after the
card’s activation.
A Duelist activates Eradicator Epidemic Virus and declares Spell cards. Theylook at their opponent's hand for Spell Cards to destroy. The Duelist may not
write down any notes on the names of the other cards in the opponent's
hand, as this information does not help maintain an accurate and legal
Game State.

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You may not use outside notes during a Match, which includes in between Games of a Match. In somecases, you may consult a copy of your Deck List between Matches (not in between Games of a Match), to
ensure you have restored your Main Deck, Side Deck, and Extra Deck to the proper condition.

K.

Game State“Game State” refers to all elements of the game - cards, field, hand, Graveyard, phase, turns, etc.
Both Duelists are responsible for maintaining the Game State, by clearly communicating with theiropponent and Tournament Officials.
You are required to divulge any and all information that may be required to maintain a legal Game State.

L.

Public Knowledge

The following information is considered to be public knowledge, unless a card effect state otherwise:••

Duelists may not refuse to answer questions about information that is Public Knowledge
Lying about or refusing to answer questions about information that is Public Knowledge may
result in a Disqualification penalty

Duelists must answer questions involving the following topics truthfully:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

The number of cards in a Duelist’s hand
The number of cards in a Duelist’s Deck (this includes the Main Deck, Side Deck, and Extra Deck)
The number and names of the cards in a Duelist’s Graveyard and face-up Banished cards
Both Duelist’s current Life Point totals
Any notes taken by either Duelist during a Duel
Information printed on a specific card mentioned by name or otherwise clearly described
Which cards were played during the current turnExamplesM.

The DEF of Honest
The printed effect of Soul Exchange

Private Knowledge

The following information is considered to be Private Knowledge, unless a card effect state otherwise:•
Information that is Private Knowledge may not be revealed by a Duelist except by a card effect•Duelists may not answer questions about any game state information that is considered
Private Knowledge•
The card contents still in the Deck (this includes the Main Deck, Side Deck, and Extra Deck)•All cards that are face-down•
The cards in the opponent’s hand•
Which card(s) the opponent Set/Summoned during a previous turn
Giving false information about information that is considered Private Knowledge, or intentionallyrevealing information that is considered Private Knowledge, may result in a Disqualification penalty.

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A Duelist may not reveal that he has Honest in his hand unless he is legally
activating the card at that time.
A Duelist may not reveal his Set Mirror Force unless he is legally activating
the card at that time.
A Duelist may not reveal a card in her Deck to her opponent, unless an effect
Examplesrequires her to do so.
A Duelist cannot ask his opponent to reveal any of the opponent’s face-downcards, unless directed to do so by a card effect.
A Duelist cannot ask to look at one of her opponent’s face-down cards, even
if that card was face-up on a previous turn.

N.

Card/Hand/Deck Verification

With the exception of cards selected by a search effect, you may not search or verify any of youropponent’s Private Knowledge locations, such as hand, Deck contents, or face-down cards, unless you areotherwise directed to do so by a card effect.
You may not ask a judge to search or verify your opponent’s hand, Deck contents, or face-down cards
unless there is supportable evidence that your opponent may be cheating or that there may be a valid
Deck-related issue.

ExamplesBoth Duelists are playing with the same colour and type of sleeves. Duelist A
notices that his total Deck count is short one card, while Duelist B’s total
Deck count is over by one card. A judge should be contacted to help resolve
the situation – Duelists should not look through each other’s Deck.
A Duelist activates the effect of Mystic Tomato. Upon searching his Deck, herealises that he does not have a legal card to Special Summon. His opponent
does not get to search the Main Deck to verify.
Duelist A activates the search effect of Salamangreat Balelynx, searches her
Deck for Salamangreat Sanctuary, then shows it to her opponent before
adding it to her hand.
During Game 1, Duelist A plays a Super Rare version of a Limited Spell Card.
During Game 2, Duelist A plays a common version of the same Limited Spellcard. His opponent notices that there appears to be two copies of a Limited
card in Duelist A’s Deck. It is appropriate to call a judge to examine the Deck.
Duelist A activates The Forceful Checkpoint, and sees only Gemini Elf,
Goblin Attack Force, Big Shield Gardna, and Skill Drain in Duelist B’s hand.
Duelist A chooses Goblin Attack Force; Duelist B discards it and ends his
Battle Phase. During Main Phase 2, Duelist B sets 2 cards in his Spell/Trap
Zone then ends his turn. Since Duelist A has seen that there was only one
Trap card in Duelist B’s hand, it is appropriate to call a judge to investigate.
Duelist A activates Mind Crush and declares Effect Veiler. Duelist B says she
does not have Effect Veiler in her hand. Duelist A does not get to see Duelist
B’s hand to verify. Duelist A cannot call a judge to verify Duelist B’s handunless there is supportable evidence that your opponent may be cheating orthat there may be a valid Deck-related issue.

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Duelist A activates Pot of Duality and adds a revealed Effect Veiler to her
hand. The game continues for several turns, and Duelist A does not use Effect
Veiler. Duelist B activates Mind Crush and declares Effect Veiler. Duelist A
states there is no Effect Veiler in her hand. Duelist B knows that Effect Veiler
was added to Duelist A’s hand and knows it has not been played. It is
acceptable to call a judge to investigate.

O.

Loops

A “loop” is a series of actions that can be repeated. There are two kind of loops: Controlled Loops andInfinite Loops.
Controlled Loops:
Controlled loops are loops where the actions are voluntary and a Duelist controls how many times theaction will repeat. They are able to stop the loop at any time by simply performing a legal action that does
not cause the next effect on the loop to activate.
In a Controlled Loop, the Duelist should proceed as follows:
1. Perform the loop once, to notify your opponent that you are in a loop
2. Using a whole number (positive value), inform your opponent how many times you intend to
repeat the loop
3. If your opponent wishes to activate an effect, they may do so at any interval up to the whole
number listed above, as long as they are legally able to activate an effect
4. Game play will proceed until either the whole number listed above has been reached, a win
condition has been met (Life Points reach 0, unable to draw from Deck when required to do so,etc.), or until the opponent chooses to respond
5. The Duelists will not physically perform the actions to keep the loop going but simply resolve theeffects accordingly
6. If any effects have been activated by the opponent to interrupt the loop, the loop will stop at thatinterval
7. If the Duelist controlling the loop chooses to continue with the loop after the opponent
interrupted the loop, they should perform the loop once more, to ensure the loop can still beachieved, and follow these steps again• After the stated number of iterations of the loop have been resolved without action from the
opponent, the Duelist may not initiate the loop again that turn unless a tangible change to thegame state has occurred, such as if the opponent has taken some action that has changed thenumber of cards on the field/in the hands
Duelist A controls Cannon Soldier, Quillbolt Hedgehog, Glow-Up Bulb, and a faceup Imperial Iron Wall. Both Duelists have 8,000 Life Points each. Duelist A
activates the effect of Cannon Soldier, tributing Quillbolt Hedgehog to inflict 500
Examples damage to their opponent. They then activate the effect of Quillbolt Hedgehog toSpecial Summon itself onto the field, in order to use it again as tribute for theeffect of Cannon Soldier. Duelist A states that they will repeat the loop sixteen
times until Duelist B’s Life Points are reduced to zero. Duelist A does not need toperform the loop again. Duelist B may choose any interval to activate an effect.

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Duelist A controls Cannon Soldier, Quillbolt Hedgehog, Glow-Up Bulb, and a faceup Imperial Iron Wall. Both Duelists have 8,000 Life Points each. Duelist A
activates the effect of Cannon Soldier, tributing Quillbolt Hedgehog to inflict 500
damage to their opponent. They then activate the effect of Quillbolt Hedgehog toSpecial Summon itself onto the field, in order to use it again as tribute for theeffect of Cannon Soldier. Duelist A states that they will repeat the loop sixteen
Examples times until Duelist B’s Life Points are reduced to zero. Duelist A does not need toperform the loop again. Duelist B states that when the effect of Quillbolt
Hedgehog is activated on the 12 the loop, they will chain by activating their set
Hope for Escape. The loop stops once this chain has resolved. If Duelist A wishes
to do the loop again, they must go through the steps at least once to show they
can still perform the loop.

Infinite Loops:
Infinite Loops are loops that occur involuntarily, usually from a series of mandatory Trigger Effects thatmeet the activation conditions for each other upon resolution or due to continuous effects that are stuck
switching on and off endlessly due to a change in the game state. Since all the effects involved in an Infinite
Loop must occur, there is no clear point in the game where the player can stop the loop.
If an Infinite Loop occurs, follow these instructions:
1. Perform each action in one iteration of the loop once.
2. Determine if the loop will cause a victory condition (Ex: an Infinite Loop in which a Duelist draws 2 cards
per iteration will eventually end in fulfilling a victory condition for one of the Duelists.)
3. If so, proceed to the iteration in which the victory condition will occur and determine the winner.
4. If no victory condition will be achieved, the Duelists should call a judge to determine the card that isthe primary cause of the loop and send it to the Graveyard. Play will resume from that point and no
penalties are assessed. Any effects that could activate as a result of the card going to the Graveyard
can/will still activate accordingly.
• If the judge determines that multiple cards primarily cause the loop, the card most recently
activated should be sent to the Graveyard
Duelist A has a set Pole Position on the field. Duelist B has a face-up Dark
Magician equipped with Magic Formula and a face-up Dark Magician Girlequipped with Axe of Despair.
Examples If Duelist A activates his set Pole Position, its Spell protection is applied to
Dark Magician, then to Dark Magician Girl then back to Dark Magician. The
players determine this is an Infinite Loop that will not result in a victory
condition, so they call a judge. The judge determines Pole Position is causing
the loop. Pole Position is sent to the Graveyard, and play continues.

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Duelist A has a set Pole Position on the field. Duelist B has a face-up Dark
Magician equipped with Magic Formula, a face-up Dark Magician Girlequipped with Axe of Despair, and Bait Doll in his hand. During his Main
Phase 1 he activated Bait Doll, targeting the set Pole Position.
Pole Position is forcibly activated. Its Spell protection is applied to Dark
Magician, then to Dark Magician Girl then back to Dark Magician. The
players determine this is an Infinite Loop that will not result in a victory
Examplescondition, so they call a judge. The judge determines Pole Position is causing
the loop. Pole Position is sent to the Graveyard, and play continues.
Duelist A has a face-up Goblin Attack Force and Final Attack Orders on thefield. Duelist B activates Level Limit Area - B. The Duelists determine that
this is an Infinite Loop that will not result in a victory condition, so they calla judge. The judge determines that both cards primarily cause the loop. Since
Level Limit Area - B is the most recently activated card, it is sent to theGraveyard; and play continues.

P.

Appeals

If you disagree with a floor judge’s ruling, whether it is a Rulings or Policy issue; you have the right toappeal that ruling to the Head Judge of the tournament.
•

The Head Judge’s ruling is final and cannot be appealed

You may not appeal a floor judge’s ruling until after the floor judge has finished issuing the ruling.
You should wait until the floor judge has issued the ruling, then respectfully inform the floor judge thatyou wish to appeal the ruling.
•

If you accept the floor judge’s ruling, you cannot ask to appeal that ruling later on during the game

In Tier 3 or higher events, an appeal may be taken by an Assistant Head Judge instead of the Head Judge.
In this case, the Assistant Head Judge’s ruling is final, and cannot be appealed.
•Q.

If the initial decision was made by the Head Judge, or an Assistant Head Judge (Tier 3 events),
their decision is final and cannot be appealed
Conceding a Game or Match

You may concede a Game or Match at any time up until the point that the Game or Match has concluded,
during either Duelist’s turn, but only by meeting these requirements:••

You may not offer or accept any sort of compensation in exchange for conceding a Game or Match
You may not concede a Game or Match after the Game or Match has already concludedo This means that once a Game or Match result is reached (a win, a loss, or a draw), that
result cannot be changed, even if a Match Result Slip has yet to be signed

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Duelists who concede in exchange for money, prizes, or other incentives are guilty of Bribery and/or
Collusion, which is a violation of the Official KDE-E Tournament Infractions and Penalties Policy Guidelines.
Duelists who change the result of a Game or a Match are guilty of Altering the Result of a Game or Match,which is a violation of the Official KDE-E Tournament Infractions and Penalties Policy Guidelines.
During Game 3 of a Match, Duelist A has a monster with 1,000 ATK in faceup Attack Position on the field. Duelist B is at 1,000 Life Points and does nothave any cards on the field or hand, and no effects to activate to stop a direct
attack. During the Battle Phase, before declaring an Attack, Duelist A may
still concede the Match.

ExamplesR.

If Duelist A declares an attack and the damage is dealt to bring Duelist B’s
Life Points to 0, a result has been reached and the Match may no longer beconceded.
Duelist A wins Game 3, therefore winning the Match. Duelist A realises that
he must drop from the event and head home. Even though Duelist A isdropping from the event and the Match Result Slip has not been completed
yet, he may not concede the Match to his opponent, because the result of
the Match has already been determined.
It is Duelist A’s Main Phase 1 and she activates a card effect. Duelist B
realises that Duelist A has all of the cards needed to be able to bring his Life
Points down to 0. Duelist B may concede the Game and proceed to the nextGame. Duelist B does not need Duelist A’s permission in order to concede.

Bribery and/or Collusion

The outcome of a Match may not be influenced by any outside incentives or additional
prizes/compensation.
Offering or accepting a bribe is against Official KDE-E Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME Tournament
Policy and will result in a Disqualification from the event.

S.

Random Outcome

Duelists or tournament officials may not randomly determine an outcome of a Match, such as flipping acoin or rolling a die to determine a winner.
Failure to follow this rule will result in a Disqualification from the event.

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T.

Altering the Result of a Game or Match

Once the Game or Match has concluded, Duelists may not concede or “give the win” to the opponent.
This means that once a Game or Match result is reached (a win, a loss, or a draw), that result cannot bechanged.
Duelists who change the result of a Game or a Match are guilty of Altering the Result of a Game or Match,a violation of the Official KDE-E Tournament Infractions and Penalties Policy Guidelines.
During Game 3 of a Match, a Duelist deals enough damage to bring his
opponent’s Life Points to 0. The Match has officially ended, with the Duelist
as the winner. Even though the Match Result Slip has not been signed yet,
Examplesthe Duelist is no longer able to concede to his opponent because the Match
now has an official result. Marking the losing Duelist as the winner may
result in penalties, including Disqualification from the event.

U.

Intentional Draws

Intentional Match Draws (both Duelists agreeing to end the Match as a Draw, rather than playing it out)
are not allowed.
Matches cannot end in a Draw, outside of End of Round procedures during the Swiss Rounds of a Swiss
event.

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V.
A.

Reporting the Match Results

Reporting the Match Result

The winning Duelist is responsible for accurately reporting the result of a Match. Most tournaments will
provide printed Match Result Slips for you to use to report Match results, however some tournaments
may require you to verbally confirm the Match result with a judge or scorekeeper.
You should consult a Tournament Official if you are unsure of the proper procedure for reporting yourMatch result.
•

Match results cannot be altered once they have been submitted

Verify the Match result carefully before submitting it, including whether a Duelist is opting to drop fromthe event.

B.

End of Match Procedures

Sometimes a Match will not be finished when the time ends for a round. If this happens, it is both Duelists’responsibility to note whose turn it is when time is called. Duelists who require assistance with the End of
Match procedures should raise their hand and call for a judge. The judge should be notified that the Matchis ongoing and whose turn it is. The judge may or may not stay to supervise the End of Match procedurebut should ensure that both Duelists understand the following procedures.
End of Match procedures should follow these three (3) rules:
Rule #1: If time is called while Duelists are in the middle of a Game, the current Game must have a decision(Win, Loss, or Draw).
Rule #2: Once the current Game has concluded with a decision, determine the winner of the Match bydetermining the number of Game Wins (or Game Losses) each Duelist has for the current Match. The
Duelist with the most Game Wins will win the Match.
Swiss Rounds: If both Duelists have the same number of Game Wins, or if time was called in
between games of a Match when both Duelists had the same number of Game Wins, then the
Match is a Draw.
Single-Elimination Rounds: If both Duelists have the same number of Game Wins, or if time iscalled in between Games of a Match while both Duelists have the same number of Game Wins,
they will begin a new Duel with specific guidelines.
o Neither Duelist may use his or her Side Deck. If time was called in between Games of a
Match and at least one Duelist has already accessed his or her Side Deck, then both
Duelists may use their Side Decko Duelists must use a random method (die roll, coin flip, etc.) to determine who will go firsto The Duel will continue for a total of four (4) turns, two (2) turns for each Duelist, unless a
Duelist manages to win the Duel before the four (4) turns have concluded• A “turn” is defined as the start of the Draw Phase until the end of the End Phase for asingle Duelisto Once the four (4) turns are completed, Life Point totals are compared and the Duelist withthe highest Life Point total wins the Match

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o

If both Duelists’ Life Points are the same after the four (4) turns are completed, then playwill continue on a turn-by-turn basis, with the Duelist with the most Life Points at the endof a turn being declared the winner of that Game
Rule #3: If a win condition occurs during End of Match Procedures, that Duelist wins the current Game.
Keeping these three (3) rules in mind, please follow these instructions when proceeding to End of Matchprocedures:
1. Continue with the current Phase of the Game. Once the Phase is over, stop the game
2. Determine a Game Winner at this point, with the Duelist with the most Life Points winning theGame• During Swiss Rounds, if both Duelists’ Life Points are the same, the Game is a Draw. CompareGame Wins with the Duelist with the most Game Wins winning the Match. If the Game Win
totals are the same, the Match is a Draw
• During Single-Elimination, if both Duelists’ Life Points are the same at the end of the current
Phase (Step 1 above), finish the current turn. If both Duelists’ Life Points are the same at theend of the turn, then play will continue on a turn-by-turn basis, with the Duelist with the mostLife Points at the end of a turn being declared the winner of that Game• Match Draws cannot occur during Single-Elimination Rounds

C.

Tie-Breakers

Sanctioned and Official events use a Tie-Breaker system to determine which Duelist ranks higher whenboth have the same number of Match Wins.
Duelists earn Points based on how well they perform during a Match.
Match Result
Win
Draw
Loss

Points3
10

A Duelist has completed 3 rounds of a tournament, and currently has 2 Wins
Examples and 1 Draw. The Duelist has 7 Points (3 Points for each Win, and 1 Point foreach Draw). The Duelist’s XX equals 7.
Duelists are first ranked based on how many points they have accumulated during the course of atournament. In addition to points, the Konami Tournament Software (KTS) uses a method to track how
strong or weak your tournament schedule has been. It tracks the record of each of your opponents, andthe record of your opponent’s opponents to determine the final Tie-Breakers. This number can be
portrayed as follows:
XXYYYZZZ
XX
YYY
ZZZ

Total amount of Points the Duelist has earned during the course of the tournamentYour opponents’ Match-win percentage (to the one tenth decimal)Your opponent’s opponents’ Match-win percentage (to the one tenth decimal)

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A Duelist at a Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series event has a tie-breaker numberof 33726677. The number breaks down as follows:
Examples 33 (XX): Total amount of points the Duelist earned during the tournament(33).
726 (YYY): His opponents’ match-win percentage (72.6%).
677 (ZZZ): His opponent’s opponents’ match-win percentage (67.7%).
On extremely rare occasions, two Duelists may finish a tournament with identical Tie-Breakers, leaving
them tied for the same final standing.
If time permits, the Duelists should play another Match (or single Duel if time does not permit a full Match)
to determine a winner.
In cases where there is no time for an additional Match or Duel, the Head Judge should do the following:
1.
2.

If the tied Duelists have already played against each other in the tournament, the winnerof that Match will take the higher final standing
If the tied Duelists have not already played against each other in the tournament, theHead Judge should use a random method such as a die roll to decide the final standing•
Please note this is different than randomly determining the outcome of a MatchVI.

Tournament Infractions

Tournament Infractions occur when a participant in an event violates tournament policy.
Policy documents are intended to educate Duelists, judges, and other tournament officials on correct andexpected behaviour at events.
The Official KDE-E Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME Tournament Policy document and the Official KDE-E
Tournament Infractions and Penalties Policy document outline the appropriate code of behaviours for all
attendees in an event.
Duelists, judges, and other tournament officials share the responsibility for maintaining a fair andconsistent event, by understanding and adhering to their roles in the event.
•
•
•

A.

All are expected to abide by the policies listed in both of the above documents.
The Official KDE-E Tournament Infractions and Penalty Policy contains additional information to
be used during all Sanctioned and Official tournaments
Any addendums which are posted on the yugioh-card.com website
Procedural Errors

This category covers infractions involving the general errors in game play you might commit during thecourse of a Duel.

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B.

Tardiness

This category covers infractions that prevent you from beginning your Match within the specified
timeframe allowed by the tournament.

C.

Deck Errors

This category covers infractions associated with registering incorrect contents on a Deck List or playing
with an illegal Deck. If an error is caught prior to the start of the first round, it is acceptable (at the Head
Judge’s discretion) to correct the Deck List without applying a penalty.

D.

Drawing Extra Cards

This category covers infractions associated with drawing cards from the Deck outside of when you areallowed to do so.

E.

Marked Cards

This category covers infractions involving Marked Cards and/or sleeves. A card or sleeve is considered tobe “marked” if it can be distinguished, while face-down, from the other cards contained in a Deck. This
includes, but is not limited to, markings on the cards/sleeves or cards that are warped. It is yourresponsibility to maintain unmarked cards and sleeves throughout the duration of an event.

F.

Slow PlayThis category covers infractions associated with the pace of your game. You are expected to play at areasonable speed, regardless of the complexity of the game situation, and should not waste time duringa Duel or in between games of a Match.

G.

Unsporting Conduct

This category covers infractions associated with inappropriate behaviours from a person during an event.
Unsporting Conduct infractions are considered to be intentional.
Persons who engage in unsporting conduct or behaviours that endangers or detracts from the event, will
be removed from the venue and be subject to additional penalties.

H.

Cheating

KDE-E shows no tolerance towards cheating and takes this infraction very seriously. Cheating includes,
but is not limited to, intentionally misrepresenting the game state, rules, or tournament polices. It also
includes reporting inaccurate information or lying to your opponent or to tournament officials.
The Head Judge will investigate persons suspected of cheating. If the Head Judge believes the person has
cheated, the Head Judge will issue a Disqualification and send their report to the KDE Penalty Committee.

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The KDE Penalty Committee will then review the incident and determine if any additional penalties are
required.

I.

Illegal Game/Match OutcomesGames and/or Matches cannot be determined by random methods (such as a die roll), or by bribery.
The result of any Game and/or Match cannot be changed after the Game and/or Match has concluded.

J.

Wagering

Wagering of any kind is not permitted at a Sanctioned or Official Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG tournament. This includes,
but is not limited to, both official and unofficial Matches or Games being played at a Sanctioned event.

K.

Buying and Selling Cards and Other Items

You should familiarise yourself with the rules on buying, selling, and trading at each venue, including the
KDE-E event FAQs.
Most venues do not allow persons to buy and sell from one another. If you violate this policy, you risk
incurring penalties, including being disqualified and removed from the venue.

L.

Predatory Trading

Predatory trading practices (targeting inexperienced or young Duelists for extremely unbalanced trades)
are not tolerated. If you engage in such practices, you risk being removed from the venue and may besubject to additional penalties.

M.

Prohibited Items

Persons may not bring any items into the tournament venue that are prohibited by law in their area (local,
state, or federal). In addition, unlawful items/transactions, weapons of any kind, and substance drugs
which may be illegal on a local, state, and/or federal level, are not allowed at Sanctioned/Official events.
Attendees who bring any such items to a tournament venue will incur penalties, including Disqualification
and removal from the event, and risk suspension from KDE-E Organised Play.
Please see Event FAQs for additional information on prohibited items.
The use of electronic and/or vapor cigarettes is not permitted on the tournament floor, or in areas
designated for tournament attendees.

N.

Privileged Information

Persons who publicise privileged information, such as set contents, card spoilers, etc., for KDE-E brands
before such information is officially released to the public, may incur penalties including suspension fromparticipation in Organised Play and/or removal as an OTS.

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O.

Impersonation of Konami Employees or Representatives

Persons who falsely present themselves as employees or representatives of Konami will incur penalties
including suspension from Konami Organised Play, and/or removal as an OTS, etc.

P.

Suspension from KDE Organised Play

Persons who have been disqualified from an event are subject to review by the KDE Penalty Committee,
to determine if further penalties will be assigned.
Disqualified persons are responsible for filling out a Disqualification form at the event, which provides
them with the opportunity to tell their side of the story.
Disqualification reports will also be collected from the Head Judge, and any opponents, spectators, orother tournament officials who were involved or witness to the incident. Authors of disqualification
reports may be contacted by KDE for further detail or clarification about the incident.
Disqualification reports will be reviewed by the KDE Penalty Committee, and the person(s) will becontacted with the committee’s findings. In some instances, no further action will be considerednecessary. In others, the person(s) may receive a suspension from Organised Play programs in all KDE
Regions.
Suspended persons who have provided a correct e-mail address will be notified of their suspension andthe date on which they may apply for reinstatement into the Organised Play program. Persons who fail toprovide a valid e-mail address or who decline to complete the proper paperwork are still subject to theterms and length of any subsequent suspension, but risk not being contacted about the suspension andmay risk extensions to their suspension if they attend an event while suspended.
•

A suspended person will not be automatically reinstated into Organised PlayOn or after the date they are eligible for reinstatement, they must contact the KDE Penalty Committee at
eu-penaltysupport@konami.com to request reinstatement. Suspended persons who have requested
reinstatement should then wait to be notified by the KDE-E Penalty Committee whether or not they havebeen reinstated.
Even after the eligibility date has passed, persons are still considered to be suspended until they haveboth applied for reinstatement and received a notification from KDE-E that they have been reinstatedto KDE Organised Play.
Infractions do not need to have occurred inside the venue as long as it impacts or connects to a Sanctionedor Official event.
KDE reserves the right to suspend persons from the KDE Organised Play program for misbehaviour notconnected to a specific event.
Persons do not need to have been disqualified in order to warrant additional penalties from the KDE
Penalty Committee.

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If a person is charged with a criminal offense, whether or not that offense took place at a tournament,that person may be automatically entered into the Suspended Persons list and may no longer participate
in KDE Organised Play.
A suspended person may not participate in, attend, or be in any area at a venue that is associated withany Sanctioned or Official KDE Organised Play event, until such a time as they have been reinstated as aperson in good standing. This includes all tiers of events, such as locals, Premiere! events, Regional
Qualifiers, etc.
Persons with questions about their status may e-mail eu-penaltysupport@konami.com for more
information.

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VII. Constructed Deck Information
A.

GeneralConstructed Decks for Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG tournaments must meet specific guidelines for use in the event. You
must ensure that your Decks meet these requirements before entering an event.
••Your Deck includes the Main Deck and may include a Side Deck and/or an Extra Deck
You may not have more than three (3) copies of any card included in your Main Deck, Side Deck,and Extra Deck combined

Yu-Gi-Oh! cards that are not registered on your Deck List as part of the Main Deck, Side Deck, or Extra
Deck may not be kept with your Deck (in the Card Case, calculator case, in or around your play area, etc.)with the exception of cards used and clearly marked as Tokens.
The following are some examples of cards that may not be kept with your Deck:“Lucky” or mascot cards
Examples Cards used as Translations
Cards recently received in a trade

B.

Main Deck

Constructed Main Decks for Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG events must have a minimum of 40 cards, and a maximum of
60 cards.
Only the cards in the Main Deck count towards this total; cards in the Side or Extra Decks do not counttowards this total.

C.

Side Deck

In a Constructed Tournament, you may use a Side Deck consisting of 0 to 15 cards in addition to your Main
Deck.
When the Match begins, you and your opponent must both confirm the exact number of cards in eachother’s Side Deck.
Side Deck cards may be exchanged for cards in the Main Deck or the Extra Deck between Duels in a Match,on a 1-for-1 basis.
A Duelist may remove five (5) cards from their Main Deck and two (2) cards
Examples from their Extra Deck before the start of the next Duel in a Match and replacethem with the exact same number of cards from the Side Deck.
If the Side Deck is used between Duels, the Side Deck should be counted out in full view of the opponent,
to show that the Side Deck remains the same size as was confirmed before the Match began.

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Cards cannot be exchanged between the Main Deck and Extra Deck, even if you are keeping those cards
in your Side Deck.
After each round of a tournament, both Duelists must remove all Side Deck cards and restore their Mainand Extra Decks to their original state before the next Match begins.
You may not add cards to your Main Deck from your Side Deck before the first Duel in a Match.
If the first Duel in a match is decided by a Game Loss penalty before the Duel has begun, neither Duelist
may use their Side Decks before the second Duel of the match.
••

D.

You must perform all Side Deck actions in a timely manner, including card selection andshuffling.
You have less than three (3) minutes to perform these taskso Please note that this time limit is the maximum amount of time to be utilised in the Side
Deck process if you plan on Side Decking for your next Duel and does not guarantee you
the full three (3) minutes simply to pass the time
Extra Deck

You may have an Extra Deck of up to 15 Fusion, Synchro, Xyz, or Link Monsters.
Fusion, Synchro, Xyz, or Link Monsters are never kept in the Main Deck.

E.

Advanced Format

Advanced Format tournaments use a specific list of playable cards, called the Forbidden and Limited List.
Some cards are forbidden from use, or limited to a set number in the Deck, in order to better balance
tournament play. The Forbidden and Limited List changes periodically.
•

Please see the Card Legality section of this Tournament Policy document for more information on
the Forbidden and Limited List.

You can view the most current Forbidden and Limited List (Advanced Format) card list by visiting theappropriate link:
Language
EnglishFrançais
Deutsche
Italiano
Español

Link
https://img.yugioh-card.com/uk/gameplay/detail.php?id=1155
https://img.yugioh-card.com/fr/gameplay/detail.php?id=1170
https://img.yugioh-card.com/de/gameplay/detail.php?id=1166
https://img.yugioh-card.com/it/gameplay/detail.php?id=1172
https://img.yugioh-card.com/es/gameplay/detail.php?id=1168

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F.

Traditional Format

Traditional Format events use a wider card pool and allow all cards that are legal for play. Some cards arestill limited to a set number in the Deck.
You can see the most current Forbidden and Limited List (Traditional Format) card list by visiting this link:
Language

Link
https://img.yugioh-card.com/uk/gameplay/detail.php?id=1155

Englishhttps://img.yugioh-card.com/fr/gameplay/detail.php?id=1170

Français

https://img.yugioh-card.com/de/gameplay/detail.php?id=1166

Deutschehttps://img.yugioh-card.com/it/gameplay/detail.php?id=1172

Italianohttps://img.yugioh-card.com/es/gameplay/detail.php?id=1168

EspañolG.

Special Formats

KDE-E will periodically create new and unique tournament formats that can be run as Sanctioned or
Official events. 3 vs. 3, Tag Duels, Speed Duel, etc., fall under this category. These Special Formats may
have their own supplemental policy document.

VIII. Sealed Deck Information
A.

GeneralSealed Deck events feature Decks that are constructed entirely of cards provided at that tournament. You
may not add in cards from any other source, unless instructed that you may do so by a judge (e.g.
Premiere! event promos).
Unlike Constructed Decks, Sealed Deck tournaments have no restrictions on the number of any specificcard in the Deck. You may include as many copies of any card you like, even more than three, provided all
copies of those cards were obtained from the product given to you for that tournament.
The minimum Main Deck size in any Sealed Deck event should never be less than 20 cards.
The minimum Main Deck size may be raised to a higher number if announced ahead of time before thescheduled event.
There is no maximum Main Deck size.

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B.

Sealed Pack

You will receive a standardised amount of a specific card product and will use only the product given forthat event to construct a Deck. You may not trade the cards you received in their product with other
Duelists until the tournament is over, and you may not add cards you already own.

C.

Sealed Pack Swap

In certain Sealed Pack events, the TO or Head Judge may require you to perform a Deck Swap before
constructing your Decks.
You will be required to register the contents of the card pool that you open on a Deck List. Once this has
been completed, judges will randomly distribute the registered product to all Duelists.
If you choose to drop from the tournament before completing the Deck Swap, you will be enrolled in thefirst round, receive a Match Loss for the first round, and then be dropped from the tournament.

D.

Booster Draft

Card product will be shared amongst a specific group of Duelists, and you will select cards and build yourDecks from that product according to the format dictated by the judge.
Cards may not be traded or exchanged with other Duelists once they have been selected.

E.

Side Deck and Extra Deck for Sealed Deck Events

Deck
Side Deck
Extra Deck

Description
Any cards not included in the Sealed Main Deck or Extra Deck may be treatedas the Side Deck.
Any Fusion, Synchro, Xyz, or Link Monster Cards that are not in the Side Deckmay be treated as the Extra Deck.

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IX.
A.

Card Legality

Forbidden & Limited List

The Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG utilises an evolving Forbidden and Limited list which you must follow when creating
your Advanced or Traditional format Decks. This list is updated periodically throughout the year, and themost current list can be found here:
Language

Link
https://img.yugioh-card.com/uk/gameplay/detail.php?id=1155

Englishhttps://img.yugioh-card.com/fr/gameplay/detail.php?id=1170

Français

https://img.yugioh-card.com/de/gameplay/detail.php?id=1166

Deutschehttps://img.yugioh-card.com/it/gameplay/detail.php?id=1172

Italianohttps://img.yugioh-card.com/es/gameplay/detail.php?id=1168

Español

There is no set schedule for these updates, be sure to check the list prior to attending a Sanctioned or
Official Constructed event.
Restriction
Forbidden Cards
Limited Cards
Semi-Limited Cards

B.

Description
These are cards that you cannot include in your Main Deck, Side
Deck, and Extra Deck.
These are cards that you can only include one (1) copy of in yourMain Deck, Side Deck, and Extra Deck combined.
These are cards that you can only include two (2) copies of inyour Main Deck, Side Deck, and Extra Deck combined.

Sets

Cards released in sets are legal upon the official release date of the booster packs, or in the case of OTS
Tournament Packs, on the start date for the prizing product.
Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG expansions become tournament legal at different times, depending upon where they are
released. A set only becomes legal once it has been released in a specific country. Legality dates will differ
for North America, Latin America, Europe, Middle East, South Africa and Oceania - you should always
verify that cards are legal for play in your specific territory, and not rely on legality dates for other areas.
•

For legality dates of a product release in your territory, please visit your “Products” section of
http://www.yugioh-card.com

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C.

Promotional Cards (excluding SHONEN JUMP and Yu-Gi-Oh! Graphic Novel)

Video Game promo cards are legal starting with the official “on sale” date for that video game within that
Region.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series (YCS) prize cards become legal on a Continent once a YCS or WCQ
awarding that card has been held on that continent. A Continent is defined by the World Championship
Qualifier (WCQ) that a Duelist’s Regional Qualifier feeds into.
ExamplesD.

Mexico will participate in the Central America WCQ, even though Mexico isgeographically considered part of the North American continent.

SHONEN JUMP and Yu-Gi-Oh! Graphic Novel Promotional Cards

SHONEN JUMP Magazine cards are NOT legal for play in Europe, South Africa, Oceania, Central, or SouthAmerican unless that card has been released in another product.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Graphic Novel cards are ONLY legal for play in Europe, South Africa, Oceania, Central, or SouthAmerica if that Graphic Novel was officially distributed there. (This is rare.)

E.

Preview Cards

Cards from an upcoming set that are distributed before the set is released become legal on the official
release date of the prerelease product.
ExamplesF.

Collectible Tins
Core Booster preview cards

Reprints

Individual cards that are reprints of cards that are already legal (whether or not the artwork or rarity isdifferent) are legal for play as soon as they are available.

G.

Cards with Updated Text or Errata

Cards will occasionally undergo an errata or updated text.
It is your responsibility to ensure you know the most recent text for all cards in your Deck.
You are not required to play versions of cards with the most recent text, however you are required to play
all copies of your cards according to the most recent text.
If you are playing with cards that have outdated text, you must do one of the following:••

Have a copy of the card with the most recent text, not in your Deck, available to show opponents
or tournament officials
Have a written copy of the most recent text of the card, stored outside of your Card Case, available
to show opponents or tournament officials

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•

Use the “Camera Search” function in NEURON to provide the most recent text of the card

This must be done even if you are running copies of the card with the most recent text in your Deck.
The most recent text for all cards can be found in the official Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME Card
Database at: https://www.db.yugioh-card.com/yugiohdb/.
Scanning a card with the “Camera Search” feature of NEURON will also provide you with the most recent
text.

H.

Foreign Language Cards

TCG cards printed in English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, or Spanish are legal for play in
Sanctioned and Official tournaments within all TCG territories. If you want to use a foreign language card,
you must verify that the card was printed for the TCG (and not the OCG).
It is your responsibility to provide an accurate translation for cards that are not in the local language ofthe event. You may incur a penalty if you do not provide a translation or provide an incomplete or
inaccurate translation.
If you are using a card that is not in a local language, you must do one of the following:•••

Have a local language version of the card, stored outside of your Deck or Card Case, available toshow opponents or tournament officials
Have an accurate, written version of the most recent card text, stored outside of your Card Case,available to show opponents or tournament officials
Use the “Camera Search” function in NEURON to provide an accurate translation of the card
Electronic images such as cell phone pictures, websites, etc., may not be used for translation
purposes.

If you are using foreign language cards in your Deck, you must use the accepted local language name of
the card instead of the translated name printed on the card when you are writing out your Deck list (ifapplicable).
This ensures that that the Judge staff will know which cards you are playing in your Deck.

I.

OCG Cards

Cards printed for the Asian version of Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG (which is called the “Yu-Gi-Oh! Official Card Game”
or “OCG”) are usually printed in Japanese, Korean or Simplified Chinese, and are legal for play only in
Sanctioned events in Japan and parts of Asia. While OCG cards are sometimes available in other languages,
including English, they are not legal for Sanctioned play in TCG territories (such as North America, Central
America, South America, Europe, Middle East, New Zealand, and Australia).
You can tell the difference between a TCG card and an OCG card by checking the set number of the card:
Asian English cards will include AE in their set name.
Examples CRMS-AE035

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J.

Altered Cards

Cards that have been altered from their original manufactured version with surface decoration added by
the consumer may be used for tournament play ONLY if they do not violate any of the following rules.
These rules apply to all cards in the Deck, including Main, Side, and Extra.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Cards that have been modified (by adding or subtracting foil, layers of paper, etc.) from theoriginally manufactured version of the card are not legal for tournament play
Cards with surface decoration which makes the card or card image unrecognisable are not legal
for tournament play
Cards with surface decoration which alters the thickness or texture of the card are not legal for
tournament play
Cards with surface decoration that obscures any portion of the card text or key card traits(Attribute, Level, Monster Type, ATK, DEF, etc.) are not legal for tournament play
Cards with surface decorations expanding the illustration beyond the illustration box are not legal
for tournament play
Cards with surface decoration that may be considered offensive are not legal for tournament play
Cards with surface decoration that makes the card distinguishable from other cards in the Deck
while face-down are considered marked, and not legal for tournament play
Cards with alterations of any kind, front or back, are not legal for Tier 4 tournaments (the Yu-GiOh! TCG World Championship)

The Head Judge of the event is the final arbitration on whether or not an altered card(s) violates any of
the above rules.
You are responsible for determining whether or not your altered cards are legal for use before the startof the tournament.
A Duelist has a copy of Judgment Dragon in which the art has been extended
beyond the illustration box. The Duelist may not play with this card.
A Duelist has a copy of a Blade Armor Ninja that has been customised intoa Secret Rare copy of the card. The Duelist may not play with this card.
A Duelist has a copy of Spore that has had slight alterations done to the card
image with a marker. The Duelist must ask the Head Judge if the alterations
Exampleson the card fall within the policy and abide by the Head Judge’s decision.
A Duelist has a copy of Tyrant Dragon that has had a layer of holographic
film added to the surface of the card, to make it look like a Duel Terminalcard. The Duelist may not play with this card.
A Duelist has a copy of Honest with a large autograph covering the text. The
Duelist may not play with this card.

K.

Marked Cards

A card is considered to be “marked” if it can be distinguished from other cards in the Deck without seeing
the front of the card.

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This includes (but is not limited to) warping, creases, discoloration, card thickness or texture, and watermarks.
If the cards are sleeved, “marked” includes (but is not limited to) sleeves with identifying marks or otherunique characteristics that distinguish it from other cards in the Deck.
•

If your cards are double-sleeved, this applies to both sleeves

If you are using sleeves to protect your cards, you should take extra precautions to ensure that yoursleeves do not become marked during the course of a tournament.
If the Head Judge determines that your sleeves are marked, they may require you to re-sleeve your Deck.
If the Head Judge determines that your cards are marked, they may require you to replace the markedcard(s) during the course of a tournament.
If you cannot replace the card(s) before your next Match begins, appropriate tardiness penalties at three(3) minutes and ten (10) minutes will begin to apply, since you no longer have a Deck that matches yourregistered Deck list and you are not ready to begin the Match.
These tardiness penalties are in addition to the penalties that were applied for Marked Cards.
If you cannot replace the card(s) or choose not to replace the card by the 10-minute mark in the Match,
you will need to be dropped from the tournament.
If you do not wish to be dropped from the tournament, you must notify the Scorekeeper.
You will need to concede the following Match to your opponent, until you are able to replace the cards.
On extremely rare occasions, you may pull a damaged, miscut or warped card, which can be distinguishedfrom the rest of the Deck while face-down, directly from a product. Even though the cards came in thiscondition, these cards are considered to be marked and cannot be used in a Deck.
An older card that is noticeably flimsy
A ‘warped’ card
A card that may have been accidentally bent during the tournament
Sleeves with manufacturer’s holograph trademark in different positions
Cards in sleeves that are too big, causing the cards to shift around in thesleeves
Examples Cards with yellowed edges
Cards sleeved with sleeves from different packs
Sleeves that have acquired dirt, bends, frays, etc.
Re-sleeved cards that look newer than the previously sleeved cards
Cards that become warped during the event due to humidity, etc.
Cards pulled from a pack that are creased or bent
Sleeves with an irregular manufacturing defect on any of the sides

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Cards that are positioned at the top of the sleeve while other cards in thedeck are at the bottom of the sleeve

L.

Misprint Cards

On extremely rare occasions, you may pull a miscut or misprinted card from a product.
These cards are not considered to be tournament legal if they are distinguishable from other cards in the
Deck while face-down (marked). If the miscut or misprinted card is not distinguishable from other cards
in the Deck while face-down, it is tournament legal assuming all of the information that the card should
provide is readily available.
•

You must play misprinted cards as if they have the correct information printed on them

You must provide an accurate, local language copy of the latest version of the correct card text, a correct
local language copy of the card, or the “Camera Search” function in NEURON to show to opponents or
tournament officials.
Cards used to supply the proper card text must be kept outside your Deck or Deck box.
A Duelist is playing with a card without a card name printed on it. This cardis only tournament legal if the Duelist provides a local language version of
the card text available outside of the Deck to show to an opponent or
tournament official.
A Duelist is playing with a card that has the wrong card name or statistic
printed on it. The Duelist must play the card as if it had the correct card nameand statistics and must provide a correct local language copy of the card or
Examples an accurate local language copy of the correct card text to opponents andtournament officials.
A Duelist is playing with a card that has been miscut, making it smaller thanthe other cards in her Deck. This card is considered marked, and she cannot
use it in her Deck.
A Duelist is playing with a card that has been too heavily stamped with foil,
which has raised the name of the card on the back of the card. This card isconsidered marked, and he cannot play with this card.

M.

Card With Translation Errors

Occasionally, TCG cards in languages other than English may contain translation errors that alter thefunction of the card. In these cases, the cards should be played according to the English-language text
found on the Card Database at https://www.db.yugioh-card.com/yugiohdb/ or using the “Camera Search”
function in NEURON.

N.

Counterfeit Cards

Counterfeit cards (fake cards that are created by third-party companies that can resemble officiallyreleased cards) cannot be used in your Deck in a Sanctioned or Official tournament.

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Even if you own an official copy of the card, you cannot include counterfeit cards in your Deck.
If you have information regarding the sale and distribution of counterfeit cards, you should contact KDEE at: https://eu-support.konami.com/hc/en-gb/categories/115001814428-Yu-Gi-Oh-

O.

Proxy Cards

Proxies (cards used to represent a different card) are not allowed in Sanctioned or Official events.
Photocopies, cards that have been relabeled, etc., are considered “proxies” and cannot be used in yourDeck in a Sanctioned or Official tournament. This includes Tier 1 events.
Even if you own an official copy of the card, you cannot include proxy cards in your Deck.

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X.
A.

Contact Information

Contact Information

For questions please e-mail:Topic

E-Maileu-opsupport@konami.com

Organised Playeu-judgesupport@konami.com

Konami Judge Program

eu-penaltysupport@konami.com

KDE Penalty Committee
Customer Support (all other inquiries)

B.

https://eu-support.konami.com/hc/engb/categories/115001814428-Yu-Gi-Oh-

Resources

Resource
Konami Card Game Network(KCGN)

Links
https://cardgame-network.konami.net/

Official Web Site

https://www.yugioh-card.com/uk/ (English)
https://www.yugioh-card.com/de/ (German)
https://www.yugioh-card.com/fr/ (Français)https://www.yugioh-card.com/it/ (Italiano)
https://www.yugioh-card.com/es/ (Español)

Rule Book (EN, SP, PT, FR, IT,DE)

https://www.yugioh-card.com/uk/gameplay/detail.php?id=789

Registration Form (EN)
Deck List (EN)
Deck List (SP)Deck List (PT)
Forbidden & Limited List
SHONEN JUMP Subscription
Promo Information
Yu-Gi-Oh! Card Database

https://img.yugiohcard.com/en/events/forms/KDE_RegistrationSheet.pdf
https://img.yugiohcard.com/ygo_cms/ygo/all/uploads/constructed_deck_list_uk.pdf
https://img.yugioh-card.com/lat-am/events/forms/KDE_DeckList.pdf
https://img.yugioh-card.com/lat-am/pt/events/forms/KDE_DeckListPT.pdf
https://www.yugioh-card.com/uk/gameplay/detail.php?id=1155
https://www.viz.com/wsj-promo
https://www.db.yugioh-card.com/yugiohdb/

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